EP1827141A1

EP1827141A1 - Tobacco preparation system

Info

Publication number: EP1827141A1
Application number: EP05798043A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dietmar Zielke; Tim Ullner; Fritz Hagemann; Ulf Seide; Wolfgang Benz
Original assignee: Hauni Primary GmbH
Current assignee: Hauni Primary GmbH
Priority date: 2004-11-30
Filing date: 2005-10-20
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: WO2006058577A1; CN101065026A; DE102004057980A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tobacco preparation system (10) comprising number of preparation functional units (19 51) for tobacco and tobacco preparation intermediate products. The inventive tobacco preparation system is characterized in that the preparation functional units (19 51) or subunits (19 51) of the preparation functional units (19 51) are essentially adapted to the size of standardized containers (52).

Description

Tobacco treatment plant

description

The invention relates to a tobacco processing plant with several processing units for tobacco and tobacco processing intermediates.

Tobacco becomes relatively strong after harvest, i. dried to a residual moisture content of about 9% to 12% and usually for shipping in cuboid or cylindrical bales or packages pressed, with other forms of compression are possible. The tobacco may be pure vorentripptes Blattgut (without significant rib portions). The removed before drying ribs, which are processed separately and the leaf tobacco mixed again, can also be pressed and shipped in a dry state. The pressed and relatively dry raw tobacco can also be stored for a long time in this state.

If this relatively dry tobacco to smoking products, such as cigarettes In the known processing methods and tobacco processing plants, it is necessary to separate and separate the individual leaves (or leaf pieces) or ribs (or pieces of ribs) in the pressed bales from each other. Since the leaves strongly adhere to each other and are very dry, making them fragile and very sensitive to mechanical effects, the loosening must be gentle. The method of dissolving, which is predominantly used today, involves wetting and dissolving the bales with steam (heat) and water after careful mechanical comminution in a conditioning drum.

For the preparation of the harvested tobacco leaves, several treatment steps are carried out, so that at the end of the treatment process cut tobacco or fine tobacco cut is provided for further processing in cigarette manufacturing machines. Cut tobacco usually undergoes a treatment prior to its finishing, which essentially comprises the following steps: dissolving, conditioning the tobacco by preheating and moistening, sifting the tobacco, mixing and cutting the tobacco, drying the tobacco, sieving and cooling the tobacco, and flavoring tion of tobacco. The mixing of tobacco is also called dazzle.

From the published patent applications DE-A-39 08 937 and DE-A-39 08

939, methods for making cut tobacco are known.

Moreover, document DE-A-197 56 217 discloses a method for the treatment of fine-cut tobacco, wherein the individual treatment steps are explicitly carried out, so that reference is explicitly made to this document. The main process steps in the tobacco processing or in the so-called primary process consist of dissolving and conditioning the tobacco and addition of additives, separating and cutting the tobacco, drying and blending. In addition, ancillary process steps can be performed in addition. These ancillary process steps consist in the selection of undissolved parts, metal and foreign bodies. In addition, there is a secondary process step in expanding the tobacco.

These process steps are used in so-called process elements, e.g. Dissolving and conditioning drums, mixing boxes, classifying devices, drying drums, etc. executed.

Furthermore, devices for treating tobacco in a conditioning medium, preferably in superheated steam, are known in the art. The treatment of the tobacco with superheated steam serves to dry the tobacco. With the help of such devices, all cut tobacco types, ie, for example, cigar insert and cold, gas-impregnated cut tobacco, can be dried. Before drying usually takes place an expansion of the tobacco with saturated steam. The expansion increases the filling capacity of the tobacco. The subsequent drying of the tobacco ensures a further increased filling capacity of the dried end product.

Such a device for expanding and drying tobacco with the aid of saturated steam and superheated steam is sold by Hauni Maschinenbau AG under the product name "HDT Heißdampfrockner". In addition, DE 197 34 364 of Hauni Maschinenbau AG discloses a method and a device for applying a conditioning medium to tobacco. In this case, the used for expanding the tobacco Saturated steam is fed to the tobacco through a rotating Winnover roller with radial steam jets that produce a rotating jet curtain for the tobacco. The Winnover roller is also used to spin the thus expanded tobacco through an adjacent opening in a traversed by superheated steam steam dryer in which it gives off moisture to the superheated steam used.

In general, the process elements of the primary process are usually performed on a horizontal surface.

To bring the tobacco or the tobacco intermediates after passing through a process element or a processing function unit to another process element or a further processing function unit, belt conveyor systems are provided, which promote the tobacco and the tobacco intermediates over long distances to the respective process components or functional units , In the process components, a treatment then takes place, wherein the treated tobacco product leaves the process component usually at a lower height level, so that it then has to be promoted back to the next process component to a higher level. For such a tobacco processing plant a total of a plurality of delivery components, e.g. Conveyor belts, required, the individual process components are arranged very far apart and thus spatially separated.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a tobacco treatment plant, which can be quickly assembled and disassembled.

This task is solved by a tobacco processing plant with several processing units for tobacco and tobacco processing. preparation intermediates, wherein the conditioning function units or subunits of the conditioning functional units are substantially adapted to the size of standardized containers.

The invention is based on the assumption that the processing function units or subunits of the processing functional units can be delivered ready for use or pre-assembled in containers and can be connected to one another by means of a low assembly outlay. Correspondingly, disassembly can also be done relatively simply, so that a tobacco processing plant according to the invention with its processing function units and subunits of the processing functional units can be brought into containers ready for use and thus can be spent on a different location and mounted there again in a time-saving manner.

This results in a low building costs, low energy consumption and low operating costs. The tobacco processing plant can be used without complete disassembly, i. be loaded with only a partial dismantling in containers. The tobacco processing plant is palletized accordingly for optimal loading, transport securing and assembly. With appropriate disassembly of treatment function units structurally simple interfaces are provided. It is further provided to keep the connections to any building installations low. In the context of the invention, the term container also includes the term charge-receiving space. In particular, this means the usual standard in international trade standard container, for example, 20 or 40 feet container.

Preferably, the entirety of the treatment functional units forms the tobacco treatment plant. In the context of the invention, the term container comprises a standardized container for the transport in cuboid form, which is intended in particular for ship transport, for semi-trailer or for rail transport. These conventional and known containers have a length of 40 feet. The conditioning functional units or subunits, wherein at least two subunits form a conditioning functional unit, fit into the container. This results in only a partial decomposition of the processing function units or no decomposition of the processing functional units. Joined parts forming subunits or conditioning functional units can remain mounted. Two or more subunits can form a rendering function entity. If the processing unit for a container is too large, for example, two containers for the processing unit can be provided, which are arranged, for example, one behind the other, side by side or one above the other. The conditioning function unit then has an interface between two subunits, whereby the two subunits can then be brought into the respective containers.

The size of the rendering function units or subunits is essentially adapted to the size of standardized containers. This is to be understood in the context of the invention that, for example, a transmission or an engine at a

It may be necessary to dismantle the reprocessing function unit as otherwise it will not fit into the container. For example, in a slicer, the knife holder could be removed. Large storage containers such as Final Blend silos, for example, are divided into two parts and thus in two

Container spent. Preferably, a conditioning functional unit is a tobacco cutter, a dryer, a conditioner, a sifter, a storage device or a flavor device. The term storage device also includes the term silo. The term flavor device also includes in the context of the invention

Term flavor cylinder.

It can also be several subunits put together or not put together in a container into it.

Preferably, at least two subunits have at least one interface for joining the subunits to a conditioning functional unit. The interface is simple in this case, so that a quick assembly and disassembly is possible. The interface is for example preferably a positive connection. It can also be provided latching elements to avoid a complicated adjustment of the interface or the subunits to each other. For example, a dryer or dryer provided with the reference numeral 40 in the figure examples could be preinstalled, i. that, for example, an insulation is already provided around the tubes. At the point where the pipe is split, the insulation is not attached and there is a flange provided, which simply has to be screwed together. It may also be provided a tongue and groove fit, so that the

Flange to the counterpart in the right place without further adjustment is mounted. Then an insulation mattress can be wrapped around the flange and the power dryer is fully assembled.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which in the tobacco processing plant both tobacco ribs and Tabaklamina hin- can be processed one after the other and / or simultaneously. So a line is given for the tobacco leaf (lamina) and the tobacco rib. As a result, a high system utilization is possible. The mode of operation may in this case be such that first the tobacco ribs are prepared and temporarily stored and then tobacco lamina. At the end of the preparation process, both components are combined.

If the treatment unit or the subunit, in particular releasably connected to a container frame and / or a base plate of the container, a very fast assembly or disassembly of the tobacco processing plant is possible. In the context of the invention, the term base plate also includes the term container wall.

Preferably, the walls of the container are at least partially removable. Under demountable or removable wall is also a removable ceiling or a removable or demountable base plate to understand.

If the container comprises elements for releasably connecting to at least one other container, a stable combination of the containers can be created.

If the elements are arranged on the container such that, after connection to another container, the processing function units and / or subunits introduced into the container can be connected to one another without further adjustment, the assembly and disassembly of the tobacco processing units is even more efficient.

Preferably, for the power supply, in particular the Steam, air and / or power supply, quick release provided for connection with the treatment function units.

For example, when the power supply is at least partially mounted to at least one container scaffold, it is not even necessary for the conditioning functional units or subunits to be removed from the container scaffolding to assemble the tobacco processing system. The energy supply then happens from the corresponding point on the container frame to the processing function units.

Preferably, the elements for connection also comprise the connection of the power supply from one container to the next container. A particularly secure transport is possible when mounted around the treatment function units and, in particular separated, subunits containers.

Preferably, at least one treatment functional unit and / or at least one subunit of a tobacco treatment plant are mounted in a container.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings. With respect to all details of the invention not explained in detail, reference is expressly made to the drawings. Show it:

1 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a tobacco processing plant according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of

Tobacco processing plant of Fig. 1, wherein sections are shown, from which it can be seen which processing function units or subunits are respectively received in a container,

Fig. 3 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a

Part of the tobacco processing plant according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and

Fig. 4 is a schematic three-dimensional representation of a

Part of the tobacco processing plant according to the invention from FIG. 1.

1 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of a tobacco processing plant 10 according to the invention. Tobacco leaves, ie lamina, and tobacco ribs can be processed in the tobacco processing plant 10. Figs. 3 and 4 show the same device as Fig. 1, but in an enlarged view, so that the devices shown there are better visible.

At the beginning of the treatment process in the lower left area of the tobacco processing plant of FIG. 1, either tobacco leaves in the form of, for example, tobacco bales are placed on a conveyor belt 19 and gently pre-dissolved in a raw tobacco slicer 20, in order subsequently to reach a tobacco balance 21 which is in the form of a tobacco balance Belt scale is formed. Alternatively, tobacco ribs can be spent on a tube lip feeder 22 and a subsequent conveyor belt to a two-stage sifter 23 and then to the tobacco balance 21st

In an efficient process, tube lips are first dosed, sifted and dedusted the tobacco balance 21 fed and further processed accordingly. Subsequently, lamina is processed.

In FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the movements of elements shown are partially indicated by arrows. Subsequent to the tobacco balance 21, a conditioner 24 is provided, in which ribs or lamina are further loosened and conditioned as usual. Flavorings are stored in sauce tanks 25 and fed to the conditioner 24. The conditioner 24 is adjoined by a conveyor belt 27, by means of which conditioned tobacco in the form of lamina or ribs are introduced into corresponding silos, namely laminate silos 26 or 26 'or rib silo 31. The introduction takes place in layers. The silos 26, 26 'and 31 are filled via the movable mixing conveyor belt 27'.

The ribs are discharged by means of a conveyor belt 32 from the rib silo 31 and placed on a conveyor belt 33, on which a metal detector 34 and / or a foreign body detection device, which is not shown, is arranged. Any detected material, such as metal or foreign bodies, is discharged in the lock 35. The ribs or material that has not been discharged is conveyed by means of a steep conveyor 36 to a belt scale 37 and a tobacco cutter 38, which is designed to effectively cut both ribs and lamina. The cut tobacco is then fed to a conveyor 39, which introduces the tobacco directly into a dryer 40. In contrast to the prior art, therefore, no buffer exists behind the tobacco cutter 38. The dosage occurs before the tobacco cutter 38.

Following the dryer 40, a classifier cooler 41 is provided which both screens and cools the tobacco. By means of an adjoining balance 42, the amount of tobacco conveyed or the mass flow detected. It will then be supplied via Blend-adding devices 43 and 43 'and a further metering device, not shown, further mixing components. By means of a conveyor 44, the corresponding tobacco mixture passes into a flavoring cylinder 45. Subsequent to the floating cylinder 45, the finished tobacco passes or the correspondingly prepared ribs reach a conveyor belt 48. It can be conveyed via the tobacco adding device and For example, tobacco may be added from waste packages or scrap cigarettes. The tobacco then passes via the conveyor belt 48 into so-called final blend silos 49 and 49 '. Here, a usual mixture of the tobacco by layerwise insertion of the same happens. The discharge from these silos is done via a Siloaustragband 50, followed by a box filling 51 connects.

Accordingly, the procedure for lamina, which is applied to the conveyor belt 19 initially in bale shape. The discharge from the laminasilo 26 and 26 'takes place via a conveyor belt 28 to a laminator 29. The sighted tobacco then passes via an indicated pipeline into the string remover 30 and subsequently via the conveyor belt 33 to the metal detector 34 or the foreign body detection device. In the string remover 30 thread-like foreign bodies are removed from the tobacco.

Some of the conveyor belts have a pitch of 55 °. As a result, the processing function units can be built very space-saving.

The possibility of preparing both ribs and lamina allows a high level of system utilization.

For sighting and dedusting of the pipe lips, it is possible to Exploiting the system of the laminasighter. The ribs are stored in appropriate silos for moisture penetration. It is possible to hide batches. Production is possible both in batches and continuously. The dryer 40 may be a current dryer with expansion unit. As a variant of the tobacco processing plant of FIG. 1, a second cutting device could be used. It could find rib silos with separate mixing conveyor use. On the Blendingsilos could be waived. It could be a rib moisture in boxes instead of the rib moisture in the silo. The discharge from the boxes can with

Steep conveyors happen. A special classifier may be provided for the rib section to free the rib section from heavy parts. For this purpose, the air system of the Laminasichters can be used.

FIG. 2 shows the tobacco processing plant 10 from FIG. 1, wherein it is shown schematically how corresponding 40 foot containers can be arranged for dividing or receiving the processing function units or subunits of the processing functional units of the tobacco processing plant 10. Thus, for example, the following components or conditioning function units or subunits can be brought into a respective container 53:

- conveyor belt 19, raw tobacco slicer 20, tobacco balance 21 and

Sifter 23,

Conditioner 24 including sauce tanks 25,

- laminasilo 26,

Laminasilo 26 ', Rib silo 31,

String remover 30, conveyor belt 33, metal detector 34, metal lock 35 and vertical conveyor 36,

lower part of the dryer 40 and classifier cooler 41,

Upper part of the dryer 40, wherein the lower part of the dryer 40 is a subunit in the context of the invention and the upper part is also a subunit in the context of the invention. The lower part of the dryer 40 can also be divided into two subunits, as indicated in FIG. 2,

Balance 42, conveyor 44 and flavoring cylinders 45,

Blend addition device 43 and 43 ',

Tobacco adding device 46 and conveyor belt 47,

2/3 of Final Blend Silos 49,

1/3 of Final Blend Silos 49 and 1/3 of Final Blend Silos 49 ',

2/3 of Final Blend Silos 49 'and

Silo discharge belt 50 and crate filling 51.

The tobacco processing plant or its processing function units and subunits are thus such that they are adapted to the size of, for example, the usual 40-foot containers are. In the case where subunits of conditioning function units have to be introduced into the containers, since the corresponding conditioning function unit would be too large, correspondingly rapidly mountable and removable interfaces of the subunits to each other are provided in order to efficiently achieve assembly or disassembly of the respective conditioning functional unit. In Fig. 2, the corresponding container contours 52 are shown schematically for better illustration. These can sometimes also be somewhat offset from those shown. The illustration of Fig. 2 is only a rough overview of what elements could fit into the respective container.

A container 53 is comparatively enlarged also shown in Fig. 2. This comprises a base plate 54, a container frame 55, which consists of at least the bearing edges of the container 53 and this includes. In addition, a container wall 56 is indicated. The container itself naturally has six walls.

The conditioning function units such as the conditioner 24 may be connected only to a base plate 54 of a container 53 and / or to the container frame 55, so that, for example, the conditioner 24 does not have to be transported out of the container, but rather only the walls 56 of the container 53 would have to be removed. The container frame 55 can then stop. When mounting on the base plate

54, the container frame 55 could also be removed and the base plate 54 would remain in the factory building in which the tobacco processing plant is to come to rest. By appropriate connecting elements between the containers or between see the base plates 54 of the adjacent containers and / or the container structures 55 of the adjacent container 53 can also be a very efficient and fast assembly and disassembly ge Schehen.

In addition, a Burley special treatment in such a system is possible. These are more containers, eg for the Burley Toaster necessary

LIST OF REFERENCES

10 tobacco processing plant

19 conveyor belt

20 raw tobacco slicer

21 Tobacco balance

22 pipe lip feeder

23 classifiers

24 conditioners

25 sauce tank

26, 26 'laminasilo

27 conveyor belt

27 'mixed driving band

28 conveyor belt

29 laminasighters

30 string remover

31 rib silo

32 conveyor belt

33 conveyor belt

34 metal detector

35 lock

36 steep conveyors

37 belt scale

38 tobacco cutters

39 sponsors

40 dryers

41 classifier cooler

42 Libra

43, 43 'Blendzugabevorrichtung

44 sponsors

45 flavoring cylinder

46 Tobacco adding device 47 conveyor belt

48 Conveyor 9 'Final Blend Silo

50 silo discharge belt

51 crate filling

52 Container outline

53 containers

54 base plate

55 container scaffolding

56 container wall

Claims

Tobacco treatment plant patent claims

1. Tobacco processing plant (10) with a plurality of processing functional units (19 - 51) for tobacco and tobacco processing intermediates, characterized in that the conditioning function units (19 - 51) or subunits (19 - 51) of the conditioning functional units (19 - 51) substantially to the Size of standardized containers (52) are adjusted.

2. tobacco processing plant (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that a treatment function unit (19 - 51) a tobacco cutter (20, 38), a dryer (40), a conditioner (24), a sifter (23, 29) , a storage device (26, 26 ', 31 ^' , 49, 49 ') or a flavor device (45).

3. tobacco processing plant (10) according to claim 1 or 2, da- characterized in that at least two subunits (19 - 51) have at least one interface for joining the subunits (19 - 51) to a conditioning functional unit (19 - 51).

4. tobacco processing plant (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in these tobacco ribs and / or Tabaklamina are consecutively and partially simultaneously processed.

5. tobacco processing plant (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conditioning function unit (19 - 51) or the subunit (19 - 51), in particular detachably, with a container frame (55) and / or a base plate (54) of the container (53) is connected.

6. tobacco processing plant (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the walls of the container are at least partially removable.

7. tobacco processing plant (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the container (53) comprises elements for releasable connection with at least one further container (53).

8. tobacco processing plant (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that the elements are arranged on the container (53) such that after connection with another container (53) which introduced into the container (53)

Conditioning function units (19 - 51) and / or subunits (19 - 51) essentially without further adjustment mit- can be connected to each other.

9. tobacco processing plant (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that for the energy supply, in particular the steam, air and / or

Power supply, quick fasteners for connection to the conditioning function units (19 - 51) are provided.

10. tobacco processing plant (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that the power supply is at least partially mounted on at least one container frame (55).

11. tobacco processing plant (10) according to one or more of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the elements for connecting the connection of the power supply from a container (53) to the next container (53).

12. tobacco processing plant (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that around the conditioning function units (19 - 51) and, in particular separated, lower units (19 - 51) are mounted container (53) around.

13. Container (53) in which at least one treatment function unit (19 - 51) and / or at least one subunit (19 - 51) of a tobacco treatment plant (10), in particular according to one or more of claims 1 to 12 mounted.