EP1834530B1 - Treatment of a filter material rod of the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

A strip (2) of filter tow material is fed along a conveyor belt. A liquid additive is applied to this strip in an application section (7) by means of an applicator (31). Contact between this strip of filter tow material and a point making contact with this strip is terminated within the application section either during or after introducing stoppage in production.

Description

The invention relates to a method for processing a strip of filter material of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular Filtertowstreiferi, which is conveyed along a conveying path, wherein in a job path by means of an applicator a, preferably liquid, additive is applied to the strip.

For the production of filter rods for the tobacco processing industry, a strip of filter material, in particular filter tow, of interconnected fibers, such as cellulose acetate, continuously withdrawn from a stock, eg from a bale, spread, stretched and with a plasticizer, such as triacetin, sprayed, laterally shirred, fed to a blown air nozzle and then fed to a hopper, fed from which the processed and compressed filter strip a filter rod machine becomes. In a filter rod machine, the strip formed into a filter strand is enveloped continuously with a wrapping material strip, with further compression, so that filter rods are cut off from the wrapped filter strand.

A generic device or arrangement for processing a Filtermateriälstreifens is off EP-B-0 654 224 known.

Proven processing equipment of the type described above are built and sold under the name AF2, AF3 and AF4 by the patent applicant. Proven filter rod machines of the type described are built and sold under the name KDF2, KDF3 and KDF4 by the patent applicant.

Furthermore, in DE-A-100 31 848 and EP-A-1 325 685 Apparatuses for producing filter rods for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry are described in which filter tow strips are passed along a stretching line, application line and gathering line.

During the production or preparation of a filter tow strip, triacetin deposits in the interior of the housing of an application device or spraying chamber in the form of mist. The Triacetinnebel can thereby emerge from the inlet and outlet columns of the housing and wet in the area of the order range filter material strips leading areas in the drafting system.

In an interruption of the treatment process, ie at a machine stop, for example, to carry out maintenance, the promotion of the filter tuck is interrupted, whereby the stopped Towstreifen in the order range due to the deposition in the spray chamber or outside the spray chamber with triacetin in contact.

After a period of a few minutes, for example 10 minutes, the tow strip, which comes in contact with triacetin, begins to dissolve. In a subsequent start of production or machine start, it may therefore come to demolish the tow.

Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is to improve the treatment process, in particular after a production stop or an interruption, wherein it should be possible that after a business interruption production in the simplest possible way can be started trouble-free ,

This object is achieved by a method for processing a strip of filter material of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter tow, which is conveyed along a conveyor line, wherein in a Auftragsstrecke by means of a applicator a, preferably liquid, additive is applied to the strip, which further developed in that, upon or after the initiation of a production stop, the contact between the strip and at least one point contacting the strip within the application line is terminated.

The invention is based on the idea that after initiation or during a stoppage of production, the strip or its section is or will be arranged freely in the area of the application line, that is to say that the strip has no contact with production facilities from the current production operation, which are provided at a standstill with Triacetinablagerungen. As a result, the strip does not reach the strip of material during the downtime in the spray chamber or application device Devices, such as guide surfaces, Abstreifblechen or the like in contact, so that no carryover of deposits of triacetin takes place at the guide means, whereby the strip portion could soften. During the waiting period, contact between the stationary strip of material and contact points with amounts of triacetin in the area of the application line or application device is thus prevented.

For this purpose, it is provided in a development that the strip is lifted by means of at least one lifting device. If the applicator is formed with a closed spray chamber, it is necessary for this that the housing of the applicator is opened to arrange the strip by means of a lifting device, for example in the form of one or more support rods or a gripping device contactlessly to the production facilities of a job path.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, it is possible for an upper housing part and a lower housing part of the applicator to be spaced apart, whereby a stationary filter material strip arranged between roller pairs of the applicator path remains stationary, while the contact-bearing and deposed stripping plates of an applicator device are removed from the stationary strip or spaced.

For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous if an upper housing part of the applicator is raised and / or a lower housing part of the applicator is lowered, so that the housing parts are spaced from each other. By lowering the lower housing part according to the invention is also achieved that the contact between the strip and the points that touch the strip in production, is terminated.

Moreover, it is provided in a further embodiment that the application device is closed to start production.

The free arrangement of the stationary or stationary strip of material within the order path during the downtime has the advantage that it prevents the strip of filter material from coming in contact with triacetin for a prolonged period of time and thus does not dissolve or dissolve. Overall, this extends the service life and softening of the material strip by triacetin or the like avoided.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Aufbereitungseinrichtung gemäß dem Stand der Technik und

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht einer Auftragseinrichtung während der laufenden Produktion von Filtersträngen in einem Querschnitt;

Fig. 3

eine Ansicht einer Auftragseinrichtung während eines Produktionsstopps in einem Querschnitt und

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Auftragseinrichtung während des Produktionsstopps in einem Querschnitt.

The invention will now be described by way of example without limitation of the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, to which reference is expressly made with respect to the disclosure of all unspecified in the text details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

schematically a processing device according to the prior art and

Fig. 2

a view of an applicator during the ongoing production of filter strands in a cross section;

Fig. 3

a view of an application device during a production stop in a cross section and

Fig. 4

a view of another embodiment of an application device during the production stop in a cross section.

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.

According to Fig. 1 the processing device for a stripped off a bale strip 2 of filter tow, eg cellulose acetate, with continuous fibers following main assemblies that passes through the strip 2 below, on: a withdrawal line 3, a Vorreckstrecke 4, a stretch 6, a Auftragsstrecke 7, a Raffstrecke 8 and a feed line 9. The feed line 9 serves to feed a strip section to an inlet device of a filter rod machine 11, shown schematically, for example, from the known in the tobacco industry type KDF2, KDF3 or KDF4 of the patent applicant.

The withdrawal line 3, in which of a not shown here. Bales withdrawn filter material strip 2 is promoted, has a spreader nozzle 16, which receives compressed air from a compressed air source. The compressed air is used to spread the extracted filter fabric in this section. A controllable spreader nozzle is eg in the US-A-4,259,769 described.

Via a deflection plate 19 of the filter tow 2 passes into the pre-stretch 4, on the one hand by a pair of rollers 21 with the rollers 22, 23, on the other hand by a pair of rollers 24 with motor-driven rollers 26, 27 is limited. The rollers 22, 23 are towed from the tow strip, ie they run empty with more or less resistance. If necessary, they can be powered by a motor. They can also be pressed in a manner known per se with controllable force against each other. In the Vorreckstrecke 4, in which the strip portion is conveyed obliquely down, the filter tow 2 is vorgereckt.

To the pair of rollers 24, the stretching line 6 connects, in which the filter tow 2 is conveyed vertically or with a vertical component from top to bottom. At the end of the stretching section 6 is another pair of rollers 39 of motor-driven rollers 41, 42 whose peripheral speeds are slightly greater than the peripheral speeds of the rollers 26, 27, so that the elastic filter tow 2 is defined stretched. The roller pairs 24 and 39 thus form the actual stretching device. The rollers 26 and 41 have a rigid, grooved surface, each contacting a compliant surface of the rollers 27 and 42, respectively. Such roll configurations are known from the aforementioned filter tup processing devices AF 2, AF 3 and AF 4 of the applicant and, for example, in US-A-3,317,965 and US-A-3 255 506 described.

The roller pair 39 is followed by a further pair of rollers 43 with rollers 44, 46 whose peripheral speeds are lower than those of the rollers 41, 42, so that the filter tow 2 is slightly relaxed in its promotion. The pair of rollers 43 has a smooth rubber roller 44, which is in contact with the steel roller 46. The roller pairs 39 and 43 thus limit the application path 7, which in the present case is arranged approximately horizontally, in which an application device (FIG. Fig. 2 , Reference numeral 47) is arranged in the form of a spraying device.

The applicator 47 sprays the transported filter tow 2 from one or both sides with fine droplets of a solvent for the filter tow material, eg triacetin.

The application device 47 may be arranged upstream of the applicator section 7 (not shown here) spreader nozzle, so that the stretched filter tow 2 is further spread and the solvent wets a larger surface of the filter tow 2. The upstream of the roller pair 21 of the Vorreckstrecke 4 spreader nozzles 16, 17 and optionally the spreader nozzle in the order path 7 are pressurized with compressed air.

The order path 7 is a shirring 8 downstream, in which the filter tow 2 is conveyed with predominantly vertical component of a motor-driven roller 53 from bottom to top.

The roller 53 is arranged downstream of a feed path 9. In the feed line 9 also known per se so-called. Stopfdüse is present. After passing through the Stopfdüse the filter tow is fed to a filter rod machine 11.

For more details is expressly on US-A-5 590 449 directed.

In Fig. 2 For example, an applicator 47 for applying a plasticizer, eg triacetin, to the spread filter tow 2 in a schematic cross-sectional view during on-going production is shown. The strip 2 of filter material is transported according to the conveying direction F from right to left. In the lower area of the applicator 47 are a plurality of application nozzles 31, of which only one is shown, which generates a spray cone 32 with plasticizer droplets of triacetin during ongoing production. By means of the application nozzles 31, a fine, mist-like atomization of a plasticizer, for example triacetin, is achieved.

The strip 2 is guided through lower stripping plates 33, 34 by the applicator 47. The lower stripping plates 33, 34 are arranged in the lower region of the application device 47 or of the lower housing part 13. Above the filter tow 2, three stripping plates 15 are arranged in the closed housing of the application device 47 on the upper housing part 12.

The upper Abstreifbleche 15 are hook-shaped or V-shaped or formed in the manner of a parabola. On the underside of the stripping plates 15, the spread-out filter tow strip 2 is transported past according to the marked conveying direction F. In this case, touching the filter tow 2 and the stripping plate 15 in the lowest point of the stripping plate 15.

In addition, a further stripper plate 14 is disposed above the filter tow 2 in the entry region of the strip 2 in the applicator 47.

By applying triacetin to the filter tow 2, for example, by means of an application nozzle or an application brush, which is not shown here, droplets of triacetin are applied to the filter tow 2. Due to the volatility of the triacetin droplets, the atmosphere in the applicator housing 47 is enriched with triacetin droplets.

In the in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 In embodiments shown, when production was interrupted, the supply of triacetin via the application nozzles 31 was stopped and a production stop was initiated on a filter material processing machine.

In Fig. 3 is an inventive arrangement on the applicator 47 shown in cross section according to a first embodiment. In this case, the job on the application nozzles 31 is completed and the strip 2 stopped. After a complete machine stop, the closed housing of the applicator 47 is opened, wherein the upper housing part 12 is raised after completion of Triacetinauftrags and the promotion of the strip 2 upwards. The lower housing part 13 remains stationary.

After opening the housing of the applicator 47 rod-shaped support rods 18, 20 are moved from below to the strip 2 upwards, so that the strip 2 is deflected from its original position during the production of filter strands or filter rods upwards. In this case, the strip 2 is no longer on the contact-carrying lower Abstreifblechen 33, 34 of the lower housing part 13, so that after deflection of the strip 2 by the laterally raised support rods 18, 20 of the strip 2 is held in the range of Auftragsstrecke above the housing part 13 at a distance , In this case, the strip 2 has no contact with devices, e.g. the Abstreifblechen 33, 34, or organs or the like the Auftragsstrecke 7, where triacetin deposits are present.

The lifting of the support rods 18, 20 is indicated in the drawing by vertically upwardly pointing arrows.

The production situation of the strip 2 is in Fig. 3 dashed lines. By lifting the resting, ie stationary strip 2 by means of the vertically moving support rods 18, 20, the strip 2 is in the in Fig. 3 illustrated position in a rest position in which Triacetinablagerungen with the filter tow 2 do not come into contact.

In order to form a relaxation of the stretched strip 2 during the standstill time of the machine or of the filter tow strip, the contacting contact between the rollers 41, 42 of the roller pair 39 can be terminated by pivoting the roller 42 away in a development. This is in Fig. 3 indicated with an arrow pointing to the left on the roller 42.

In the context of the invention, it is also possible that the input side roller pair of the stretching section (see. Fig. 1 , Reference numeral 24) is opened, so that the input-side rollers (see. Fig. 1 , Reference numerals 26, 27) are no longer in touching contact. Due to the fact that during a machine standstill the preparation of the strip 2 is also terminated by stretching, the strip 2 is in a relaxed state in the region of the application path 7 when the production is at a standstill.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that, when the machine or production stop is at a standstill, the contacting contact between the rollers 44, 46 of the output-side roller pair at the application path 7 is likewise terminated for the duration of the standstill.

In order to start production on a processing machine, the holding rods 18, 20 are lowered. Subsequently, the upper housing part 12 is moved downward, whereby the housing of the applicator 47 is closed. Subsequently or simultaneously, the pairs of rollers 39, 43 of the application path 7 and the stretching device are brought into touching contact, if during the downtime the corresponding rolls of the pairs of rolls have been separated from each other.

For commissioning, the strip 2, which is conveyed horizontally in the application path 7, after its stretching in the following Stretching line (cf. Fig. 1 , Reference numeral 6) in the order path with triacetin on the application nozzle 31 sprayed (see. Fig. 2 ).

At the in Fig. 4 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the housing of the application device 47, consisting of an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 13, is opened by raising the upper housing part 12 and lowering the lower housing part 13 with respect to the strip 2, so that the between the roller pairs 39 and 43 arranged strip 2 is not in contact with the lower and upper Abstreifblechen 33, 34 and 15 device to record deposits of triacetin to the Abstreifblechen 33, 34. In addition, the contact between the inlet plate 28 on the input side of the applicator 47 and the outlet plate 30 is interrupted or terminated on the output side by lowering the lower housing part 13. The inlet plate 28 and the outlet plate 30 are arranged on the lower housing part 13 and point outwards.

To start up the production or the applicator 47, the lower housing part 13 and the upper housing part 12 are moved back to their working position.

In the context of the invention, it is obvious to a person skilled in the art that certain features of the two variants can be combined with one another within the scope of the disclosure, such an embodiment being directed to an automatic restarting of the production process being possible without or with a few manual manipulations ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

strip

3

extraction path

4

pre-stretching

6

stretching section

7

coating section

8th

gathering section

9

supply route

11

Filter rod machine

12

Upper housing part

13

lower housing part

14

stripper

15

stripper

16

spreading nozzle

17

spreading nozzle

18

retaining bar

19

baffle

20

retaining bar

21

roller pair

22

roller

23

roller

24

roller pair

26

roller

27

roller

28

infeed plate

30

delivery plate

31

applicator

32

spray cones

33

stripper

34

stripper

37

inlet slot

38

outlet slot

39

roller pair

41

roller

42

roller

43

roller pair

44

squeegee

46

steel roll

47

applicator

53

roller

F

conveying direction

Claims (5)

1. Method for the treatment of a strip (2) of filter material in the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter tow strip (2), which is conveyed along a conveyor section (6, 7, 8), wherein a, preferably liquid, additive (32) is applied to the strip (2) in an application section (7) by means of an application device (47, 31), characterised in that during or after introduction of a stoppage in production the contact between the strip (2) and at least one point contacting the strip (2) within the application section (7) is terminated.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the strip (2) is raised by means of at least one raising device (18, 20).
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that an upper housing part (12) and a lower housing part (13) of the application device (47) are separated from one another.
4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that an upper housing part (12) of the application device (47) is raised and/or a lower housing part (13) of the application device is (47) lowered.
5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the application device (47) is closed for the commencement of production.

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