EP1847185A1 - Manufacture of fibre filters - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves unmixing fibers (12, 13) e.g. bi-component fibers and carbon fibers, of two different fiber types and accumulating the unmixed fibers. The fibers of finite length of two different fiber types are combined and mixed. The combined fibers are conveyed to a separating device by a flow of transport air (42). The combined and mixed fibers are separated by accelerating the fibers in a teasel and loosening the fibers, where the combining and mixing occurs directly before the separating process. A fiber web (41) is formed after the separating process. An independent claim is also included for a device for producing filter rods of the tobacco processing industry.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing and an apparatus for producing filter rods of the tobacco-processing industry.

• Zuführen von vereinzelten Filtermaterialien zu einem Fließbett,
• Transportieren des Filtermaterials in dem Fließbett im Wesentlichen mittels eines Transportluftstromes in Richtung einer Strangaufbauvorrichtung und
• Aufschauern des Filtermaterials auf der Strangaufbauvorrichtung.

From the EP 1 464 241 A1 The applicant is a method for producing a nonwoven fabric for the production of filters or filter rods of the tobacco processing industry known. There is also disclosed a Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung the tobacco processing industry, wherein the Filterstrangherstelleinrichtung comprises at least one Filtermaterialzuführvorrichtung from which the dosed material is dispensable and a strand-building device in which the filter material is knit into a strand. The from the EP 1 464 241 A1 The known filter strand production device also has the feature that the filter material can be conveyed in a fluidized bed from the filter material supply device to the strand construction device. The method disclosed in this document characterized by the following process steps:

• Supplying isolated filter materials to a fluidized bed,
• Transporting the filter material in the fluidized bed essentially by means of a transport air flow in the direction of a strand-building device and
• Shuddering of the filter material on the strand building apparatus.

• Vereinzeln von Fasern wenigstens einer Sorte Filtermaterials in einer Vereinzelungsvorrichtung,
• Zuführen der vereinzelten Fasern zu einem Förderer, der sich in einer Förderrichtung bewegt,
• Aufschauern der vereinzelten Fasern auf dem Förderer, wodurch sich ein Vlies bildet, wobei die Vereinzelungsvorrichtung wenigstens ein Vereinzelungselement umfasst, das um eine Rotationsachse rotiert, wobei die Rotationsachse im Wesentlichen parallel der Förderrichtung des Förderers ausgerichtet ist.

From the EP 1 464 240 A1 the applicant is a method and an apparatus for producing a nonwoven fabric for the production of filter rods is known, wherein the method is characterized by the following method steps:

• Separating fibers of at least one sort of filter material in a separating device,
• Feeding the singulated fibers to a conveyor moving in a conveying direction,
• Churning of the separated fibers on the conveyor, whereby a fleece forms, wherein the separating device comprises at least one separating element which rotates about an axis of rotation, wherein the axis of rotation is aligned substantially parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor.

The device described there is characterized in that separating devices are provided, which are separated from each other are designed.

The devices in the two cited European patent applications process finite fibers, so that nonwovens, filter rods and filters are made of finite fibers and optionally other filter components such as granules.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efficient variant of a filter rod manufacturing method and a device for producing filter rods.

The object is achieved by a method for producing filter rods of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein fibers of finite length are comprised of two different types of fiber, wherein the fibers are brought together and mixed immediately before a singulation step.

The inventive method ensures that a separation of fiber materials is avoided before the separating step. In the context of the invention, immediately prior to a separating step, the mixing and merging without any further intermediate step means the separation step or processing step-free, or directly followed by the merging and mixing, a separating step. In the context of the invention, in particular finite fibers are processed from two or at least two different fiber types. Preferably, the mixing occurs with the merging or begins with the merging. This also includes, in particular, that the mixing begins with the merging and is continued on a predefinable conveying path.

If, after the singulation step, a step of shuddering to a nonwoven fabric occurs, a very homogenous filter rod can be made. The separating step preferably comprises an acceleration of the fibers, whereby a very homogeneous separation and also a very homogeneous filter rod can be achieved. In a particularly simple procedure, the acceleration takes place in or by means of a card. Under carding is understood in the context of the invention, a carding or a part of a carding or a carding, in particular carding is understood to include one or more rollers, which are formed on the peripheral surface similar to a natural card. These can also be configured with sawtooth or Trapezzahngarnituren. There may also be correspondingly fine spiked rollers.

Preferably, the fibers of two different fiber types are combined unmixed prior to the step of merging and mixing. In the context of the invention, the term unmixed includes in particular pure type. If the fibers are dammed up unmixed before merging, a particularly good dosage of the fibers is possible. They can then subsequently be singulated or singulated, then combined and mixed and then separated again to produce homogeneous filter rods. Before the final separation step, a damming up of the fiber mixture can also be provided.

A particularly preferred embodiment is when the merged fibers are conveyed by means of a transport air flow to a separating device. The promotion by means of a transport air flow is preferably carried out in the field of mixing of the fibers. This can, however, too already happened shortly before the merging of the different fiber types or immediately before.

A particularly efficient embodiment of the separating device is present if it comprises a plurality of rollers arranged one behind the other, whose rotational speeds increase in the fiber conveying direction. This can be very efficient separation take place, which prevents segregation of the fibers.

The object is further achieved by a method for producing filter rods of the tobacco processing industry comprising fibers of finite length of at least one type of fiber, which preferably at least partially comprises the above method steps, wherein a step of singulating the fibers is provided in a singulator, wherein the singulated fibers , which emerge from the separating device, a movement component in the direction of a conveyor, in particular a Saugstrangförderers, in particular against gravity. This makes it possible that the amount of air flow, which in the prior art, for example, according to the EP 1 464 241 A1 is needed, is significantly reduced and that less air must be removed from the process process, which allows a simplification of the process.

Preferably, the singulated fibers are spun directly from the singulation device into a suction chute. Preferably, the Saugstrangförderer connects to the suction shaft, in particular directly, so that after the separating device a very short distance for the fibers is traversed to be in the Saugstrangförderer, for example, on one or more Saugbändern crud.

In a preferred embodiment, in the conveying direction downstream of the separating device, the fibers are mixed with a further filter material, such as a granulate of activated carbon and / or binder, which has a component of movement in the direction of a Saugstrangförderers, in particular against gravity. This results in particular in a good mixing of the fibers with the other filter material and also the possibility of transport with as little suction air or transport air.

If two juxtaposed suction chutes or a division of a suction chute are provided in two juxtaposed Teilaugschächte, two filter strands can be made simultaneously, so that the throughput or the production amount of filter rods can be increased. The suction shafts are in this case preferably substantially parallel and have an angle between 0 ° and 15 ° to each other.

The object is further achieved by a device for the production of filter rods of the tobacco processing industry with at least two Faserzuführschächten, which open into a shaft, wherein the one shaft is followed by a separating device, wherein a conveyor, in particular a Saugstrangförderer is provided on the isolated Fibers of finite length are aufschauerbar. In this case, in particular, one shaft and the separating device lie directly behind one another in the conveying direction of the fibers or in the vicinity of one another. By the device according to the invention a particularly simple mixing of different fiber types is possible, with a segregation in the further process or in the further processing of the fiber mixture is avoided. Furthermore, a very small-sized device is made possible.

Preferably, a device for generating an air flow in the one shaft is provided, which is particularly suitable for conveying the fiber mixture. By providing a device for generating an air flow in the one shaft, which may preferably be a fan passing through the one shaft, a very efficient mixing of the material is also possible. For this purpose, for example, the fan may have one or more fan impellers, pass through the fibers, whereby a rotational component is supplied to the fiber mixture, which just allows a very good mixing.

If in each case one stowage shaft is arranged upstream of the at least two fiber feed shafts or is included in the at least two fiber feed shafts, a very homogeneous fiber mixture and also a very good predosing is possible.

Preferably, the one shaft is designed as a storage shaft. The variant in which a fan passes through a shaft means, in particular, that the fan is integrated into the shaft.

Preferably, the separating device comprises a plurality of rollers arranged one behind the other, whose rotational speeds increase in the fiber conveying direction. Preferably, at least one roller is designed like a card. For this purpose, the roller on the peripheral surface preferably has a structure such as a natural card, ie in particular engliegende pins or spikes. The roller may also be configured as a sawtooth or trapezoidal tooth on the circumferential surface. The sets of successive rolls can be configured ever finer in the fiber conveying direction, so that fibers which are transported by rollers lying one behind the other, a longitudinal alignment, parallelization and separation Experienced.

Preferably, a suction shaft adjoins the separating device directly, which is aligned vertically and is closed with a suction belt conveyor. As a result, a very compact device is possible. Preferably, the Saugstrangförderer is disposed at the upper end of the suction shaft, resulting in a very uniform fiber web formation in Saugstrangförderer so that very homogeneous filter rods can be produced. Preferably, two Saugstrangförderer or two suction belts are provided in a Saugstrangförderer to allow a very high throughput and a high production amount of filter rods.

If two suction shafts are provided or a suction chute in the fiber conveying direction is divided into two shafts shortly before the Saugstrangförderern or Saugstrangförderer with two suction belts, a uniform distribution of the fibers is possible.

A uniform distribution of the amounts of fibers that are absorbed by the suction belts or Saugstrangförderern, for example, by adjusting the air flow or the Saugluftstromes done by the respective suction belts or Saugstrangförderer.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3

einen Ausschnitt aus einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer weiteren Ausführungsform in schematischer Darstellung,

Fig. 4

einen Ausschnitt aus einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in noch einer weiteren Ausführungsform in schematischer Darstellung.

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:

Fig. 1

a schematic sectional view of an inventive Contraption,

Fig. 2

a schematic sectional view of a device according to the invention in a further embodiment,

Fig. 3

a section of a device according to the invention in a further embodiment in a schematic representation,

Fig. 4

a section of a device according to the invention in yet another embodiment in a schematic representation.

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.

Fig. 1 shows a sectional view through a device according to the invention in a first embodiment. In a fiber processing apparatus 10, fibers 12 of a first type of fiber and fibers 13 of a second type of fiber are fed by a first feed tube 14 and a second feed tube 15 into a first stowage bay 11 and a second stowage bay 11 'by, for example, transport air. The first type of fiber 12 may be, for example, a multiple-component fiber, in particular bicomponent fiber, and the second type of fiber 13 fibers of cellulose acetate, cellulose or carbon fibers. Various fiber materials, which have a finite length, can be provided. Regarding the different fiber materials is fully on the DE 102 17 410.5 referred to the applicant. The length of the fibers can preferably be smaller than the length of the filter rod to be produced. Accordingly, this may be between 0.1 mm and 60 mm and in particular preferably between 0.2 mm and 10 mm. For man-made fibers, the fiber thickness should be 1 to 20 dtex, preferably 2 to 6 dtex. The average fiber diameter may be in the range of preferably 10 to 40 .mu.m, in particular 20 to 38 .mu.m and in particular preferably between 30 and 35 microns. The fibers are preferably crimped, in particular zigzag-shaped and have 10 sheets per 10 mm.

By means of the feed rollers 16 and 16 ', the fibers 12 and 13 are removed from the accumulated region of the fibers of the storage chutes 11 and 11' and with a racket roller 17 or 17 'knocked out and into the first Faserzuführschacht 19 and the second Faserzuführschacht 19' transferred. In a merging region 20, the different fiber types 12 and 13 are combined to form a fiber mixture 32. The fiber mixture 32 enters a conveyor shaft 21 and can accumulate shortly before the feed roller 22 of a carding device or a part of a carding device. The dosage of the fiber types 12 and 13 is done by, for example, controlling the removal rates of the fibers by means of the feed rollers 16, 16 'and / or racket roller 17, 17'. The feed rollers 16, 16 'can be made slowly running, such that they promote the fibers against a spring-mounted trough, which is not shown. In this case, the fibers are drawn in and compacted into a thin compact fiber cake, which is not shown.

The fibrous cake conveyed down between draw-in rollers 16, 16 'and trough is then milled off or knocked out at the lower end of the trough by a respective fast-running drum 17, 17'. The fibers are loosened, isolated and entered into the shafts 19, 19 '. Here, a supporting air flow can be used, which is not shown in Fig. 1, however. At the end of the conveyor shaft 21, the fiber mixture is detected by the feed roller 22 and conveyed against the trough 23 and then a leaf spring battery 24. The trough 23 is spring-loaded. The result is a thin, compact fiber cake, which is not shown, and which is promoted and compressed between the feed roller 22, the trough 23 and the Biattfederbatterie 24.

Leaves the fiber cake the effective range of the leaf spring battery 24, it is detected by the high-speed roller 25 and taken over. The rollers 25, 26 and 27 are designed as a card or equipped with sawtooth or Trapezzahngarnituren. The rolling speeds are increasing from roller 25 to roller 27.

After the fibers of the fiber mixture 32 have been held for a rotation of approximately 180 ° in the clothing of the roller 25, the fibers 32 are transferred tangentially to the counter-rotating roller 26. Since the roller 26 rotates faster than the roller 25 and in particular has a finer card structure or a finer sawtooth or Trapezzahngarnitur, there is a longitudinal alignment, parallelization and separation of the fibers in the transfer.

After the fibers 32 have been held in the clothing of the roller 26 about 180 ° on the circumference, the fibers 32 are tangentially transferred to the turn in opposite directions rotating roller 27. Since the roller 27 rotates faster than the roller 26 and in particular has a finer card-like structure or a finer Sägezahn- or Trapezzahngarnitur, is again a longitudinal alignment, parallelization and separation of the fibers in the transfer. After the fibers 32 are held in the set of the roller 27 by 180 ° were the fibers 32 tangentially upwards in an air flow 44 of the channel or suction shaft 28 passed. Subsequently, the fiber mixture 32 reaches a suction belt 29 of a suction belt conveyor 30. The air flow 44 can additionally be deposited via a lateral suction 45 (or 45 'in FIG. 4) in front of the suction strand conveyor 30 from the fiber mixture or fiber / granulate mixture.

What is not shown in the FIGURE is followed by a conventional strand forming device, for example as shown in FIG. 10, of the suction strand conveyor EP 1 464 241 A1 , In this respect, reference is made in full to the disclosure of this European patent application. After producing a fiber cake on the suction belt 29 of the Saugstrangförderers 30 of the fiber cake is usually trimmed, fed to a formatting device to produce from the fibers forming, from the formed fiber cake or nonwoven fabric a fiber strand with desired cross-sectional geometry and possibly to envelop a wrapping material to be subsequently cut into filter rods.

Instead of an immediate Einschießens the fibers 32 in the suction shaft 28 may first be dropped onto a spreader cloth and then sucked into a suction shaft according to the EP 1 584 248 A1 happen, in which case in the carding preferably a roller more or less use a roller.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment according to the invention of a device for producing filter rods, wherein, in comparison to FIG. 1, a ventilator 31 is provided in direct connection to the merging region 20. The fan 31 generates a transport air stream 42 in the production well 21. It can take measures be provided to ensure a closed circuit of the transport air flow, for example, 21 transport air openings are provided in the lower part of the conveyor shaft, which ensure that transport air is discharged from the feed chute 21, without carrying fibers, and then fed back to the fan.

In Fig. 2, a drive belt 36 is also still provided, which indicates, for example, a drive of the roller 25. However, the rollers 25 to 27 and the other rollers used can also be driven by a motor with a direct drive.

Compared to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, another option is fulfilled in FIG. 2, namely the feeding of a granulate 43 to the fiber mixture. This happens shortly before the filter material shudders on a suction belt of a suction belt conveyor 30 in the suction shaft 28.

For this purpose, 33 granules 43 with a metering roller 34 metered from a granule container a chute fed, which ends in a chamber with an accelerator roller 35, which flings the granules tangentially in the direction of the Saugstrangförderers 30 in the suction shaft 28. This results in a good mixing of the granules with the fibers. A fiber fleece 41 or filter material fleece 41 then forms on a suction belt of the suction strand conveyor 30.

In order to enable a higher production speed or a higher throughput of material and to increase the number of filter rods per unit of time, it is possible to provide two suction belts 29, 29 ', as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

For this purpose, as indicated in FIG. 3, a suction shaft 28 may be divided into two sub-shafts 39 and 39 ', which then merge into two substantially parallel sub-shafts 39, 39' just before the suction belts 29, 29 'of the suction belt conveyor 30. In Fig. 3 is also the bullet portion 37 for granules, which is not shown in Fig. 3, is provided.

According to FIG. 4, two complete suction shafts 28, 28 'are provided, which are slightly tilted relative to one another, in this case at an angle of approximately 3 °. The suction shafts 28 and 28 'may be configured so that they are arranged perpendicular to the plane of the drawing relative to the plane of FIG. 4, so that the depth or width of the rollers 27 and 35 respectively to supply half of the conveyor wells 28 and 28 'are provided with filter material. The bullet portion 37 is then provided for the relative to the plane of FIG. 4 front hoistway 28 with a relatively short granule shaft 40 and provided with the relative to the plane of Fig. 4 rear hoistway 28 'with a slightly longer granule shaft 40'. The accelerator roller 35 may be formed as a kind of brush roller. Due to the centrifugal force, the granulate is thrown into the respective suction shaft and mixes with the fiber stream. It is preferred if the speeds of the mass flow and of the fed-in granules are different relative to one another. As a result, a good mixing is generated.

As a result of the structure according to the invention, the stranding machine for the filter rod production decreases considerably, since a suction strand conveyor can be arranged directly on the separating device. In addition, the air consumption is reduced because the transport stream and the mixing process in a usual long channel accounts.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Fiber processing device

11, 11 '

accumulating shaft

12

first type of fiber

13

second type of fiber

14

first feed tube

15

second feed tube

16, 16 '

feed roller

17, 17 '

Beater roller

19

first fiber feed shaft

19 '

second fiber feed shaft

20

Merging area

21

production well

22

feed roller

23

trough

24

Leaf spring battery

25

roller

26

roller

27

roller

28, 28 '

suction well

29, 29 '

suction belt

30

suction rod

31

fan

32

fiber mixture

33

granule units

34

metering

35

accelerator roller

36

drive belts

37

bullet area

38

crotch

39, 39 '

supply bay

40, 40 '

granules shaft

41

non-woven fabric

42

transport air

43

granules

44

conveying direction

45, 45 '

suction

Claims (28)

A process for producing filter rods of the tobacco processing industry comprising fibers (12, 13, 32) of finite length from two different fiber types, characterized in that the fibers (12, 13, 32) are brought together and mixed immediately before a singulation step. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixing is done with the merging. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after the step of separating a step of Aufschauerns to a nonwoven fabric (41). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the separating step accelerate the fibers (32) includes. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the acceleration is done in or by means of a card (22, 25-27). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fibers (12, 13, 32) of two different fiber types are unmixed prior to the step of merging and mixing. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the fibers (12, 13, 32) are accumulated unmixed before merging. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the merged fibers (12, 13, 32) by means of a transport air flow (42) to a separating device (22, 25-27) are promoted. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the separating device (22, 25-27) comprises a plurality of successively arranged rollers (25-27) whose rotational speeds increase in the fiber conveying direction. A process for the production of filter rods of the tobacco processing industry comprising fibers (12, 13, 32) of finite length at least one type of fiber, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a step of singulating the fibers (12, 13, 32) in a separating device (22, 25-27) is provided, wherein the separated fibers (12, 13, 32) emerging from the separating device (22, 25-27), a movement component in the direction of a conveyor (30), in particular against gravity, have. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the conveyor (30) is a Saugstrangförderer. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the separated fibers (12, 13, 32) directly from the separating device (22, 25-27) in a suction shaft (28, 28 ') are thrown. Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the suction-strand conveyor (30) adjoins the suction shaft (28, 28 '). Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that in the conveying direction downstream of the separating device (22, 25-27), the fibers (12, 13, 32) are mixed with a further filter material (43) having a component of movement in the direction of Saugstrangförderers (30), in particular against gravity, has. Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that two juxtaposed suction shafts (28, 28 ') or a division of a suction shaft (28) in two juxtaposed Teilaugschächte (39, 39') are provided. Apparatus for the production of filter rods of the tobacco processing industry with at least two Faserzuführschächten (19, 19 '), which open into a shaft (21), wherein the a shaft (21) adjoining a separating device (22, 25-27), wherein a conveyor (30) is provided, are aufschauerbar on the isolated fibers (12, 13, 32) of finite length. Apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that a device (31) for generating an air flow (42) in the one shaft (21) is provided. Apparatus according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that in each case one stowage shaft (11, 11 ') is connected upstream of the at least two fiber feed shafts (19, 19') or is included in the at least two fiber feed shafts (19, 19 '). Device according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the one shaft (21) is formed as a stowage. Device according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that a fan (31) passes through a shaft (21). Device according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the separating device (22, 25-27) comprises a plurality of successively arranged rollers (25-27) whose rotational speeds increase in the fiber conveying direction. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that at least one roller (25-27) is designed like a card. Device according to one of claims 16 to 22, characterized in that the conveyor (30) is a Saugstrangförderer. Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that directly adjoining the separating device (22, 25-27) is followed by a suction shaft (28, 28 '), which is vertically aligned and with the Saugstrangförderer (30) is completed. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the suction strand conveyor (30) at the upper end of the suction shaft (28, 28 ') is arranged. Device according to one of claims 23 to 25, characterized in that two Saugstrangförderer (30) or two suction belts (29, 29 ') are provided in a Saugstrangförderer (30). Apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that two suction shafts (28, 28 ') are provided. Apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that a suction chute (28) in the fiber conveying direction just before the Saugstrangförderern (30) or the Saugstrangförderer (30) with two suction belts (29, 29 ') into two shafts (39, 39') is divided.

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