Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
  • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
  • A24C5/47—Attaching filters or mouthpieces to cigars or cigarettes, e.g. inserting filters into cigarettes or their mouthpieces
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
  • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
  • A24C5/47—Attaching filters or mouthpieces to cigars or cigarettes, e.g. inserting filters into cigarettes or their mouthpieces
  • A24C5/478—Transport means for filter- or cigarette-rods in view of their assembling

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for transporting rod-shaped articles, such as e.g. Cigarettes, filter rods or the like, comprising an endlessly circulating feed element and an endlessly circulating discharge element for the rod-shaped articles, wherein the feed element and the discharge element are arranged one above the other in such a way that they form a transfer region for taking over the articles arranged in single layers on the delivery element overlap on the discharge element at least partially in the transport direction of the article flow formed from the articles.
• a device for transporting rod-shaped articles such as e.g. Cigarettes, filter rods or the like
• the feed element and the discharge element are arranged one above the other in such a way that they form a transfer region for taking over the articles arranged in single layers on the delivery element overlap on the discharge element at least partially in the transport direction of the article flow formed from the articles.
• the invention relates to a method for transporting rod-shaped articles, such as e.g. Cigarettes, filter rods or the like, comprising the steps of receiving a single-ply article stream formed from articles onto a delivery member, transferring the article stream into a transfer area, aspirating the articles to a discharge element formed as a trough strip by applying vacuum to the chip belt, transporting the article stream to a delivery area.
• rod-shaped articles such as e.g. Cigarettes, filter rods or the like
• Such devices and methods are used in particular in the tobacco processing industry.
• a gap-filled stream of articles which emerges from the production machine and is fed to a further processing or directly to the packaging machine.
• Such a fragmented article flow is production-related, since during the production process individual articles or groups of articles are removed for testing or testing purposes or defective articles are removed from the produced article stream.
• a short-term machine downtime can lead to an irregular stream of articles. This means that the stream of articles exiting the production machine can be irregular and patchy. This is disadvantageous for further processing on downstream machines or for direct packaging of the articles after their production. This problem can be solved, for example, by processing unordered article streams.
• the articles are arranged one above the other in several layers and are usually temporarily stored before further processing or packaging, in order then to be supplied in a continuous mass flow to the further processing or the packaging.
• this variant has the disadvantage that the number of articles is unknown and their location is inaccurate.
• Another problem is that the articles are significantly burdened in particular in the lower layers by stacking but also by the multiple passing and repacking.
• the generic device serves as a link between production machines, the so-called Makern, and downstream machines, such as. Packaging machines, the so-called packers.
• the articles from the production machine are deposited in a single layer on the feed element and transported into a transfer area.
• the articles are loosely on a flat conveyor belt and are dammed in the transfer area in the transport direction at the end of the feed.
• the articles are transferred from the feed element to the discharge element.
• the discharge element is for this purpose arranged slightly inclined to the feed, so that the articles run into a funnel-shaped track.
• the discharge element In the transport direction at the end of the discharge element, which is formed as a trough band, ie in the region of the dammed article, the discharge element to a vacuum unit, by means of which the articles pulled to the trough band and a deflection roller, within which the vacuum unit is arranged to a the Feeding element opposite arranged discharge area to be transported.
• the article flow which may have previously been subject to gaps, is generally brought together to form a complete stream of articles.
• this device has the disadvantage that the articles are free on the feed element, that is to say without guidance, and can thereby slip or slip completely from the feed element.
• Another disadvantage is that the articles in trans- port direction are dammed at the end of the feed, which in turn the article on the one hand charged and on the other causes the discharged article stream may also be provided with gaps, since there is no clear association between the feed and discharge element in the transfer area.
• both the feed element and the discharge element are formed as trough bands and in the region of the trough belts a
• Vacuum strip is arranged, which extends at least partially over the transfer area.
• a secure guidance or positioning of the articles on the feed element and the discharge element is achieved, so that an orderly takeover of the articles from the feed element to the discharge element is ensured.
• the troughs continue to ensure a clear guidance of the articles during braking and acceleration processes.
• the vacuum strip ensures that a defined vacuum distribution extends over the transfer area. This ensures that in the transport direction, the rearmost still free trough of the upper troughed belt is always occupied, whereby a gap-free article flow on the discharge element is formed from a possibly gap-laden article flow on the Zuzhouelemerit.
• the vacuum bar is connected via a connection piece to an air supply, wherein the connection piece is arranged in the region of the rear pulley of the upper trough strip in the transport direction.
• This training supports the safe adoption of the article on the rearmost in the transport direction trough on the upper trough band, because the vacuum in the area of the connecting piece is very high and decreases in the opposite direction to the transport direction.
• the suction force in the region of the connecting piece is greatest, so that it is ensured that the transported into the transfer area articles, regardless of whether they are supplied in a gapless or in a patchy article stream, to the next following already from the top Troughed tape taken over items still be vacuumed position on the upper trough band.
• an element for monitoring the incoming article stream into the transfer area is arranged in a receiving area of the lower trough strip in the transport direction in front of the upper trough strip.
• the monitoring element can be used to ensure at an early stage whether there is a gap in the article flow and how big this gap is. This information can then be used to control the speed of the upper trough belt in particular. As a result, the optimum speed ratio between the two trough belts is always achieved, which in turn increases the reliability of taking over the articles and ensures the formation of the gap-free article flow.
• the object is achieved by a method with the above-mentioned steps in that several troughs of the upper trough belt are simultaneously subjected to vacuum, wherein in the transport direction the last free trough of the discharge element is subjected to the highest vacuum and the vacuum starting from the last free trough decreases in the opposite direction to the transport direction.
• This ensures that the first free trough on the upper trough element is always occupied behind the troughs already occupied by previously picked up articles, whereby a complete stream of articles is generated.
• the feed element and the discharge element are driven at different speeds V U M and V OM , wherein at least V OM is controlled in accordance with V ⁇ M .
• V U M and V OM are driven at different speeds
• V OM is controlled in accordance with V ⁇ M .
• the gaps between the articles on the feed element are reliably closed, regardless of the parameters influencing the article flow, such as division, blanks, etc.
• the article flow is monitored on the feed element prior to entering the take-up area to determine the number of articles or the size of the gap in the article flow. This facilitates and improves the control of the discharge element or, more precisely, the speed V O M-
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment obliquely from above in the transport direction with uniform or regular division of the feed element and the discharge element,
• FIG. 2 shows a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 1 from obliquely downwards against the transport direction
• FIG 5 is an enlarged detail view B according to FIG 4,
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment obliquely from above in the transport direction with uneven or irregular division of the feed element and the discharge element,
• Fig. 7 is a side view of the embodiment according to fig. 6, and
• FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail view C according to FIG. 7.
• the devices shown serve for transporting a production flow of rod-shaped articles from a production machine to a downstream machine, in particular a packaging machine, wherein the production flow is transferred by means of the devices from a gapped article stream into a gapless stream of articles.
• the device 10 which usually connects to a production machine, in particular a cigarette or Filterstabherstellmaschine.
• the device 10 comprises a feed element 11 and a discharge element 12.
• the feed element 11 and the discharge element 12 are arranged one above the other, wherein the feed element 11 is arranged below the discharge element 12 in the embodiment shown.
• the feed element 11 is designed as a trough strip 13 which comprises two feed belts 14 arranged next to one another.
• the trough band 13 can also be designed as a single feed belt or in another conventional manner.
• the feed belts 14 are endless and guided around deflection rollers 15 and drive rollers 16.
• the discharge element 12 is likewise designed as a trough strip 17.
• the trough band 17 is integrally formed, that is, undivided, but may alternatively consist of several parallel juxtaposed discharge belts.
• the trough band 17 is also endless and is guided around a deflection roller (not shown) and around a drive roller 18.
• the lower trough band 13 and the upper trough band 17 overlap in the transport direction (arrow 19) of the articles 20, which are transported transversely to their longitudinal extension, thereby forming a transfer region 21.
• the lower trough strip 13 protrudes over the transport direction (arrow 19) upper trough strip 17 addition, whereby a receiving area 22 for receiving the article 20 is formed on the lower trough strip 13.
• the upper trough strip 17 protrudes beyond the lower trough strip 13 in the transport direction (arrow 19), whereby a delivery area 23 for the articles 20 is formed on downstream machines or the like.
• the receiving region 22, the transfer region 21 and the delivery region 23 lie substantially one after the other in a plane, wherein the delivery region 23 directly adjoins the transfer region 21.
• the lower trough band 13 has a transport strand 24 and a return strand 25.
• the two transporting drums 24 and 26 face each other and extend parallel to one another at a distance, the distance preferably being slightly greater than the thickness or the diameter of the articles 20 to be transported.
• the transporting drums 24, 26 can also be at an acute angle to one another run, with the distance between the transport troughs 24, 26 in the transport direction (arrow 19) tapers.
• the lower trough strip 13 has a plurality of troughs 28, which are aligned transversely to the transport direction (arrow 19) and optionally provided with at least one opening for sucking the articles 20 against the trough strip 13 or the feed belts 14.
• the upper trough strip 17 also has a plurality of troughs 29, which are aligned corresponding to the troughs 28 transversely to the transport direction (arrow 19).
• the troughs 29 each have at least one, but preferably three suction air openings 30 which are distributed over the width of the trough 29.
• the device 10 is further associated with a vacuum unit 31.
• the vacuum unit 31 comprises a vacuum bar 32 and a spigot 33 connected to an air supply (not shown).
• the vacuum strip 32 is disposed in the region of the upper trough strip 17, between the transport strand 26 and the return strand 27.
• the vacuum strip 32 extends at least partially over the transfer region 21 formed between the upper trough strip 17 and the lower trough strip 13. In the shown and In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum strip 32 extends almost over the entire transfer region 21 between the deflection roller (not shown) and the drive roller 18.
• the vacuum strip 32 has openings 35 on its underside 34 facing the transport strand 26 for the passage or entry of the suction air.
• the openings 35 are preferably aligned in the transport direction (arrow 19) and designed and arranged such that always at least one of the Saugluft- openings 30 regardless of the position of the trough strip 17 with respect to the vacuum bar 32 can be acted upon with vacuum.
• the connecting piece 33 is preferably arranged at one of the opposite ends of the vacuum strip 32.
• the connecting piece 33 is arranged in the region of the deflection roller (not shown) in the transport direction (arrow 19) at the end of the transfer region 21.
• means (not shown) which may belong to a downstream device are arranged for receiving the articles 20 delivered by the trough belt 17.
• an element 36 for guiding the articles 20 on the transport strand 24 of the lower trough strip 13 is arranged.
• the element 36 which is usually associated with the production machine, serves to hold and guide the articles 20 after being transferred from a delivery drum 37, which is usually also part of the production machine (not shown), to the lower trough belt 13.
• the element 36 comprises two belts 38, which are wound on the one hand around the delivery drum 37 and on the other hand around deflection rollers 39 and are endless.
• the belts 38 extend at least partially parallel to the transport strand 24 of the lower trough belt 13, in such a way that all articles 20 are guided and held by the delivery of the discharge drum 37 to the trough belt 13 until the transition into the takeover region 21.
• the elastically formed and slightly biased belts 38 are in contact with the articles 20. Due to the diameter of the pulleys 39 on the one hand and the drive roller 18 of the upper trough belt 17 on the other hand, the belt 38 is not sufficient to the takeover area 21 zoom. For this reason, a simple plate 40 or the like is arranged above the transporting trump 24 between the deflection rollers 39 and the drive roller 18, which ensures the guidance of the articles 20 in this transition region.
• the metal sheet 40 extends as far in the transport direction (arrow 19) until the articles 20 on the lower trough strip 13 are covered by the upper trough strip 17.
• an additional squeegee may be provided, which is connected to the lower trough strip 13. is ordered. The squeegee can ensure the positioning / fixation of the articles in the troughs 28 in the region between the dispensing drum 27 and the transfer region 21.
• At least one means 41 for monitoring the flow of articles is arranged in the receiving region 22.
• the means 41 preferably a light sensor or the like, is arranged in the region of the transport run 24 of the lower trough belt 13, in such a way that gaps can be detected within the passing article stream and the information for controlling the device 10 can be processed.
• Another light sensor 42 is arranged in the receiving area 21 for fault detection of the article flow on the transport run 26 of the upper trough belt 17. Instead of the light scanner, other common detection and / or monitoring elements can be used.
• a tape guide 43 is arranged below the transport run 24 of the lower troughed belt 13, which serves for the secure guidance of the transport run 24 and the same effectively prevents sagging.
• the speed V UM of the lower trough belt 13 is preferably determined and controlled by the upstream production machine.
• the speed V UM corresponds to the speed Vp of the production machine or the delivery drum 37.
• the speed V OM of the upper trough belt 17 depends, inter alia, on the speed V UM of the lower trough belt 13, the number of articles 20 or the size of the Gaps between the articles 20 on the lower trough 13 and the pitch of the troughs 13 and 17.
• V OM is a function of Vp, the means 41 and the pitch of the troughs 13, 17.
• V 0M is preferably smaller than V UM -
• the pitch of the lower troughed belt 13 is preferably greater than the pitch of the upper troughed belt 17.
• the division of the lower trough band 13 is here. a function of a drum 44 of the upstream production machine.
• the drum 44 of the upstream production machine preferably has an angle transmitter 45 or the like.
• the angle transmitter 45 can supply relevant information, in particular for the trough belts 13, 17, especially when starting up and / or stopping the device 10 are required.
• the drum 44 is associated with a further means 46 for monitoring the stream of articles upstream of the device 10.
• control the device 10 namely in particular the speed V OM , this is connected to a (not shown) control unit, which are in operative connection with the production machine or components, such as a light scanner, the same.
• FIGS. 6 to 8 corresponds essentially to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5.
• the embodiments differ in that the pitch of the upper trough strip 17 is designed differently.
• the trough band 17 of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5 has a uniform pitch. This means that the troughs 29 are all formed at the same distance from one another, for example at a distance of 8 mm.
• three article groups namely alternately seven troughs 29, six troughs 29 and again seven troughs 29 are formed one after the other in a "cycle", wherein a distance is provided between the individual article groups which is greater than the distance, ie the pitch the article 20 is in an article group with one another, eg with such an arrangement or division, which can also be formed in other article groups and sizes (eg 3-3-3 or 4-3-4-3), it is possible to According to the situation, for example, in a package of twenty cigarettes, these are prepared for packaging or delivered to the exact location.
• the articles 20 are guided by drums of the production machine to the discharge drum 37.
• the single-ply article stream exiting the production machine is usually provided with gaps.
• the dispensing drum 37 With the dispensing drum 37, the articles 20 are placed in the receiving area 22 on the lower troughed belt 13, more precisely in the troughs 28 of the feed belts 14.
• the articles 20 are then between the transport troughs 24 of the feed belts 14 and the abutting belt 38 from the receiving area 22 in the transport direction (arrow 19) continuously and with fixed positioning transported in the troughs 28 to the takeover area 21.
• the speed V UM of the lower trough belt 13 or of the feed belts 14 is determined by the production machine.
• the upper troughing belt 17 is driven by the drive roller 18 at a speed V OM which is smaller than V UM and in particular by V UM , the number and size of the gaps on the lower trough belt 13 and the pitch of the trough belts 13 , 17, wherein the number and size of the gaps is detected by the means 41.
• the upper trough strip 17 and more precisely the transport strand 26 are subjected to vacuum via the vacuum strip 32.
• the vacuum starting from the connecting piece 33, is reduced in the opposite direction to the transport direction, that is, counter to arrow 19.
• the greatest vacuum prevails in the region of the connecting piece 33 at the end of the transfer region 21.
• the articles 20 are now transported on the transport strand 24 into the transfer region 21 under the transport belt 26.
• the Saugluftö réelleen 30 of the troughs 29 are subjected to vacuum, wherein the vacuum within the transfer region 21 from a to b decreases (see in particular Figures 2 and 7).
• the articles 20 are sucked in the transfer area 21 from the upper trough belt 17. Since the connecting piece 33 is arranged at the end of the vacuum strip 32 and thus the highest vacuum in the transport direction (arrow 19) at the end of the transfer area 21, the first free trough 29 is always acted upon behind the already recorded articles 20 with the highest vacuum. In other words, the first or foremost article 20 on the lower troughed strip 13 is always sucked into the last free trough 29 of the upper troughed strip 17. Due to the different speeds V OM and V UM between upper trough band 17 and lower trough band 13, the gaps in the article flow of the lower trough band 13 are closed. The vacuum ensures that the articles 20 auf repet- on the upper trough strip 17 to each other, so that the flow of articles on the upper trough strip 17 is gapless.
• Different speeds of the lower trough belt 13, different pitches of the trough belts 13, 17 as well as the number and size of the gaps in the article flow are controlled by controlling the speed V O M of the upper MuI denbandes 17 regulated.
• the gapless article flow on the upper trough belt 17 is then removed for further processing, for packaging, for storage or the like.
• the speed V OM of the upper trough belt 17 is permanently readjusted to accommodate the different constellations, such as a) gapless lower trough 13, b) gap lower trough 13, c) uniform division of the upper trough 17 (see eg FIGS. 1 to 5) ) and d) non-uniform pitch (see, for example, Figures 6 to 8) in any combination of a) to d) adjust.
• the upper trough belt 17 may be e.g. in special operating conditions, such as setting up to move defined amounts backwards. This means that the upper trough belt 17 to move in the first suction position to ensure the seamless article flow on the upper trough belt 17, for example, after a longer standstill.

Landscapes

• Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
• Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
• Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Stacking Of Articles And Auxiliary Devices (AREA)
• Structure Of Belt Conveyors (AREA)
• Belt Conveyors (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=36481503

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2005
  • 2005-02-19 DE DE102005008337A patent/DE102005008337A1/de not_active Ceased
• 2006
  • 2006-02-10 AT AT06707004T patent/ATE518435T1/de active
  • 2006-02-10 PL PL06707004T patent/PL1865797T3/pl unknown
  • 2006-02-10 KR KR1020077021355A patent/KR20070114165A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-02-10 CN CN2006800050606A patent/CN101119651B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-02-10 WO PCT/EP2006/001403 patent/WO2006087188A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2006-02-10 EP EP06707004A patent/EP1865797B1/fr not_active Not-in-force
  • 2006-02-10 JP JP2007555526A patent/JP2008529932A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (1)

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