EP2016840B1 - Device for applying aroma agents to a line of tobacco, cigarette paper or cigarette filters - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a storage container for storing a liquid flavoring material e.g. menthol, and a conduit connected to the container, a cigarette making machine, and/or loading equipment of a filter machine. The conduit has a spraying device and a pump for supplying the material from the container based on production speed of the machines. The container and the pump are accommodated in a device that is connected to the machines. A measurement-controlled dosing system supplies a tobacco strand from the machines with the material.

Description

The invention relates to a device for applying liquid flavorings, in particular flavor or menthol, to a tobacco rod during its production in the suction channel of a cigarette machine and / or on the cigarette paper and / or in the feeding device of filters of a filter machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

A device which is preferably used for applying Menthollösung on a tobacco rod, is from the DE 38 44 620 C2 known. In this case, all the components required for applying the flavoring, namely the reservoir for the aroma solution, the line and the nozzle, a metering pump and the necessary control units are arranged inside the cigarette machine. In the production of cigarettes without flavoring these components may remain out of service, however, the manufacturer is bound to produce flavored cigarettes to the correspondingly equipped cigarette machine. From the DE 295 04 284 a device has become known in which the reservoir for the flavoring and the pump are housed in a separate, to be connected as an accessory to the cigarette machine device. Such a device can optionally be connected to a cigarette machine and be separated from it again without great effort to be operated on another machine. The cigarette manufacturer is therefore discretionary as to which of his machines is equipped with a flavoring device or not.

The invention has the object of developing a device according to the preamble, so that it can also be used for cigarette machines and filter machines of different types and allows a continuous fully automatic operation with an extremely uniform flavor distribution.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The device according to the invention is designed as a mobile, modular unit, which ensures a homogeneous application of flavorings in the tobacco rod of the suction arm or on the cigarette paper of a cigarette machine or in the filter of a filter machine.

The guide means of the cigarette maker are modified so that a nozzle for spraying the flavorings can be connected, the nozzle means being oriented such that the flavorings are sprayed only on the central part of the cigarette while the remaining parts of the cigarette remain unsprayed. In particular, the flavoring substances are applied to the tobacco rod at the point or introduced into the tobacco rod on which the cigarette is semi-structured. The tobacco particles separated by means of a trimmer remain unsprayed and are returned to the cigarette machine for further use. The nozzle is located in the middle of the Saugstrangleiste.

With a specially designed filter nozzle, the aroma substance is applied directly to the center of the filter in the filter machine.

In cigarette paper flavoring, the application of the flavor to the cigarette paper takes place by means of a specially designed paper applicator head during cigarette production. The cigarette paper is aromatized immediately before the inlet into the molding channel of the cigarette machine.

The metering systems each have a metering pump whose delivery rate is controlled in dependence on control signals of the cigarette machine or the filter machine. It can also be provided that the metering systems are individually controllable, so that the device according to the invention can be used both in a single-strand cigarette or filter machine or in multi-strand cigarette or filter machines.

The nozzles for the tobacco and Filteraromatisierung are advantageously formed as two-fluid nozzles for droplet-free atomization of the aroma by means of compressed air, the device is powered by the cigarette machine or the filter machine with electricity or compressed air. In this case, the connecting lines between the device and the cigarette machine or the filter machine can advantageously be provided with detachable couplings, whereby the structure of the device simplifies and at the same time allows a quick change to another cigarette machine.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device is equipped with a control device with control panel for programmable fully automatic flow control of the functioning.

The device may advantageously be formed from a plurality of, in particular, four separate housing parts, which are partly separable or connectable via quick-release couplings. These housing parts are preferably made of stainless steel, and the interior of the housing parts are accessible through doors on all sides of the housing. The separable housing parts are advantageously designed as separate movable cabinet elements, these essentially comprising the electrical components such as electrical protective devices, relays and the like, a storage space for the connection cable, a space for the process control device with corresponding sensors and actuators for single and multiple-strand machines, a Buffer tank for the flavoring and a detergent tank with appropriate control and lanyard and a transportable tank for the flavoring. This transportable tank for the flavoring can be accommodated in one of the movable housing parts, so that it can be filled in a separate location with prepared flavoring, while the remaining part of the device according to the invention remains connected in functionally widespread use with the cigarette machine or filter machine. In a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention can be provided that it is equipped with a Luftdruckkontroll- and control device, with which the air pressure preferably in a range of 0 to 6 bar adjustable and to avoid turbulence with an accuracy of ≤ ± 0.03 bar is adjustable. The buffer tank located in the functional part of the device connected to the cigarette machine may be equipped with a filling level sensor by means of which a valve in the connecting line between the transportable tank and the buffer tank can be actuated, so that the system is opened and flavored from the transportable tank enters the buffer tank when the level in Buffer tank reaches a critical value. The refilling of the flavor in the buffer tank can be made without interrupting the production of cigarettes in the cigarette machine or filter machine.

Advantageously, it is further provided that the buffer tank and the detergent tank from the associated housing part of the device according to the invention are removable, although a removal during normal production is not necessary. A removal of the detergent tank is only necessary to replace the detergent. If you work with the same flavor, then the fillings are sufficient for about 500 working hours. The buffer tank is removed only when the remaining flavor is to be removed from the buffer tank to work with a different flavor in subsequent production.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a heater may be provided for the transportable tank and / or the buffer tank. By means of this heating means, in the isolated closed portable tank, for example, pure menthol present as granules can be melted at a separate location independently of the remainder of the apparatus connected to the producing cigarette machine and prepared for production. The transportable tank is then coupled to the remainder of the device with a quick connect fluid and electrical connector so that the buffer tank can be refilled as needed during running of the cigarette machine or filter machine. This allows continuous operation without interruptions.

The heating device is advantageously equipped with a temperature control device, so that the viscosity of the aroma from the transportable tank to the nozzle is adjustable to a constant predetermined value. The heating system thereby guarantees that all components of the device according to the invention required for the spraying with flavoring substance are kept at a uniform temperature during the production of the cigarettes, so as to ensure that the viscosity of the flavoring substance from the tank to the nozzle remains constant. The heating system can also be deactivated in a simple manner for flavoring substances whose production-suitable viscosity is at room temperature. The control of each heating circuit is adjustable and can be set from the control panel.

Finally, advantageously, a gas warning sensor is provided, which causes a shutdown of potential ignition sources, if it comes in case of failure to a leak in the pipe system, so that a risk of explosion is avoided.

Furthermore, it is provided that the metering system of the device according to the invention is designed as a closed loop. Therefore, no manual calibration is required. The so-called micro motion system ensures that the supplied flavor quantity is set very precisely, so that the correct predetermined amount of flavor is supplied to the cigarettes or filters independently of fluctuations in the pump output. With the metering system according to the invention, the Flavourdichte, temperature, the Leitungsfüllzustand, the mass flow rate, the flow control are detected and checks the pump system, the mechanical wear of the pump and the mechanical wear of the valves.

The device according to the invention is furthermore equipped with a Soft PLC system (networking of the PC with a Power Line Communication), which in a PC enables a database for the storage of the production data, the visualization of the production data and the PLC application.

The software for the soft-PLC and visualization system allows the following control processes and regulations: temperature control and control, speed control, system and air pressure control, volume / mass flow rate as a function of cigarette / filter production rate, the control of various operating conditions such as feed operation, Flavourflüssigkeitszustand, ready to start the production, Flavor spray behavior, Vorwärmbetriebs-state, stand-by operating condition and the like.

The accuracy of the control achieves an extremely short update time. The system also provides an Ethernet connection to other systems. A connection to all bus systems is provided. Finally, a control of the device via a remote connection is possible.

Advantageously, the device is modular, ie, that it can be equipped differently depending on the customer's requirements. For example, it may be intended for spraying all kinds of alcohol-based flavor. In this case will monitored within the device, the alcohol content in the air to make the device explosion-proof.

If the device is intended exclusively for pure menthol operation, then different flavor types of different viscosity can be processed. In this case, the heating system of the device according to the invention is designed such that it melts the crystallized menthol in order to obtain a suitable spray liquid.

When designing the inventive device for spraying alcohol-based flavor and pure menthol, the operator can decide before starting the device by an appropriate setting whether cold or heated flavor should be sprayed. In this case, the alcohol content in the air is monitored within the device to achieve explosion safety of the device.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Teilschnitt durch eine Zigarettenmaschine im An- schlussbereich der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Ansicht des Düsenanschlussbereiches nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Gesamtansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 4 u. 5

die getrennten Gehäuseteile der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;

Fig. 6

eine schematische Längsschnittansicht und

Fig. 7

eine schematische Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung.

Further advantageous features and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show:

Fig. 1

a schematic partial section through a cigarette machine in the connection area of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of the nozzle connection area after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

an overall perspective view of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 4 u. 5

the separate housing parts of the device according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a schematic longitudinal sectional view and

Fig. 7

a schematic plan view of the device according to the invention.

In the Fig. 1 is shown in a schematic manner, as the tobacco 1 is sucked from a distribution box 2 of a cigarette machine 3 by a suction 4 from below. The suction arm 4 has an endless, over two rollers 5 (of which only the right roller is shown) guided suction belt 6, in which a vacuum box 7 is located. The transport direction of the tobacco is indicated by the arrows. The sucked by the suction belt 6 tobacco adheres to the underside of the suction belt 6, wherein the layer thickness of the tobacco increases in the transport direction and is trimmed by not shown trimmer in the left portion of FIG.

At the upper end of the distribution box 2 is a fitting 8 for a tubular conduit 9, at the left end of a nozzle 10 is arranged. Flavor or menthol is applied to the tobacco rod 11 adhered to the suction belt 6 by means of this nozzle 10, the aroma substances being applied or introduced only to the tobacco of the central region of the cigarette. In particular, the flavoring substances are applied to the tobacco rod at the point or introduced into the tobacco rod on which the cigarette is semi-structured. The separated by means of a trimmer tobacco parts remain unsprayed and are returned to the cigarette machine for further use. The nozzle is located in the middle of the Saugstrangleiste.

The connecting piece 8 is connected to the supply system of the device according to the invention, wherein in a conventional manner by a central channel of the liquid flavoring and by an annular outer channel, a propellant gas, usually compressed air, are supplied from the cigarette machine.

The in the Fig. 3 shown inventive device consists essentially of two mobile device parts 12, 13. These are movable on wheels 14. The device part 12 can be coupled to the device part 13 via a above a centering mandrel 15 arranged not shown quick coupling. Both equipment parts are made of stainless steel, and the interiors are accessible via doors 16 to 21, wherein the two end faces have the doors 16 and 17 and the side parts of the doors 18, 19 and 21. At the right end of the mobile device part 13 is of a frame 22 protected on the top of the device part 13, a control panel 23rd

The device has four separate sections, in which the electrical components are received in the device section 24, such as automatic circuit breakers, relays and the like, and in the device section 25, the connection cables are received, in the device section 26, the process control devices with the corresponding sensors and actuators for single-strand or double-strand machines and the buffer tank 28 and the detergent tank 29 are received, and wherein a valve unit 30 is provided in the connecting line 31 from the buffer tank 28 to the transportable tank 32, which is arranged in the device section 27.

Like from the Fig. 6 it can also be seen, in the space below the transportable tank 32, the heating system 33 is arranged. About the control panel 23, the compressed air system can be controlled. Before the production is started, one can first decide whether the spraying of the tobacco rod or the filter should take place with or without the aid of compressed air. The starting point for the air flow can be adjusted by means of the control panel 23. The pressure control valve used receives an analog input signal (4 to 20 mA), with which the starting point for the compressed air flow is set individually. The pressure control valve can be adjusted so that it regulates the air pressure between 0 to 6 bar. Compressed air fluctuations in the compressed air supplied are compensated by the control valve. The compressed air control accuracy is ± 0.03 bar.

Before production starts, the filled mobile tank 32 is connected to the mobile device part 13. After the mobile tank 32 is connected to the system, a level sensor within the buffer tank 28 checks the level. If this level is too low, the valve unit 30 is opened and flavors (flavor or pure menthol) flow into the buffer tank 28. Once the level of flavor in the buffer tank 28 has reached a predetermined suitable position, the valve unit 30 is closed. Now, for example, the mobile device unit 12 could be disconnected from the mobile device unit 13 to replenish the portable tank 32.

The buffer tank 28 and the detergent tank 29 can be removed from the mobile device part 13. The level sensor, temperature sensor, lines and agitators are attached to the tank lid. The fuel cap can be easily removed and re-attached, including suitable holders are provided here. The tanks do not need to be removed during normal production operation. The removal of the detergent tank 29 is only necessary to change the detergent. If you are constantly working with the same flavor, the fillings from the tanks will last for about 500 hours. The buffer tank 28 only has to be removed from the mobile device part 13 if the remaining flavoring is to be removed, if one wishes to continue working with another flavoring agent. In this case, of course, the corresponding piping systems must be cleaned with the detergent from the detergent tank 29, for which purpose an automatic cleaning program is used.

Like from the Fig. 7 can be seen, are laterally view of the buffer tank 28 and the detergent tank 29 in the side rooms 34 and 35, the metering pumps, corresponding valve units and flow meters and on the right side of the detergent tank 29, a gas warning sensor 36, which then responds when the alcohol concentration in the air Within the device, for example due to leaks is too large, then to bring about a shutdown of potential ignition sources.

The driven pump is connected to the drive motor via a low-wear magnetic coupling. Because of the magnetic coupling, a low-wear sealing of the pump is possible. In addition, a pulsation-free spraying of the tobacco or the filter with flavoring is ensured with the driven pump. The 24 V DC pump motor has an integrated controller with a speed encoder. The real pump speed is displayed on the display panel of the panel 23. Advantageously, three pumps with the flow rates 4 to 50 g / min; 10 to 120 g / min or 100 to 350 g / min available.

The transportable tank 32 has a capacity of 45 l. It can be filled and hermetically sealed at a position away from the cigarette machine or filter machine. The isolated sealed tank has the heating system 33, with which pure menthol can be melted at a location remote from the cigarette machine during production or, optionally, coupled directly to the device. Due to the high capacity of the transportable tank 32 refilling the tank follows only at long intervals. The provided connections allow a quick and easy attachment of the tank without leaks.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 tobacco 19 door 2 distribution box 20 door 3 cigarette machine 21 door 4 Loading Arm 22 frame 5 role 23 control panel 6 suction belt 24 devices section 7 Vacuum box 25 devices section 8th connector 26 devices section 9 tubular pipe 27 devices section 10 jet 28 buffer tank 11 tobacco rod 29 Detergent tank 12 mobile device part 30 valve unit 13 mobile device part 31 connecting line 14 wheel 32 transportable tank 15 centering 33 Heating system 16 door 34 side space 17 door 35 side space 18 door

Claims (9)

1. Device for applying liquid aroma agents, in particular flavour or menthol, on a line of tobacco during its generation in a sucking channel of a cigarette machine and/or on a cigarette paper and/or into a filter feeding means of filter machine, comprising a reservoir for the aroma agent, a conduit connecting the reservoir to the cigarette machine and/or the feeding means of the filter machine and having a nozzle means and a pump for supplying the aroma agent from the reservoir to the nozzle according to the production speed of the cigarette machine and/or, as the case may be, the filter machine, wherein the reservoir and the pump are accommodated in an apparatus that can be coupled to the cigarette machine and/or, as the case may be, the filter machine, characterized in that the device is provided with a plurality of sensor-controlled metering systems for supplying aroma agents, for each line of a cigarette machine (3) and/or, as the case may be, filter machine, wherein the metering systems are formed as closed-loop controls and the metering pumps comprise corresponding valve units and flow meters.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the metering systems each comprise one metering pump, the delivery rate of the pump being controlled according to the control signals of the cigarette machine (3) and/or, as the case may be, the filter machine.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metering systems can be controlled individually.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzles (10) are formed as two-fluid nozzles for an atomization without droplets by means of compressed air.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus (12, 13) is connected to the system of electric power and compressed air of the cigarette machine (3) and/or, as the case may be, the filter machine.
6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all connection lines between the apparatus and the cigarette machine (3) and/or, as the case may be, the filter machine are provided with detachable couplings.
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is provided with a controller (23) having an operator panel for a programmable full-automatic sequence control of the operation.
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is provided with a soft-plc system (power line communication).
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has a modular design with individually exchangeable components.

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