EP2361517B1 - Apparatus and method for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry from a hopper into a conveyor pipe - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a magazine into a delivery line, comprising a transmitter unit comprising a rotatably drivable drum with cavities for receiving and transversely axial conveying the rod-shaped articles from a magazine in the region of a blow-off zone.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry from a magazine into a conveyor line comprising the steps of: receiving the articles in a troughed drum, rotating the drum so that the articles cross-axially from the area of the magazine the area of a blow-off zone are conveyed, discharging the articles into the blow-off zone and conveying the articles out of the blow-off zone into the delivery line.

Such devices and methods are used in the tobacco processing industry to promote rod-shaped articles, such as filters or filter rods, axially and quickly over different distances in their longitudinal extent. The articles are supplied from a supply or a magazine of the transmitter unit. Within the transmitter unit, the articles are supplied individually via a rotating drum into the region of a blow-off zone and from there conveyed or fired via a pneumatic pipeline to a receiver unit. For conveying the articles usually compressed air is used as conveying air. Various devices and methods for transferring rod-shaped articles are known from the prior art, which are based on different operating principles.

The EP 0 640 296 B1 discloses, for example, a device for transferring rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry with the features of the preamble of claim 1. This device comprises a receiving and transmitting drum and a sealing block which surrounds the drum at least partially contactless. The drum has troughs for receiving the articles. By rotating the drum, the articles are conveyed transaxially into the area of a firing zone. The actual launching channel is thereby formed by the troughs themselves, which become the launching channel in the area of the launching zone. To convey the articles from the drum or the launching channel, the sealing block or the supporting block receiving the sealing block is designed as a supply plate for supplying conveying air into the hollows for the axial axial transfer of the articles into the delivery line. The conveying air must on the one hand ensure that the articles have left the drum or the discharge channel in the direction of the subsequent pipeline in good time, that is to say in a predetermined time window, in order to prevent unwanted shearing off of the articles by the rotating drum. On the other hand, the conveying air or the pressure must be sufficiently high in order to convey the articles completely through the pipeline to the receiver unit in order to avoid the articles remaining inside the pipeline. To meet the above requirements, a complex construction of the device is required. Furthermore, the load on the articles by their high acceleration in such a device is considerable.

The DE 25 30 026 C2 on the other hand describes a device with the features of the preamble of claim 1, which comprises a receiving drum, a transfer drum and a blow-out station. The articles are transported by means of a cam mechanism from the transfer drum in a discharge chamber of a stationary connection body. In other words, the blow-out chamber in this embodiment is not formed by the troughs of the transfer drum. Compressed air is supplied to the blow-out chamber via a pipeline, so that the articles located in the blow-out chamber are fed into the conveyor system. In addition to the pipe for supplying the compressed air into the blow-out chamber, the blow-out chamber is assigned a further compressed-air line. The cam mechanism described above is arranged within a pressure chamber, which via a Compressed air line is provided with compressed air. Depending on the position of the cam mechanism, a flow connection between the pressure chamber and the Ausblaskammer is made, wherein the flow connection supports the transport of the articles in the conveyor system. The internal transfer of the articles within the device is carried out via suction air and compressed air. However, this device is also structurally very expensive and charged the sensitive items.

The EP 0672 355 A1 discloses another example of a method and apparatus for conveying filter rods.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple device that ensures a gentle article promotion and / or a high flow rate, especially for heavier than usual today article. Furthermore, the object is to propose a corresponding method.

The object is achieved by a device having the features mentioned in the fact that the drum and the Ausblaszone are connected to each other via a Stächacht for Queraxialen conveying the article from the drum to the Ausblaszone and formed from the drum and the Steschacht conveyor unit in a pressure chamber formed main chamber is arranged, and that in the conveying direction F of the article from the magazine in front of the main chamber, a pressure lock for picking up and caching of the article is arranged. The inventive construction is achieved on the one hand, that the device and in particular the drum designed much simpler and cheaper, since the drum itself no longer forms the launching channel, so that the requirements for accuracy and tightness over conventional drums are reduced , On the other hand, it is achieved by the features essential to the invention that the articles can be introduced into a continuous flow of compressed air in the blow-off zone, whereby a pulse-like load on the articles is avoided. This leads to a lower stress of the article. Another advantage is that the displacement of the blowing zone out of the drum eliminates the problem of shearing of products due to the rotation of the drum.

An expedient development of the invention is characterized in that the pressure chamber is assigned a first access for establishing a pressure level within the pressure chamber and for supplying the transport air into the blow-off zone. For a particularly simple construction of the device is realized because different functions are implemented by means of a single access. The pressure level within the pressure chamber simultaneously serves as transport air and as shot air for the articles.

Advantageously, the first access faces the exit for the articles from the blow-off zone. In other words, the access and the exit are consecutively either aligned in a horizontal plane or offset in two horizontal planes. An access at the air inlet into the blow-off zone generates a high flow velocity, so that a higher conveying speed of the articles can be achieved. Furthermore, this training favors the conveying of heavier items.

A particularly preferred development of the invention is characterized in that the pressure chamber is associated with a second access, which opens in the conveying direction F of the article in front of the drum in the pressure chamber. As a result, possible leakage through the pressure lock can be compensated so that a constant pressure level prevails within the pressure chamber.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the pressure chamber has the outlet of the blow-off zone as the only free opening to the subsequent delivery line. Thus, the pressure chamber is a quasi pressure-tight space, whereby the Abdichtproblematik is defused. For a simpler construction of the device can be realized. A further advantage is that a pressure-tight space enables a high pressure level in the system, that is to say in particular in the delivery line adjoining the transmitter unit, so that even heavier articles can be conveyed via long delivery lines with a high transmission power.

Advantageously, the drum is associated with an element for radially combing the articles from the drum into the stowage bay. By radial combing the articles can be quickly and gently removed from the wells. This will be the Time window for firing the article increased, so that the risk of damage to the article is reduced and the problem of shearing the article is completely avoided.

An expedient development of the invention is characterized in that the drum is formed as a hollow drum, wherein the wells are connected via openings with the interior of the drum, and that the pressure chamber is an arrangement for generating a pressure difference between the main chamber and the interior of the drum assigned. By this pressure difference is supported in a simple and reliable way, the adoption of the articles in the wells and the holding of the articles in the wells. In particular, the "fixation" of the articles in the troughs via the differential pressure between the main chamber and the interior of the drum also ensures the positioning of the articles during the transport of the articles. The stripping or stripping of the articles from the troughs by contact with articles in the main chamber is thus reliably prevented, so that the delivery rate is increased.

Advantageously, a higher pressure prevails within the main chamber than in the interior of the drum, the pressure inside the interior of the drum being higher than the atmospheric pressure, and in particular more than 1 bar above the atmospheric pressure. This can be dispensed with an otherwise necessary vacuum supply within the interior, whereby the pressure chamber principle of the present invention is supported.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method with the steps mentioned above in that the articles are fed via a pressure lock of a main chamber designed as a pressure chamber, wherein the articles are conveyed within the pressure chamber transversely axial over a Stächacht from the drum to the blow-out. The resulting advantages have already been explained in connection with the device for carrying out the method, so reference is made to avoid repetition on the corresponding passages. Summing up the advantages can with the supply of the articles over the pressure lock a simple structure, a good seal, a high Pressure level and a high transmission power can be achieved. Leakage losses in the area of the launch, on the other hand, are avoided, so that the energy can be used for the launch itself.

Fig. 1a) bis 1f)

schematische Darstellungen der Sendereinheit im Schnitt in unterschiedlichen Verfahrensstadien,

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Stauschachtes mit den Übergängen von der Trommel einerseits und in die Ausblaszone andererseits,

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Darstellung von Einzelteilen zum Halten und getakteten Weitergeben der Artikel aus den Mulden der Trommel in die Ausblaszone,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Teilen der Sendereinheit mit einem Stauschacht während des Betriebs der Vorrichtung,

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Teilen der Sendereinheit in einem Zustand der Störungsbeseitigung,

Fig. 6

eine erste Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse,

Fig. 7

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse,

Fig. 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse,

Fig. 9

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse,

Fig. 10

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse,

Fig. 11

eine weitere Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse,

Fig. 12

eine Schnittdarstellung der Ausführungsform der Druckschleuse gemäß Figur 11,

Fig. 13

eine schematische Darstellungen einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Sendereinheit im Schnitt,

Fig. 14

eine Seitenansicht der Sendereinheit gemäß Figur 13 in starker Vereinfachung,

Fig. 15

eine Detailansicht einer Trommel für eine Sendereinheit gemäß Figur 13, wobei die Trommel als Hohltrommel mit Öffnungen zur Verbindung der Hauptkammer mit dem Innenraum der Trommel ausgebildet ist,

Fig. 16

eine erste Ausführungsform einer Anordnung zum Erzeugen einer Druckdifferenz zwischen der Hauptkammer und dem Innenraum der Trommel,

Fig. 17

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Anordnung zum Erzeugen einer Druckdifferenz zwischen der Hauptkammer und dem Innenraum der Trommel,

Fig. 18

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Anordnung zum Erzeugen einer Druckdifferenz zwischen der Hauptkammer und dem Innenraum der Trommel, und

Fig. 19

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer Anordnung zum Erzeugen einer Druckdifferenz zwischen der Hauptkammer und dem Innenraum der Trommel.

Further expedient and / or advantageous features and method step emerge from the subclaims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention and the method will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1a) to 1f)

schematic representations of the transmitter unit in section at different stages of the method,

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of the stowage bay with the transitions from the drum on the one hand and in the blow-out zone on the other hand,

Fig. 3

an enlarged view of items for holding and clocked passing the article from the wells of the drum in the blow-out,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of parts of the transmitter unit with a stowage during operation of the device,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of parts of the transmitter unit in a state of the fault elimination,

Fig. 6

a first embodiment of the pressure lock,

Fig. 7

another embodiment of the pressure lock,

Fig. 8

another embodiment of the pressure lock,

Fig. 9

another embodiment of the pressure lock,

Fig. 10

another embodiment of the pressure lock,

Fig. 11

another embodiment of the pressure lock,

Fig. 12

a sectional view of the embodiment of the pressure lock according to FIG. 11 .

Fig. 13

a schematic representation of another embodiment of the transmitter unit in section,

Fig. 14

a side view of the transmitter unit according to FIG. 13 in a big way,

Fig. 15

a detailed view of a drum for a transmitter unit according to FIG. 13 wherein the drum is formed as a hollow drum with openings for connecting the main chamber to the interior of the drum,

Fig. 16

a first embodiment of an arrangement for generating a pressure difference between the main chamber and the interior of the drum,

Fig. 17

another embodiment of an arrangement for generating a pressure difference between the main chamber and the interior of the drum,

Fig. 18

a further embodiment of an arrangement for generating a pressure difference between the main chamber and the interior of the drum, and

Fig. 19

another embodiment of an arrangement for generating a pressure difference between the main chamber and the interior of the drum.

The devices shown in the figures serve to transfer filters from a magazine into a conveyor line to shoot the filters to a receiving station. Of course, the devices are also suitable and designed and arranged to transfer other rod-shaped and in particular cylindrical articles of the tobacco-processing industry.

The device 10 comprises a transmitter unit 11, which has a conveying element designed as a rotatably drivable drum 12. The drum 12 is provided with recesses 13 for receiving the rod-shaped articles 14. As a result of the rotation of the drum 12 about the axis of rotation R, the articles 14 can be conveyed transversely axially, preferably from a magazine 15 into the region of a blow-off zone 16. The articles 14, however, can also be fed directly to the drum 12. The drum 12 is in the described embodiments according to the FIGS. 1 to 12 free of openings for applying suction or the like. In other words, the articles 14 are held within the troughs 13 other than by suction air, as described below. Instead of the drum 12, for example, a trough band can be used with Saugluftöffnungen. In further embodiments, in particular according to FIGS. 13 to 19 , The drum 12 has openings 55 which connect the troughs 13 of the drum 12 with the interior 56 of the drum 12. These embodiments will be described in detail below.

As mentioned, each drum 12 is formed in all embodiments for transferring the articles 14 from an upper receiving zone Z _AUF into a lower discharge zone Z _AB . In the region of the discharge zone Z _AB , the drum 12 is assigned a guide channel 17, by means of which the articles 14 can be conveyed away from the drum 12 into the blow-off zone 16. The guide channel 17 is preferably a single-layer stowage compartment 18. In this context, single-layer means that only one layer of the article 14 can be conveyed within the stowage compartment 18 so that the articles 14 one after the other leave the stowage compartment 18 in the blow-off zone 16. The stowage bay 18 connects the drum 12 to the blow-off zone 16 for conveying the articles 14 out of the drum 12 into the blow-off zone 16 in a transverse axial direction.

The drum 12 and the storage shaft 18 form a conveyor unit 19. This conveyor unit 19 is arranged in a main chamber 21 designed as a pressure chamber 20. The main chamber 21 is sealed on all sides to form the pressure chamber 20, wherein the side walls or surrounding the pressure chamber 20 Housing walls optionally completely or partially for better accessibility can be releasably connected to each other. The pressure chamber 20 thus initially forms a pressure-tight receiving space for the delivery unit 19 and the article 14. In order to hold the pressure level prevailing within the pressure chamber 20 when more articles 14 are to be directed into the pressure chamber 20, the article 14 is in the conveying direction F. the magazine 15 in the direction of the main chamber 21 in front of the main chamber 21 according to the invention a pressure lock 22 for receiving and caching the article 14 is arranged. The design of the pressure lock 22, as will be described below, be realized in different ways.

In order to create and maintain a pressure level which is higher than the atmospheric pressure within the pressure chamber 20, the pressure chamber 20 is associated with an access 23. In one embodiment of the invention, this access 23 for compressed air is also designed and furnished for supplying the transport air into the blow-off zone 16. In other words, the pressure level within the pressure chamber 20 serves to convey the articles 14 from the blow-off zone 16. This means that the compressed air introduced through the access 23 serves not only as transport air but also as shot air. Preferably, the access 23 is opposite the exit for the articles 14 from the blow-off zone 16, so that the compressed air is directed from the access port 23 through the blow-off zone 16 to the outlet from the blow-off zone 16 throughout axially. Other ways of arranging and forming the access 23 and the flow direction of the compressed air are also possible. In the Figures 13 and 14 For example, the access 23 is arranged laterally, thus extending transversely to the discharge zone 16. Via the access 23, regardless of its position and arrangement, compressed air P _{1 is conducted} into the pressure chamber 20.

In further embodiments according to the invention, the pressure chamber 20 may be assigned a second access 24. The position of the second access 24 is variable. Preferably, the access 24 opens in the conveying direction F of the article 14 in front of the drum 12 in the pressure chamber 20. The second access 24 is used in particular for supplying compressed air P ₁ to compensate for possible leakage within the pressure chamber 20. Of course, the access 24 and the construction of the Pressure levels within the pressure chamber 20 and / or to support the transport air be trained and equipped. The pressure lock 22 is also associated with a separate access 25 for supplying and discharging compressed air P ₂ for establishing and reducing a pressure level within the pressure lock 22. Preferably, the accesses 24 and 25 are arranged on the same side of the device 10. The control of the entrances 24, 25, so the supply of the pressure lock 22 on the one hand and the pressure chamber 20 on the other hand is independent.

The magazine or article supply can be formed or arranged directly above the pressure lock 22. In the embodiment shown, a portioning chamber 26 is arranged between the magazine and the pressure lock 22. The pressure lock 22 can be closed by a lock element 27 both to the pressure chamber 20 and to the portioning chamber 26. The magazine is separable from the portioning chamber 26 by a blocking element 28. In terms of volume, the portioning chamber 26 is preferably smaller than the pressure lock 22, and the pressure lock 22 is preferably smaller in volume than the pressure chamber 20 in terms of volume.

In the preferred embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, the pressure chamber 20 as the only free opening on the output of the blow-off zone 16 to the subsequent delivery line 57 on. A free opening is an opening which, unlike the accesses 23, 24, 25, is not designed to be closable. In other words, the number of openings through which air can escape directly is limited to a single one. As a result, a quasi pressure-tight pressure chamber, namely the pressure chamber 20, is formed.

As mentioned above, in the conveying path of the article 14 from the magazine 15 to the blow-off zone 16 after the drum 12, the storage shaft 18 connects. When already filled Stächacht 18, the articles 14 are quasi pushed. Upon radial delivery of the articles 14 from the drum 12, the articles 14 preferably fall by gravity into the stowage bay 18 in the case of a first fill. The stowage bay 18 is configured and arranged to support and index the articles 14 into the purge zone 16. In the described embodiment, the stowage bay 18 is formed by a guide element 29 and a holding element 30 on the sides directed radially with respect to the articles 14. The holding element 30 is simultaneously formed as a release element for the article 14. By holding element 30 quasi a spring assembly is constructed in the storage shaft 18.

Especially in the Figures 2 and 3 the details of the preferred embodiment can be seen. The holding element 30 is a pivotably mounted at a free end lever 31 which is spring loaded. As a result, located in the stowage 18 articles 14 are biased. In other words, the articles 14 are held in the stowage bay 18 by the spring-loaded lever 31. By the nachrückenden Article 14 of the jerk on the lower located in the stowage bay 18 Article 14 is higher. If the spring force is sufficiently high, the article 14 lying on the starting strip is forwarded into the blowing zone 16. This creates the time gap required for longitudinal transport. The lever 31 may further comprise a retaining strip 33 on the side facing the stowage bay 18. The holding element 30 or, more precisely, the holding strip 33 provided at the end of the stowage shaft 18 can also be referred to as a starter bar or so-called "kicker". The lever 31 is adjustable with respect to its position or its spring action. For this purpose, an eccentric 32 is assigned to the lever 31, for example, on the side facing away from the stowage bay 18. The holding element 30 and the lever 31 is pulled against the eccentric 32 via return springs. The adjustment itself takes place via the eccentric acting against the spring force eccentric 32, which determines the shaft width and thus the effect of the retaining strip 33. The retaining strip 33 has a projecting into the stowage 18 in projection 34. The projection 34 preferably has a stowage shaft 18 tapering contour. The retaining strip 33 may be formed fixed or integral with the lever 31. Preferably, however, the retaining strip 33 is mounted replaceably on the lever 31. Within the blow-out zone 16, the article 14 is exposed and can be entrained by the already applied flow of compressed air.

Other non-illustrated embodiments of the storage shaft 18 have, for example, towards each other and movable away from each other storage bay walls. The holding force for the articles 14 within the storage shaft 18 can also be applied by other elements than a spring, for example by pneumatic actuation means. These holding elements 30 acting directly on the articles 14 or the articles 14 at least partially impressing can be used in particular for soft articles 14. For Article 14, which are not compressible, namely eg hard segment multifilter, the stowage bay 18 may be associated with a conveying means for actively and preferably cyclically conveying the articles 14 from the stowage bay 18 into the blowing zone 16. Such a conveyor may, for example, comprise two trough wheels arranged on opposite sides of the stowage shaft 18, which by their rotation about their axes of rotation, which are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the articles 14 lying in the stowage compartment 18, promote the articles 14 clocked in the direction of the blow-off zone 16. Such a conveying means can of course also be provided in the stowage shaft 18 described above with the holding means 30.

The drum 12 is in the described embodiment, an element 35 for radial and thus cross-axial Auskämmen the article 14 from the drum 12 in the storage shaft 18 assigned. A plurality of prongs 55 of the fork-like member 35 are adapted to engage the troughs 13 of the drum 12 and set up and block the transport of the articles 14 beyond the area of the stowage bay 18. The element 35 is arranged on a support block 36 in the embodiment shown. The element 35 and / or the support block 36 are releasably secured, so that a simple replacement is feasible.

The apparatus 10 and in particular the transmitter unit 11 may be associated with means for eliminating faults and / or driving the drum 12 empty. One possibility is e.g. It is to provide an additional discharge shaft 37. This discharge shaft 37 is arranged in the conveying direction F of the article 14 below the drum 12 and serves to drive the drum 12 preferably automatically empty. A further possibility is formed in that the guide shaft 29, which delimits or forms the guide shaft 18 on one side, is designed to be lowerable. This facilitates accessibility and facilitates emptying of the stowage bay 18 and / or the drum 12. Optionally, an additional (not explicitly shown Rückblasdüse be provided by means of the individual articles 14, for example, from the blow-off zone 16 can be blown back.

As mentioned, the pressure chamber 20 according to the invention a pressure lock 22 upstream. This pressure lock 22 may be in different embodiments be designed. Some of the possibilities are especially the FIGS. 6 to 12 refer to. In the FIG. 6 a pressure lock 22 is shown, the lock chamber 38 is limited by two sealingly closable slide 39. The slides 39 are mutually controllable and actuated eg via pressure cylinder or equivalent elements. The slides 39 can also be moved into so-called "inflatable seals", which leads to an improvement in the sealing effect. The FIGS. 7 and 8 show rotary locks, where in the FIG. 7 a single chamber lock and in FIG. 8 a two-chamber lock is shown. In the single-chamber lock, a preferably pneumatic swivel cylinder 40 is provided, which is open over part of the peripheral surface for receiving and dispensing the articles 14. The angle of rotation of the pivoting cylinder 40 may vary and is preferably 180 ° or 360 °. In the two-chamber lock a 360 ° rotatable rotary piston 41 is provided which has two chambers. The rotary piston 41 has two openings for receiving and dispensing the articles 14, wherein the openings are preferably exactly opposite each other. In FIG. 9 the pressure lock 22 is a wing lock. In this case, two wings 42 form the lock. The wings 42 are rotatably or pivotally driven, preferably at an angle of 90 °. In other embodiments not shown and axial locks are used.

In the FIGS. 10 to 12 is a rotary lock with many, for example, 20 chambers shown. But it can also be provided more or less chambers. The number of chambers is therefore designated n. For this purpose, a further drum 43 is arranged above the drum 12. The drum 43 also has troughs 44 for receiving the articles 14. The drums 12 and 43 are arranged to each other such that a direct transfer of the article 14 from drum 43 to drum 12 can be realized. In the FIG. 10 the drum 43 is formed without openings for suction and / or pressure. The drum 43 in FIG. 11 on the other hand has openings 45 in the region of the troughs 44 for applying or discharging suction air and / or compressed air. However, these openings 45 are only partially connected via circular segment sections with vacuum, and / or pressure and / or atmospheric pressure chambers 53 for a controlled suction, flooding, blowing and / or venting.

The troughs 44 are closed frontally in both embodiments. In the embodiment according to FIG. 10 the drum 43 is embedded in a sealing shoe 46. In the region of the sealing shoe 46, each trough 44 therefore virtually forms a single sealing or pressure chamber 47. To build up the necessary pressure level in the pressure chambers 47, which is also referred to as floods of the pressure chambers 47, a channel 48 is provided in the sealing shoe 46, by means in which a connection between the main chamber 21 and the channel 48 passing trough 44 for building up a pressure level can be produced. In the embodiment according to FIG. 11 the pressure equalization, ie the suction of the articles 14, the flooding of the pressure chambers 47, the blowing of the articles 14 in the wells of the drum 12 and the venting of the pressure chambers 47 via the openings 45. In both embodiments, the drum 12 is a in a firing chamber Subsequent to 50 opening stowage 49, which may be formed according to the embodiments described above. In the embodiments shown according to the Figures 10 and 11 the stowage shaft 49 is formed by the guide member 29 and a sealing shoe 54. The firing chamber 50 is pressurized, so that the articles 14 can be fed to a continuous flow.

In all embodiments, the guide member 29 forms together with the support member 30 and the seal shoe 54 the stowage compartment 18 and the blow-off zone 16. For the purpose of automatic troubleshooting and maintenance, the guide member 29 can be moved downwards (see arrow K). Further features of the device 10 according to the invention relate, for example, to a stripping or deflecting roller 51. The stripping or deflecting roller 51 is located inside the pressure chamber 20 of the drum 12 (see, for example, US Pat FIGS. 1a) to 1f ) and Figures, 4 and 5 ) or in the region of the magazine of the drum 43 (see, eg Figures 10 and 11 ). A further advantageous embodiment provides that in the region of the outlet 23 opposite to the outlet of the blow-off zone, a nozzle is arranged to produce a greater flow velocity in the blow-off zone 16.

Based on FIGS. 13 to 15 Further embodiments are described, which can be used alone or in combination with the embodiments described above. Basically, those in the characters 13 to 15 illustrated transmitter units 11 constructed comparable to the transmitter units 11 described above. In addition to the different arrangement of the access 23, the drum 12 is formed in this variant but as a hollow drum. The interior 56 of the drum 12 is connected via radially directed openings 55 with the wells 13. However, the openings 55 are only partially connected to the environment, in this case with the main chamber 21 of the pressure chamber 20, connectable. The drum 12 is cylindrical and rotates about a fixed segment 59 which is cut free on the side facing the receiving zone Z _AUF . In other words, the segment 59 describes a circular segment portion which is open in the overlap region with the main chamber 21, so that the openings 55 which are in the receiving zone Z _AUF , first a connection between the main chamber 21 and the interior 56 of the drum 12th then at least partially interrupted by the inclusion of Article 14. The drum 12, which can be driven in rotation about the axis of rotation R via a drive 58, has, starting from the interior 56, an outlet line 60, which is designed as a rotary feedthrough, for example in the form of a hollow drum shaft.

The pressure chamber 20 is associated with an assembly 61 for generating a pressure difference between the main chamber 21 and the inner space 56 of the drum 12. Within the main chamber 21 there is a pressure P _H , which is greater than the pressure P _T in the interior 56 of the drum 12. However, the pressures P _H and P _{T are} both greater than the atmospheric pressure P _Atmos , ie the ambient pressure outside the pressure chamber 20th Preferably, the pressure P _T in the interior 56 of the drum 12 is at least 1 bar greater than the atmospheric pressure. The arrangement 61 can be realized in different ways. In the following, preferred embodiments of arrangements 61 will be described.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 16 , which represents a kind of flow plan, is arranged in the flow direction of the compressed air between the drum 12 and the main chamber 21, a pump 62, for example a differential pressure pump. The arrows in this and the following figures represent the flow direction of the compressed air. On the input side, the pump 62 has an access line, which is formed for example by the outlet line 60 of the drum 12. The discharge line 60 connects the Interior 56 of the drum 12 with the pump 62. On the output side of the pump 62 is an output line 63 assigned. Preferably, the output line 63 is connected to the main chamber 21. The main chamber 21 is connected on the one hand via the openings 55 in the drum 12 with the interior 56 of the drum 12 fluidly. This means that air from the main chamber 21 can flow through the openings 55 into the interior 56 of the drum 12. On the other hand, the main chamber 21 is connected via the gap 67 between the drum 12 and the adjacent housing walls 64 of the transmitter unit 11 with the launching area, ie the blow-off zone 16. This connection ensures pressure equalization. At the blow-off zone 16, the delivery line 57 connects, which forms a so-called compressed air sink, so the area of the lowest pressure. Furthermore, the arrangement 61 comprises an external compressed air supply 65, which is connected via the access 23 directly to the blow-off zone 16. By means of the compressed air supply 65, for example a pump, the area of the blow-off zone 16 can be acted upon by a supply pressure P _V which corresponds to the pressure P ₁ .

In a further embodiment of the arrangement 61 according to FIG FIG. 17 is in the connection to the compressed air supply 65, a nozzle body 66, preferably a venturi, arranged, which in turn is connected to the blow-off zone 16. The delivery line 57 connects to the blow-off zone 16 again. On the other hand, there is a connection between the blow-off zone 16 and the main chamber 21 through the gap 67. The access 24 to the main chamber 21 is closed in this embodiment. From the main chamber 21 via the openings 55 is a connection to the interior 56 of the drum 12. About the above-described rotary feedthrough as the outlet line 60, the interior 56 of the drum 12 is connected to the nozzle body 66, wherein for a reliable feedback prevention a check valve 69 or a correspondingly acting means in the outlet line 60 is provided.

In the FIG. 18 the arrangement 61 is described in a further embodiment. The compressed air supply 65 is connected both via the access 23 to the blow-out zone 16 and via the access 24 to the main chamber 21. The delivery line 57 connects to the blow-off zone 16 again. Second, there is between From the main chamber 21 is through the openings 55, a connection to the interior 56 of the drum 12. About the rotary union described above as the outlet line 60, the interior 56 is connected to the blow-out zone 16 , wherein a check valve 69 or the like, which may also be spring-loaded, is provided in the discharge line 60 for safe feedback prevention. In this variant, the self-adjusting differential pressure is used, which results from the operational promotion of the article (eg filter rods), namely from the compressed air supply 65 via the blow-out zone 16 to the delivery line 57 as compressed air sink. The air from the interior 56, for example, in an alternative embodiment via an outlet line 60a with a pressure regulating valve, not shown, to the environment (area with prevailing atmospheric pressure) are delivered. In a modification of the latter variant, there is also the possibility that in the line between the compressed air supply 65 and the Ausblaszone 16, a nozzle body 66, namely, preferably a Venturi nozzle, is arranged. The discharge line 60 does not terminate in this embodiment in the blow-off zone 16 but is connected to the nozzle body 66, as the FIG. 19 shows.

The fluidic connections between the individual components, indicated by the arrows in the FIGS. 16 to 19 can be made in all embodiments via lines, holes, slots, gaps, openings or the like. In all embodiments, the pressure P _{T is} greater than the atmospheric pressure P _Atmos and lower than the pressure P _H in the main chamber 21. In the entire pressure chamber 20, therefore, there is a permanent overpressure.

• Die Artikel 14, also z.B. Filterstäbe, liegen unter Atmosphärendruck in dem Magazin 15. Das Sperrelement 28 bildet zusammen mit der Portionierkammer 26, in der ebenfalls Atmosphärendruck herrscht, einen Portionierer. Innerhalb der Vorrichtung 10 bewegen sich die Artikel 14 bis zur Ausblaszone 16 queraxial. Von der Portionierkammer 26 werden die Artikel 14 in die Druckschleuse 22 transportiert bzw. fallen in diese. Sobald die Druckschleuse 22 mit Artikeln 14 gefüllt ist, wird die Druckschleuse 22 bzw. die Schleusenkammer geschlossen. Über den Zugang 25 wird innerhalb der Schleusenkammer ein Druck aufgebaut, der dem Druck innerhalb der Rohrleitung, also dem eigentlichen Transportdruck bzw. Schussdruck, der auch innerhalb der nachfolgenden Druckkammer 20 bzw. Hauptkammer 21 herrscht, entspricht. Das Druckniveau innerhalb der Druckkammer 20 ist höher als der Atmosphärendruck.

In the following, the preferred method principle is explained in more detail in particular with reference to the sequence of FIGS. 1a) to 1f):

• The articles 14, eg filter rods, are at atmospheric pressure in the magazine 15. The blocking element 28 forms a portioning device together with the portioning chamber 26, in which atmospheric pressure also prevails. Within the device 10, the articles 14 move transaxially to the blowing zone 16. From the portioning chamber 26, the articles 14 are transported into the pressure lock 22 or fall into this. As soon as the pressure lock 22 is filled with articles 14, the pressure lock 22 or the lock chamber is closed. Via the access 25, a pressure is built up within the lock chamber which corresponds to the pressure within the pipeline, that is to say the actual transport pressure or shot pressure, which also prevails within the following pressure chamber 20 or main chamber 21. The pressure level within the pressure chamber 20 is higher than the atmospheric pressure.

Photocells or other suitable and common monitoring elements are used to monitor the level of Article 14 in the sampling area. If there are too few articles 14 in the removal area, ie if a low level is detected and reported, the pressure lock 22 is opened to the pressure chamber 20 so that the articles 14 enter the pressure chamber 21. When the pressure chamber 20 is deflated, the pressure lock 22 is closed again and the atmospheric pressure is restored. The pressure lock 22 is then ready to receive further articles 14 from the magazine 15 or from the portioning chamber 26. Within the pressure chamber 20, the articles 14 are fed by means of the stripper roller 51 of the drum 12. By rotation of the drum 12, the articles 14 are supplied from the removal area or the receiving zone Z _Auf within the pressure chamber 20 to the single-layer storage shaft 18. By the element 35 for combing out the articles 14 are released from the wells 13 and conveyed into the storage shaft 18. Within the storage shaft 18, the articles 14 are guided downwards in the direction of the discharge zone 16. The holding member 30 guides the articles 14 and holds them at the same time to prevent the articles 14 from entering the purging zone 16 in disorder and uncontrolled manner.

Within the entire pressure chamber 20 there is a pressure which is built up via the access 23, that is to say the so-called delivery line inlet pressure. The pressure within the pressure chamber 20 corresponds to the transport pressure or shot pressure. The pressure within the pressure chamber 20 can escape into the delivery line only via the outlet of the blow-off zone 16, so that a constant flow is built up within the blow-off zone 16 and the subsequent delivery line, which is responsible for transporting the articles 14 out of the blow-off zone 16 and through the delivery line is required. The flow has a so-called working pressure, which is sufficient for firing and conveying the article 14 from the discharge zone 16 through the delivery line to the receiving station. To increase the transport speed within the blow-off zone 16 and in particular in the delivery line, the flow rate through a nozzle at the air inlet, ie in the region of the access 23 can be increased. The retaining strip 33 holds the articles 14 until a subsequent article 14 pushes the article 14 lying on the retaining strip 33 into the blowing zone 16. Here, the elasticity of the article 14 is used, which acts like a spring. Due to the continuous flow in the blow-off zone 16, the articles 14 are transported individually into the conveying line. In other words, the respectively last or lowermost article 14 located in the stowage compartment 18, in combination with the delivery pressure formed by the advancing articles 14, is released by the holding element 30 and falls into the blow-off zone 16, from which the article 14 is controlled by the prevailing, entrained at working pressure flow and is conveyed from the discharge zone 16 in the delivery line.

Possible leakage within the pressure chamber 20 can be compensated by the additional access 24. The sequential release of the article 14 in the blow-off zone 16, a gap formation between the articles 14 is possible. The size of the gap can be varied, for example by increasing the trough distances in the drum 12. In a fault, the drum 12 can be automatically drained via the additional slot 37. If an automatic emptying or cleaning of the drum 12 is not possible, alternatively, a manual opening of the pressure chamber 20 may be possible. For cleaning, maintenance, adjustment and other purposes, the guide member 29 can also be moved downwards or downwards away from the drum 12, so that the accessibility to the area of the drum 12 and / or the storage shaft 18 is improved. Also, the pressure ratios within the device 10 may vary.

The method described above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention. For carrying out the method according to the invention, not all of the mentioned method steps are always required. Of course, the method also in a simplified manner, ie for example, without the caching in the portioning chamber 26 are executed. The "lock" can be carried out according to the respective embodiment in various ways.

• Bei der Variante gemäß Figur 16 wird der Versorgungsdruck P_V mittels der Druckluftversorgung 65 über die Versorgungsleitung 68 nur über den Zugang 23 in die Druckkammer 20 eingeleitet, und zwar im Bereich der Ausblaszone 16. Im Bereich der Ausblaszone 16 herrscht daher ein Druck P_A, der etwa dem Versorgungsdruck P_V und damit dem Druck P₁ entspricht. Über die Förderleitung 57, die sich an die Ausblaszone 16 anschließt, kann es zu einem leichten Druckverlust kommen. Über den Spalt 67 zwischen der Trommel 12 und der Gehäusewand 64 der Sendereinheit erfolgt ein Druckausgleich zwischen der Ausblaszone 16 und der Hauptkammer 21, so dass in der Hauptkammer 21 der Druckkammer 20 ein Druck P_H herrscht, der etwa dem Druck P_A entspricht. Die Hauptkammer 21 ist über die Öffnungen 55 mit dem Innenraum 56 der Trommel 12 verbunden, und zwar in dem Segment, mit dem die Trommel 12 in die Hauptkammer 21 ragt. Dadurch, dass ausgangsseitig der Trommel 12 die Pumpe 62 angeordnet ist, die aus der Trommel 12 bzw. deren Innenraum 56 Luft absaugt, reduziert sich der Druck P_T innerhalb der Trommel 12 gegenüber dem Druck P_H in der Hauptkammer 21, wobei P_T stets größer als der Atmosphärendruck P_Atmos ist. Durch die Pumpe 62 wird eine Druckdifferenz zwischen der Hauptkammer 21 und dem Innenraum 56 der Trommel 12 erzeugt. Die Pumpe 62 gibt die aus der Trommel 12 angesaugte Luft wahlweise über ein Druckregelventil an die Umgebung ab oder speist diese über den Zugang 24 oder an anderer Stelle in die Hauptkammer 21 , um darin den Druck P_H aufrechtzuerhalten.

The generation of a pressure difference between the main chamber 21 and the interior 56 of the drum 12 is explained below with reference to the different arrangements 61:

• In the variant according to FIG. 16 the supply pressure P _{V is introduced} by means of the compressed air supply 65 via the supply line 68 only via the access 23 into the pressure chamber 20, in the region of the blow-off zone 16. In the region of the blow-off zone 16, there is therefore a pressure P _A which is approximately equal to the supply pressure P _V and thus the pressure P ₁ corresponds. Via the delivery line 57, which adjoins the blow-off zone 16, there may be a slight pressure loss. Via the gap 67 between the drum 12 and the housing wall 64 of the transmitter unit is a pressure equalization between the blow-off zone 16 and the main chamber 21, so that in the main chamber 21 of the pressure chamber 20, a pressure P _H prevails, which corresponds approximately to the pressure P _A. The main chamber 21 is connected via the openings 55 to the interior 56 of the drum 12, in the segment with which the drum 12 projects into the main chamber 21. Characterized in that the output side of the drum 12, the pump 62 is arranged, which sucks air from the drum 12 and the interior 56, the pressure P _{T is} reduced within the drum 12 with respect to the pressure P _H in the main chamber 21, where P _T always greater than the atmospheric pressure P _Atmos is. By the pump 62, a pressure difference between the main chamber 21 and the interior 56 of the drum 12 is generated. The pump 62 selectively supplies the air drawn from the drum 12 to the environment via a pressure regulating valve or feeds it via the inlet 24 or elsewhere into the main chamber 21 to maintain the pressure P _H therein.

In the variant according to FIG. 17 the compressed air with the supply pressure P _{V is} first conducted via the supply line 68 into the nozzle body 66 and guided by the nozzle body 66 via the access 23 into the blow-off zone 16, so that in the region of the blow-off zone 16, the pressure P _A prevails, which is lower than that Supply pressure P _V is because the pressure P _A via the delivery line 57 drops. The area of the blow-off zone 16 is connected via the gap 67 between the drum 12 and the housing wall 64 of the transmitter unit 11 with the main chamber 21 in connection. The nozzle body 66, which is connected to the drum 12, draws air from the inner space 56 of the drum 12 due to the air flow with the pressure P _V and the nozzle (Venturi), so that the pressure P _T within the drum 12 is less than the pressure P _H in the main chamber 21, which is connected via the openings 55 with the interior 56 of the drum 12. Because the main chamber 21 is supplied with compressed air only via the blow-off zone 16, the pressure P _{H is} lower than the pressure P _A in the blow-off zone 16.

The embodiment of the arrangement 61 according to the FIG. 18 generates the pressure difference between the main chamber 21 and the interior 56 of the drum 12 in that both the main chamber 21 and the blow-off zone 16 are acted upon directly via the accesses 23 and 24 to the supply pressure P _V and by a pressure differential between the supply line 68 and the blow-off zone 16 and on to the delivery line 57, a pressure gradient to the drum 12 is generated by a direct loading of the main chamber 21 with the supply pressure P _V. With a corresponding design of the air ducts within the blow-off zone 16, the ejector principle can additionally contribute to the formation of a pressure difference. In an alternative embodiment of the circuit according to FIG. 18 the air is discharged from the drum 12 or its interior 56 via the outlet line 60 (optionally with a check valve 69) and / or via the outlet line 60a (optionally with a pressure regulating valve with exhaust air opening, not shown).

Should that be with the embodiment according to the FIG. 18 generated pressure gradient is not sufficient, there is a possibility (see FIG. 19 ), in addition to the admission of both the blow-off zone 16 and the main chamber 21 with the supply pressure P _V before the blow-off zone 16 to arrange the nozzle body 66. In this case, the discharge line 60 (optionally with check valve 69) from the drum 12 is in turn connected to the nozzle body 66.

By the pressure difference between the main chamber 21 and the inner space 56 of the drum 12, regardless of how this pressure difference is generated, arises without Vacuum a suction effect on the openings 55, which causes the articles 14 are reliably held in the wells 13 of the drum 12.

Claims (21)

1. Apparatus (10) for transferring rod-shaped articles (14) of the tobacco-processing industry from a hopper (15) into a conveyor pipe, comprising a transmitter unit (11), which comprises a rotationally drivable drum (12) with troughs (13) for receiving and transverse axial conveyance of the rod-shaped articles (14) from a hopper into the region of an ejection zone (16), characterised in that the drum (12) and the ejection zone (16) are connected to one another via a bulking chute (18) for transverse axial conveyance of the articles (14) from the drum (12) to the ejection zone (16) and the conveyor unit (19) formed from the drum (12) and the bulking chute (18) is arranged in a main chamber (21) formed as a pressure chamber (20), and that, in the conveying direction F of the articles (14) out of the hopper, a pressure airlock (22) for receiving and interim storage of the articles (14) is arranged in front of the main chamber (21).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the pressure chamber (20) is assigned a first inlet (23) for building up a pressure level within the pressure chamber (20) and for the supply of transport air into the ejection zone (16).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the first inlet (23) is opposite the outlet for the articles (14) from the ejection zone (16).
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the pressure chamber (20) is assigned a second inlet (24), which discharges into the pressure chamber (20) in front of the drum (12) in the conveying direction F of the articles (14).
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the pressure airlock (22) is assigned a separate inlet (25) for building up and reducing a pressure level.
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a slicing chamber (26) is arranged between the hopper (15) and the pressure airlock (22).
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the pressure chamber (20) has as a single free opening the outlet of the ejection zone (16) to the adjoining conveyor pipe.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the bulking chute (18) is designed and adapted for holding and pulsed transfer of the articles (14) into the ejection zone (16).
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the bulking chute (18) is assigned a conveying means for active conveyance of the articles (14) out of the bulking chute (18) into the ejection zone (16).
10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the drum (12) is assigned an element (35) for radial combing out of the articles (14) out of the drum (12) into the bulking chute (18).
11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the drum (12) is formed as a hollow drum in which the troughs (13) are connected via openings (55) to the interior space (56) of the drum (12), and that the pressure chamber (20) is assigned an arrangement (61) for producing a pressure difference between the main chamber (21) and the interior space (56) of the drum (12).
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that a higher pressure prevails within the main chamber (21) than in the interior space (56) of the drum (12), wherein the pressure within the interior space (56) of the drum (12) is higher than the atmospheric pressure, and is in particular more than 1 bar above the atmospheric pressure.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the arrangement (61) optionally comprises a pump (62) and/or a nozzle body (66).
14. Method for transferring rod-shaped articles (14) of the tobacco-processing industry from a hopper (15) into a conveyor pipe with the steps:

    - Receiving the articles (14) in a drum (12) provided with troughs (13),

    - Rotating the drum (12) so that the articles are conveyed transversely axially from the region of the hopper (15) into the region of an ejection zone (16),

    - Discharging the articles (14) into the ejection zone (16) and conveying the articles (14) out of the ejection zone (16) into the conveyor pipe,
    characterised in that the articles (14) are supplied via a pressure airlock (22) to a main chamber (21) formed as a pressure chamber (20), wherein the articles (14) are conveyed within the pressure chamber (20) transversely axially via a bulking chute (18) out of the drum (12) to the ejection zone (16).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that a constant pressure level is maintained by the pressure airlock (22) within the pressure chamber (20).
16. Method according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the articles (14) are radially combed out of the drum (12) and supplied to the bulking chute (18).
17. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterised in that the articles (14) are introduced in a pulsed manner out of the bulking chute (18) into a constant conveying flow into the ejection zone (16) and carried along by the conveying flow.
18. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterised in that the pressure level within the pressure chamber (20) provides both the transport air and the waste air for the articles (14).
19. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, characterised in that a pressure difference is generated within the pressure chamber (20) between the main chamber (21) and an interior space (56) of the drum (12) in such a manner that the reception of the articles (14) in the troughs (13) is supported and subsequently the articles (14) are held on the drum (12).
20. Method according to claim 19, characterised in that the differential pressure is generated by means of a pump (62) and/or a nozzle body (66).
21. Method according to claim 19 or 20, characterised in that all the pressures within the pressure chamber (20) and in particular also pressure P_T in the interior space (56) of the drum (12) are maintained at a level which is above the atmospheric pressure, and in particular more than 1 bar above the atmospheric pressure.

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