EP2570039B1 - Conveyor device for conveying articles from the tobacco processing industry and use of a component in such a device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a stationary body having a surface in which at least one first recess can be acted upon with negative pressure, with an adjacent to the surface of the body with an inner side and with respect to the surface of the Body movable in a direction of movement conveyor element, which is provided on its outside with a plurality of moving parts in succession receiving portions for temporarily receiving the articles and first passages containing the receiving portions on the outside with at least one fluidly connectable to the first recess in the surface of the body first opening on the inside of the conveying element connects, and with a layer which is formed for the stationary arrangement on the surface of the body and provided with at least a first passage opening which in fluid Verbind ung with the first recess in the surface of the body and with the first opening on the inside of the conveying element can be brought. Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of a layer which is formed as a foil or sheet and is provided with at least a first passage opening formed in a conveyor for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry conveying device, which has a stationary body with a surface in which at least one Subpressure acted upon first recess is formed, and one adjacent to the surface the body having an inner side and movable relative to the surface of the body in a direction of movement conveying element is provided on its outer side with a plurality of successively in the direction of movement receiving portions for temporarily receiving the articles and first passages containing the receiving portions on the outside with at least one in fluid communication with the first recess in the surface of the body engageable first opening on the inside of the conveying element connects.

Articles of the tobacco processing industry, for example, rod-shaped objects such as tobacco rods and sticks with limited length, filter rods or cigarettes with and without filters or cigarillos or tipping paper leaflets u. Like. Be.

In the conveying device of the type mentioned, the transport of the articles of the tobacco-processing industry takes place by means of the conveying element, which moves in the direction of movement and thus in the conveying or transporting direction. For this purpose, the articles are received by the receiving sections lying one behind the other in the direction of movement on the outside of the movable conveying element. During transport, the receiving sections are connected via first passages formed in the movable conveying element, at least one first opening communicating with the first passages and formed on the inside of the conveying element, and the first recess in fluid communication with the first opening in the surface of the body being connected to a vacuum source in that the articles to be conveyed are sucked by a vacuum formed in the receiving sections to the outside of the movable conveying element and are taken along by the conveying element during its movement, wherein the receiving sections are in particular groove-shaped.

Preferably, the conveying device of the aforementioned type is designed as a rotary conveying device, in which the stationary body is essentially a body of revolution and the surface of the stationary body is an outer surface of the rotary body is formed and as a movable conveying element, a drum surrounding the stationary body is provided, which is arranged substantially concentric with the stationary body and rotatably supported relative to the stationary body, in order to promote the articles of the tobacco processing industry in a rotational direction. Such conveying devices and in particular rotary conveying devices are used in drum machines of the tobacco processing industry, in particular in filter attachment machines and Multifilterherstellmaschinen.

Conveying devices and in particular rotary conveyor devices for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry are known. For example, the WO 2010/012 420 A1 a conveyor drum with receptacles for articles of the tobacco processing industry, in which various types of recordings are provided.

The EP 1 419 705 A1 discloses an apparatus for discharging rod-shaped smoking products, which has an inner sleeve with an outer side, in which are acted upon by negative pressure recesses, and an adjacent to the outside of the inner sleeve with its inner side and movable relative to the outer side of the inner sleeve in a direction of movement drum, the is provided on its outer side with a plurality of receiving portions in the direction of movement for temporarily receiving the rod-shaped smoke products and contains passages connecting the receiving portions on the outside with openings on the inside of the drum in fluid communication with the recesses in the outer side of the inner sleeve. Further, an outer sleeve is disposed on the outer side of the inner sleeve and thus between the latter and the drum and provided with through openings which are in fluid communication with the recesses in the outer side of the inner sleeve and the openings on the inside of the drum.

For the manufacture of articles of the tobacco processing industry of different format, in particular of different length, the corresponding format-relevant components of a machine used for this purpose, in particular the conveyor devices of the type mentioned, to adapt to a changed format, which is often associated with high costs and long downtime and resulting high costs.

In the prior art, often referred to as "control flange" body made of cast material and in the surface forming the surface of the molded control flange, often referred to as "control groove" first recess made by milling. In particular, in the case of changes in the length of the article to be produced, corresponding displacements of the control groove (s) on the surface of the control flange may be required, which necessitates an exchange of the relevant components and leads to the high expenditure already mentioned above.

In addition, at least some conventional types of conveyors partly cause high air consumption. This leads to a high air flow, which is indeed required in the transfer area to produce there for a reliable and rapid takeover of the articles an effective attraction, but is no longer needed in this strength in the course of further transport; because for easy fixing in the receiving sections during the actual transport very small air currents are sufficient. In those sections to make the recess or cam particularly narrow and especially with a width of less than 2 mm to reduce the air consumption in the surface of the body or the control flange to provide, but has proved particularly uneconomical when using the milling process.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a measure whereby the adaptation of a conveying device to articles of different formats, in particular of different lengths, is facilitated. It is a further object of the present invention to reduce air consumption.

This object is achieved according to a first aspect of the present invention by a conveying device for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a stationary body having a surface in which at least one first recess can be acted upon with negative pressure, with one adjacent to the surface of the body with an inside arranged and movable with respect to the surface of the body in a direction of movement conveying element which is provided on its outside with a plurality of moving parts in succession receiving portions for temporarily receiving the articles and first passages containing the receiving portions on the outside with at least one in fluid communication connects the first recess in the surface of the body engageable first opening on the inside of the conveying element, and with a layer which is designed for stationary arrangement on the surface of the body and with at least a first passage opening is provided, which is brought into fluid communication with the first recess in the surface of the body and with the first opening on the inside of the conveying element, characterized in that the layer is formed as a foil or sheet.

According to the invention therefore a layer on the surface or surface of the stationary body and thus between this surface of the stationary body and the inside of the conveying element is arranged. In this case, the arrangement of the layer according to the invention on the surface of the body is stationary, so that the position relative to the body rests stationary on the surface thereof. Thus, the conveying element moves not only relative to the surface of the stationary body, but in the same way with respect to the stationarily arranged according to the invention on the surface of the body layer. A layer is a flat, in particular web, sheet or plate-shaped, preferably flexible, element to be understood, which is preferably relatively thin and thus consumes little space, so that the use of the inventive layer, the design of the conveyor is substantially unaffected ,

Due to the arrangement on the surface of the stationary body and thus between this and the inside of the conveying element, the situation is with its first Through hole in a flow path of the suction air, which leads from the receiving portions on the outside of the conveying element via the first passages formed therein and the associated first opening on the inside of the conveying element to the first recess in the surface of the stationary body. Because according to the invention, the first through hole is capable of being formed so that it stands in a stationary arrangement on the surface of the body in fluid communication both with the recess in the surface of the body and with the first opening on the inside of the conveying element. By a special design and arrangement of the situation according to the invention, it is now possible to influence the air flow targeted, for which purpose the passage opening in the position is to be dimensioned accordingly. In particular, the passage opening can be produced inexpensively as a narrow slot for lowest air consumption.

The fact that the air flow is determined by the appropriate dimensioning of the passage opening in the position, a standardization and a high degree of prefabrication of the stationary body can be achieved, in particular by the (s) recess (s) formed in its surface is (are) dimensioned in that such a body is suitable for the arrangement of different layers with differently dimensioned passage openings for the transport of differently dimensioned articles. Thus, the invention provides a simple and inexpensive way to adapt the associated conveyor to a changed format and in particular a changed length of the article to be conveyed. For an individually adapted to the format of a particular item location can be produced inexpensively, and the conversion effort is relatively low, since only the slight position instead of the heavy body is to be exchanged.

In addition to an exchange of the inventive situation to another format of articles to be conveyed, the invention also enables easier maintenance and repair. The replacement of only the position according to the invention instead of the entire conveyor allows a faster execution of a format change or maintenance or repair and leads thus to lower downtime and on the other hand, as already mentioned, to a reduction in costs, since the situation requires a significantly lower material usage than the other components of the conveyor.

Finally, another advantage of the invention is that a conveying device provided with the component according to the invention can also interact with other components of a machine of the tobacco-processing industry like conventional conveying devices. Therefore, it is possible to replace in conventional machines of the tobacco processing industry conventional conveyors against conveyors with the component according to the invention or retrofit only with the component according to the invention and in this way to be able to use the advantages of the invention in already existing machines of the tobacco-processing industry.

The passage opening or passage openings in the position according to the invention can be designed, for example, as holes arranged as a row or as a hole pattern or as elongated holes in the position, wherein boreholes or elongated holes arranged in series are preferably arranged approximately in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element. In addition, the design and arrangement of the passage opening (s) should be able to be adapted to the format of the respectively conveyed articles and to possibly different requirements in the individual zones or regions along the conveying path.

Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

Thus, the component according to the invention may be provided for a conveyor device for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein at least one second recess which can be acted upon by negative pressure and spaced from the first recess in the surface of the stationary body and at least one on the inside of the movable conveying element in fluid communication with the second recess in the surface of the body engageable second opening is formed and the movable conveyor element includes second passages connecting the receiving portions on the outside with the at least one second opening on the inside, including the position in addition to the already mentioned first passage opening at least one spaced from the first passage opening and when arranged Having on the surface of the body in fluid communication with the second recess in the surface of the body and with the second opening on the inside of the conveying element engageable second passage opening. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in order to act on the articles to be conveyed for a particularly secure adhesion or fixation in the receiving sections on the conveyor element in each case at both end portions with suction pressure accordingly.

Preferably, the passage opening in the position at least one slot-shaped portion which preferably extends substantially in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element. As already mentioned above, the position according to the invention is particularly suitable for the economical production of particularly narrow slits for the lowest air consumption. Since the air flow can be particularly selectively influenced by such a configuration, such slots can also be referred to as a control groove.

In the case of using two spaced recesses in the body and, accordingly, two each leading to the receiving sections passages in the conveying element extends in the position of at least one slot-shaped portion of the first passage opening substantially parallel to the at least one slot-shaped portion of the second passage opening.

In a further preferred embodiment, the passage opening in the position at least a first portion and a second portion, of which the first portion, viewed in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element, in front of the second portion and has a larger opening cross-section than the second portion. In this embodiment, the front first portion forms a zone for receiving the articles and therefore has a relatively large opening cross-section to provide sufficient sucking force for suction to produce for the inclusion of the article. The, viewed in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element, behind the second section forms the so-called transport zone and preferably has a particularly narrow slit or very narrow slits, as in the transport zone located on or in the receiving sections articles must be kept against unintentional loosening and therefore only a small suction force is needed, so that in the transport zone, the air consumption can be reduced to a minimum. The width of the second slot-shaped portion may preferably be about 0.2 mm to 2 mm.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the component according to the invention may be provided for a conveying device designed to convey articles of the tobacco industry, in which at least one third recess actable upon overpressure is formed in the surface of the stationary body, with which the at least one first opening is formed the inside of the movable conveying element optionally in fluid communication can be brought, including the inventive layer has at least one arranged on the surface of the body in fluid communication with the third recess in the surface of the body and with the first opening on the inside of the conveying element third through hole. In this embodiment, the third recess in the surface of the body together with the associated third passage opening in the inventive layer forms a zone for dispensing the articles by blowing out of the receiving portions, the discharge zone, viewed in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element behind the aforementioned Transport zone is located. Therefore, the third passage opening, viewed in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element, should expediently be arranged behind the first passage opening.

In the case of the formation of two mutually spaced, acted upon by vacuum recesses in the surface of the body and thus two correspondingly spaced and leading to the receiving sections passages in the conveying element, the inventive situation accordingly at least one fourth through-hole which is disposable on the surface of the body in fluid communication with the fourth recess in the surface of the body and which has the second opening on the inside of the conveying element. Expediently, this fourth passage opening, viewed in the direction of movement of the movable conveying element, should also be arranged behind the second passage opening.

The thickness of the layer formed as a foil or sheet is preferably less than 1 mm and preferably between 0.1 mm and 0.8 mm. In addition, the layer may preferably be designed as, in particular annularly closed or closed, strips.

For a simple replacement of the position to adapt to a changed format and in particular a changed length of the article to be conveyed fastening means are provided in particular for releasably securing the layer on the surface of the stationary body.

In a further development of the aforementioned embodiment, the layer may comprise magnetizable metal or be made of it for adhesion to magnetic fastening elements provided on the stationary body. In particular, a combination of a layer with or made of magnetizable metal and magnetic fastening means on the stationary body has the advantage that the resulting attachment by means of magnetic force on the one hand in the operation of the conveyor very reliable and on the other hand is easy to solve. Depending on the configuration, the release of the attachment of the layer can be done without (special) tool.

Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable that the fastening means have clamping elements for clamping the layer on the surface of the stationary body. By clamping a high frictional engagement between the position and the surface of the body can be achieved, whereby a secure fixation of the position on the body is ensured.

Appropriately, positioning means can be used which are designed to fix the position on the surface of the body in a predetermined position and preferably cooperate with corresponding positioning means provided on the body. The use of positioning means has the advantage of ensuring that the ply is located in a predetermined position on the surface of the body, so that the articles to be transported can be picked up by other conveying devices without interference with the conveying process and in turn delivered to other conveying devices. The positioning means may be formed on the surface of the body and / or on the layer. For example, the positioning means may comprise at least one apertured aperture for receiving an associated locating pin or web.

The above object is achieved according to a second aspect of the invention by using a layer which is formed as a foil or sheet and is provided with at least a first passage opening, formed in a conveyor for conveying articles of the tobacco industry processing conveyor, which comprises a stationary body a surface, in which at least one can be acted upon with negative pressure first recess, and an adjacent to the surface of the body having an inner side and movable relative to the surface of the body in a direction of movement conveying element having on its outer side with a plurality of receiving portions in the movement direction one behind the other is provided with temporary openings of the article and contains first passages, which the receiving portions on the outside with at least one in fluid communication with the first recess in the surface of the body engageable first opening on de r inside of the conveying element connects by the position on the surface of the body can be arranged stationarily and thereby at least a first through hole in fluid communication with the first recess in the surface of the body and with the first opening on the inside of the conveying element can be brought.

A further aspect of the invention is the provision of a component set with at least one first component according to the present invention and a second component according to the present invention, wherein the first component for the promotion of articles of a first format and the second component for the promotion of articles a second, from the first different format is formed.

This shows a further advantage of the invention, which results from the fact that as replacement or replacement part only the components according to the invention need to be provided, which are significantly more space-saving in the position bracket components of the conveyors or conveyors as a whole.

Fig. 1

in perspektivischer Ansicht eine Rotationsfördervorrichtung zum Fördern von Artikeln der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie;

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch eine einen Bestandteil der Rotationsfördervorrichtung von Fig. 1 bildende Anordnung aus einen Steuerflansch bildendem Körper und Fördertrommel;

Fig. 3

in perspektivischer Ansicht einen als einen Bestandteil der Rotationsfördervorrichtung von Fig. 1 vorgesehenen und einen Steuerflansch bildenden Körper gemäß einer weiteren Ausführung;

Fig. 4

in perspektivischer Ansicht einen einen Steuerflansch bildenden Körper mit einem auf seinem Mantel angeordneten Steuerblech gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung;

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt durch die in Fig. 4 gezeigte Anordnung;

Fig. 6

eine Einzeldarstellung des in den Figuren 4 und 5 gezeigten Steuerbleches in einer kreisförmig geschlossenen Form;

Fig. 7

das Steuerblech von Fig. 6 in ausgebreiteter, flach liegender Form; und

Fig. 8

in perspektivischer Ansicht den einen Steuerflansch bildenden Körper von Fig. 4 ohne darauf angeordnetes Steuerblech.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a rotary conveyor for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry;

Fig. 2

a cross-section through a part of the rotary conveyor of Fig. 1 forming arrangement of a control flange forming body and conveyor drum;

Fig. 3

in perspective view as a part of the rotary conveyor of Fig. 1 provided and a control flange forming body according to another embodiment;

Fig. 4

in perspective view a control flange forming body with a arranged on its jacket control plate according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5

a cross section through the in Fig. 4 arrangement shown;

Fig. 6

a detailed description of the in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown control plate in a circular closed shape;

Fig. 7

the tax bill of Fig. 6 in spreading, flat lying form; and

Fig. 8

in a perspective view of a control flange forming body of Fig. 4 without control plate arranged thereon.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 a conveyor 2 for conveying articles of the tobacco processing industry is shown, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a rotary conveyor and has a conventional structure. The conveyor device 2 shown has a stationarily arranged, substantially cylindrical body 4, which has a substantially cylindrical outer surface or lateral surface 4a and is also referred to as a control flange, a conveyor drum 6 which is rotatable coaxially to the body 4 and opposite to it in the direction of rotation R. is mounted and has an outer side 6a and an adjacent to the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 lying inside 6b, and a drive 8 to enable the conveyor drum 6 in rotation, on.

In the illustrated embodiment, on the outer side 6a of the conveyor drum 6, two circumferentially extending and axially spaced annular groove rings 10, 11 are formed, each having a series of trough-shaped or groove-shaped receiving portions which extend in the axial direction and are adjacent. For a better representation of the enclosed by the conveyor drum 6 control flange or body 4 is in the figure of Fig. 1 the (as shown by Fig. 1 Right) portion of the conveyor drum 6 with the groove ring 10 largely cut away, so that only a still remaining narrow part of that groove ring 10 is shown. Of the trough-shaped or groove-shaped receiving portions on the Nutenkränzen 10, 11, for example, only one receiving portion by way of example by the reference numeral "12". The receiving sections 12 serve to receive articles of the tobacco processing industry, of which in Fig. 1 a filter cigarette 14 is shown by way of example. During rotation, the articles lying in the receiving sections 12 are taken along in the transverse-axial direction corresponding to the direction of rotation R by the conveyor drum 6, which thus transports the articles along a partial circle. In this case, in the illustrated embodiment, the two groove rings 10, 11 corresponding to two conveyor lines of the conveyor 2, wherein the features described below with reference to one of the two Nutenkränze 10, 11 features, details and benefits, unless otherwise stated, for the other Nutenkranz and from apply equally to this funding line.

In order to fix the articles in the trough-shaped or groove-shaped receiving sections, the trough-shaped or groove-shaped receiving sections are connected to a suction air source, not shown, and can be acted upon by this with a negative pressure to suck the articles 14. As the FIGS. 1 and 2 can recognize this, in the illustrated embodiment, pairs of passages 16, 17 are provided, which extend from the bottom of the receiving portions 12 on the outer side 6a approximately radially through the shell of the conveyor drum 6 and open into an associated opening on the inner side 6b of the conveyor drum 6 , As Fig. 1 Further, in the bottom of each trough-shaped receiving portion 12, a pair of the passages 16, 17 opens so that the number of pairs of passages 16, 17 used in this embodiment is equal to the number of the receiving portions 12. As Fig. 1 can also be seen, open in the illustrated embodiment, the passages 16, 17 in the bottom of the receiving portions 12 at a location adjacent to the ends thereof. As already mentioned and in Fig. 2 is particularly well recognized, open the passages 16, 17 on the inside 6b of the conveyor drum 6 in openings formed there, wherein in Fig. 2 the passages 16 and the associated openings are shown on the inside 6b and one of these openings is designated by the reference numeral "16a" as representative of those openings.

As the FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be seen, in the illustrated embodiment in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, two spaced apart and circumferentially extending grooves 18, 19 are formed, which are connected to a suction air source, not shown. The arrangement of the two grooves 18, 19 in the lateral surface 4a of the stationary body 4 and the openings formed by the passages 16, 17 on the inside 6b of the conveyor drum 6 is such that the of the passages 16 on the inside 6b of the conveyor drum 6 formed openings 16a with the groove 18 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 and the openings formed by the passages 17 on the inner side 6b of the conveyor drum 6 with the groove 19 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 are aligned. This creates a fluid connection between the opening in the receiving portions 12 on the outside 6a of the conveyor drum 6 opening outlets 16, 17 and the grooves 18, 19 in the lateral surface 4a of the stationary body 4. Since these grooves 18, 19, as already mentioned, to a Suction air source not shown are connected, thus creating a negative pressure in the receiving portions 12, which causes adhesion of the article by suction for fixing the article in the respective receiving portion 12, as in Fig. 1 can be seen on the filter cigarette 14 shown there. Due to the fixation by means of negative pressure, the receiving portions 12 are also referred to as vacuum pockets.

Since the grooves 18, 19 extend along the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 over a certain angular distance, the admission of a receiving portion with negative pressure remains as long as this receiving portion 12 via the passages 16, 17 in the conveyor drum 6 in fluid communication with the grooves 18, 19 remains in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4. This is the case during the rotational movement of the conveyor drum 6, as long as in the illustrated embodiment, the respective receiving portion 12 on the conveyor drum 6 in the region of the grooves 18, 19 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 via this. As Fig. 2 can recognize, the groove 18 extends along the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, viewed in the direction of rotation R of the conveyor drum 6 from its beginning 18a to its end 18b approximately over a 3/4 circle, so that along this path each receiving portion 12 at the outside 6a of the conveyor drum 6 is subjected to negative pressure. The same applies to the other groove 19, which runs parallel to the groove 18, yes, as from Fig. 1 is apparent.

In the region of the beginning of the grooves 18, 19, so in the representation of Fig. 2 in the region of the beginning 18a of the groove 18, a transfer of the article 14 takes place from an upstream, not shown in the figures conveyor. This is done by means of the negative pressure generated in the receiving sections 12, so that during the transfer or task of the article they are sucked into the respective receiving sections 12. The assumption or task of the article 14 on the respective groove ring 10 or 11 of the conveyor drum 6 takes place continuously in succession due to the continuously continued rotation of the conveyor drum 6.

After adoption in the initial region of the grooves 18, 19, which is also referred to as a task zone, a transport zone 18c follows, which continues until the end 18b and 19b of the grooves 18, 19. In the transport zone 18c, the articles 14 adhere to the receiving sections 12 by means of negative pressure and are accordingly taken along the transport zone 18c due to the continuously continued rotation of the conveyor drum 6 and thus conveyed until they then successively receive the end 18b, 19b of the grooves 18, Reach 19. There then stops the application of negative pressure and the receiving sections 12 are then successively briefly applied with overpressure.

As the FIGS. 1 and 2 can be seen, this is an axially extending groove 24 is provided, which, as shown by Fig. 2 , viewed in the direction of rotation R and thus in the circumferential direction of the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, a groove pitch is arranged downstream. This groove 24 is connected via a channel 25 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) connected to a compressed air source, not shown. If, with continued rotation of the conveyor drum 6, a receiving section 12 filled with an article 14 arrives via its passages 16, 17 in fluid communication with the axial groove 24 in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, then it is produced Receiving portion 12 an overpressure, whereby the article 14 is discharged from this receiving portion 12. By releasing the negative pressure by means of compressed air, therefore, a delivery of the article 14 from the conveyor drum 6 takes place. In this case, the articles 14 are delivered, in particular, to a subsequent further conveying device, not shown, or to a downstream station, likewise not shown, for further processing. Thus, in the region of the axial groove 24, a dispensing zone for dispensing the articles 14 out of the receiving portions 14 and thus formed by the conveyor drum 6. In this context, it should be emphasized once again that the body 4 designed as a rotary body is arranged stationarily and thus stationary and rotationally fixed and therefore the same applies to the grooves 18, 19 and 24 formed in its lateral surface 4a. Accordingly, the arrangement of an upstream conveyor, not shown, which in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown and previously described further conveying device or station to each other so met that a reliable transfer of the article 14 on the conveyor drum 6 in the initial region of the grooves 18, 19 and the delivery of the conveyor drum 6 in the region of the groove 24th is guaranteed.

The fact that the stationary body is a body of revolution is particularly good Fig. 3 in which only the body 4 is shown in a modified embodiment.

Preferably, the body 4 is made by casting and the grooves 18, 19 and 24 are milled into the upper or lateral surface 4a of the molded body 4; Accordingly, preferably cast bodies or control flanges are used with milled grooves.

From the above description and in particular from Fig. 1 It will be seen, inter alia, that the arrangement and formation of the grooves 18, 19 and 24 in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 is determined by the length of the articles 14 to be transported. For example, if the length of the article 14 to be transported is shorter than the distance between the grooves 18 and 19 shown in FIG Embodiment again determines the distance between the passages 16, 17 in each receiving portion 12 on the conveyor drum 6, a secure adhesion of the article 14 in the receiving portions 12 and thus a reliable fixation can not be guaranteed. A similar problem also occurs in the case of excessively long lengths or excess lengths of the articles 14 to be transported, in spite of the effect of both passages 16, 17 in the receiving portions 12. Thus, in particular changes in the length of the article to be transported displacements or Changes in the location of the grooves 18, 19 and / or 24 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 be required, which would require a complete replacement of the relevant components of the conveyor 2.

Moreover, while in the task zone forming the initial region of the grooves 18, 19, a relatively high negative pressure for sucking the article to be transferred is needed, it has been found that for the subsequent transport zone, a relatively low vacuum sufficient to the article 14 in the receiving portions 12 hold. Thereby the air consumption could be reduced to the necessary demand. However, grooves with small width, especially if they are to be narrower than about 2 mm in order to reduce the air consumption, not economically produced by milling.

Therefore, the use of a control plate 30 is proposed, which is fixed in the circumferential direction on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, as shown in the FIGS. 4 and 5 is shown. In addition, the control plate 30 is also in a single representation in Fig. 6 in the closed state and in Fig. 7 shown in the expanded, lying flat and thus open state.

The control plate 30 is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a sheet, sheet or plate-shaped, annularly closed flexible element and in particular as a foil or sheet, the thickness of the control plate 30 in particular less than 1 mm and preferably between 0.1 mm and 0, 8 mm. How the particular FIGS. 6 and 7 has shown in the illustrated Embodiment, the control plate 30 in the form of an elongated strip.

The control plate 30 is dimensioned so that it covers the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 at least in that section where the relevant groove or relevant grooves are or are located, wherein in the region of the groove (s) the control plate 30 is provided with a passage opening is. In FIG. 4 For example, as a control flange serving body 4 is shown a segment which is one of a groove 18 and a groove 19 (FIG. FIG. 1 ) formed pair of grooves, however, in FIG. 4 is not recognizable because of the overlap by the control plate 30. At the in FIG. 4 represented segment of the body 4 is thus an axial section which is associated with one of the two each one conveyor line on the conveyor drum 6 defining groove rings 10, 11 and in which it is for example the in FIG. 1 uncovered and the Nutenkranz 10 assigned (in the representation of FIG. 1 right) end portion of the body 4 can act.

How the particular FIGS. 4 . 6 and 7 can recognize, in the illustrated embodiment, the control plate 30 is provided with a first passage opening 32 and a second passage opening 33, wherein these two passage openings 32, 33 spaced and parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the control plate 30 (see. FIG. 7 ) corresponding to the circumferential direction of the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 (see. FIGS. 4 and 6 ) and at the same time the direction of rotation R of the conveyor drum 6 (see. FIGS. 1 and 2 ).

As the FIGS. 4 . 6 and 7 can recognize, the first passage opening 32 has a slot 32a, followed by a plurality of successively relatively narrow, discrete slots 32b connected. In the same way, the second elongate passage opening 33 has a slot 33a, which is adjoined by a plurality of relatively narrow, discrete slots 33b lying one behind the other. Here, the formation of the two through holes 32, 33 in the control plate 30 and the arrangement of the control plate 30 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 made such that the slot 33a of the first through hole 32 with the beginning 18a of the groove 18 (FIG. FIG. 2 ) and the slot 33a of the second passage opening 33 with the initial region of the other groove 19 of the body 6 in the task zone is substantially aligned and the control plate 30 with the slots 32b of the first passage opening 32, the groove 18 in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 in the region entire transport zone 18c and its end 18b ( FIG. 2 ) and with the slots 33b of the second passage opening 33 the other groove 19 (FIG. FIG. 1 ) are covered in the same way along their entire transport zone and their end.

Furthermore, in particular the FIGS. 4 . 6 and 7 can be seen, the width of the slots 32b, 33b is significantly smaller than that of the slots 32a, 33a and the slots 32a, 33a have a much larger opening cross-section than at least one of the slots 32b, 33b. The width of the slots 32b, 33b may preferably be about 0.2 mm to 2 mm. Thus, the opening cross-section of at least one slot 32b and 33b is significantly less than that of the slots 32a, 33a. This different dimensioning takes into account the fact that in the region of the task zone, in which the slots 32a, 33a are located when the control plate 30 is mounted, a relatively high suction force is needed to aspirate the articles, while in the subsequent transport zone, along which the slots 32b, 33b, the articles 14 located in the receiving sections 12 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2 ) must be kept against accidental loosening or falling out and therefore only a small suction force is needed. The formation of successive discrete slots 32b, 33b in the control plate 30 has constructive advantages, since due to the presence of the intermediate, the slots from each other and integral with the remaining part of the control plate 30 sections no excessive weakening of the control plate 30 occurs, but the control plate 30th in the area of the slots essentially retains its strength. In principle, however, it is also conceivable, instead of the plurality of consecutive discrete slots 32b, 33b shown in the exemplary embodiment, to provide in each case alternatively a corresponding continuous slot. The slits 32b, 33b can preferably be produced by means of a laser.

The FIGS. 6 and 7 can also be seen that in alignment and spaced from the end of the arrangement of the slots 32b and 33b, respectively, a further opening 34 and 35 is formed in the control plate. These further openings 34, 35 are in mounting the control plate 30 on the body 4 in registration with the axial groove 24 in the discharge zone (see. FIGS. 1 . 2 and 5 ), so that compressed air can be blown through those other openings 34, 35 in the control plate 30 for releasing and dispensing of the articles 14 from the receiving sections 12. Since a relatively high volume of air is needed in this process, the openings 34, 35 are each provided with a larger opening cross-section, as a comparison with the slots 32b, 33b, in particular in FIG. 7 lets recognize.

As FIG. 5 can be seen, a plurality of suction air ducts 20 are provided which open into the groove 18 and are connected to the suction air source, not shown. In the same way, the groove 19 is provided with such Saugluftkanälen.

Accordingly, therefore, the control plate 30 in the fluid path between the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 and the inner side 6b of the conveyor drum 6 (see FIG. 2 ), wherein by the stationary arrangement of the control plate 30 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, the conveyor drum 6 performs a rotational movement not only relative to the body 4, but also with respect to the control plate 30.

It follows from the above that the dimensioning and design of the passage openings 32, 33 in the control plate 30 has a decisive influence on the air pressure situation and thus the air consumption, so that the passage openings 32, 33 can also be referred to as control grooves.

For assembly, the strip-shaped control plate 30 is clamped onto the lateral surface 4a along the circumference of the body 4. As FIG. 7 For this purpose, the control plate 30 has a first end portion 30a and a second end portion 30b, wherein in the assembled state, such as FIGS. 4 until 6 recognize that these two end portions 30a, 30b overlap each other. In the overlapping region of the two end portions 30a, 30b, the control plate 30 is aligned, fixed and tensioned on the body 4. An exact alignment of the control plate 30 with respect to the body 4 is important so that the passage openings 32, 33 and the other openings 34, 35 of the control plate 30 in correctly aligned arrangement relative to the corresponding grooves 18, 19 and 24 in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 arrive. In order for this aligned arrangement to remain in operation, it must be the fixing of the control plate 30 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 so that no shifts are to be feared.

As FIG. 7 can be seen, in each of the two end portions 30a, 30b first holes 36a and 37a and second holes 36b and 37b are formed. The hole pattern in both portions 30a, 30b is identical, so that when assembled, that is, when the two end portions 30a, 30b overlap with each other, the first holes 36a, 37a and the second holes 36b, 37b are superimposed, such as FIG. 6 lets recognize. As FIG. 7 Furthermore, the control plate 30 is additionally provided with holes 38 in the region of its first end section 30a. The FIGS. 4 and 5 can be further seen that in the mounted state, the two overlapping end portions 30a, 30b of the control plate 30 come to lie in a formed in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 flattened portion 4b. Since there is always a "blank" area on the control flange or body 4, which is not provided with grooves, the flattened section 4b can be provided there on the lateral surface 4a.

For alignment and positioning of the control plate 30 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, the lateral surface 4a is limited in the illustrated embodiment by circumferential, radially or flange slightly protruding edges 4c, the lateral slipping of the control plate 30 during its mounting on the lateral surface 4a of Prevent body 4 and are further arranged in the flattened portion 4b of the lateral surface 4a upstanding alignment pins 40, which upon assembly of the control plate 30 by the superimposed first holes 36 a, 36 b protrude in the overlapping end portions 30 a, 30 b of the control plate 30, as shown in FIG FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with the FIGS. 6 and 7 is apparent. Accordingly, the first holes 36a, 37a in the end portions 30a, 30b of the control plate 30 in conjunction with the alignment pin 40 on the flattened portion 4b of the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 serve to arrange the control plate 30 in the correct position on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 during assembly ,

For the actual attachment of the control plate 30, a plate-shaped fastening means 42 is used in the illustrated embodiment, which is fixed to the flattened portion 4 b of the lateral surface 4 a of the body 4, as the FIGS. 4 and 5 reveal. The fixation of the fastening means 42 on the body 4 by means of screws 44 which are inserted through the superimposed second holes 36b, 37b in the overlapping region of the two end portions 30a, 30b of the control plate 30, as shown FIG. 4 in conjunction with the FIGS. 6 and 7 it can be seen, and are in threaded engagement with trained in the body, not shown in the drawings threaded holes. By screwing the fastening means 42 takes place a fixing of the control plate 30 in the region of its two overlapping end portions 30a, 30b by clamping engagement between the plate-shaped fastening means 42 and the flattened portion 4b of the lateral surface 4a of the body 4. As well Fig. 4 can be seen in the illustrated embodiment, the flattened portion 4b of the lateral surface 4a is bounded on both sides by corresponding portions 4cc of the edges 4c.

For the attachment of the control plate 30, it is alternatively or additionally conceivable to arrange in the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, preferably plate-shaped, not shown in the figures magnetic elements and to provide the control plate 30 at least partially with magnetic material or to produce from such whereby the fixation of the control plate 30 on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 is generated by magnetic action or at least supported.

In order to avoid even slightest displacements of the control plate 30 relative to the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 in any case, a tensioning device is additionally provided, which has a plate-shaped clamping means 46 and the clamping means 46 on the body 4 fastened clamping screws 48 which are in screw engagement with correspondingly formed in the body 4, but not shown in the drawings tapped holes. In particular FIG. 5 can be seen, the clamping means 46 is disposed in the region of the flattened portion 4b of the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 at a location in which the flattened portion 4b of the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 is provided with a recess 4d. This depression 4d is bridged by the control plate 30 in the region of its overlapping end sections 30a, 30b, on the upper side of which the clamping device 46 rests. By tightening the clamping screws 48 ( FIG. 4 ), the tensioning means 46 is moved in the direction of the recess 4d and thereby presses the control plate 30 at this point in the direction of the recess 4d. This leads to an extension of the effective length of the control plate 30, whereby in the strip-shaped control plate 30 in the longitudinal direction thereof creates a tensile stress and thus the control plate 30 is clamped on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4 accordingly. The stronger the clamping screws 48 are rotated in the direction of the body 4 and thus tightened, the higher the resulting voltage in the control plate 30th

In FIG. 8 is the body 4 in contrast to the representation of Fig. 4 shown without mounted control plate. Figure 8 indicates that between the two previously mentioned grooves 18, 19, a further groove 50 is provided which extends approximately centrally between the two grooves 18, 19 and parallel to these. Such an arrangement allows a greater format flexibility for adapting the conveyor 2 to the length of the article 14 to be transported. The body 4 according to the in Fig. 8 illustrated embodiment allows the adaptation of the conveyor 2 to at least two different lengths corresponding to the axial distances between the grooves 18 and 50 or the grooves 50 and 19 (short length) on the one hand or between the grooves 18 and 19 (long) on the other. Incidentally, can be increased by appropriate dimensioning of the axial width of the grooves 18, 19, 50, the format flexibility. alternative or, in addition, a further increase in format flexibility can be achieved by arranging more than in Fig. 8 achieve three grooves shown.

The control plate 30 described not only serves to selectively influence the air flow, but also forms an advantageous measure for adapting the conveyor 2 to the length of the article 14 to be transported. In the event of a change in format and in particular the length of the article 14, the conveyor drum. 6 disassembled by a quick release, not shown, the clamping means 46 and the fastener 42 successively dissolved and the control plate 30 unwound. A new control plate with differently sized through holes 32, 33 and openings 34, 35 in adaptation to the new article is then placed on the lateral surface 4a of the body 4, aligned by means of the alignment pins 40, fastened by means of the fastener 42 and then tensioned by means of the clamping means 46 ,

Claims (20)

1. A conveyor device for conveying articles (14) of the tobacco processing industry,
   having a stationary body (4) with a surface (4a), in which is formed at least one first recess (18) capable of being subjected to a vacuum, having a conveyor element (6) located adjacent to the surface (4a) of the body (4) with an inner side (6b) and movable relative to the surface (4a) of the body (4) in a movement direction (R), which element is provided, on its outer side (6a), with several receiving sections (12) arranged sequentially in the movement direction (R) for temporarily receiving the articles (14) and which contains first through passages (16), which connect the receiving sections (12) on the outer side (6a) to at least one first opening (16a) on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6), said opening capable of being fluid-connected to the first recess (18) in the surface (4a) of the body (4), and having a layer (30), which is configured for stationary arrangement on the surface (4a) of the body (4) and which is provided with at least one first passage opening (32), which can be fluid-connected to the first recess (18) in the surface (4a) of the body (4) and to the first opening (16a) on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6),
   characterised in that the layer (30) is configured as a film or a sheet.
2. The device according to claim 1, in which at least one second recess (19) capable of being subjected to a vacuum and distanced from the first recess (18) is formed in the surface (4a) of the stationary body (4) and at least one second opening capable of being fluid-connected to the second recess in the surface (4a) of the body (4) is formed on the inner side (6b) of the movable conveyor element (6), the movable conveyor element (6) containing second through passages (17), which connect the receiving sections (12) on the outer side (6a) to the at least one second opening on the inner side (6b),
   characterised in that the layer (30) has at least one second passage opening (33), which is distanced from the first passage opening (32) and which, when disposed on the surface (4a) of the body (4), can be fluid-connected to the second recess (19) in the surface (4a) of the body (4) and to the second opening on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6).
3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the passage opening (32, 33) has at least one slot-shaped section (32b, 33b).
4. The device according to claim 3, characterised in that the at least one slot-shaped section (32b, 33b) extends essentially in the movement direction (R) of the movable conveyor element (6).
5. The device according to claim 2 as well as claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the at least one slot-shaped section (32b) of the first passage opening (32) runs essentially parallel to the at least one slot-shaped section (33b) of the second passage opening (33).
6. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the passage opening (32, 33) has at least one first section (32a, 33a) and one second section (32b, 33b), of which the first section (32a, 33a), viewed in the movement direction (R) of the movable conveyor element, is in front of the second section (32b, 33b) and has a larger opening cross section than the second section (32b, 33b).
7. The device according to claims 3 and 6, characterised in that the first section (32a, 33a) and the second section (32b, 33b) are configured as a first slot-shaped section and as a second slot-shaped section, respectively, and the width of the second slot-shaped section (32b, 33b) is less than that of the first slot-shaped section (32a, 33a).
8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the width of the second slot-shaped section (32b, 33b) is ca. 0.2 mm to 2 mm.
9. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, in which at least one third recess (24) capable of being subjected to excess pressure is formed in the surface (4a) of the stationary body (4), to which the at least one first opening (16a) on the inner side (6b) of the movable conveyor element (6) can be selectively fluid-connected, characterised in that the layer (30) has at least one third passage opening (34) which, when disposed on the surface (4a) of the body (4), can be fluid-connected to the third recess (24) in the surface (4a) of the body (4) and to the first opening (16a) on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6).
10. The device according to claim 9, characterised in that the third passage opening (34), when viewed in the movement direction (R) of the movable conveyor element (6), is located behind the first passage opening (32).
11. The device according to claim 2 as well as claim 9 or 10, in which at least one fourth recess (24) capable of being subjected to excess pressure is formed in the surface (4a) of the stationary body (4), to which the at least one second opening on the inner side (6b) of the movable conveyor element (6) can be fluid-connected,
    characterised in that the layer (30) has at least one fourth passage opening (35) that, when disposed on the surface (4a) of the body (4), can be fluid-connected to the fourth recess (24) in the surface (4a) of the body (4) and to the second opening on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6).
12. The device according to claim 11, characterised in that the fourth passage opening (35), when viewed in the movement direction (R) of the movable conveyor element (6), is located behind the second passage opening (33).
13. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the layer (30) is configured as a preferably annularly closeable or closed strip.
14. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised by fastening means for detachably fastening the layer (30) onto the surface (4a) of the stationary body (4).
15. The device according to claim 14, characterised in that the layer (30) has or is made of magnetisable metal for adhering to magnetisable fastening elements.
16. The device according to claim 14 or 15, characterised by clamping means (46, 48) for clamping the layer (30) onto the surface (4a) of the stationary body (4).
17. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised by positioning means (36a, 37a), which are configured for securing the layer (30) on the surface (4a) of the body (4) in a predetermined position and preferably for interacting with corresponding positioning means (40; 4c, 4cc) provided on the body (4) in doing so.
18. The device according to claim 17, characterised in that the positioning means have at least one opening (36a, 37a) formed in the layer (30) for receiving an associated positioning pin or bar (40) located on the body (4).
19. The device according to at least one of the preceding claims, in which the stationary body (4) essentially forms a rotation body and the surface (4a) of the stationary body (4) forms an outer or shell surface of the rotation body (4), and as a movable conveyor element (6), provision is made of a drum enclosing the stationary body (4), which is essentially located concentrically to the stationary body (4) and is rotatably mounted relative thereto, wherein the rotation direction defines the movement direction (R).
20. Use of a layer (30), which is configured as a film or sheet and which is provided with at least a first passage opening (32), in a conveyor device (2) configured for conveying articles (14) of the tobacco processing industry, in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, which device has a stationary body (4) with a surface (4a) in which is formed at least one first recess (18) capable of being subjected to a vacuum, and a conveyor element (6) located adjacent to the surface (4a) of the body (4) with an inner side (6b) and movable relative to the surface (4a) of the body (4) in a movement direction (R), which element is provided, on its outer side (6a), with several receiving sections (12) arranged sequentially in the movement direction (R) for temporarily receiving the articles (14) and which contains first through passages (16), which connect the receiving sections (12) on the outer side (6a) to at least one first opening (16a) on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6), said opening capable of being fluid-connected to the first recess (18) in the surface (4a) of the body (4),
    wherein the layer (30) is capable of being stationarily located on the surface (4a) of the body (4) and its at least one first passage opening (32) is thus capable of being fluid-connected to the first recess (18) in the surface (4a) of the body (4) and to the first opening (16a) on the inner side (6b) of the conveyor element (6).

Images