EP2625971A2 - Longitudinal conveyor for rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry and conveyor device with a longitudinal conveyor and method for operating a longitudinal conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

The longitudinal conveyor (1) comprises a drum (33), which is rotationally driven by a drive unit in a rotational movement around a rotational axis. Multiple lever arms (8) are provided, which are rotationally driven around another rotational axis, where the latter rotational axis is arranged parallel to the former rotational axis. Arms (9) are rotatably mounted on the lever arms, where a receptacle (10,11) for a rod-shaped product (6,7) is provided on each arm. The longitudinal conveyor is adapted to twist the elliptical movement path of the receptacles. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a conveying device with a longitudinal conveyor and a guide unit; and (2) a method for operating a longitudinal conveyor.

Description

The invention relates to a longitudinal conveyor for rod-shaped products of the tobacco industry with the features of the preamble of claim 1, a conveyor with a longitudinal conveyor with the features of the preambles of claims 16 or 18 and a method of operating a longitudinal conveyor with the features of the preamble of claim 19th

Such longitudinal conveyors and conveyors are known in the art and serve to remove the products continuously fed on one web or on two or more parallel webs and to feed the products transversely to the feed movement abfördernden cross conveyor, wherein the conveying process can also run in reverse.

The longitudinal conveyor is formed of a rotationally driven about a first axis of rotation drum having a plurality of rotationally driven about second axes of rotation lever arms, wherein the second axes of rotation are arranged parallel to the first axis of rotation. The lever arms are driven during the rotational movement of the drum to an opposite to the rotational movement of the drum rotational movement at an identical speed or at an integral multiple of the rotational speed of the drum. The described rotation of the lever arms is the rotational movement which an external viewer would perceive. At the ends of the lever arms are protruding arms with one of Number of tracks provided corresponding number of shots, which are aligned parallel to the tracks and acted upon by a compressed air line in a takeover point and in a transfer point with compressed air. With compressed air according to the invention, both overpressure and negative pressure meant. The arms are moved due to the opposite rotational movement of the lever arms about its longitudinal axis to the drum on an elliptical trajectory and are held during the rotational movements of the drum and the lever arms in a constant, preferably horizontal orientation. The rotational movement of the lever arms to the drum can be realized, for example via a complex, high-speed transmission, in particular by a coupling gear, which transmits the rotational movement of the drive means or the drum or the drum itself to the lever arms. The transmission is formed by a central sun gear and arranged on the lever arms planetary gears and requires a complex lubrication with a corresponding seal. Overall, the transmission is structurally very expensive and expensive.

The rod-shaped products are conveyed out of the linear feed in the lower lowest point of the ellipse (first point) and transferred to the transverse conveyor in the subsequent lateral point of the ellipse (second point) farthest from the rotation axis. With a correct adjustment of the sequence of movements of the images they are moved in the first turning point almost parallel to the longitudinal axes of the supplied rod-shaped products and in the second turning point almost transverse to the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped products.

Such a longitudinal conveyor is for example from the DE 41 29 672 A1 known.

A problem with the transport of the products is that the troughs of the arms of the longitudinal conveyor have to be moved at the takeover point at a speed higher than the speed of the supplied products (also called overspeed), so that the products fed to the longitudinal conveyor on the guide means by no means damming or colliding with the subsequent product during the takeover. The overspeeding is also dependent on the rod length of the products, since the speed of the longitudinal conveyor of the conveyors is the same for the transport of products of different rod length and the strand speed of the supplied products must be matched to a predetermined number of products to be accepted per unit time. For these reasons, the products are taken under unfavorable conditions at up to twice the overspeed compared to the feed rate of the products. The troughs themselves also have a certain surface roughness, which co-determines the frictional forces acting between the troughs and the products during takeover. The overspeeding may result in slippage between the products and the receptacles, which may result in a positional deviation of the products from a predetermined desired position relative to the receptacles during the subsequent transport path. This positional deviation must then be thawed away consuming at a Axialscheibe a subsequent cross conveyor. In extreme cases, the wegzutaumelnde positional deviation of the products can be up to 10 mm. Furthermore, the necessary overspeed leads to a jerky loading of the products, which leads to an undesirable head failure of the products. The overspeed should always be as low as possible to avoid or minimize the aforementioned effects.

Furthermore, the longitudinal conveyor must be driven in synchronism with the movement of a rotating knife carrier cutting off the products from an endless strand of a predetermined length so that the pick-ups in the transfer point are always reproducible over a product to be picked up. The overspeed and the synchronization can be adjusted within certain limits in each case on the number of arms and the lengths of the recordings. The adaptation of the lengths of the recordings to the rod length of the products is associated with a very high cost, which in extreme cases can extend to the replacement of the entire assembly or even the entire longitudinal conveyor. Since the longitudinal conveyor and the drum of the longitudinal conveyor are structurally very complex and expensive components, the conversion of the conveyor in this case is very time consuming and expensive. Furthermore, this results in considerable costs for the provision of longitudinal conveyors or drums with a different number of lever arms and recordings or recordings with different lengths.

Against this background, the invention has the object to provide a longitudinal conveyor and a conveyor, which can be used with the least possible effort and causing the lowest possible cost of products with a different rod length, the load of the products in the acquisition as low as possible should be.

The object is achieved by a longitudinal conveyor with the features of claim 1, by a conveyor with the features of claim 14 or 16 and by a method having the features of claim 17.

Further preferred developments of the invention can be taken from the subclaims, the figures and the associated description.

According to the basic idea of the invention according to claim 1, it is proposed that the longitudinal conveyor is set up to adjust the elliptical trajectory of the recordings. With the adjustment of the orientation of the elliptical trajectory is meant the rotation of the elliptical trajectory about the axis of rotation of the drum of the longitudinal conveyor. In this case, the elliptical trajectory is preferably rotated in a plane, so that the position of the images does not change transversely to the direction of movement.

The invention uses the knowledge that the images are moved on the elliptical trajectory during orbit with different speed components in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the products and transversely to the longitudinal axes of the products. Thereby, the overspeed of the recordings in the takeover point at the same speed of the longitudinal conveyor, can be adjusted with an identical number of arms and an identical length of the recordings by the products are taken over at another point of the elliptical trajectory. As a result of the rotation of the elliptical trajectory, the lowest point of the elliptical trajectory is adjusted to another point of the elliptical trajectory, so that the exposures at the lowest point of the ellipse have a different velocity in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the products without a change in rotational speed. Furthermore, the takeover point itself can also be changed and adapted to a different rod length of the products. With the variable takeover point or the variable overspeed is an additional setting created, whereby the same longitudinal conveyor can be used with an identical number of arms and receptacles of identical length for a removal of products with a wider range of different rod lengths. Furthermore, this can reduce the overspeed in the takeover point, which has the advantage that the jerky acceleration forces acting on the products during takeover and the possible slip are reduced, and thereby the products with a smaller deviation of the actual position from the target Position taken relative to the recordings or the head loss can be reduced. If the actual position of the products nevertheless deviates from the desired position, this deviation can, however, also be further thrown away on an axial disk of a subsequent transverse conveyor. In particular, the takeover point and the overspeed due to the simple adjustability also depending on the sequence of movement of the products in a previous step from a continuous strand in a predetermined length trimming rotating blade carrier can be done. As a result of the improved takeover, the positional deviation of the products, which still has to be de-agitated later, can be significantly reduced in the receptacles of a subsequent transverse conveyor. Furthermore, the reduced overspeed can reduce the forces acting on the products when taking over the products and the resulting head failure.

The adjustment of the elliptical trajectory can be structurally particularly simple in that the longitudinal conveyor and in particular the drive of the drum and the lever arms are released from each other at an interface provided for this purpose and reassembled in a different orientation to each other. Due to the changed orientation, the elliptical Movement be adjusted once, the longitudinal conveyor is then operated again in the conventional manner. The structural interface is preferably formed by a connection easy to be loosened connection, in which certain assemblies, such as the drum with the lever arms or the drive shaft with a part of the reversing direction, must not be dismantled and rotated only as assemblies relative to each other and in the twisted Alignment need to be reassembled. Particularly preferred interfaces are the direction of rotation reversal gear with an interface between the connected to the lever arms and the drive shaft gears or an interface between the eccentric disc driving the lever arms and the driving the eccentric disc drive.

A sufficient adjustment of the takeover point and / or the overspeed to the individually provided rod length of the products can be achieved by the elliptical trajectory is pivotable by an angle of +/- 15 degrees.

It is also proposed that the receptacles are designed to be adjustable together to the lever arms. Due to the joint adjustability of the images they can be readjusted so far after the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory that they then again have a horizontal and / or aligned to the orientation of the products in the takeover point and the transfer point alignment, wherein the joint adjustment of the arms the adjustment as such is simplified and also the alignment of the arms with each other is maintained.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention can be realized by the lever arms are guided in a swash plate which is driven by means of an eccentric disc driven in opposite directions to the direction of rotation of the drum to a tumbling motion. Due to the swash plate, the previously required transmission of the rotational movement of the lever arms on the complex coupling gear with individual gears can be considerably simplified by the use of a single part, whereby the cost and assembly time can be significantly reduced. It is particularly advantageous that the swash plate can be driven by a single part, namely by the eccentric disc to the tumbling motion, which finally causes the rotation of the lever arms to the drum of the longitudinal conveyor. The opposite to the rotational movement of the drum rotational movement of the lever arms is effected here alone by the oppositely driven eccentric disc and the swash plate, which already represents a considerable simplification of the structural design of the longitudinal conveyor regardless of the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory of the arms.

The wobbling motion of the swash plate is particularly easily implemented in a rotational movement of the lever arms by the swash plate has receptacles in which engage the lever arms with an eccentric. Since the lever arms rotate with the drum and the swash plate also rotates about the lever arms with the drum, the recordings in the swash plate with a corresponding design of the eccentric perform a rotational movement about the axes of rotation of the lever arms, which by the engagement of the lever arms on the eccentric in a rotational movement of the lever arms relative to the swash plate and the drum is converted. It is important that the lever arms are mounted with an identical eccentricity on the drum, so that the rotational movements do not block each other. Therefore, the entire system without the previously required backlash setting is free of play functional.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention it is proposed that the eccentric disc is drivable via a coupled to the drive means of the drum rotation direction reversing gear. By reversing the direction of rotation, the drum and the eccentric disc can be driven by one and the same drive means, the rotational speed for driving the eccentric disc neither under nor has to be translated, since the eccentric is driven at an identical speed. In addition to the use of a single drive means, this also results in the advantage that the movement of the drum and the eccentric disc are coupled together.

Alternatively, it is proposed that the eccentric disc is controllable via a second drive device, which can be controlled separately from the drive device of the drum. Although the cost is increased by the second drive device, but it results in the significant advantage for the present invention that the movement of the drum and the eccentric disc are independently controllable. Since the elliptical trajectory of the images of a superposition of the rotational movement of the lever arms with the drum and the rotational movement of the lever arms to the drum, caused by the driven of the eccentric disc swash plate results, the alignment of the elliptical trajectory can be particularly easily adjusted by the eccentric disc is rotated slightly by a separate control of the second drive means to the drum, that is, by the two movements are rotated to each other. The adjustment The elliptical trajectory can be adjusted, for example by an offset, for example, by the angular position of the eccentric disc is slightly adjusted to the drum before the actual drive movement of the drum begins.

It is also proposed that the means for adjusting the elliptical trajectory of the arms by a means for displacement of the longitudinal conveyor is formed transversely to its axis of rotation and coupled to the lever arms forced operation, by which the lever arms are rotationally adjusted during the displacement of the longitudinal conveyor about its axis of rotation , The forced by the forced operation movement can be transmitted directly or indirectly via a coupling to the lever arms, it is only important that the alignment of the lever arms can be changed to the drum by the positive guidance. This can e.g. take place by adjusting one of the parts of the assembly of the direction of rotation reversing gear, which is motion-related indirectly or directly coupled to the eccentric disc. The original takeover point on the elliptical trajectory is forcibly moved in the rotation of the elliptical trajectory in height. This shift of the original takeover point in height can be compensated by the proposed solution ideally with a corresponding orientation of the direction of displacement of the longitudinal conveyor and the forced operation so that the takeover point is moved only horizontally or in the direction of the longitudinal axes of the products, since in this case the elliptical trajectory is additionally displaced overall also transversely to the axis of rotation of the longitudinal conveyor.

Alternatively, the means for adjusting the elliptical trajectory of the arms also by one with the lever arms coupled displaceable positive guide be formed, so that the longitudinal conveyor itself must not be designed to be displaceable in this case to move the elliptical trajectory.

In this case, the rotational adjustment of the lever arms can be particularly easily enforced by the direction of displacement of the longitudinal conveyor or the positive guide or the direction of the positive guide itself has a curved course and the other direction has a straight course.

Since the adjustment of the angular orientation of the elliptical trajectory by an adjustment of the orientation of the eccentric disc to the drum, ie by adjusting two parts of the longitudinal conveyor to each other, takes place, and the longitudinal conveyor itself is composed of a plurality of mutually movable items, it makes sense that the adjusting movement is forced by a device for displacement of the longitudinal conveyor and a positive guidance, which are in a fixed spatial relationship to each other.

It is further proposed that the positive guidance is formed by a guide slot which is curved in a plane transverse to the axes of rotation of the lever arms and into which engages a journal coupled in terms of motion with the lever arms.

Alternatively, the elliptical trajectory of the arms can be adjusted by a rotational adjustment of the longitudinal conveyor about the first axis of rotation. In this case, the entire longitudinal conveyor is rotated about its longitudinal or rotational axis. This solution has the advantage that a longitudinal conveyor of conventional design can be used, it only has one Possibility to be provided to turn the longitudinal conveyor accordingly. The rotation of the longitudinal conveyor can be done once during assembly or can be carried out by means of a setting subsequently after the installation of the longitudinal conveyor, the adjustment has the advantage that the longitudinal conveyor does not have to be dismantled in a product change or to change the overspeed.

It is also proposed that a locking device is provided on a support supporting the longitudinal conveyor stand and / or on the longitudinal conveyor and / or on one of the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory to each other adjustable parts of the longitudinal conveyor, by means of which the longitudinal conveyor and / or the mutually adjustable parts of Longitudinal conveyor can be fixed in a preferred orientation to each other. The locking device may e.g. be formed by a series of Justierbohrungen over which the parts or the longitudinal conveyor are fixed by inserting dowel pins or Absteckdornen in a predetermined orientation to each other. By the proposed locking device, the adjustment is easier to handle overall, since the parts for adjusting the elliptical trajectory are not complicated adjusted and checked in their position to each other.

Further, a conveyor with a longitudinal conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 15 is proposed to solve the problem, in which -ein guide means is provided, on which the products are fed to the longitudinal conveyor in the transfer point, and which is formed adjustable in height in the region of the takeover point. By height adjustable in the area of the takeover point Guide means, the height of the products in the takeover point by way of fine adjustment for optimal alignment of the products to the recordings, for example, motorized, without the longitudinal conveyor or the arms or lever arms must be adjusted. As a result, in addition to a process-reliable removal of the products, it can also be ensured that the receptacles do not exert unnecessarily high contact pressure on the products when they are taken over.

This can be particularly easily realized by the guide means is formed by a guide rail which is pivotally mounted in a spaced from the takeover point pivot bearing.

Further, a conveyor with a longitudinal conveyor according to one of claims 1 to 15 is proposed to solve the problem, which is characterized in that a transverse conveyor for taking over the products is provided in the transfer point of the longitudinal conveyor, which is designed to be adjustable transversely to its longitudinal axis. Since the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory not only the takeover point, but also the transfer point is adjusted to a subsequent cross conveyor, it is necessary to adjust the cross conveyor and in particular its recordings so far that they are optimal in the transfer point for the takeover of the products Have alignment with the recordings of the longitudinal conveyor, which is made possible in this case by a displacement of the transverse conveyor transversely to its longitudinal axis.

Further, a method for operating a longitudinal conveyor with the features of the preamble of claim 1 is proposed to solve the problem, in which the speed of recording in the takeover point and / or the takeover point by an adjustment of the elliptical trajectory is changed.

The advantage of the proposed method is that the speed in the takeover point and / or the takeover point itself can be changed here solely by the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory, without the need, as was the case with conventional solutions, the arms, shots or the entire assembly must be replaced. In particular, thereby the speed of the recordings in the takeover point and the takeover point can be changed even at the same speed and capacity of the longitudinal conveyor.

Fig. 1:

einen Längsförderer mit einer Führungseinrichtung und einem Querförderer;

Fig. 2:

einen Längsförderer mit einer Antriebseinrichtung in Sicht von hinten;

Fig. 3:

einen Längsförderer mit einer Antriebseinrichtung in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 4:

einen Längsförderer mit einer Taumelscheibe und einem Koppelring;

Fig. 5:

einen Längsförderer mit einem Drehrichtungsumkehrgetriebe;

Fig. 6:

einen Ausschnitt eines Längsförderers in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 7:

einen Längsförderer mit zwei Antriebseinrichtungen in Schnittdarstellung;

Fig. 8:

eine schematische Darstellung zweier elliptischer Bewegungsbahnen der Arme des Längsförderers nach und vor einer Verstellung.

Fig. 9:

eine schematische Darstellung zweier elliptischer Bewegungsbahnen der Arme des Längsförderers nach und vor einer Verstellung mit einer gleichzeitigen Verschiebung des Längsförderers quer zu seiner Drehachse.

The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

Fig. 1:

a longitudinal conveyor with a guide means and a cross conveyor;

Fig. 2:

a longitudinal conveyor with a drive device in view from behind;

3:

a longitudinal conveyor with a drive device in a sectional view;

4:

a longitudinal conveyor with a swash plate and a coupling ring;

Fig. 5:

a longitudinal conveyor with a reversing direction gear;

Fig. 6:

a section of a longitudinal conveyor in sectional view;

Fig. 7:

a longitudinal conveyor with two drive means in sectional view;

Fig. 8:

a schematic representation of two elliptical trajectories of the arms of the longitudinal conveyor after and before an adjustment.

Fig. 9:

a schematic representation of two elliptical trajectories of the arms of the longitudinal conveyor after and before an adjustment with a simultaneous displacement of the longitudinal conveyor transversely to its axis of rotation.

In the FIG. 1 is a conveyor according to the invention for rod-shaped products 6 and 7 of the tobacco-processing industry, such as cigarettes, cigarillos or filter rods single or multiple length with and without filter with a maximum thickness of 15 mm, to recognize. The products 6 and 7 are cut in a preceding step by means of a rotating knife carrier of an endless strand in a predetermined length and on a guide means 3 on two parallel guideways 4 and 5 in two parallel strands of cut and juxtaposed products 6 and 7 in the direction of Transfer point I transports.

The guide device 3 is pivotally mounted in a pivot bearing 13 and formed by means of a height adjustment device 12 in the transfer point I for fine adjustment height adjustable.

During the further transport movement, the products 6 and 7 are transported away from a longitudinal conveyor 1 in the takeover point I of the guideways 4 and 5 and transported to a transfer point II. In the transfer point II, the products 6 and 7 are conveyed away transversely by a transverse conveyor 2, which has a plurality of mutually arranged pivotable lever arms and fixed or non-pivotable, rotatable lever arms with arranged thereon receptacles, in which the products 6 and 7 by Negative pressure be adopted. The pivotable lever arms of the cross conveyor 2 are preferably guided on a to the later described arms of the longitudinal conveyor 1 without collision trajectory. This can e.g. be realized by the course of the movement path of the recordings is selected such that the pivotable arms of the cross conveyor 2 radially enter from outside into the envelope of the arms of the longitudinal conveyor 1 and after taking over the products 6 and 7 again radially outward without that the lever arms thereby cut the path of movement of the remote from the longitudinal conveyor 1 recordings. This makes it possible, inter alia, to drive the longitudinal conveyor 1 and the transverse conveyor 2 with separately controllable individual drives, without causing the risk of a collision of the lever arms of the transverse conveyor 2 and the longitudinal conveyor 1.

The longitudinal conveyor 1 has a rotatably drivable drum 33, projecting at the end face of a plurality of rotatably mounted lever arms 8, the center of which are arranged equidistant to each other and each equidistant from the axis of rotation of the drum 33. At the ends of the lever arms 8 are each provided to the lever arms 8 rotatably mounted arms 9, which in each case one or more parallel to the feed direction of the Products 6 and 7 arranged receptacles 10 and 11 have. The receptacles 10 and 11 protrude laterally from the arms 9 and include a free space open on one side between them, into which the pivotable lever arms of the cross conveyor 2 dive to take over the products 7 remote from the transverse conveyor 2. Due to the later described drive the lever arms 8 and the rotatable mounting of the arms 9, the arms 9 and in particular the receptacles 10 and 11 thereby on a in FIG. 8 shown elliptical trajectory 43 moves.

In the FIG. 2 the longitudinal conveyor 1 with a drive device 24 in the form of an electric motor can be seen from behind. The entire longitudinal conveyor 1 is fixed by means of a holder 18 on a stand 14, to which below the longitudinal conveyor 1 also a positive guide 52 in the form of a fixed arm 15 is arranged with a curved guide slot 17 arranged therein and a pin 16 guided therein. Further, on the stand 14, a device 51 for displacement of the longitudinal conveyor 1 in the transverse direction to its longitudinal axis in the form of an engaging in the holder 18 and held on the stator 14 fixedly held threaded rod is provided. Further, a coupling ring 20 can be seen, which is connected via a respective coupling arm 21 and gears 38 and 39, each with one of the arms 9. The view of the viewer facing the ends of the lever arms 8 are formed as eccentric 50 and stored in receptacles 32 of a swash plate 23, as in the Figures 5 and 6 can be seen.

In the FIG. 3 is the longitudinal conveyor 1 from the FIG. 2 to recognize in section along the cutting direction AA. The drive device 24 drives the drum 33 via a shaft 25 rotationally, whereby the held in the drum 33 Lever arms 8 are taken to a rotary motion. The axes of rotation of the lever arms 8 run on a in the FIG. 8 with 42 designated circular path to.

On the shaft 25, a gear 26 is fixed (see also FIG. 5 ), which meshes with a mounted in a housing 19 gear 29. The gear 29 meshes simultaneously with a likewise mounted in the housing 19 gear 28, which in turn meshes with a gear 27 which is rotatably connected to an eccentric disc 31. The eccentric disc 31 is reduced by two recesses 35 in the mass and balanced by a balancing mass 34 together with the swash plate 23 to the axis of rotation of the shaft 25.

The gear pairings of the gears 26,29,28 and 27 together form a reversing gear 30, which drives the eccentric disc 31 to an opposite to the direction of rotation of the shaft 25 rotational movement at an identical speed. This is achieved in this direction of rotation reversal gear by the number of teeth of the gears 26 and 27 is identical. The number of teeth of the meshing gears 28 and 29 is preferably not identical and not identical to the numbers of teeth of the gears 26 and 27, so that the wear of the gears 28 and 29 is as uniform as possible.

On the eccentric disk 31, the swash plate 23 is rotatably mounted, which is driven in a rotation of the eccentric disk 31 against the rotational direction of the shaft 25 to a tumbling motion.

Further, a plurality of Justierbohrungen 51 are provided on the housing 19, via which the housing 19 and the longitudinal conveyor 1 in total in predetermined angular positions opposite the holder 18 and the stator 14, for example by means of dowel pins or Absteckdornen, can be fixed. The Justierbohrungen 51 are arranged so that the rotation of the housing 19 and fixing on the respective adjustment bore 51 automatically rotation of the in FIG. 8 shown elliptical trajectory 43 by a predetermined angle result. The Justierbohrungen 51 thus facilitate the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory 43 insofar as a costly retiming or test driving the longitudinal conveyor 1 is no longer required. Each adjustment bore 51 stands for a preferred angular position of the elliptical trajectory.

In the FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the drum 33 of the longitudinal conveyor 1 can be seen. The lever arms 8 each engage with a shaft 22 provided in the drum 33 recess and are taken by the drum 33 during the rotational movement in the circumferential direction. The drum 33 is rotatably connected to the coupling ring 20, so that the coupling arms 21, the rotational movement of the drum 33 also perform with. Further, the ends of the lever arms 8 are each designed as an eccentric 50 and engage in corresponding receptacles 32 of the swash plate 23 a. The swash plate 23 thereby rotates with the drum 33 and is simultaneously driven by the counter-rotating eccentric disc 31 to a tumbling motion. The wobble of the swash plate 23 then passes through the arranged in the receptacles 32 eccentric 50 of the lever arms 8 to an opposite rotational movement of the lever arms 8 with respect to the rotating drum 33 about their own longitudinal axes, or in other words, to a compensation of the rotational movement of the drum 33 and the rotational movement of the lever arms 8 to the drum 33rd

Due to the superposition of the rotational movement of the drum 33, which run the lever arms 8, and the opposite direction of rotation of the lever arms 8 about their longitudinal axes at an identical speed run the arms 9 and the receptacles 10 and 11 on a in the FIG. 8 shown elliptical trajectory 43 to.

The speed of the arms 9 and the receptacles 10 and 11 on the elliptical trajectory 43 can be divided into a horizontal speed and a vertical speed. The vertical and horizontal speeds of the arms 9 thereby change during the revolution from a transfer point I, in which the arms 9 are moved almost horizontally, to a transfer point II, in which the arms 9 are moved almost vertically. The decisive for the takeover of the products in the transfer point I overspeed is the horizontal speed of the arms 9 and the recordings 10 and 11 at this point.

In the FIG. 7 an alternative embodiment of the invention can be seen, in which for driving the eccentric disc 31, a separately controllable second drive means 40 is also provided in the form of an electric motor. The rotor of the electric motor is non-rotatably connected to a hollow shaft 41, which in turn is non-rotatably connected to the eccentric disc 31. The second drive device 40 also drives the eccentric disk 31 in the opposite direction to the rotational movement of the first drive device 24 and the drum 33, whereby the same above-described movement of the lever arms 8 and the arms 9 arranged thereon is effected.

In the in the Figures 2 . 3 and 5 Shown embodiment, the adjustment of the orientation of the elliptical trajectory 43 characterized in that the longitudinal conveyor 1 via a rotation in the FIG. 2 to be recognized threaded rod 52 along the guide on the stator 14 is moved transversely to its longitudinal axis. On the housing 19 of the reversing direction gear 30, a pin 16 is provided, which projects into the curved or curved guide slot 17 and during the displacement movement of the longitudinal conveyor 1 controlled by the course of the guide slot 17 rotation of the longitudinal conveyor 1 forces a total of its longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the longitudinal conveyor 1 corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft of the drum 33 and the axis of rotation of the drum 33. Since the elliptical trajectory 43 of the arms 9 in a fixed relation to the drum 33 and the longitudinal conveyor 1, the trajectory 43 is thereby automatically with twisted. Alternatively, by the rotation of the housing 19 and the eccentric disc 31 are rotated by a rotation of the gears 27,28 and 29 relative to the fixed to be considered gear 26 with respect to the in this case also to be regarded as a fixed drum 33, whereby the alignment of the lever arms 8 is also adjusted to the drum 33. The orientation of the lever arms 8 is here adjusted in the same manner as in the drive by the previously described rotating eccentric disc 31, with the difference that the drum 33 does not rotate in this case, ie it is only the relative rotation angle of the eccentric disc 31 to the drum 33 and thus only the orientation of the lever arms 8 adjusted to the drum 33. Alternatively, the elliptical trajectory of the arms 9 can also be adjusted by the drum 33 is rotated while holding the lever arms 9. This relative rotation of the eccentric disc 31 to the drum 33 and the lever arms 8 finally causes the rotation of the elliptical trajectory 43 in the dashed lines shown orientation 44 with a rotation of the major axes 45 and 46 of the ellipse in the position 47 and 48 by the angle A, in the same manner as in a rotation of the longitudinal conveyor 1 total about its longitudinal axis.

Further, it is necessary that the arms 9 be once again realigned after twisting the elliptical trajectory to correspond to the predetermined orientation in the takeover point and in the transfer point.

In the in the FIG. 7 illustrated embodiment, the angular offset between the eccentric disc 31 and the drum 33 is effected by a separate control of the second drive means 40 by the eccentric disc 31 before starting the first drive means 24 with a stationary drum 33 or rotating drum 33 by the second drive means 40 to a relative angle to the drum 33 is rotated. In addition to the simple adjustment of the elliptical trajectory 43 when the longitudinal conveyor 1 is at a standstill, the use of a second drive device 40 which can be controlled separately also permits fine adjustment of the elliptical trajectory 43 during the rotating drum 33. In particular, the alignment of the elliptical trajectory 43 and the first transfer point I can also be achieved as a function of the cutting movement of the products 6 and 7 to a predetermined rod length intersecting knife carrier done so that the positional accuracy of the products 6 and 7 can be improved to the recordings 10 and 11 by a corresponding control loop, resulting in the further transport of the products creates decisive advantages.

In the FIG. 8 the trajectory of the axes of rotation of the lever arms 8 is represented by a circular path 42. The elliptical trajectory of the arms 9 and the images arranged thereon 10 and 11 are shown as dashed ellipse 43 before adjustment and as ellipse 44 after adjustment. As can be seen from the illustration, the original takeover point I can be adjusted by adjusting the elliptical trajectory 43 into the transfer point I '. The overspeeding of the receptacles 10 and 11 in the new takeover point I 'is automatically lower since the takeover point I' is now located at a point on the ellipse 44 in which the receptacles 10 and 11 move at a slower rate in the direction of movement of the supplied products be moved without that the speed of the revolving arms 9 must be changed. Further, by the rotation of the ellipse 44 and the transfer point II in the transfer point II 'adjusted. The transfer point II is always in the vicinity of the point where the receptacles 10 and 11 have the greatest distance in the lateral direction to the axis of rotation.

If the transfer point I itself is adjusted, the rotation of the elliptical trajectory 47 by the displacement of the longitudinal conveyor 1 is transverse to its longitudinal axis, as in FIG. 2 represented, particularly advantageous, since thereby the elliptical trajectory 43 automatically also transversely to the axis of rotation of the drum 33, as in the FIG. 9 is shown, moved. Ideally, the height or side shift of the transfer point I and the transfer point II can be compensated so far that the transfer point exclusively horizontally and the transfer point II are moved only vertically.

Furthermore, it makes sense to adjust the compressed air system in the longitudinal conveyor 1 by appropriate design of the control edges so far that the receptacles 10 and 11 of the longitudinal conveyor 1 in the new position to the drum 33 in the new takeover point I 'be subjected to negative pressure or in the new transfer point II' with overpressure.

As a result, with the same longitudinal conveyor 1 with a very low cost different and optimal for the individual rod lengths of the products takeover points I and overspeed can be realized. Due to this adjustment of the takeover point I, the previously required or accepted high overspeed compared to the previous practice can be made smaller, thereby achieving advantages for a process-safe removal of the products.

All proposed solutions for adjusting the elliptical trajectory 43 has in common that the arms 9 and in particular the receptacles 10 and 11 disposed thereon must be adjusted again after the rotation of the elliptical trajectory 43 in the horizontal orientation or orientation in which the recordings 10th and 11 take over products 6 and 7 at takeover point I. For this purpose, the receptacles 10 and 11 of the arms 9 must be slightly rotated relative to the lever arms 8.

The rotation of the arms 9 to the lever arms 8 is made possible in the present embodiments by the coupling ring 20, which is slightly rotated to adjust the arms 9 at a standstill drum 33. The coupling ring 20 also has a number of arms 9 corresponding number of coupling arms 21.

As in the FIGS. 6 and 7 can be seen, the coupling arms 21 are rotatably connected to the ends in each case with a shaft 37, which upon rotation of the coupling ring 20 to their Longitudinal axes are rotated. The rotational movement of the shafts 37 is transmitted via a gear with two or more gears 38 and 39 and a rotational movement transmitting belt on a rotatably mounted shaft 36 of the arms 9, so that the arms 9 in a rotation of the shafts 37 in the lever arms 8 to the longitudinal axes of their shafts 36 are rotated. Due to the rotation of the arms 9, the alignment of the receptacles 10 and 11 can be adjusted again so far after the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory 43 that they are again aligned horizontally and / or in the direction of the transfer point I supplied products 6 and 7.

Furthermore, in the FIGS. 6 and 7 to provide the provided at the ends of the lever arms 8 eccentric 50, with which the lever arms 8 are rotatably mounted in corresponding receptacles 32 of the swash plate 23. The lever arms 8 comprise in addition to the eccentrics 50 each have a shaft 22 which are penetrated by the shafts 37 respectively. In addition, the lever arms 8 each have a frontally projecting radial arm 53, in whose radially outer portion in each case the shafts 36 of the arms 9 are rotatably mounted. During the rotational movement of the drum 33, the lever arms 8 are driven due to the wobbling movement of the swash plate 33 and the bearing of the lever arms 8 in the receptacles 32 via the eccentric 50 to a relative to the rotational movement of the drum 33 opposite rotational movement of the same speed. Because of this opposing rotational movement of the lever arms 8, the shafts 36 of the arms 9, which are mounted in the outer sections of the radial arms 53, are moved on the elliptical trajectory 43. The movement of the arms 9 is coupled only insofar with the movement of the lever arms 8 that the axes of rotation of the shafts 36 are guided on the elliptical trajectory 43, but on the other hand, a rotational movement about the axes of rotation of the shafts 36 relative to the lever arms 8 execute. The rotational movement of the shafts 36 to the lever arms 8 is enforced by the rotating with the drum 33 shafts 37, which are fixed relative to the drum 33 via the coupling arms 21.

Due to the rotation of the lever arms 8 and the standstill of the shafts 37 relative to the lever arms 8, the gear formed by the gears 38 and 39 and a rotary motion transmitting belt, forced to rotate about the shafts 37, which then on the shafts 36th the arms 9 is transmitted, so that the arms 9 during the rotation of the drum 33 and the lever arms 8 have a constant orientation. By the coupling ring 20, the adjustment of the drum 33 and the adjustment of the lever arms 8 can be compensated so far that the arms 9 are finally regarded as stationary with a constant, predetermined orientation.

Claims (20)

Longitudinal conveyor (1) for rod-shaped products (6,7) of the tobacco-processing industry with: a drum (33) which can be driven rotationally by means of a drive device (24) in a rotational movement about a first axis of rotation, - A plurality of rotationally driven about second axes of rotation lever arms (8), wherein the second axes of rotation are arranged parallel to the first axes of rotation, and wherein - The lever arms (8) rotatably mounted on the drum (33) and to a to the rotational movement of the drum (33) in opposite directions with a rotational speed of the drum (33) identical speed or an integral multiple of the rotational speed of the drum (33) are drivable, and - Arms (9) rotatably mounted on the lever arms (8), on each of which at least one receptacle (10,11) for a rod-shaped product (6,7) is provided, which during the rotational movement of the drum (33) on an elliptical trajectory (43,44) are moved from a takeover point (I) to a transfer point (II) of the products (6,7),
characterized in that - The longitudinal conveyor (1) is adapted to rotate the elliptical trajectory (43,44) of the receptacles (10,11). Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that - The elliptical trajectory (43,44) at an angle (A) is rotatable by +/- 15 degrees. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - The receptacles (10,11) to the lever arms (8) are designed to be adjustable together. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - The lever arms (8) in a swash plate (23) are guided, which by means of a direction of rotation of the drum (33) in opposite directions driven eccentric disc (31) is drivable to a tumbling motion. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that - The swash plate (23) has receptacles (32), in which engage the lever arms (8) each with an eccentric (50). Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that - The eccentric disc (31) via a to the drive means (24) of the drum (33) coupled rotational direction reversing gear (30) is drivable. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that - The eccentric disc (31) via a second drive means (40) is controllable, which is separately controlled by the drive means (24) of the drum (33). Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that - The means for adjusting the elliptical trajectory (43,44) of the arms (9) by means (51) for displacement of the longitudinal conveyor (1) transversely to its axis of rotation and with the lever arms (8) coupled positive guide (52) is formed , by which the lever arms (8) during rotation of the longitudinal conveyor (1) are rotationally adjusted about its axis of rotation. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that - The elliptical trajectory (43,44) of the arms (9) by a rotational adjustment of the longitudinal conveyor (1) about the first axis of rotation is adjustable. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that - The means for adjusting the elliptical trajectory (43,44) of the arms (9) by a with the lever arms (8) directly or indirectly coupled displaceable positive guide (52) is formed. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to claim 8 or 10, characterized in that - The direction of displacement of the longitudinal conveyor (1) or the forced operation or the direction of the forced operation (52) have a curved course and the respective other direction has a straight course. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that - The device (51) for the displacement of the longitudinal conveyor and the positive guide (52) are arranged on an assembly with a fixed spatial association with each other. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that - The positive guide (52) by a in a plane transverse to the axes of rotation of the lever arms (8) curved guide slot (17) is formed, into which a with the lever arms (8) movement-technically coupled pin (16) engages. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that - The elliptical trajectory (43,44) of the arms (9) by a rotational adjustment of the longitudinal conveyor (1) about the second axis of rotation is adjustable. Longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - on a longitudinal conveyor (1) supporting stand (14) and / or - on the longitudinal conveyor (1) and / or - On one of the adjustment of the elliptical trajectory (43) mutually adjustable parts of the longitudinal conveyor (1) a locking device is provided by means of which the longitudinal conveyor (1) and / or the mutually adjustable parts of the longitudinal conveyor (1) in a preferred orientation fixed to each other are. Conveying device with a longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that - A guide device (3) is provided, on the the products (6,7) are fed to the longitudinal conveyor (1) at the takeover point (I), and that - The guide device (3) in the region of the transfer point (I) is designed adjustable in height. Conveying device according to claim 16, characterized in that - The guide means (3) is formed by a guide rail, which is pivotally mounted in one of the transfer point (I) spaced pivot bearing (13). Conveying device according to one of claims 1 or 17, characterized in that the products of the longitudinal conveyor (1) of a device for Queraxialen promotion or vice versa are fed. Conveying device with a longitudinal conveyor (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that - A transverse conveyor (2) for taking over the products (4,5) in the transfer point (II) of the longitudinal conveyor (1) is provided, which is formed transversely adjustable to its longitudinal axis. Method for operating a longitudinal conveyor (1) with the features of the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that - The speed of the images (10,11) in the takeover point (I) and / or the takeover point (I) by an adjustment of the elliptical trajectory (43,44) is changed.

Images