EP2721936A2 - Distributor device and method for feeding a rod processing machine in the tobacco industry with a stream of products made of fibrous material - Google Patents

Abstract

The distributor device has pre-processing device for processing the fibrous material and introducing the material into region of classifier (12) provided downstream of pre-processing device. A separate transport unit (16) is provided downstream of the separator on the conveying path of the product stream, for supplying the fiber material sighted by separator to the fibrous material distribution assembly arranged in the region of the suction rod conveyor. An independent claim is included for method of loading strand machine of tobacco processing industry.

Description

The invention relates to a distributor device for feeding a tobacco processing machine strand extruder with a fiber material product stream comprising a pre-distributor unit for processing the fiber material and feeding it into the area of a sifter located downstream of the pre-distributor unit and for separating and not processing is formed and arranged to be processed portions of the fiber material, at least one downstream of the sifter arranged dosing unit for forming a supply of the fiber material with at least one downstream acceleration section for conveying the fiber material to at least one suction belt conveyor, wherein the product flow along a conveying path in a common, resulting Conveying direction F is conveyed through the distributor device to the or each Saugstrangförderer, and at least one Saugstrangförderer for building a formed from the fiber material strand and for transporting the same in the transport direction T, which is directed transversely to the conveying direction F.

The invention further relates to a method for feeding a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry with a product material consisting of fiber material, comprising the steps of feeding the fiber material into a distributor device, processing the fiber material by means of a pre-distributor unit, sifting, namely separating from and not to be processed processing portions of the fiber material by means of a classifier, forming a supply of the screened fiber material by means of at least one metering unit, conveying the fiber material at least one suction belt conveyor by means of an acceleration section, wherein the product flow is conveyed along a conveying path in a common, resulting conveying direction F through the distributor device to each Saugstrangförderer, and building a strand formed from the fiber material and transporting the strand in the transport direction T transverse to the conveying direction F means the Saugstrangförderers.

Such dispensers and methods are used in the tobacco processing industry to separate and meter a product stream of fibrous material, which may be tobacco fibers, filter material fibers or blends of said fibers, such that the singulated fibrous material evenly coalesces with the or each strand forming sucker conveyor is supplied. The product flow extends transversely to its conveying direction F across a width, so that on the output side of the distributor device on the or each suction belt conveyor a strand with in the transport direction T of the or each Saugstrangförderers increasing thickness builds up by a layered layering. The resulting strand, which still has an approximately rectangular cross-section on the suction strand conveyor, typically has a thickness which is greater than the thickness necessary for the formation of the approximately circular strand in cross-section, for which reason the strand formed on the suction strand conveyor is trimmed, so reduced to the desired thickness. The resulting excess material can be supplied to the distribution device again.

The product stream formed from one or more mixture components, which may be formed from fiber material supplied for the first time, ie fiber material which has not yet been screened, and / or additives, ie solid and / or liquid components such as cloves or liquid flavorings, is used in the Introduced area of a lock in the distribution device, pre-distributed in the pre-distributor unit, sighted in the classifier and metered by means of the metering unit and fed via the acceleration section at least one Saugstrangförderer to form a tobacco rod or more tobacco strands, which are then fed to a downstream cigarette rod machine. The principle explained above with the example of tobacco strands applies accordingly also for the production of filter strands, from Tobacco fibers and filter fibers mixed strands and other strand-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, which is expressly not limited to exclusively tobacco-containing products. For example, tobacco filters also fall under the collective term of the articles of the tobacco processing industry.

There are a variety of different distribution devices are known in the art, having the features of the preamble of claim 1. In such distribution devices, the pre-distributor unit, the classifier and the metering unit with the acceleration section form a conveying path with a common, resulting conveying direction F through the distributor device. This means that the product stream is transported through the entire distributor device with the same width in a common main direction. This main direction is transverse, so aligned approximately at a right angle to the transport direction T of the Saugstrangförderers. This orientation of the conveying direction F, on the one hand, and the transport direction T, on the other hand, becomes particularly clear in the plan view of the distributor device. However, the common conveying direction F within the distributor device does not exclude that the product flow is transported up and down following the conveying path. In other words, the known distribution devices have a structure in which the individual components of the distributor device, ie in particular the pre-distributor, the classifier and the metering unit with the acceleration section, with a rectified conveying direction F in the conveying direction F behind each other and in the transport direction T are adjacent. The pre-distributor unit, the sifter and the dosing unit with the acceleration section are thus in each case facing one another or facing each other with their broad side defining the width B of the product flow.

The conveying path is designed to be continuous in the known distribution devices. Both the pre-distributor unit and the sifter and the dosing unit with the acceleration section have the same width B over the entire conveying path for the uniform width distribution of the fiber material to the width necessary for the strand formation on the output side. This means that the flow of product from the lock for inputting the product stream into the distributor device to the suction belt conveyor for forming and removing a strand in a transverse to Conveying direction F closed on all sides and formed by the individual components channel is transported with the relevant for the product flow transport width B. The rectified run of the product material forming fiber material through the distribution device begins after entering the lock with the pre-distributor unit. By means of a steep conveyor or the like, the fiber material is fed to the classifier and sighted in this. Unwanted or unsuitable for the visual process parts, such as tobacco ribs or the like, are sorted out. The sighted and cleaned of unwanted or unsuitable parts fiber material is then fed directly and without interruption over the metering unit and the acceleration section always distributed over the entire width of the or each Saugstrangförderer. The excess material accumulating in the region of the suction-strand conveyor can be supplied again to the distributor device, in the region of the vertical conveyor in front of the separator.

The known distribution devices have various disadvantages in terms of constructive design and handling. For example, the sifter has a width that extends over the entire width of the dosing unit and the acceleration section. Because of this width, the classifier must be segmented for a uniform distribution of the fiber material within the classifier, since the classifier additionally assumes the width distribution of the product stream over the entire width in addition to the actual visual function. In other words, because of its multifunctionality, the sifter is designed in a wide width, which is also necessary because the throughput of the fiber material in the sifter increases due to the recirculated excess material. The known distributor device structure not only results in a view of increased fiber material throughput but also in a double direction of portions of the product stream. The known distribution devices also have the disadvantage that the supply of additives is difficult due to the continuous and almost closed guidance of the product flow through the distributor device, especially since additives can be classified in the classifier.

The invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a compact and easy to handle distribution device having an improved efficiency. The object continues to be to propose a corresponding method.

This object is achieved by a distributor device having the features mentioned above in that downstream of the sifter on the conveying path of the product stream, a transfer device completely separate from the sifter and a downstream distributor unit are arranged downstream of the transport device, the transport device for supplying the sifter sighted by the sifter Fiber material is designed and set up to the post-distributor unit and the post-distributor unit is designed and set up for processing the fiber material and feeding it into the region of the suction-strand conveyor. Downstream of the classifier and upstream of the metering unit, ie in the interface between the classifier and the metering unit, a decoupling unit is thus arranged, which is formed from the transport device and the post-distributor unit. With this solution according to the invention a decoupling of separator and metering unit is created in a simple manner, which makes it possible to reduce each of the components, ie in particular the separator and the metering unit to the actual function, which means a structural simplification of the individual components. Due to the fact that the sifter is designed and arranged only for the actual visual function and not anymore for the uniform width distribution, the sifter can have an undefined width, thus in particular also be narrower, whereby eg also the segmentation of the sifter can be dispensed with , Another advantage is that interrupted with the transport device and the adjoining Nachverteilereinheit the delivery path of the product stream and the product stream at least temporarily discharged from the closed channel within the distributor device and then reintroduced into the closed channel. In other words, the transport means, which is completely separate from the sifter, creates a readily externally accessible intermediate flow of the product stream, which offers the opportunity to supply the excess material and / or additives behind the sifter. As a result, the lock and in particular the pre-distributor unit and the separator at a lower throughput Fiber material to be adjusted. By means of the post-distributor unit, the product stream in its final mixture for strand production can then be fed to the suction-strand conveyor in the width required for strand formation.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the post-distributor unit comprises a memory for receiving the fiber material fed by the transport device, a vertical conveyor and / or a carding unit for feeding the fiber material into the region of at least one stowage bay, at least one stowage shaft and the acceleration section , This creates a particularly simple and effective decoupling. In particular, the post-distributor unit ensures by means of its storage and the steep conveyor and / or the carding unit, which is preferably formed of two distributor rollers, regardless of the nature and extent of the product flow with respect to its width in the pre-distributor and the separator, a uniform and uniform supply of the suction belt conveyor with fiber material in the required width. Incidentally, the memory is particularly well suited for supplying additives and / or excess material into the distributor device behind the separator.

The dosing unit expediently comprises the transport device and the post-distributor unit. This achieves a particularly compact design.

In an advantageous development of the invention, each stowage compartment has a conveying path for the product stream with a width B ₁ running transversely to the conveying direction F and the sifter a conveying path for the product stream with a width B ₂ extending transversely to the conveying direction F. The transport device for transporting the fiber material is formed and arranged by the separator to the memory of the post-distributor unit transversely to the conveying direction F and parallel to the transport direction T. With this embodiment, on the one hand a transverse distribution of the fiber material is realized transversely to the actual conveying direction F. This makes it possible to compensate for the different widths of sifter and storage shaft. On the other hand, demixing effects from the area of the lock, the pre-distributor unit and the classifier can be detected by the transverse transport of the sighted container Fiber material to Nachverteilereinheit be mixed again. The provision of a transport device with a transport direction transverse to the conveying direction F within the distributor device creates a completely new structure of the individual components of the distributor device. In other words, the distributor device according to the invention has an altered sequence of the individual components compared to conventional distributor devices. The laterally offset or side by side arranging in particular of classifier to stowage point leads to a structural independence of the individual components. The design according to the invention emphasizes or achieves a modular construction which facilitates separate further development and / or replacement of individual components. Incidentally, a circumferential accessibility of individual components, such as the lock, the sifter or the stowage, so in particular accessibility from the front and rear, given by the modular parallel arrangement of the individual components, which facilitates handling.

Advantageously, the width B ₂ <B ₁ and the transport device and / or the Nachverteilereinheit are to expand the product flow from the width B ₂ , with the product stream is conveyed in the sifter in the conveying direction F, to the width B ₁ , with the product flow is conveyed, trained and set up in each conveying shaft in conveying direction F. With this embodiment, the previously described advantages of an effective and uniform supply of the entire product flow to the Saugstrangförderer can be realized particularly well.

An expedient development is characterized in that the steep conveyor and / or the carding unit is designed and set up at least in the discharge area facing the stowage compartment for conveying the product flow with a width B ₁ extending transversely to the conveying direction F. This ensures in a simple manner that the product flow, regardless of the course and the distribution of the product flow to the steep conveyor and / or the carding unit at least when reaching the Saugstrangförderers necessary for strand formation width.

Preferably, the transport device comprises an actively driven conveying element, by means of which the fiber material being viewed can be conveyed transversely to the conveying direction F from the separator to the post-distributor unit. By means of the active driving, a continuous and in particular controllable and / or controllable supply of the post-distributor device with the fiber material can be ensured. In other words, this design allows an active width distribution of the fiber material, so that in particular different Aufschüttbreiten can be realized. Conveyor belts, vibrating chutes or screw conveyors are particularly well suited for a transverse transport of the fiber material.

In an advantageous embodiment, the sifter is arranged offset laterally to each storage shaft, such that the transport device connects the sifter with the memory of the post-distribution unit in the transport direction T for closing the conveying path. As already mentioned, decoupling, ie interruption of the delivery path - but in no way a shut-off - is ensured by the invention. The term "closing" expresses that, despite this interruption, the product flow is bridged in the area between the separator and the dosing unit and reaches the destination, namely the suction-strand conveyor. A particular advantage of this arrangement of classifier to Stächacht is that a small depth is achieved. Furthermore, the free accessibility of all components is further facilitated.

A particularly expedient distribution device is characterized in that the discharge position for the fiber material on the conveying element is designed to be linearly adjustable transversely to the conveying direction F and in the transport direction T. In other words, the free, the memory of the Nachverteilereinheit facing the end of the conveying element is adjustable so that the fiber material can be dropped at different positions relative to the width of the memory in the memory. As a result, a particularly uniform transverse distribution of the fiber material and a mixture thereof are achieved.

Advantageously, the transport length of the conveying element is variable. This embodiment also supports the transverse distribution and mixing of the fiber material in the memory of the post-distributor unit.

The invention is developed in a particularly advantageous manner by assigning to the conveying element, at its free end facing the post-distributor unit, a guide element for uniformly feeding and / or distributing the fiber material during the transition from the transporting device to the post-distributor unit. This embodiment also supports the transverse distribution and mixing of the fiber material in the memory of the post-distributor unit.

A particularly expedient embodiment is characterized in that the transport device and / or the post-distributor unit is assigned a device for supplying additives. As already mentioned above, the decoupling of separator and metering unit creates the prerequisite for a suitable point of supply of the additives. With the device for supplying these additives, these can now be supplied to the product stream in the final width distribution, for example, to the transport device or into the store or to the steep conveyor or into the stowage point in a targeted manner and independently of the classifier.

The object is also achieved by a method with the aforementioned steps in that the sighted fiber material is discharged to the sifter and fed to a completely separated from the sifter transport device which supplies the fiber material to a post-distribution unit, wherein the post-distributor unit processes the fiber material and feeds each Saugstrangförderer ,

Preferably, the sifted fiber material is transported by the transport device after sifting by the sifter transversely to the conveying direction F and parallel to the transport device T to a memory of the post-distributor unit.

A particular development of the method is characterized in that the transverse transport of the fiber material takes place transversely to the conveying direction F after feeding the fiber material into the distributor device and after the sifting thereof.

Advantageously, the fiber material of a width B ₂ , with which the product flow is conveyed in the sifter in the conveying direction F, to a width B ₁ , with which the product flow is conveyed to the Saugstrangförderer in the conveying direction F and B ₂ is larger, extended or widened.

The advantages resulting from the method steps according to the invention have already been described in connection with the distributor device, for which reason reference is made to the corresponding passages in order to avoid repetition.

Particularly advantageously, the method is carried out with a distributor device according to one of claims 1 to 12. The distributor device according to the invention facilitates the execution of the method in a particularly favorable and easy to handle manner.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Verteilervorrichtung in perspektivischer Ansicht von schräg oben und vorne,

Fig. 2

die Verteilervorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in perspektivischer Ansicht von schräg oben und hinten,

Fig. 3

die Verteilervorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 mit einer Rückführung des Überschussmaterials,

Fig. 4

eine Detailansicht des Sichters mit der Dosiereinheit sowie der in der Schnittstelle zwischen Sichter und Dosiereinheit angeordneten Entkopplungseinheit,

Fig. 5

die Detailansicht gemäß Figur 4 mit einer zusätzlichen Einrichtung zum Zuführen von Zusatzstoffen,

Fig. 6

eine äußerst schematische Darstellung einer ersten Variante der erfindungsgemäßen Verteilervorrichtungsstruktur,

Fig. 7

eine äußerst schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Variante der erfindungsgemäßen Verteilervorrichtungsstruktur, und

Fig. 8

eine äußerst schematische Darstellung einer weiteren Variante der erfindungsgemäßen Verteilervorrichtungsstruktur.

Further expedient and / or advantageous features and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment and the method will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of the distributor device according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from above and in front,

Fig. 2

the distributor device according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view obliquely from above and behind,

Fig. 3

the distributor device according to FIG. 1 with a return of the surplus material,

Fig. 4

a detailed view of the separator with the dosing unit and arranged in the interface between the separator and metering unit decoupling unit,

Fig. 5

the detailed view according to FIG. 4 with an additional device for supplying additives,

Fig. 6

a very schematic representation of a first variant of the distributor device structure according to the invention,

Fig. 7

a very schematic representation of another variant of the distributor device structure according to the invention, and

Fig. 8

a very schematic representation of another variant of the distributor device structure according to the invention.

The distributor device shown in the drawing is used for processing tobacco fiber material and forming a tobacco rod. Of course, the distribution devices according to the invention are also designed and arranged for the preparation of filter fiber material for forming filter strands and for preparing fiber mixtures of tobacco fiber material and filter fiber material for forming mixed strands and for forming a plurality of strands of said type.

The distribution device 10 shown in the drawing for feeding a not shown tobacco extruder rod machine with a fiber material product stream comprises a pre-distributor unit 11 for processing the fiber material and supplying it in the area of a classifier 12, downstream of the pre-distributor unit 11 and arranged is designed and arranged for separating portions of the fiber material to be processed and not to be processed, at least one metering unit 13 arranged downstream of the classifier 12 for forming a stock of the fiber material with at least one Downstream acceleration section 14 for conveying the fiber material to at least one Saugstrangförderer 15. The product flow is thereby conveyed along a conveying path in a common, resulting conveying direction F through the distributor device 10 to the or each Saugstrangförderer 15. The conveying path describes the course of the product flow or its flow direction (viewed from the top view) through the distributor device 10. The product flow itself has a width B transverse to the conveying direction F, which width is defined by the width of the individual components, that is to say in particular the pre-distributor unit 11. the classifier 12, the metering unit 13 and the acceleration section 14 is determined. Furthermore, the distributor device 10 comprises at least one suction-strand conveyor 15 for building up at least one strand formed from the fiber material and for transporting the same in the transport direction T, which is directed transversely to the conveying direction F. However, the Saugstrangförderer 15 may also be part of the subsequent strand machine.

Such a distributor device 10 is inventively further developed in that downstream of the sifter 12 on the conveying path of the product flow arranged by the sifter 12 completely separate transport device 16 and downstream of the transport device 16 Nachverteilereinheit 17 are arranged, wherein the transport device 16 for supplying the from the sifter 12th is formed and set up to the post-distributor unit 17 and the post-distributor unit 17 is designed and set up for processing the fiber material and feeding it into the area of the suction-strand conveyor 15. By means of the transport device 16 and the post-distributor unit 17, it is possible to shift the final composition and final transverse distribution of the product stream downstream of the sifter 12 to the width required for strand formation. Due to the fact that the conveying path in the region of the interface between the classifier 12 and the dosing unit 13 is interrupted and the transport device 16 with the postdivision unit 17 is designed and arranged as a type of assembly for the transverse or width distribution of the fiber material, the dosing unit 13 with the following acceleration section 14 is independent of the classifier 12.

The features and developments described below represent individually or in combination with each other preferred embodiments of the invention. It is expressly understood that features that are summarized in the claims, also independently further form the distribution device 10 described above and the associated method can.

The post-distributor unit 17 comprises a store 18 for receiving the fiber material fed by the transport means 16, a steep conveyor 19 for feeding the fiber material from the store 18 into the area of a stowage bay 20, a stowage bay 20 and the acceleration section 14. The store 18 can be a simple kiepe or any other means of stocking fiber material. The conveyor unit for feeding the fiber material from the memory 18 to the storage shaft 20 may include, in addition to the steep conveyor 19 or alternatively to the steep conveyor 19, a carding unit, which preferably has two feed rollers or the like. The steep conveyor 19 and / or the carding unit can also be designed and furnished for feeding the fiber material to a plurality of storage spaces 20. Optionally, the post-distributor unit 17 can also comprise a plurality of stores 18 and a plurality of conveyor units. In the event that a plurality of storage slots 20 are present, connects to each storage shaft 20 a corresponding acceleration section 14 for feeding a multi-strand machine.

The metering unit 13 comprises in addition to the or each storage shaft 20 and the or each acceleration section 14 in addition to the memory 18 and the steep conveyor 19 and / or the carding unit, so the entire Nachverteilereinheit 17 and the upstream transport device 16. In this case, the entire distribution device 10 is constructed in a modular manner , In other words, the individual components of the distributor device 10, ie in particular a lock 21 for feeding a not yet sighted product flow into the distributor device 10, the pre-distributor unit 11, the sifter 12, the transport device 16, the memory 18, the steep conveyor 19, the jam shaft 20 as well as the acceleration section 14 divided into individual, mutually independent assemblies, each component or assembly is preferably associated with only one function. This means in particular the sifter 12 is designed and set up exclusively for sifting the fiber material.

As already mentioned above, the product flow is conveyed or transported through the distributor device 10 with a width B extending transversely to the conveying direction F. According to the invention, however, this width B varies within the distributor device 10. Each carrier shaft 20 has a conveying path -as a section of the conveying path-for the product flow with a width B ₁ extending transversely to the conveying direction F. The sifter 12 has a conveying path - as a section of the conveying path - for the product flow with a transverse to the conveying direction F width B ₂ . When the sifter 12 and the stowage shaft 20 lie one behind the other in the conveying direction F, the transporting device 16 is designed and set up for transporting the screened fiber material in the conveying direction F. Preferably, the sifter 12 and the storage shaft 20 are in the conveying direction F but offset from each other, so that the transport device 16 for transporting the spun fiber material from the sifter 12 to the memory 18 of the post-distribution unit 17, and thus also to the storage shaft 20, transverse to the conveying direction F and is formed and arranged parallel to the transport direction T.

There is the possibility that B ₁ = B ₂ or B ₂ > B ₁ . Preferably, however, B ₂ <B ₁ . In the latter case, the product stream with the width B ₂ comes from the classifier 12, which, however, does not correspond to the width necessary for the strand formation. The transport device 16 and / or the post-distributor unit 17 are therefore for expanding the product flow from the width B ₂ , with which the product stream is conveyed in the sifter 12 in the conveying direction F, to the width B ₁ , with the product flow in each storage shaft 20 in the conveying direction F is conveyed, trained and set up, transversely to the conveying direction F. In other words, a narrow product stream is fanned to a broad product stream. Preferably, the drawing of the product stream to the final width B ₁ by means of the transport device 16. The memory 18 and the steep conveyor 19 and / or the carding unit have the width B ₁ . Optionally, the transverse distribution of the fiber material to the final width or the width B ₁ of the storage shaft 20 but also by the steep conveyor 19 and / or the carding unit. These are the Steep conveyor 19 and / or the carding unit at least in the stowage 20 facing discharge area for conveying the product flow with a transverse to the conveying direction F extending width B ₁ and set up.

The transport device 16 comprises at least one actively driven conveyor element 22. A particularly preferred embodiment of the conveyor element 22 is a conveyor belt with a circulating driven conveyor belt. As a conveying element 22 but also Schüttelrinnen, augers or other means of transport can be used. There is also the possibility that the transport device 16 comprises a plurality of conveying elements 22. The intermediate conveying direction F _{T of} the conveying element 22 extends transversely to the conveying direction F and parallel to the transport direction T of the suction strand conveyor 15. By means of the conveying element 22 the fiber material is conveyed in the intermediate conveying direction F _T from the sifter 12 to the post-distributor unit 17 and more precisely into the memory 18 of the post-distributor unit 17 , The conveying element 22 can completely or partially shield the fiber material during transport. Preferably, however, the fiber material on the conveyor element 22 is continuously freely accessible in order to facilitate the feeding of additives and / or excess material. In order to supply the excess material to the transport device 16, it is possible to establish a connection between the supply of the excess material and the transport device 16. This connection can be produced, for example, by means of an inclined conveyor 35 by means of which the excess material can be actively conveyed to or onto the transport device 16.

Particularly preferably, the sifter 12 is arranged laterally offset to each storage shaft 20, such that the transport device 16 connects the sifter 12 with the storage 18 of the subsequent distribution unit 17 in the transport direction T or in the intermediate conveying direction F _T for closing the conveying path. The transport device 16 thus forms a connecting bridge or a kind of bridge in order to connect the sifter 12 and the receiving shaft 20, which are located one behind the other as seen in the conveying direction F and in the conveying direction T or intermediate conveying direction F _T , and which flows out of the sifter 12 Product stream of fiber material laterally offset the Nachverteilereinheit 17 supply. The conveyor element 22 may be formed as a rigid, verstellfreies element. Preferably, the discharge position for the fiber material on the conveyor element 22 is formed transversely to the conveying direction F and in the transport direction T linearly adjustable. In other words, the position and / or the length or the transport length of the conveying element 22 can be adjusted in the intermediate conveying direction F _{T in} order to be able to deposit the fiber material at a different position relative to the width of the memory 18 of the post-distributor unit 17. The conveying element 22 can also be designed to be pivotable about vertically directed axes, in order to create a balance between the classifier 12 and the memory 18 of the post-distributor unit 17. In order to support the uniform transverse distribution of the fiber material from the conveying element 22 in the memory 18 of the post-distribution unit 17 and to provide a uniformly distributed over the entire width of the memory 18 and evenly mixed product flow, the conveying element 22 at the Nachverteileinheit 17 facing free end a Guide element 23 for the uniform feeding and / or distribution of the fiber material during the transition from the transport device 16 in the post-distribution unit 17 to be assigned. This guide element 23, which may also be a guide element, is either fixed and rigidly connected to the free end of the conveying element 22 or designed to be movable relative to the conveying element 22.

Optionally, the transport device 16 and / or the post-distributor unit 17 may be assigned a device 24 for supplying additives. In the embodiment shown, the device 24 is a conveying element 25, which opens onto the conveying element 22 of the transport device 16. However, the conveying element 25 can also be assigned directly to the memory 18 of the post-distributor unit 17 or the stowage compartment 20. The additives themselves can be added directly to the conveying element 25 or removed from a reservoir not explicitly shown. The number and position of the conveying element 25, which may also be formed as a conveyor belt, vibrating chute, screw conveyor or the like, is variable and can - as shown - at a right angle to the conveyor element 22 or at another angle and / or inclined to this or to the memory 18 or the stowage 20 stand.

In other embodiments not explicitly illustrated, the or each suction-strand conveyor 15 is assigned means for trimming the strand and means for receiving the excess material arising during trimming. To return this excess material, which has already been sighted, a connection line from the means for receiving into the area of the transport device 16 and / or the post-distributor unit 17 may be provided in order to feed the excess material after the separator 12 into the distributor device 10.

The in the FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrated embodiment has an arrangement structure in which the pre-distributor unit 11 and the classifier 12 in the conveying direction F are consecutive. The transport device 16 has a transverse to the conveying direction F extending intermediate conveying direction F _T. The metering unit 13 is arranged in the conveying direction F next to the pre-distributor unit 11 and the separator 12 and in turn has the conveying direction F, but pointing in the opposite direction. The suction-strand conveyor 15 in turn is arranged in the conveying direction F behind or in front of the metering unit 13. This structure can also schematically the FIG. 5 be removed. Other structures of the arrangement are also possible and schematically eg the FIGS. 6 and 7 refer to.

The method, which can be carried out particularly advantageously with the distributor device 10 described above, will be described in more detail with reference to the drawing.

The distributor device 10 is supplied via the sluice 21 preferably not spotted fiber material. This fiber material is processed in the pre-distributor unit 11, that is, for example, loosened by means of rollers 26 or the like and / or evened out and / or stored in a memory 27. The fiber material is then supplied to the classifier 12, for example by means of a steep conveyor 28. In the separator 12, the portions to be processed, for example tobacco fibers, of the fiber material are separated from the portions not to be processed, for example tobacco ribs. The shares to be processed are stored in the dosing unit 13 and by means of Acceleration section 14 evened and dosed to at least one suction belt conveyor 15 promoted. These processes are all carried out in the common, resulting conveying direction F (regardless of whether they are rectilinear or opposite), which runs transversely to the transport direction T, with which the strands formed on the suction strand conveyor 15 are transported away. According to the invention, the sifted fiber material after the sifter 12 is discharged from the channel formed by the individual components of the distributor device 10 and fed to the transport device 16 which is completely separate from the sifter 12. This supplies the fiber material to the post-distributor unit 17, the post-distributor unit 17 processing the fiber material and feeding it to the or each suction-strand conveyor 15. It is first of all decisive that after the sighting a decoupling or decoupling of the product flow from the previous conveying path, which provides the direct coupling of classifier 12 and dosing unit 13, is achieved before it is fed to the dosing unit 13, independently of the transport direction of the Fiber material in said interface.

However, that the sighted fiber material is thus transported by the transport means 16 according to the views from the classifier 12 transverse to the conveying direction F and parallel to the transport direction T to a memory 18 of the Nachverteilereinheit 17, in intermediate conveying direction F _T is preferred. Thus, in a simple and effective manner with respect to the mixing and / or the (transverse) distribution of the product flow, an independence of the dosing unit 13 or the post-distributor unit 17 is achieved by the classifier 12. The transverse transport of the fiber material thus takes place within the distributor device 10 after feeding the fiber material into the distributor device 10 and after viewing transversely to the conveying direction F. The fiber material which is transported on the transport device 16 as a loose fiber material of undefined width in the intermediate conveying direction F _T is the postdivision unit 17 of a width B ₂ , with which the product stream is conveyed in the sifter 12 in the conveying direction F, to a width B ₁ , with which the product flow is conveyed to the Saugstrangförderer 15 in the conveying direction F and which is greater than B ₂ , extended or expanded. This widening can be effected either by the transport device 16 and / or the post-distributor unit 17.

The passing of the fiber material from the separator 12 to the post-distributor unit 17 is preferably actively driven in order to ensure a continuous transport. Optionally, not only the sifted fiber material can be forwarded from the sifter 12 to the post-distributor unit 17 but also additives, which are already in the fiber material on the transport device 16 and / or in the post-distribution unit 17, preferably upstream of the storage shaft 20, in the memory 18 of the post-distribution unit 17 are added. The sifted fiber material and / or the additives and / or already sighted excess material may fall uncontrolled and undefined onto the transport device 16 and / or into the storage 18. However, preference is given to a defined and controlled feeding of said mixture components to the transport device 16 and / or into the store 18, wherein the defined and controlled feeding does not relate to the width of the product stream formed from the mixture components.

Claims (17)

A distributor device (10) for feeding a tobacco processing machine strand machine with a fiber material product stream, comprising a pre-distributor unit (11) for processing the fiber material and feeding it into the area of a sifter (12) located downstream of the pre-distributor unit (11) and for separating portions of the fiber material to be processed and not processed, at least one dosing unit (13) arranged downstream of the sifter (12) for forming a stock of the fiber material with at least one downstream acceleration section (14) for conveying the Fiber material to at least one Saugstrangförderer (15), wherein the product flow along a conveying path in a common, resulting conveying direction F through the distributor device (10) is conveyed to the or each Saugstrangförderer (15), and at least one Saugstrangförder characterized in that, downstream of the sifter (12) , downstream of the sifter (12) , downstream of the sifter (12) , downstream of the sifter (12), one of the sifter (12) is formed for building up a strand formed from the fiber material and transporting it in the transport direction T completely separate transport device (16) and a post-distributor unit (17) arranged downstream of the transport device (16) are arranged, wherein the transport device (16) is designed and arranged for feeding the fiber material spotted by the sifter (12) to the post-distributor unit (17) and the post-distributor unit (17) is designed and set up for processing the fiber material and feeding it into the region of the suction strand conveyor (15). Distributor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the post-distributor unit (17) has a memory (18) for receiving the fiber material fed by the transport device (16), a steep conveyor (19) and / or a carding unit for feeding the fiber material into the region of at least one Stowed bay (20), at least one stowage bay (20) and the acceleration section (14). Distributor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the metering unit (13) comprises the transport device (16) and the post-distributor unit (17). Distributor device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that each stowage bay (20) has a conveying path for the product stream with a width B ₁ running transversely to the conveying direction F and the sifter (12) a conveying path for the product stream with a width transverse to the conveying direction F. B ₂ , and that the transport device (16) for transporting the screened fiber material from the classifier (12) to the memory (18) of the post-distributor unit (17) is formed and arranged transversely to the conveying direction F and parallel to the transport direction T. Distributor device according to claim 4, characterized in that the width B ₂ <B ₁ and the transport device (16) and / or the post-distributor unit (17) for expanding the product flow of the width B ₂ , with which the product stream in the classifier (12). is conveyed in the conveying direction F, to the width B ₁ , with which the product flow in each storage shaft (20) is conveyed in the conveying direction F, are designed and set up. Distributor device according to claim 5, characterized in that the steep conveyor (19) and / or the carding unit are formed and arranged at least in the stowage bay (20) facing the outlet region for conveying the product flow with a transverse to the conveying direction F width B ₁ . Distributor device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the transport device (16) comprises an actively driven conveying element (22), by means of which the fiber material is transverse to the conveying direction F from the classifier (12) to the post-distribution unit (17) conveyable. Distributor device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the classifier (12) is arranged laterally offset to each stowage bay (20), such that the transport device (16) the classifier (12) with the memory (18) of the post-distribution unit (17) connects in the transport direction T for closing the conveying path. Distributor device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the discharge position for the fiber material on the conveying element (22) transversely to the conveying direction F and in the transport direction T is formed linearly adjustable. Distributor device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the transport length of the conveying element (22) is variable. Distributor device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the conveying element (22) at its free end facing the post-distributor unit (17) has a guide element (23) for uniformly feeding and / or distributing the fiber material at the transition from the transport device (16). associated with the post-distributor unit (17). Distributor device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the transport means (16) and / or the Nachverteilereinheit (17) means (24) is associated for supplying additives. A method of feeding a rod making machine of the tobacco processing industry with a fibrous material product stream comprising the steps of: Feeding the fiber material into a distributor device (10), Preparing the fiber material by means of a pre-distributor unit (11), Sifting, namely separation of parts of the fiber material to be processed and not to be processed by means of a sifter (12), Forming a supply of the screened fiber material by means of at least one metering unit (13), Conveying the fiber material to at least one suction strand conveyor by means of an acceleration section, the product flow being conveyed along a conveying path in a common, resulting conveying direction F through the distributor device to each suction strand conveyor; - Building a strand formed from the fiber material and transporting the strand in the transport direction T transverse to the conveying direction F by means of Saugstrangförderers (15),
characterized in that the sifted fiber material is discharged to the sifter (12) and fed to a completely separated from the sifter (12) transport means (16) which supplies the fiber material to a post-distribution unit (17), wherein the post-distributor unit (17) the fiber material processed and each Saugstrangförderer (15) supplies. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that the sifted fiber material by means of the transport device (16) after the sifter (12) transversely to the conveying direction F and parallel to the transport device T to a memory (18) of the post-distribution unit (17) is transported. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that the transverse transport of the fiber material takes place transversely to the conveying direction F after the feeding of the fiber material into the distributor device (10) and after the sifting thereof. Method according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the fiber material of a width B ₂ , with which the product flow in the sifter (12) is conveyed in the conveying direction F, to a width B ₁ , with the product flow to the Saugstrangförderer ( 15) is conveyed in the conveying direction F and the larger B _2, is expanded or widened. Method according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that it is carried out with a distributor device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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