EP2730184A2 - Device and method for recovering bodies from smoking articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a storage device for receiving a portion of a smoking article (10). An ejector (30) includes a movable pin (31), which is moveable between a starting position and an active position for ejecting a spherical aroma body (16) from the smoking article. The pin includes a tip (33) for penetration into the smoking article, and an inclined flange (34) for ejecting the body from the smoking article. The ejector is arranged relative to an opening of the storage device so that a part of the pin is movable over a plane of the storage device. An independent claim is also included for a method for recovering bodies from smoking articles.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for the recovery of smoking article parts in particular body from smoking articles.

Smoking articles are understood in particular to be cigarettes, cigarillos with or without filters and filter rods alone. In this case, the filter rods may be formed as a multi-segment filter, which are divided into individual filters during later cigarette production. For example, in the filter production a quad filter rod can be produced, each with one activated carbon segment.

In addition, it has been known for some time that additives, such as flavorings, are incorporated in filters in particular. These additives may be in gel or liquid form, liquid additives may be injected directly into the filter. In addition, it is known to introduce additives with the aid of aroma bodies in the filter. If desired, these bodies can be destroyed by pressure applied to the filter by the user to release the additives therein and thus affect the taste of the smoking article. The advantage of this aroma body technique is that the body can only be broken to complete the cigarette smoking and no aroma is released before. These bodies are present in particular as capsules or balls and are referred to below as a simplified body.

Menthol, mint, eucalyptus, fruit flavor or other suitable flavoring, as well as mixtures thereof are known as additives for such bodies. In addition, modifiers can be used in bodies which neutralize, ameliorate, humidify or cool the smoke. In addition, these substances are generally referred to as additives.

In cigarette production and filter production, it is the rule that functionally unusable or the required high standards not appropriate products are sorted out as a committee. For example, cigarettes containing non-prescribed amounts of tobacco are rejects. However, valuable constituents of the committee, such as bodies with additives, should not be discarded but be recovered so that they can be returned to production. Filtering and recovering bodies involves the problem that the pressure-sensitive bodies are easily damaged or destroyed. Therefore, it is not only necessary to separate the body from smoking articles, but to sort the severed bodies additionally into intact bodies and defective bodies.

Against this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a device and method for the recovery of bodies from smoking articles.

Another object is to separate and qualify the products obtained by a recovery process, in particular, body and smoking article parts.

This object is achieved by a device for the recovery of bodies according to claims 1 and 18 and method for the recovery of bodies according to claims 13 and 20. Advantageous developments of the device and the method according to the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

The device according to the invention for the recovery of bodies from smoking articles has at least one bearing device for receiving at least a part of a smoking article and at least one ejection device, wherein the ejection device comprises at least one movable pin which is movable between a starting position and an active position to a body of a Smoke article, in particular a filter, eject.

In this way, bodies of smoking articles received on the storage device can be easily removed mechanically. For this purpose, it is advantageous for the body or bodies with additive to be arranged on the outer edge of the article of smoking, preferably on the filter edge, in order to be easily pushed out of the filter by an ejection device. In order to position a body at the level of the ejection device, suitable positioning means and / or conveying devices may be provided. The separated body can then be collected for reuse.

Expediently, the ejection device has a movable pin with a tip for piercing a smoking article, in particular a filter, and a sloping flank for ejecting a body from the smoking article.

With the help of the tip filter paper of a filter can be inserted in a small distance to a body or directly next to the body in a simple and effective way. Subsequently, the body is contacted by a further preferably downward movement into the active position with the oblique edge of the pin and pushed away from the bearing device. Thereafter, the body and optionally with it falling filter parts can be collected for further processing.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the recovery device, the bearing device may be arranged substantially below the ejection device, wherein the edge of the bearing device with at least one side of the pin, preferably with the body facing away from the back of the pin, is arranged substantially in alignment. For ejection, the smoking article is positioned with the body so that the body is below the ejector near the edge of the bearing device.

Conveniently, the ejection device is configured with respect to the bearing device and / or with respect to a recess of the bearing device such that at least a portion of the pin of the ejection device is movable beyond the plane of the bearing device.

By this arrangement, not only the tip of the pen of the ejector can pierce the entire cross section of the smoking article, but also the flank of the pen. In this case, the body facing away from the side of the pin along the edge of the bearing device or at a small distance to move to it. The body-shaped end of the smoking article, which protrudes beyond the edge of the storage device, is thus combed through. In this way, bodies can be effectively removed not only from tobacco sticks but also from denser filter fleeces. Bodies located near the level of the storage device may also be removed from the smoking article by the stylus moving beyond the bearing device level.

Expediently, the device has an ejection device with at least one plunger, on which two pins are arranged at a distance.

By providing two spaced pins, firmer smoking article materials can also be easily inserted and combed through. The pitch of the pins is preferably chosen smaller than the diameter of a conventional spherical body to guide the body along the sloping contact flanks. The flanks thus serve as two guide rails for preferably spherical body. Through the leadership, the body during the ejection process are not unnecessarily stressed and damage to the body can be largely prevented.

A preferred embodiment of the device has an ejection device, which is movable by means of a lifting drive.

By means of a lifting drive, the ejection device or the plunger can be moved to a periodic lifting movement between the starting position and the active position. This movement allows you to pierce the pen tip and comb through a smoking article.

Conveniently, the device further comprises at least one holding means for fixing the smoking article during ejection.

In particular, when the active position is beyond the storage device, the downward movement of the discharge device may cause the smoking article to tilt over the storage device edge. To prevent this, holding means are provided, which can be moved by means of the lifting drive simultaneously with the ejector down to push the remaining smoking article against the storage device. In this way, a simple and targeted fixation of the smoking article can be done. Alternatively, the holding means may also be formed on the level of the bearing device in the form of a clamping device or the like. By means of suitable holding means such as pressure pads or pressure rollers, the body position beyond the bearing device edge is fixed in the ejection-oriented position.

In an advantageous development, the device further comprises a conveying device in order to convey the smoking articles at least to the ejection device.

Advantageously, the conveying device can be used to align or position the smoking articles with respect to the ejection device. In addition, the conveyor device can act at the height of the ejection device as a bearing device or holding means. In this case, the conveying device has at least one preferably trough-shaped or groove-shaped receptacle to receive rod-shaped smoking articles.

A preferred embodiment of a conveying device has a plurality of receptacles, wherein the smoking articles are received and conveyed transversely to the conveying direction. In this case, the conveying direction may preferably be configured as a rotatably mounted drum or as a conveyor belt.

Conveniently, the conveying device and / or ejection device is designed as a rotatably mounted drum.

In this case, advantageously, the rotatable drum serve not only as a discharge device but at the same time as a conveying device of the smoking article during ejection. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drum on a plurality of ejector devices with pins which are movable depending on the rotational position of the drum by means of a cam device between the starting position and the active position. Preferably, a combined conveying and ejecting drum has a cam mechanism Spring means to spring-bias the movable pins and then let the pins pop out for ejection.

A cam means in combination with spring means allows by means of the rotational movement of the drum a cyclic lifting drive, wherein the spring-loaded pins in the radial direction between the passive starting position and the active position can be moved back and forth.

A preferred embodiment of the device has a cutting device in order to cut off at least one body-free smoking article part, in particular a filter segment, along a cross-section of the smoking article.

By means of the at least one cutting device, a smoking article part, in particular a part of a filter, can be cut off in order to expose the body to be removed or to position it near the end of the smoking article. In this way, the ejection of bodies can be simplified.

If the smoking article in a filter has, for example, valuable activated carbon segments, these can also be separated off by means of a cutting device and collected separately.

In embodiments with a conveying device, the ejection device is connected downstream in the conveying direction of the cutting device. In this way one or more bodies can be prepared for the subsequent ejection process.

Conveniently, the cutting device is designed as a rotating rotary cutter wheel. In order not to violate a conveying device combined with the cutting device, recesses may be provided at the level of the cutting device.

According to a development of the device according to the invention, the device has a plurality of ejection devices.

A plurality of ejection devices are used in, for example, a discharge device constructed as a drum. Further, a plurality of ejection devices arranged along the longitudinal axis of a smoking article is necessary when a plurality of bodies are to be separated from a multiple filter.

Expediently, a device designed for multiple filters has a plurality of cutting devices.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous in the recovery of bodies from multiple filters. In multiple filters each disembodied filter segments are separated with a small distance to the stored bodies by means of cutting devices, which preferably rotate on a rotation axis. The separated filter parts can be removed from the process.

For example, if the multiple filter is a double filter with two filters, a double knife is used to separate the incorporeal filter end parts. To the ejector then the remaining filter segment is conveyed with two bodies. The bodies are in this case close to the cut surfaces, so that an ejection by means of the ejection device is facilitated. For ejection, the smoking article with the bodies is positioned on the bearing device so that the bodies in the respective filter end part project respectively beyond the edge of the bearing device. The double filter positioned in this way can puncture and comb through the filter paper and the filter on both sides with two ejectors. At this time, the inclined flanks of the ejector pins push the bodies away from the bearing device, respectively, and separate the bodies from the filter material.

• Aufnehmen wenigstens eines Teiles eines Rauchartikels mittels einer Lagervorrichtung;
• Bewegen wenigstens einer Ausstoßvorrichtung von einer Ausgangsposition in eine Aktivposition; und
• Ausstoßen eines Körpers aus einem Rauchartikel mittels der Ausstoßvorrichtung.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a method for recovering bodies from smoking articles, comprising the following method steps, is provided:

• Receiving at least a portion of a smoking article by means of a storage device;
• Moving at least one ejector from an initial position to an active position; and
• Ejecting a body from a smoking article by means of the ejection device.

With the aid of this method, it is possible, in particular, to recover valuable articles for smoking articles, in particular filters located in the filter, for reuse. The smoking article parts are positioned with respect to the ejection device when receiving in the storage device so that a body can be ejected optimally by means of the ejection device. The positioning can take place by means of a suitable and upstream conveying device and alignment means, wherein the conveying device can be designed, for example, as an endless conveyor belt or the like.

• Fixieren eines Rauchartikelteils mittels eines Haltemittels während des Ausstoßens des Körpers aus dem Rauchartikel, insbesondere während eine schräge Flanke eines Stiftes der Ausstoßvorrichtung einen Körper aus einem Rauchartikel drückt.

Furthermore, the method according to the invention has the following method steps:

• Fixing a smoking article by means of a holding means during the ejection of the body from the smoking article, in particular while a sloping edge of a pin of the ejector presses a body of a smoking article.

A fixation of a smoking article is necessary if not attack both sides of a storage device ejection devices. The fixation ensures that the smoking article does not fall out of the recovery device during ejection.

• Aufgeben von Rauchartikeln auf eine Fördervorrichtung
• Ausrichten der Rauchartikel in Aufnahmen der Fördervorrichtung
• während des Förderns Abschneiden eines körperfreien Rauchartikelteiles, insbesondere eines Filtersegmentes, mittels wenigstens einer Schneidevorrichtung; und
• Ausstoßen eines Körpers aus dem Rauchartikel mittels der Ausstoßvorrichtung.

The process according to the invention expediently has the following process steps:

• Placing smoking articles on a conveyor
• Aligning the smoking article in recordings of the conveyor
• during conveying cutting off a body-free smoking article, in particular a filter segment, by means of at least one cutting device; and
• Ejecting a body from the smoking article by means of the ejection device.

In this case, expediently the conveying device can be the storage device at the same time. The alignment of the smoking article in the recordings of the conveyor takes place for example by means of Axialbewegungsbegrenzer, which are arranged at the edge of the recordings of the conveyor. With the help of cutting a body-free article of smoking article, the body is exposed or positioned closer to the free end, so that a discharge of a body from the filter segment is simplified.

• Entfernen von separierten Rauchartikelteilen mittels wenigstens einer Abführvorrichtung.

The process according to the invention expediently has the following process steps:

• Removing separated smoking article parts by means of at least one discharge device.

The removal of separated smoking article parts can be done after cutting off filter segments by means of a cutting device. For this purpose, discharge devices or discharge devices such as suction nozzles can be provided.

Further, separated by the ejection device body and thereby falling filter parts are removed by means of a discharge device, where they can be fed to another conveyor device for further processing or a collection device.

• Drehen einer vorzugsweise als Trommel ausgebildeten und eine Mehrzahl von Ausstoßvorrichtungen aufweisenden Fördervorrichtung;
• Bewegen wenigstens eines Stiftes einer Ausstoßvorrichtung von der Ausgangsposition in die Aktivposition; und
• Ausstoßen eines Körpers aus dem Rauchartikel mittels der Ausstoßvorrichtung.

The process according to the invention expediently has the following process steps for ejection:

• Rotating a preferably designed as a drum and a plurality of ejectors having conveyor device;
• Moving at least one pin of an ejector from the home position to the active position; and
• Ejecting a body from the smoking article by means of the ejection device.

By means of a conveying device designed as a drum and having a plurality of ejection devices, a conveying device and an ejecting device can be combined in one unit. In doing so, the movable pins are biased by means of a cam means and can rash into the smoking articles to expel bodies from the smoking article.

Furthermore, a device for recovering bodies from smoking articles is provided, the device having a conveying device with a sieve for separating bodies of smoking article parts, in particular filter segments.

In this way, bodies ejected from the smoking articles can be separated from filter segments. The screen is designed so that the diameters of the bodies fit through, while longer filter segment parts are conveyed further on the screen. The conveying device is preferably designed for screening as a vibrating conveyor trough.

Expediently, the conveying device with a sieve has a discharge device for bodies with a baffle plate arranged underneath, in such a way that the bodies can be moved into a first collecting container or second collecting container as a function of their surface tension.

Since damage to the bodies can occur during the production of the filter or during the ejection process or the preparation of the filters for the ejection, a sorting for intact bodies or damaged bodies is made possible with the aid of a baffle plate. Reusable bodies jump into a parabola to be determined in a corresponding to the parabola arranged collecting container. On the other hand, defective bodies with a lower surface tension slide directly from the baffle plate end downwards into a collection container set up there. In this way, the bodies can be separated and qualified from the smoking article parts. Only the intact bodies are recycled.

• Zuführen von Körpern und Rauchartikelteilen, insbesondere Filtersegmente, mittels einer Zuführvorrichtung zu einer Fördervorrichtung mit Sieb;
• Schwingen der Fördervorrichtung zur Abtrennung der Körper von den Rauchartikelteilen über das Sieb;
• Leiten der Körper mittels Schwerkraft auf ein Prallblech; und
• Bewegen der Körper in Abhängigkeit von ihrer Oberflächenspannung in zwei unterschiedliche Sammelbehälter.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a method for recovering bodies from smoking articles, comprising the following method steps, is provided:

• Supplying bodies and smoking article parts, in particular filter segments, by means of a feed device to a conveying device with sieve;
• Rocking the conveyor to separate the bodies from the smoking articles over the screen;
• Directing the body by gravity onto a baffle; and
• Move the bodies depending on their surface tension in two different collection containers.

If the bodies fall onto the baffle plate with different surface tensions, the defective bodies slide along the baffle plate into a collection container arranged below the baffle plate. In contrast, the intact bodies bounce off the baffle plate so that they follow a parabola and can be collected at a distance to the baffle plate in another collection.

Although some aspects are described in the context of the device according to the invention, these aspects also represent a description of corresponding method steps.

Fig. 1 a-b

eine schematische Darstellung eines Rauchartikels und seiner Teile;

Fig. 2a-b

schematische Draufsichten einer Filterzigarette;

Fig. 3a-b

eine Draufsicht eines Rauchartikels und schematische Darstellung der in einem Mehrfachfilter angeordneten Körper;

Fig. 4a-b

perspektivische Ansichten einer Schneidevorrichtung und Rauchartikel;

Fig. 5a-d

eine schematische Darstellung der Verfahrensschritte Schneiden und Ausstoßen mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Ausstoßvorrichtung;

Fig. 6 a-b

perspektivische Darstellungen einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Ausstoßvorrichtung;

Fig. 7 a-b

schematische Schnittansichten von vorne und der Seite von einer Weiterbildung der in Fig. 6a-b gezeigten Ausführungsform;

Fig. 8 a-d

schematisches Verfahrensdiagramm zur Rückgewinnung von Körpern aus einem Mehrfachfilter mit einer Mehrzahl von Ausstoßvorrichtungen;

Fig. 9

eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung für ein Filterzigarette oder Mehrfachfilter;

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform zur Rückgewinnung von Körpern aus Mehrfachfilter und eine schematische Darstellung der Verfahrensschritte; und

Fig. 11

eine Vorrichtung zur Rückgewinnung von Körpern aus Rauchartikelteilen und schematische Darstellung der Verfahrensschritte.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments. Show:

Fig. 1 from

a schematic representation of a smoking article and its parts;

Fig. 2a-b

schematic plan views of a filter cigarette;

Fig. 3a-b

a plan view of a smoking article and schematic representation of the arranged in a multiple filter body;

Fig. 4a-b

perspective views of a cutting device and smoking articles;

Fig. 5a-d

a schematic representation of the process steps cutting and ejection with an ejection device according to the invention;

Fig. 6 from

perspective views of another embodiment of the ejection device;

Fig. 7 from

schematic sectional views of the front and side of a training of in Fig. 6a-b embodiment shown;

Fig. 8 ad

schematic process diagram for the recovery of bodies from a multiple filter with a plurality of ejectors;

Fig. 9

a side view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention for a filter cigarette or multiple filter;

Fig. 10

a perspective view of another embodiment for the recovery of bodies from multiple filters and a schematic representation of the method steps; and

Fig. 11

a device for the recovery of bodies from smoking article parts and schematic representation of the method steps.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals. Also, the location information chosen in the description, such as "top", "bottom", etc. related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are to be transferred in a change in position mutatis mutandis to the changed position.

A commercial smoking article 10, as in Fig. 1 shown, has a tobacco rod 12 which is surrounded by a paper wrapper 11. At one end of the smoking article 10 is the mouthpiece with a filter 14 which is enveloped by a filter paper 13. In the illustrated example of a smoking article 10 is a filter cigarette.

The in Fig. 1b at the interface filter tobacco rod 17 shown cut semi-cylindrical portion of the filter 14, has a spherical body 16 on. This body 16 is filled with a solution or gel or the like, so that the user can be provided by crushing the body 16 optional additives, preferably flavoring agents. In addition to the spherical shape, other rounded, spheroidal or capsule-like forms of the body 16 are conceivable. Further, not only one body 16 but a plurality of bodies 16 may be used in the filter. The body 16 usually has an outer shell, which can be destroyed by external force or contact pressure. At close proximity to the body, the dash-dotted line indicates a cut surface 18. After a cut at this cut surface 18, the bodyfree filter end part 19 is formed and the body 16 is located near the end of the filter 14, so that a subsequent ejection operation is simplified.

Fig. 2a and 2b show top views of a filter cigarette with a filter 14 and tobacco rod 12. In Fig. 2a and in Fig. 2b the position of the body 16 is shown in the filter 14, and the interface filter tobacco rod 17 indicated by a dash-dotted line.

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b show a further exemplary embodiment of a smoking article 10, which is designed as a multiple filter 40. The multiple filter 40 shown is designed as a quad filter with four filter segments 41, 42, 43, 44. Wie Fig. 3b shows, each filter segment 41, 42, 43, 44 in the middle of a body 16. Rejected material may also occur during filter production, so that there is also a need to separate body 16 from the respective filter segments 41, 42, 43 and 44.

Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b show the process step 103 of cutting off a filter segment 19 by means of a cutting device 50. The cutting device 50 is designed as a rotating cutting wheel 55 which moves in a clockwise direction about the axis 45 in the direction of the arrow A. In addition, it is schematically illustrated that the cutting device 50 can additionally be moved downwards in the Y-direction for cutting 103 of smoking articles 10.

The illustrated smoking article 10 has a filter 14 with a body 16. The smoking articles 10 can be transported in a conveying device, not shown, in suitable receptacles to the cutting device 50.

The cutting device 55 is positioned relative to the smoking article 10 such that a body-free filter end portion 19 is cut off. In this case, a small distance to the embedded body 16 is maintained, so that injuries to the body 16 could be excluded by the vaginal process. The arrow 104 indicates the process step of removing the separated smoking article parts by means of a suitable discharge device. The filter segments 19 separated by the cutting can be removed from the process by a suitable collecting container (not shown). The body 16 remaining in the process can be more easily separated by separating the bodyside end portion 19 by means of one of the following Fig. 5 ejector 30 shown are ejected.

Fig. 5a to Fig. 5d show a flow chart of the method 100 for the recovery of bodies 16. This shows Fig. 5a the same process step 103 of the cutting as in Fig. 4 wherein the cutting device 50 is not shown for simplicity. Fig. 5a shows in the plan view of the smoking article 10 with a filter-tobacco rod 17 interface and a cutting surface 18, which is arranged at a small distance from the filter body 16.

Fig. 5b schematically shows the removal 104 of the body-free Filterendteiles 19 in a perspective view. Thereupon will be in Fig. 5c the next step 105 of picking up the smoking article 10 on the storage device 20 is shown. In this case, the smoking article 10 is conveyed to a storage device 20 and to an ejection device 30 by means of a conveying means, not shown, and positioned so that the body is located below the flank 34 of the ejection device 30. The ejection device 30 is disposed above the smoking article 10 and the bearing device 20 serves as a receiving and abutment. In this case, the smoking article 10 can be fixed on the storage device 20 during the ejection of retaining means, not shown.

The at least one pin 31 of the ejector 30 has a tip 33 and an inclined flank 34 which is fixed to a plunger 27. Fig. 5c shows the starting position, wherein the tip 33 is in the starting position 23 in a so-called passive position or at the top dead center of a stroke movement. The lifting movement is indicated in the vertical direction Y by the double arrow and is closer in Fig. 5d shown. During the movement from the starting position 23 to the bearing device level 24 and beyond, the bearing device 20 acts as an abutment.

In the step of ejecting 106 of the body 16 from the smoking article 10 or the filter 14, the paper envelope 13 of the filter is pierced by the tip 33 by the downward movement of the pin 31. In this vertical downward movement in the direction of the double arrow Y slides the back 26 of the pin 31 along the edge or the edge 28 of the bearing device 20 down to the active position 25. In this case, the filter fabric is combed beyond the edge 28 and the flank 34 presses the body 16th away from the storage device 20. The separated bodies 16 can then be collected.

Fig. 6a and Fig. 6b show a further embodiment of an ejection device, wherein the ejector 30 on the plunger 27 has two pins 31 and 32, each having a sloping edge 34 and a further oblique edge 35, which simplifies the insertion of the tip 33 in smoking article. In addition, the shows Fig. 6a with respect to the ejector 30, a smoking article 10 having a filter 14 and near the end of the filter 14 a body 16 to be removed by means of the ejector 30.

FIGS. 7a and 7b show the in Fig. 6 illustrated embodiment in the side view and the front view and additionally a holding means 70 and a linear actuator 71. The ejector 30 has a plunger 27 on which at a distance 62, the pins 31 and 32 are fixed. The distance of the pins 62 is smaller than the diameter 61 of a spherical body 16. In this way, the smoking article end, preferably a filter fabric, can be better combed and at the same time the body 16 are nondestructively pushed out of the filter fabric. As the contact surfaces or guide rails for ejecting serve the oblique edges 34, which can push out the body 16 by the downward movement of the pins in the Y direction.

Thus, the smoking article 10 is not displaced by the ejection movement or falls from the storage device 20, simultaneously with the ejection device, the holding means in the Y direction can be moved down to press the smoking article against the storage device 20 for fixing. If the bearing device 20 is designed as a conveying device, the holding means 70 can also be designed as a pressure roller. A holding means 70 is not necessary if a conveyor device 75, not shown, acts as a holding means or on both sides of the storage device 20, an ejection device 30 is arranged. A piercing or combing on both sides of a bearing device 20 is in the embodiment according to Fig. 8 shown.

Fig. 8 shows a multiple filter 40 with four filter segments 41, 42, 43 and 44, wherein each filter segment includes a filter body 16. To simplify the ejection process or to enable the ejection process, disembodied filter segments 82, 83 and 85 are cut off near the filter bodies at the boundary surfaces 56, 57, 58, 59 in method step 103 and removed from the process (method step 104).

After the in Fig. 8 As shown in FIGS. 103 and 104, the body-containing filter segments 82 and 84 are respectively conveyed to storage devices 21 and 22 and received there (method step 105). The bearing devices 21 and 22 are configured to receive the body-free portions of the filter segments 82 and 84, respectively, while the ends of the filter segments 82, 84 project beyond the bearing devices 21, 22. Through this positioning, the body-containing ends can be combed by means of the ejection devices 36, 37, 38, 39. In this case, slide the respective rear sides 26 of the pins 31, 32 along the Lagerervorrichtungskanten 28 and 29th

Fig. 8c respectively. Fig. 8d show the starting position or active position. By the ejection becomes according to Fig. 8d the body 16 is moved away from the bearing devices 21 and 22 or the respective edges 28, 29 by means of the flanks 34 of the ejection devices 36, 37, 38, 39. Subsequently, these bodies 16, optionally together with separated filter segments, discharged and / or collected.

Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show a side view and a perspective view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention. Here is a conveyor 75 in Shown form of a drum having a plurality of receptacles 76 and ejectors 30.

At the beginning of the recovery process 100, in the case of the task 101, the smoking articles 10 are fed onto the conveying device 75 in the form of a drum (method step 101).

Subsequently, the smoking articles are positioned and aligned with the edge of the respective receptacle 76 by means of an axial movement limiter 74 (step 102). The drum-shaped conveying device 75 rotates clockwise along the arrow and conveys the aligned smoking articles 10 in the plurality of grooves. In the next method step 103, body-free filter sections 81, 83, 85 are cut off during conveying by means of a cutting device 50.

In the Fig. 10 The embodiment shown is suitable for the recovery of bodies 16 from multiple filters 40. In the illustrated case, it is a quadruple filter 40 with four bodies 16, which can be separated from the multiple filter 40 by means of the recovery device. For this purpose, four cutting wheels 51, 52, 53, 54 are provided which, as in FIG Fig. 8a schematically illustrated, at the cutting surfaces 56, 57, 58, 59 perform cuts along the cross section of the smoking article. The number of cutting devices 50 may be varied according to the number of bodies 16 in a multiple filter. For simple smoking articles 10 with only one filter 14, the provision of a separating wheel 55 is sufficient.

In order not to injure the conveying device 75, recesses are provided at the level of the cutting device 50. Upon completion of the cutting operation 103, the cut filter segments 81, 83, 85 are removed from the process (step 104). Subsequent to method step 104, the body-containing filter segments 82, 84 are received on the storage devices 21 and 22 by means of the conveying device 75 (105) and conveyed as far as the ejection device 30.

In this case, the bearing devices 21 and 22 are curved according to the drum circumference and extend between the cutting device 50 and the lowest point of the drum circumference. According to the number of receptacles 76 of the conveying device 75, the conveying device 75 has a plurality of ejection devices 30. In this case, the drum circumference recesses, through which the pins 31, 32 of the respective ejection devices 30 can move outward. This outward movement is generated by means of a cam 72. As the ejectors 30 move over rollers 80 along the circumference of the cam 72, a lifting motion is generated. The stroke movement from the home position to the active position 25 is preferably supported by spring means. At the in Fig. 10 illustrated embodiment, four ejection devices 36, 37, 38, 39 are simultaneously moved to the active position 25 (see. Fig. 8d ) to simultaneously remove four bodies 16 from the multiple filter 40.

Following the ejection 106 carried out by means of the pins 31 and 32 and combing through of the filter fleece, the bodies 16 and optionally parts of the respective filter segment fall downwards. Finally, the filter segments 82 and 84 remaining in the receptacles of the conveying devices are dropped by means of a discharge device 78 from the receptacles 76 of the conveying device 75 designed as a drum (method step 107).

The separated products obtained by means of the ejection process 106, in particular body 16 and filter segments 82, 84, can be further separated and qualified following the first separation process. Fig. 11 represents a further conveying device 73 with a sieve 63 designed as a separation device. Body 16, 64 and filter segments 82, 84 are directed by a feeder 68 to the conveyor 73 (step 111).

The conveying device 73 is preferably designed as a vibrating conveyor trough with a sieve 63 or sieve deck, which makes possible the method step of separating 112 of the bodies 16, 64 with diameters 61. The remaining on the screen 63 filter segments 82, 84 can be collected at the end of the conveyor 73.

The fallen bodies 63, 64 may have different surface tensions. If the bodies 64 are damaged, the surface tension with respect to an intact body 16 will be less. Damaged bodies are identified by the reference numeral 64 and have a dotted circumferential line.

In method step 113, the different bodies 16 and 64 fall via the discharge line 69 onto a baffle plate 77, wherein a sorting 114 can subsequently take place as a function of the surface tension of the bodies 16, 64.

Defective bodies 64 slip due to the lower surface tension along the baffle plate 77 in a collecting container 67 arranged underneath. Reusable body 16 with normal surface tension jump in a parachute 65 to be determined in another collecting container 66. In other words, the collecting container 66 are determined according to the Purfparabeln the body 16 is arranged at a distance from the baffle plate 77 to allow sorting and qualification of the body 16, 64.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

A smoking article

11

paper wrapper

12

tobacco rod

13

filter paper

14

filter

16

body

17

Interface filter-tobacco rod

18

Cutting surface at a small distance to the body

19

Bodyfree Filterendteil

20

bearing device

21

First storage device

22

Second storage device

23

starting position

24

Level storage device

25

active position

26

Back of the pen

27

tappet

28

Edge of the bearing device

29

Further edge of the device

30

ejector

31

First pen

32

Second pen

33

Tip of the pen

34

Flank for ejection

35

Another flank

36

First ejection device

37

Second ejection device

38

Third ejection device

39

Fourth ejector

40

Multiple filter

41

First filter segment

42

Second filter segment

43

Third filter segment

44

Fourth filter segment

45

Rotary axis cutting device

50

cutter

51

First cutting device

52

Second cutting device

53

Third cutting device

54

Fourth cutting device

55

cutting wheel

56

Cut surface of the first filter segment

57

Section surface of the second filter segment

58

Cut surface of the third filter segment

59

Section of the fourth filter segment

61

Diameter of a body

62

pin spacing

63

scree

64

Broken body

65

Parabola of an intact body

66

Collecting container for intact body

67

Collecting container for defective bodies

68

feeder

69

discharge device

70

holding means

71

Linear actuator

72

Cam device

73

Vibratory conveying apparatus

74

Axialbewegungsbegrenzer

75

conveyor

76

Recordings on the drum circumference

77

baffle

78

Rotary axis drum

80

Rollers of ejector devices

81

First filter segment

82

Second filter segment

83

Third filter segment

84

Fourth filter segment

85

Fifth filter segment

100

Process for the recovery of smoking article parts

101

Giving up smoking articles

102

Aligning the smoking article

103

Cutting off smoking articles, in particular filter segments

104

Removing separated smoking article parts

105

Picking up by means of the storage device

106

Ejecting the body

107

Discarding the remainder of the smoking article

111

Feeding of bodies and smoking articles

112

Swinging of the conveyor

113

The body falls on a baffle plate

114

Sorting into storage tanks

A

Direction of rotation in clockwise direction

X

Conveying direction along the process line

Y

vertical direction

Claims (20)

Apparatus for recovering bodies from smoking articles (10), the apparatus comprising at least one storage device (20) for receiving at least a portion of a smoking article (10) and
has at least one ejection device (30),
wherein the ejection device (30) comprises at least one movable pin (31) movable between a home position and an active position for ejecting a body (16) from a smoking article (10), in particular a filter (14). Device according to claim 1,
wherein the pin (31) has at least one tip (33) for piercing a smoking article (10) and at least one sloping flank (34) for ejecting a body (16) from the smoking article (10). Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,
wherein the ejection device (30) is arranged with respect to the bearing device (20) and / or with respect to a recess of the bearing device (20) so that at least a part of the pin (31) of the ejection device (30) over the plane of the bearing device (24) is movable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ejection device (30) comprises at least one plunger (37) on which two pins (31, 32) spaced (62) are arranged. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the ejection device (30) by means of a lifting drive (71) is movable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises holding means (70) for fixing the smoking article (10) during ejection. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a conveyor (75) for conveying the smoking articles (10) at least to the ejector (30). Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the conveying device (75) and / or ejection device (30) is designed as a rotatably mounted drum. Device according to claim 8,
the drum having a plurality of movable pins (31) depending on the rotational position of the drum by means of a cam device (72) between the starting position and the active position are movable. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the device comprises at least one cutting device (50) for cutting off at least one body-free smoking article, in particular a filter segment (19, 81), along a cross-section of the smoking article (10). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
the device comprising a plurality of ejection devices (36, 37, 38, 39). Device according to one of the preceding claims,
the apparatus comprising a plurality of cutting devices (51, 52, 53, 54). A method for recovering bodies from smoking articles (10), comprising the following method steps: - receiving (105) at least a part of a smoking article (10) by means of a storage device (20); - Moving at least one ejection device (30) from an initial position (23) in an active position (25); and - ejecting (106) a body (16) from a smoking article (10) by means of the ejection device (30). The method of claim 13, further comprising the following method step: - Fixing a smoking article by means of a holding means (70) during the ejection (106) of the body (16) from the smoking article (10), in particular during a sloping edge (34) of a pin (31) of the ejection device (30) has a body (16 ) from a smoking article (10) presses. The method of claim 13 or 14, further comprising the following method steps: - placing smoking articles (10) on a conveying device (75); - Aligning (102) of the smoking articles (10) in receptacles (76) of the conveying device (75) - during the conveying cutting (103) of a body-free smoking article, in particular a filter segment (19), by means of at least one cutting device (50); and - ejecting (106) a body (16) from the smoking article (10) by means of the ejection device (30). The method of any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising the following method steps: - Removing (104, 107) of separated smoking article parts by means of at least one discharge device (68). The method of any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising the following ejecting steps (106): - Turning a preferably designed as a drum and a plurality of ejection devices (30) having conveying device (75); Moving at least one pin of an ejector from the home position (23) to the active position (25); and - ejecting (106) a body (16) from the smoking article (10) by means of the ejection device (30). Apparatus for recovering bodies (16) from smoking articles (10),
the apparatus comprising a conveyor (73) having a screen (63) for separating bodies (16) of smoking article parts, in particular filter segments (82, 84). Device according to claim 18,
the device comprising a discharge device (69) for bodies (16, 64) with an impact beaker (77) arranged underneath, in order to move the bodies (16, 64) into a first collection container (66) or second collection container (67), depending on their surface tension ) to move. Method comprising the following method steps: - feeding (111) bodies (16, 64) and smoking article parts, in particular filter segments (82, 84) by means of a feed device (68) to a conveying device (73) with sieve (63); - swinging (112) the conveying device (73) for separating the bodies (16, 64) from the smoking article parts via the sieve (63); - passing (113) the bodies (16, 64) by gravity onto a baffle plate (77); and Moving (114) the bodies as a function of their surface tension into two different collection containers (66, 67).

Images