EP2999361B1

EP2999361B1 - Device for feeding rod-like smokers' articles in an automatic machine for the tobacco industry

Info

Publication number: EP2999361B1
Application number: EP14727939.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Esposti; Massimo Sartoni
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2013-05-21
Filing date: 2014-05-14
Publication date: 2018-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 2034-05-14
Also published as: EP2999361A1; WO2014188306A1; ITBO20130239A1; PL2999361T3

Description

Technical field

This invention relates to a device for feeding rod-like smokers' articles in an automatic machine for the tobacco industry.
More specifically, the feed device of this invention is used for rod-like smokers' articles defined as "delicate" articles in that they are easily damaged during handling.
By way of non-limiting example, pieces of rod or of smokers' articles containing rolled tobacco or soft filter material are considered "delicate" smokers' articles.

Background art

Generally speaking, in the state of the art, a device for feeding rod-like smoker's articles comprises a hopper which contains a mass of rod-like smokers' articles and whose bottom is closed by a pickup and transfer roller provided with a plurality of suction flutes. Each suction flute receives a single rod-like smokers' article.
With its suction flutes the pickup roller withdraws the smokers' articles from the inside of the hopper and conveys them to operating stations downstream.
This solution has several drawbacks for rod-like smokers' articles referred to as being "delicate".
A first drawback is due to the fact that the rods tend to be flattened and/or marked by creasing when they are inside the hopper, especially the rods at the bottom of the hopper on account of the weight of the mass of the articles on top of them inside the hopper itself.
A second drawback is due to damage to the rod-like articles when they are withdrawn from the hopper by the receiving flutes on the pickup roller. This drawback is particularly true for small and very delicate articles when high operating speeds are reached.
Morevoer, a further example of device for transferring cigarettes, from a manufacturing machine to a grouping machine, is disclosed by document DE4342829 .

Aim of the invention

This invention has for an aim to provide a device for feeding rod-like smokers' articles, capable of overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks and as described in independent claim 1.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment and in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic front view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for feeding rod-like smokers' articles;
Figure 2 is a schematic front view, with some parts cut away to better illustrate others, of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention for feeding rod-like smokers' articles;
Figure 3 is a scaled-up view of a first detail of the device of Figures 1 and 2 in a first operating position;
Figure 4 is a scaled-up view of a second detail of the device of Figures 1 and 2 during the passage from the first operating position to the second operating position.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a device for feeding rod-like smokers' articles, in particular in a filter tip attachment machine or filter making machine not illustrated.
The term "rod-like smokers' article" 2 is used to mean a stick of predetermined length from which two or more pieces 9 are obtained by means of a transversal cutting operation.
Preferably, the pieces 9 are equal in length.
By rod-like smokers' articles 2 or rod-like articles 2 is meant both filter rods, from which plugs or pieces of filter are obtained, and tobacco rods, for example rolled tobacco, from which pieces of tobacco rod are obtained.
The device 1 for feeding rod-like smokers' articles 2 comprises a hopper 3 for containing a mass 2a of rod-like articles 2 and at least one pickup and transfer roller 4 for picking up and transferring the rod-like articles 2 and which is located downstream of the hopper 3 and rotates about its axis of rotation 4a.
The pickup and transfer roller 4 has a plurality of suction flutes 5 on its cylindrical surface.
More specifically, in this preferred embodiment of it, the device 1 comprises a first and a second pickup and transfer roller 6 and 7, located downstream of the hopper 3 and juxtaposed with each other, for picking up and transferring the rod-like articles 2.
The first and second pickup and transfer rollers 6 and 7 are each provided with respective suction flutes 5.
The first and second pickup and transfer rollers 6 and 7 rotate about respective axes of rotation 6a and 7a.
These axes of rotation 6a and 7a are parallel to each other and located at the same height.
Advantageously, the first and second pickup and transfer rollers 6, 7 are mounted to be tangent to each other at a transit station 22 for the rod-like smokers' articles 2.
More specifically, the first and second rollers 6 and 7 are counter-rotating. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the first roller 6 rotates clockwise and the second roller 7, anticlockwise.
In order to retain the rod-like articles 2, the suction flutes 5 of the first and second rollers 6 and 7 extend in length mainly along a direction parallel to the respective axis of rotation 6a and 7a.
The device 1 comprises cutting means 8, in particular for transversely cutting the rod-like articles 2 into pieces 9.
In other words, the cutting means 8 cut the rod-like articles 2 transversely in such a way as to divide them into one or more pieces 9.
In this embodiment, the cutting means 8 face the second hold-down and transfer roller 7 and define therewith at least one cutting station 10. Preferably, the cutting means 8 are disc knives, counter-rotating relative to the second hold-down and transfer roller 7 and, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, they rotate in clockwise direction.
More specifically, each flute 5 on the second hold-down and transfer roller 7, besides acting as a retaining element for holding down individual rod-like articles 2, also acts as a means for opposing the cutting means 8 during the operation by which the rod-like articles 2 are cut.
More precisely, at the cutting station or stations 10, each disc knife 8 passes through respective radial slots made in the flutes 5 of the second hold-down and transfer roller 7 transversely to each flute 5, in such a way as to cut each rod-like article 2 transversely.
The cutting means 8 comprise one or more disc knives according to whether the rods 2 have to be cut into two or more pieces 9. Consequently, the flutes 5 of the second pickup and transfer roller 7 are each provided with as many intermediate slots for the passage of the disc knives 8 as there are cuts to be made on each rod-like article 2.
In this embodiment, since each rod-like article 2 has to be divided into six separate pieces 9, the device 1 comprises five disc knives 8. More specifically, three disc knives 8a are aligned with each other relative to the respective axes of rotation, and two disc knives 8b are aligned with each other relative to the respective axes of rotation, offset relative to the three disc knives 8a.
The device 1 comprises means 11 for distributing and subdividing the rod-like articles 2 which are fed by and contained in the hopper 3.
Advantageously, the distributing and subdividing means 11 are capable of positioning the rod-like articles 2 relative to each other so as to prevent them from flattening and damaging each other.
The distributing and subdividing means 11 are located at least at the bottom 3a of the hopper 3.
The distributing and subdividing means 11 comprise a plurality of individual channels 12, each of which receives at least one row of rod-like articles 2.
By row is meant a succession defined by a plurality of individual rod-like articles 2 positioned one above another.
Each channel 12 makes it possible to stack the rod-like articles 2 in separate rows so that the rod-like articles 2 closest to the rollers 6 and 7 have to support only the weight of the rod-like articles 2 in their own channel 12.
Advantageously, the channels 12 prevent localized flattening of the rod-like articles 2.
Each channel 12 has an inlet opening 13 in communication with the bottom 3a of the hopper 3 and an outlet opening 14 facing a portion of the cylindrical surface of the respective hold-down and transfer roller 6, 7.
More precisely, a first group 12a of channels 12 extends from the bottom 3a of the hopper 3 to the first roller 6 and a second group 12b of channels 12 extends from the bottom 3a of the hopper 3 to the second roller 7.
Advantageously, the channels 12 allow dividing the load of a single mass of rod-like articles 2 into multiple groups 12a, 12b of rod-like articles 2, which means the weight of the individual articles 2 is considerably lower than the total weight of the mass of the rod-like articles 2.
Preferably, in order to prevent the rod-like articles 2 from accumulating and obstructing the inlet openings 13 of each channel 12, a bridge element 15 is provided between two adjacent channels 12 so as to urge each rod-like article 2 either into one channel 12 or into the adjacent channel 12.
The device 1 comprises feed means 15 for feeding the pickup and transfer roller 4 and designed to transfer the rod-like articles 2 from the hopper 3 to the roller 4 itself.
The feed means 15 comprise a plurality of transfer members 16, each dedicated to a respective channel 12.
The transfer members 16 simultaneously pick up at least one rod-like article 2 from the respective channel 12 and transfer that article to the respective pickup and transfer roller 4.
Each transfer member 16 rotates about its axis of rotation 16a through at least 180°.
The feed means 15 comprise a plurality of first retaining elements 17 for holding back the last rod-like article 2 in a respective channel 12 and each associated with a respective transfer member 16.
The first retaining element 17 releases the last rod-like article 2 which is to be picked up by the transfer member 16.
In other words, the moment the transfer member 16, during its rotation about the axis 16a, reaches the outlet opening 14 of the respective channel 12, at a first operating position, the first retaining element 17 releases the last rod-like smokers' article 2 inside the channel 12, that is to say, the rod-like smokers' article 2 closest to the cylindrical surface of the hold-down and transfer roller 4, as illustrated in Figure 3.
Preferably, each transfer member 16 for transferring the rod-like article 2 has a groove 18 for receiving the rod-like article 2.
In order to prevent the rod-like article 2 from falling out of the groove 18 of the respective transfer member 16 during rotation about its axis 16a, each transfer member 16 is surrounded by a side plate 19.
The side plate 19 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical side wall shaped so that as the transfer member 16 rotates about its axis 16a, the rod-like article 2 is interposed between the side plate 19 and the groove 18 of the transfer member 16 and thus remains in position inside the groove 18 itself, as illustrated in Figure 4.
In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the feed means 15 comprise second retaining elements, each associated with a first retaining element 17 and with a transfer member 16, for holding back the second last rod-like article 2 in a respective channel 12.
While the last rod-like article 2 is being picked up by the transfer member 16, the second retaining element, not illustrated, holds back the second last article 2 and stops it from moving along the channel 12.
It should be noted that since the transfer members 16 are equal in number to the channels 12, they operate along a defined circular arc of the respective pickup and transfer roller 4.
As a result, each transfer member 16 rotates through 180° about its axis 16a to withdraw the rod-like article 2 from the channel 12 and release it into the respective flute 5 of the pickup and transfer roller 4, whilst the pickup and transfer roller 4 rotates about its axis 4a through an angle equal to the angle subtended by that circular arc.
During the rotation of the pickup and transfer roller 4 about its axis 4a, the transfer members 16 simultaneously release the rod-like articles 2 into the respective flutes 5 of the roller 4, defining a second operating position. From the first operating position to the second, each transfer member 16 rotates through 180° about its axis 16a.
Each first retaining element 17 oscillates about its axis 17a to retain and release the last rod-like article 2 while the respective transfer member 16 rotates from the first operating position to the second.
The device 1 comprises first and second feed means 20 and 21, each facing at least part of the cylindrical outside surface of the first and second pickup and transfer rollers 6, 7, respectively.
The above considerations regarding the first feed means 15 and the pickup and transfer roller 4 also apply to the first feed means 20 and the first pickup and transfer roller 6 and to the second feed means 21 and the second pickup and transfer roller 7.
More specifically, in order to coordinate the feeding of the rod-like smokers' articles 2 into the flutes 5 of the first and second rollers 6 and 7 by the first and second feed means 20 and 21, in such a way that each flute 5 of the second pickup roller 7 is occupied by respective rod-like smokers' articles 2 from the second feed means 21, the first and second feed means 20 and 21 feed the rod-like smokers' articles 2 according to a first and a second filling pattern, respectively
In other words, the first filling pattern entails filling the flutes 5 of the first roller 6 in alternate or offset fashion, leaving empty or unoccupied at least one flute 5 between two flutes 5 which are occupied by respective rod-like articles 2.
During the rotation of the first roller 6 at the transit station 22, the rod-like smokers' articles 2 are transferred from the first to the second pickup and transfer roller 7.
Upstream of the second feed means 21 in the direction of rotation of the second roller 7, the first filling pattern is transferred to the second roller 7. The empty flutes 5 of the second roller 7 are then filled by the second feed means 21.
The second feed means 21 feed the rod-like smokers' articles 2 into respective flutes 5 of the second roller 7 according to a second filling pattern.
The second filling pattern is a function of the first filling pattern of the first roller 6 so that the empty flutes 5 of the second roller 7 are filled.
In other words, the second filling pattern entails filling the flutes 5 in alternate or offset fashion, filling each empty or unoccupied flute 5 between two flutes 5 which are already occupied by respective rod-like articles 2.
The first and second feed means 20 and 21 feed the rod-like smokers' articles 2 in what is known as intercalated fashion.
It should be noted that if the device 1 comprises more than two pickup and transfer rollers 6 and 7, such as, for example, three rollers, the first of these rollers in the feeding direction of the device 1 will leave as many consecutive flutes 5 empty between two flutes 5 occupied by respective rod-like smokers' articles 2 - and thus two consecutive empty flutes - as there are pickup and transfer rollers downstream of the first roller, that is to say, in this example, two.
In the above case, the first pickup and transfer roller 6 leaves one flute 5 empty between two flutes 5 occupied by a respective rod-like smokers' articles 2 each because there is only one second pickup and transfer roller 7 downstream of the first roller 6.
To generalize, the pattern of filling the flutes 5 of each pickup and transfer roller 4, 6, 7 by means of the respective feed means 20, 21 comprises leaving empty as many flutes 5 between two flutes 5 occupied by rod-like smokers' articles 2 as there are pickup and transfer rollers 4, 6, 7 located downstream of that pickup and transfer roller 4, 6, 7.
Advantageously, the presence of more pickup and transfer rollers 6 and 7 allows reducing the feed speed of the rod-like smokers' articles 2 with these rollers 6 and 7 rotating at the same speed.
Advantageously, the distributing and subdividing means 11 are located at least at the entrance 23 of the hopper 3.
In the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the distributing and subdividing means 11 comprise a distributor 24 movable in a supplying direction F of the hopper from a first operating position to a second operating position and vice versa to release one or more layers of rod-like smokers' articles 2 through the entrance 23 of the hopper 3.
In other words, the distributor 24 translates from the first operating position to the second operating position and vice versa.
The expression "supplying direction F" is used to mean a direction parallel to the main longitudinal extension of the hopper 3, and more specifically, of the bottom 3a of the hopper 3 itself.
It should be noted that the distributor 24, to supply a surface area equal to the bottom 3a of the hopper 3, of substantially quadrilateral shape defined by a pair of longitudinal sides and a pair of transversal sides, has an extension, transversal to the supplying direction F, which is at least equal to the transversal side, since the longitudinal side of the hopper 3 is defined by the translation along the supplying direction from the first operating position to the second, and vice versa.
The distributor 24 is movable from the first operating position to the second operating position, and vice versa, at a constant speed relative to a fixed reference system.
Alternatively, the distributor 24 is movable at a variable speed from the first operating position to the second operating position, and vice versa, relative to a fixed reference system, as a function of the filling level of the hopper 3.
In an embodiment not illustrated, the device 1 comprises a hopper level sensor connected to a control and drive unit for moving the distributor 24. The control and drive unit regulates the speed of translation of the distributor 24 as a function of the filling level of the hopper 3.
Preferably, the distributor 24 is in the form of a tray with an open bottom facing the entrance 23 of the hopper 3.
The distributor 24 is driven by transmission means 27, preferably belt transmission means.
The rod-like smokers' articles 2 are made to advance by the transmission means 27 of the distributor 24, in particular by the belt transmission means 27.
More specifically, to drive the distributor 24, the transmission means 27 comprise a first and a second belt 28 and 29 trained around respective drive and idler rollers.
Advantageously, the distributor 24 allows feeding the rod-like smokers' articles 2 arranged in layers inside the hopper 3 as a function of the translation of the distributor in the supplying direction F, so that the articles do not knock each other out of shape.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the distributing and subdividing means 11 are located inside the hopper 3 and comprise one or more tilting elements 30 which adapt to the flow of rod-like articles 2 directed towards the bottom 3a of the hopper 3.
Advantageously, the tilting elements 30 are mounted at respective heights such as to divide the mass of rod-like articles 2 inside the hopper into a plurality of layers, each composed of a defined number of rows of rod-like articles 2 so that the weight of the upper layers, that is, those furthest from the bottom 3a of the hopper 3 does not bear down and flatten the rod-like articles 2 located near the bottom 3a of the hopper 3.
According to the invention, the device 1 comprises means 11 for distributing and subdividing the rod-like articles 2 which are fed by and contained in the hopper 3.
It should be noted that these distributing and subdividing means 11 preferably comprise both the channels 12 for distributing the rod-like smokers' articles 2 to be fed to the respective pickup and transfer rollers 6 and 7 and the distributor 24, according to the first embodiment, which is movable along the supplying direction F, and/or the tilting elements 30 mounted inside the hopper 3.
The combination in a single embodiment of the elements mentioned above, namely, the channels 12, the distributor 24 and/or the tilting elements 30, is an optimal combination for preventing any damage to the rod-like smokers' articles 2 while they are being fed within the hopper 3 and until they are transferred to the pickup and transfer rollers 6 and 7. The invention, however, also applies to the cases where the device 1 comprises only the channels 12 which transfer the rod-like articles 2 from the bottom 3a of the hopper 3 towards the respective pickup and transfer roller 4 or the distributor 24 for feeding the hopper 3 or the tilting elements 30 mounted inside the hopper 3 itself.

Claims

A device for feeding rod-like smokers' articles in an automatic machine for the tobacco industry, comprising at least one hopper (3) for containing a plurality of rod-like articles (2) and at least one pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7) which is located downstream of the hopper (3) and which picks up and transfers the rod-like articles (2); the pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7) having a plurality of suction flutes (5) on its cylindrical surface; the device comprising means (11) for distributing and subdividing the rod-like articles (2) which are fed by and contained in the hopper (3); the distributing and subdividing means (11) being capable of positioning the rod-like articles (2) relative to each other so as to prevent them from flattening each other; wherein the distributing and subdividing means (11) are located at least at the bottom (3a) of the hopper (3) and comprise a plurality of individual channels (12), each of which receives at least one row of rod-like articles (2); wherein the device comprises feed means (15, 19, 20) for feeding the pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7) and designed to transfer the rod-like articles (2) from the hopper (3) to the at least one pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7); wherein the feed means (15, 19, 20) comprise a plurality of transfer members (16), each dedicated to a respective channel (12); wherein the transfer members (16) simultaneously picking up at least one rod-like article (2) from a respective channel (12) and transferring it to the pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7); the device being characterized in that each transfer member (16) for transferring the rod-like article (2) has a groove (18) for receiving the rod-like article (2), each transfer member (16) being surrounded by a side plate (19) in order to prevent the rod-like article (2) from falling out of the groove (18) of the respective transfer member (16) during rotation about its axis (16a); said side plate (19) being in the form of a substantially cylindrical side wall shaped so that as the transfer member (16) rotates about its axis (16a), the rod-like article (2) is interposed between the side plate (19) and the groove (18) of the transfer member (16) thus remaining in position inside the groove (18) itself; the feed means (15) comprising a first retaining element (17) for holding back the last rod-like article (2) in a respective channel (12), the first retaining element (17) releasing the last rod-like article (2) during pickup by the transfer member (16).
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that each transfer member (16) rotates about its axis of rotation (16a) through at least 180°.
The device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality pickup and transfer rollers (4, 6, 7) located downstream of the hopper (3) and placed side by side; the device (1) comprising respective feed means (20, 21), each facing at least part of the cylindrical outside surface of the respective pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7); the feed means (20, 21) feeding the rod-like smokers' articles (2) according to a respective pattern of filling the flutes (5) of the respective pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7).
The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pattern of filling the flutes (5) of each pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7) by means of the respective feed means (20, 21) comprises leaving empty as many flutes (5) between two flutes (5) occupied by rod-like smokers' articles (2) as there are pickup and transfer rollers (4, 6, 7) located downstream of that pickup and transfer roller (4, 6, 7).
The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distributing and subdividing means (11) are located at least at the entrance (23) of the hopper (3).
The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the distributing and subdividing means (11) comprise a distributor (24) movable in a supplying direction (F) of the hopper (3) from a first operating position (25) to a second operating position (26) and vice versa to release one or more layers of rod-like smokers' articles (2) through the entrance (23) of the hopper (3).
The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the distributor (24) is movable from the first operating position (25) to the second operating position (26), and vice versa, at a constant speed relative to a fixed reference system.
The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the distributor (24) is movable at a variable speed from the first operating position (25) to the second operating position (26), and vice versa, relative to a fixed reference system, as a function of the filling level of the hopper (3).
The device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the distributing and subdividing means (11) are located inside the hopper (3) and comprise one or more tilting elements (30) which adapt to the flow of rod-like articles (2) directed towards the bottom (3a) of the hopper (3).