EP3015003A1 - Sorting device for long articles, especially for cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sorting device (1) for elongated articles (A), in particular for cigarettes or the like, with a transport device (2), a placement device and a transfer device (4). The transport device (3) has a plurality of receptacles (5) for receiving in each case one of the elongate articles (A), wherein the receptacles (5) can be equipped by the placement device with the elongate articles (A), so that the elongate articles ( A) by the transport device (2) along a sorting line (6) in a conveying direction (F) are conveyed. The invention is characterized in that the sorting section (6) has at least one sorting section (7) in which the elongated articles (A) can be released from the transport device (2) by gravity, the transport device (2) comprising at least one retaining element (8 , 14), which is provided at least at the at least one sorting section (7) and is designed such that it retains elongated articles (A) of a minimum length in the transport device (2), so that they are transferred by the transfer device (4) for further processing can be fed.

Description

The invention relates to a sorting device for elongate articles, in particular for cigarettes or the like, with a transport device, a placement device and a transfer device. In such sorting devices, the transport device has a plurality of receptacles for receiving in each case one of the elongate articles. The recordings can be equipped by the placement device, so that the elongate articles can be conveyed by the transport device along a sorting path in a conveying direction. Here the elongated articles are sorted.

With such sorting devices, the elongated articles are sorted. The aim of sorting is that unusable and the required high quality standard not sufficient elongated items are discharged as a committee, and so for example, a recycling can be fed.

Possible quality deficiencies include over-standard under-weight, fall arrest resistance, as well as defects in the bond or other defects. Another quality criterion is not met if, for example, a head failure is detected at the free ends of an elongate article, i. the heads do not have a predetermined density after manufacture. In addition, in such a sorting also deformed, crushed or otherwise damaged elongated articles are to be discharged.

This rejected rejected product is usually unsorted and collected loosely in larger containers. A large proportion of this waste, mostly over 85%, but can be recycled. On the one hand this is a cost and raw material efficiency and on the other hand it contributes to the protection of the environment as unnecessary waste is avoided. The example of a cigarette can be recovered in a recovery device of more valuable compared to paper wrapping tobacco and possibly also parts of the filter. These recycled ingredients can then be recycled to the actual production.

The problem with the example of cigarettes in particular is the problem that reject cigarettes, which in their external form correspond to intact cigarettes and can or should be recycled, must be separated from non-recyclable rejects before they can be fed to the recovery device. Furthermore, the recyclable lies Scrap product is usually disorderly in bulk in any collection containers, which brings additional handling problems in the supply of the rejects in the recovery device with it. For example, a manual pre-sorting may be necessary. Depending on the recovery device, it is also necessary to handle the individual rejects after a presorting process, so that the recyclable portion of the rejects can be fed to a recovery device.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sorting device for elongate articles, in particular for cigarettes or the like, in which an efficient sorting of the elongated articles and a discharge of lower quality articles can be carried out. The solution of the problem is achieved with a sorting device according to claim 1. Advantageous developments are described in the subclaims.

The sorting device according to the invention is distinguished from the sorting devices known from the prior art in particular by the fact that the sorting path has at least one sorting section, in which the elongate articles can be released from the transport device by gravity. In this case, the transport device further comprises at least one retaining element, which is provided at least at the at least one sorting section and is designed so that it retains elongate articles of a minimum length in the transport device. These retained articles can then be supplied by the transfer device for further processing. The length of the elongate article is understood here to be the length in the axial direction.

In other words, in the apparatus according to the invention, an ejection of the articles takes place by gravity, whereby this takes place within a sorting section of the sorting path. Only articles that are below a certain minimum length are ejected, resulting in an efficient, quick and high-quality separation of rejects. Elongated articles which have a greater length than the minimum length are therefore not rejected. It is also conceivable that a proper sorting device is connected downstream of an existing sorting conveyor in order to qualitatively increase a (pre-) sorting which may have already taken place.

Conveniently, the sorting section extends at least partially substantially in the direction of gravity. Thus it can be ensured that the intended for discharging elongated articles are discharged by gravity from the sorting device. The direction of gravity is the direction in which gravity acts, ie essentially in the direction of the center of the earth.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the sorting section extends at least partially substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity in an overhead position. An overhead position is to be understood here as a position in which the elongated articles are rotated by 180 ° in relation to the alignment during assembly. Thus, a gravitational effect is the strongest here, so that it comes to a particularly efficient discharge of elongated articles whose length is below the predetermined minimum length.

Further education, the images are arranged in the conveying direction parallel to each other. This results in the advantage that the elongated articles are conveyed perpendicular to the conveying direction, and so a clean separation between the articles is formed, so that a discharge on the length of the article is well possible.

Conveniently, the transport device has an endless belt, wherein the endless belt comprises the recordings. Particularly preferably, the endless belt is designed here as a studded belt. An endless belt or a studded belt has the advantage that it is easily accessible and the maintenance effort is extremely low.

In a further development, the transport device has at least four deflection rollers, wherein the deflection rollers deflect the endless belt in such a way that the sorting path or the endless belt, viewed laterally with respect to the conveying direction, forms a quadrilateral. This results in the advantage that at least a part of the sorting section in an overhead position and at least one further part of the sorting section are present in a direction substantially in the direction of gravity. Thus, the elongated articles will, for example, in a substantially horizontal position by the loading device in the record give up, then then by 90 ° along the first guide roller down, i. in the direction of gravity, guided and then guided by another 90 ° along the second pulley in an overhead position. Subsequently, the endless belt or the studded belt is guided over the third and fourth deflection roller again in the direction of the loading device. This results in a particularly space-saving and easy-to-maintain arrangement of the endless belt stollen belt of the transport device.

In this context, it is also expedient if the transport device transports the elongated articles at a speed between 0.5 m / s and 1.5 m / s, preferably 1 m / s. In this way it can be ensured that elongate articles whose length is less than the minimum length by correspondingly high centrifugal forces - in particular in the area of the deflection rollers - are discharged. Furthermore, the resulting high acceleration also results in a reliable discharge of low-quality elongated articles. Conveniently, the retaining element consists of at least two guide rails, which are each arranged on one side of the endless belt so that the distance between the guide rails corresponds to the minimum length of the retained elongate article. The elongate articles which are conveyed in the receptacles of the endless belt and exceed a minimum length, thus abut with their opposite ends on the guide rails and can not fall out of the receptacle despite the force of gravity acting on them. In contrast, articles whose length is less than the desired minimum length do not hit the guide rails because their length is less than the distance between the two guide rails. This auszuschleusenden article thus fall out of their intake by the action of gravity and can be discharged from the sorting device.

It is advantageous if the distance between the guide rails is adjustable. Thus, the sorting device can be flexibly adjusted and articles with different minimum lengths are discharged.

In a further development, the transport device has centering elements which are arranged for centering an elongated article in a receptacle in the conveying direction downstream of the placement device. Preferably, these centering elements are spring plates. These centering elements center the elongate articles within the receptacle relative to the axial extent of the elongate articles. By means of this centering, it can be ensured that elongated articles which fall below the desired minimum length can not be retained by the retaining element and thus be able to be discharged from the sorting device.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the placement device has parallel separating elements, wherein the separating elements are arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction. By means of these separating elements, it is possible to ensure that only exactly one elongated article is placed in each receptacle so that there is no blockage or erroneously double loading of a receptacle with elongated articles.

In this context, it is also advantageous if the placement device has at least one baffle plate, which closes the transport device, at least along the width of the transport in the conveying direction, the side opposite the conveyor belt side. By means of this baffle plate it can be ensured that the elongated articles are not conveyed beyond the receptacle when the receptacles are loaded by the placement device.

Expediently, the transfer device has, viewed in the conveying direction, at least one transfer belt arranged after the sorting section. In particular, it is advantageous if two Transfer belts are provided which are arranged parallel to each other. Thus, the non-discharged elongated articles can be transported through the transfer tapes for further processing. Parallel in this context means that the transfer belts are arranged to each other so that the elongated articles over preferably the entire length in contact with both transfer bands.

Here, it is advantageous if a transfer belt runs at a higher speed than the other transfer belt, so that the elongated articles are rotated. This has the advantage that articles which have the correct minimum length, but are bent or otherwise deformed, are restored to a substantially cylindrical shape by the rotation. This greatly facilitates the recovery of precious ingredients.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if one of the transfer belts runs at least partially parallel to the sorting path in the conveying direction. This has the advantage that at least one of the transfer belts is arranged so that the elongate articles can be transferred directly to the transfer belt and thus can be fed to further processing.

Fig. 1

eine Teilausschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung;

Fig. 3

eine ausschnittsweise Seitenansicht auf die Transporteinrichtung der erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung in Höhe des Sortierabschnitts;

Fig. 4

eine ausschnittsweise Draufsicht auf die Transportvorrichtung der erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung;

Fig. 5

zwei Seitenansichten der erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung;

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung; und

Fig. 7

eine Rückansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sortiervorrichtung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the figure. Here are shown schematically:

Fig. 1

a partial section of a sorting device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a side view of the sorting device according to the invention;

Fig. 3

a partial side view of the transport device of the sorting device according to the invention in height of the sorting section;

Fig. 4

a fragmentary plan view of the transport device of the sorting device according to the invention;

Fig. 5

two side views of the sorting device according to the invention;

Fig. 6

a perspective view of the sorting device according to the invention; and

Fig. 7

a rear view of the sorting device according to the invention.

As shown in the figures, a sorting device 1 according to the invention comprises a transport device 2, a placement device 3 and a transfer device 4. With the sorting device 1 according to the invention elongated articles A, for example, as shown cigarettes, are conveyed in the conveying direction F by the transport device 3 and sorted here. For this purpose, the transport device 3 has an endless belt 9 designed as a studded belt, which has a multiplicity of receptacles 5 arranged in parallel in the conveying direction F.

For this purpose, the elongated articles A are first placed in the receptacles 5 by the placement device 3. The placement device 3 has a plurality of separating elements 17, a hinged conveyor belt 18 and a baffle plate 19. The elongated articles A are conveyed for example by a Vorsortierförderer 22 in the Bestückeinrichtung 3. As in Fig. 1 shown by way of example, the elongate articles A are fed through an opening in the presorting conveyor 22 into the placement device 3. Here, the elongated article A are separated by the separating elements 17 by these separating element 17 are arranged parallel to each other along the conveyor belt 18, see. also Fig. 5 to 7 , The separating elements 17 are spaced so that a kind of channel is formed, through which the elongate articles A, seen in the axial direction, are moved in succession through the conveyor belt 18 to the transport device 2. There, the elongated articles A are then placed in the receptacles 5 of the studded belt 9. In order that the elongate articles A are not conveyed beyond the receptacle 5, the baffle plate 19 of the placement device is arranged on the side of the studded belt 9 opposite the conveyor belt 18, such as in FIG Fig. 1 or Fig. 4 shown. In particular

As in Fig. 5 illustrated, the conveyor belt 18 can be moved from a conveying position to a folded position. As a result, cleaning work can be performed in the placement device 3, or the conveyor belt 18 are serviced. Furthermore, thus also jammed or plugging device 3 clogging elongated article A or parts thereof can be removed.

After the elongated articles A are placed in the receptacle 5, they are conveyed by the transport device 2 in the conveying direction F along the sorting path 6. Here, the elongated articles A are first centered within the receptacle 5 by corresponding centering elements 16. As in Fig. 4 shown, the centering element 16 are designed as spring plates, which are each arranged laterally to the studded belt 9 on the transport device 2. The spring plates 16 are acted upon by a Vorspankraft so that the vorbeigeförderten elongated article A centered by the spring plates 16 and their slightly curved shape within the receptacle 5 of the studded belt 9. In this embodiment, two spring plates 16 are provided on each side of the cleat belt 9 respectively.

Subsequently, the elongated articles A accommodated in the receptacles 5 and centered therein are conveyed into a sorting section 7 of the sorting section 6. The transport device 3 has in this section a retaining element 8, which is formed from a first guide rail 14 and a second guide rail 15. The guide rails 14, 15 are arranged in each case laterally along the sorting section 7 on the cleat belt 9 and form a gap 24 with a defined but adjustable distance L. This distance L corresponds to the minimum length of the elongated articles A which are not to be rejected. In other words, the distance L is so chosen that elongated article A, whose length is smaller than the distance L through this gap 24 through from the sorter 1 are ausschleusbar. Elongate articles A having a further length strike with their respective ends on the first guide rail 14 and on the second guide rail 15 and are thus held within the receptacle 5 of the studded belt 9. Thus, these elongate articles A can not be discharged from the transport device 2.

To sort or eject the elongate articles A, the studded belt 9 of the transporting device 2 is guided along the sorting path 6 via four deflection rollers 10, 11, 12, 13 at a speed of 1 m / s. As in Fig. 2 shown, the studded belt 9 is seen in the conveying direction F from the Bestückeinrichtung 3 initially horizontal, ie out perpendicular to the direction of gravity S. The lug belt 9 is deflected by approximately 90 ° through the first deflection roller 10 and extends essentially in the direction of gravity S. In the region of the first deflection roller 10, the sorting section 7 also begins. At the second deflection roller 11, the lug belt 9 is again rotated by approximately 90 ° deflected so that it again runs substantially horizontally, ie perpendicular to the direction of gravity S. The studded belt 9 now runs in an overhead position relative to the position in the region of the placement device 3 in the direction of the third deflection roller 12. Here, the studded belt 9 is deflected by approximately 90 ° so that it now essentially counter to the direction of gravity S in the direction of the fourth deflection roller 13 runs. At the fourth deflection roller 13, the lug belt 9 is deflected by approximately 90 ° and then again runs essentially perpendicular to the direction of gravity S in the direction of the first deflection roller 10 or the placement device 3. As in particular in Fig. 2 In order to recognize the lug belt 9, one of the deflection rollers 10, 11, 12, 13 is driven by a drive motor 23. In this embodiment, the second guide roller 11 is driven.

By these deflections, the gravity acts in the sorting section 7 on the elongate articles A and elongated articles A, whose length is smaller than the distance L of the gap 24 between the two guide rails 14, 15, from the sorter 1 by the gravitational force discharged. This is in Fig. 2 represented by the corresponding arrows. In particular, one can in Fig. 2 Also recognize that the discharge of the elongated article A already begins in the region of the first guide roller 10. Due to the speed of 1 m / s, with which the studded belt 9 runs, in particular in the area of the deflection rollers 10, 11, 12, 13, a particularly high centrifugal force acts on the elongate articles A, which are thus discharged from the transporting device 2.

The non-discharged elongated articles A are abandoned by the transport device 2 in the transfer device 4. For this purpose, the transfer device 4 has a first transfer belt 20 and a second transfer belt 21. The first transfer belt 20 runs partially substantially parallel to the cleat belt 9, such as in FIG Fig. 2 shown. How to get in Fig. 2 can recognize well, the first transfer belt 20 runs so that it follows in the sorting section 7 directly to the retaining element 8, so that the elongated articles A are transferred by gravity to the first transfer belt 20 due to the overhead position. Here the elongated articles A are carried on. The first transfer belt 20 runs at the same speed as the sling belt 20, so that the elongate articles A are not deformed or destroyed. As soon as the cleat belt 9 is deflected at the third deflection roller 12, the second transfer belt 21 begins. This second transfer belt 21 is arranged such that the transferred elongated articles A are in contact with the first transfer belt 20 and the second transfer belt 21. At this time, the second transfer belt 21 runs at a higher speed than the first transfer belt 20. As a result, the elongated articles A are rotated while being conveyed by the transfer device 4. In this case, elongated articles A, which have a curved, for example banana-like shape, are again brought into a substantially cylindrical shape.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

sorter

2

transport means

3

pick and place

4

Transfer device

5

admission

6

sorting line

7

sorting section

8th

retaining element

9

Endless belt / studded belt

10

first pulley

11

second deflection roller

12

third pulley

13

fourth pulley

14

first guide rail

15

second guide rails

16

Centering element / spring plate

17

separating member

18

conveyor belt

19

flapper

20

first transfer band

21

second transfer band

22

Vorsortierförderer

23

drive motor

24

gap

A

elongated article

F

conveying direction

S

The direction of gravity

L

Minimum length / distance

Claims (17)

Sorting device (1) for elongated articles (A), in particular for cigarettes or the like, with a transport device (2), a placement device (3) and a transfer device (4), wherein the transport device (3) has a plurality of receptacles (5) for Receiving each one of the elongated article (A), and the receptacles (5) by the placement device (3) with the elongated articles (A) are equipped, so that the elongate article (A) by the transport device (2) along a sorting path (6) can be conveyed in a conveying direction (F), characterized in that the sorting line (6) has at least one sorting section (7) in which the elongate articles (A) can be released from the transport device (2) due to gravity; Transport device (2) has at least one retaining element (8, 14, 15) which is provided at least on the at least one sorting section (7) and is designed in such a way that that it retains elongate articles (A) of a minimum length (L) in the transport device (2), so that they can be fed by the transfer device (4) to the further processing. Sorting device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sorting section (7) extends at least partially substantially in the direction of gravity (S). Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sorting section (7) extends at least partially substantially perpendicular to the direction of gravity (S) in an overhead position. Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacles (5) in the conveying direction (F) are arranged parallel to each other. Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (2) comprises an endless belt (9), wherein the endless belt (9) comprises the receptacles (5). Sorting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the endless belt (9) is a studded belt. Sorting device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the transport device (2) has at least four deflection rollers (10, 11, 12, 13), wherein the deflection rollers (10, 11, 12, 13) deflect the endless belt (9) in such a way that the sorting path (6) forms a quadrilateral viewed laterally with respect to the conveying direction (F). Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (2) transports the elongate articles at a speed of 0.5 m / s to 1.5 m / s, in particular at a speed of 1 m / s. Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the retaining element (8) consists of at least two guide rails (14, 15) which are each arranged on one side of the endless belt (9) so that the distance (L) between the guide rails (14, 15) corresponds to the minimum length of the retained elongate article (A). Sorting device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the distance (L) between the guide rails (14, 15) is adjustable. Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (2) centering elements (16), preferably spring plates, for centering an elongated article (A) in a receptacle (A), which in the conveying direction (F) seen are arranged after the Bestückeinrichtung (3). Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the placement device (3) has parallel separating elements (17), wherein the separating elements (17) are arranged perpendicular to the conveying direction (F). Sorting device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the placement device (3) has a conveyor belt (18), wherein the conveyor belt (18) the elongated article (A) along the separating element (17) conveys so that the receptacles (5 ) are equipped with elongated articles (A). Sorting device (1) according to claim 13, characterized in that the placement device (3) has at least one baffle plate (19), which the transport device (2) at least along the width of the conveyor belt (18) in the conveying direction (F) seen on the conveyor belt (18) opposite side. Sorting device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transfer device (4) arranged in the conveying direction (F) after the sorting section (7) is arranged at least one transfer belt (20, 21). Sorting device (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the transfer device (4) has two parallel transfer belts (20, 21), wherein one transfer belt (21) runs at a higher speed than the other transfer belt (20), so that the turn elongated article (A). Sorting device (1) according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that one of the transfer belts (20, 21) in the conveying direction (F) seen at least partially parallel to the sorting path (6).

Images