EP3048907B1

EP3048907B1 - Feed unit for feeding products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines of the tobacco industry

Info

Publication number: EP3048907B1
Application number: EP14789398.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Esposti; Ivan Eusepi; Massimo Sartoni
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2013-09-23
Filing date: 2014-09-22
Publication date: 2019-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-22
Also published as: WO2015040594A1; PL3048907T3; EP3048907A1; ITBO20130509A1

Description

Technical field

This invention relates to a feed unit for feeding products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines of the tobacco industry.
More specifically, the expression "with reduced longitudinal dimensions" is used, by way of example only, to mean pieces of filter material, such as cylinders of activated carbon, cellulose acetate, paper and the like and even pieces of tubes of plastic or plasticized material.
By way of example and without limiting the invention, these products have transversal dimensions ranging from 5 to 9 mm and longitudinal dimensions from 5 to 9 mm.

Background art

Known from the prior art are feed units by which pieces of filter are fed and which comprise 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 seats. Each suction seat receives a single rod-like smokers' article and conveys it towards operating stations downstream.
Along the boundary of the pickup roller, downstream of its hopper closing portion there are one or more cutting devices which divide each rod into two or more equal parts known as plugs or pieces of filter.
Downstream of the pickup roller, rotary offsetting means space the pieces of each rod from each other and transversely to the respective axes and transfer them in sequence to an outfeed conveyor.
The outfeed conveyor has two converging tiles which arrange these spaced pieces of filter in a single row and this row is then fed to a transfer conveyor.
Owing to the need to feed to the transfer conveyor a single row of pieces of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions, such as, for example, pieces with transversal and longitudinal dimensions of 8 mm, problems arise when manipulating the pieces of filter while they are being fed, in particular downstream of the cutting device, because they tend to roll out of their respective seats and move out of position uncontrollably.
DE-10-2011-107330-A1 discloses a feed unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

Aim of the invention

This invention has for an aim to provide a feed unit for feeding products with reduced longitudinal dimensions capable of overcoming the above mentioned problems and as set out 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 of it and in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a feed unit according to the invention for feeding products with reduced longitudinal dimensions in machines of the tobacco industry;
Figure 2 is a schematic, scaled-up front view of a detail from Figure 1;
Figures 3A to 3F schematically illustrate the steps of feeding the products with reduced longitudinal dimensions performed by the feed unit of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a schematic, scaled-up top view of a detail from Figure 1.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to Figure 1, the numeral 1 denotes a unit for feeding pieces 2 of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions.
More specifically, the expression "with reduced longitudinal dimensions" is used, by way of example to mean pieces of filter material, such as cylinders of activated carbon, cellulose acetate, paper and the like and even pieces of tubes of plastic or plasticized material.
These products 2 with reduced longitudinal dimensions have transversal dimensions ranging from 5 to 9 mm and longitudinal dimensions from 5 to 9 mm.
Preferably, the pieces 2 of filter are cylinders have longitudinal and transversal dimensions of 8 mm.
The feed unit 1 for feeding pieces 2 of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions comprises a feed device 3 for feeding a first continuous series 4 of pieces 5 of filter, each divided into at least a first and a second piece 6 and 7 of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions.
More specifically, the pieces 5 divided into the first series 4 have respective axes 5a which are parallel to each other.
The axes 5a are transversal to the direction of feed of the pieces 5.
Each piece 5 of filter of the first series 4 is positioned according to a first spacing p1 relative to the next piece 5.
Preferably, each piece 5 of filter of the first series 4 is the result of cutting a filter rod 9.
The unit 1 comprises a hopper 8 for containing a mass of filter rods 9. The hopper 8 is closed at the bottom by a pickup roller 10 which rotates about its axis 10a, in a clockwise direction looking at Figure 1, and which is provided with a plurality of suction seats 11, each receiving and retaining a respective rod 9.
Downstream of the hopper 8 there are cutting means 12 facing the periphery of the pickup roller 10.
In this embodiment, the cutting means 12 comprise seven disc knives which rotate about respective parallel axes, preferably positioned in such a way that four knives are coaxial with each other and the remaining three knives are coaxial with each other.
The cutting means 12 divide each rod 9 into a plurality of pieces 5 of filter, preferably eight pieces 5, which will form the first continuous series 4. Downstream of the cutting means 12, the pickup roller 10 conveys the rods 9 which have been divided into respective pieces 5 of filter. Downstream of the pickup roller 10, the unit 1 comprises offsetting means 14, which rotate about a respective axis of rotation 14a, in an anticlockwise direction looking at Figure 1, whose function is to transversely space from each other the pieces 5 of each rod 9 which has been subdivided.
The offsetting means 14 sequentially transfer the offset pieces 5 to a transfer roller 13 which rotates clockwise about its axis of rotation 13a.
The transfer roller 13 comprises axial sliding means embodied by convergent tiles 15 which engage the ends of the pieces 5 and cause them to slide progressively in an axial direction until they are arranged in a single row.
The transfer roller 13 constitutes alignment means.
It should be noted that the pickup roller 10, the offsetting means 14 and the transfer roller 13 have respective axes of rotation which are parallel to each other and perpendicular to a vertical supporting wall 39.
The pickup roller 10, the offsetting means 14 and the transfer roller 13 are mounted in cascade along the direction of the products such as the rods 9 and the pieces 5 of filter.
The transfer roller 13 feeds the pieces 5 which have been arranged in a single row.
The aforementioned steps of cutting the rods 9 into pieces 5, offsetting the pieces 5 and aligning them in a single row are schematically represented in Figures 3A to 3C.
In other words, the offsetting means 14 and the aligning means 13 for the pieces 5 of filter are capable of arranging the pieces 5 in a single row to form the first series 4.
The device 3 comprises a feed roller 16 for feeding the pieces 5 of filter and which rotates about its axis of rotation 16a, in particular in an anticlockwise direction as illustrated in Figure 1.
The feed roller 16 has a plurality of peripheral seats 17 for receiving and retaining respective pieces 5 of filter.
The device 3 comprises cutting means 18 positioned to face the feed roller 16, in particular facing the peripheral seats 17.
Preferably, the cutting means 18 comprise a disc knife which rotates about its axis of rotation 18a.
The cutting means 18 transversely divide each piece 5 of filter conveyed by the feed roller 16 into a first and a second piece 6 and 7 with reduced longitudinal dimensions.
More specifically, each seat 17 on the feed roller 16, besides acting as an element for retaining the pieces 5 of filter, also acts as a means for opposing the cutting means 18 when the selfsame pieces 5 of filter are being cut.
More precisely, in order to transversely cut each piece 5 of filter, the disc knife 18 passes through respective radial slots formed in the seats 17 of the feed roller 16.
Downstream of the cutting means 18 in the direction of rotation of the feed roller 16, the feed roller 16 conveys the first continuous series 4 of pieces 5 of filter, each of which is divided into the first and the second piece 6 and 7 of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions.
It should be noted that the first spacing p1 of the first series 4 is defined by the spacing of the peripheral seats 17 on the feed roller 16.
The unit 1 comprises an aligning device 19 for aligning the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter in a second series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter and for varying the spacing of the first continuous series 4 of pieces 5 of filter from the first spacing p1 to a second spacing p2 of the second series 20 of the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, as illustrated in Figure 2.
The pieces 6 and 7 of filter of the second series 20 have respective axes 6a and 7a which are parallel to each other.
More specifically, the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of the second series 20 are arranged alternately.
The axes 6a, 7a are transversal to the direction of feed of the pieces 6 and 7.
The device 3 for feeding the first continuous series 4 of pieces 5 of filter feeds the series 4 to the device 19 for aligning it and changing its spacing.
In other words, the first continuous series 4 of pieces 5 of filter feeds into the device 19 for aligning it and changing its spacing and the second series 20 of pieces 6 and 7 of filter, or second series 20 of products 2 with reduced dimensions feeds out of the selfsame device 19.
The aligning and spacing variation device 19 comprises first offsetting means 21 for offsetting the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter and second aligning means 22 for aligning the first and second offset pieces 6 and 7 in the second series 20.
The first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter fed out of the second aligning means 22 define the second series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 with the second spacing p2.
The first offsetting means 21 comprise at least a first and a second transfer drum 23 and 24 for transferring the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, respectively.
The first and second transfer drums 23 and 24 receive the respective first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter at the same pickup station 25 and release the respective first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter in a respective first and second release station 26 and 27.
More specifically, the first and second transfer drums 23 and 24 rotate about respective axes of rotation 23a and 24a which are offset from one another.
In other words, the axes of rotation 23a and 24a of the respective first and second transfer drums 23 and 24 are positioned along respective first and second joining lines 28 and 29 which join the common pickup station 25 to the respective first and second release stations 26, 27.
The first and second joining lines 28 and 29 make an angle α which subtends a circular arc equal to half the spacing of the respective seats 30 and 31 of the first and second transfer drums 23 and 24.
Preferably, the first and second drums 23 and 24 are equal in size.
The first and second drums 23 and 24 have respective seats 30 and 31 for retaining the respective first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter.
The first and second drums 23 and 24 have an equal number of respective retaining seats 30 and 31.
In particular, the spacing of the retaining seats 30 and of the retaining seats 31 is equal to the spacing p1.
The first and second transfer drums 23 and 24 rotate about respective axes of rotation 23a and 24a in the same direction of rotation.
The first and second drums 23 and 24 are both counter-rotating relative to the feed roller 16.
The second aligning means 22 receive the first and second offset pieces 6 and 7 and release them at a delivery station 32.
More specifically, the second aligning means 22 receive the first and second offset pieces 6 and 7 and release them at the first and the second release station 26 and 27.
The second aligning means 22 rotate about a respective axis of rotation 22a.
The second aligning means 22 are counter-rotating relative to the first offsetting means 21 and, more specifically, in Figure 1, they rotate anticlockwise.
From the first and second release stations 26 and 27 to the delivery station 32 the second aligning means 22 position a first and a second piece 6 and 7 of filter one after another in an alternating fashion and aligned with each other.
From the first release station 26 to the delivery station 32 the second aligning means 22 keep the first pieces 6 of filter in position and from the second release station 27 to the delivery station 32 they insert the second pieces 7 of filter at a respective position interposed between two consecutive first pieces 6 of filter.
It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment, the second aligning means 22 keep the second pieces 7 of filter in position and from the second release station 27 to the delivery station 32 they insert the first pieces of filter 6 at a respective position interposed between two consecutive second pieces 7 of filter.
More specifically, the second pieces 7 of filter are moved along a direction parallel to the axis 22a of the second aligning means 22.
The alternate interposition of the second pieces 7 between the first pieces 6 defines the second continuous series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, or second series 20 of products 2 with reduced longitudinal dimensions, having the second spacing p2.
In order to align the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, the second aligning means 22 comprise an aligning roller 33, rotating about a respective axis of rotation 22a for aligning the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter.
The aligning roller 33 has a plurality of peripheral seats 35, each designed to receive and retain a respective first piece 6 of filter, as illustrated in Figure 4.
The peripheral seats 35 are integral with the aligning roller 33 and rotate with it about the axis of rotation 22a of the roller 33 itself.
More specifically, the seats 35 on the aligning roller 33 are positioned according to the first spacing p1.
In particular, the spacing of the peripheral seats 35 on the aligning roller 33 is equal to the spacing of the seats 30 on the first drum 23.
It should be noted that, as will become clearer as this description continues, the aligning roller 33 has between one seat 35 and another a cavity 36 which is designed to receive the second piece 7 of filter to be interposed between two respective first pieces 6 of filter.
The aligning roller 33 comprises a plurality of teeth 37, each designed to retain and move a respective second piece 7 of filter in a respective cavity 36 of the aligning roller 33.
Preferably, the teeth 37 are grouped in respective combs 38 on the aligning roller 33.
More specifically, the combs 38 rotate as one with the aligning roller 33 about its axis of rotation 22a and during this rotation, also move translationally along the axis 22a itself.
Each comb 38 comprises a plurality of teeth 37 alternating with respective recesses 40.
The teeth 37 are positioned in sequence according to the first spacing p1. It should be noted that the teeth 37 and the cavities 36 between one peripheral seat 35 and another face each other in such a way that each cavity 36 corresponds to a tooth 37 and each peripheral seat 35 corresponds to a recess 40.
Cam means, not illustrated, allow moving the teeth 37 within a respective cavity 36, between two respective peripheral seats 35 in such a way as to form a single second continuous series 20 of alternated first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter spaced according to the second spacing p2.
In effect, the aligning roller 33 comprises the peripheral seats 35 alternated with the teeth 37 of the combs 38.
The movement of the teeth 37 within the respective cavity 36 of the aligning roller 33 occurs simultaneously with the rotation of the aligning roller 33 from the first and the second release station 26 and 27 to the delivery station 32.
The device 19 allows arranging the second series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter according to a spacing p2 which is smaller than the first spacing p1 of the first continuous series 4 of pieces 5 of filter. Preferably, the second spacing p2 of the second series 20 is equal to half the first spacing p1 of the first series 4.
That is because inserting the teeth 37 into a respective cavity 36 of the aligning roller 33 halves the initial, first spacing p1 of the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter.
The second aligning means 22 feed to the delivery station 32 the second continuous series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, or second series of products 2 with reduced longitudinal dimensions.
The aligning device 19 for aligning the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter and for varying the spacing positions a first and a second piece 6 and 7 in an alternating fashion in a single row, forming the second series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter.
Advantageously, the first offsetting means 21 and the second aligning means 22 are positioned in line with one another along the same horizontal direction of feed.
That way, the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter with reduced dimensions can be maipulated easily and are prevented from rolling in uncontrolled manner.
In use, at the pickup station 25 of the first offsetting means 21, the first and second drums 23 and 24 simultaneously pick up with their respective seats 30 and 31 the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, as shown in Figures 2 and 3D.
The first and second drums 23 and 24 rotate about axes 23a and 24a from the pickup station 25 to the first and second release stations 26 and 27.
Since the axes of rotation 23a and 24a of the first and second drums 23 and 24 are offset from each other, relative to the position of the pickup station 25, by an amount equal to the angle α which subtends a circular arc equal to half of the first spacing p1 of the seats 30 and 31 on the first and second drums 23 and 24, the first and second drums 23 and 24 reach the first and second release stations 26 and 27 simultaneously, even if these release stations 26 and 27 are offset by half of the first spacing p1. It follows that the first and second drums 23 and 24 accordingly offset the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter from each other by an amount equal to half the first spacing p1.
The offsetting of the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter by the first offsetting means 21 is considered in a direction parallel to the axes of rotation 23a and 24a of the first and second drums 23 and 24.
Generally speaking, the first and second drums 23 and 24 offset the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter from each other by an amount equal to the circular arc subtended by the angle α.
It should be noted that the first and second drums 23 and 24 offset the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter from each other by an amount equal to half the first spacing p1 and keep the first pieces 6 and the second pieces 7, respectively, spaced at the first spacing p1 equal to the spacing of the respective seats 30 and 31.
At the first release station 26, the first drum 23 is substantially tangent to the aligning roller 33.
At the second release station 27, the second drum 24 is substantially tangent to the aligning roller 33.
The second aligning means 22 receive from the first offsetting means 21 the first and second pieces 6 and 7 after the latter have already been offset, in particular by an amount equal to half the first spacing p1.
More precisely, the aligning roller 33 receives the first pieces of filter 6 from the first drum 23 and the second pieces 7 of filter from the second drum 24, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3E.
More specifically, the peripheral seats 35 receive the first pieces 6 and the teeth 37 receive the second pieces 7.
Since the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter are offset in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation 22a of the second aligning means 22 by an amount equal to half the first spacing p1, the second aligning means 22 arrange the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter in a single row, thereby forming the second series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7. In order to obtain the second series 20, during the rotation from the first release station 26 to the delivery station 32, the seats 35 with the respective first pieces 6 of filter remain relatively fixed relative to the movement of the teeth 37 along the axis of rotation 22a of the roller 33. During the rotation from the second release station 27 to the delivery station 32, the teeth 37 of the aligning roller 33 are moved so they are inserted into and made to engage a respective cavity 36 of the aligning roller 33, thus aligning each second piece 7 of filter between two respective first pieces 6.
It should be noted that each recess 40 between two consecutive teeth 37 receives a respective peripheral seat 35.
Since the first and second pieces 6 and 7 are offset by half of the first spacing p1, once they have been aligned with each other, they define the second continuous series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter, or second series 20 of products 2 with reduced longitudinal dimensions, as shown in Figures 2 and 3F.
At the delivery station 32, a transfer roller 41 picks up the second series 20 and conveys it towards further operating stations.
Advantageously, the aligning device 19 for aligning the first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter in a second series 20 of first and second pieces 6 and 7 of filter spaced at a second spacing p2 and for varying the spacing from the spacing p1 of the first series 4 to the second spacing p2 of the second series 20 overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.
More specifically, the device 19 allows manipulating pieces 6 and 7 of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions, such as, for example, cylinders having transversal and longitudinal dimensions of 8 mm, while keeping them firmly in position while they are being fed.

Claims

A feed unit for feeding pieces of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions, comprising
a hopper (8) for containing a mass of filter rods (9);
cutting means (12) for cutting each rod (9) into a plurality of pieces (5) of filter;
offsetting means (14) and aligning means (13) for the pieces (5) of filter capable of arranging the pieces (5) in a single row to form a first series (4); cutting means (18) for cutting the pieces (5) into at least a first and a second piece (6, 7) of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions;
the unit comprising a feed roller (16), rotating about its axis of rotation (16a), for feeding the first series (4) of pieces (5) of filter, each divided into at least a first and a second piece (6, 7) of filter with reduced longitudinal dimensions; each piece (5) of filter of the first series (4) being positioned according to a first spacing (p1) relative to the next piece (5);
an aligning device (19) for aligning the first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter in a second series (20) of first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter and for varying the spacing from the first spacing (p1) of the first series (4) to a second spacing (p2) of the second series (20) of the first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter;
characterised in that the aligning and spacing variation device (19) comprising first offsetting means (21) for offsetting the first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter and second aligning means (22) for aligning the first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter which were offset at the outfeed of the first offsetting means (21);
the first offsetting means (21) comprising at least a first and a second transfer drum (23, 24) for transferring the first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter, respectively; the first and second transfer drums (23, 24) rotating about respective axes of rotation (23a, 24a) which are offset from one another;
the first and second transfer drums (23, 24) receiving the respective pieces (6, 7) of filter at the same pickup station (25) and release the respective first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter in a respective first and second release station (26, 27); the axis of rotation (23a, 24a) of the first and second transfer drums (23, 24) being positioned respectively along a respective first and second joining line (28, 29) which joins the respective first and second release station (26, 27) and the pickup station (25).
The unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the second spacing (p2) of the second series (20) is less than the first spacing (p1) of the first series (4).
The unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the aligning device (19), for aligning the first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter and for varying the spacing positions a first and a second piece (6, 7) in an alternating fashion in a single row, forms the second series (20).
The unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second joining lines (28, 29) form an angle (α) whose subtended arc is equal to the second spacing (p2) of the second series (20).
The unit according to any one of preceeding claims, characterized in that the second aligning means (22) receive the offset first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter from the first offsetting means (21) and release the aligned first and second pieces (6, 7) of filter; from the first and second release stations (26, 27) to the delivery station (32) the second aligning means (22) positioning a first and a second piece (6, 7) of filter one after another in an alternating fashion.
The unit according to any one of preceeding claims, characterized in that the second aligning means (22), from the first and second release stations (26, 27) to the delivery station (32), keep the first pieces (6) in position and move the second pieces (7) of filter to a respective position interposed between two first pieces (6) which are positioned one after another.
The unit according to any one of preceeding claims, characterized in that the second aligning means (22) comprise an aligning roller (33), rotating about a respective axis (22a) of rotation, for aligning the first and second pieces (6; 7) of filter; the aligning roller (33) comprising a plurality of retaining seats (35) for retaining the first pieces (6), alternating with respective cavities (36), and a plurality of retaining teeth (37) for retaining the second pieces (7), alternating with respective recesses (40); the teeth (37) being moved along the axis (22a) of rotation in a respective cavity (36), forming the second series (20) of first and second pieces (6, 7).
The unit according to any one preceeding claims, characterized in that the first offsetting means (21) and the second aligning means (22) are positioned in line with one another along the same horizontal direction of feed.