EP3050442B1 - Method and device for the production of filters for the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Description

• Kontinuierliches Fördern eines Filtermaterials von einem Filtermaterialvorrat in eine Formatvorrichtung zum Ausbilden eines kontinuierlichen Filterstrangs,
• Einbringen eines ein flüssiges Additiv aufnehmenden, länglichen und kontinuierlichen Einbringmaterials, insbesondere eines Fadens, in das Filtermaterial beim Fördern des Filtermaterials.

The invention relates to a method for producing filters for the tobacco processing industry with the following method steps:

• Continuous conveying of a filter material from a filter material supply into a format device to form a continuous filter rod,
• Introduction of an elongated and continuous introduction material, in particular a thread, which absorbs a liquid additive, into the filter material when the filter material is conveyed.

The invention also relates to a device for producing filters for the tobacco processing industry with a filter material conveying device, the filter material conveying device having a Has guide section through which a filter material can be guided or guided.

In the manufacture of filters for the tobacco processing industry, it is desirable for some products to incorporate additives into the filter material. For this purpose, an introduction material that absorbs the additive and is elongated and continuous is introduced into the filter material and soaked or wetted beforehand with an additive such as a flavor.

EP 2 178 403 B1 provides for this purpose a channel through which an additive is introduced and through which a solid carrier is pulled, namely with continuous immersion in the additive in order to allow the additive to be absorbed by the carrier.

EP 2 046 154 B1 provides for a non-flavor filament material to be introduced into a filter material during the manufacture of the filter rod and for a flavor agent to be supplied to it.

EP 2 123 180 A1 discloses a device for introducing additives into an already round shaped strand provided for the production of a smoking article with a guide section through which the strand can be guided in the transport direction and a feed device acting in the guide section for the downstream feeding of additives into the strand located in the guide section , wherein the feed device is designed such that it emits the additive or the additives in at least two beams directed at an angle to one another.

WO 2009/013082 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for making a rod for use in prep of a smoking article. Filter material is conveyed from a filter material supply into a format device. Then a thread is inserted into the filter material. The thread can take up a liquid additive. This takes place via a pump in the feed element for the thread.

WO 2007/085830 A2 shows a method of making a rod-shaped article for the tobacco processing industry. A thread, which is provided with an additive, is inserted into the rod-shaped article.

In WO 2014/102926 A1 a machine and method for making filter rods is shown. A filter rod into which a thread is inserted is conveyed in the machine. The thread is impregnated with an additive.

Also in EP 2 721 939 A1 a device for producing filters is shown, by means of which a thread is introduced into a conveyed filter rod by means of a first feed device. A flavoring substance is applied to the thread by means of a second feed device.

It is the object of the present invention to enable a better and more precise filling of a filter rod with an additive.

• Kontinuierliches Fördern eines Filtermaterials von einem Filtermaterialvorrat in eine Formatvorrichtung zum Ausbilden eines kontinuierlichen Filterstrangs,
• Einbringen eines ein flüssiges Additiv aufnehmenden, länglichen und kontinuierlichen Einbringmaterials, insbesondere eines Fadens, in das Filtermaterial beim Fördern des Filtermaterials,
• Auftragen des Additivs auf das Einbringmaterial beim Einbringen des Einbringmaterials in das Filtermaterial, wobei
• das Additiv vor dem Auftragen auf das Einbringmaterial wenigstens abschnittsweise getrennt zu dem Einbringmaterial in einem gemeinsamen Förderorgan gefördert wird und wobei das Additiv mit einer Auftragsgeschwindigkeit auf das Einbringmaterial aufgetragen wird, die im Wesentlichen der Fördergeschwindigkeit des Einbringmaterials entspricht oder größer ist, wobei beim getrennten Fördern des Additivs und des Einbringmaterials ein abschnittsweises paralleles Fördern vorgesehen ist.

This object is achieved by a method for producing filters for the tobacco processing industry with the following process steps:

• Continuous conveying of a filter material from a filter material supply in a format device to Formation of a continuous filter train,
• Introducing an elongated and continuous introducing material, in particular a thread, which absorbs a liquid additive, into the filter material when the filter material is conveyed,
• Applying the additive to the introduction material when introducing the introduction material into the filter material, wherein
• the additive is conveyed at least in sections separately to the introduction material in a common conveying element before being applied to the introduction material, and the additive is applied to the introduction material at an application speed that is essentially the same as or greater than the conveying speed of the introduction material, with the separate conveying of the Additive and the introduction material, a section-wise parallel conveying is provided.

By conveying the additive and the introduction material in a common conveying element, it is possible to apply the additive to the introduction material in a targeted manner. In addition, according to the invention, the application of the additive at an application speed that essentially corresponds to the conveying speed of the feed material allows the additive to penetrate better into the feed material, which enables better saturation of the feed material with the additive. The application speed is preferably the speed or the speed component that occurs in the conveying direction of the material to be introduced is present. This is preferably between 90% to 130% of the conveying speed of the introducing material, in particular between 95% and 120% of the conveying speed of the introducing material, in particular preferably between 100% and 110% of the conveying speed of the introducing material.

The conveying speed of the introduction material preferably corresponds to the conveying speed of the filter material.

The application speed is preferably controlled or regulated as a function of the conveying speed of the introduction material. This enables efficient loading of the feed material with an additive at any conveying speed of the conveyed material.

By conveying in sections parallel according to the invention, a common conveying element can be realized which is very small, i.e. has a small cross-section.

The additive is preferably applied to the introduction material outside of the common conveying element. As a result, the entire additive reaches the introduction material and any additive that does not penetrate into the introduction material or adhere to it reaches the filter material which is arranged around the introduction material. In this way, an exact amount of an additive can be specified in the filter rod to be manufactured. The additive is thus preferably applied when the introduction material is introduced into the filter material.

The additive is preferably conveyed completely separately to the introduction material in the common conveying element before it is applied to the introduction material. Preferably the separate Funding provided at least up to the exit of the joint funding body.

The filter rod is preferably formed downstream of the application or during the application of the additive to the introduction material in the format device. The filter rod is usually formed in such a way that the filter material is introduced into an inlet nozzle of a format device. In this inlet area or in an area in which an inlet finger of a format device is present, the feed material is preferably introduced centrally into the filter material, and where the feed material is introduced into the filter material, the additive is applied to the feed material.

Thereafter, a wrapping material strip is usually wrapped around the filter material, in particular in the format device, and a seam of the wrapping material strip is sealed with an adhesive. As a result, a filter rod with a round cross-section is formed. However, an oval-shaped filter rod can also be formed.

The amount of additive applied is preferably controlled.

In order to control the amount of additive applied, a plurality of additive delivery lines are preferably provided in the common delivery element, a predeterminable number of additive delivery lines delivering additive as a function of the amount of additive to be applied. Here, for example, 10 additive delivery lines can be provided and, depending on the amount of additive to be applied, more or fewer delivery lines for the additive to be delivered can be opened or closed.

The additive delivery lines are preferably arranged in such a way that opposing additive delivery lines are always open. In this way, the additive is always applied to the paving material from opposite sides. Preferably, some additive delivery lines have a different cross section than other additive delivery lines, the opposing additive delivery lines preferably having the same cross section.

The additive is preferably conveyed through at least one nozzle for application to the introduction material, in particular an additive jet is generated which is conveyed onto the introduction material at an angle of 10 ° to 60 °, in particular 20 ° to 50 °, to the introduction material. As a result, the point of contact of the additive on the material to be introduced can be set precisely in the conveying direction downstream of the outlet of the common conveying element.

The object is also achieved by a device for producing filters for the tobacco processing industry with a filter material conveyor device, the filter material conveyor device having a guide section through which a filter material can be guided or guided, a common conveyor element introduced into the guide section for introducing an elongated and continuous one Feeding material and an additive is provided, the additive being or being applied to the feeding material downstream of the output of the conveying element, the device being further developed in that the common conveying element is designed to convey both the feeding material and the additive, the common conveying element is designed as a tube which has continuous conveying lines for the feed material and the additive. In that the additive is applied to the feed material downstream of the output of the conveyor element can be applied or is applied, a very precise metering of the additive is possible.

An additive conveyor is preferably provided, by means of which the additive can be or is applied to the introduction material at an application speed which essentially corresponds to or is greater than the conveying speed of the introduction material. The additive conveyor preferably has a control device or a regulating device in order to control or regulate the application speed. For this purpose, the control device or the regulating device is supplied with a feed material conveying speed that results from the conveying speed of the filter material and essentially corresponds, for example, to the conveying speed of a format tape in the format device, in order to set a corresponding additive conveying speed via the control device or regulating device.

A sensor for measuring the speed of the additive is preferably provided. Alternatively, the viscosity of the additive, which is known from a temperature measurement and with knowledge of the additive itself or the behavior of the viscosity of the additive over temperature, the diameter of the delivery line and the pressure provided by the pump, the speed of the additive can be determined.

The additive conveyor can have a pump which brings additive from an additive supply into one or more conveying lines of the common conveying element and supplies it with a corresponding pressure so that the additive is sprayed out at the outlet of the common conveying element at a corresponding speed.

According to the invention, the common conveying element is designed to convey both the feed material and the additive. According to the invention, the common conveying element is designed as a tube which has continuous conveying lines for the feed material and the additive.

The common conveying element for the feed material and the additive preferably has completely separate conveying channels, so that the feed material and the additive can be conveyed in the common conveying element, so that the additive can only be applied or is applied to the feed material at the exit of the common conveying element.

The pipe has, in particular, a central conveying line for the material to be introduced and, on the outside around this conveying line, corresponding additive conveying lines or conveying lines for the additive.

At least two delivery lines for the additive are preferably provided around a central delivery line.

For the additive, in particular several, preferably more than three, delivery lines are provided, in particular an even number of delivery lines being provided. The feed lines for the additive can also be provided for various additives. In addition, different sizes of the delivery line can be provided in order to be able to better adjust the dosage of the additive.

The delivery lines for the additive or additives are preferably arranged symmetrically around the central delivery line. Preferably, on the outlet side of the feed lines for the additive, nozzles are provided that are oriented at a predeterminable angle to the material to be introduced. This is used to specifically apply additive to the material to be introduced. The nozzles are aligned in such a way that the additive jet, which is directed at the feed material, hits the feed material at the predeterminable angle. The predeterminable angle is preferably an angle between 20 ° and 50 °.

The number of feed lines carrying the additive can preferably be switched on or off.

Preferably, one additive or various additives can be used. The additive feeder can be designed in such a way that, in the case of different additives, the pump or pumping device is assigned to the respective feed lines for additives at the same time from different additive stocks.

The filter material is preferably a filter tow. The additive is preferably a flavor. Furthermore, the introduction material is preferably a yarn or a thread.

The invention is characterized in that the material to be introduced and the additive are transported separately in a multi-nozzle tube or tube. This newly designed tube, which can also be referred to as a common conveying element, is used instead of a commonly used insert tube. The material to be introduced is guided in a central bore in the pipe. The additive is passed through several small channels or additive delivery lines distributed over the circumference. Here, the additive is applied in at least two opposing additive delivery lines. The more additive on the feed material is to be applied, the more channels are added. For example, two, four, six, eight, ten or twelve channels can be switched on. The additive is fed into the channels outside a format device of a filter rod machine.

The additive is applied to the injection material at the outlet or after it exits the pipe.

The invention has the advantage that the additive is applied to the introduction material with high pressure, which leads to an improved absorption of the additive by the introduction material. The greatest possible accuracy of the amount of additive applied is achieved, since the supply and application of the additive is specifically provided at the last possible point in time during strand formation. Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can, within the scope of the following claims, meet individual features or a combination of several features.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Teils einer Formatvorrichtung einer Strangmaschine der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Förderorgans,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Förderorgan in einer anderen Ausführungsform und

Fig. 4

eine Schnittdarstellung entlang der Schnittlinie A-A der Fig. 3.

The invention is described below without restricting the general inventive concept on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, with express reference being made to the drawings with regard to all inventive details not explained in more detail in the text. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of part of a format device of a rod machine in the tobacco processing industry,

Fig. 2

a schematic sectional view of a conveyor member according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a schematic sectional view through a conveyor member according to the invention in another embodiment and

Fig. 4

a sectional view along the section line AA of Fig. 3 .

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that they are not introduced again in each case.

Fig. 1 shows schematically part of a format device 7 of a rod machine in the tobacco processing industry. A filter material 5, for example a filter tow material, is introduced into the format device 7 through a funnel device 6 after appropriate preparation in the direction of movement B. The format device 7 has a first format upper part 7a, which comprises the funnel device 6, and a second format upper part 7b, which comprises an inlet finger 8, for example. The inlet finger 8 presses the introduced filter material 5 onto a format tape, not shown, which is guided in the direction of movement B through the format device 7.

A wrapping material strip is usually arranged on the format tape, which is wrapped around a usually round-shaped filter material 5 in the format device 7, with an adhesive seam at the end of the wrapping material strip being provided with adhesive and the wrapping material strip being closed in this way. A suture plate is then attached to it To accelerate the setting of the adhesive, for example glue, by heating or cooling. Finally, the filter material strip produced in this way is cut to length into filter rods that can be specified accordingly.

In order to introduce an additive 19, such as a flavor, into the filter material 5, a thread 1 is guided over a common conveying element 2, for example a tube which is guided through the filter material 5 and the outlet 10 of which is arranged centrally in the filter material 5, which is provided with an additive 19. The additive 19, for example a flavor, is fed from an additive store 12 via a line 14 to a pump 11 and introduced into the common conveying element 2 via a line 14 from the pump 11. In the common conveying element 2, the thread 1 and the additive 19 are guided separately, specifically in parallel up to the output 10 of the common conveying element 2. The common conveying element 2 is explained in more detail in the following figures.

A control device 13 is also provided, which controls the pump 11 via an electrical line 15, for example. The control device 13 can preferably also control valves which control the inflow of additives 19 in additive lines in the common conveying element 2.

Fig. 2 shows in a schematic representation, namely in a partial sectional view, the common conveying element 2. A central bore or a feed material channel 16 is shown in which the feed material 1, for example a thread, is conveyed in the direction of movement B. In addition, additive conveying lines 17 are provided in which an additive 19 is conveyed, specifically also in the direction of movement B. At the exit of the additive channels or Conveying lines 17 each show a nozzle 18 which is oriented in such a way that it applies the additive 19 to the thread 1 in an additive jet 20 at an angle α. In this exemplary embodiment, the angle α is 27 °.

In another embodiment, which is described in Fig. 3 is shown, the application angle α is larger, ie the nozzles 18 are aligned so that a different application angle α is created. The angle here is 47 °, for example. It can be seen that the place of application, which is shown by the dotted line, is provided in the direction of movement B or in the conveying direction of the thread 1 downstream of the outlet 10 of the common conveying element 2. It can also be seen that the additive 19 and the thread 1 are conveyed separately in the common conveying element.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a sectional view along section AA from FIG Fig. 3 . It can be seen here that the feed material channel 16 is arranged centrally in the common conveying element 2 and the additive channels 17 are arranged symmetrically around it. Eight additive channels 17 are shown. Fewer or more additive channels 17 can also be provided. Depending on the amount required, more or fewer additive channels 17 are to be used. These can be switched on or off, for example, by valves. Preferably, opposite additive channels 17 are always used in order to apply additive 19 to the thread 1.

The cross-section of the additive channels 17 can be of the same size or also partially different. It can be provided, for example, to provide two additive channels 17 with a diameter of 0.11 mm and the further additive channels 17 with a cross section of 0.2 to 0.4 mm, in particular 0.35 mm.

The distance between the additive channels 17 and the outer circumference of the common conveyor element 2 is preferably one millimeter. The distance from the feed material channel 16 is preferably also one millimeter. The feed material channel 16 preferably has a diameter of three times the thread diameter, for example the thread diameter is between 0.5 and 2 mm or preferably 0.8 to 1.2 mm. With a thread diameter of 1.2 mm, this would result in a diameter of the feed material channel 16 of 3.6 mm. The larger feed material channel diameter compared to the diameter of the thread results from the fact that the thread can possibly become knotted and this should then not lead to a standstill of the machines.

In the context of the invention, features which are identified with “in particular” or “preferably” are to be understood as optional features.

List of reference symbols

1

thread

2

common funding body

3

Deflection section

5

Filter material

6th

Funnel device

7th

Format device

7a

Format top

7b

Format top

8th

Inlet finger

10

Exit

11

pump

12th

stock

13th

Control device

14th

management

15th

electrical line

16

Bring material channel

17th

Additive channel

18th

jet

19th

Additive

20th

Additive jet

B.

Direction of movement

α

Application angle

Claims (13)

1. A method for the production of filters for the tobacco processing industry, comprising the following method steps:

   - continuously conveying a filter material (5) from a filter material supply into a garniture device (7) for forming a continuous filter rod,

   - introducing an elongated and continuous introduction material (1), in particular a thread, receiving a liquid additive (19), into the filter material (5) during the conveyance of the filter material (5),

   - applying the additive (19) onto the introduction material (1) during the introduction of the introduction material (1) into the filter material (5), wherein

   - before the application onto the introduction material (1) the additive (19) is conveyed in a common conveying member (2), in a manner in which it is at least partially separated from the introduction material (1), and wherein the additive (19) is applied onto the introduction material (1) at an application rate which substantially corresponds to or is greater than the rate of conveyance of the introduction material (1), wherein a partially parallel conveyance is provided during the separate conveyance of the additive (19) and the introduction material (1).
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the application rate is controlled or closed-loop controlled as a function of the rate of conveyance of the introduction material (1).
3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additive (19) is applied onto the introduction material (1) outside the common conveying member (2).
4. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filter rod is formed downstream of the application or during the application of the additive (19) onto the introduction material (1) in the garniture device (7).
5. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the applied quantity of additive (19) is controlled.
6. The method according to Claim 5, characterized in that a plurality of additive conveying lines (17) are provided in the common conveying member (2) for controlling the applied quantity of additive (19), wherein a predeterminable number of additive conveying lines (17) convey additive (19) as a function of the quantity of additive (19) to be applied.
7. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the additive (19) is conveyed by at least one nozzle (18) for the application onto the introduction material (1), wherein, in particular, an additive stream (20) is generated, said additive stream being conveyed onto the introduction material (1) at an angle of 10° to 60°, in particular 20° to 50°, relative to the introduction material (1).
8. A device for producing filters for the tobacco processing industry having a filter material conveying device (7), wherein the filter material conveying device (7) has a guide portion, a filter material (5) being guidable or guided through said guide portion, wherein a common conveying member (2), which is introduced into the guide portion, is provided for introducing an elongated and continuous introduction material (1) and an additive (19), wherein the additive (19) may be applied or is applied onto the introduction material (1) downstream of the outlet (10) of the conveying member (2), characterized in that the common conveying member (2) is configured to convey both the introduction material (1) and the additive (19), wherein the common conveying member (2) is configured as a tube which has continuous conveying lines (16, 17) for the introduction material (1) and the additive (19).
9. The device according to Claim 8, characterized in that an additive conveyor (11) is provided, the additive (19) being able to be applied or being applied thereby onto the introduction material (1) at an application rate which substantially corresponds to or is greater than the rate of conveyance of the introduction material (1).
10. The device according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least two conveying lines (17) for the additive (19) are provided about a central conveying line (16).
11. The device according to Claim 10, characterized in that a plurality of conveying lines (17) for the additive (19) are provided, wherein, in particular, an even number of conveying lines (17) is provided.
12. The device according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that nozzles (18), which are oriented at a predeterminable angle (α) to the introduction material (1), are provided on the outlet side of the conveying lines (17) for the additive (19).
13. The device according to Claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the number of conveying lines (17) guiding the additive (19) is designed to be able to be switched on or switched off.

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