EP3266319B1 - Method and device for the separation of reject material used in cigarette manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for separating scrap material from cigarette production, in which a scrap mass flow comprising scrap cigarettes, loose tobacco material and loose pieces of wrapping paper is transferred into two separate starting mass flows in which loose tobacco material on the one hand and loose pieces of wrapping paper and possibly filters on the other hand are discharged separately. The invention further relates to a device for separating reject material from cigarette production, with an inlet for a reject mass flow comprising reject cigarettes, loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces and with two outlets for two separately discharged starting mass flows with on the one hand loose tobacco material and on the other hand loose wrapping paper pieces and optionally filters.

The invention relates to the field of cigarette manufacture in which rejects arise in the form of reject cigarettes with or without a filter, loose tobacco material and loose pieces of wrapping paper. This scrap material is fed to a downstream separation device for tobacco recovery, via which the loose tobacco material and the tobacco material contained in the reject cigarettes can be used again for the formation of a tobacco rod and the subsequent production of cigarettes.

Various separation devices are known. A generic device for the recovery of tobacco from defective cigarettes is out EP 0 370 202 B1 known. This device processes faulty cigarettes that have been automatically sorted out by a rod machine or piecing machine during their production.

According to EP 0 370 202 B1 the reject mass flow is conveyed into a conical vibratory bowl feeder, which has a spiral-shaped transport path. In their outlet, the transport tracks have several baffles running parallel to one another in order to divide the individual cigarettes into several adjacent rows. In front of the baffles, openings are provided in the transport tracks through which the tobacco is screened from the rest of the mass flow. A roller system is provided for tearing open the paper sleeves of the cigarettes. In addition to rejected cigarettes, other rejects also get into the vibratory bowl feeder, namely loose tobacco particles, paper strips and filter rods.

From the EP 2 342 981 B1 a device for tobacco recovery is known, which also has a vibrating conveyor bowl. In addition, in this known device, a paper suction device is provided above the vibrating conveyor bowl, which removes reject material from the transport path with the aid of negative pressure.

In EP 0 634 259 B1 describes a ripper with which the material fed in is reduced in size and placed on a screen conveyor. The tobacco falls through the sieve, but the paper and filter plug remain on the sieve and are conveyed on. For separating filters and paper, a nozzle bar is attached below the screen about half the length of the screen conveyor, which lifts the paper, which is lighter than the filter plug, from the screen bottom. A suction device, which is attached above the screen conveyor, removes the paper with negative pressure.

Furthermore, from the CN 203028099 U a device is known which has a first sieve separating device which separates the loose tobacco from the waste mass flow. The reject mass flow is then conveyed to a second separating device in which the paper and reject cigarettes are separated from one another.

All of the above-mentioned known separation devices have in common that the tobacco is separated from the other reject components via a sieve separation process. This has the disadvantage that the tobacco is exposed to additional mechanical stress when it is sieved, in particular from the rejected cigarettes, which leads to a comminution of the tobacco fibers and thus to a deterioration in the quality of the tobacco fibers to be returned.

Also disclosed EP 0 990 395 A1 a device for separating rod-shaped articles in the tobacco-processing industry for the purpose of recovering tobacco, the articles being fed to a separating means by a rotary plate aligned longitudinally and axially. The supply and alignment of the articles is optimized by a guide channel which transfers the articles onto the turntable and is curved in the direction of rotation of the turntable. The cigarette shot passes through a feed shaft onto a conveyor belt, which transfers the cigarettes through a viewing shaft into a guide channel. Loose tobacco, shredded paper, individual topping leaves and the like are separated pneumatically beforehand through the viewing shaft and conveyed to the rear part of a vibrating screen. As a result of air flowing into the guide channel at high speed via a fan, the supplied cigarettes are accelerated in such a way that they are attached to the air by the flow guidance align with the curved wall of the duct section. When leaving the guide channel, the aligned cigarettes are conveyed at high speed directly to the outer edge of the turntable, where they are fed to and separated from disks by the circulating conveyor belt, as it were as an endless strand. The separated cigarettes reach the vibrating screen through an outlet channel, through which the main part of the loose tobacco falls onto a collecting belt.

In contrast, the present invention is based on the object of improving the separation and recovery of tobacco material from a waste mass flow, with the loose tobacco in particular being returned as gently as possible.

This object on which the invention is based is achieved by a method for separating reject material from cigarette production according to the features of claim 1.

Therein a reject mass flow comprises reject cigarettes, loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces. Initially, loose tobacco material on the one hand and loose pieces of wrapping paper and optionally filters on the other hand are removed separately from one another. The reject mass flow is converted into a first partial mass flow with reject cigarettes and divided a second partial mass flow with loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces. The first partial mass flow is conveyed to a separating device in which the reject cigarettes are aligned, the wrapping papers of the reject cigarettes are opened and tobacco material contained in the reject cigarettes is removed from the opened wrapping papers, so that the first partial mass flow after the separation of loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces and optionally filtering is composed. Both the first partial mass flow and the second partial mass flow are conveyed into a separating device in which an output mass flow of loose tobacco material and an output mass flow of loose pieces of wrapping paper and optionally filters are formed.

In the context of the present invention, the term “reject cigarettes” encompasses both filter cigarettes and filterless cigarettes and tobacco sticks wrapped in wrapping paper to which no filter has yet been attached. In the event that the reject cigarettes are cigarettes with filters, the filters are still present in the first partial mass flow after the step of opening the wrapping papers. In many cases they are still related to the pieces of wrapping paper, but they can also be conveyed separately in the first partial mass flow.

The invention is based on the basic idea that the loose components of the reject mass flow are removed from the reject mass flow before the separating device and are further conveyed separately. This measure has the advantage that the loose tobacco material and the loose pieces of wrapping paper are no longer conveyed through the separating device. On the one hand, the tobacco material to be recovered is not subjected to further mechanical stress because the paper remaining in the mass flow has no effect on the loose tobacco due to its low weight, so that the loose tobacco is gently separated from the wrapping paper pieces can be. On the other hand, the pieces of wrapping paper are not shredded any further, which facilitates and improves the subsequent separation from the loose tobacco material.

Another advantage is that the loose material in the form of loose tobacco material and loose pieces of wrapping paper no longer gets into the separating device and can therefore no longer block the rejected cigarettes. These can therefore be correctly aligned without interference and cut and opened along their full length by a cutting knife. A complete separation of the tobacco material and the wrapping paper can then take place.

According to the invention, the cigarette reject mass flow is divided into a first partial mass flow with reject cigarettes and a second partial mass flow with loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces in a chute, the reject mass flow falling through the chute and being acted upon from one side by a transverse air flow directed transversely to the direction of fall that collects loose tobacco material and pieces of loose wrapping paper and conveys them into a bypass line, while rejected cigarettes continue to fall in the chute. Such an airflow-based transverse sifting is very gentle on the material to be sifted, since it is not subjected to any mechanical stress or is only barely stressed. Because of the clearly different surface-to-weight ratios of the loose tobacco material and the loose pieces of wrapping paper on the one hand and the scrap cigarettes on the other, such an airflow-based transverse sifting is also possible very efficiently.

A particularly good transverse sighting is achieved when the transverse sighting air flow has a movement component against a direction of fall of the reject mass flow. This means that the transverse air flow is not only directed horizontally through the chute, but with a slight component upwards, for example at an angle of between 5 ° and 25 °, so that a trajectory of a inclined throw results. Only the loose materials can follow this even greater change in direction, so that the efficiency of the transverse sifting is further increased.

A particularly gentle procedure results when the transverse air flow is generated by an air flow source that is only used for this purpose. In this case, the cross-sighting air flow is cool or can be tempered, which is advantageous over the use of a process air flow of the entire machine, which is generally warm and very dry due to continuous circulation. Warm and dry process air has the disadvantage that the tobacco material is heated and dried out and is therefore less suitable for the formation of a tobacco rod. The tobacco material must then be cooled and re-moistened.

• eine Aufteilungsvorrichtung zum Aufteilen des Ausschussmassenstroms in einen ersten Teilmassenstrom mit Ausschusszigaretten und einen zweiten Teilmassenstrom mit losem Tabakmaterial und losen Umhüllungspapierstücken,
• eine Auftrennvorrichtung für Ausschusszigaretten des ersten Teilmassenstroms, die ausgebildet und eingerichtet ist, die Ausschusszigaretten zu eröffnen und in den Ausschusszigaretten enthaltenes Tabakmaterial aus den Umhüllungspapieren zu entfernen, so dass der erste Teilmassenstrom ausgangs der Auftrennvorrichtung aus losem Tabakmaterial und losen Umhüllungspapierstücken und gegebenenfalls Filtern zusammengesetzt ist, sowie
• eine Trennvorrichtung, die ausgebildet und eingerichtet ist, den ersten Teilmassenstrom und den zweiten Teilmassenstrom getrennt oder gemeinsamen zu empfangen und das lose Tabakmaterial von den losen Umhüllungspapierstücken unter Bildung eines Ausgangsmassenstroms losen Tabakmaterials und eines Ausgangsmassenstroms loser Umhüllungspapierstücke und gegebenenfalls Filter voneinander zu trennen,

umfasst.The object on which the invention is based is also achieved by a device for the separation of reject material from cigarette production, with an inlet for a reject mass flow comprising reject cigarettes, loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces and with two outlets for two separately discharged starting mass flows with loose tobacco material on the one hand and loose wrapping paper pieces on the other and optionally filtering, solved that

• a splitting device for splitting the waste mass flow into a first partial mass flow with waste cigarettes and a second partial mass flow with loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces,
• a separating device for scrap cigarettes of the first partial mass flow, which is designed and configured to open the scrap cigarettes and to remove tobacco material contained in the scrap cigarettes from the wrapping papers, so that the first partial mass flow exiting the separating device of loose tobacco material and loose wrapping paper pieces and optionally filters, as well as
• a separating device which is designed and set up to receive the first partial mass flow and the second partial mass flow separately or jointly and to separate the loose tobacco material from the loose wrapping paper pieces to form an output mass flow of loose tobacco material and an output mass flow of loose wrapping paper pieces and optionally filters,

includes.

The method according to the invention described above can be carried out by means of this device. The advantages, features and properties mentioned for the method therefore also apply to the device according to the invention.

According to the invention, the dividing device is designed as a chute with a transverse sifter, the transverse sifter comprising an air flow source for a transverse air flow and a transverse opening in the chute, the air flow source comprising the transverse air flow in particular horizontally or additionally with a movement component against a direction of fall of the reject mass flow through the Fall shaft leads, the movement component opposite to the direction of fall is smaller than the horizontal movement component. The component of movement against the direction of fall can therefore also be zero. A component of movement in the direction of fall does not have to be ruled out, but leads to poorer separation results.

The chute is designed in such a way that deflection of the rejected cigarettes by the transverse air flow is absorbed. For this purpose, for example, the part of the chute directly below the transverse direction is arranged somewhat transversely offset with respect to the upper part, so that the rejected cigarettes are not deflected in the transverse directional air flow or only lightly hit a wall of the chute. Alignment and control of the transverse air flow and the further falling reject cigarettes can be done, for example, by means of fixed or movable and possibly controllable guide plates or baffles.

In an advantageous embodiment, the air flow source of the transverse sifter generates exclusively the transverse directional air flow. This means that the airflow coming from this airflow source is not used for any other purpose. This also means that the air flow source is not a process air air flow source of the cigarette manufacturing machine.

The air flow source of the transverse sifter is also advantageously designed not to heat the transverse sifter air flow. This also protects the loose tobacco material.

In an advantageous development, the transverse opening in the chute is smaller than an opposite opening for further conveying the transverse air flow and the loose reject material, with the chute in particular expanding in cross section from the transverse opening to the opposite opening. This measure leads to a laminar air flow, which enables an effective separation of loose reject material from the reject material flow without turbulence.

A bypass line is preferably provided for directly conveying the second partial mass flow from the dividing device to the separating device, bypassing the separating device. The bypass line, which leads from the dividing device directly to the separating device, ensures safe and loss-free transport of the loose reject material in the second partial mass flow, possibly while maintaining the advantageous air conditioning of the transverse air flow.

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.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens und einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische schematische Darstellung eines Teils eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung,

Fig. 3a), 3b), 3c)

schematische Darstellungen von Teilen eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung,

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung einer Luftstromquelle,

Fig. 5

eine schematische Querschnittsdarstellung durch einen Quersichter,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Einrichtung und

Fig. 7

Details aus der Luftstromversorgung des Ausführungsbeispiels gemäß Fig. 6.

The invention is described below on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, with express reference being made to the drawings with regard to all details not explained in more detail in the text. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a method according to the invention and a device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a perspective schematic representation of part of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 3a), 3b), 3c)

schematic representations of parts of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of an air flow source,

Fig. 5

a schematic cross-sectional view through a transverse sifter,

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention and

Fig. 7

Details from the air flow supply of the exemplary embodiment according to FIG Fig. 6 .

The drawings show the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a new introduction is dispensed with in each case.

In Figure 1 a method according to the invention and a device 20 according to the invention is shown schematically. The device 20 receives a reject mass flow 10 through an inlet 22, which comprises reject cigarettes 2, loose tobacco material 4 and loose wrapping paper pieces 6 and is produced as rejects from a rod machine or cigarette machine of the tobacco processing industry, not shown. In the device 20, the reject mass flow 10 first reaches a splitting device 30, which in this exemplary embodiment comprises a chute 32 with an outlet 38 arranged at the bottom through which the reject material falls.

The chute 32 is pierced by a transverse sifter 33, which comprises an air flow source 36 which generates a dedicated cross-sighting air flow 34 through the chute 32. This transverse air stream carries the loose reject material with it, that is to say the loose tobacco material 2 and the loose wrapping paper strips 6, which each have a large surface area compared to their weight. As a result, two partial mass flows 12, 14 are generated. The partial mass flow 12 falls further down through the chute 32 and only includes the reject cigarettes 2. The second partial mass flow 14 is formed by the flow of the transverse sifting and only includes the loose reject material in the form of cut tobacco or loose tobacco material 4 and the loose wrapping paper strips 6. This second partial mass flow 14 is conveyed further in a bypass line 39.

The first partial mass flow 12 reaches a separating device 40 which, in the present exemplary embodiment, has an alignment device 42, a conveyor belt 44, a cutting knife 46 designed as a circular knife, and a knockout device 48. In the alignment device 42, the randomly oriented reject cigarettes 2 are initially oriented in a preferred orientation, so that they are on the subsequent Conveyor belt 44 are further conveyed longitudinally axially in the direction of the rotating cutting knife 46, which penetrates only peripherally into the wrapping paper of the reject cigarettes 2 and opens this with the least possible damage to the tobacco material contained therein. The scrap cigarettes 2 are thus opened along their entire length, so that the tobacco can be separated or knocked out of the opened wrapping papers in the subsequent knockout device 48. The opened scrap cigarettes are subjected to mechanical stress and, for example, bent so that the tobacco can trickle out.

Just like the loose material of the second partial mass flow 14, the first partial mass flow 12 passes from the separating device 40 to a separating device 50, which in the present exemplary embodiment has two slightly inclined conveyor belts, the upper conveyor belt being designed as a vibrating sieve, the mesh size of which is selected in this way that the loose tobacco material 4 can fall through while the wrapping paper pieces 6 remain on the upper conveyor belt. This results in an output mass flow 18 with loose pieces of wrapping paper 6 at the top at the outlet 26 and an output mass flow 16 with loose tobacco material at the bottom at the outlet 24. This is sent for recycling in the strand machine.

Since the second partial mass flow 14 does not pass through the separating device 40 and has previously been separated by means of a preferably dedicated and also preferably cool air flow, the loose reject material, especially the loose tobacco material 4, is not further stressed and does not interfere with the reject cigarettes 2 Longitudinal alignment when conveying past the cutting knife 46. In addition, this prevents the already loose pieces of wrapping paper 6 from being further comminuted in the separating device 40, so that the subsequent separation from the loose tobacco material 4 in the separating device 50 is clean.

In Fig. 2 an exemplary device 20 for separating reject material is shown in a perspective view. In the upper area, an inlet 22 for a reject mass flow 10 can be seen, which enters a chute 32, which in turn is penetrated by a transverse sifting unit. This has a transverse opening 35 through which a transverse air stream 34 can pass through the chute 32. After crossing the chute 32, this transverse air flow 34 enters a bypass line 39, which in turn has two parts in this exemplary embodiment. A first part of the bypass line 39 is rectangular in cross section and runs slightly obliquely downwards through the unit 20, a second part with a round cross section adjoins it and runs steeply downwards.

The chute 32 itself opens downwards over a conveyor belt 44, which has a plurality of grooves running parallel in the conveying direction, in which reject cigarettes 2 are to be conveyed longitudinally and axially. For the sake of clarity, in Fig. 2 an alignment device 42 shown in FIG Fig. 1 is indicated schematically, omitted. This ensures that the non-uniformly oriented reject cigarettes 2 are aligned longitudinally axially on the way from the chute 32 to the conveyor belt 44.

The conveyor belt 44 is, together with the in Fig. 1 The alignment device 42 shown, part of the severing device 40, which is arranged in the device 20 essentially in a plane below the dividing device 30. In the perspective schematic illustration of Fig. 2 the cutting knives 46 and the knock-out device 48 are covered, but the rear side of the cutting and knock-out unit 45, which contains both components, is visible.

Another level below the level of the severing device 40 is the severing device 50. Am in Fig. 2 The beginning of the separating device 50 shown at the bottom left, loose reject material arrives on the one hand from the bypass line 39 and on the other hand from the cutting and Extraction unit 45 on the upper side of the separating device 50. There is the possibility of combining the two partial mass flows beforehand, or of applying them separately to the separating device 50. The separating device 50 comprises a slightly inclined vibrating screen conveyor with two conveying levels, the mesh size of the screen 52 being selected such that cut loose tobacco material 4 falls through it onto the lower conveying level 56 and the larger loose wrapping paper pieces 6 remain on the screen on the upper conveying level 54 . The two starting mass flows 16, 18 are thus formed.

The Figures 3a), 3b) and 3c ) show a schematic representation of the dividing device 30 of the unit 20 from different perspectives, namely Fig. 3a ) in an oblique perspective view, Figure 3b ) from the side and Figure 3c ) from above. These are detailed representations of the exemplary embodiment Figure 2 . In addition, a control unit 28 is shown with a monitor 29 equipped with a touchscreen, which controls the unit 20. How out Fig. 3a) and Fig. 3b ) shows very clearly, the bypass line 39 is in two parts and has a kink in the transition from the only slightly inclined upper part to the steep lower part. With this configuration it is possible to use the Fig. 2 To accommodate the middle level shown with the severing device 40 and in this way to realize a compact structure. Alternatively, it is also possible to design the bypass line 39 with a bent tube. The embodiment shown has the further advantage that in the upper part, which is rectangular in cross-section and which is adapted to the inlet cross-section of the cross-viewing opening 35, removable metal sheets are present, which allow access to the bypass line 39. This means that the less steep area can also be cleaned manually if necessary.

Fig. 4 FIG. 6 shows a possible air flow source 36 which has a central air inlet 36a from which air enters a space occupied by rotating blades 36b, from the blades 36b shown in FIG Fig. 4 rotate counterclockwise, is taken and off exits the air outlet 36c as a transverse air flow 34.

Fig. 5 shows a horizontal cross-section through the chute 32 at the location of the transverse sifter 33. The transverse air flow 34 enters the chute 32 from one side through an air flow feed line 37 and the transverse opening 35 and exits again on the opposite side, in the present exemplary embodiment into the bypass line 39. The cross section of the chute 32 or the transverse sifter 33 widens at this point in the form of a nozzle, characterized by corresponding diverging side walls 35a, 35b of a nozzle-shaped widening.

In Figure 6 an alternative embodiment of a part of a device according to the invention is shown, which differs from that in Figure 3b ) shown embodiment differs mainly in the air flow supply. In the case of the embodiment of Figure 6 the air flow source 36 is connected directly to the chute 32 and receives its air via a winding air flow feed line 37, the air inlet 36 a of which is arranged on the upper side of the device 20.

In Figure 7 are details from the interior of the air flow generation and air flow guidance of the embodiment of FIG Figure 6 shown. Only the housing of the air flow source 36 is shown, the air outlet 36c opening into the chute 32 in a transition piece 36d. Because of the slight inclination of the transition piece 36d from a few degrees to the horizontal, the air flow is provided with a component against the direction of gravity. At the opposite end of the chute 32 at the entrance to the bypass line 39, guide plates 39a and 39b are arranged. The upper guide plate 39a directs the reject mass flow away from the inlet to the bypass line 39, so that at least the reject cigarettes do not run the risk of being swept away into the bypass line 39 by the transverse air flow. The lower baffle 39b has a similar function in that it removes scrap material, particularly scrap cigarettes, from the cross-sighting airflow have been entrained, prevents it from entering the bypass line 39. The loose tobacco material and the loose wrapping paper pieces will also be conveyed again from the lower baffle 39b into the bypass line 39 by the cross-sighting air flow, but the heavier reject cigarettes will follow the gravity and get back into the chute 32. The guide plates 39a and 39b thus serve to decouple the chute 32 and the bypass line 39 with regard to reject cigarettes on the one hand and loose reject material on the other.

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

List of reference symbols

2

Reject cigarette

4th

loose tobacco material

6

loose wrapping paper piece

10

Reject mass flow

12

first partial mass flow

14th

second partial mass flow

16

Output mass flow

18th

Output mass flow

20th

Device for the separation of reject material

22nd

inlet

24

Outlet for loose tobacco material

26th

Outlet for loose pieces of wrapping paper

28

Control unit

29

Touchscreen monitor

30th

Splitting device

32

Chute

33

Cross sifter

34

Cross-sighting airflow

35

Cross-viewing opening

35a, 35b

Side walls of a nozzle-shaped extension

36

Airflow source

36a

Air inlet

36b

rotating blades

36c

Air outlet

36d

Transition piece

37

Airflow supply line

38

Outlet of the chute

39

Bypass line

39a, 39b

Baffle

40

Cutting device

42

Alignment device

44

Conveyor belt

45

Cutting and ejecting unit

46

Cutting knife

48

Knockout device

50

Separator

52

Shaking sieve

54

upper funding level

56

lower funding level

Claims (8)

1. A method for the separation of reject material used in cigarette manufacture, in which a reject mass flow (10) comprising reject cigarettes (2), loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) is transferred into two separate output mass flows (16, 18), in which loose tobacco material (4), on the one hand, and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and, if applicable, filters, on the other hand, are discharged separately from one another, comprising the following method steps:

   - dividing the reject mass flow (10) in a dividing device (30) into a first partial mass flow (12) with reject cigarettes (2) and a second partial mass flow (14) with loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6),

   - conveying the first partial mass flow (12) to a splitting device (40), in which the reject cigarettes (2) are aligned, the wrapping papers of the reject cigarettes (2) are opened and tobacco material contained in the reject cigarettes (2) is removed from the opened wrapping papers, such that the first partial mass flow (12) following splitting is composed of loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and, if applicable, filters,

   - conveying the first partial mass flow (12) and the second partial mass flow (14) into a separating device (50), in which an output mass flow (16) of loose tobacco material (4) and an output mass flow (18) of loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and, if applicable, filters are formed,
   characterized in that the dividing of the cigarette reject mass flow (10) into a first partial mass flow (12) with reject cigarettes (2) and a second partial mass flow (14) with loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) is effected in a gravity chute (32), wherein the reject mass flow (10) falls through the gravity chute (32) and is acted upon from one side with a transverse separation air current (34) which is directed transversely to the falling direction, which captures loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and conveys them into a bypass line (39) while reject cigarettes (2) continue falling in the gravity chute (32).
2. The method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the transverse separation air current (34) has a movement component in the opposite direction to a falling direction of the reject mass flow (10).
3. The method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse separation air current (34) is produced by an air current source (36) which is only used for this purpose.
4. A device (20) for the separation of reject material used in cigarette manufacture, having an inlet (22) for a reject mass flow (10) comprising reject cigarettes (2), loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and having two outlets (24, 26) for two output mass flows (16, 18) discharged separately from one another with, on the one hand, loose tobacco material (4) and, on the other hand, loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and, if applicable, filters, comprising

   - a dividing device (30) for dividing the reject mass flow (10) into a first partial mass flow (12) with reject cigarettes (2) and a second partial mass flow (14) with loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6),

   - a splitting device (40) for reject cigarettes (2) of the first partial mass flow (12), which is configured and designed to open the reject cigarettes (2) and to remove tobacco material (4) contained in the reject cigarettes (2) from the wrapping papers (6), such that the first partial mass flow (12) at the end of the splitting device (40) is composed of loose tobacco material (4) and loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and, if applicable, filters, as well as

   - a separating device (50) which is configured and designed to receive the first partial mass flow (12) and the second partial mass flow (14) separately or jointly and to separate the loose tobacco material (4) and the loose wrapping paper pieces (6) from one another, forming an output mass flow (16) of loose tobacco material (4) and an output mass flow (18) of loose wrapping paper pieces (6) and, if applicable, filters,
   characterized in that the dividing device (30) is configured as a gravity chute (32) having a transverse separator (33), wherein the transverse separator (33) comprises an air current source (36) for a transverse separation air current (34) as well as a transverse separation opening (35) in the gravity chute (32), wherein the air current source (36) conducts the transverse separation air current (34) in particular horizontally or additionally with a movement component in the opposite direction to a falling direction of the reject mass flow (10) through the gravity chute (32), wherein the movement component in the opposite direction to the falling direction is smaller than the horizontal movement component.
5. The device (20) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the air current source (36) of the transverse separator (33) exclusively produces the transverse separation air current (34).
6. The device (20) according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the air current source (36) of the transverse separator (33) is configured not to heat the transverse separation air current (34).
7. The device (20) according to any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterized in that in the gravity chute (32) the transverse separation opening (35) is smaller than an opposite opening for further conveying the transverse separation air current (34) and the loose reject material, wherein the gravity chute (32) in particular extends in a nozzle shape in cross-section from the transverse separation opening (35) towards the opposite opening.
8. The device (20) according to any one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that a bypass line (39) for directly conveying the second partial mass flow (14) from the dividing device (30) to the separating device (50) is provided, circumventing the splitting device (40).

Images