EP3378338B1 - Method to control a rod cutter and rod making machine of the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a rod cutter in the tobacco processing industry, the rod cutter being designed to cut through a rod formed on a rod machine into a rod part unsuitable for further processing and a rod part suitable for further processing. The invention also relates to a rod machine in the tobacco processing industry with a rod cutter which is designed to cut through a rod formed on the rod machine into a rod part that is unsuitable for further processing and a rod part that is suitable for further processing, the rod machine having an element inserter which has elements, in particular Filter segments, puts in a strand or on a strand, wherein a conveyor device is provided which promotes the strand longitudinally axially in a conveying direction.

Here, under a rod of the tobacco processing industry or a rod that is severed by a rod cutter of the tobacco processing industry, there is a filter rod or a cigarette rod especially to understand. When starting up a rod machine, the first part of the rod formed cannot be used for further processing. Only after the strand formed has the required quality characteristics can it be introduced into the further production stages for further processing. Therefore, the unusable initial part of the strand formed is introduced into a collection container and separated from the subsequent usable strand.

This process is commonly referred to as strand knocking off, strand breaking or strand cutting and was previously done manually by the operator. In the meantime, however, corresponding automated devices are also known. Such devices have deflection or guide means to divert the unusable initial portion of the strand and they have separating means to separate this unusable initial portion of the strand from the following quality strand. Within the scope of the invention, the unusable beginning of the strand is referred to as a strand unsuitable for further processing, and the qualitatively suitable strand or the qualitatively appropriate strand is referred to below as a strand suitable for further processing.

Out of DE 38 13 786 C2 the applicant is aware of a corresponding device. This document describes a device for cutting off a rod that is produced on a rod machine in the tobacco processing industry, on which the rod cutting device is arranged between a rod forming device and a rod dividing device or rod cutting device that divides the rod into useful lengths, and the rod cutting device has a rod guide for deflecting the strand and a rotating circular blade, the strand guide and the rotating circular blade are structurally combined in such a way that they can be pivoted together about a common pivot axis which intersects the axis of rotation of the circular blade, so that the rotating circular blade with its Cutting edge for cutting through the strand can be pivoted into it.

The device for cutting off a strand or the strand cutter within the meaning of this application or this invention therefore serves to ensure that when a strand machine is started, at the moment when a high-quality strand is formed, this strand is to be severed once, so that the high-quality strand can then be further processed and in particular can then be cut off by a conventional cutting device into rod-shaped segments or rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, which are then further processed. For example, tobacco rods can be produced and fed to a filter attachment machine, or filter segments with multiple useful lengths can be produced accordingly.

So far, when manufacturing such products, it was not a problem exactly where in the rod the rod was severed by a rod cutter, since, for example, in the case of a tobacco rod, this is relatively homogeneous and the initial part that was severed was not used further. This looks the same for a filter train. In the case of a filter rod made of filter segments, it was actually not a problem as to when or at which point the rod cutter cut through the filter rod. However, the provision of hard filter elements or capsules, which can be filled with a liquid such as menthol, can lead to process problems if the strand is not specifically severed at a location where there is no capsule or no hard filter element or another hard element.

In EP 1 800 551 A2 discloses a rod cutting device and a rod material removal device in the tobacco processing industry, with which a rod in the tobacco processing industry can be severed.

EP 2 628 399 A1 shows a transfer drum of the tobacco processing industry, which is arranged in an arrangement of conveyor drums and by means of which two streams of rod-shaped products can be conveyed transversely.

In DE 10 2013 201 512 A1 shows a measuring device for checking at least one rod-shaped article or material strand of the tobacco processing industry that is conveyed along the longitudinal axis. This measuring device comprises at least two microwave resonators with lateral openings in different positions in the circumferential direction of the article or strand of material.

EP 2 243 385 A2 shows capsule monitoring and capsule position control in filters in the tobacco processing industry. In this case, a microwave measuring method is used for quality monitoring of a plurality of filters in a filter train in the tobacco processing industry, into which or in which capsules with a liquid filling are placed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a safe possibility, which does not affect the quality of the strand, of severing the strand, even in the case of such strands which comprise capsules or hard elements.

This object is achieved by a method for controlling a rod cutter in the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod cutter is designed to cut through a rod formed on a rod machine into a rod part that is unsuitable for further processing and a rod part that is suitable for further processing, which is further developed in that can be predetermined, or it is predetermined at which point of the strand the strand is severed.

The method according to the invention can be used to efficiently prevent the strand cutter from cutting through points on the strand that would cause impairment of the strand or could disrupt the function of the strand cutter or cause excessive wear.

If preferably a multi-segment filter rod is formed, in which a more stable casing is used, and it is specified by which type of segment, in particular at which point of this segment the cutting takes place, such stable filter rods can also be severed. It is also possible for a tobacco rod to be formed in which capsules provided with a flavor are introduced. In this case, it is preferred if it is specified that the strand cutter cuts through the strand at a distance from the capsules.

Preferably, at least one dead time between a severing control signal of a control device of the strand cutter and the moment of severing is recorded for severing the strand. As a result, the dead time measured or the detected dead time can be used very efficiently, for example for the next time the strand is severed. A dead time can arise, for example, because the strand cutter is pivoted or moved. A strand cutter according to DE 38 13 786 C2 has a circular blade which is pivoted through the strand via an axis which is arranged essentially perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the circular blade. Another strand cutter can also be used, for example a strand cutter, which is guided linearly through the strand with a rotating circular knife to cut the strand.

The strand cutter preferably serves to cut through two or more strands produced in parallel at the same time or to cut through one after the other at short intervals.

Preferably, the dead time is taken into account at least for the following or a subsequent severing of the strand. The dead time can change, for example, because pneumatic parts can switch at different speeds, for example, so that the dead time can change over the operating time of the strand cutter. By taking into account the dead time of a previous severing of the strand, this can be taken into account successively.

Preferably, the speed of the strand and the point in time at which filter segments or elements are laid down or inserted into the strand are taken into account for severing the strand.

In the event that the strand cutter carries out a pneumatically driven pivoting movement or displacement movement, the air pressure present is preferably set in relation to the dead time. This has the advantage that the length of the dead time can be determined more precisely if the prevailing air pressure is known. If the air pressure is lower, the dead time will be longer than if the air pressure is higher. The displacement or pivoting movement will be carried out faster with a higher air pressure than with a lower air pressure, so that the moment in which a control signal or a severing control signal is given to the strand cutter, the severing of the strand will be carried out faster if the air pressure is greater than when the air pressure is lower.

Even if electric motors are provided in order to provide a pivoting movement or a traversing movement of the strand cutter, there is a corresponding dead time. This too can possibly change depending on the applied voltage. Provision is preferably made to provide a voltage supply which provides a constant drive voltage for the pivoting movement or traversing movement of the strand cutter.

The point at which the strand is severed can preferably be specified by an operator, in particular via the control device, and can be changed in particular during operation of the strand machine. This makes it possible for the operator to make adjustments to the position of the severing of the strand.

The object is also achieved by a rod maker in the tobacco processing industry with a rod cutter which is designed to cut through a rod formed on the rod maker into a rod part that is unsuitable for further processing and a rod part that is suitable for further processing, the rod maker having an element inserter which Places elements, in particular filter segments, in a strand or on a strand, with a conveying device being provided which conveys the strand longitudinally and axially in a conveying direction, and with a control device being provided which is designed to control the strand cutter in such a way that the strand at a predetermined point of the strand is severed or is severed.

The control device is preferably provided with a strand speed or speed of the conveyor device, in particular by a machine controller, and/or the control device is designed to use the strand speed or the speed of the conveyor device of the strand cutter. As a result, the positional accuracy of the point at which the strand is severed can be improved.

The control device preferably takes into account a dead time between a signal to be sent from the control device to the strand cutter or sent severing control signal and the time of severing the strand for the time of the severing control signal. The control device is thus preferably designed to send a severing control signal to the strand cutter as a function of a dead time, so that the strand cutter can initiate the severing of the strand at the correct point in time. In this case, the dead time is the time that elapses between the beginning of the transmission of the severing control signal by the control device and the time at which the strand is completely severed.

In particular, a first sensor is provided which measures or detects the position of the strand cutter, in particular a position in which the strand cutter has completely severed the strand.

The control device is preferably provided with the point in time at which the element is inserted or placed on or in the strand or a position of the element inserter of the control device. Particularly preferably, the control device thus receives information about the point in time at which the element is placed in the strand or on the strand, a speed of the strand and thus, since the distance from the insertion point to the strand cutter is known, also the time that the element required to get from the moment of insertion to the strand cutter and a corresponding dead time that the strand cutter needs to cut through the strand.

A second sensor is preferably provided which, in the case of a pneumatically driven strand cutter, measures the air pressure for operating the strand cutter.

An input device is particularly preferably provided, by means of which an operator specifies or changes the predeterminable point at which the strand can be severed.

For rod machines in the tobacco processing industry, in particular Multi-filter manufacturing machines, it may make sense to align the cut of the rod cutter to a specific segment or not to cut a specific segment. Correspondingly, in other machines, such as cigarette rod machines, for example, where elements are inserted into the rod that should not be damaged, it also makes sense to limit the cut of the rod cutter to areas in which these elements are not present. Such elements or segments can, for example, be capsules with liquids or hard segments. Via the control of the rod machine, it is known where the filter segments or elements are located in the course of the rod or in the rod in order to start or control the rod cutter accordingly. It makes sense here to compensate for dead times, for example signal propagation times, compressed air, generation or application times, mass inertia, etc. For this purpose, a correction value can preferably be entered via an input unit, which preferably enables a correction in a positive or a negative direction. In addition, the dead time can be measured via an initiator or a sensor that detects the end position of a strand cutter and, in particular, can be taken into account for the next cut. According to the invention, a corresponding strand cutter is provided for preparing the beginning of the strand, meaning the beginning of a strand to be used for further processing. In this case, a rotating circular blade is preferably pivoted through the strand and the strand is thus severed accordingly. In addition, such a strand cutter can also be used to cut off the end of the strand, in particular when the machine is stopped.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the description of embodiments of the invention taken together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Multisegmentfilter-herstelleinrichtung mit einer Strangmaschine,

Fig. 2

eine schematische dreidimensionale Darstellung eines Strangabschneiders im Moment des Durchtrennens eines Strangs und

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung wesentlicher Elemente einer Strangmaschine.

The invention is described below without restricting the general inventive concept described using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, with respect to all details of the invention not explained in detail in the text, reference is expressly made to the drawings. Show it:

1

a schematic side view of a multi-segment filter manufacturing facility with a rod machine,

2

a schematic three-dimensional representation of a strand cutter at the moment of cutting through a strand and

3

a schematic representation of essential elements of a strand machine.

In the drawings, elements and/or parts that are the same or of the same type are provided with the same reference numbers, so that they are not presented again in each case.

1 shows a schematic representation of a multi-segment filter manufacturing facility. A group forming device 2 is shown and a rod machine 1. With regard to a corresponding multi-segment filter manufacturing device, particular reference is made to DE 101 55 292 B4 referred.

The group forming device 2 has independent functional units 604, 605.1, 605.2 and 61.1. The functional unit 604 is a soft element unit, by means of which two individual filter segments are added to a group of filter segments. The soft elements can be acetate tow elements, for example. The functional units 605.1 and 605.2 are also soft element units by means of which a single filter plug or a single filter segment of twice the useable length is supplied.

The functional unit 61.1 is a hard element unit. For example, an element with activated carbon granules can be processed there. Storage containers 53.1 - 53.3 and 54.1 are provided in the functional units, with a soft element storage container 53.1 - 53.3 being provided in the soft element unit 605.1, 605.2 or 604 and a hard element storage container 54.1 being provided in the hard element unit 61.1. Soft segments or soft elements, for example made of a cellulose acetate or a fleece, are processed in the soft element units 604, 605.1 and 605.2 and the processed segments are placed on a drum 64.1, 64.2. In the hard element unit 61.1, hard segments such as sintered granules, shells filled with granules or empty shells are positioned on a drum 64.3.

The group forming device 2 is supplied with energy by means of an energy supply unit 58 . By means of the multi-segment filter manufacturing device according to 1 For example, multi-segment filters for cigarettes can be produced that have four filter elements. The filter segments placed on the drums 64.1 to 64.3 are placed on the drums that follow (63.6, 63.7, 63.5 and 63.6) and brought together accordingly to form groups of filter segments.

In the functional unit 62, which is provided as a transfer unit, transfer drums 63.3, 63.2, 63.1 are provided, which deliver the group of filter segments to a turning drum 28. The turning drum 28 turns the filter segments conveyed in the transverse axial direction into a longitudinal axial conveying direction 12 and places the correspondingly accepted filter segments in a 1 non-illustrated strand at the right end thereof. As an alternative, the transfer of the filter elements or filter segments, for example, according to the DE-OS 25 34 666 take place.

The strand-forming device 1 forms a strand from the groups of filter segments made available using a conventional method. For this purpose, the filter segments are placed on a strip of wrapping material, which is arranged on a format tape, deposited and guided through a format device 44. The strip of wrapping material is usually stored on bobbins, which are not shown. Actually is in 1 a bobbin holder 30 is shown. A gluing device 32 and a glue reservoir 33 are also shown.

Before the filter rod groups are placed on the wrapping strip, this is glued. For this purpose, a first gluing device 32 is provided, which applies internal gluing in the form of two adjacent, parallel strips of glue to the wrapping strips. A second gluing device, which includes a glue reservoir 38, provides the wrapping strip in the region of an edge with a strip of glue for gluing the seam.

When the rod machine is started, this gluing is usually not yet possible with sufficient quality, so that a first rod section is first deflected via a rod cutter 50 into a garbage container 56 . Only when the seam has closed properly or the machine has picked up a corresponding speed does the strand cutter 50 cut the formed strand into a first part, which has ended up in the garbage container and which is referred to as a strand part unsuitable for further processing, and a further strand part, which is suitable for further processing and can be further processed in the conveying direction 12 downstream of the strand cutter 50, for example in a cutting device 48 is cut into filter rods of multiple usable length. It is also in 1 a push-in drum 57 is shown, by means of which the filters of n-times or multiple use lengths, such as 2, 4 or 6 times the use length, are pushed in for further processing, in particular for assembling with tobacco rods in another machine by means of the push-in drum 57.

According to the invention, it is now provided to control the strand cutter 50 by means of a control device 10 . A few dashed lines are shown for this purpose, the electrical connections of the control device 10 represent to the insertion device or turning drum 28, the format device 44 and the strand cutter 50. Electrical connections to corresponding sensors are also shown, such as sensor 18, which can be used to determine the insertion position or the exact time at which filter segments are inserted, or a second sensor 16, which can be used to determine the To measure pivoting of the strand cutter 50 present air pressure. In addition, a connection (not shown) to a sensor 14 with the control device 10 can also be provided, with the first sensor measuring a position of the strand cutter, for example an end position, immediately after the severing of the strand formed.

The control device 10 records the conveying speed of the format device or the format belt and the time at which the filter segment groups are inserted and, with the aid of the known distance and the speed of conveyance of the strand, taking into account the dead time of the strand cutter 50, can provide precise timing of the movement of the strand cutter.

For this purpose, it is also possible for the operator to adjust the position of the cut or the severing of the strand. This is schematic in 3 shown. There is no turning drum as in 1 shown, but an insert wheel 29, by means of which groups of filter segments consisting of a hard segment 160 and a soft segment 161, which are received in receiving troughs 162, are moved by the insert wheel 29 to the strand 124' and placed on or off the strand accordingly . The strand 124' moves in the conveying direction 12.

The strand cutter 50, whose construction in connection with 2 will be explained in more detail below, cuts the strand 124' at a predetermined point in the soft element 161. The cut-off part of the strand 124 ends up in a garbage container (not shown), whereas the remaining strand 124' moves to the left in conveying direction 12 3 will be promoted. 3 shows the moment when the strand 124' was severed from the further strand part 124. The operator can now set the position Y of the cut relative to the start of the soft element or to the end of the soft element 161 by means of an input device 8 . This can be done, for example, using a rotary knob or electronically using a touch display.

2 shows schematically in a three-dimensional representation a corresponding strand cutter, for example, a strand cutter from the DE 38 13 786 C2 corresponds, reference being made to this document in its entirety with regard to the configuration of the strand cutter 50 . The reference numbers used essentially correspond to the reference numbers from FIG DE 38 13 786 C2 , preceded by a 1 for this application. Only the strand cutter was marked with 50.

2 shows a strand cutter 50 in a schematic representation, which can be used for the method according to the invention in the strand machine according to the invention. A corresponding strand cutter 50 is arranged between the format device 44 and the cutting device 48 . The first part of the filter rod 124 formed after the rod machine has been started up and which does not yet have the quality features required for further processing is cut off by the rod cutter 50 . The cut-off beginning pieces or the cut-off beginning piece of the filter rod 124 reaches a collection container or a refuse container 56. The strand cutter 50 has a strand guide 136 for deflecting the unusable beginning part of the filter rod 124 after the machine has been started up. A circular knife (not shown) is also provided, which is driven in rotation in the cover 142 . The axis of rotation corresponds approximately to the cylinder axis of the housing 141 of the drive motor 139. The cover 142 has a recess 148 in the effective range of the circular blade (not shown). The strand 124' suitable for further processing can be guided through this recess will.

The drive motor 139 can be pivoted with its housing 141 about a pivot axis 151 via a bracket 149 .

The pivot axis 151 is arranged at a distance from and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the circular blade. A counter-holder 152 is also provided, which serves to support the filter rod 124 or 124' when it is being cut through by means of the circular knife. For this purpose, the counter-holder 152 can be moved against the filter rod 124' on the rod side facing away from the blade engagement side of the rod 124'. For this purpose, the counter-holder 152 is pivotable.

Both for the pivoting movement of the strand cutter 50 about the pivot axis 151 and for the pivoting movement of the counter-holder 152 about a pivot axis 152a are corresponding in 2 only pivoting means 153 and 154, symbolized by double arrows, are provided. The pivot axes 151 and 152a are mounted in a machine wall 156, behind which are the actual drive means, not visible here. For this purpose, a pneumatic working cylinder can be provided, which simultaneously carries out the pivoting drive of the strand cutter 50 (via the pivot axis 151) and its counter-holder 152 (via the pivot axis 152a) via corresponding lever arrangements. Appropriate controlled individual drives can of course also be provided for both. The drives should preferably be coordinated in such a way that the counter-holder 152 is slightly advanced, so that it is already in the counter-holder position required for the separating cut before the circular knife touches the filter rod 124, 124'.

In 2 a position of the strand cutter 50 is shown in which the strand cutter 50 is pivoted in with its cutting edge of the circular knife.

In the context of the invention, features that are marked with "particularly" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

reference list

1

strand machine

2

group forming device

8th

input device

10

control device

12

conveying direction

14

first sensor

16

second sensor

18

third sensor

28

turning drum

29

insert wheel

30

bobbin holder

32

gluing device

33

glue storage container

38

reservoir

44

conveyor

48

cutting device

50

strand cutter

53.1 - 53.3

Soft Element Reservoir

54.1

hard element reservoir

56

trash can

57

impact drum

58

power supply unit

61.1

hard element unit

62

transfer unit

63.1 - 63.7

transfer drum

64.1 - 64.3

assembly drum

124, 124'

filter rod

136

strand guide

139

drive motor

141

Housing

142

cover

148

recess

149

bracket

151

pivot axis

152

counter holder

152a

pivot axis

153

pivot means

154

pivot means

156

machine wall

160

hard segment

161

soft segment

162

receiving recess

605.1, 605.2

soft element unit

Claims (13)

1. A method for controlling a rod severer (50) of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod severer (50) is designed to sever a rod (124, 124') formed on a rod maker (1) into a rod part (124) unsuitable for further processing and a rod part (124') suitable for further processing, characterized in that it can be specified, or is specified, at which location of the rod (124, 124') the rod (124, 124') is severed.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a multisegment filter rod is formed and it is specified which type of segment is severed, in particular at which location of the segment.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, for severing the rod (124, 124'), at least one dead time is detected between a severing control signal of a control device (10) of the rod severer (50) and the moment of severing.
4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the dead time is taken into account for the following or a following severing of the rod (124, 124').
5. The method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, to sever the rod (124, 124'), the rod speed and the point in time at which filter segments or elements are placed or inserted into the rod (124, 124') is taken in account.
6. The method according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, in the case that the rod severer (50) performs a pneumatically driven pivoting movement or travel movement, the applied air pressure is set in relation to the dead time.
7. The method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the location at which the rod (124, 124') is severed can be specified by an operator, in particular via the control device (10), and in particular can be changed during operation of the rod maker (1).
8. A rod maker (1) of the tobacco processing industry with a rod severer (50), which is designed to sever a rod (124, 124') formed on the rod maker (1) into a rod part (124) unsuitable for further processing and a rod part (124') suitable for further processing, wherein the rod maker (1) has an element inserter (28), which places elements, in particular filter segments, into a rod (124, 124') or onto a rod (124, 124'), wherein a conveying device (44) is provided which conveys the rod (124, 124') along the longitudinal axis in a conveying direction (12), and wherein a control device (10) is provided, which is designed to control the rod severer (50) such that the rod (124, 124') is severed or can be severed at a specifiable location of the rod (124, 124').
9. The rod maker (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that a rod speed or a speed of the conveying device (44) is provided, in particular by a machine controller, to the control device (10) and/or that the control device (10) is designed to use the rod speed or the speed of the conveying device (44) to control the rod severer (50).
10. The rod maker (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the control device (10) takes into account a dead time between a severing control signal that is to be sent or has been sent by the control device (10) to the rod severer (50) and the point in time of the severing of the rod (124, 124') for the point in time of the severing control signal.
11. The rod maker (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the point in time at which the element is inserted or placed on or into the rod (124, 124') or a position of the element inserter (28, 29) is provided to the control device (10).
12. The rod maker (1) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that a first sensor (14) is provided which measures the position of the rod severer (50), wherein in particular a second sensor (16) is provided which, in the case of a pneumatically driven rod severer (50), measures the air pressure for driving the rod severer (50).
13. The rod maker (1) according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that an input device (8) is provided, by means of which an operator specifies or changes the specifiable location at which the rod (124, 124') can be severed.

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