EP3558825B1 - Cigarette magazine for a cigarette-packaging machine, and method for operating the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cigarette magazine in connection with or for a cigarette packaging machine with one or more groups of shafts, each with several shafts arranged next to one another and each delimited by shaft walls, along which cigarettes can be conveyed by their own weight essentially parallel to the shaft walls. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a magazine.

Cigarette magazines are part of the standard equipment of a cigarette packaging machine. A cigarette magazine usually consists of an upper storage container for the cigarettes and a group of upright or slightly inclined shafts adjoining the underside of the same. The shafts are separated from each other by thin shaft walls. You regularly have a distance from each other that is only slightly larger than the diameter of a cigarette. The cigarettes are filled continuously or in batches into the storage container via a filling opening. Within the same, the cigarettes lie closely side by side in a parallel and regularly horizontal orientation. The cigarettes then move from the reservoir into the shafts due to the force of gravity or as a result of their own weight, with a row of cigarettes arranged one above the other being formed in each shaft. The cigarettes are then placed on the underside of the shafts Groups or taken as a formation. Each several horizontal rows of cigarettes - regularly up to three on top of each other - are pushed out of the shafts in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes to form a cigarette group corresponding to the contents of a cigarette pack.

Vibration of the packaging machine or other reasons can cause tobacco to come loose, particularly from the front area of individual cigarettes, as the cigarettes move downwards in the shafts. In the case of coarse-grain tobacco in particular, the tobacco crumbs can then become lodged in the respective shaft and prevent the cigarettes from moving further down the shaft. This can result in the desired cigarette formation being ejected incompletely, out of position, or incorrectly, resulting in faulty production.

From the DE 110 44 24 It is known to cause the bottom surfaces of the cigarette magazines to oscillate by means of vibration exciters or vibration generators in order in this way to loosen stuck crumbs or jammed cigarettes. In particular, if tobacco crumbs are stuck in the chute far up in the magazine, it can happen that the amplitude of the vibration in this area is no longer sufficient to remove them.

From the DE 955 755 C , the GB 340 883 A , the DE 513 997 C or the DE 101 49 21 B Cigarette magazines and devices for arranging cigarettes are also known, in which one or more shaft walls of a shaft are also moved by moving an element on which they are at least partially arranged.

It is the object of the present invention to further develop a cigarette magazine of the type mentioned at the outset.

This object is achieved by a cigarette magazine having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 9.

According to this, a cigarette magazine according to the invention, in which several or all shaft walls of each shaft group, namely the end faces of the shaft walls, are operatively connected to at least one common, movable, in particular freely oscillating vibration plate in such a way that the vibrations of the plate are transmitted to the shaft walls during operation, and wherein the vibrating plate has a back wall of the cigarette magazine, which closes the shafts in some areas or completely, in particular their open rear ends, characterized in that at least one (in particular the upper) area of the rear wall is fastened or can be fastened to a stationary storage device, preferably by means of screws, and the vibration generator for Transmission of the vibrations is operatively connected to at least one other free (unfixed) area of the rear wall, which is preferably at a distance from the aforementioned area (in particular arranged further down), in particular an end area which, by at least partially elastic deformation of the rear wall relative to the fixed rear wall area and is movable. The vibrating plate is therefore movably mounted in that the rear wall is only fixed in a preferably narrow area while the other areas remain unfixed and can therefore be moved in the aforementioned manner relative to the fixed area. The vibrating plate can be vibrated in a targeted manner using an (electrically or pneumatically operated) vibration generator.

The vibration plate is preferably connected to the shaft walls in a non-positive and/or positive manner, for example screwed to them.

The vibration plate can be part of a superordinate component of any form.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the vibrations can be initiated precisely where they are to achieve the greatest effect, for example to prevent or resolve blockages in the conveyor of the cigarettes caused by tobacco crumbs, namely directly on the shaft walls or the shafts.

As far as the design of the cigarette magazine is concerned, when the cigarette magazine is installed, the shafts of the shaft groups are expediently upright in a manner known per se, if necessary with a (slight) inclination to the vertical in particular in sections, with the distances between the shaft walls being chosen such that in each shaft accommodates a row of cigarettes arranged one on top of the other.

The cigarette magazine usually has a storage container for cigarettes, to which the shafts of the shaft group(s) connect below.

The depth of a shaft often corresponds approximately to the length of a cigarette. So that the cigarettes cannot slide out of the shafts at the front or rear, the end faces on both sides of the shafts can be partially or completely closed by a front or rear wall. Only one side can be closed.

The vibration plate forms such a rear wall which is connected (for example screwed) to the shaft walls (in particular to their respective rear end faces) in a non-positive and/or positive manner. This rear wall can correspondingly partially or completely close the shafts, in particular their corresponding (rear) open end faces.

The vibrating plate can also extend over the entire width and height of all groups of shafts, so that the shafts are completely closed by the vibrating plate at their respective end faces. Alternatively - insofar as there are several groups of shafts - one vibrating plate can also be assigned to only one group of shafts and close their shafts or the end faces mentioned in the manner described, either completely or in certain areas.

As far as the vibrating movements or the oscillating movements are concerned, which are triggered by the vibrating plate, these preferably take place in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes--regularly horizontally or horizontally--that is to say perpendicularly to the plane of the vibrating plate. This is made possible by appropriate design of the bearing of the vibration plate and appropriate design of the vibration generator.

However, the vibrations can also occur perpendicularly to the shaft walls within the plane of the plate, ie ultimately perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the cigarettes.

Vibration movements within the plane of the plate, namely parallel to the shaft walls, are also conceivable (regular up and down movements in the vertical) or vibration movements in the plane of the plate, which are circular or elliptical. Combinations or superimpositions of such movements can also be useful.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, each shaft group of the cigarette magazine (see above) is assigned at least one vibration plate of its own. The vibration plates can be connected to one another, for example by at least one connecting means, such as a connecting web, so that they vibrate at the same frequency when subjected to vibrations by a vibration generator assigned to them or operatively connected to them.

In this case, it can be provided that at least two vibration plates are assigned a common vibration generator, which is connected to them in particular in a non-positive and/or positive manner, so that the vibration generator simultaneously forms the connecting means. Such a vibration generator is preferably assigned to two adjacent vibration plates or arranged on them, so that it transmits vibrations generated by it to both vibration plates.

All the vibration plates are preferably connected to one another so that they vibrate at the same frequency after being excited by at least one vibration generator.

The at least one vibrating plate or, as a rule, all the vibrating plates are expediently movably mounted on a (common) stationary bearing element, in particular on a stationary bearing plate. Namely in such a way that the respective vibration plate can vibrate relative to the stationary bearing element. For this purpose, for example, elastic bearing means, for example rubber buffers or the like, can be provided which are connected on the one hand to the bearing element and on the other hand to the vibration plate.

In a further development of the invention, preferably at least two groups of shafts or at least two different areas of a group of shafts are each assigned separate, in particular unconnected, vibration plates and vibration generators. Preferably such that the two vibrating plates and with them the two shaft groups or the two different shaft group areas can be vibrated independently of one another, so that they can also vibrate with different frequencies, phases and/or amplitudes etc.

If, for example, different areas of the respective group of shafts, such as an upper and a lower area of a group of shafts, are each separately operatively connected to their own vibration plate, the upper area could be subjected to vibrations in a different direction, different amplitude, different frequency and/or different phase, etc than the lower area. This can be useful if only because the wall thicknesses of the shaft walls generally decrease from top to bottom thus there are larger oscillating masses in the lower area than in the upper area. In other words, in this case there are different oscillation systems with correspondingly different resonant frequencies, which can lead to problems if the oscillations or vibrations are not designed appropriately in each case.

The two or at least two vibration generators are preferably arranged or operatively connected to the assigned area of the group of shafts and/or designed in such a way that the vibration movements of the vibration plate assigned to one vibration generator take place or can take place at an angle to the vibration movements of the vibration plate assigned to the other vibration generator .

As far as the fixed bearing device is concerned, to which the rear wall is fixed or fastened in the said area, it can be, for example, a (stationary) housing or it can comprise such.

In a further development of the aforementioned ideas, the vibration generator comprises at least one spring part, in particular an elongate one, preferably at least two spring parts, in particular a spring steel sheet, with the (possibly respective) spring part having a first fastening area, which is fastened to the free area of the rear wall, and a second Fastening area that is mounted in a stationary manner or is fastened to a stationary bearing device, with a movement transmission element of the vibration generator, which is moved in particular by an (electric) motor-driven eccentric shaft and preferably executes vertical up and down movements, being operatively connected to the spring part between the two fastening areas.

The first attachment area and the second attachment area can be opposite end areas of the spring part, with the movement transmission member being attached to the spring part preferably essentially centrally between these two end areas.

In a further embodiment of the invention, vertical up and down movements of the movement transmission element can lead to up and down movements of the spring part in an area between the first and second fastening area of the spring part, which in turn cause back and forth movements or vibration movements of the rear wall.

As far as the movement transmission member is concerned, it can be a connecting rod connected to the eccentric shaft, the eccentric shaft preferably being driven by a (servo)motor, in particular a speed-controlled one.

The solution according to the invention to the above-mentioned object according to claim 9 is characterized in that the frequency and/or the amplitude and/or the phases of the vibrations or oscillations generated by the at least one vibration generator are periodically and repeatedly changed during operation of the cigarette magazine. Through these adjustments, for example, the frequency during operation or the application of vibrations of different parameters, the probability is increased that for each different conveyor blockage

Tobacco crumbs or the like suitable or appropriate vibrations / oscillations can be initiated, which can resolve the respective blockage.

If, as already indicated above, at least two shaft groups or at least two different areas of a shaft group are each assigned separate, in particular unconnected vibration plates and vibration generators, it can be provided that during operation of the cigarette magazine a vibration generator can be used at least temporarily with a different frequency and/or amplitude and/or or phase than the other vibration generator. For example, a first vibration generator could be operated with a constant frequency, a second with a periodically changing frequency.

During operation of the cigarette magazine, it may turn out that the current actual vibrations that the respective group of chutes performs—triggered by the vibration plate connected to the respective vibration generator—deviate from the desired vibrations or desired vibrations. For example, depending on the type of cigarettes used or depending on the filling level of the respective cigarette magazine, the respective chute group to be set vibrating could have different actual masses, which lead to a different, particularly undesirable vibration or oscillation behavior of the respective chute group.

For this reason, according to a further development of the invention, it can be provided that during operation of the cigarette magazine, the actual vibrations of the respective group of chutes generated by the respective vibration generator are automatically measured (preferably several times, in particular continuously or at predetermined time intervals) with a sensor, for example with a particular acceleration sensor arranged on the respective shaft group, and then to automatically control/regulate the vibration generator depending on the measurement result.

In concrete terms, one or more operating parameters or control parameters of the vibration generator (such as phase, frequency and/or amplitude) would then be set/changed automatically in accordance with the measurements of the respective actual vibrations or oscillations of the respective group of shafts or the shaft walls of the same .

In this way, a closed control loop can be implemented, with which it is ensured that during operation the actual values of the vibrations/oscillations of the respective group of shafts representing the controlled variable also correspond to desired/stored vibration or oscillation setpoint values.

It can further be provided that it is automatically determined continuously or periodically whether there is a fault in one or more of the shafts, in particular a conveyor blockage or a conveyor jam, and that if such a fault has been determined, the frequency and/or the amplitude and/or the phase of the vibrations or oscillations generated by the vibration generator is changed automatically.

Whether such a fault is present could possibly be recognized by means of suitable test measurements. For example, in that the actual vibrations of the ducts or possibly groups of ducts are recorded in the manner indicated above. If the actual vibrations deviate to a certain extent from the target vibrations, this can indicate a malfunction or an error. Alternatively, a wide variety of other types of test measurements are conceivable in order to determine such a fault directly or indirectly.

In a further development of this idea, the vibrations or the oscillations that the vibration generator generates are changed automatically after a fault has been determined until the fault has been eliminated. In order to check whether the fault has been eliminated after such a change, further test measurements are preferably carried out subsequently, in particular continuously or periodically.

According to a further idea, the parameter values of the frequency and/or the amplitude and/or the phase of the vibrations or the vibrations generated by the vibration generator could be selected or changed automatically depending on the type of cigarettes with which the magazine is filled or is to be filled, so that at least one different parameter value is set for a first type of cigarette than for a second type of cigarette that differs from the first.

As the person skilled in the art recognizes, all of the above methods can be implemented with one or more controllers in which the methods are mapped and to which the above sensor or sensors and the vibration generator(s) are connected or from which/ which these are controlled.

Further features of the present invention result from the appended patent claims, the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments and the appended drawings.

Fig. 1

eine vereinfachte Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Zigarettenmagazins mit zwei Schachtgruppen in einer Schrägansicht,

Fig. 2

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie II-II in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf das Zigarettenmagazin entlang der Blickrichtung III in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine vergrößerte Einzelheit IV entsprechend Fig. 3 einer zweiten, abweichenden Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Zigarettenmagazins,

Fig. 5

eine dritte Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Zigarettenmagazins in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 4,

Fig. 6

die Einzelheit VI aus Fig. 4 in vergrößerter Darstellung,

Fig. 7

die Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 6 in einem zeitlich späteren Zustand,

Fig. 8

drei exemplarische Schwingungs-Zeit-Diagramme zur Visualisierung möglicher Schwingungen/Vibrationen eines Vibrationserzeugers eines erfindungsgemäßen Zigarettenmagazins,

Fig. 9

eine Rückansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Zigarettenmagazins,

Fig. 10

einen Schnitt entlang der Schnittlinie X-X in Fig. 10.

It shows:

1

a simplified representation of a first embodiment of a cigarette magazine according to the invention with two shaft groups in an oblique view,

2

a section along line II-II in 1 ,

3

a plan view of the cigarette magazine along viewing direction III in 2 ,

4

an enlarged detail IV accordingly 3 a second, different embodiment of a cigarette magazine according to the invention,

figure 5

a third embodiment of a cigarette magazine according to the invention in a representation accordingly 4 ,

6

detail VI 4 in enlarged view,

7

the representation accordingly 6 in a later state,

8

three exemplary oscillation-time diagrams for visualizing possible oscillations/vibrations of a vibration generator of a cigarette magazine according to the invention,

9

a rear view of a third embodiment of a cigarette magazine according to the invention,

10

a section along section line XX in 10 .

the Figures 1-8 show a cigarette magazine 10 as can be used, for example, in a cigarette packaging machine known per se. In the upper area it has a reservoir, not shown, in which a large number of cigarettes 11 is accommodated. Such a reservoir is usually filled through an upper opening.

Guide elements 12 are arranged within the storage container, which direct the cigarettes 11 to two shaft groups 13 arranged below the storage container. The cigarettes lie parallel to one another and aligned horizontally, with the cigarette ends of all cigarettes 11 ideally lying essentially in a common vertical plane.

Each shaft group 13 has several shafts 14, in the present case seven. As a result of gravity, the cigarettes 11 slide out of the storage container into the shafts 14, with a row of cigarettes 11 arranged one above the other being accommodated in each shaft 14.

The shafts 14 are each delimited laterally by (upright) shaft walls 15. The distance between the shaft walls 15 is chosen so that essentially only one cigarette fits horizontally or horizontally in each shaft 14, ie not several next to each other.

The shafts 14 and the shaft walls 15 of a group of shafts 13 usually run at a slight angle to one another, namely at a distance from one another that increases downwards. For this purpose, the width of the shaft walls 15 decreases from top to bottom. But this does not have to be the case.

The depth of each shaft 14 essentially corresponds to the length of a cigarette. However, it can also be (slightly) larger or smaller.

At the lower outlet of the groups of shafts 13, the cigarettes 11 are grouped or pushed out in groups by a pusher 16 according to the formation of cigarettes 11 to be received from a cigarette pack.

The open rear ends of the chutes 14, i. H. the rear sides between the respective shaft walls 15 of each shaft 14 of each shaft group 13 are each essentially closed.

Present in the lower region of the shafts 14 of each shaft group 13 by a fixed (vertical) plate 17 which rests against the corresponding rear end faces of the shafts 14 and the shaft walls 15.

In the upper region of the shafts 14 of each group of shafts 13, there is a movably mounted vibrating plate 18 which sits flush in an associated section of the fixed plate 17.

The vibrating plate 18 of each shaft group 13 is fixed, in this case non-positively, to the shaft group 13 of the same, for example screwed. Present with (the) rear end faces of the shaft walls 15.

Each vibration plate 18 is movably mounted using bearing means 20 on a stationary bearing element 19, in this case a stationary support plate.

As for example in 2 As can be seen clearly, the bearing means 20 can be or comprise elastic buffers, such as rubber buffers or the like, which interact with rear fastening strips of the vibration plate 18. The only decisive factor is that the respective vibration plate 18 can move in one or more directions relative to the stationary bearing element 19 .

The vibration plates 18 can be made to vibrate or oscillate by means of a pneumatically or electrically operated, controllable vibration generator 21 (vibrator). Vibration generators 21 of this type are known, so that their designs will not be discussed in any more detail here.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 the vibration generator 21 is arranged on the two vibration plates 18 or is (operatively) connected to them in a non-positive and/or positive manner, cf. 2 , so that it can cause both vibration plates 18 to oscillate or vibrate at the same time during operation.

For this purpose, one section of the vibration generator 21 is connected to one vibration plate 18 and another section to the other vibration plate 18.

Since the vibrating plates 18 on the other hand - as explained above - are connected in a non-positive and/or positive manner to the respective shaft walls 15 of the associated group of shafts 13, during operation of the vibration generator 21 the vibrations of the latter are first transmitted to the vibrating plates 18 and then directly to the shaft walls 15 transfer. This makes it possible, for example tobacco crumbs 22, cf. Figures 6 and 7 , from positions in which they block further sliding down of the cigarettes 11 within the shafts 14, cf. 6 , to move to a non-blocking position, cf. 7 .

In this context, it is also conceivable to design the shaft walls 15 in multiple parts (here in two parts) to form a common (in particular horizontal) transport channel 23 running at an angle to the shaft walls 15 . The individual shafts 14 are each connected individually to the transport channel 23 .

Loosened tobacco crumbs can then move out of the respective shafts along the transport channel 23 with the aid of the vibrations introduced according to the invention, in particular horizontally outwards, see also Figures 6, 7 .

With regard to the direction of the oscillations or vibrations that the vibrating plates 18 can bring into the shaft walls 15 or transfer to them, there are various possibilities according to the invention.

Vibration movements are particularly preferably introduced perpendicularly to the plane of the vibration plate, so that the shaft walls 15 are moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes 11 or in the horizontal direction.

However, vibrations can also be generated in the plane of the plate, which are circular or elliptical, cf. 4 . For this, however, an alternative storage or Suspension of the vibration plates 18 required, as exemplified in the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 is shown in sketch form (omitting the bearing elements on which the bearing means 20 are supported).

Incidentally, it is also conceivable to generate vibratory movements which run parallel to the shaft walls 15 in the plane of the plate or perpendicular to the shaft walls 15 in the plane of the plate, cf. figure 5 .

It is also possible to superimpose various such vibratory movements.

In the Figures 4 and 5 is also indicated that according to the invention it can be provided to assign separate and in particular unconnected vibration plates 18 and vibration generators 21 to different areas of each group of shafts. In particular in such a way that the respective vibrating plates 18 - and with them the shaft groups 13 or the corresponding shaft group areas - can be made to vibrate independently of one another. In this way, various vibration systems are created as a result, which can be subjected to different vibrations as required.

The upper diagram in 8 to recognize that in the standard case, the one or more vibrating plates 18 can be applied with a uniform frequency and uniform amplitude.

However, changing frequencies and changing amplitudes can also be provided, cf. the middle diagram in 8 .

Finally, it is also conceivable to assign different frequencies and amplitudes to several vibration generators, so that the individual vibrations can be superimposed, see diagram below 8 .

the 9 , 10 show a further embodiment 10' of a cigarette magazine according to the invention. Identical or similar components are provided with the same reference numbers as in the cigarette magazine 10 described above - insofar as they match.

In the case of the cigarette magazine 10', too, the shaft walls 15 are each directly connected to a vibrating plate 18, respectively. The vibrating plate 18 extends along all shaft groups 13 or shafts 14 and correspondingly forms the rear wall for all shaft groups 13 or shafts 14. End faces of all shaft walls 15 are connected to the vibration plate 18.

The cigarette magazine 10' differs from the cigarette magazine 10 in particular by the type of movable mounting of the vibration plate 18, the type of generation of the vibrations and the type of transmission of the same to the vibration plate 18.

The vibration plate 18 is firmly connected to a stationary bearing device 24 in an upper (narrow) (end) area.

In concrete terms, the vibration plate 18 has upper, lateral fastening sections 25a, b on two opposite, spaced sides, which are each integrally connected to a main part 26 of the vibration plate 18 via a narrow connecting region 27a or 27b or connecting web.

The fastening sections 25a, b are each firmly connected or fixed to the bearing device 24 by means of fastening means 28, here screws, namely in the present case on vertical housing parts 29a, 29b of the cigarette magazine 10'.

In the lower area of the vibration plate 18 or the main part 26 thereof, the vibration plate 18 is not fixed, but designed to be freely suspended. As a result, an at least regionally elastic deformation of the lower area of the vibration plate 18 relative to the fixed upper area is possible. In the present example, about a horizontal axis of rotation, which runs in the upper area of the vibration plate 18 approximately at the height of the fastening sections 25a, b.

The vibrating plate 18 can therefore, with appropriate excitation by a vibration generator 21', carry out back and forth movements in a vertical plane running perpendicular to the horizontal axis of rotation. In 9 the movements running on a curved path are carried out in a direction almost perpendicular to the plane of the image.

The vibration generator 21' is designed in a special way to generate these movements.

It comprises a (speed-controlled) servo motor 31 which drives a revolving shaft 32 which extends along the vibrating plate 18 at a distance and parallel thereto in a horizontal plane.

The shaft 32 is rotatably mounted on the bearing device 24 or on the housing parts 29a, b by means of rotary bearings 33a, b.

In the present case, the shaft 32 is an eccentric shaft which is connected to movement transmission elements 34a, b, namely connecting rods or connecting rods in the present case.

When the shaft 32 rotates, the movement-transmitting members 34a, b each perform back and forth movements, namely up and down movements in a vertical plane, cf. 10 .

Each movement transmission element 34a, b is fastened (here by means of a clamp) to a spring part 30a or 30b. In the present case, the spring parts 30a, b are designed as spring (steel) sheets.

Each spring part 30a, b has a first fastening area 35 which is connected to the vibration plate 18 or is fastened to it (here by means of a clamp). In this exemplary embodiment, the first fastening area 35 is at the same time a first end area of the respective spring part 30a, b.

Furthermore, each spring part 30a, b has a second fastening region 37, in this case an end region of the respective spring part 30a, b which is opposite the first end region and is mounted in a stationary manner. In each case on a stationary bearing part 36a, b or a cross support of the bearing device 24.

The respective movement transmission element 34a, b is attached (essentially) centrally to the respective spring part 30a, b.

When the cigarette magazine 10' is in operation, the servo motor 31 drives the shaft 32, as a result of which the motion transmission members 34a,b are moved up and down.

Starting from the in 10 The non-deflected position of the spring part 30a, b shown, leads to a downward movement of the respective movement transmission element 34a, b a corresponding downward movement of the spring part 30a, b (cf. dash-dotted line in 10 ), and thus as a result to a movement of the vibration plate 18 backwards or in 9 out of the picture plane.

A subsequent upward movement of the movement transmission element 34a, b leads to a backward movement of the vibration plate 18 into the image plane.

With a corresponding (high) frequency rotation of the servo motor 31, the desired vibrations or back and forth movements of the vibration plate 18 are generated in this way.

Reference List

10

cigarette magazine

10'

cigarette magazine

11

Cigarette

12

governing body

13

shaft group

14

shaft

15

shaft wall

16

pusher

17

stationary plate

18

vibration plate

19

bearing element

20

storage means

21

vibration generator

21'

vibration generator

22

tobacco crumbs

23

transport channel

24

storage facility

25a, b

attachment sections

26

Bulk

27a, b

connection areas

28

fasteners

29a, b

housing parts

30a, b

spring parts

31

servo motor

32

Wave

33a, b

warehouse

34a, b

motion transmission organs

35

first attachment area

36a, b

bearing part

37

second attachment area

Claims (15)

1. Cigarette magazine for a cigarette-packaging machine, having a vibration generator (21, 21') and having one or more shaft groups (13) each with a plurality of shafts (14) which are arranged one beside the other, are delimited in each case by shaft walls (15) and along which cigarettes (11) can be conveyed, substantially parallel to the shaft walls (15), under their own weight, wherein a plurality of, or all, the shaft walls (15) of one or each shaft group (13), that is to say in each case end sides of the shaft walls (15), are operatively connected to at least one common vibration plate (18), which is mounted in a movable, in particular freely oscillating, manner and can be made to vibrate by the vibration generator (21, 21'), such that the vibrations of the vibration plate (18) can be transmitted to the shaft walls (15) during operation, wherein the vibration plate (18) is or forms a rear wall, which partially or fully closes the shafts (15), in particular the rear, open end sides of the same, characterized in that at least one, in particular upper, region of the rear wall is or can be fixed on a fixed-location bearing device (24), wherein, for the purpose of transmitting the vibrations, the vibration generator (21, 21') is operatively connected at least to one other, in particular lower-down, free region of the rear wall, in particular an end region, which, as a result of at least partial elastic deformation of the rear wall, can be moved back and forth relative to the fixed or fixable rear-wall region.
2. Cigarette magazine according to Claim 1, characterized in that, as a result of the bearing arrangement and of the vibration generator (21, 21') being appropriately designed, the vibration plate (18) performs vibratory movements in a direction perpendicular to the plate plane, or vibratory movements along the plate plane specifically in a direction perpendicular to the shaft walls (15), or vibratory movements along the plate plane specifically parallel to the shaft walls (15), or a circular or elliptical vibratory movement along the plate plane.
3. Cigarette magazine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two shaft groups (13) or at least two different regions of a shaft group (13) are each assigned separate, in particular non-connected, vibration plates (18) and vibration generators (21), preferably such that the two vibration plates (18), and with them the two shaft groups (13) or the two different shaft-group regions, can be made to vibrate independently of one another.
4. Cigarette magazine according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two vibration generators (21) are arranged and/or designed such that, during operation, the vibratory movements of the vibration plate (18) assigned to the one vibration generator (21) take place, or can take place, at an angle to the vibratory movements of the vibration plate assigned to the other vibration generator (21).
5. Cigarette magazine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibration generator (21') comprises at least one in particular elongate spring part (30a, b), preferably at least two spring parts (30a, b), in particular a spring-steel sheet, wherein the, or the respective, spring part (30a, b) has a first fastening region, which is fastened on the free region of the rear wall, and a second fastening region, which is fastened on a fixed-location bearing device (24), wherein a movement-transmission member (34a, b) of the vibration generator (21'), the movement-transmission member being moved in particular by a motor-driven eccentric shaft (32) and carrying out preferably vertical movements up and down, is operatively connected to the spring part (30a, b) between the two fastening regions.
6. Cigarette magazine according to Claim 5, characterized in that the first fastening region and the second fastening region are opposite end regions of the spring part (30a, b), and in that the movement-transmission member (34a, b) is fastened on the spring part (30a, b), preferably essentially centrally between these two end regions.
7. Cigarette magazine according to Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that vertical movements of the movement-transmission member (34a, b) up and down result in the spring part (30a, b) moving up and down in a region between the first and second fastening regions of the spring part (30a, b), the latter movements causing the rear wall to move back and forth or to vibrate.
8. Cigarette magazine according to Claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that the movement-transmission member (34a, b) is a connecting rod, which is connected to the eccentric shaft (32), and in that the eccentric shaft (32) is driven by a speed-controlled motor.
9. Method for operating a cigarette magazine (10, 10') of a cigarette-packaging machine, having a vibration generator (21, 21') and having one or more shaft groups (13) each with a plurality of shafts (14) which are arranged one beside the other, are delimited in each case by shaft walls (15) and along which cigarettes (11) can be conveyed, substantially parallel to the shaft walls (15), under their own weight, wherein in each case end sides of the shaft walls (15) are operatively connected to at least one common vibration plate (18), which is mounted in a movable, in particular freely oscillating, manner and can be made to vibrate by the vibration generator (21, 21'), such that the vibrations of the vibration plate (18) are transmitted to the shaft walls during operation, characterized in that the frequency and/or the amplitude and/or the phase of the vibrations or of the oscillations generated by the vibration generator (21, 21') are/is changed on a periodically repeating basis during operation of the cigarette magazine (10, 10').
10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that at least two shaft groups (13) or at least two different regions of a shaft group (13) are each assigned separate, in particular non-connected, vibration plates (18) and vibration generators (21), wherein, during operation of the cigarette magazine (10, 10'), one vibration generator (21) is at least temporarily operated at a different frequency and/or amplitude and/or phase to the other vibration generator (21).
11. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the one vibration generator (21) is operated at a constant frequency, and the other vibration generator (21) is operated at a frequency which changes in particular on a periodically repeating basis.
12. Method according to one or more of the preceding Claims 9-11, characterized in that at least two shaft groups (13) or at least two different regions of a shaft group (13) are each assigned separate, in particular non-connected, vibration plates (18) and vibration generators (21), preferably such that the two vibration plates (18), and with them the two shaft groups (13) or the two different shaft-group regions, can be made to vibrate independently of one another, wherein, during operation of the cigarette magazine (10), the vibratory movements of the one vibration generator are set such that they at least temporarily take place at an angle to those of the other vibration generator.
13. Method according to one or more of the preceding Claims 9-12, characterized in that it is automatically determined on a continuous or periodic basis whether there is a disturbance present in one or more shafts (14), in particular a conveying blockage or a conveying backlog, and in that, in the event where such a disturbance has been determined, a change is automatically made to the frequency and/or the amplitude and/or the phase of the vibrations or of the oscillations generated by the vibration generator (21, 21').
14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that, once the disturbance has been determined, a change is made to the frequency and/or the amplitude and/or the phase of the vibrations or of the oscillations generated by the vibration generator (21, 21') until such time as the disturbance has been removed.
15. Method according to one or more of the preceding Claims 9-14, characterized in that the parameter values of the frequency and/or of the amplitude and/or of the phase of the vibrations or of the oscillations generated by the vibration generator (21, 21') are automatically selected or changed in dependence on the type of cigarettes (11) with which the magazine is or should be filled, and therefore at least one different parameter value is set for a first type of cigarette than is the case for a second type of cigarette, which differs from the first.

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