EP3757046B1 - Device and method for joining two sheets of material each running from a reel - Google Patents

Description

Description

The invention relates to a device, designed and set up for connecting two material webs each running from a reel, comprising a first receptacle for receiving a first reel with a first material web of finite length, a second receptacle for receiving a second reel with a material web of finite length, Transport means for transporting the material webs in the conveying direction T, as well as a connecting station with a cutting device for cutting a free, trailing end of the first material web and a free, leading end of the second material web, and with a connecting device for connecting the two cut, free ends of the material webs Length to an endless material web to form an overlap area, the connecting station being designed and set up to form an overlap area which is provided with at least one opening across the width of the endless material web.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for connecting two material webs unwound from a reel, comprising the steps: providing the first and second material webs, transporting the two material webs in the conveying direction T, aligning the two material webs lying one above the other, cutting the two material webs, etc that a trailing end of the first material web and a leading end of the second material web are created, connecting the two cut, free ends of the material webs of finite length to form an endless material web, forming an overlap area by means of a connecting station, at least one breakthrough being created in the overlap area.

Such devices and methods are used in the tobacco processing industry, especially in the production of so-called "heat-not-burn" products, in order to provide endless material webs to maintain the production of endless strands without interruption. The material webs are usually wound on bobbins and are of finite length. Before a first bobbin with a material web of finite length is completely unwound or runs empty by transporting it in the conveying direction T, a second bobbin with a material web of finite length is transported in the conveying direction T and positioned relative to the first material web. The two material webs, more precisely the trailing, i.e. the rear end of the first material web that is currently in production and the leading, i.e. front end of the new, still completely wound material web, are aligned with one another and cut, in order to then be connected to one another to form an endless material web become. The second material web, which is then in production, is transported in the conveying direction T in order to then be connected to another material web before it runs completely empty and so on.

Due to the high production speed and the correspondingly high transport speed of the material web, the reels sometimes run empty every minute. Particularly when producing “heat-not-burn” products, the film strips, which are at least partly made of tobacco, are thick and correspondingly heavy. Since the reels on which the film webs are wound only have a limited capacity, i.e. the size of the reel is limited, this leads to a particularly frequent change of the reels, with the result that material webs with connection points, which are also splice points, appear at short intervals are called, have to be transported through a format that is precisely dimensioned for a strand to be manufactured.

The previously known methods and devices for connecting two material webs unwound from a reel have connecting stations with a cutting device, by means of which either a rectangular cut (transverse to the conveying direction of the material webs) or a diagonal cut is carried out. In any case, the known cutting devices are only designed to carry out so-called complementary cuts. This means that the cut edges of the material webs created by the cutting device fit into or against one another according to the key-lock principle or - in a complementary manner - can be placed against one another in a suitable manner. The transverse or diagonal or otherwise complementary The cut free ends of the material webs are placed one on top of the other and connected to form an endless material web, forming an overlap area.

For strand production, the endless material webs are guided through the format already mentioned, in and through which the endless material web is formed into an endless strand with a substantially round cross section. When producing endless strands of film webs at least partially made of tobacco, these are, for example, cut into strips and formed into an endless strand. When forming an endless strand from the material web or the film web, regardless of whether the film web is transported into the format as a flat web or as cut strips, the material web/film web has a thickening in the overlap area closed over the width of the material web, which has to be transported through the format. The overlap area is correspondingly designed to be at least partially double-layered across the width of the material web and is closed over the entire surface.

In the overlap area of the two material webs of finite length, the endless material web formed therefrom is designed to be double-layered at least in sections. When cutting with the cutting device at a right angle transverse to the conveying direction T, rectangular free ends are created, which, when overlapped, lead to an overlap area in which a uniform double layer is formed over the entire length of the overlap in the conveying direction T, which leads to considerable thickening , which must be transported by the format. In the area of thickening, 200% (based on the areas outside the overlap area) of the material must be guided through the format. With diagonal cuts, due to the triangular free ends, a reduced overlap area is formed, in which the double layer of material is distributed over a distance in the conveying direction T. Nevertheless, the endless material web is also continuously closed in the overlap area, so that there is still a thickening in the overlap area when viewed over the entire width of the material web. In other words, in the overlap area the double layer leads to an accumulation of material compared to the material web outside the overlap area of up to approx. 150%. This accumulation of material leads to the strand running unevenly due to the format being set up exactly to the desired diameter of the endless strands to be formed. In other words, the accumulation of material can cause a jerk in the endless material web or the forming strand, which in turn can lead to tearing of the material web. The accumulations of material that have to be "forced" through the format can also lead to damage to a format belt guided in the format and/or the material web and/or the strand to be formed.

A generic device with the corresponding method is the U.S. 2, 724, 426 refer to.

The object underlying the invention is now to create a device which ensures a connection of free ends of two material webs that reduces the thickening of the endless material web in the overlap area. The further task is to propose an appropriate procedure.

This object is achieved by a device with the features mentioned at the outset in that the connecting station is designed and set up to form an overlap area which has areas of overlap on the one hand and areas free of material on the other across the width of the endless material web, the size of the areas of overlap being determined Size of the material-free areas is in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 and particularly preferably from 0.95 to 1.05, or there are more/larger material-free areas over the entire width of the overlap area There are areas as areas of overlap or the areas of overlap and the material-free areas essentially correspond in terms of their size.

This design of the connecting station reduces the accumulation of material in the overlap area. Regardless of whether the or each breakthrough, i.e. a hole or the like that cuts through both material webs in the overlap area, occurs before the connection or after the two free ends are connected, the thickening of the endless material web is reduced, which means the previously described disadvantages of the prior art be overcome. By designing the connecting station to create at least one opening in the overlap area, a volume reduction of material in the overlap area and thus a more uniform distribution of material is achieved in a surprisingly simple and effective manner, which means that the endless material web is transported through the format in a way that is gentle on the endless material web and the format guaranteed. For the purposes of the invention, a breakthrough is understood to mean, in particular, any opening or the like with an extent greater than 1 mm ² .

In some embodiments according to the invention there are more/larger areas of overlap than material-free areas for particularly good stability over the entire width of the overlap area and in other embodiments there are more/larger material-free areas than areas of overlap over the entire width of the overlap area an optimized material reduction in the overlap area.

In further embodiments according to the invention, the connecting station is designed and set up to form an overlap area which has areas of overlap on the one hand and areas free of material on the other hand across the width of the endless material web, the areas of overlap and the areas free of material essentially corresponding to one another in terms of their size . The size corresponds to the respective area. This achieves optimal material distribution across the width of the material web and also over the distance of the overlap area in the conveying direction T. This means that the material distribution in the overlap area corresponds to the material distribution outside the overlap area. The thickening/accumulation of material created by the double layers is completely compensated for by the holes, openings or the like, so that an identical amount of material in width/circumference is always transported through the format. In other words, the volume of each infinitesimally small strip formed from an area of an infinitesimally small strip of the material web running over the entire width multiplied by the (respectively local) thickness of the material web/film web is always 100% based on the volume of an infinitesimally small strip outside the overlap area. In the area of the overlap, this constant material distribution is maintained despite the overlapping areas, since the additional volume is compensated for by the holes in the overlap area/missing material in the overlap area, so that ideally no thickening occurs at all.

Particularly preferably, the device is designed and set up as material webs for connecting two film webs consisting at least partially of tobacco. With this version the effect is even Material distribution over the length and width of the endless material web including the overlap area is particularly important.

Advantageously, the connecting station comprises means for moistening at least one of the free ends of the film webs of finite length to be connected. This means, which is designed and set up to moisten one or both free ends, ensures a particularly strong connection of the film webs to be spliced. The supply of liquid, for example water, glycerin, propylene glycol or the like, to at least one of the free ends moistens and softens the material of the tobacco-containing or tobacco-containing film webs, thereby facilitating the process of joining the two film webs for a firm and secure connection is supported.

Particularly preferably, the connecting station comprises means for pressing at least the free ends of the film webs of finite length to be connected. This creates a particularly strong and stable connection between the free ends of two film webs.

Preferably, the connecting station comprises means for heating at least the free ends of the film webs of finite length to be connected. This allows the moistened overlap area to be dried during connection, ensuring rapid solidification of the connection.

A first preferred development of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the connecting station comprises a punching tool and / or a cutting tool, which is in the conveying direction T of the endless material web behind the cutting device for cutting the free ends of the material webs of finite length and the connecting device for connecting the cut, Free ends of the material webs of finite length are arranged, and by means of which at least one hole can be created in the overlap area. The tool can be used to easily create a hole or several holes as a breakthrough in the overlap area, so that despite the thickening in the double layers, material is removed in order to achieve a reduced accumulation of material overall up to a balanced distribution of material. The shape and/or size and/or positioning of the holes in the overlap area can be specifically selected in order to result in the entire overlap area and in particular to create a balanced material distribution across the width of the material web in the overlap area, which is ideally 100%. This means that any thickening caused by the overlapping connection is compensated for to the same extent by material recesses.

A further preferred development of the device according to the invention is characterized in that the cutting device of the connecting station is designed and set up to produce two different cutting paths, such that the free ends of the two material webs of finite length to be connected are non-complementary, in particular inverse-complementary. Due to the different and non-complementary cutting paths at both free ends to be connected, when the arrangement is offset accordingly in the conveying direction T, e.g. due to at least temporarily different transport speeds of the two material webs/film webs to be connected, defects arise in the material transversely to the conveying direction T in the width of the overlap area. The defects, i.e. areas in which no material of the material web/film web exists, can be formed regularly or irregularly across the width and along the distance of the overlap area in the conveying direction T.

In a first embodiment, the cutting device of the connecting station comprises at least one cutting tool which can be moved up and down vertically to the transport plane E of the material webs and which has at least one cutting edge which is not designed to be rectilinear. Examples of a non-rectilinear cutting edge in the sense of the invention are wave-shaped, zigzag-shaped, tooth-shaped or meander-shaped courses. Non-rectilinear refers to the cutting edge, which has elevations and depressions as seen in the conveying direction T, which, in relation to the material webs to be cut or cut, leads to wavy, zigzag, tooth-shaped or meandering free ends when viewed from above.

Advantageously, in addition to being able to move up and down, the cutting tool is designed to be movable back and forth at least transversely to the conveying direction T and/or rotatable about a vertically directed axis of rotation D, such that different cutting paths can be carried out with the cutting tool with the non-rectilinear cutting edge. The offset and/or twisting of the cutting tool can cause one first material web or its free end is cut with the cutting tool, while the second material web or its free end is rotated with the same cutting tool, for example by 180 ° about an axis of rotation D, which runs vertically to the transport plane E of the transported material webs/film webs , is cut. The rotation - in a corresponding manner through a transverse offset of the cutting tool - creates two non-complementary cuts which, when the free ends are arranged appropriately relative to one another, lead to a connection point with reduced thickening, namely to an overlap area with at least one opening.

In a further embodiment, the cutting tool has two cutting edges, of which a first cutting edge is designed to be non-rectilinear - in the sense of the invention - and the second cutting edge is designed to be rectilinear or non-rectilinear - in the sense of the invention, with the cutting path of the second cutting edge always independent of its design deviates from the cutting path of the first cutting edge. This primarily applies to the case where both cutting edges have a non-linear course. The non-linear cutting edges are then designed to be offset from one another with respect to their cutting path based on the width of the material web, so that a cutting movement of the cutting tool having two cutting edges results in two non-complementary cuts, which, when the free ends are arranged accordingly relative to one another, form a connection point with reduced thickening, namely lead to an overlap area with at least one breakthrough.

In a further embodiment, the cutting device of the connecting station comprises two cutting tools which can be moved up and down vertically to the transport plane E of the material webs and which each have at least one cutting edge, the cutting edge of at least one cutting tool being designed to be non-rectilinear - in the sense of the invention. Non-rectilinear in the sense of the invention means, as already explained elsewhere, that the cut free ends have elevations and depressions (e.g. wave-shaped, zig-zag-shaped, meander-shaped, tooth-shaped) in or against the conveying direction T, so that when they overlap and a corresponding offset of the free ends to one another forms an overlap area that is interrupted across the width of the material web. The cutting tools, which can preferably be controlled separately, lead to non-complementary cuts at the free ends of the material webs/film webs to be connected.

The task is also achieved by a method with the steps mentioned at the beginning in that an overlap area is formed and set up by means of the connecting station, which has areas of overlap on the one hand and material-free areas on the other across the width of the endless material web, the size of the areas of overlap to the size of the material-free areas in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 and particularly preferably from 0.95 to 1.05, or it is more/larger over the entire width of the overlap area There are material-free areas as areas of overlap or the areas of overlap and the material-free areas essentially correspond in terms of their size.

Preferably, two film webs consisting at least partially of tobacco are connected to one another, with at least the free ends of the film webs to be connected being moistened, pressed and/or heated for connection.

The two material webs of finite length are preferably cut with different cutting paths, so that the free ends of the two material webs of finite length to be connected are non-complementary, in particular inverse-complementary.

Particularly preferably, the cut, free ends are aligned in the conveying direction T before connecting in such a way that the overlap area has areas of overlap on the one hand and areas free of material on the other over the width of the endless material web to be formed.

The free ends are advantageously connected when the overlap area is stationary or moving in the conveying direction T. This means that the free ends to be connected, which form the overlap area, are either transported during and for connection or stand still or are stopped during connection.

In another embodiment, after cutting the two material webs of finite length and after connecting the two cut, free ends, at least one hole leading through both material webs is created in the overlap area by punching and/or cutting.

The method is particularly preferably carried out using a device according to one or more of claims 1 to 8.

The resulting advantages have already been described in connection with the device, which is why reference is made to the above statements to avoid repetition.

Fig. 1 a bis c

unterschiedliche Varianten miteinander verbundener Materialbahnen, bei denen die freien Enden gemäß dem Stand der Technik komplementär zueinander geschnitten sind,

Fig. 2 a und b

unterschiedliche Varianten miteinander verbundener Materialbahnen, bei denen die freien Enden erfindungsgemäß nichtkomplementär zueinander geschnitten sind,

Fig. 3

eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit einem zwei Schneidkanten aufweisenden Schneidwerkzeug,

Fig. 4

eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit zwei separaten Schneidwerkzeugen,

Fig. 5

eine Ausführungsform einer Bobinenbereitstellungsvorrichtung,

Fig. 6

eine Ausführungsform eines Greifarmes zur Aufnahme eines freien Endes einer Materialbahn,

Fig. 7 und 8

eine weitere Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit zwei separaten Schneidwerkzeugen und

Fig. 9

eine Ausführungsform eines Schlauchspeichers.

Further useful and/or advantageous features and developments for the device and the method result from the subclaims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the device and the method are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a to c

different variants of interconnected material webs, in which the free ends are cut complementary to one another according to the prior art,

Fig. 2 a and b

different variants of interconnected material webs in which the free ends are cut in a non-complementary manner according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with a cutting tool having two cutting edges,

Fig. 4

a further embodiment of the device according to the invention with two separate cutting tools,

Fig. 5

an embodiment of a bobbin provision device,

Fig. 6

an embodiment of a gripper arm for holding a free end of a material web,

7 and 8

a further embodiment of a device according to the invention with two separate cutting tools and

Fig. 9

an embodiment of a tube storage.

The device shown in the drawing is used to connect two film webs, each running from a reel and at least partially made of tobacco. The device according to the invention is also suitable for connecting two material webs in the tobacco processing industry, for example for connecting two filter or wrapping paper webs or the like.

The device 10 is designed and set up to connect two material webs 13, 14 each running from a reel 11, 12 and comprises a first receptacle 15 for receiving a first reel 11 with a first material web 13 of finite length, a second receptacle 16 for receiving a second bobbin 12 with a material web 14 of finite length, transport means for transporting the material webs 13, 14 in the conveying direction T, and a connecting station 17 with a cutting device 18 for cutting a free, trailing end 19 (this means the rear end) of the first material web 13 and a free, leading end 20 (this means the front end) of the second material web 14, and with a connecting device 21 for connecting the two cut, free ends 19, 20 of the material webs 13, 14 of finite length to form an endless material web 22 an overlap area Ü _B , the connecting station 17 being designed and set up to form an overlap area Ü _B , which is provided with at least one opening 25 across the width B of the endless material web 22.

The transport means, not shown, can be designed to transport the material webs 13, 14, 22 together or separately. Preferably, the material webs 13, 14 of finite length or their drive means can be controlled separately in order to be able to position the free ends 19, 20 to be connected, for example in the area of a support surface 23, one above the other or one below the other and in particular in the conveying direction T to form the overlap area Ü _B . The receptacles 15, 16 for the bobbins 11, 12 can be, for example, simple pins, mandrels or shafts, which can be designed to be stationary or driven. The material webs 13, 14, 22 can be guided around deflection and/or guide rollers 24 for deflecting and/or guiding the individual material webs 13, 14, 22. The or each deflection and/or guide roller 24 can optionally also be designed as a transport roller.

The device 10 is characterized according to the invention in that the connecting station 17 is designed and set up to form an overlap area Ü _B , which has areas 32 of overlap across the width B of the endless material web 22 on the one hand and material-free areas 33 on the other, the size of the areas 32 of the overlap to the size of the material-free areas 33 is in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 and particularly preferably from 0.95 to 1.05, or over the entire width of the overlap area In _general , there are more/larger material-free areas 33 than areas 32 of the overlap or the areas 32 of the overlap and the material-free areas 33 essentially correspond to each other in terms of their size. This means that the overlap area _ÜB is reduced in material in that at least one opening 26 is formed in the overlap area _ÜB through both material webs 13, 14. In contrast to a perforation, each breakthrough describes in particular an opening 26 which is larger than 1 mm ² in terms of surface area.

The or each breakthrough 25 forms in the overlap area Ü _B at least a partial compensation for the thickening/accumulation of material formed by the overlap. In an embodiment according to the invention, the connecting station 17 is designed and set up to form an overlap area Ü _B , which has areas 32 of overlap on the one hand and material-free areas 33 on the other over the width B of the endless material web 22, the size of the areas 32 of the overlap being related to the size of the material-free areas 33 in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2 (80 to 120%), preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 (90 to 110%) and particularly preferably from 0.95 to 1.05 (95 to 105%) stands. The size is synonymous with the respective area.

In another embodiment according to the invention, the connecting station 17 is designed and set up to form an overlap area Ü _B , which has areas 32 of overlap on the one hand and material-free areas 33, i.e. openings 25, holes 26 or the like, on the other hand, across the width B of the endless material web 22, whereby The areas 32 of the overlap and the material-free areas 33 essentially correspond in terms of their size. In other words, the connecting station 17 is designed exactly so that each infinitesimally small strip running over the entire width B of the material web 22 in the overlap area _ÜB has an identical amount of material/an identical volume (area of the strip x thickness of the strip) of 100%, where 100% refers to the amount of a correspondingly infinitesimally small strip outside the overlap area Ü _B. The material accumulations due to the overlapping areas 32 on the one hand and the material-free areas 33 on the other hand can also compensate for each other along the route/length of the overlap area Ü _B in the conveying direction T.

For a better understanding of the invention are in the Figure 1 a to c First shown are free ends 19, 20 connected to an endless material web 22, which were cut with a cutting device 18 of a conventional connecting station 17 of the prior art. The complementary cuts of the known connecting station 17 result in the free ends 19, 20 forming an overlap area Ü _B that is closed over the entire width B of the material web 22 when they are connected. In the Figure 2 a and b are shown free ends 19, 20 connected to an endless material web 22, which are processed with a connecting station 17 according to the invention of the prior art. A thickening/accumulation of material resulting from the overlap is at least partially, ideally completely, compensated for by the openings/holes/breakthroughs/recesses (used synonymously in the context of the invention) or the like, so that an accumulation of material resulting from the overlap resulting from the connection is at least is greatly reduced or even completely balanced, so that there is no thickening/accumulation of material in the overlap area Ü _B compared to areas outside the overlap area. The side edges of the overlap area Ü _B can be closed (see the example according to Figure 2a ) or open (see the example according to Figure 2b ) be. The number of breakthroughs 25/openings 26/material-free areas 33 on the one hand and the areas 32 of the overlap/webs on the other hand can vary as desired. The cut edges can have any curve shape, for example continuous or continuously differentiable in sections. The free ends 19, 20 can also be of any design with regard to their cutting edge.

The features and further developments described below represent preferred embodiments taken individually or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features that are summarized in the claims and/or the description and/or the drawing or in one common embodiment are described, can also functionally independently develop the device 10 described above.

Particularly preferably, the device 10 is designed and set up as material webs 13, 14 for connecting two film webs 13a, 14a consisting at least partially of tobacco. With these film webs 13a, 14a, which are at least partially, but preferably entirely, made of tobacco, particularly precise non-complementary cuts can be made on the free ends 19, 20 of the film webs 13a, 14a due to the density/mass/material thickness, so that a balanced distribution of material throughout the entire endless Material web 22 including all overlap areas Ü _B is reached.

To connect the free ends 19, 20, the connecting station 17 can, for example, comprise an embossing device and/or an adhesive device. When processing film webs 13a, 14a containing tobacco, the connecting station 17 preferably comprises means 27 for moistening at least one of the free ends 19, 20 of the film webs 13a, 14a of finite length to be connected. The means 27 can be designed and set up for moistening a free end 19 or 20 or both free ends 19 and 20 and/or positioned and aligned accordingly. A simple solution is, for example, a spray nozzle 28 or the like, by means of which the or each free end 19, 20 is moistened and thus softened.

The connecting station 17 preferably comprises means 29 for pressing at least the free ends 19, 20 of the film webs 13a, 14a of finite length to be connected. The means 29, for example a pair of rollers 30, which presses against the overlap area _ÜB from above and below, is arranged in the conveying direction T behind the means 27 for moistening. More preferably, the connecting station 17 also includes means 31 for heating at least the free ends 19, 20 of the film webs 13a, 14a of finite length to be connected. This means 31 can be, for example, a simple heat radiator or the like. The means 31 is arranged behind the means 29 for connecting in the conveying direction T.

The at least one opening 25 or the at least one opening 26 passing through both material webs can optionally be created after connecting the free ends 19, 20 and before feeding the endless material web 22 into the area of a format (not shown) by the connecting station 17 a Punching tool and / or a cutting tool, which in the conveying direction T of the endless material web 22 behind the cutting device 18 for cutting the free ends 19, 20 of the material webs 13, 14 of finite length and the connecting device 21 for connecting the cut, free ends 19, 20 of the Material webs 13, 14 of finite length are arranged, and by means of which at least one hole 26 can be created in the overlap area Ü _B. With this design of the connection station 17, a first option is created to partially or completely compensate for the accumulation of material in the overlap area _ÜB . A simple solution, for example, is a hole punch, by means of which a hole pattern can be punched into the overlap area Ü _B transversely to the conveying direction T and/or along the route/length of the overlap area Ü B in the conveying direction _T. However, knives or knife arrangements can also be provided, by means of which individual or multiple holes 26 can be cut into the overlap area _ÜB .

The at least one opening 25 or the at least one opening 26 passing through both material webs can optionally also be created when connecting or by connecting the free ends 19, 20, in that the cutting device 18 of the connecting station 17 is designed and set up to have two different cutting paths to produce, in such a way that the free ends 19, 20 to be connected of the two material webs 13, 14 of finite length or of the two film webs 13a, 14a are non-complementary. The overlapping of the free ends 19, 20 with the non-complementary cuts on the one hand and the offset of the free ends 19, 20 to one another in the conveying direction T on the other hand leads to an overlap area Ü _B in which openings 25, holes 26 or the like exist.

In preferred embodiments, the cutting device 18 of the connecting station 17 comprises at least one cutting tool 34 which can be moved up and down vertically to the transport plane E of the material webs 13, 14 and which has at least one cutting edge 35 which is not designed to be rectilinear. Preferably, in addition to being able to move up and down, the cutting tool 34 can be moved back and forth at least transversely to the conveying direction T and/or rotatable about a vertically directed axis of rotation D, such that the cutting tool 34 with the non-rectilinear cutting edge 35 produces different and, above all, non-complementary cutting paths are executable. Alternatively, the material webs 13, 14 or film webs 13a, 14a or at least their free ends 19, 20 can be designed to be displaceable relative to the or each cutting tool 34.

In the embodiment according to Figure 3 the cutting tool 34 has two cutting edges 35, 36, of which a first cutting edge 35 is non-rectilinear and the second cutting edge 36 is rectilinear or non-rectilinear, the cutting path of the second cutting edge 36 always deviating from the cutting path of the first cutting edge 35, regardless of its design. In the embodiment according to Figure 4 The cutting device 18 of the connecting station 17 comprises two cutting tools 34, 37 which can be moved up and down vertically to the transport plane E of the material webs 13, 14 and which each have at least one cutting edge 35, 38, the cutting edge 35 of at least one cutting tool 34 being non-rectilinear. The two cutting tools 34, 37 can preferably be controlled separately.

However, other types of knives and/or knife arrangements can also be used. For example, a standing knife with a zigzag-shaped cutting edge can be provided. A movable knife with a correspondingly designed cutting edge is designed to be linear or pivotable about an axis towards and away from the stationary knife. The material web 13, 14 to be cut can be conveyed between the two knives, for example by means of a vertical conveyor. This knife arrangement is, on the one hand, for a first free end 19 of the first material web 13 and, on the other hand, structurally identical but non-complementary, in particular inversely complementary (axisymmetrically mirrored with a mirror axis S aligned transversely to the conveying direction T) for a second free end 20 of the material web 14 intended. In other words, two knife arrangements with non-complementary cutting paths are provided for cutting the free ends 19, 20.

The endless material web 22 formed by means of the device 10 can be fed directly to the format to form an endless strand. Optionally, the device 10 in the conveying direction T preferably comprises a storage unit (not shown) behind the heating means 31 for receiving a finite amount of the endless material web 22. For this purpose, the material web 22 is wound around several guide rollers, some of which can be moved up and down, around the transport route to shorten or lengthen the material web. Different things can be done with the storage unit Transport speeds are balanced. In particular, the memory unit also serves to temporarily shut down the overlap area Ü _B , for example for the connection process, without affecting the overall operating speed.

The procedure is explained in more detail below using the drawing. The method is used to connect two material webs 13, 14 each unwound from a reel 11, 12. These material webs 13, 14 are provided and transported in the conveying direction T. Before or during the transport of the material webs 13, 14, these two superimposed webs are aligned with one another. When the two material webs 13, 14 are aligned with one another, the two material webs 13, 14 are cut, so that a trailing end 19 of the first material web 13 and a leading end 20 of the second material web 14 are created. The two cut, free ends 19, 20 of the material webs 13, 14 of finite length are then connected to one another to form an endless material web 22, forming an overlap area Ü _B. The connection takes place by means of a connection station 17, with at least one breakthrough being created in the overlap area _ÜB . The or each breakthrough 25 in the overlap area Ü _B can be created when connecting the free ends 19, 20 or after connecting. The overlap area Ü _B can be generated, for example, by different transport speeds of the two material webs 13, 14, so that the free ends 19, 20 are offset from one another in the conveying direction T.

This method is characterized according to the invention in that an overlap area Ü _B is formed and set up by means of the connecting station 17, which has areas 32 of overlap on the one hand and material-free areas 33 on the other hand over the width B of the endless material web 22, the size of the areas 32 of Overlap to the size of the material-free areas 33 is in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably from 0.9 to 1.1 and particularly preferably from 0.95 to 1.05 or it is over the entire width of the overlap area Ü _B Seen more/larger material-free areas 33 than areas 32 of the overlap or the areas 32 of the overlap and the material-free areas 33 essentially correspond in terms of their size overall.

Particularly preferably, two film webs 13a, 14a consisting at least partially of tobacco are connected to one another, with at least the free ends 19, 20 of the film webs 13a, 14a to be connected being moistened, pressed and/or heated for connection. Preferably, the two material webs 13, 14 or film webs 13a, 14a of finite length are cut with different cutting paths, so that the free ends of the two material webs of finite length to be connected are non-complementary, in particular inverse-complementary. The free ends 19, 20 cut in this way are aligned in the conveying direction T before connecting so that the overlap area Ü _B has areas 32 of overlap on the one hand and material-free areas 33 on the other hand over the width B of the endless material web 22 to be formed. The free ends 19, 20 can optionally be connected with the overlap area Ü _B stationary or moving in the conveying direction T. In the event that the overlap area Ü _B is slowed down or even stopped completely during connection, the subsequent operation can be maintained by the material web 22 stored in the storage unit.

Alternatively or cumulatively, after cutting the two material webs 13, 14 or film webs 13a, 14a of finite length and after connecting the two cut, free ends 19, 20 in the overlap area _ÜB by punching and / or cutting at least one through both material webs 13, 14 or film webs 13a, 14a leading hole are created.

This is particularly preferably carried out with a device 10 according to one or more of claims 1 to 8.

Figure 5 shows an embodiment of a bobbin provision device 100, which has a turntable 101 with two receptacles 15, 16, preferably designed as receiving mandrels, onto which the bobbins 11, 12 can be pushed on the front side. The bobbins can be provided with a bobbin lock, which is either in the form of a band or a sticker. The opening of the bobbin lock can optionally be carried out automatically and a free end 20 of the material web wound on the bobbin can be loosened and unwound, preferably by at least the length of the radius of the bobbin. After releasing this free end 20 of the material web 14, the free end 20 hangs down due to gravity. Adjacent to the reel supply device 100, preferred A gripper arm 105 is arranged adjacent to the turntable 101. This gripper arm 105 is in Figure 6 shown. The gripping arm 105 has a preferably rotatably mounted, elongated base body 106, with a holding profile 107 being arranged at one end of the base body 106 or at least in the end region of the base body 106, which can preferably be subjected to negative pressure. Due to the rotational movement of the elongated base body 106, the holding profile 107 is guided along the free ends 20 of the material web 14, the free end 20 of the material web 14 is sucked in by the negative pressure on the holding profile 107 and fixed to the holding profile 107. The force for peeling or unwinding a material web 14 from a reel 11 can be between 5 N and 15 N, preferably essentially 10 N. The holding profile 107 is preferably subjected to a negative pressure, which has a counterforce of 20 N to 30 N, preferably 25 N, withstands. The holding force is particularly preferably greater than the film tensile strength. The holding profile 107 is optionally rotatably mounted, can optionally be actively pneumatically aligned or optionally has a constant orientation.

Figure 7 and Figure 8 show a further embodiment of a device according to the invention with two separate cutting tools for cutting the free ends 19, 20 of the material webs 13, 14. The free end 20 of the material web 14 is fed, for example, by a gripper arm 105 to the connecting station 17 and by a vacuum device on corresponding holding plates 110 sucked in. These holding plates 110 preferably have suction holes 111 for sucking in the material web 13, 14. When threading the material web 14 into the connecting station 17, the material web 14 passes the cutting device 18. In this embodiment, the cutting device 18 has two cutting tools 112, 113, each of which has two cutting blades 114, 115, 116, 117. The cutting blade 115 is preferably designed to be movable, foldable or pivotable and is arranged outside the conveying path of the material webs 13, 14, so that the material webs 13, 14 can be threaded smoothly. As soon as the material web 14 is threaded and is fixed to the holding surfaces 110 by the negative pressure, the cutting blade 115 moves, preferably pivots, into a working position and, through a further movement in the direction of the second cutting blade 114, cuts the material web 14 to create the free end 20 through. The free end 20 is provided with a special contour which corresponds to the design of the cutting blades 114, 115. After the first cut has been made, the cutting blade 115 moves back to the original working position and moves out Conveying path of the material web 13, 14 in order not to hinder the further work process. The cutting blade 116 of the second cutting tool 113 is in Figure 7 shown in extended position. Furthermore, in Figure 7 not shown the endless material web 22 passing the second cutting tool 113. After cutting the material web 14 and creating a free end 20 of the material web 14, a moistening device 120, not shown, moves out in order to moisten the free end 20 of the material web 14. Moistening can be carried out either with water or a composite material, for example glue or adhesive.

In the downstream processing process, the endless material web 22, which in Figure 7 is not shown, cut by the cutting tool 113 through the interaction of the cutting blades 116, 117 and the free end 19 of the finite material web 13 is produced. Before this cut can be carried out, the cutting blade 116 moves, preferably pivots, into a working position and moves in the direction of the cutting blade 117 in order to carry out the cut. After the cutting process, the cutting blade 116 moves back into the working position and moves, preferably pivots, out of the conveying path of the material web 13, 14, 22. The two cutting tools 113, 114 are preferably arranged offset from one another in the conveying direction T of the material web 13, 14, 22, so that An overlap area Ü _B is formed by a movement of the free ends 19, 20 of the material web 13, 14 that is essentially orthogonal to the conveying direction T.

Before the endless material web 22 is cut by the cutting tool 113, the material web must be stopped in the area of the connecting station 17, since the cut and connection can only take place when the material webs 13, 14, 22 are at a standstill. This standstill of the material web is achieved using a tube storage 130, which is in Figure 9 shown is implemented.

After creating the free end 19 of the material web 13, a part 120 is in Figure 8 The connection station 17 shown on the right is designed to be movable in the horizontal direction, in particular orthogonal to the conveying direction T. This part 120 of the connection station 17 preferably has a heating device with which the free ends 19, 20 of the material webs 13, 14 are to be pressed against one another in the overlap area Ü _B , in order to optionally create a connection of the material webs 13, 14 in the overlap area Ü _B under the influence of heat from the heat source. After the connection has been created in the overlap area _ÜB , the part 120 of the connection station 17 moves into the original position and the ends 19, 20 are connected to one another to form an endless material web 22.

Since the connection process has to take place when the material web 13, 14, 22 is at a standstill, for example an in Figure 9 hose storage 130 shown can be used. The material web 22 is guided in a meandering manner through the deflection bolts 134, 135 in order to produce a supply of the material web. This tube storage 130 is arranged downstream of the connection station 17 in the conveying direction T in order to unwind the formed supply from the material web when the connection of the material webs 13, 14 is created in the connection station 17. The deflection bolts 134, 135 are divided into two groups, an upper group of bolts 134 and a lower group of bolts 135. These groups of bolts 134, 135 are preferably guided on guides 136 and 137, respectively, and are preferably orthogonal to the conveying direction T of the material web 22 designed to be movable. The group of deflection bolts 134 can be moved upwards and the group of deflection bolts 135 can be moved downwards. If the groups of deflection bolts 134, 135 move away from each other, the supply of the material web 22 in the tube storage 130 increases. This process is carried out slowly before the running material web 13 has completely expired, so that if a connection of the material webs 13, 14 has to be carried out, the Hose storage 130 is filled. Before making the connection, the material web must be stopped in the connection station and the groups of deflection bolts 134, 135 in the hose storage 130 slowly move towards each other into the original position. The speed of the movable deflection bolts is controlled and/or regulated in such a way that the speed of the material web 22, which leaves the tube storage 130 in the conveying direction T, is essentially constant over the entire connection process.

Claims (13)

1. Apparatus (10), configured and adapted to join two material webs (13, 14) each running from a bobbin (11, 12), comprising a first receptacle (15) for receiving a first bobbin (11) with a material web (13) of finite length, a second receptacle (16) for receiving a second bobbin (12) with a material web (14) of finite length, transport means for transporting the material webs (13, 14) in conveying direction T, as well as a joining station (17) having a cutting apparatus (18) for cutting a free, trailing end (19) of the first material web (13) and a free, leading end (20) of the second material web (14), and with a joining apparatus (21) for joining the two cut, free ends (19, 20) of the material webs (13, 14) of finite length into an endless material web (22) while forming an overlap region (Ü_B), wherein the joining station (17) is configured and adapted to form an overlap region (Ü_B) which is provided with at least one breakthrough) (25) over the width (B) of the endless material web (22), characterised in that the joining station (17) is configured and adapted to form an overlap region (Ü_B) which, over the width (B) of the endless material web (22), has regions (32) of overlap, on the one hand, and material-free regions (33), on the other hand, wherein the size of the regions (32) of overlap is in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably of 0.9 to 1.1, and particularly preferably of 0.95 to 1.05, to the size of the material-free regions (33), or there are more/larger material-free regions (33) than regions (32) of overlap, viewed over the entire width of the overlap region (Ü_B), or the regions (32) of overlap and the material-free regions (33) substantially correspond in total in terms of their size.
2. Apparatus (10) according to claim 1, characterised in that the apparatus (10) is configured and adapted to join two film webs (13a, 14a) consisting at least partially of tobacco as material webs (13, 14).
3. Apparatus (10) according to claim 2, characterised in that the joining station (17) comprises means (27) for moistening at least one of the free ends (19, 20) of the film webs (13a, 14) of finite length to be joined.
4. Apparatus (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the joining station (17) comprises means (29) for pressing at least the free ends (19, 20) of the film webs (13a, 14a) of finite length to be joined.
5. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the joining station (17) comprises means (31) for heating at least the free ends (19, 20) of the film webs (13a, 14a) of infinite length to be joined.
6. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the joining station (17) comprises a punching tool and/or a cutting tool which, in conveying direction T of the endless material web (22) is arranged downstream of the cutting apparatus (18) for cutting the free ends (19, 20) of the material webs (13, 14) of finite length and downstream of the joining apparatus (21) for joining the cut, free ends (19, 20) of the material webs (13, 14) of finite length, and by means of which at least one hole (26) can be produced in the overlap region (Ü_B).
7. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the cutting apparatus (18) of the joining station (17) is configured and adapted to produce two different cutting paths, in such a manner that the free ends (19, 20) of the two material webs (13, 14) of finite length to be joined are non-complementary, in particular are inverse-complementary.
8. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the cutting apparatus (18) of the joining station (17) comprises two cutting tools (34, 37), which can be moved up and down vertical to the transport plane (E) of the material webs (13, 14), each of which cutting tools comprises at least one cutting edge (35, 38), wherein the cutting edge (35) of at least one cutting tool (34) is configured to be non-rectilinear.
9. Method of joining two material webs (13, 14) each unwound from a bobbin (11, 12), comprising the steps:

   - Providing the first and second material web (13, 14),

   - Transporting the material webs (13, 14) in conveying direction T,

   - Aligning the two overlapping material webs (13, 14) with each other,

   - Cutting the two material webs (13, 14) so that a trailing end (19) of the first material web (13) and a leading end (20) of the second material web (14) are created,

   - Joining the two cut, free ends (19, 20) of the material webs (13, 14) of finite length into an endless material web (22) while forming an overlap region (Ü_B) by means of a joining station (17), wherein at least one breakthrough (25) is produced in the overlap region (Ü_B), characterised in that, by means of the joining station (17), an overlap region (Ü_B) is configured and adapted which, over the width (B) of the endless material web (22), has regions (32) of overlap, on the one hand, and material-free regions (33), on the other hand, wherein the size of the regions (32) of overlap is in a ratio of 0.8 to 1.2, preferably of 0.9 to 1.1, and particularly preferably of 0.95 to 1.05, to the size of the material-free regions (33), or there are more/larger material-free regions (33) than regions (32) of overlap, viewed over the entire width of the overlap region (Ü_B), or the regions (32) of overlap and the material-free regions (33) substantially correspond in total in terms of their size.
10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that at least two film webs (13a, 14a) consisting at least partially of tobacco are joined together, wherein at least the free ends (19, 20) of the film webs (13a, 14a) to be joined are moistened, pressed and/or heated for joining.
11. Method according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the two material webs (13, 14) of finite length are cut with different cutting paths so that the free ends (19, 20) of the two material webs (13, 14) of finite length to be joined are non-complementary, in particular inverse-complementary.
12. Method according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that the cut, free ends (19, 20) are aligned in conveying direction T before joining such that, over the width (B) of the endless material web (22) to be formed, the overlap region (Ü_B) comprises the regions (32) of overlap, on the one hand, and material-free regions (33), on the other hand.
13. Method according to one or more of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that, after cutting the two material webs (13, 14) of finite length and after joining the two cut, free ends (19, 20), at least one hole (26) passing through both material webs (13, 14) is produced in the overlap region (Ü_B) by punching and/or cutting.

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