EP4079165A1

EP4079165A1 - Multi-drum unit and method for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry

Info

Publication number: EP4079165A1
Application number: EP22169089.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Massimo Malavolta; Gabriele BENNI; Jacopo VALDIROSA; Marco BRUSCHI; Giuliano Gamberini
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 2021-04-23
Filing date: 2022-04-20
Publication date: 2022-10-26
Also published as: IT202100010337A1

Abstract

A multi-drum unit for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry, comprises a succession of drums for transversely feeding a succession of rod-shaped articles (S) of the tobacco industry, wherein said succession of drums comprises at least a first drum (2) defining an infeed drum, a second drum (3) and a third drum (4) defining an outfeed drum, the second drum (3) being operatively located in such a way as to define a first tangential zone (T1) with the first drum (2) and a second tangential zone (T2) with the third drum (4) to receive the articles (S) from the first drum (2) and to release the articles (S) to the third drum (4). The second drum (3) can be moved between an operating position, where it is tangential to the first and to the third drum (2, 4), and a cleaning position where it is spaced from the first and/or from the third drum (2, 4) to define an area for cleaning one of said tangential zones (T1, T2).

Description

This invention relates to a multi-drum unit and a method for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry.
The multi-drum unit may be, for example, a unit forming part of a machine for making multisegment articles (known as a "combiner machine").
A typical process in the field of combiner machines of the tobacco industry involves picking multiple length rod sections from a hopper by means of a drum known as a "pickup", cutting these rod sections into a plurality of segments and then transversely offsetting the segments of each rod section relative to each other so that the axes of the segments, which initially coincided, are parallel and spaced from each other. Next, the offset segments are axially translated until they are disposed one after the other in a single succession of segments advancing transversely.
Since these machines work at high production speeds, it has been found that the step of offsetting, which is usually carried out on specific offsetting drums, constitutes a particularly critical part of the process. In one solution, the offsetting drums are provided, on their infeed and outfeed sides, with one or more combs to facilitate feeding the segments to the offsetting drum and releasing the offset segments from the offsetting drum. These combs often become the sites of clogging caused by the build-up of material or the presence of jammed segments. Indeed, the offsetting drum may become so congested as to prevent it from rotating and requiring a machine shutdown and manual intervention by the machine operator.
Moreover, in many cases, the shutdown lasts for several minutes because cleaning the zone is complicated by the very confined spaces mainly on account of the fact that the combs are located in the tangential niches between the drums and occupy almost all of the available space.
The invention therefore has for an aim to provide a multi-drum unit and a method for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry to allow maintenance operations to be carried out quickly and, in particular, to reduce machine down time.
Another aim of the invention is to provide a multi-drum unit and a method for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry to allow cleaning to be carried out fully automatically in the event of clogging.
The aim specified is substantially achieved by a multi-drum unit and a method for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry comprising the technical features set out in claims 1 and 12, respectively, and/or in one or more of the claims dependent thereon. Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the exemplary, hence non-limiting, description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of a multi-drum unit and a method for processing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco industry, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a multi-drum unit according to an embodiment of the invention and in an operating configuration;
Figure 2 shows the unit of Figure 1 in a first cleaning configuration;
Figure 3 shows the unit of Figure 1 in a second cleaning configuration;
Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the back of a portion of the unit of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail from Figure 4.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes in its entirety a multi-drum unit according to the invention.
The expression "multi-drum unit" is used to denote a unit made up of a succession of drums for transversely advancing rod-shaped articles S and forming part of a stand-alone machine or part thereof. The multi-drum unit 1 may be a self-contained unit or a portion of a machine that is integrated with other components, for example, a train of drums.
The drums are of known type and are externally provided with a succession of transverse suction seats to receive at least one rod-shaped article.
In one application, by way of example, the multi-drum unit 1 according to the invention forms part of a combiner machine or a module of a combiner machine, in a zone where multiple length rod sections of the tobacco industry (for example, filter rod sections or tubular elements) fed from a hopper are cut to into adjacent, coaxial segments which are in turn offset so that their axes are parallel to and spaced from each other. Next, the offset segments are realigned by moving them axially to define an ordered succession of single segments moved transversely one after the other.
The multi-drum unit 1 may in any case form part of other machine portions capable of moving the segments or articles S transversely, for example, a filter tip attachment machine (in which a tobacco rod section is coupled to one or more filter rod sections). For example, the multi-drum unit 1 according to the invention may form part of a filter tip attachment machine in which multiple length tobacco rod sections are fed to the filter tip attachment machine by a transfer drum and are offset so that their axes are parallel to and spaced from each other. Next, the offset segments are realigned by moving them axially to define an ordered succession of single segments moved transversely one after the other.
Preferably, at least one of the drums of the multi-drum unit 1 is configured to process the segments or articles S while they are being transferred transversely. The term "to process" is used, in the context of this invention, to generically denote any operation performed on the articles or segments S, while they are on a drum and being advanced transversely, but other than merely transferring the segments or articles S from an infeed zone to an outfeed zone of the drum. By way of non-limiting example, the operation may be offsetting, centring, cutting, splaying coaxial segments, rolling or others.
In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the unit 1 comprises a first drum 2, defining an infeed drum, a second drum 3, preferably defining an operating drum configured for processing the articles S, and a third drum 4, defining an outfeed drum.
This structure is generic and may apply to any number of applications.
The second drum 3 is operatively located in such a way as to define a first tangential zone T1 with the first drum 2 and a second tangential zone T2 with the third drum 4, respectively, to receive the segments S from the first drum 2 and to release the articles S to the third drum 4.
In a possible application, illustrated in Figures 1-3, the first drum 2 is a pickup drum for picking up rod sections from a hopper, the second drum 3 is an offsetting drum and the third drum 4 is a centring drum. These drums perform the following operations in sequence, respectively: picking up multiple length rod sections from a hopper (not illustrated) on the first drum 2 and cutting the rod sections into a plurality of segments S; transversely offsetting the segments S on the second drum 3; centring the offset segments S to form a single succession of aligned segments S, on the third drum 4.
The drums 2, 3, 4 are of known type in structure and function.
In the specific solution selected, the unit 1 also comprises, in each of the aforesaid tangential zones T1, T2 (and, in particular, in a niche defined between the first and the second drum 2, 3 and in a niche defined between the second and the third drum 3, 4) at least one comb 5 configured to facilitate transferring the segments S from the first to the second drum 2, 3 and from the second to the third drum 3, 4. In variant embodiments not illustrated, the comb 5 might be present only in the first or the second tangential zone T1, T2. Preferably, the comb 5 is also of known type and comprises a succession of prongs of different lengths to define elements for guiding consecutive segments S, which have been obtained by cutting the same rod section, as they are transferred between two adjacent drums.
Preferably, he combs 5 are operatively stationary. The expression "operatively stationary" is used to mean that during normal operation of the unit 1, the comb 5 remains at a fixed position (located in the respective tangential zone T1, T2). This concept is explained in more detail below.
In the specific embodiment illustrated, a first comb (located between the first and the second drum 2, 3) is an accompanying comb, whose function is to release in succession the segments S obtained from the same rod section, while the second comb (located between the second and the third drum 3, 4) is a detaching comb, whose function is to lift the single segments S from the respective suction seats of the second drum 3 to make it easier for them to be transferred to the third drum 4.
Advantageously, the second drum 3 can be moved between an operating position (Figure 1), where it is tangential to the first and to the third drum 2, 4, and a cleaning position (Figures 2 and 3) where it is spaced from the first and/or from the third drum 2, 4 to define an area for cleaning one of the tangential zones T1, T2. Looking in more detail, when the second drum 3 is at the cleaning position, it is clear of the tangential zones T1, T2 so these zones are readily accessible to an operator or can be easily worked on for cleaning purposes.
In order to optimize cleaning operations, the unit 1 also comprises cleaning means (not illustrated), in particular pneumatic blowers and/or brushes, positioned to act in at least one of said tangential zones T1, T2 when the second drum 3 is at the cleaning position. With reference to the pneumatic blowers, these may be positioned inside or outside the second drum 3. Preferably, the pneumatic blowers (and, more in general, the cleaning means) are integral with the second drum 3. Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, a means for cleaning is embodied by the air system which, during normal use of the unit 1, is used to hold the articles S by suction in the seats of the second drum 3.
With reference to the brushes, these are located outside the second drum 3 and may be integral with the second drum 3 or may operate on it only when it is at the cleaning position.
Further, the unit 1 comprises, or is connected to, a control unit (not illustrated) configured to determine the presence of clogging or malfunction at the tangential zones T1, T2 as a function of at least one operating parameter measured.
Further, this control unit is configured to automatically activate the cleaning means based on one or more operating parameters of the unit 1.
In the embodiment illustrated, the movement of the second drum 3 between the operating position and the cleaning position is carried out by translation along a rectilinear direction of movement perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum 3. In variants not illustrated but falling within the scope of the same inventive concept, the movement may be carried out by rotation about a centre of rotation or by rototransiation and/or along a curved direction or a direction of any shape but in any case preferably in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum 3. In other words, the movement of the second drum 3 between the operating position and the cleaning position is carried out along a trajectory in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum 3.
Looking in more detail, to allow the second drum 3 to move between the operating position and the cleaning position, the second drum 3 is mounted on a movable support 6 mounted on a fixed, vertical wall 7. In detail, the movable support 6 is mounted slidably on the fixed, vertical wall 7 and is guided slidably by means of linear guides 8 defining the direction of sliding of the movable support 6, hence of the second drum 3 from the operating position to the cleaning position. The second drum 3 is mounted rotatably on the movable support 6 by a bearing which causes it to rotate about an axis that is fixed relative to the movable support 6.
Preferably, the movable support 6 is in the form of a plate, preferably square or rectangular.
Figures 4 and 5 are detail views showing the linear guides 8, which are preferably two in number, disposed on opposite sides of the movable support 6.
In particular, each linear guide 8 comprises a first portion 8a fixed to the vertical wall 7, hence fixed, and a second portion 8b fixed to the movable support 6 and slidably applied to the first portion 8a to define the aforementioned direction of sliding.
Preferably, the linear guides 8 also define the means for supporting the movable support 6 to the vertical wall 7, which thus hangs from and is guided by the linear guides 8.
As shown in Figure 4 and in detail in Figure 5, one of the two linear guides 8 is associated with a linear actuator 9, preferably a linear motor, whose function is to move the movable support 6 slidably along the linear guides 8. In an embodiment not illustrated, each linear guide 8 is associated with a respective linear actuator 9.
In the specific embodiment of Figure 5, the first portion 8a of the linear guide 8 associated with the linear actuator 9 is provided with a T bracket 10 to the front of which the linear actuator 9 is fixed, preferably removably by threaded means, while the second portion 8b has an L-shaped protrusion 8c which extends transversely to the positioning plane of the movable support 6 and to which the movable stem of the linear actuator 9 is applied.
Preferably, the first drum 2 and/or the third drum 4 are mounted on the fixed wall 7.
As shown in Figure 4, the second drum 3 is associated with a respective separate drive unit 11, preferably which can be activated in a controlled manner even during a cleaning operation where the second drum 3 is located in the cleaning position. The drive unit is applied in suspended manner to a rear surface of the movable support 6 opposite to the second drum 3.
Alternatively, the second drum 3 may be driven by a kinematic train operating also on the first and/or the third drum 2, 4, automatically engaged and disengaged, (for example, a gear train) when the second drum 3 moves between the operating and cleaning positions. Preferably, the control unit (not illustrated) is also configured to automatically activate the movement of the second drum 3 between the operating position and the cleaning position based on one or more operating parameters of the unit 1.
Preferably, one of the operating parameters usable by the control unit to automatically activate the movement of the second drum 3 and/or the cleaning means is the torque or power absorbed by the drive unit 11 of the second drum 3 (or by the kinematic chain responsible for driving the second drum 3). In addition or alternatively to these parameters, the presence of clogging or malfunctions such as to require cleaning of the tangential zones T1, T2 may be determined by the control unit by performing optical inspections or quality checks on the articles made.
Activation of the cleaning means and movement of the drum 3 are preferably controlled through a specific, predetermined timing system, preferably determined according to needs and/or maximum allowable cleaning times.
Preferably, according to the invention, even when the drum 3 is in the cleaning position, it can be set in rotation (in the same or opposite direction), preferably automatically, by means of the aforementioned separate drive unit 11.
Preferably, also, the unit 1 may comprise control means (for example, one or more photocells) associated with the second drum 3 and configured to check that cleaning has been carried out, hence to check that the suction seats of the second drum 3 are clean and free of residues.
Therefore, during normal operation of the unit 1, clogging/malfunctioning is identified when one or more operating parameters detected by the control unit (such as, for example, the torque or power absorbed by the drive unit 11 of the second drum 3 or of the kinematic chain responsible for driving the second drum 3) fall outside a range of predetermined values. In such a case, the unit 1 is brought to a stop in controlled manner and the second drum 3 is moved to the cleaning position (preferably automatically).
At this point, the cleaning cycle of the second drum 3 is started. The cleaning cycle involves performing one or more of the following operations, alternatively or in combination: setting the second drum 3 in rotation (for example, by means of the related drive unit 11); activating the pneumatic blowers inside and/or outside the second drum 3; operating on the second drum 3 with brushes.
When the cleaning cycle is over, a check to ensure that the second drum 3 has been effectively cleaned may be carried out, if necessary. Lastly, the second drum 3 is moved to the operating position and the unit 1 is restarted.
In a preferred embodiment, the comb 5 (in particular, at least one comb 5, preferably each comb 5) is also movable between an operating position, stationary during normal operation of the unit 1, where the comb 5 is substantially disposed in the tangential zone T1, T2 (Figure 1), and a cleaning position, where the comb 5 is spaced from the tangential zone T1, T2, in particular retracted therefrom, to clear the tangential zone T1, T2 to facilitate cleaning operations (Figure 3). The movement of the comb 5 is carried out before the cleaning operations are started.
In detail, in an embodiment, one comb 5 is integral with the second drum 3, while the other comb 5 is integral with the machine. In other words, when the second drum 3 is moved from the operating to the cleaning position, and vice versa, the comb 5 also moves between the two positions together with the second drum 3. In this embodiment, the at least one comb 5 is mounted on the movable support 6, while the other comb 5 is mounted on the fixed wall 7.
It is noted that during use of the unit 1, the combs 5 are at stationary positions (that is to say, they are fixed relative to the drums 2, 3, 4 which rotate about respective axes of rotation). The fact that a comb 5 is integral with the second drum 3 means that the comb 5 is movable together with the second drum 3 between the operating position and the cleaning position.
In an alternative embodiment, both of the combs 5 are integral with the second drum 3. In other words, when the second drum 3 is moved from the operating to the cleaning position, and vice versa, both of the combs 5 move between the two positions together with the second drum 3. In this embodiment, both of the combs 5 are mounted on the movable support 6.
In another embodiment, both of the combs 5 are integral with the machine. In other words, when the second drum 3 is moved from the operating to the cleaning position, and vice versa, neither of the combs 5 follows the movement of the second drum 3. In this embodiment, both of the combs 5 are mounted on the fixed wall 7. This invention is susceptible of modifications to the above described embodiments without departing from the inventive concept.
For example, the possibility of movement might be given not only to the second drum but to any drum of the train of drums where it is necessary to make more space to allow cleaning to be carried out quickly, in particular automatic cleaning operations using existing pneumatic means in the cleaning zone.
The present invention achieves the preset aims, overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art.
In effect, the invention allows automatically moving the operating drum to free more space (the space being normally very confined) to allow cleaning to be carried out to remove clogging or other causes of malfunctioning.
The procedure is fully automatic, hence does not require the presence of an operator, and is very quick, which means the machine remains down for a very limited length of time.

Claims

A multi-drum unit for processing rod-shaped articles for the tobacco industry, comprising a succession of drums for transversely feeding rod-shaped articles (S) of the tobacco industry, wherein said succession of drums comprises at least a first drum (2) forming an infeed drum, a second drum (3) and a third drum (4) forming an outfeed drum, the second drum (3) being operatively positioned in such a way as to define a first tangential zone (T1) with the first drum (2) and a second tangential zone (T2) with the third drum (4) to receive the articles (S) from the first drum (2) and to release the articles (S) to the third drum (4), and wherein, preferably, the second drum (3) is configured to perform at least one operation on the articles (S), wherein the second drum (3) can be moved between an operating position, where it is tangential to the first and to the third drum (2, 4), and a cleaning position where it is spaced from the first and/or from the third drum (2, 4) to define an area for cleaning one of said tangential zones (T1, T2), characterized in that the second drum (3) can be moved between the operating position and the cleaning position along a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second drum (3).
The unit according to claim 1, wherein the second drum (3) can be moved between the operating position and the cleaning position by a movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, preferably along a rectilinear direction.
The unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said second drum (3) is associated with a respective separate drive unit (11), preferably which can be activated in a controlled manner even during a cleaning operation wherein the second drum (3) is located in the cleaning position.
The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising cleaning means, in particular pneumatic blowers and/or brushes, positioned to act in at least one of said tangential zones (T1, T2) when the second drum (3) is in the cleaning position.
The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the unit (1) is connected to a control unit configured to determine the presence of clogging or malfunctioning at the tangential zones (T1, T2) as a function of at least one operating parameter measured.
The unit according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to automatically activate the movement of the second drum (3) from the operating position to the cleaning position and vice versa.
The unit according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit is connected to the drive unit (11) of the second drum (3) or to a kinematic chain of said succession of drums (2, 3, 4) and is configured to monitor a torque or power absorbed by the drive unit (11) of said second drum (3) or by the kinematic chain of said succession of drums (2, 3, 4).
The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising a movable support (6), slidably mounted on a fixed vertical wall (7) and on which said second drum (3) is mounted; preferably, said movable support (6) being guided in a sliding fashion by means of linear guides (8) defining a direction of sliding of the movable support (6), and therefore of the second drum (3) from the operating position to the cleaning position, and wherein preferably said movable support (6) is moved along said linear guides (8) by a linear actuator (9).
The unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second drum (3) is an offsetting drum and the unit (1) comprises, in at least one of said tangential zones (T1, T2), at least one comb (5) configured to favour a transfer of the articles (S) from the first to the second drum (2, 3) and/or from the second to the third drum (3, 4).
The unit according to claim 9, wherein at least one comb (5) is integral with the second drum (3).
A machine for making multi-segment articles of the tobacco industry, comprising a multi-drum unit (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
A method for processing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco industry, in particular by using a multi-drum unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps of:
- feeding transversely a succession of rod-shaped articles (S) by means of a succession of consecutive drums (2, 3, 4), wherein said succession of drums (2, 3, 4) comprises at least a first drum (2) defining an infeed drum, a second drum (3) and a third drum (4) defining an outfeed drum, the second drum (3) being operatively located in such a way as to define a first tangential zone (T1) with the first drum (2) and a second tangential zone (T2) with the third drum (4) to receive the articles (S) from the first drum (2) and to release the articles (S) to the third drum (4),

- preferably performing at least one operation on the articles (S) when the articles (S) are moved by said second drum (3);

- in the vent of clogging or malfunction, moving the second drum (3) from an operating configuration, where the second drum (3) is positioned tangential to the first and third drums (2, 4), to a cleaning configuration where the second drum (3) is away from the first and/or third drum (2, 4) for forming a cleaning area in at least one of said tangential zones (T1, T2), followed by a step of cleaning at least one of said tangential zones (T1, T2);
characterized in that said step of moving the second drum (3) from the operating configuration to the cleaning configuration is performed by moving the second drum (3) along a direction of movement substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second drum (3).
The method according to claim 12, wherein said step of moving the second drum (3) from the operating configuration to the cleaning configuration is performed by moving the drum (3) by a movement in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the second drum (3), preferably along a rectilinear direction.
The method according to claim 12 or 13, comprising a step of rotating the second drum (3) in the cleaning position, preferably automatically.
The method according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the step of moving the second drum (3) from the operating configuration to the cleaning configuration is activated automatically as a function of at least one operating parameter detected, preferably said at least one operating parameter comprising a torque or power absorbed by a kinematic chain of said succession of drums (2, 3, 4) or by a separate drive unit (11) of said second drum (3).
The method according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein said cleaning step is performed automatically by cleaning means, in particular jets of compressed air.
The method according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the operation performed whilst the articles (S) are moved by the second drum (3) is a transversal offsetting of the articles (S) and wherein, in at least one of said tangential zones (T1, T2), there is at least one comb (5) configured to favour a transfer of the articles from the first to the second drum (2, 3) and/or from the second to the third drum (3, 4).