ES2688455T3 - Apparatus and method for filling cavities with particulate material - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for filling cavities (51) with particulate material, the apparatus comprising: - a conveyor belt (1) comprising a hole (10), wherein the hole is adapted to accommodate the particulate material as and to dispense the particulate material through the hole (10); - a first guide wheel (2) and a second guide wheel (3) for transporting and guiding the conveyor belt (1), the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel which are arranged at a distance from each other and of so that the conveyor belt comprises a straight belt portion (12) arranged between the first guide wheel (2) and the second guide wheel (2); - a retaining element (15) arranged adjacent to the lower side (111) of the conveyor belt (1) to keep the hole (10) closed before the hole reaches a transfer location (100) in the first guide wheel (2), the retainer (15) and the straight tape portion (12) which are further arranged to allow the particulate material in the hole (10) to be dispensed through the open hole at the location of transfer (100), characterized in that the particulate material is transferred to the conveyor belt (1) through the first guide wheel (2), and in that - a push element (4) is arranged close to one side upper portion of the straight belt portion (12), the pushing element comprising a cam (40) to be inserted into the hole (10) of the conveyor belt (1) to push the particulate material out of the hole (10 ).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Apparatus and method for filling cavities with particulate material

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for filling cavities with particulate material. In particular, the invention relates to said apparatus and said methods for use in the manufacture of filter elements for smoking articles.

In the manufacture of filter elements for smoking articles the cavities between the filter caps can be filled with particulate material such as, for example, activated carbon. For example, in US Patent No. 3,348,455 the pockets on a conveyor belt are filled with powder material. The powder material is transported on the conveyor belt to a series of filter elements, where the pockets are emptied and the powder material is filled in the spaces between the filter elements.

Typically, in order to perform a controlled filling of the cavities, suction is applied to the cavity through the wrapping paper. However, this method is not suitable when wrapping material with low gas permeability such as a plastic film is used.

Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus and method that allows reliable filling of the cavities. In particular, there is a need for such devices and methods where the wrapping material with a low gas permeability is used to wrap a cavity.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for filling the cavities with particulate material. The apparatus comprises a conveyor belt comprising a hole. The hole is adapted to accommodate the particulate material and to dispense the particulate material through the conveyor belt. The apparatus further comprises a first guide element and a second guide element in the form of a first guide wheel and a second guide wheel for transporting and guiding the conveyor belt. The first guide wheel and the second guide wheel are arranged at a distance from each other and so that the conveyor belt comprises a portion of straight belt disposed between the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel. Still further, a retaining element is disposed adjacent the lower side of the conveyor belt to keep the hole closed before the hole reaches a transfer location on the first guide wheel. The retaining element and the straight belt portion are further arranged to allow the particulate material in the hole to be dispensed by the force of gravity at the transfer location and preferably while the hole is in the straight belt portion. When the conveyor passes through the retention element, the retention element keeps a lower opening of the hole closed. Thus the hole forms a pocket, where the particulate material can be supplied and retained until the retention element unlocks the lower opening of the hole and the particulate material can be dispensed from the hole. In the apparatus according to the invention, the particulate material is transferred to the conveyor belt through the first guide wheel.

Preferably, the straight belt portion begins in a downstream direction at the transfer location. The particulate material may be dispensed into a cavity disposed adjacent to the hole at the transfer location. Preferably, the cavity is guided parallel to and essentially at the same speed as the hole along the straight belt portion. However, depending on the size of the cavity and the hole, the speed of the cavity and the speed of the hole may be different, resulting in a relative speed between the hole and the cavity. This can be advantageous where the cavities are essentially longer than an external hole size.

By providing holes in a conveyor belt to dispense particulate material into a cavity arranged adjacent to the hole, filling of the cavity is facilitated. Therefore, the time in which the transfer of particulate material from the hole into the cavity can take place can be extended. This is especially effective when operating a high-speed apparatus, such as the semi-continuous filling of high-speed cavities, for example, of cavities in a series of rod-shaped elements. In addition, the dispensing of the particulate material from the hole can be subjected to passive forces, such as the force of gravity, additionally supported by the total vibrations of the apparatus. In known methods, a transfer of particulate material from a hole into a cavity is limited to a transfer location. In devices known in the art, material transfer can occur only at the only transfer location where the hole and a cavity for receiving the particulate material coincide in time and space. In accordance with the invention, the particulate material can be dispensed out of a hole not only at the transfer location but also along a portion of straight tape. Thus, the time where the transfer of the particulate material takes place can be adapted, for example, to the properties of the particulate material, the construction requirements or the like.

Active transfer media such as suction or gas streams at the transfer location may be omitted. Therefore, a construction of the apparatus can be simplified. In addition, the probability of blowing the particulate material is reduced. Additionally, the cavity filling method can be applied

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especially also when wrapping material with a low gas permeability is used to surround or form the cavity. With respect to the use of wrapping material with a low gas permeability to surround or form the cavity, no suction is required for an immediate transfer of the particulate material to the cavity at the transfer location, since the filling process It is not limited to the transfer location. Therefore, the method according to the invention is especially suitable, although it is not limited to the wrapping material with a low gas permeability that forms a cavity totally or partially.

In the present invention, the filling of the cavity, that is, the transfer of the particulate material from the hole into the cavity can take place essentially only by the force of gravity, since the duration of the process of transfer of particulate material into the cavity.

Preferably, the straight belt portion is arranged horizontally. With this, the force of gravity acting on the particulate material in the hole can be used to empty the hole to a maximum extent. However, the straight belt portion can also be arranged in positions that diverge from the exact horizontal position, thereby making use of the force of gravity so that the particulate material is dispensed from the hole. For example, the straight belt portion may have an inclined position with respect to a horizontal axis. For example, a forward tilt angle or a backward tilt angle can be up to 15 degrees.

The transfer of the particulate material to the conveyor belt through the first guide wheel allows an easy and rapid filling of a hole in the conveyor belt, for example, while the conveyor belt is guided along the first wheel. as guide. Especially, it allows the hole to be filled through its opening arranged on one side of the conveyor belt and discharge the particulate material through the opening arranged on the opposite side of the conveyor belt. Therefore, a hole can be optimized for filling and emptying the cavity. For example, a hole can be asymmetric in view of filling and emptying. For example, a hole with a larger filling opening and a smaller discharge opening may be provided, for example, an opening can be funnel-shaped. For example, the filling opening may be large to facilitate the filling of the hole and the discharge opening of the hole may be adapted to the size of a cavity in which the particulate material is to be discharged to allow precise transfer of the material into particle shape into the cavity. A discharge opening can be, for example, the same size as the cavity or it can be smaller than the cavity. By filling the hole through the first guide wheel, the distance that the particulate material travels on the conveyor belt, and with this in addition, a total travel distance of the particulate material can be kept to a minimum. With this, the potential loss of material or the fouling of the apparatus or of a complete installation can be kept to a minimum. The transfer of the particulate material to the conveyor belt through the first guide wheel can be carried out, for example, in the form of a supply chamber arranged in the first guide wheel. This can also be done, for example, by a supply channel, such as a supply tube, which is guided to the first guide wheel so that the particulate material can be transferred to the conveyor belt through the first guide wheel

Preferably, the conveyor belt is an endless closed-loop belt arranged around the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel. During the use of an endless closed loop belt, the conveyor belt guide, and the filling and emptying of the holes can be performed in an endless manner and in a closed loop system. This advantageously simplifies the configuration of the apparatus according to the invention. For example, when an endless belt is used, only one guide wheel must be adapted to be a drive wheel, although any additional guide wheel can be a drive wheel.

One or more holes may be arranged on a conveyor belt in accordance with the invention. Preferably, a plurality of holes are arranged in the conveyor belt. A distance between neighboring holes preferably corresponds to a distance between neighboring cavities. The cavities are preferably provided in a series of rod-shaped elements, for example, filter elements such as filter caps.

In the apparatus according to the invention, preferably the size of the hole corresponds to an amount of particulate material to be dispensed within a cavity. However, the size of a hole may also contain a small amount of particulate material, essentially less than would be required to completely fill a cavity. The particulate material in the hole may then be rather an amount of particulate material for a filling of, for example, the last 10 to 30 percent of the cavity. In order to obtain a completely filled cavity, for example, the dispensing of the particulate material from the orifice into the cavity can be initiated while the particulate material is still supplied to the orifice.

Preferably, the shape of a hole is that of a funnel that has an upper opening, which is larger than a lower opening, where the upper opening has the function of a filling opening and the lower opening has the function of an opening of discharge. The size and shape of the bottom funnel opening or a hole

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in any other way, it defines a flow of the particulate material out of the hole. Said lower opening can be, for example, circular or oval, and has inclined edges to facilitate dispensing of the particulate material out of the hole and into the cavity. Although a generally circular or oval shape of the lower opening of the hole may be preferred, since said opening is relatively easy to manufacture, other shapes can be easily conceived, for example, rectangular or triangular. Different shapes may be advantageous depending on the size and shape of the particulate material handled by an apparatus according to the invention.

In accordance with the invention, the particulate material refers to discrete particles or small objects as individual articles, such as bulk material, powder, granules, capsules and mixtures thereof, or similar objects that can be handled by the apparatus and method in accordance with the invention. Preferably, the particulate material is made of granules or small objects that are essentially spherical objects. Preferably, the granules or small objects have a diameter or extensions of between about 0.2 mm and about 1.5 mm, more preferably between about 0.3 mm and about 0.8 mm. Preferably, the essentially spherical object is a capsule. Preferably, the capsule comprises a particulate material or a liquid. Preferably, the liquid is a flavoring and the particulate material is granules of activated carbon. Preferably, the capsule is crushable or thermally unstable, that is, the capsule can release its contents when sufficient compressive strength, sufficient heat or other sufficient release means is applied.

Preferably, the particulate material comprises activated carbon and flavor capsules such as, for example, Viscopearls ™ available from Rengo, Japan. Preferably, the particulate material comprises between about 30 percent and about 70 percent of activated carbon and between about 70 percent and about 30 percent of flavor capsules.

In accordance with one aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a pushing element disposed next to an upper side of the straight belt portion. The pushing element comprises a cam to be inserted into the hole of the conveyor belt to push the particulate material out of the hole and towards the direction of a cavity. A pushing element can withstand the complete emptying of a hole and thereby also support the filling of a cavity with a defined amount of particulate material. A cam inserted in a hole acts locally without further affecting, for example, the particulate material already present in the cavity disposed adjacent to the hole. Preferably, the size of a cam and its depth of insertion in a hole are chosen such as not to touch a wall of the hole or the tape, respectively. This can advantageously prevent or limit the tightness or breakage of the particulate material. Preferably, a distance between the cam and the walls of the hole or the tape is larger than a diameter or the average extent of the particles of the particulate material. In addition, the distance between the cam and the hole will ensure little wear on either side. Additionally, the distance can prevent spillage of the particulate material from the upper end of the cavity in or on the tape or other parts of the apparatus.

In accordance with another aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the first guide wheel comprises a supply chamber for containing a quantity of particulate material. The supply chamber is disposed within the first guide wheel and is provided with a supply opening in a supply periphery of the supply chamber. This supply periphery corresponds to a peripheral portion of the first guide wheel. The supply opening is provided to deliver the particulate material from the supply chamber through the supply opening into the hole in the conveyor belt, when the hole is disposed in the peripheral portion of the first guide wheel in a position corresponding to the position of the supply opening. By providing a supply chamber in the first guide wheel, a supply of the particulate material is integrated into the first guide wheel, so that space and additional parts of the machine can be saved. Since the conveyor belt is guided by and thereby in contact with the guide wheel, said peripheral contact region can be used and adapted for the transfer of particulate material from the supply chamber to the hole in the belt conveyor A supply periphery of the supply chamber and the peripheral portion of the first guide wheel is a circumferential portion of the first guide wheel. Preferably, an internal part of the first guide wheel comprising the supply chamber is a stationary part of the first guide wheel. Preferably, an external part of the first guide wheel, which guides the conveyor belt, is a moving part of the first guide wheel. The moving part of the first guide wheel preferably comprises at least one supply opening, which moves along part of the circumference of the first guide wheel so that the at least one supply opening coincides with a hole in the conveyor belt

In some embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention, a supply chamber, which can be a separate supply chamber or which can be integrated, for example, into a first guide wheel as described above, comprises circulation means to affect a circulation of particulate material in the supply chamber. The circulation means can prevent a grouping of the particulate material in the supply chamber or an obstruction of the particulate material. The circulation means can also provide the particulate material with a direction of movement

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specific or a speed in said specific direction of movement. A specific direction of movement is preferably directed towards the location of the supply opening. The direction of movement and speed can also be adapted to the speed of a hole that passes through the supply chamber, into which the material must be filled from the supply chamber. This can reduce a speed difference between the particulate material and the hole in the delivery location, that is, in the location where the particulate material is supplied from the supply chamber to the hole in the tape conveyor The circulation means can provide a single or a combination of the aforementioned features and thereby support a hole filling.

The means of circulation can be active or passive means of circulation. The active circulation means act actively on the particulate material, for example, in the form of stirring means such as a gas stream, vibratory means or eliminators. The passive circulation means passively affect the direction of movement of the particulate material by its presence, for example, in the form of obstacles arranged in the supply chamber such as wall elements or protuberances in the walls of the chamber of supply. Preferably, the wall elements guide the particulate material towards the direction of a supply opening in the supply chamber.

In accordance with another aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a cleaning unit of the apparatus for removing particulate material from the first or second guide wheel. Preferably, the cleaning unit of the apparatus comprises a cleaning element that is disposed downstream of the transfer location in the first guide wheel. A cleaning unit of the apparatus removes the material in the form of particles that has not been transferred into a cavity. This can be done, for example, by means of suction or a gas stream. The cleaning unit of the apparatus removes said material in the form of particles lost from a guide wheel, especially from the peripheral portion of the guide wheel, where the guide wheel has been or comes into contact with the conveyor belt. The material in the form of lost particles is not desired since it can make the apparatus dirty. In addition, it can lead to the blocking of a drive guide wheel and the breakage of the conveyor belt. Additionally, it can affect the optical and physical appearance of an end product, such as a filter cigarette.

Preferably, a cleaning unit of the apparatus is arranged next to the first guide wheel, adjacent downstream of the transfer location. A cleaning unit of the apparatus can also be adapted to clean the conveyor belt, either together or separately with the cleaning of a guide wheel. Preferably, the cleaning unit of the apparatus is arranged such that a cleaning action by the cleaning unit of the apparatus does not affect the particulate material in a full cavity, for example, to prevent the particulate material from becoming accidentally remove from the cavity.

In accordance with a further aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus further comprises a rod cleaning unit disposed downstream of the second guide wheel. Preferably, the rod cleaning unit is adapted to remove stray particulate material from an area next to a cavity. The cavity, which has preferably been filled before with particulate material, is provided in a series of rod-shaped elements and is disposed next to a longitudinal end of a rod-shaped element of the series of shaped elements. of rods.

With the provision of a rod cleaning unit, the presence of the material in the form of stray particles in a final product can be reduced or eliminated. The cleaning action of the rod cleaning unit is directed to the part of the series of rod-shaped elements, for example, the filter caps, which are adjacent to the cavity and define the size of the cavity or cavities in that the product that is not the end is available. Preferably, the rod cleaning unit is directed and focuses on the area near the cavity. The cleaning action can be directed to the rod-shaped element arranged next to the cavity such as to remove the particulate material lost from the outside of the rod-shaped element but not from the cavity arranged next to the shaped element. of rod. Typically, for example, the so-called "plug-space-stopper" filters comprising a cavity are arranged so that the cylindrical acetate filter caps are separated from each other and commonly wrapped by sheet-like wrapping material such as, by example, a weft of the porous plug. The empty space or cavity between the filter caps can be filled by other elements, such as, for example, the particulate material. Preferably, the rod cleaning unit is adapted to remove stray particulate material from an area between two neighboring cavities. The neighboring cavities are arranged next to two longitudinal ends of a rod-shaped element of the series of rod-shaped elements. A cavity can be further protected by a protective element while the cleaning action is performed next to the cavity.

A cleaning unit of the apparatus can also be combined with a rod cleaning unit so that, for example, the suction or a gas stream used in the cleaning unit of the apparatus can be used to clean portions of the series of shaped elements of rods and one of the first guide wheel or the second guide wheel. With this, then only one supply and one outlet is required to provide the suction or a gas stream.

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According to another aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel is a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel, and the conveyor belt is a gear belt arranged along a circumference of the first cogwheel and the second cogwheel. The use of toothed wheels in combination with a toothed conveyor belt is a precise and reliable way to transport and guide the conveyor belt, and therefore locate and guide the holes that are filled with the particulate material to dispense the material into particle shape inside the cavities. Generally, only one of the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel is a drive guide wheel. Therefore, only the drive guide wheel needs to be provided with teeth to engage with the teeth of the conveyor belt. However, a more precise and smooth guide of the conveyor belt can be achieved by providing the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel with teeth.

In some embodiments, the hole in the conveyor belt is disposed between two sets of teeth, whose sets of teeth are arranged in parallel along the lateral sides of the conveyor belt. Consequently, at least one of the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel is also provided with two sets of teeth, which are arranged in parallel along the lateral sides of the at least one of the first wheel. guide or second guide wheel. If a guide wheel is made like a cogwheel, the cogwheel can be provided with two sets of circumferentially arranged teeth.

In accordance with a further aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus comprises an ionization unit for electrostatically discharging the particulate material. Some types of particulate materials, for example, particulate material that is made of plastic material or that comprises external surfaces that are made of plastic material, tend to electrostatically charge after handling these particulate materials. , particularly through friction. This may have the effect that the particulate material may tend to separate from one another and adhere to neutral or oppositely charged surfaces such as, for example, the supply chamber, guide wheels or other parts of the machinery. Additionally, electrostatic charge can prevent or prevent particulate material from entering the hole or cavity. By electrostatically discharging the particulate material, filling of the holes and cavities or removing the material in the form of lost particles from unintended locations within the filling machinery can be facilitated. An electrostatic discharge of particulate materials can be achieved, for example, by applying a stream of ionized gas to the particulate material, parts of the apparatus or, for example, a series of rod-shaped elements with empty cavities, partially empty and full.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method for filling cavities with particulate material is provided. The method comprises the step of providing a conveyor belt comprising a hole. The method further comprises the step of transporting and guiding the conveyor belt by means of a first guide wheel and a second guide wheel. In accordance with the method of the invention, the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel are arranged at a distance from each other so that the conveyor belt forms a portion of straight belt between the first guide wheel and the second wheel of guide. In an additional stage the hole is filled through the first guide wheel with particulate material while the hole is kept closed. Preferably, a hole for opening the hole is kept closed or a hole can be kept closed except for a hole for filling the hole. A cavity in a series of rod-shaped elements is disposed adjacent to the hole in a transfer location. An additional step comprises dispensing the particulate material through the open hole into the cavity disposed adjacent to the hole, for example, by gravity, while parallel guiding the hole in the conveyor belt and the cavity in the series of rod-shaped elements along the straight tape portion. The open hole may be the hole, where, for example, a retaining element that previously closed the hole or closed a discharge opening of the hole is not for the particulate material that is now discharged from the open hole.

In accordance with one aspect of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises the step of inserting a cam into the hole, thereby pushing the particulate material towards the direction of the cavity.

In accordance with another aspect of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises the steps of providing the particulate material in a supply chamber disposed on the first guide wheel, guiding the hole along the first wheel guide such as to pass through a supply opening in the supply chamber and deliver the particulate material from the supply chamber through the supply opening into the hole in the conveyor belt.

In accordance with a further aspect of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises the step of affecting a circulation of the particulate material in the supply chamber.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises the step of removing the material in the form of stray particles from the series of rod-shaped elements by applying suction or by directing a gas stream towards a rod-shaped element of the series

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of elements in the form of rods. Preferably, the gas stream or the suction is applied to a rod-shaped element at a time and preferably in a focused manner to prevent accidental removal of the particulate material from a cavity arranged next to the rod-shaped element. where the suction or a gas stream is directed. Preferably, the step of removing the material in the form of stray particles is performed after filling a cavity and more preferably before a series of rod-shaped elements are further processed. A further processing may be, for example, the closing of the cavities such as, for example, a total wrap and the closing of a filter paper around a series of filter elements.

The advantages of the different aspects of the method have been described above in relation to the aspects of the apparatus according to the invention and therefore will not be repeated.

In some embodiments of the method, rod-shaped elements comprising gas permeable material are provided and suction is applied to a rod-shaped element comprising gas permeable material. The suction is such that it can act through the gas permeable material and on the cavity arranged next to the rod-shaped element comprising the gas permeable material. With this, filling of the cavity with particulate material can be supported by extracting the particulate material into the cavity and towards the side walls of the cavity in an essentially longitudinal direction, that is, parallel to the direction of transport of the filter elements. By applying suction to the gas permeable material, no particulate material is removed outside the cavity. This aspect of the method is especially suitable if a cavity is partially formed from or placed in a wrapping material with a low gas permeability, such as, for example, a gas-tight wrapping film. Preferably, the rod-shaped elements are filter elements and the gas permeable material is a filter such as acetate. With this, suction can be applied to a cavity, even if this cannot be done through an outer wrapping material due to the low gas permeability of this wrapping material. However, the suction can be applied along a direction of transport of the cavity, for example, in the series of filter elements. Although this method of cleaning the series of filter elements with particulate material located in the cavities has been described in relation to the use of a continuous belt, it will be appreciated that this cleaning method could also be used with an apparatus that it provides the particulate material to the cavities, for example, with a wheel directly into the cavity in a limited transfer location.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the apparatus and method according to the invention are used in the manufacture of filter elements for smoking articles.

The invention is further described with respect to embodiments, which are illustrated by means of the following figures, wherein

Figure 1 shows a front view in cross section of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention for use in the production of a filter element;

Figure 2 shows a front view - partially broken - of a cogwheel that includes the supply chamber for the particulate material;

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a hole in a conveyor belt aligned with a cavity; Figure 4 shows a cross section of a cam of a thrust element inserted in a hole; Figures 5-8 are enlarged views of the cleaning region of a rod cleaning unit comprising a cleaning wheel in a cross-sectional side view of the cleaning wheel (Figure 5 and Figure 7) and a front view of the cleaning wheel (Figure 6 and Figure 8) in an open rod cleaning state (Figure 5 and Figure 6) and in a non-rod cleaning state closed (Figure 7 and Figure 8).

An embodiment of the apparatus for filling cavities according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. A closed loop conveyor belt 1 is disposed around a first and a second guide wheel in the form of a first and a second toothed guide wheel 2,3. The first and second toothed guide wheels 2,3 are arranged close and spaced from each other so that the conveyor belt 1 forms a portion of horizontal straight belt 12 between the first and the second guide wheel 2,3. The conveyor belt 1 comprises a plurality of uniformly arranged holes 10. The holes 10 are filled with particulate material from a supply chamber 20 in the first guide wheel 2 and the particulate material is dispensed from the holes 10 into the cavities 51 in a series of rod-shaped elements 5 arranged below the straight tape portion 12.

A retention element 15 is shown on the right side of Figure 1. The retention element 15 is disposed along a portion of the lower side 111 of the conveyor belt 1 that closes the hole 10 on a lower side. Throughout this portion, the hole 10 forms a pocket to receive the particulate material. The length of the retention element 15, that is, the length of the portion of the lower side of the conveyor belt 1 that is covered by the retention element 15, is chosen to keep the hole 10 closed from a position shortly before the hole filling. In a transfer location 100, the particulate material is dispensed from the hole 10. The supply chamber 20 extends along the periphery of the first guide wheel 2 from approximately one position at 3 o'clock. the first guide wheel 2 until shortly before the

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transfer location 100, whose transfer location is arranged at a 6 o'clock position of the first guide wheel 2.

The series 5 of rod-shaped elements 50, for example, filter plugs for smoking articles such as cigarettes, are arranged horizontally below the straight tape portion 12 and is guided parallel to the straight tape portion 12 The series of rod-shaped elements 5 is provided with the cavities 51 between the rod-shaped elements 50. The series of rod-shaped elements 5 and the conveyor belt 1 are synchronized so that the hole 10 in the belt Conveyor 1 and the cavity 51 in the series of rod-shaped elements 5 are in the transfer location 100 on the first guide wheel 2. The conveyor belt 1 and the series of rod-shaped elements 5 are further synchronized such as to have the same or a similar speed, so that the cavity 51, arranged below and adjacent to the hole 10, is guided parallel and together with the hole 10 along the straight belt portion 1 2.

A first cleaning unit of the apparatus 60 for cleaning the first guidewheel 2 is disposed downstream of the transfer location 100 and next to the first guidewheel 2 seen in the direction clockwise of the first guide wheel 2. The first cleaning unit of the apparatus 60 comprises a cleaning chamber 601 where suction or a gas stream is applied to remove the particulate material lost from the circumferential region of the first guide wheel 2, whose particulate material has not been transferred to the holes 10 in the conveyor belt 1 but is gripped to the first guide wheel 2. The lower part of the first cleaning unit of the apparatus 60 is formed to support and guide the belt Conveyor 1 in the horizontal portion. In addition, it prevents spillage of particulate material from the belt during the downstream movement.

A second cleaning unit of the device 62 for cleaning the second guide wheel 3 is arranged downstream and next to the second guide wheel 3. The second cleaning unit of the device 62 is combined with a rod cleaning unit 61 for cleaning the material in the form of particles lost from the rod-shaped elements 50 of the series of rod-shaped elements.

The second cleaning unit of the apparatus 62 removes the particulate material lost from the second guidewheel 2 as well as from the conveyor belt 1 which is in contact with the second guidewheel 3 from approximately a position at 6 o'clock in point to a position at 9 o'clock on the second guide wheel 3. In addition, the removal of the particulate material lost from the second guide wheel 3 is preferably performed by suction or a gas stream.

Downstream of the location where the straight belt portion 12 has ended up at the 6 o'clock position of the second guidewheel 3, the series of rod-shaped elements 5 also moves in a direction of horizontal transportation to the left in Figure 1, and thereby passes through the rod cleaning unit 61 to clean the rod-shaped elements in the series of rod-shaped elements 5. The straight belt portion 12 begins at the transfer location 100 and ends at the 6 o'clock position of the second guide wheel 3. During the time that the hole 10 and the corresponding cavity 51 pass through the straight belt portion 12, the particulate material is allowed it is dispensed from hole 10 to cavity 51.

In the straight belt portion 12, a thrust element 4 in the form of a thrust sprocket is disposed on top of the conveyor belt 1 next to the upper side of the conveyor belt 1. The thrust member 4 comprises four cams 40 arranged evenly around and extending from the circumference of the thrust wheel 4. The cams 40 are arranged and synchronized with the conveyor belt 1 so that the cams 40 can interact with the holes 10 of the conveyor belt 1 as shown and described in more detail in Figure 4.

In the apparatus as shown in Figure 1, the conveyor belt 1 is guided in a clockwise direction so that the holes 10 are transported from the supply chamber 20 on the first guide wheel 2, where they are filled with particulate material, to the transfer location 100 and along the straight tape portion 12, where the particulate material is dispensed from the holes 10 to the cavities 51. Thus, they pass by the first cleaning unit of the apparatus 60 and the pushing wheel 4. When it reaches the second guide wheel 3, the conveyor belt 1 is received by the teeth 30 in the second guide wheel 3 and is passed through the second unit for cleaning the apparatus 62. Additionally in the clockwise direction, the now clean conveyor belt is transported back to the first guide wheel 2, thereby passing through a cleaning unit d e the belt 80 and a tensioning element 70 for further tensioning and guiding the conveyor belt 1. The series of rod-shaped elements 5 additionally moves in a horizontal transport direction to the left, thereby passing through the unit of rod cleaning 61.

The distance between the location where the particulate material is filled into the holes 10 on the conveyor belt 1 and the transfer location 100 where the particulate material is dispensed from the holes 10 into the cavities 51 of the series of rod-shaped elements 5 is approximately the length of a quadrant of the first guide wheel 2. This provides sufficient time for the holes to be

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fill reliably with the particulate material. Additionally, the presence of the particulate material on the conveyor belt is limited at this distance. This limits the area where the particulate material could get lost or could dirty the device or both. It can be seen that this distance can be further limited by reducing the distance between the location where the particulate material is filled within the cavities and the transfer location.

Figure 2 shows the first guidewheel 2 with the supply chamber 20 extending in the lower right half of the first guidewheel 2, with a direction of rotation clockwise from an external part. rotating the first guide wheel 2. The stationary supply chamber 20 receives the particulate material through a supply tube 22 (indicated in broken lines) from a reservoir 71 (see Figure 1). The supply chamber 20 is provided with two gas supply openings 201 and the corresponding gas supply connectors 202 for connection to a gas supply, such as, for example, a source of pressurized gas. The gas supply openings are provided in an upper and lower part of the supply chamber 20. The lower gas supply opening 201 is arranged such as to provide a gas stream to the circumference of the supply chamber 20 which removes the particulate material from the circumferential side wall of the supply chamber, and keep the particulate material circulating in the supply chamber 20. The upper gas supply opening 201 is arranged such as to further direct a gas flow to the circumferential direction of the supply chamber 20. With this, the particulate material in the supply chamber 20 is given a speed and direction along the circumference of the supply chamber 20, of that way the speed of the particulate material that moves along the circumference is adapted to the speed of the holes in the tape Conveyor 1. The conveyor belt (not shown in Figure 2) is guided along part of the circumference of the first guidewheel 2, the teeth 11 of the conveyor belt 1 thereby interacting with the teeth 21 in the first guide wheel 2. The teeth of the first guide wheel 2 belong to a rotating part of the first guide wheel 2. Preferably, the teeth 11 are arranged circumferentially on both side sides of the first guide wheel 2. Between these two sets of circumferentially arranged teeth 11, the supply openings (not shown) of the supply chamber 20 are provided. The tape 1 and the rotating part of the first guide wheel 2 are adapted and guided so that the openings of supply in the supply chamber 20 coincide and move together with the holes 10 in the conveyor belt 1. During this parallel guide of the supply opening and the hole, the hole is filled c on particulate material from the supply chamber 20.

The gas supply openings 201 in the supply chamber 20 can also be used to introduce, for example, ionized air to keep the particulate material agitated in the supply chamber and avoid or limit an electrostatic charge of the material in the form of particles

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the supply chamber 20 in the first guide wheel 2 does not extend completely to the transfer location 100, especially a supply opening in the supply chamber 20 for the transfer of the material in the form of particles from the supply chamber 20 into the hole 10, is located upstream of the transfer location 100 (with respect to a direction of rotation clockwise). Therefore, an amount of particulate material is filled into the hole 10 before the hole 10 reaches the transfer location 100. Said quantity of particulate material is filled into the cavity 51 at the location of transfer 100 and while the hole 10 and the cavity 51 are guided along the straight tape portion 12. The cavity 51 is therefore filled with a quantity of particulate material, the quantity of which is measured and defined by the hole volume 10.

If a series of rod-shaped elements should be designed differently or if a cavity 51 should be filled with a different amount of particulate material, this can be done by replacing a conveyor belt with another conveyor belt that includes hole sizes or hole-to-hole distances in accordance with the series of different rod-shaped elements, especially with cavities sized differently. An amount of particulate material can be further defined by the time that a hole and a cavity coincide while the hole 10 still receives the particulate material from the supply chamber 20. In said embodiment, a supply opening in the Supply chamber 20 is disposed until transfer location 100 or a transfer location is disposed in a more upward direction, respectively.

Figure 3 shows a detail of the apparatus according to the invention in the transfer location 100 in a cross-sectional view when viewed in a transport direction of the conveyor belt 1 and the series of rod-shaped elements 5. The hole 10 in the conveyor belt 1 is arranged in the transfer location 100. The cavity 51 is arranged below the hole 10. A rod-shaped element 50 is disposed in front of the cavity 51. The series of elements in the form of rods are held and guided in a support of the series 54. A wrapping material 53, such as a sheet of paper or a plastic film, is arranged and guided in the support of the series 54, thereby holding the elements in the form of rods 50 and the cavities 51 in place in the series of rod-shaped elements, while filling the cavities 51. The support of the series 54 mainly has a circular groove in the form of a rod 541 in e himself. The diameter of the groove 541 can vary along the transport path of the series of rod-shaped elements and can be adapted

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when the different steps of the method according to the invention are performed. The wrapping material 53 basically forms an internal lining of the groove 541. Additionally, a groove 542 is provided for a belt that conveys the web of sheet-shaped material, that is, used to wrap the series of shaped articles. of rods. The wrapping material 53 extends to and around both edges of the open ends of the groove 541. These extending portions 530 of the wrapping material 53 are used after filling the cavities 51 to close the series of shaped elements. of rods. Therefore, a continuous rod-shaped article is formed to be cut into individual elements, such as filter elements, for example, comprising a filter plug 50 and a full cavity 51.

The hole 10 is formed on the conveyor belt 1 in the form of a funnel. The hole 10 comprises an outlet opening 102, a conical section 103 that directs the particulate material towards the direction of the outlet opening and an insert 104 that is larger than the outlet opening 102. The insert 104 may be , for example, a metal ring-shaped insert such as stainless steel. The insert 4 stabilizes the hole 10 when it is filled, emptied or cleaned. A metal insert can also reduce the electrostatic charge of the particulate material and thus withstand the reliable filling of the cavities.

Figure 4 shows the thrust wheel 4 with a pin-shaped cam 40 inserted in the hole 10. The thrust wheel 4 is disposed above the conveyor belt 1 and after the transfer location 100. The teeth that they run circumferentially 41 in the push wheel 4 interact with the teeth 11 of the conveyor belt 1. With this, the push wheel 4 is rotated and with this movement the cam 40 penetrates and retracts from the hole 10. The material in particle form not yet transferred to the cavity 51 disposed below the hole 10 and between two rod-shaped elements 50 (only one is seen) is pushed by the cam 40 out of the hole 10. The particulate material remaining in the hole 10 that has not yet been transferred to the cavity 51 by the force of gravity and through the general vibrations of the apparatus while the hole 10 and the cavity 51 are

they have moved together along the straight belt portion 12 (see Figure 1), it is pushed by cam 40 towards the

cavity direction 51.

Preferably, the push wheel 4 and the conveyor belt 1 are separated so that the cam 40 does not touch any surface of the hole 10 or the belt 1, respectively, while the cam 54 is inserted and retracted from the hole 10. A minimum distance 42 between the cam and the hole is preferably chosen to be larger than an average diameter or an extension of the particles of the particulate material, so that no particulate material is squeezed or broken by the cam 40 and the hole 10.

Preferably, at least one cam is arranged on the push wheel 4. The distance of the cams 40 from each other is equal to a distance of the holes 10 from each other on the conveyor belt 1.

The cleaning process of rods by the rod cleaning unit 61 is shown in Figures 5 to 8.

Cleaning wheel 610 comprises a plurality of recesses 6100 arranged uniformly around the circumference of the cleaning wheel 610, which gives the cleaning wheel 610 the shape of a wheel with lobes. The cleaning wheel 610 further comprises a plurality of uniformly arranged through holes 6101 arranged in the lobes of the cleaning wheel 610. Therefore, through holes 6101 are disposed between the recesses 6100 and provide closed passages from a front side of the cleaning wheel 610 to a rear side of the cleaning wheel 610. The rod cleaning unit 61 further comprises a cleaning interface 612 arranged above and parallel to the series of rod-shaped elements 5. The cleaning interface 612 It comprises a gas flow passage. This gas flow passage allows a gas stream from a gas inlet 611 to enter the cleaning interface 612, to be directed towards a rod-shaped element 50 (indicated in Figure 6 and 8) arranged below the cleaning interface 612, to be directed back from the rod-shaped element towards the cleaning interface 612 and towards the rear side of the cleaning wheel 61 and also through a gas outlet 613 towards the second cleaning unit 62 (not shown) to clean the second guide wheel 3 and the conveyor belt 1 (see Figure 1). Preferably, the second cleaning unit 62 is provided with a separate cleaning channel (not shown).

The cleaning wheel 61 is further arranged on top of the series of rod-shaped elements 5 and perpendicular to a transport direction of the series of rod-shaped elements. The cleaning wheel 610 is additionally disposed in the cleaning interface 612 to allow the gas flow to pass from a front side of the cleaning wheel 610 to a rear side of the cleaning wheel 610, either through the holes passages 6101 of the cleaning wheel 610 or through that part of the gas flow passage in the cleaning interface 612 which is directed towards and away from the rod-shaped element 50.

Figures 5 and 6 show the rod cleaning unit 61 in an open position, Figures 7 and 8 show the rod cleaning unit 61 in a closed position. In the open position, the cleaning wheel 610 is arranged so that a recess 6100 comes to be placed on top of the rod-shaped element 50 of the series of rod-shaped elements. Therefore, the gas stream enters the interface 612, is directed towards and away again from the rod-shaped element 50, and again towards the rod cleaning unit 61. With this, the particulate material stray is blown or suctioned from the rod-shaped element 50 by the gas stream or through suction. In the closed position, the cleaning wheel 610 is arranged so

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that a through hole 6101 is disposed in the gas flow passage of the cleaning interface 612, which closes the part of the gas flow passage that leads to and from the rod-shaped element 50. The cleaning wheel 610 it is placed in the closed position when a cavity 51 passes through the rod cleaning unit 61 so as not to accidentally remove the particulate material from the cavity 51. The open and closed positions of the cleaning unit 61 are reached by the rotation of the cleaning wheel 610. Accordingly, a rotation speed of the cleaning wheel 611 is adapted to the arrangement of cavities and rod-shaped elements in the series of rod-shaped elements and to a transport speed of the series of elements in the form of rods. For example, by adapting a size (length) of the recess 6100 (with respect to the width of the cleaning wheel 610), a cleaning action of the rod-shaped element 50 can be defined and limited especially to the length or part of the length of the rod-shaped element 50. A gas or suction stream can be applied very locally without putting the particulate material at risk of accidentally sucking out of a cavity.

The rod cleaning unit 61 can also be adapted to be used to support filling of a cavity. For example, if the wrapping material 53 of a series of rod-shaped elements 5 is made of a material with low gas permeability, suction cannot be applied through the wrapping material, for example, from below a cavity, to withstand the filling of the cavity 51. However, if the rod-shaped elements are made of a gas-permeable material or a portion of the rod-shaped element 50 disposed next to a cavity 51 it is made of a permeable material With gas, suction can be applied to the rod-shaped element 50 or to the part of the rod-shaped element that is made of the gas permeable material. If suction is applied with a sufficiently strong intensity, this suction acts through the gas-permeable material of the rod-shaped element 50 in a longitudinal direction of the rod-shaped element and over the cavity 51. This suction can withstand a filling of the cavity 51 and can keep the particulate material in the cavity 51. For example, a gas stream is applied to the series of rod-shaped elements for cleaning. Said filling support unit can also be arranged in a position upstream, closer to the transfer location 100.

A gas stream can be provided, for example, by a gas source that provides a gas flow or by a vacuum source that provides a suction applied to the cleaning wheel 610. For a cleaning action of an element in the form of rod, or a cleaning action in general, a gas stream or a moderate resistance suction can be applied. To withstand filling of a cavity an intense resistance suction may be required. In order not to accidentally remove the particulate material from a cavity, a location of the suction action to the gas permeable material of the rod-shaped element may be recommended, for example, by providing recesses and through holes in a cleaning wheel as described with respect to Figures 5 to 8. A gas stream for cleaning can also be, for example, a stream of ionized gas to electrostatically discharge the particulate material of the series of elements in the form of rods or parts of the filling machinery. An electrostatic discharge can also be applied before a cleaning stage is provided.

Claims (12)

10 fifteen twenty 2. 25 30 3. Four. 35 5. 40 6. Four. Five 7. 50 8. 55 60 Apparatus for filling cavities (51) with particulate material, the apparatus comprising: - a conveyor belt (1) comprising a hole (10), wherein the hole is adapted to accommodate the particulate material and to dispense the particulate material through the hole (10); - a first guide wheel (2) and a second guide wheel (3) for transporting and guiding the conveyor belt (1), the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel that are arranged at a distance from each other and from such that the conveyor belt comprises a portion of straight belt (12) disposed between the first guide wheel (2) and the second guide wheel (2); - a retaining element (15) arranged adjacent to the lower side (111) of the conveyor belt (1) to keep the hole (10) closed before the hole reaches a transfer location (100) on the first guide wheel (2), the retaining element (15) and the portion of straight tape (12) which are further arranged to allow the particulate material in the hole (10) to be dispensed through the open hole in the location of transfer (100), characterized in that the particulate material is transferred to the conveyor belt (1) through the first guide wheel (2), and because - a pushing element (4) is arranged next to an upper side of the straight belt portion (12), the pushing element comprising a cam (40) to be inserted in the hole (10) of the conveyor belt (1) ) to push the particulate material out of the hole (10). Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the first guide wheel (2) comprising a supply chamber (20) for containing a quantity of particulate material, the supply chamber that is disposed within the first guide wheel (2), wherein the supply chamber (20) is provided with a supply opening in a supply periphery of the supply chamber, whose supply periphery corresponds to a peripheral portion of the first guide wheel (2), and wherein the supply opening is provided to deliver the particulate material from the supply chamber (20) through the supply opening to the hole (10) in the conveyor belt (1), when the hole is disposed in the peripheral portion of the first guide wheel (2). Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supply chamber (20) comprises circulation means to affect a circulation of the particulate material with the supply chamber (20). Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a cleaning unit of the apparatus (60.62) for removing the particulate material from the first guide wheel (2), from the second guide wheel (3) or from the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising a rod cleaning unit (61) disposed downstream of the second guide wheel (3), wherein the rod cleaning unit is adapted to remove the material in the form of particles lost from an area next to a cavity (51) provided in a series of rod-shaped elements (5), and disposed next to a longitudinal end of a rod-shaped element (50) of the series of rod-shaped elements (5). Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first guide wheel (2) and the second guide wheel (3) is a first gear wheel and a second gear wheel and wherein the conveyor belt (1) is a gear belt arranged along a circumference of the first and second cogwheels. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising an ionization unit for electrostatically discharging the particulate material. Method for filling cavities (51) with particulate material, the method comprising the steps of: - providing a conveyor belt (1) comprising a hole (10), - transporting and guiding the conveyor belt by means of a first guide wheel (2) and a second guide wheel (3), so that it has the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel at a distance from each other so that the conveyor belt (1) forms a portion of straight belt (12) between the first guide wheel and the second guide wheel; - fill the hole (10) with particulate material through the first guide wheel (2) while keeping the hole closed; Y - arranging a cavity (51) in a series of rod-shaped elements (5) adjacent to the hole in a transfer location (100); then - dispensing the particulate material through the open hole (10) into the cavity (51) arranged adjacent to the hole, while parallel guiding the hole in the conveyor belt and the cavity in the series of elements in the form of rods (5) along the straight belt portion (12); and - insert a cam (40) into the hole (10), thereby pushing the particulate material out of the hole (10). 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 9. Method according to claim 8, further comprising the steps of - providing the particulate material in a supply chamber (20) arranged in the first guide wheel (2); - guide the hole (10) along the first guide wheel to pass through a supply opening in the supply chamber (20); Y - supplying the particulate material from the supply chamber through the supply opening to the hole (10) in the conveyor belt (1). 10. Method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of affecting a circulation of the particulate material in the supply chamber (20). 11. Method according to any of claims 8 to 10, further comprising the step of removing the material in the form of particles lost from the series of rod-shaped elements (5) by applying suction or by directing a gas stream to a rod-shaped element (50) of the series of rod-shaped elements (5). 12. Method according to claim 11, which provides rod-shaped elements (50) comprising gas permeable material and applies suction to the rod-shaped element (50) comprising gas permeable material such that suction it acts through the gas permeable material and on the cavity (51) arranged next to the rod-shaped element (50) comprising the gas permeable material, thereby supporting a filling of the cavity (51) with material in the form of particles. 13. The use of the apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7 or of the method according to any of claims 8 to 12 in the manufacture of filter elements for smoking articles. image 1 111 201 twenty 601 201 100 Figure 1 image2 Figure 2 image3 ¿32 Figure 3 image4 image5 image6 6100 610 611 T 613 6101 6100 610 612 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 image7 6101 611 613 image8 6101 6100 610 612 Figure 7 Figure 8