FR2734126A1 - DOUBLE TRACK CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING MACHINE - Google Patents

Abstract

Double-track cigarette making machine, characterized in that control is carried out in the manner in which the two tracks are separated, so that each track can operate independently of the other and in such a way that, when they operate both, different control parameters can be applied to the two lanes so that, if desired, different kinds of cigarettes can be made on the two lanes.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for the manufacture of

  cigarettes. For many years cigarette making machines have operated conventionally by forming a continuous rod of cigarettes comprising tobacco and / or other filling material (which will be referred to here simply as "" tobacco "") enclosed in a continuous paper envelope. This rod is then cut at regular intervals so as to produce separate lengths of rods, comprising lengths of individual cigarettes or lengths of multiple cigarettes which are delivered in conventional manner by the cigarette manufacturing device to a machine ensuring the fixing of the filters, the finished product thus constituting a tipped cigarette

filtering.

  In recent years, it has been proposed to increase the throughput of the cigarette making machine by dividing the throughput of tobacco from the tobacco hopper, in order to deliver tobacco to two rod forming devices, arranged so forming two continuous parallel rods, each of which is cut at regular intervals to produce separate rod lengths

  which are delivered to a conventional machine for fixing the filters.

  A machine for making cigarettes of this general type will be

  hereinafter referred to as: "" double track machine "".

  The present invention relates to improvements made to

double track machines.

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  In this invention, a double track cigarette making machine comprises two substantially parallel channels for the raining of tobacco through which the tobacco is rained on two suction strips moving in converging directions, in a substantially horizontal plane, and having substantially vertical tobacco receiving surfaces, and comprising means for enclosing each of the streams of filling material (possibly after deburring) in a strip of continuous envelope

  io so as to form two continuous cigarette stems.

  Preferably, the stream of filling material on each suction strip is received by another suction strip designed and arranged so as to transport the stream of filling material on its underlying surface and in a packing, which can be of conventional shape, thanks to which the stream of filling material is enclosed in the envelope strip. Alternatively, the converging suction strips, after the filling material stream has been formed on it, pass over rollers by which the directions of movement of the strips can be made parallel, and each strip can then be forced to twist about 90 before coming back around another roller, so that the twist of each strip allows to obtain a current of filling material transported on an underlying surface of the strip, so that the current of filling material can be delivered directly into the filling, by the same strip, thus eliminating

  the need for another suction strip for each track.

  The two channels for the raining of tobacco are spaced from one another and, at least part of the hopper through which tobacco is delivered to said channels, extends downward between the channels bringing the rain tobacco. The tobacco that is delivered through this hopper portion is preferably kept below the rain channels and is then delivered into a pair of upwardly extending rain channels and communicating with the horizontal rain channels leading to the converging suction strips. Such an arrangement, more particularly in the embodiment described below with reference to the appended drawings in itself allows suitable access by the operator to at least certain parts of the machine for which access is

frequently required.

  According to the present invention, control is carried out in the manner in which the two tracks are separated in a two-track cigarette making machine, so that each track can operate independently of one another and so that when 'They both work, different control parameters can be applied to the two tracks in order to produce, if desired, different kinds of cigarettes on the two tracks. For the purpose mentioned last above, the machine ensuring the fixing of the filters is preferably also carried out on a base of two tracks instead of carrying out a fusion of the rods of cigarettes coming from the two tracks, as was the case previously, so as to pass them through the filter fixing machine, along a common track. The two filter assembly tracks can be adjacent to each other or they can extend in opposite directions, starting from the location where the rod lengths

  of cigarettes are received by the filter making machine.

  Examples of double track cigarette making machines according to this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which

  will refer to in the description below. In these drawings:

  - Figure 1 is a schematic plan view (partially in section) of part of a machine;

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  - Figure 2 is a schematic elevational view of a part of the machine shown in Figure 1 and also partially in section Figure 3 is an end view of a modified machine, this view being equivalent to a view taken from the right of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a section along the line AGA in Figure I; - Figure 5 illustrates a modification, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the machine shown in Figure 1; - Figure 6 is a plan view of half of another modified machine; - Figure 7 is a section along line B-B of Figure 6 illustrating the two halves of the machine; - Figure 8 is a plan view, similar to Figure 1 of another modified machine and, - Figure 9 is an end view of a device designed to ensure the

  transfer of cigarette stems to a machine for fixing filters.

  The machine illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises two horizontal channels 310 and 312 for the raining of tobacco, these channels being delimited by upper walls 310 A, 312 A and lower walls 310 B, 312 B as well as by walls lateral 310 C, 310 D, 312 C, 312 D. The axes of symmetry of the two channels are parallel and they are spaced from each other so that there is a gap between the internal lateral walls 310 D and 312 D. A part 314 of the hopper of the cigarette making machine extends down between the

  rain tobacco supply channels, as seen in Figure 1.

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  Tobacco delivered in rain through the channels 310 and 312 respectively arrives on suction strips 316 and 318 which are located in a common horizontal plane and which converge towards each other at an angle such as the tobacco brought in rain through each of the channels 310 and 312 approaches the bands 316 and 318 in a direction (or mean direction) having a significant component in the direction of movement of the bands 316, 318. The bands 316, 318

  pass on rollers 316 A, 316 B and 318 A, 318 B respectively.

  Other suction strips 320 and 322 moving at the same speed as the strips 316, 318 and located above the strips 316, 318 (i.e. upper) receive the streams of filling material coming from the strips 316 and 318 and they transport them on their underlying surfaces in a pair of conventional linings (not shown) in which the streams of filling material are enclosed in envelopes of paper so as to form two parallel rods of continuous cigarettes which can be cut at regular intervals, by a conventional rotary cutting device, while being held by a common support, the stems being

sufficiently close for this purpose.

  Before being transferred to the upper strips 320 and 322, the streams of filling material formed on the converging strips 316, 318 can be deburred using deburring devices 324 as seen in FIG. 1. As a variant , or in addition, the streams of filler material can be deburred while they are supported by the upper bands 320, 322. Another possibility is to provide for a redistribution of the tobacco from relatively high areas (i.e. (say relatively thick) towards low areas, while each stream of filling material is being transported beyond the wall 310D, 312D of the corresponding rain channel, towards the point where it is received by the bandaged

  superior 320, 322. Such a device can be in conformity with that described above

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  after with reference to FIG. 6 or more generally of the type described in French patent n 94 13 327 (or the patent application

  No. 94 22 581.0) belonging to this licensee.

  The hopper through which tobacco is measured and then delivered to the rain channels 310, 312 is essentially

  in two similar parts to feed the respective channels.

  Each of these parts will be designated as a hopper in its entirety and can be ordered separately. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the combined part 314 which passes downward between the rain channels is divided by a wall 314A into channels

314B and 314C of equal dimensions.

  Each hopper has a tobacco tank 328 (Figure 2) from which tobacco is measured and then delivered downwards using three rollers 330, 332 and 334, provided with pins and rotating in the directions shown in Figure 2 Thanks to this arrangement, tobacco delivered by the rollers slides down along an inclined wall 336 and is then transported by a carding drum 340. A roll of tobacco 338 is produced between the drum 340 and a counter drum. 342, which results in the drum 340 transporting a measured carpet of tobacco from the roller 338 to a collecting roller 344 which removes the tobacco from the drum 340 and projects it horizontally along a

  guide surface 346, then beyond a perforated block 348 and

  underside of a perforated drum 350. Air is blown upwards

  through block 348, while at the same time the internal space of the drum 350 communicates with the suction in order to induce air currents directed upwards through the tobacco. These streams deflect lighter particles of tobacco upward in a channel 352 while heavier particles, or pieces (of logs) continue horizontally and fall into a screening device 354. The arrangement in the region of the perforated block 358 and the screening device may be similar to that used in the past in

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  classic MOLINS machines, for example as described in the patent

US-3,092,117.

  The tobacco transported upwards in the channel 352 continues in the channel 310 in this half of the machine, the channels 352 and 312 being

  connected using a curved portion of channel 356.

  The resulting position of the screening device 354 ensures suitable access for the machine operator since this device is

  located, or can be located, at the far right of the machine.

  The tobacco can be delivered to the tank 328 by any conventional means. FIG. 2 represents, by way of example, a conveyor belt 358 by which a thick carpet of tobacco 360 is delivered to the tank 328 when the level of tobacco in the tank

  falls below a 362 photocell detector.

  It is understood that the tobacco passing downward on the inclined wall 336 must also move laterally since the carding drum 340 and all the components of this half of the machine are aligned horizontally with the rain feed channel 310 For this purpose, the wall 336 has guide vanes 337 or, as a variant, they can be replaced by a series of separate pipes extending downwards through which portions of the tobacco delivered.

  can be brought down and sideways.

  In the hypothesis where tobacco would come to agglomerate in one of the rain supply channels 310, 312, part of the lower wall 310B or 312B, in the region located below the rollers 330, 332, 334 , can be designed to oscillate downward in order to make the tobacco fall on the inclined wall 336 thus helping to release the tobacco agglomerate and to make it recirculate thus avoiding any waste

tobacco.

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  FIG. 3 illustrates the slightly modified general configuration of the supply of tobacco to each of the carding drums 340. In

  particular this figure shows divergent conduits 364 and 366 above

  through which tobacco is delivered for the two carding drums 340. These pipes extend downward from the separate channel portions 314B and 314C. Each of these pipes 364 and 366 can be subdivided into a number of thinner pipes, or it can include guide fins 368 mounted on the equivalent of the inclined wall 336 of FIG. 2. In FIG. only shows two guide fins 368, in each pipe,

  this by way of example, but preferably more is provided.

  FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement in which a part of the totality of the tobacco supply hoppers passes between the rain tobacco supply channels 310 and 312. By way of example, FIG. 3 represents an arrangement in which approximately two-thirds of the tobacco is delivered to each drum 340 via lines 364 or 366. The rest of the tobacco is delivered via a line 370 extending downward and located on the outside of the channel correspondent of the raining of tobacco. Each of the lines 370 can also be subdivided into a number of narrower lines, or it can have fins for guiding tobacco streams, as desired. In FIG. 3, the pipes 370 are shown to be narrower than the pipes 314B and 314C; alternatively, these pipes could have a similar width so that the pipes

  370, for example, supply half of the total tobacco delivered by the hopper.

  The tobacco (or other material) delivered via the lines 370 can be different from that delivered through the lines 364, 366. For example, the following method can be applied: tobacco received by the machine for making cigarettes is separated into two streams comprising longer and shorter particles respectively

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  tobacco; the longer tobacco is then delivered via the lines 364, 366, while the shorter tobacco is delivered through the lines 370 so as to form initial layers on the strips 376 and 318 which will not be removed and then broken by the deburring devices 324. The separation of tobacco for this purpose can be obtained as described in US Patent No. 5,018,538

  belonging to this holder.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a possible section along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

  It shows the strip 316 having a vertical face and on which tobacco brought in rain through the conduit 310 has accumulated in order to form a stream of filling material identified by the reference 372. During the transfer to the strip upper 320, the cross section of the filling material stream 372 changes so as to present the outline 374. Since the tobacco stream 372 formed on the strip 316 is relatively thin (when it is measured in the direction perpendicular to the surface of the strip), it is possible to cause a redistribution of tobacco from relatively large portions (measured horizontally) in areas which are relatively thin, as described below with reference to FIG. 6, by inducing air so that it flows along and in the same direction as the tobacco stream 372. This redistribution avoids the need to provide trimming devices ge 324 near strips 316 and 318, but as a variant, deburring devices can be applied to tobacco streams when these are supported by

  the upper suction bands 320 and 322.

  In order to obtain a useful degree of redistribution, the width of the filling material stream 372 on the strip 316 is preferably equal to three times, or better still four times the depth of the filling material stream: for example, ten- eight millimeters and

  approximately four millimeters respectively.

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  Furthermore, by transferring the tobacco from the band 316 to the band 320, and due to the change in cross section resulting from the widths of the bands and the positions of the side rails (not shown) which delimit the sides of the tobacco, the tobacco is redirected ; this is believed to improve the filling power of tobacco in finished cigarettes, as described in US Patent No. 5,370,136

  belonging to this holder.

  As already mentioned, each of the hoppers delivering tobacco 1o in order to form the two rods is preferably controlled independently. For this purpose, provision is preferably made for independent control (for example between the two hoppers) with respect to the initial feeds supplied by the conveyors 358, with respect to each set of feed rollers 330, 332, 334 and also with respect to the speed of each carding drum 340 which determines the speed at which tobacco is measured in the corresponding rain channel. Thus, each hopper operates so as to constitute an independent machine with a single track. This makes it possible to optimize the feeding speed for example in response to a signal representing the speed at which tobacco is removed by the deburring device for the corresponding track, in response to the conventional device for scanning the weight of the rod ( conventionally a system using nuclear technology) to produce the desired weight of cigarette rods per unit length. Similarly, it is understood that one can deliver different mixtures in the two hoppers in order to produce different cigarettes. Furthermore, if more than one track is necessary for operation at any one time, this

  result can be easily achieved.

  Preferably, various types of drive mechanisms are provided in each track in the form of an independently electronically controlled motor. FIG. 5 illustrates a possible variant in which a strip 376 (equivalent to the strip 316) is guided on a guide element 378 of relatively large radius, in place of the roller 316B. A similar arrangement applies to the strip 318. A suction applied through the element 378 (as illustrated by the arrows) tends to maintain the current of cigarette filling material on the strip, against the force centrifugal, but it allows external tobacco particles in thicker areas of the filling material stream to be transported forward faster than the whole filling material stream, by admitted air between parallel fins 380. After passing over the guide element 378, the strip 376 (in the region 382) moves in a direction parallel to the upper strip (not shown) and parallel

  fins 380, before returning around a roller (not shown).

  As the strip moves parallel to the upper strip, tobacco transported forward by air currents admitted between the fins, tends to settle on the thinner areas of the

  filling material, giving rise to the redistribution effect described above

  on it before all the filling material stream is released by the strip 376 and then sucked up on the upper strip. The application of suction to the strip 376 can be such that the tobacco, when it is transferred to the upper strip, is gradually released from the strip 376, starting from the most

close to the top band.

  Each upper strip may have regularly spaced regions of high porosity so that the tobacco attracted by the suction towards these regions, corresponding to the terminal portions of cigarettes,

  has a higher density than elsewhere.

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  Figure 6 is a plan view of half of a different embodiment of the machine. In this example, tobacco is delivered in rain, substantially horizontally, through a channel 200 in order to form a stream of wide but shallow filling material on a suction strip 202 passing over rollers 204 and 206 which have substantially vertical axes of rotation. The machine comprises a redistribution zone 208 (as described in the patent application mentioned above belonging to the present owner) in which air currents induced by suction circulate between inclined fins 208 and cause the air to circulate the long, and in the same direction as the flow of filler material on the strip 202. This causes tobacco from relatively high areas to be redistributed in lower areas. The filling material stream is then transferred to a narrow upper suction belt 210 which transports the filling material stream.

  filling the envelope material strip (not shown).

  During its transport by the band 210, the current of material of

filling can be trimmed.

  FIG. 7 illustrates the modification of the cross section of the filling material stream in the region of transfer from the strip 202 to the strip 210. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the strip 202 has a vertical orientation along its section straight and it carries a stream of filling material 212, wide but shallow. This results in a transformation into a narrower but deeper filling material stream 210, the outline of which

  approximately 214 has been shown.

  FIG. 7 also shows a second wide strip 216 intended to form a stream of filling material 218 which is transferred to a second upper strip 220 in order to form a second cigarette rod parallel to the first rod. For this purpose, the layout, seen

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  in plan, substantially constitutes the image in a mirror of that illustrated

by figure 6.

  Figure 8 is a plan view of a machine partially similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, the same references being used to designate identical parts. In this exemplary embodiment, each of the suction strips 316 ′ and 318 ′ continue to transport the current of corresponding filling material beyond the rollers 316B, 318B and then they are twisted by 90 so that the transport ends by bringing the current of filling material onto the bottom surface of the strip. The strip then passes over rollers having a horizontal axis of rotation 319 before returning to the rollers 316A and 318A. Consequently, the strips 316 ′ and 318 ′ can deposit the streams of filling material directly on strips of envelope material (not shown) in the region of the roller centered on the axis 319, in order to form two parallel rods of cigarettes moving in the direction of the arrows

  parallel as shown in the figure.

  The transfer of the lengths of rods of cigarettes (or lengths of double cigarettes) from each of the tracks can be obtained from the

  as illustrated in Figure 9.

  Cigarette rods 400 and 402 produced by the two tracks of the machine are received respectively by grooved drums 404 and 406. An accelerating cam 408 is associated with each grooved drum, each cam having suction nozzles for alternately accelerating each of the rods and at the same time to deflect each rod upwards by cam action. The fluted drums 404 and 406 rotate in opposite directions and they

  transfer the rods to other respective grooved drums 410 and 412.

  The drum 410 in turn transfers the rods which it

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  receives and the rods are then all received by another drum

  fluted 414 forming part of the rod fixing machine.

  This arrangement can be used for a single track filter fixing machine or, alternatively, on a double track machine. In the first example, the grooves of the drums 404 and 410 are positioned and implemented so as to deliver rods 400 in grooves between rods 402 already received on the drum 412; for this purpose, the two accelerating cams 408 can be adjacent to each other. The variant of a double track filter fixing machine can be produced by shifting the positions of the two cams 406 in the direction of the axes of the rods 400 and 402, so that the rods are delivered to the drums 404 and 406, with their centers in different and parallel vertical planes which constitute the planes of the respective separate tracks of the filter fixing machine; for this purpose, it is understood that the drum 412 (and also the drum 414) will have a length equal to at least twice each of the drums 404, 406 and 410, and that the drums 404 and 410 must be positioned so that their centers be

  located in the appropriate plane offset from that of the drum 406.

Claims (1)

CLAIM   1 - Double track cigarette making machine, characterized in that an order is made in the manner in which the two tracks are separated, so that each track can operate independently of the other and so that when they both work, different control parameters can be applied to the two tracks so that, if desired, different kinds of   cigarettes can be made on both tracks.