FR2786991A1 - Device for thinning, grinding and ordering presentation of tobacco leaves has leaves taken from stalk by leaf separator followed by sorting device made with cloth - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic tobacco leaf thinning device has frame fitted with tobacco leaf loading device formed by inclined guides. Leaves (11) are taken individually by conveyor to be aligned and positioned in leaf immobilizer (6) provided with leaf separator (6a). Leaves are separated from stalk (12) and then led by trolley (7) to sorting device composed of cloth with width equal to that of leaves.

Description

-1 -

  The present invention relates to a stripping device for tapping feet

  dried tray. It is an automatic machine making it possible to improve the yield in leaf stripping operations by presenting the sheets encased in their order on the foot allowing the simultaneous sorting of classes and stages. Traditionally, tobacco is stripped manually, piled up,

then resumed for sorting.

  For the past few years, leaf stripping and sorting sites have been set up and recommended by the Tobacco Cooperatives. If an appreciable saving of time is observed, it does not prevent the feet or the leaves from being manipulated several times, because it is practically impossible to appreciate the class at the time of stripping: on the one hand, by the concentration that it is difficult to keep and on the other hand by the position of the leaves taken in the hands (upside down) which requires, to have a good "look", to change their position in the hand , either release the foot or pass it to another operator, or pass the leaves to another

  operator, hence, loss of time and in any case, increase in mani-

  pulations. Machines to simplify this work have been invented. Some to assist the stripping task, avoiding for many the standing position

  tiring, which the yard - sorting does not solve.

  Other more sophisticated machines have appeared to more or less automatically perform leaf stripping. If automatic or mechanical leaf stripping is practiced satisfactorily enough, no

  this day could not present leaves sorted by leaf stage allows-

  both simultaneously, operators, to sort the classes in these floors. The machine called Andrieux makes it possible to present the sheets, stage after stage, on a continuously advancing conveyor, on a longitudinal plane with respect to the defoliating bodies. However, the concentration and attention required from operators are such that the

saturation wins quickly.

2-

  Indeed the leaves, released by the belts more or less regular-

  ment, fall on the carpet like "they pass", according to the degree of humidity, according to the pitch, and ... They arrive on the same line, continuously, according to their order of leafing, that is to say - say 1st floor, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, etc. You must already be concentrated to locate the floors! As for sorting the classes in the floors on a continuous advancement: impossible!

  Another patented machine with separate stages, cap sheets

  seated, in armfuls, ready to be taken up for classification is a ma-

  o0 very noisy china, very imposing, almost impossible to move, and does not

  not solve the problem of sorting classes.

  The object of the present invention is: * to separate the leaves from the stems automatically, * to present the leaves separated from the stems, and separated from each other, placed transversely on a mat the width of the

  tobacco feet to be treated allowing at a glance, sorting if-

  multiple leaf stages and the classification of the leaves in these stages, * to grind the stems cleared of the leaves so as to allow less bulky storage, and allow a valorization of the nutritive substances contained in them by allowing a

  mechanical spreading on soils and crops.

  The announced rate is 1200 feet per hour maximum, depending on the

colte and operators.

  The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description which

  will follow from a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings in which: * FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation in section, of the entire device, including grinder, * FIG. 2 represents a top view of a diagram of principle of the device for separating the leaves from the stem and from the sorting belt, -3-

  Figure 3 represents a diagram of the detail of the jaws of pre-

  hension, eccentric and control.

  With reference to the drawings of the leaf stripping device, here is the general assembly

  general, with all the essential building blocks, and their arrangement in relation to each other. The automatic stripping device for dried tobacco stalks (10)

  includes a frame (0) fitted at one end with a charging device

  tobacco legs consisting of downward inclined guides (1) receiving the tobacco legs waiting in a horizontal position, hanging leaves, which are taken 1 to 1 by a conveying means (2). The means of forced alignment of the sheets comprises a series of combs

  upper and lower brushes (3) adjustable on an inclined upward plane

  dant, between which passes the tobacco foot (10) conveyed by 2 chains

  parallel equipped with individual hooks.

  The means for immobilizing the sheets comprise 2 jaws (4) and (6) the length of the tobacco base (10) articulated on a rolling carriage (5), the opening and closing of the jaws being actuated by a

  motor brake reducer (M2) fitted with an eccentric.

  The means for separating the sheets from the rod include cleats (6 a) driven by a chain sprocket system (6b) motorized by a brake reduction motor (M3) pushing the rod (12) in the opposite direction of the attachment natural leaves, removing it from the jaws where it is captive. The means of presentation of the wrapped sheets and stored side by side in their initial order comprise the rolling carriage (5) driven by a reduction motorbike (M4), equipped with jaws (4) and (6) taking the sheets (11) apart the rod above a sorting belt (7) the width of the feet to be treated, a pressure roller (8) positioned back

  of the rolling carriage (5) having the function of pressing the sheets on the sheet

  sorting udder before the end of travel of the carriage (5) simultaneously with the opening of the jaws (4) and (6), causing it to be released and the

  leaves wrapped, side by side, arranged in their original order, transverse

  Lely on a portion of free carpet, waiting.

  The sorting belt (7) of the width of the tobacco feet to be treated, of a light color, actuated by a reduction motorbike brake (M1), takes in sequence, all of the sheets (11) of the same foot, rows side by side, placed in their initial order, separate floors, in the lit area (13) where operators instantly sort the floors and

classes on the floors.

  1o A programmable automaton and detectors are used to chain and manage the different movements of the leaf stripping device and to ensure the

safety with operators.

  The rod recovery means (12) comprise in the lower part, a

  means (14) consisting of a funnel (15) open in its upper part

  and containing a crusher consisting of knives (16) fixed in series, mounted on an axis of the length of the stems of tobacco to be treated, counter knives (17) being fixed in series on the frame of the crusher perfecting the shredding of the stems falling into the lower part of the crusher and the waste being then directed to storage by a conveyor

  band (18) the whole turning slowly (noise) driven by a motor

conductor (M5).

  The operation of the device takes place in the following way: * The loading of the tobacco feet (10) is done independently of the

  machine running, in a horizontal, transverse position-

  relative to the machine, on the descending inclined guides (1). The leaves are hanging in their natural attachment order on

the foot (11).

  * A conveyor system (2) constituted by the looped chains on an ascending inclined plane, taking a foot of tobacco waiting on the

  guides (1) and the tie rod between the lower and upper brush combs (3)

  laughing allowing the leaves to be stored exactly on their posi-

  -5- initial step on the foot (respect and sorting of the stages), take this one in the gripping system composed of the jaws (4) and (6) on the rolling carriage (5) coming to encompass the foot and immobilize the leaves by pressing hard in the order of their initial position, while a cleat (6a), inserted on the chain (6b) in a loop inside the jaws, pushes the rod (12) of the foot in the opposite direction to the attached from the base of the leaves, over a length sufficient for

  all the leaves are detached in a very short time.

  * The rod (12) thus pushed and stripped of all its leaves falls, ejected by the cleat (6a) on an inclined plane into a shredder cylinder (15) rotating at low speed, (without noise), fitted with knives (16 ) and counter knives (17) to reduce it to shavings,

  then directed to storage by a conveyor (18).

  + The sheets still retained in their order by the jaws are directed, thanks to the rolling carriage, above the sorting belt (7) the width of the tobacco feet to be treated while the roller (8) is positioned on the sheets, pressing them on the mat (7) before the end

of the carriage.

  * Simultaneously, the jaws (4) and (6) open, releasing the leaves

  retained always supported on the belt by the compacting roller, the cha-

  riot rouleur and the compacting roller finish their cycle, the compacting roller disappears, the rolling carriage retaining the open jaws returns

  position to take the next foot.

  * The mat (7), simultaneously with the return of the rolling carriage, advances a sequence (a length of sheet) preparing a transverse strip

  of carpet to allow the deposit of a new series of ran-

  gées - those of the next foot - allowing operators to judge

  at a glance the floors and classes in each floor.

  * In order to manage and chain the different movements of the device

  stripping and ensuring operator safety, the system

  takes a programmable controller and a series of detectors.

  -6- The device therefore allows easy sorting:

  - by the transverse arrangement of the leaves in the same direction, separated

  each other, with in the same longitudinal sections

  the carpets, always the same floors.

  - by the immobility of the entire carpet for a few seconds allowing

  sorting classes at a glance.

  - by the light color of the carpet and the adequate light type "Room

  of expertise "spread over the sorting belt.

-7-

Claims (8)

  1. Automatic device for stripping dried tobacco stalks (10) characterized in that it comprises a frame (0) fitted at one end with a   tobacco foot loading device constituted by guides   descending clinches (1) receiving the tobacco legs waiting in a horizontal position, hanging leaves, which are taken 1 to 1 by a conveying means (2) conveying them through a sheet alignment means (3) and positioning them in a way   for immobilizing the sheets (4) and (6), itself provided with an internal means   separation option (6a) of the leaves attached by their base to the stem (12), the leaves being separated from the stem, encapsulated and separated from each other, then being brought in, by means of a presentation means consisting of a trolley system (5), up to a sorting device consisting of a mat the width of the feet to be treated (7), allowing a simple   look at the sorting of the stages and the classes in these stages.   2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the   means of forced alignment of the sheets include a series of pei   upper and lower brush genes (3) adjustable on an inclined plane as-   cendant, between which the tobacco leg (10) passes, conveyed by 2 chains   nes parallel equipped with individual hooks.   3. Device according to any one of the preceding claims.   teeth characterized in that the means for immobilizing the leaves comprise 2 jaws (4) and (6) the length of the tobacco stalk (10)   articulated on a rolling carriage (5), the opening and closing being ac-   operated by a motor reduction brake (M2) fitted with an eccentric. -8-   4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims.   teeth, characterized in that the means for separating the sheets from the rod comprise cleats (6a) driven by a chain sprocket system (6b) motorized by a motor reduction brake (M3) pushing the rod (12) into the opposite direction of the natural attachment of the leaves,   evacuating it from the jaws where it is captive.   5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims.   io dentes, characterized in that the means for presenting the wrapped sheets and stored side by side in their initial order comprise a rolling carriage (5) motorized by a brake reduction motor (M4) equipped with   jaws (4) and (6) carrying the sheets (11) separated from the stem above   above a sorting mat (7) the width of the feet to be treated, a roller   the presser water (8) positioned back from the rolling carriage (5) having the function of pressing the sheets on the sorting belt before the end of the race   of the carriage (5) simultaneously with the opening of the jaws (4) and (6), pro-   evoking the release and the laying of the wrapped leaves, side by side, arranged in their initial order, transversely on a portion of free carpet, in waiting.   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the sorting belt (7) of the width of the tobacco feet to be treated, light in color, motorized by a reduction motorbike brake (M1), takes in sequence, I ' all the sheets (11) of the same foot, arranged side by side, placed in their initial order, separate floors, in the lighted area (13) where the operators instantly sort the floors and classes on the floors.   7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it includes a programmable automaton and   -9- tectors so as to chain and manage the different movements of the leaf stripping device.   8. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the rod recovery means (12) comprise in the lower part, a means (14) consisting of a funnel (15) open in its upper part and containing a grinder consisting of knives (16) fixed in series, mounted   on an axis of the length of the tobacco stems to be treated, countercuts   plates (17) being fixed in series on the frame of the crusher, perfecting the shredding of the stems falling in the lower part of the crusher and the waste then being sent to storage by a conveyor   band (18) the whole turning slowly (noise) driven by a motor conductor (M5).