GB2052947A

GB2052947A - Method and apparatus for feeding tobacco-cutting machines

Info

Publication number: GB2052947A
Application number: GB7924617A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1979-07-14
Filing date: 1979-07-14
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: GB2052947B

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for feeding a tobacco-cutting machine comprises two compressing conveyors 4, 6 arranged one above the other and converging towards an orifice 19 in the feed direction. The lower compressing conveyor limits a supply region to the compression channel formed between both conveyors. A vibrating conveyor 27 opens into the supply region and extends substantially in the feed direction determined by the compression channel. The vibrating conveyor is mounted on first oscillating elements inclined at a relatively small angle with respect to the horizontal at its delivery end adjacent the supply region and is mounted on second oscillating elements inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to the horizontal at the opposite receiving end remote from the supply region. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for feeding tobaccocutting machines The invention relates to a method of feeding tobacco-cutting machines, in which tobacco being conveyed from a supply region to a cutting region is subjected to increasing compression to form a compact tobacco mass from which individual tobacco fibres are cut.

The invention also relates to an apparatus for feeding tobacco-cutting machines, comprising two compressing conveyors arranged one above the other and converging towards an orifice in the feed direction, the lower compressing conveyor defining a supply region to the compression channel formed between both conveyors.

Tobacco cutters of this type serve for processing tobacco either in the form of leaf material or in the form of tobacco ribs. The latter in particular cause specific problems as regards their orientation in the so-called tobacco cake to the compressed and the cohesion or formation of this cake.

An object of the invention is to provide a method or feed apparatus by which the compression channel between the compressing chains can be supplied with tobacco particles (in particular tobacco ribs) aligned in this way, with uniform and continuous preliminary compacting of the material to be cut so that in the cut material discharged a substantially greater proportion of long-fibred components is achieved. In particular, the preliminary compacting in the supply region should be further improved and the tobacco ribs thus stacked horizontally in layers or an accumulation or piling-up of the ribs on the tobacco mass should be prevented in the region of the compressing chains. In addition, the flow should also be maintained as far as possible without interruption, even in the case of a flucuating feed.

This object is fulfilled according to the invention due to the fact that tobacco ribs are introduced, in a feed direction determined substantially by the course of the compression area, by vibratory feed into a storage area of the supply region, in which they are formed into an arrangement consisting of tobacco particles aligned substantially horizontally and mainly substantially transversely with respect to the feed direction, whereby in the storage area of the supply region, the vibratory feed gives the tobacco ribs a mainly vertical feed component and on the feed path leading to the storage area, a mainly horizontal feed component.

The apparatus for carrying out the abovedescribed method is characterised by the fact that a vibrating conveyor extending substantially in the feed direction determined by the compression channel opens into the supply region, which conveyor is mounted on oscillating elements inclined at a relatively greater degree towards the horizontal at its discharge end adjacent the supply region and is mounted on oscillating elements inclined at a relatively lesser degree towards the horizontal at the opposite receiving end remote from the supply region.

By means of this method of feeding, in the supply region shortly before discharge to the compressing chains, the tobacco ribs are subjected increasingly to a mainly vertical vibratory movement and pre-compacted uniformly in layers to form a cohesive compact tobacco mass, in which the tobacco ribs assume varying inclined positions with respect to the feed direction, as regards their longitudinal axis, in which case the main part of the tobacco ribs is aligned at right angles or approximately at right angles to the feed direction, whereas in the rear conveying area, an adequate supply of the material to be cut is ensured by predominantly vibrating pulses in the feed direction. It is possible to observe a high proportion of long-fibred cut rib material in the cut material supplied by a tobacco cutter of this type.Furthermore, a relatively low construction of the tobacco cutter is possible.

One advantageous embodiment has provided particularly good results as regards precompacting in the supply region and conveyance to the supply region, due to the fact that the oscillating members inclined at a greater degree towards the horizontal are arranged at an angle of the order of approximately 40 with respect to the vertical and the oscillating members inclined a lesser degree are arranged at an angle of the order of approximately 20 to the vertical.

The invention will be described in detail hereafter with reference to one embodiment illustrated in the drawing.

The tobacco cutter illustrated in the drawing comprises a supply region 1 for tobacco, in the present case for tobacco ribs 2, which extends directly from the inlet to a compression channel 3, which is formed by conveying means in the form of an upper compressing chain 4 and a lower compressing chain 6. The two compressing chains 4 and 6 are arranged to converge in the feed direction, the lower compressing chain 6 being extended rearwards with respect to the upper compressing chain 4 and forming the boundary for the supply region 1.

The two compressing chains 4 and 6 can be driven by a drive 7, the upper compressing chain 4 also being constructed as an oscillating member or being arranged to oscillate in a bearing 8, in which case a pressure generator 11 acts on one of its rollers 9. The compressing chain 4 can be driven together with the compressing chain 6 by the drive 7, by way of gear wheels 12, 13, 14 and a chain drive 16.

Adjoining the compressing chains 4 and 6 is an orifice 1 9 consisting of an upper part 1 7 and a lower part 18, the upper part 1 7 of which is associated with the compressing chain 4 and can be moved up and down with the latter and the lower part 1 8 of which is rigid and forms the counter-cutter for cutters 21, which are provided on the periphery of a cutter drum 22 located in front of the orifice 1 9. The cutter drum 22 can be driven by a cutter motor 23. A grinding device 24 serves for grinding the cutters 21, which device 24 is dressed by a diamond 26.

Opening into the supply region 1 is a vibrating conveyor trough 27 extending substantially in the feed direction determined by the compression channel 3, which trough 27 extends with an inclination of approximately 5" in the feed direction. The vibrating conveyor trough 27 can be driven by a motor 36 and an eccentric drive 37 with drive rod 38 and is mounted on resilient spring oscillating members 28a and 28b. The oscillating members 28a arranged in pairs in the supply region 1 are arranged at an angle of 40 with respect to the vertical and the pair of oscillating members 28b located at the rear end of the vibrating conveyor trough 27 are arranged at an angle of 20 with respect to the vertical.

The oscillating members 28a thus inclined more towards the horizontal, produce a stronger predominantly vertical vibrating movement, due to which the tobacco ribs 2 are laid in layers in a compact manner, the tobacco ribs 2 being prevented from accumulating by attaching themselves to the tobacco mass 39 located between the compressing chains 4 and 6 or from being deflected upwards and thus orientating themselves partly vertically. On the other hand, the tobacco ribs 2 introduced through a chute 33 into the rear part of the vibrating conveyor trough 27 are influenced by the vibrating movements of the vibrating conveyor trough 27 acting predominantly in the feed direction, as a result of the oscillating members 28b inclined less towards the horizontal, so that a continuous rapid feed of tobacco ribs 2 into the supply region 1 is ensured.

Monitoring means 32 for monitoring the storage section are also associated with the vibrating conveyor trough 27, which monitoring means can be connected to the tobacco cutter or drive means associated with the feed conveyor, for control purposes, in known manner.

Claims

1. A method of feeding a tobacco-cutting machine, in which tobacco being conveyed from a supply region to a cutting region is subjected to increasing compression to form a compact tobacco mass from which individual tobacco fibres are cut, wherein tobacco ribs are introduced by vibrating conveyance, in a feed direction determined substantially by the course of the compression area, into a storage area of the supply region, in which they form an arrangement of tobacco particles aligned substantially horizontally and predominantly transversely with respect to the feed direction, whereby, in the storage area of the supply region, the vibrating conveyance imparts to the tobacco ribs a mainly vertical feed component and, on the feed path leading to the storage area, a mainly horizontal feed component.

2. Apparatus for feeding a tobacco-cutting machine comprising two compressing conveyor ors arranged one above the other and converging towards an orifice in the feed direction, the lower compressing conveyor limiting a supply region to the compression channel formed between both conveyors, wherein a vibrating conveyor opens into the supply region and extends substantially in the feed direction determined by the compression channel and is mounted on first oscillating elements inclined at a relatively small angle with respect to the horizontal at its delivery end adjacent the supply region and is mounted on second oscillating elements inclined at a relatively large angle with respect to the horizontal at the opposite receiving end remote from the supply region.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first oscillating elements are arranged at an angle of approximately 40 with respect to the vertical and the second oscillating elements are arranged at an angle of approximately 20 with respect to the vertical.

4. A method of feeding a tobacco-cutting machine, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. Apparatus for feeding a tobacco-cutting machine, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.