GB2272145A - Dual-output filter assembly machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter assembly machine (4) is described, the output assembly (53) of which presents a first (58) and second (59) output defined respectively by a first (54) and second (55) output unit respectively presenting a first (62) and second (63) input roller, the first roller (62) is the input roller of the output assembly (53), and is connected to the second roller (63) via an intermediate roller (66) tangent to the first roller (62) at an unloading station (67) upstream from the first output (58), and which provides for withdrawing a given succession (61) of cigarettes from the first roller (62), and transferring it to the second roller (63) upstream from the second output (59). <IMAGE>

Description

2272145 1 - DUAL-OUTPUT FILTER ASSEMBLY MACHINE The present invention

relates to a dual-output filter assembly machine.

Filter-tipped cigarettes are produced using a filter assembly machine supplied by a cigarette manufacturing machine with a succession of double cigarette portions, which are cut transversely in half by a first blade into two single cigarette portions. The single portions in each pair are then separated axially to define a gap into which is inserted a double filter, the ends of the which are joined to the two single portions to form a double cigarette. The double cigarettes are then fed successively through a cutting station where they are cut transversely into half by a second blade through the center of the double filter, to form two successions of single cigarettes arranged with the respective filters facing one another. At this point, the cigarettes in one of the two successions are turned over 1800 so as to face the same way as those in the other succession and so form a single succession of equioriented cigarettes, which is then fed to the output of the filter assembly machine connected to the input of a packing machine.

On cigarette manufacturing and packing plants, it is sometimes necessary either to connect the filter assembly machine to two parallel packing machines, or to rapidly direct at least part of the cigarettes coming off the filter assembly machine from a first to a second packing machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a f ilter assembly machine designed to cater to the above requirements.

According to the present invention, there is. provided a f ilter assembly machine comprising means for forming a succession of equioriented filtertipped cigarettes; an output assembly f or said cigarettes; and means for feeding said succession to the output assembly; characterized by the fact that said output assembly comprises a first and second output unit respectively defining a first and second output for said cigarettes; and intermediate cigarette conveying means located between said two units; said f irst and second output units respectively comprising a f irst and second input conveyor roller; and said first roller being connected to said second roller via said intermediate conveying means.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

h V- - 3 Fig.1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the f ilter assembly machine according to the present invention; Fig.2 shows a larger-scale detail of the Fig.1 machine connected to a particular cigarette conveying device.

Number 1 in Fig.1 indicates a known type of cigarette manufacturing machine comprising an output plate 2 along which is f ed, at substantially constant axial speed, a continuous cigarette rod (not shown), which is cut by a known cutting head (not shown) into a succession of cigarette portions 3.

In known manner, the cutting head (not Snown) is rotated at such a speed as to produce portions 3 of a length equal to the total length of the tobacco-filled portions of two of the filter-tipped cigarettes being produced.

Number 4 in Fig.1 indicates a filter assembly machine having an input roller 5 connected to output plate 2 of machine 1 via a rotary transfer unit 6 of the type described, for example, in USA Patent n. 3,303,926 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure.

Rotating about its axis, unit 6 provides in known manner for successively transferring portions 3 from output plate 2 into respective peripheral seats 7 on input roller 5, which is powered so as to rotate anticlockwise (in Fig.1) at constant angular speed about its axis parallel to plate 2.

Rotating about its axis, roller 5 provides for feeding portions 3 transversely in relation to their longitudinal axis, and for successively transferring them into respective peripheral seats 8 on a roller 9 powered so as to rotate clockwise in Fig.l. Roller 9 is positioned tangent to roller 8, and provides for feeding portions 3 along a circular path along which the ends of portions 3 contact an aligning plate 10 for transversely aligning portions 3 perfectly in relation to one another.

once aligned, portions 3 are fed by roller 9 through a cutting station 11 where a blade 12 cuts each portion 3 into two portions 13 and 14, which remain aligned inside seat 8, with their ends substantially contacting each other.

Roller 9 is positioned tangent to two side by side rollers 15 and 16 of an axial parting or spacing unit 17 of the type described in USA Patent n. 4,531,629 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure. By virtue of unit 17, the rollers 15 and 16 of which are offset vertically, portions 13 and 14 aligned inside the same seat 8 are parted axially by a distance substantially equal to the length of a double filter 18, and are fed into seats 19 on a roller 20 substantially tangent to-rollers 15 and 16 and rotating about its axis in the same direction as roller 9 and at the same surface speed as rollers 15 and 16.

Q Roller 20 is positioned parallel to roller 9, and forms part of a known assembly unit 21, which also comprises a first and second roller 22 and 23 for supplying double filters 18. Roller 22 is located between and substantially tangent to rollers 20 and 23, rotates about its axis in the opposite direction to and at the same surface speed as rollers 20 and 23, and provides for feeding each double filter 18 into a respective seat 19 at a loading station 24 upstream from the point of tangency between roller 20 and rollers 15 and 16. More specifically, roller 22 feeds each double filter 18 into a substantially central portion of respective seat 19 corresponding to the gap between the facing ends of a respective pair of portions 13 and 14, so that each double filter 18 inside respective seat 19 defines, Inside seat 19, two vacant end portions into which respective coaxial portions 13 and 14 are subsequently fed so as to form, on roller 20, a group 25 consisting of two portions 13 and 14 separated by a double filter 18.

Groups 25 are fed successively by roller 20 to the input roller 26 of a finishing unit 27 of the type described in Italian Patent n. 1,200,229 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure. Finishing unit 27 comprises a first roller 28 and a second roller 29 in cascade formation, and which provide for supplying roller 26 with a succession of bands 30 with which to join portions 13 and 14 and double filter 18 of respective groups 25.

Unit 27 also comprises a known type of rolling unit 31, which successively receives groups 25 and bands 30; rolls each band 30 about a respective double filter 18 and the end portions of respective portions 13 and 14 facing the filter, so as to produce a double cigarette 32; and, via an intermediate roller 31a, feeds the double cigarettes 32 into respective seats 33 on roller 34 of a cutting unit 35.

In addition to roller 34, unit 35 also comprises a rotary blade 36 substantially tangent to roller 34 and which provides for cutting double cigarettes 32 through respective double filters 18 to form two successions of identical filter-tipped cigarettes 37 and 38. More specifically, each cigarette 37 is aligned with a corresponding cigarette 38 inside the same seat 33, and is arranged with its filter 39 facing and substantially contacting the filter 40 of the corresponding cigarette 38.

The two successions of cigarettes 37 and 38 are transferred from roller 34 to a known turnover roller 41 of the type described in USA Patent n. 4, 483,351 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure. Roller 41 presents two successions of peripheral seats 42 and 43, the first of which are fixed and designed to receive cigarettes 37, while the second are movable in known manner between a first normal position (not shown) wherein each seat 43 is aligned v with a corresponding seat 42 and provides for receiving a respective cigarette 38, and a second overturned position wherein each seat 43 is located between two adjacent seats 42 so as to position respective cigarette 38 adjacent to and facing the same way as cigarettes 37, and so form a single succession 44 of equioriented cigarettes 37 and 38.

Roller 41 is powered so as to rotate anticlockwise (in Fig.1) about its axis, and transfer cigarettes 37 and 38 in succession 44 into respective seats 45 formed on the outer periphery of a roller 46 parallel and tangent to roller 41. Roller 46 is powered so as to rotate clockwise (in Fig. 1) about its axis, and constitutes the input roller of a laser piercing unit 47 f or f orming a number of radial ventilation holes (not shown) in each cigarette 37, 38 in succession 44. Unit 47 also comprises a known piercing drum 48 rotating anticlockwise (in Fig. 1) and of the type described, f or example, in USA Patent n. 4,633,891 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure. Drum 48 is parallel and tangent to both roller 46 and an output roller 49, which presents a number of peripheral seats 50 for receiving respective cigarettes 37, 38, and provides for receiving cigarettes 37, 38 in succession 44 from drum 48 and for transferring them to a known roller 51 rotating anticlockwise in Fig.1, of the type described in Italian Patent n. B091A000343, to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure, and which provides for testing the permeability of cigarettes 37, 38.

Roller 51 transfers cigarettes 37, 38 in succession 44 to a transfer roller 52 rotating clockwise (in Fig.1) about its axis, and which provides for feeding cigarettes 37, 38 to output assembly 53 of machine 4.

As shown in Fig.1, and particularly in Fig.2, assembly 53 comprises a first and second output unit 54 and 55 in turn comprising respective pairs of output conveyors 56, 57 defining respective first and second output channels 58, 59 for respective orderly successions 60, 61 of cigarettes 37, 38. Units 54 and 55 also comprise respective input conveyor rollers 62 and 63 tangent to respective output conveyors 56 and 57 at respective unloading stations 64 and 65. Roller 62 constitutes the input roller of assembly 53, and is connected to roller 63 via the interposition of an intermediate conveyor roller 66 tangent to roller 62 at a further unloading station 67 upstream from station 64 in the rotation direction of roller 62, and which provides for withdrawing succession 61 off roller 62 and transferring it to roller 63 at a loading station 68 on roller 63 and upstream from output channel 59.

Rollers 62 and 63 both rotate anticlockwise (in Fig.1) at the same surface speed as rollers 52 and 66, and present respective peripheral seats 69, 70 with the same spacing as peripheral seats 71 on roller 52. Roller 66 presents a succession of equally spaced seats 72 with the same spacing as seats 71.

Inside roller 66, seats 72 are connectable in known manner (not shown) to two suction devices 74 and 75 having respective control valves 76 and 77, and which respectively provide for retaining any cigarettes 37, 38 inside seats 72 over the arc of rotation of roller 66 extending between stations 67 and 68, and for drawing cigarettes 37, 38 into respective seats 72 by suction as seats 72 travel through station 67.

In the event both valves 76 and 77 are closed, no cigarettes are withdrawn by roller 66 at unloading station 67, so that cigarettes 37, 38 are all fed to channel 58, and channel 59 remains empty.

Conversely, in the event valve 76 is open, a cigarette 37, 38 is transferred from roller 62 to roller 66 each time valve 77 is opened alongside passage of a seat 69 through station 67. If, for example, valve 77 is opened and closed alternately, one out of every two cigarettes 37, 38 traveling through station 67 is withdrawn by roller 66 and fed via station 68 and roller 63 to channel 59, so that identical successions 60 and 61 are fed through channels 58 and 59. By appropriately controlling valve 77, therefore, the succession of cigarettes 37, 38 supplied to output assembly 53 may be divided in any manner. For example, if valves 76 and 77 are left open, all the cigarettes traveling through station 67 are withdrawn by roller 66 and fed to channel 59, while channel 58 remains empty.

Roller 62 is preferably provided in known manner (not shown) with two suction devices 78 and 79, the first of which provides for permanently maintaining suction of seats 69 between the point of tangency of rollers 62 and 52 and a point immediately upstream from station 67 in the rotation direction of roller 62; and the second of which provides for permanently maintaining suction of seats 69 between a point immediately downstream from station 67, in the rotation direction of roller 62, and the input of channel 58.

Alternatively, according to a variation not shown, devices 78 and 79 may be replaced by a single suction device active between the point of tangency of rollers 62 and 52 and the input of channel 58, and inactive at station 67.

Output assembly 53 to supply two parallel packing machines, either for example, by finite facilities (e.g. a box compensating for any operating speed of the machine 4.

As shown in Fig.1, each of output channels 58 and 59 provides for "rigidly" feeding respective orderly succession 60, 61 directly to the input (not shown) of thus enables machine 4 not only follow-up machines, e.g. two one of which may be replaced, or infinite capacity storage filler), but also for readily temporary reduction in the user machines downstream from z 11 - the packing machine (not shown), for which purpose, conveyors 56 and 57 consist of substantially toothed belts defining an orderly succession of constantly moving seats along respective channels 58 and 59. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 2, channels 58 and 59 communicate with the inputs of respective known bulk cigarette conveyors 80 and 81 by which the cigarettes may, f or example, be f ed in bulk to the input f eedboxes (not shown) of respective user machines (not shown).

Claims (1)

1) A f ilter assembly machine (4) comprising means (5-41) for forming a succession (44) of equioriented filter-tipped cigarettes (37, 38); an output assembly (53) for said cigarettes (37, 38); and means (47, 51) for feeding said succession (44) to the output assembly (53); wherein said output assembly (53) comprises a f irst and second output unit (54, 55) respectively defining a first (58) and second (59) output for said cigarettes (37, 38); and intermediate cigarette conveying means (66) located between said two units (54, 55); said first and second output units (54, 55) respectively comprising a f irst (62) and second (63) input conveyor roller; and said f irst roller (62) being connected to said second roller (63) via said intermediate conveying means (66).

2) A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first and second rollers (62, 63) are mounted so as to rotate in the same direction about their respective axes.

3) A machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermediate conveying means (66) are tangent to the first (62) and second (63) rollers at respective first (67) and second (68) transfer stations at which the cigarettes (37, 38) are transferred between the intermediate conveying means (66) and said first (62) and second (63) rollers.

Ir 4) A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first transfer station (67) is an unloading station (67) at which the cigarettes (37, 38) are transferred from the first roller (62) to the intermediate conveying means (66).

5) A machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said unloading station (67) is located on said first roller (62) and upstream from said first output (58).

6) A machine as claimed in Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein said second transfer station (68) is a loading station (68) at which the cigarettes (37, 38) are transferred from the intermediate conveying means (66) to the second roller (63).

7) A machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein said loading station (68) is located on said second roller (63) and upstream from said second output (59).

8) A machine as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein the first roller (62) is the input roller of the output assembly (53). 9) A machine as claimed in any one of the f oregoing Claims, wherein said intermediate conveying means (66) comprise an intermediate cigarette conveying roller (66) tangent to both said input rollprs (62, 63).

10) A machine as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said intermediate roller (66) presents a succession of seats (72) for said cigarettes (37, 38); and suction means (74, 75) for said succession of seats (72) and selectively operated for withdrawing given said cigarettes (37, 38) from said first roller (62).

11) A filter assembly machine, substantially as described and illustrated herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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