JP2000118723A - Silo for tobacco - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily loosen a cut tobacco layer on a conveyor so as to prevent cut tobacco from being crushed by setting a distance between an outer circumferential line of a rotary rake loosening the tip of the cut tobacco layer and a terminal edge of the conveyor moving the cut tobacco layer to be equal to an ejection distance for the cut tobacco layer or less. SOLUTION: Three main rotary rakes 21 are arranged in three levels in the vertical direction so as to be positioned horizontally apart from the terminal end position T of a conveyor 2. A distance D between the position C for the outer circumferential line of the main rotary rake 21 and the terminal end position T of the conveyor 2 is set to be equal to an ejection distance or less. In the position for an apex of an isosceles triangle using a line connecting the center of the main rotary brake 21 and the pulley center of the conveyor 2 as a base, an auxiliary rotary rake 23 is arranged below the mounting face of the conveyor 2 while shifted by R from the terminal rake 23 outer circumferential line position C in the direction separating from the terminal end of the conveyor 2. When a belt 5 is run, the front end face and the bottom part of the ejection part in a cut tobacco layer L are mechanically loosened by means of the rotary rakes 22 and the auxiliary rotary rake 23 for delivery.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for tobacco, in which tobacco leaves are stacked and stored on a conveyor, and the cut layer is moved substantially horizontally so that tobacco leaves are successively dispensed from the tip of the cut layer. About the silo. More specifically, the present invention relates to a tobacco silo provided with a rotary rake mechanism that can dispense the tobacco leaves while preventing the crushing of the tobacco when dispensing the tobacco leaves from the tip of the cut layer. It is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in the process of manufacturing cigarettes and the like, tobacco leaves are cut by a cutting machine to produce tobacco cuts, and the cuts are sent to a chopping feeder. It is supplied to a machine to produce cigarette rolls.

[0003] The above-described steps are continuously performed by a series of production lines. For example, a plurality of tobacco silos are provided between the above-mentioned engraving machine and engraving feeder. . This silo stores the cuts supplied from the cutting machine for a predetermined period of time, improves the accuracy of the mixing ratio of a plurality of types of tobacco raw materials, balances moisture, and permeates perfumes.

[0004] Such a silo generally has the following structure in order to store continuously supplied ticks for a predetermined time and to continuously discharge the ticks. That is, in this silo, a conveyor such as a belt conveyor is horizontally arranged on the bottom of a box-shaped storage room. Then, the supplied cuts are laminated on the conveyor in a layer having a thickness of, for example, about 600 mm to 1400 mm.

[0005] The above-mentioned conveyor is moving at a predetermined speed, and the engraved layers stacked thereon continuously move to the end of the conveyor, during which a predetermined time elapses, and the above-described conveyed layer is moved. Storage is performed, after which it is dispensed from the end of the conveyor and sent to a subsequent process, for example, a chopping machine.

Incidentally, the engraved layer on the conveyor has a collective property because the engravings are intertwined with each other, and at the end of the conveyor, the leading end of the engraved layer collapses in a block shape. Sometimes. When such a block-shaped collapse occurs, not only the flow rate of the cut sent to the subsequent process becomes unstable, but also the density of the cut supplied from the chopping feeder to the hoist becomes unstable, and the manufactured Inconveniences such as fluctuation of the winding density occur.

For this reason, in the conventional silo, a rotary rake for loosening the engraved layer is provided at the end of the conveyor. This rotating rake is formed by projecting a plurality of pins and blades in the radial direction on the outer periphery of a rotating shaft portion, and by rotating the same, mechanically disperses and loosens the cutting at the tip of the cutting layer. . For example, in the apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-28464, the rotary rakes are vertically arranged in a plurality of stages on the conveyor conveying surface near the terminal end. Further, these rotary rakes are arranged side by side on a surface inclined at an angle corresponding to the angle of repose of the cut layer, for example, at an angle of 55 ° to 65 °, opposite to the conveying direction of the cut layer. The rotating rake is used to loosen the engraved layer before the leading end surface of the layer collapses.

By the way, in the above-mentioned silos stored in the silos, the moisture is equilibrated as described above. For example, in the last stage, that is, in the silos immediately before the hoist, the engraving is usually 11 times.
Since the water content is １３13%, crushing is likely to occur when loosened with a rotary rake as described above. Such crushing of the cut causes so-called dropping of the cut from the leading end of the cigarette winding, a decrease in the hardness of the winding, a variation in the filling density of the cutting, and the like, resulting in a decrease in the quality of the winding.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a tobacco silo capable of minimizing the shredding of a cut layer when the cut layer is unraveled by a rotating rake. Is what you do.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a rotary rake for loosening a tip of a cut layer of tobacco leaves, which is arranged at a position separated from an end of a conveyor for moving the cut layer, and a rotary rake for rotating the cut layer. A rotation drive mechanism for rotating the rake, and the distance between the outer circumference of the rotary rake and the end of the conveyor is such that the cut layer does not fall from the end of the conveyor in the free state. It is characterized in that it is set to be less than the approaching approach distance.

The engraved layer stacked on the conveyor can protrude to some extent from the end of the conveyor while maintaining the layered shape due to the internal gathering force. Since the protruding portion has its lower surface not supported by the conveyor, the internal gathering force is weakened and the portion is easily loosened. And since the tip of such a protruding part is loosened by the rotating rake, it is easily loosened without resistance,
The shredding is prevented from breaking. In addition, since the resistance at the time of loosening the engraved layer is reduced, the power required for rotating the rotary rake is also reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rotation direction of the rotary rake is such that the outer peripheral portion of the rotary rake moves upward on the side in contact with the tip of the cut layer. It is characterized by having. Therefore, the tip of this protruding layer receives an upward load due to the rotating rake, canceling the gravity acting on the protruding part of this layer, and reliably preventing the protruding part from collapsing. I do. Further, since the tip of the protruding portion of the cut layer is loosened so as to be scooped upward, the resistance can be loosened with less resistance, and the breaking of the cut can be more effectively prevented.

[0013] The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the rotation speed of the rotary rake is 80 rpm or less. Therefore, since the rotating rake rotates at such a low speed, the crushing of the slab is more effectively prevented, and the slab that protrudes as described above is easily picked up. Even so, it can be efficiently unraveled.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the rotary rake is disposed above a conveyor surface of the conveyor and a main rotary rake is disposed below the conveyor surface of the conveyor. And a sub-rotation rake. Since the rotating rake is arranged apart from the tip of the conveyor, a gap is formed between the main rotating rake and the tip of the conveyor, but since the auxiliary rotating rake as described above is arranged in this part, This prevents the bottom portion of the engraved layer from dropping in a block shape from this gap.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the rotary rake is characterized in that the plurality of pins are of a pin shape protruding in a radial direction. Therefore,
The notches can be reliably loosened, and in the present invention, even if such a pin-shaped rotary rake is used, the crushing of the notches can be effectively prevented.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a so-called chopped blend silo is used in which a plurality of types of tobacco raw materials are more uniformly mixed and stored, and is stored in a thicker layer. There are other types of silos for cigarettes, such as what is called a multi-stage engraved silo, for example, in which the engraving is divided into multiple stages and stored.
Since these basic configurations are substantially the same, a description will be given of this blended silo as an example.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a box-shaped storage room, and this storage room 1 is constituted by side walls, end walls, etc., and the upper surface thereof is open. A conveyor 2 is disposed substantially horizontally at the bottom of the storage room 1, and the conveyor 2 forms a bottom surface of the storage room 1. In this embodiment, the conveyor 2 is a belt conveyor and includes a pair of pulleys 3 and 4 and a belt 5 stretched between the pulleys 3 and 4. Is slowly driven at a predetermined speed toward the open end, ie, the outlet.

In the upper part of the storage room 1, a horizontal rail 7 and a supply truck 8 which can run along the rail 7 are provided. For example, the tobacco leaf cut supplied from a cutting machine (not shown) or the like is once supplied to the supply cart 8. The supply cart 8 drops the cuts into the storage chamber 1 while reciprocating along the rails 7, and stacks the cuts on the belt 5 of the conveyor 2 in a layered manner. The thickness of the engraved layer L laminated on the belt 5 varies depending on various conditions, but is from 0.5 m to 2.5 m.

The engraved layer L laminated on the conveyor 2
Is continuously moved at a low speed by the movement of the belt 5 of the conveyor 2, is stored for a necessary time during that time, is paid out when it reaches the end of the conveyor on the left side in the drawing, is transferred to the conveyor 10, It is sent to the next step, for example, a chopping machine (not shown).

At the end of the conveyor 2,
A rotary rake mechanism 20 for loosening the cut layer L is provided. FIGS. 2 and 3 show this rotary rake mechanism 20.
Is shown. This rotary rake mechanism 20 is, for example, 3
It is composed of one main rotation rake 21 and one sub rotation rake 23. The main rotation rake 21 and the sub rotation rake 23 are provided with a plurality of pins 22 and 24 from the rotation shaft.
Is a pin-shaped projection protruding radially, and the diameter of the auxiliary rotation rake 23 is formed smaller than that of the main rotation rake 21. In FIG. 3, the auxiliary rotation rake 23 is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, both ends of the main rotary rake 21 and the sub rotary rake 23 are rotatably supported by bearings 27, and are disposed horizontally in a direction orthogonal to the conveyor 2. I have. The rotation rakes 21 and 23 are rotated in the same direction by the rotation drive mechanism 25. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotary drive mechanism 25 includes a motor 28 and a speed reducer 33, and a sprocket 29 is attached to an output shaft of the speed reducer 33. Sprockets 31 are also attached to one ends of the rotary rakes 21 and 23, respectively.
The sprockets 29 and 31 are connected to each other by a chain 32, and the rotary rakes 21 and 23 are rotated by the motor 28 in the same direction.

The main rotating rake 21 and the sub-rotating rake 23 are arranged in a relationship as shown in FIG. 2 with respect to the end of the conveyor 2 and the projection distance of the cut layer L.
First, the extruding of the engraved layer L placed on the conveyor 2 will be described.

As described above, since the engraved layer L is intertwined with the engraved layer, the engraved layer L has a cohesive force or a binding force inside, that is, a characteristic of resisting separation of the engraved pieces, and this is called a collective force. I will. When the engraved layer L reaches the end of the conveyor 2 and is slowly extruded due to such a gathering force, the engraved layer L does not immediately collapse, and a distance that maintains the shape of the engraved layer L substantially is maintained. Only be squeezed out.

This phenomenon has been confirmed by experiments by the present inventors. Since tobacco raw materials are agricultural products, their properties vary, and the nature of the cut varies depending on the moisture content of the cut. However, according to an experiment conducted by the present inventors, as shown in FIG. 5, the protruding distance has some regularity.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the density of the embossed layer L and the protruding distance, which are substantially proportional. It has also been confirmed that these characteristics show almost the same characteristics even when the type of tobacco leaf, the moisture content of the cut, and the like change. Therefore, if a certain condition is set, it is possible to calculate the protruding distance of the cut layer L. In the above experiment, the foremost position of the belt 5 wound around the pulley 3 on the end side of the conveyor 2 is set as the end position of the conveyor, and the protruding distance is measured based on this position.

The three main rotating rakes 21
Are arranged in three steps in a substantially vertical direction, and their horizontal positions are set with respect to the end position T of the conveyor 2 described above.
It is located away from the end of the conveyor 2.
The distance D between the outer circumferential line of the main rotary rake 21, that is, the position C of the rotational trajectory line at the tip of the pin 22 and the end position T of the conveyor 2 is equal to the above-mentioned protruding distance. , Is set shorter.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the protruding distance is approximately 160 mm to 240 mm in accordance with the density of the engraved layer L. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the above-described distance is set. D is set in a range from 0 mm to 90 mm. As a further optimal range, this distance D is 20 mm
To 60 mm is preferable, and in this embodiment, D is set to 40 mm as the optimum value.

In this embodiment, the gap A between the outer peripheral lines of the adjacent main rotary rakes 21 is 10 mm to 30 mm.
mm. Also, the main rotating rake 2 at the bottom
The distance H between the outer peripheral line of No. 1 and the mounting surface of the conveyor 2 is 0
It is set between 50 mm and 50 mm.

The sub rotary rake 23 is located below the mounting surface of the conveyor 2, preferably at the center of the lowermost main rotary rake 21 and at the center of the pulley 3 at the end of the conveyor 2. Are arranged at the positions of the vertices of an isosceles triangle whose base is the line connecting. Further, the outer peripheral line of the auxiliary rotary rake 23 is preferably shifted by R in a direction away from the end of the conveyor 2 from the position C of the outer peripheral line of the main rotary rake 21. In this embodiment, R is 10 mm. Is set to

The rotation speed of the main rotating rake 21 is preferably not more than 80 rpm, more preferably 3 rpm to 20 rpm. Further, it is preferable that the rotation direction is such that the outer periphery on the side contacting the engraved layer L moves upward.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. The engraved layer L stacked on the conveyor 2 is slowly moved to the terminal end side by the traveling of the belt 5 of the conveyor 2, and a predetermined time elapses during this time, and storage is performed.

At this end, the engraved layer L is
Due to the above-mentioned gathering force, it is pushed out while maintaining a layered state. Since the support of the conveyer 2 is open at the bottom surface of the protruding portion, the internal gathering force is weakened, and it becomes easy to loosen. Then, the tip end surface of the protruding portion of the cut layer L comes into contact with the main rotating rake 21, is mechanically loosened by the pin 22, and is discharged onto the conveyor 10.
Therefore, the cut layer L is easily loosened without resistance, and crushing of the cut is effectively prevented.

Since the main rotary rake 21 is arranged at a position shorter than the protruding distance of the cut layer L, the cut layer L is prevented from falling into a block shape. The protruding distance as shown in FIG. 5 described above is the maximum value when the cut layer L is protruded in a free state. In the actual apparatus as described above, the main rotary rake 21
Contact, the load from this main rotating rake,
There is a tendency for the block to collapse in a shorter protruding distance.

Therefore, it is preferable that the distance D from the tip of the conveyor 2 to the main rotary rake 21 is set to be shorter than the protruding distance in the free state as described above. However, if the distance D is set too short, the main rotating rake 21 comes into contact with and loosens the engraving layer L in a state where the protruding distance is short and the internal gathering force is not sufficiently reduced, and the crushing of the engraving Is more likely to occur. Therefore, it is preferable that the value of D be in the range as described above.

As described above, since the main rotating rake 21 is rotated in the direction in which the side in contact with the cut layer L moves upward, the protruding portion of the cut layer L is formed by the main rotary rake 21. It receives the upward load and cancels the gravity, which tends to prevent the protruding portion from collapsing. In addition, the tip of the cut layer L is loosened up so that it is easier and has less resistance. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the crushing of the cut.

In this embodiment, since the rotation speeds of the main rotary rakes 21 are set to a low speed as described above, it is possible to more effectively prevent the crushing of the cut.
Note that, as described above, the protruding cut layer L is in a state in which the cut layer L is easily loosened, so that even when the rotation speed of the main rotating rake is low, the cut layer L can be efficiently loosened.

Further, since the main rotary rake 21 is arranged away from the terminal end of the conveyor 2 as described above, a gap is provided between the terminal end of the conveyor 2 and the outer peripheral line of the lowermost main rotary rake 21. Is formed. Since the bottom surface of the engraved layer L protruding from the end of the conveyor 2 is released from the support by the conveyor 2, the bottom of the engraved layer L may fall into a block shape through the gap. . However, in this embodiment, since the sub-rotation rake 23 is disposed in the gap, the bottom of the cut layer L as described above is loosened by the sub-rotation rake 23 to prevent block-like collapse of the bottom. Prevent surely. In addition, the sub-rotation rake 23 also has a function of efficiently sending the cuts loosened by the main rotation rake 21 downward.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, as the main rotary rake 21 and the sub rotary rake 23, the pin type having the pins 22 and 24 protruding in the radial direction as described above is suitable. An arbitrary pattern or the like can be selected according to the notch properties to be handled and other conditions.

In the above embodiment, the conveyor at the bottom of the storage chamber is a belt conveyor, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any type of conveyor can be employed. In this case, depending on the type of conveyor, the end position of the conveyor cannot be strictly specified, but in such a case, the mounting surface of the conveyor starts to move downward, and the support of the bottom surface of the cut layer is released. The position at which the transfer is started may be defined as the end of the conveyor. As mentioned above, the position of the embossing protruding distance and the rotation rake etc.
Since both are based on this end position, even if this end position is defined as an arbitrary position, the relationship between the projection of the engraved layer and the position such as the rotation rake is the same.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the rotary rake is disposed apart from the end of the conveyor, the engraved layers stacked on the conveyor maintain the layered shape by the internal gathering force, and the conveyed rakes of the conveyer rake are kept. Since it can protrude from the end to some extent, and the protruding portion is not supported by the lower surface of the conveyer, the internal gathering force is weakened and the portion is easily loosened. Then, since the tip of such a protruding portion is loosened by the rotating rake, it is easily loosened without resistance, and crushing of the cut is prevented. In addition, since the resistance at the time of unraveling the engraved layer is reduced, the effect is large, such as the power required for rotating the rotary rake is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic side view of a silo according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a rotary rake.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between the density of a cut layer and an ejection distance.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage room 2 Conveyor 3 Pulley 5 Belt 20 Rotation rake mechanism 21 Main rotation rake 22 pin 23 Sub rotation rake 24 Pin 25 Rotation drive mechanism L Cut layer T Conveyor end position C Position of outer circumference line of rotation rake

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Tanaka 2-1-1 Mitake, Morioka-shi, Iwate Japan Tobacco Inc. Morioka factory F-term (reference) 3F075 AA07 BA04 BA09 BB01 CA04 CA06 CA09 CC01 CD20

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A cigarette for a tobacco, comprising: a conveyor arranged substantially horizontally, wherein a cut layer of tobacco leaves placed and laminated on the conveyor is moved substantially horizontally and a cut is discharged from an end portion of the conveyor. In the silo, a rotary rake for loosening the tip of the cut layer of tobacco leaves arranged at a position separated from the end of the conveyor, and a rotary drive mechanism for rotating the rotary rake, and an outer peripheral line of the rotary rake The distance between the end of the above conveyor,
A silo for tobacco, characterized in that the cut layer is set to be less than or equal to a protruding distance which is protruded without falling from an end of the conveyor in a free state. 2. The rotating direction of the rotating rake is a rotating direction in which an outer peripheral portion of the rotating rake moves upward on a side in contact with a tip portion of the engraved layer. Silo for tobacco. 3. The rotation speed of the rotary rake is 80 rpm.
The silo for tobacco according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The rotary rake according to claim 1, wherein the rotary rake includes a main rotary rake disposed above a transport surface of the conveyor, and a sub rotary rake disposed below the transport surface of the conveyor. The tobacco silo of claim 1, wherein: 5. The silo for tobacco according to claim 1, wherein said rotary rake has a pin shape in which a plurality of pins protrude in a radial direction.