JP2003102456A - Conveying unit for bar-shaped article - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a conveying unit for bar-shaped articles, with which when bar-shaped articles are transported through a drum line, the bar-shaped articles can selectivity be sampled or removed. SOLUTION: This conveying unit for bar-shaped articles has constitution that the drum line is equipped with a sampling drum 2 on the way and a transportation drum 4 at the downstream side, spouting force of blow air or sucking force of suction air can be applied to a filter cigarette FC at a transfer position between these drums 2 and 4. During ordinary transportation, the sucking force is applied to the filter cigarette FC from the sampling drum 2 at the transfer position, on the other hand, sucking force is applied from the transportation drum 4 to the filter cigarette. Adversely, sucking force is applied from the sampling drum 2 to the filter cigarette FC during sampling or removal of the bar-shaped articles, on the other hand, spouting force is applied to the filter cigarette from the transportation drum 4 so that the filter cigarette FC is passed through the transfer position and held on the sampling drum 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rod-shaped article carrying device suitable for carrying cigarettes, filter plugs, filter cigarettes and the like in the process of manufacturing filter cigarettes.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the process of manufacturing a filter cigarette, operations such as connecting the cigarette and a filter plug and inspecting the filter cigarette are continuously performed through a series of conveying processes. Conveyance of these cigarettes and the like is performed through a drum row in which a large number of drums are connected, and holding grooves are formed on the outer periphery of each drum at predetermined intervals.
A communication passage for supplying suction air is opened at the bottom of the holding groove, and the cigarette or the like received in each holding groove is held on the drum by the suction force of the suction air. Then, as the drum rotates, the cigarette or the like is transferred in the rotating direction, and is sequentially transferred in the direction of the drum row while moving between the adjacent drums.

The above-mentioned transfer of cigarettes or the like is realized by transferring the cigarettes or the like from the upstream side to the downstream side when viewed in the conveying direction when the holding grooves face each other between adjacent drums. Therefore, at the transfer position between the drums, for example, a transfer system in which suction of cigarettes or the like by suction air is released on the upstream side and suction of cigarettes or the like is started on the downstream side is generally adopted. Further, in order to ensure delivery of cigarettes and the like, a delivery system is also adopted in which suction of the cigarettes and the like is released on the upstream side and, at the same time, jetting force by blow air is given to the cigarettes and the like.

[0004]

In the case of a high-speed and mass-produced product such as a filter cigarette, in order to properly control the quality of the product, the product is appropriately sampled or vented at each stage of the production process. Work to eliminate defective products based on the results of inspections and visual inspections is also performed. Sampling such products and eliminating defective products
It is necessary to properly perform the process in the process of transporting the filter cigarette, and therefore, not only the function of reliably delivering the filter cigarette to the above-mentioned drum row, but also the reliable sampling and elimination of the desired product. It is also required to have functions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a rod-shaped article conveying device capable of reliably sampling and excluding the rod-shaped articles in the process of conveying the rod-shaped articles by the drum row.

[0006]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a rod-shaped article conveying device (claim 1), which is formed by a drum row having a plurality of rotating drums and a predetermined interval around the drums. A holding groove capable of receiving the rod-shaped article, a holding means for sucking and holding the rod-shaped article received in the holding groove, and a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rod-shaped article held in the holding groove as the drum rotates. And a transport path for transporting the rod-shaped article from one side to the other between the adjacent drums while sequentially delivering the rod-shaped article along the drum row, and when the two holding grooves face each other between the adjacent drums, On the other hand, applying means for applying a pneumatic suction force to the rod-shaped article, and for applying a jetting force to the rod article by a pneumatic pressure on the other side, and a suction force of one of these two holding grooves and the other And a replacement means for enabling interchanged between the upstream side and the downstream side of the conveying path the application of ejection force.

According to the conveying device of the present invention, at the transfer position between the adjacent drums, the two holding grooves face each other. At this time, the upstream holding groove gives a jetting force to the rod-shaped article, while the downstream side supplies the jetting force. When a suction force is applied to the rod-shaped article by the holding groove of No. 3, the rod-shaped article is transferred from the holding groove on the upstream side to the holding groove on the downstream side and is normally transferred between the drums in the transport direction.

On the other hand, the application of the suction force and the application of the jetting force to the rod-shaped article are interchanged on the upstream side and the downstream side, and the suction force is given to the rod-shaped article by the holding groove on the upstream side.
If the jetting force is applied in the holding groove on the downstream side, the rod-shaped article is retained in the holding groove on the upstream side without transferring to the holding groove on the downstream side at the delivery position. Since this rod-shaped article deviates from the normal conveyance path and remains on the upstream drum as it is, it can be reliably extracted as a target for sampling or exclusion outside the conveyance path.

The above-mentioned holding means includes a communication passage formed in the drum and communicating with the bottom of the holding groove, and the replacement means communicates between the drums at the positions where the holding grooves face each other. And a pneumatic pressure supply source capable of respectively supplying suction force and jetting force to this pneumatic pressure path, and switching for selectively switching between suctioning force and jetting power supply from this pneumatic pressure source. And a valve (claim 2). In this case, at the delivery position, the air pressure path communicates with the communication paths of the two holding grooves, and the switching valve selectively switches the suction force and the injection output supply to the respective air pressure paths.

As a concrete switching operation by the switching valve, for example, when the supply of the injection output to the upstream air pressure path is selected, the supply of the suction force is selected on the downstream side. Rod-shaped articles are normally passed between drums. Conversely, when suction force supply is selected for the upstream air pressure path, injection force supply is selected for the downstream side, and in this case, the rod-shaped article deviates from the conveyance path and is subject to sampling and exclusion. .

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a part of a drum row which constitutes an embodiment of a rod-shaped article conveying apparatus. The transport device of one embodiment is applied to, for example, a filter attachment that is a filter cigarette manufacturing facility,
The illustrated drum row is mounted on the front surface of the fuselage of the filter attachment.

As is well known, the filter attachment receives double length cigarettes as rod-shaped articles from a hoist or reservoir and conveys them through a predetermined drum row.
Further, the filter attachment stores a filter rod as a rod-shaped article in the hopper, and the filter rod fed from the hopper is conveyed through a predetermined drum row.

The double-length cigarette is cut into two single-winding cigarettes in the course of transportation, and these are axially separated to form two cigarette rows. On the other hand, the filter rod is cut into two to three filter plugs, which are conveyed in line. The drum row carrying the filter plug merges with the drum row carrying the tobacco row, and the filter plug is positioned between the two single-winding cigarettes at the joining point (for example, an assembly drum). These cigarettes and filter plugs are connected to each other by wrapping the tipping paper in the rolling section and are integrated as a double filter cigarette. After this, the double filter cigarette is cut from its center to form a filter cigarette.

The drum array in FIG. 1 conveys the filter cigarette FC after being cut from the double filter cigarette, and in the course of the conveyance, sampling and elimination of the filter cigarette FC can be performed. For this reason, the drum row includes the sampling drum 2, and the other transport drums 4 are arranged in a row in the lateral direction with the sampling drum 2 interposed therebetween. The sampling drum 2 and the transport drum 4 are adjacent to each other on the outer peripheral surface and rotate in the directions of the arrows shown in the drawing.

Holding grooves 6 are formed on the outer circumferences of the various drums 2 and 4 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and these holding grooves 6 can receive filter cigarettes FC as rod-shaped articles one by one. It has a size and a groove shape. Specifically, each holding groove 6 extends in the axial direction along the outer periphery of the sampling drum 2 or the transport drum 4, and its cross section is formed in an arc shape in conformity with the outer shape of the filter cigarette FC.

Further, in the sampling drum 2 and the transport drum 4, a communication passage 8 communicating with the bottom of each holding groove 6 is provided.
The communication passages 8 extend radially inside the sampling drum 2 and the transport drum 4. As is well known, a suction sleeve 10 is arranged on the inner circumference of the drums 2 and 4, and a suction chamber 12 is formed inside the suction sleeve 10.

On the other hand, the suction sleeve 10 is formed with an opening 14 for partially opening the outer peripheral surface thereof.
The opening 14 communicates with the suction chamber 12. The opening 14 is formed over a predetermined region in the circumferential direction of the suction sleeve 10, and the opening 14 can communicate with one end (inner opening end) of the communication passage 8 of the drums 2 and 4 in the region. it can. Therefore, the drum 2,
When the individual communication passages 8 move in the rotation direction with the rotation of 4, the suction pressure is supplied through the communication passages 8 while one end of the communication passages 8 passes through the area of the opening 14. The filter cigarette FC received in is held by the suction force (holding means).

The filter cigarettes FC are sequentially conveyed from the upstream side of the drum row in a horizontal row while being transferred between the drums (not shown), and therefore a conveyance path of the filter cigarette FC is formed along the drum row. Specifically, the sampling drum 2 has a communication passage 8 communicating with the opening 14 at a delivery position between the sampling drum 2 and the transport drum 4 on the upstream side thereof, whereby the filter received in the holding groove 6 at the delivery position. The cigarette FC can be held by suction force. On the other hand, the suction force of the upstream transport drum 4 is released at the delivery position (the opening and the communication path are not shown), and the filter cigarette FC can be detached from the holding groove 6. Therefore, the filter cigarette FC is separated from the holding groove 6 on the upstream side at the delivery position and is drawn to the holding groove 6 on the downstream side,
It is possible to transfer from the transport drum 4 to the sampling drum 2.

Next, at the transfer position from the sampling drum 2 to the conveying drum 4 on the downstream side, the communication passage 8 is out of the area of the opening 14, and the suction sleeve 10 is provided.
An air pressure chamber 18 communicating with the communication passage 8 at the delivery position is formed therein. The air pressure chamber 18 is partitioned from the suction chamber 12, and the air pressure passage 2 separate from the suction chamber 12 is provided.
It is connected to 0. Further, the pneumatic path 20 has a switching valve 22.
Blow supply path 24 and suction supply path 26 via
Of which the blow supply passage 24 is connected to an air blow source (not shown), and the suction supply passage 2
6 is connected to a suction source (not shown).

The switching valve 22 is an electromagnetic valve having three ports and two positions, and the connection between one of the blow supply passage 24 and the suction supply passage 26 and the pneumatic passage 20 can be selectively switched depending on the switching position. . The operation of the switching valve 22 is controlled by the controller 28, and the controller 28 can output an operation signal to the switching valve 22.

Also in the downstream-side transport drum 4, a pneumatic chamber 30 is formed in the suction sleeve 10 and communicates with the communication passage 8 at the position where the sampling drum 2 is delivered. This pneumatic chamber 30 is also partitioned from the suction chamber 12 in the transport drum 4 and is connected to a separate pneumatic path 32. The air pressure path 32 is connected to the blow supply path 36 and the suction supply path 38 via a switching valve 34,
Of these, the blow supply passage 36 is connected to the above-mentioned air blow source, and the suction supply passage 38 is connected to the suction source (neither is shown). Switching valve 34
The configuration and operation of are similar to those of the switching valve 22 described above, and the connection between one of the blow supply passage 36 and the suction supply passage 38 and the pneumatic passage 32 can be selectively switched depending on the switching position. The operation of the switching valve 34 is controlled by the controller 28.

When the filter cigarette FC is normally conveyed through the drum array, the filter cigarette FC is transferred from the sampling drum 2 to the conveying drum 4 on the downstream side thereof. In this case, the controller 28 controls the switching positions of the switching valves 22 and 34 to connect the pneumatic pressure path 20 and the blow supply path 24 for the sampling drum 2 and the pneumatic pressure path for the downstream transfer drum 4. 32 and the suction supply path 38 are connected.

Therefore, when both holding grooves 6 face each other at the transfer position from the sampling drum 2 to the conveying drum 4 on the downstream side, blow air is blown through the pneumatic chamber 18 and the communication passage 8 in the holding groove 6 of the sampling drum 2. The jet output by is given to the filter cigarette FC. On the other hand, the holding groove 6 of the downstream transport drum 4
In, the suction force by suction air is applied to the filter cigarette FC through the air pressure chamber 30 and the communication passage 8. As a result, the filter cigarette FC is pushed out of the holding groove 6 of the sampling drum 2 at the delivery position and is drawn to the holding groove 6 of the downstream-side transport drum 4, so that the drums can be smoothly transferred between the drums (giving means). .

On the other hand, when the desired filter cigarette FC is sampled or removed by the sampling drum 2, the filter cigarette FC is not delivered from the sampling drum 2 to the downstream transport drum 4, and even if it passes the delivery position, the sampling drum 2 is passed. Will remain held. Specifically, the controller 28 uses the switching valve 2
The switching positions of Nos. 2 and 34 are reversed to the normal pattern, and the pneumatic path 20 and the suction supply path 26 for the sampling drum 2 are connected, while the pneumatic path 32 and the blow for the downstream conveying drum 4 are connected. The supply path 36 is connected.

In this case, when the holding grooves 6 face each other at the transfer position from the sampling drum 2 to the conveying drum 4 on the downstream side, the holding grooves 6 of the sampling drum 2 pass through the pneumatic chamber 18 and the communication passage 8. The suction force of the suction air is applied to the filter cigarette FC. On the other hand, in the holding groove 6 of the conveying drum 4 on the downstream side, the jetting force by the blow air is given to the filter cigarette FC through the pneumatic chamber 30 and the communication passage 8. This allows the filter cigarette F at the delivery position.
Since C remains attracted to the holding groove 6 of the sampling drum 2 and is pushed back from the holding groove 6 of the transport drum 4 on the downstream side, the filter cigarette FC does not transfer to the transport drum 4 on the downstream side and continues. It remains held in the holding groove 6 of the sampling drum 2.

As viewed in the direction of rotation of the sampling drum 2,
An opening 14 is formed in the suction sleeve 10 in front of the air pressure chamber 18. Therefore, when the holding groove 6 holding the filter cigarette FC to be sampled or excluded passes the delivery position, one end of the communication passage 8 passes through the pneumatic chamber 18 and communicates with the opening 14, and the filter cigarette FC continues It is held in the holding groove 6. When the sampling drum 2 is provided with a ventilation inspection unit, the filter cigarette FC can be held by the mouthpiece of the ventilation inspection unit at the position of the upper half of the circumference, so that the opening portion is particularly forward from the air pressure chamber 18. 14 may not be formed.

After this, the filter cigarette FC to be sampled or excluded leaves the transport path and is transported by the rotation of the sampling drum 2 in the upper half thereof. The suction supply to the holding groove 6 is released at an appropriate position outside the transport path, and the filter cigarette FC to be sampled or excluded is received in the tray 40, for example.

The controller 28 includes the above-mentioned switching valve 22,
By exchanging the patterns of the switching positions of 34 between the normal time and the sampling time or the exclusion time, the filter cigarette FC can be transported as usual on the sampling drum 2, or can be excluded from the transport path as a sampling or exclusion target. Can be done (replacement means). The controller 28 switches the switching position patterns based on, for example, a predetermined sampling signal or an exclusion signal, and operates the switching valves 22 and 34 in synchronization with the timing when the filter cigarette FC to be sampled or excluded reaches the delivery position. It can be operated.

As described above, the switching valves 22 and 34 are switched by the controller 28 at the time of sampling or at the time of exclusion, so that the transfer of the filter cigarette FC from the sampling drum 2 to the downstream transport drum 4 is prevented. It is possible to reliably extract the desired filter cigarette FC. The sampling signal may be given to the controller 28 at a predetermined cycle, or may be appropriately input by the operator. Further, the exclusion signal can be given to the controller 28 in a timely manner based on the inspection result of the ventilation inspection device, the appearance inspection device, or the like.

The present invention can be implemented in various forms other than the above-mentioned one embodiment. For example, the drum row does not carry the filter cigarette FC, and may be another drum row of the filter attachment. In this case, the present invention can be applied to sampling and elimination of double filter cigarettes. Further, although the switching valves 22 and 34 are described as being separate in one embodiment, one switching valve may be used as long as the switching between suction air and blow air for the sampling drum 2 and the transport drum 4 is performed simultaneously. May be used.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention has wide versatility not only as a filter cigarette but also as a carrying device capable of handling various rod-shaped articles.

[0032]

According to the rod-shaped article conveying device of the present invention (claim 1), the rod-shaped articles can be reliably extracted as desired by selectively delivering or retaining the rod-shaped articles between adjacent drums. You can Further, unlike the one in which the rod-shaped article is simply removed from the drum by blow air, the retained rod-shaped article can be further inspected on the drum.

Further, since the bar-shaped articles are transferred by the pneumatic switching valve (claim 2), it is possible to provide a transfer device which has a high responsiveness of the replacement operation and is suitable for high-speed transfer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a carrying device according to an embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 sampling drum 4 transport drum 6 retaining groove 8 passages 10 Suction sleeve 12 Suction room 14 openings 18 pneumatic chamber 20 pneumatic path 22 Switching valve 24 Blow supply path 26 Suction supply path 28 Controller 30 pneumatic chamber 32 pneumatic path 34 Switching valve 36 Blow supply path 38 Suction supply path

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A drum array having a plurality of rotating drums, a holding groove formed around the drum at a predetermined interval and capable of receiving rod-shaped articles, and a holding groove received in the holding groove. Holding means for sucking and holding the rod-shaped article,
As the drum rotates, the rod-shaped article held in the holding groove is fed in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the drum, and the rod-shaped article is sequentially transferred from one to the other between adjacent drums while being conveyed along the drum row. In the device for transporting a rod-shaped article, the two holding grooves face each other between the drums, while one side applies a suction force by pneumatic pressure to the rod-shaped article, and the other holds an empty space in the rod-shaped article. Applying means for applying a jetting force by pressure, and applying the suction force by one of the two holding grooves and the jetting force by the other side by the giving means between the upstream side and the downstream side of the transport path. A transporting device for a rod-shaped article, comprising: a replacement means that can replace each other. 2. The holding means includes a communication passage that is formed in the drum and communicates with a bottom of the holding groove, and the replacement means includes an empty space that communicates with the communication passage at positions where the holding grooves face each other. Any one of a pressure path, an air pressure supply source capable of supplying the suction force and the jet output to the air pressure path, and a supply of the suction force and the jet output from the air pressure supply source The transfer device for the rod-shaped article according to claim 1, further comprising a switching valve for selectively switching to.