JP2006109838A - Apparatus for compressing tobacco - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for compressing tobacco, capable of efficiently and uniformly compressing the tobacco and supplying the tobacco to a cutting apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: This compressing apparatus 7 is structured so that the tobacco is transported between upper transport devices 6, 26 and lower transport devices 4, 24 along a transporting direction 8, the upper transport devices 6, 26 move in a vertical direction and compress the tobacco, and the tobacco is supplied to the cutting apparatus through a space between an upper member 11 and a lower member 12 of a nozzle 13, wherein at least one of the transport devices 4, 6, 24, 26 on both upper and lower sides is composed of transport chains 4, 6 and transport belts 24, 26. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cigarette compression device comprising an upper transport device and a lower transport device that act on each other for cigarette compression.

  A corresponding cigarette compression device is known, for example, from EP 1 151 680 A1.

Tobacco compressors are used in tobacco cutters. These cigarette compression devices usually comprise one upper chain and one lower chain, which are guided between fixed side walls. The lower chain is supported in a stationary state forward and backward. The upper chain is supported so as to be rotatable about a rear bearing point. The upper base itself pivots about the front axis, which itself pivots with the upper chain about the rear bearing point. The cigarette is compressed by pressing the front part of the upper chain downwards by a pneumatic cylinder. This pivoting of the upper chain is necessary to compensate for the changing run-in height of the cigarette, so that the pressing force remains as constant as possible. Both chains are used for cigarette compression and for this purpose are arranged with respect to each other within a predetermined angle, so that a linear compression of the cigarette is performed, ie the cigarette. The height of the is reduced evenly. The angle that exists between the upper and lower chains depends on the machine type and, of course, on the amount of tobacco to be compressed.
European Patent Application Publication No. 1 151 680

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cigarette compression apparatus that enables efficient compression of cigarettes and that is supplied to the cutting apparatus by uniformly compressed cigarettes, thus enabling high cutting performance of the cigarettes. Is to provide.

  This problem is solved by a cigarette compression device comprising an upper transfer device and a lower transfer device that act for the compression of each other, wherein at least one transfer device of both transfer devices. Consists of a transfer chain and a transfer belt. This ensures a reliable supply of the cigarette combination into the main compressor formed from two interacting transfer elements (transfer chain, transfer belt), even in the case of a small tobacco run-in level. The Furthermore, likewise, a reliable transfer of relatively strong precompressed leaf bone from a feeding unit, for example a vibrating conveyor, is also possible by means of a pre-compressor. Furthermore, in the case of prior art cigarette cutters, in the area of the cigarette supply from the vibrating conveyor to these transfer chains, tobacco that enters from above this chain or into these chains. The transfer chain, i.e. the compression chain, which is sensitive to dust and sand present in this cigarette, is replaced by a transfer belt which is relatively insensitive to this intrusion, which means that in this main compressor Useful for chain life.

  In order to achieve efficient compression, the upper transfer device and the lower transfer device are in particular at least partly close in the transfer direction. The transfer chain is more advantageously arranged along a mouthpiece provided at the outlet of the transfer device, so that the compressed cigarette can be efficiently and subsequently removed from the compressed cigarette. In order to cut efficiently, it is supplied to the base. If the height of the moving belt can be adjusted, depending on the tobacco filling height, especially when disconnected from the transfer chain, for each process point and likewise for various tobacco penetrations In that case, reliable cigarette cake feeding is guaranteed. In order to disconnect from the transfer chain, the transfer belt or precompressor is advantageously provided with its own linear guide and its drive, so that the transfer belt is essentially in the vertical direction. It can move automatically or depending on the cigarette penetration height.

  Advantageously, the upper transfer device comprises an upper transfer chain and an upper transfer belt, and the lower transfer device comprises a lower transfer chain and a lower transfer belt. The transfer chain acts as the main compressor and these transfer belts act as pre-compressors.

The present invention is further solved by a tobacco compression device, advantageously comprising the features of the tobacco compression device described above, according to the present invention,
In this case, the cigarette compression device according to the present invention comprises an upper transport device and a lower transport device, in which case the upper transport device comprises an upper chain, and the lower The transfer device has a lower chain,
At that time, all the upper chains are movable in the vertical direction.
This allows for uniform tobacco compression at various tobacco filling heights.

  If the upper part of the base provided on the outlet side of the upper chain is movable with the upper chain in the vertical direction, any position in the product flow direction when the upper chain "breathes" Misalignment does not occur between the upper and lower caps, which has a positive effect on the cutting quality. Further, the distance between the upper die with respect to the cut surface of the cutting table placed behind the compressor remains constant. The changed tobacco supply does not induce a relatively high Knockout-Rate. This vertical movement possibility is different from that of the prior art, in particular, that the upper chain is moved completely vertically and is not pivoted, in particular around the rear bearing point of the upper chain.

In addition to this, the object is a cigarette compression device comprising an upper transport device and a lower transport device that act on each other to compress cigarettes,
Solved by the above cigarette compression device provided with at least one upper chain and at least one lower chain,
In this case, at least one of these transfer devices has a non-linear transfer path.
With this arrangement, it is achieved that the total compressive force is clearly distributed over a relatively large tobacco surface. In this way, the area driving the cigarette as well is clearly enlarged, and therefore the cigarette is better transported through the base, which induces improved cutting width invariance. . In addition, the peak pressure for this tobacco is reduced, which contributes to tobacco protection.

  Advantageously, only the upper transfer device has a non-linear transfer path. In this case, the transfer path is first of all advantageously arranged steeply with respect to the other (acting together) transfer device and towards the outlet side of the transfer device. It is configured to have a slightly steep slope with respect to the transfer device. This, first of all, results in a relatively strong compression of the cigarette, and as a result of this, two oppositely located, having extremely acute angles with each other or, in extreme cases, extending parallel to each other. A surface is provided. This makes it possible to achieve the above-mentioned advantages particularly efficiently.

  That this non-linear transfer path is realized by at least two transfer chains arranged one after the other in the transfer direction is one possibility of realizing a non-linear transfer path. . The two transfer chains arranged one after the other are, for example, linearly oriented in the transfer path of these transfer chains, but with an angle to each other. At least two transfer chains arranged one after the other, however, may likewise have a non-linear transfer path. This solution has the advantage that a very efficient adaptability is possible for various tobacco types.

  If a non-linear transfer path is realized with only one transfer chain of the transfer device, a small amount of material is moved and thus a low cost implementation is achieved.

  Advantageously, the cigarette cutter comprises a cigarette compression device according to the invention as described above.

  The present invention will now be described in connection with the drawings, based on one embodiment, without limitation of the general inventive idea, and will be described in detail throughout all of this specification. Please refer to these figures clearly for the details according to the present invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a cigarette cutter 1. The cigarette cutting machine 1 has a pit 2, and a cutting material (not shown) is supplied to the pit from a storage supply source (not shown). Below this pit 2, a press device 7 comprising two press chains is provided. In order to transfer, cake-form and press the cutting material, the cutting material supplied to this pit 2 from this storage source is supplied in a continuous state to a pressing device 7 consisting of two press chains 4,6. Is done.

  The press chains 4, 6 that converge with each other in the transport direction 5 and can be driven by a drive device (not shown) capture the cutting material and press the cutting material into a cake and under compression. Thus, the upper member 11 provided at the end of the press chain and the lower member 12 provided at the end of the press chain 4 are supplied to the base 13. In the transport direction, the press chains 4, 6 are in close proximity, which is synonymous with the convergence of the press chains 4, 6.

  In addition, for the upper press chain 6, two pressure generators 14 and 14 'act to move the press chain in the vertical direction. Similarly, the upper member of the base 13 is also moved through the joint 15. Depending on the dependence of the filling height of each cigarette, the downward or upward movement of the press chain 6 is equally vertical. Due to this even vertical movement of the press chain 6 and the base 11, any misalignment in the product flow direction between the upper base and the lower base when the upper chain “atmens”. This has a positive effect on the cutting quality. Further, the distance between the upper base, that is, the upper member 11 of the base 13 with respect to the cutting table placed behind the cigarette compressing device 7, that is, the cut surface of the cutter drum 18, remains constant.

  The lower member 12 of the base 13 forms a counterpart cutter for the cutter 16 of the cutter drum 18 belonging to the lower member 12. The cutter drum 18 can be rotated by the driving device 17 schematically shown. Therefore, the cutter 16 protruding in a slightly bent state from the outer periphery of the cutter drum 18 is rotated when the cutter drum 18 rotates. A fine strip (not shown) made of tobacco fibers (not shown) is cut out from the tobacco cake (not shown). These tobacco fibers are subsequently discharged and transferred by a transfer device (not shown).

  FIG. 2a shows a further cigarette compression device 7 according to the invention in a schematic side view, in which only a pair of basic elements are shown. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, this transfer device is complemented by a lower transfer belt 24 and an upper transfer belt 26 in the manner of the upper chain 6 and the lower chain 4.

  Throughout the compression process, it has been found by the present invention that a much more prevalent compressive force component acts only on the foremost member to be processed directly into the base 13. In the region of the cigarette run-in into the compressor, i.e. the cigarette compressor 7, the gas component is firstly reduced by the compression in the cigarette. This requires only a small force for relatively large compression paths. The relatively large area of this cigarette compression device can therefore be effectively configured as a belt compressor. The cigarette compressor is divided into a main compressor based on a chain and a pre-compressor based on a belt, in which the main compressors 4 and 6 are connected in a small compression path. Take over the dominant force component.

  In the case of a relatively small cigarette run-in height, the precompressor transfer belt 26 is used for this transfer in order to enable a reliable cigarette cake feed that is not reliably guaranteed only by the weight of the cigarette. It has its own linear guide for the vertical movement of the belt 26 and its own drive, and advantageously does not depend on the height position of the upper press chain 6 of the main compressor Actuated. The possibility of vertical position movement of this press chain 6 and likewise of the upper transfer belt 26 is illustrated by arrows indicating the vertical movement direction 9. This allows a reliable supply of the tobacco combination into the main compressors 4, 6 even in the case of very low run-in levels. Similarly, reliable transfer of relatively strong precompressed leaf bone from a feeding unit such as a vibrating conveyor is also ensured by the precompressors 24,26.

  Various positions are shown for the purpose of illustrating the transportability of the transfer belt 26 and the press chain 6 independently of one another.

  In the case of modern cigarette cutters, they are relatively sensitive to the ingress of tobacco dust and the sand present in this cigarette in the region of the tobacco supply from the vibrating conveyor to the chains 4 and 6. Some compression chains are replaced in this region by belts 24, 26 which are not sensitive to intrusion, which helps the chain life in this main compressor 4,6. Based on the relatively small compressive force in the cigarette within the area of the precompressor, a viewing window can be used for better product flow monitoring, and one of these viewing windows Can be opened for cleaning purposes.

  For cigarette compression, first of all, the cigarette is fed to a pre-compressor comprising transfer belts 24 and 26. Within the area of these transfer belts 24 and 26, the cigarette is compressed to the extent that air is extruded. In the main compressor with the press chains 4 and 6, the tobacco is further compressed and compacted to the extent that a uniform flow in the tobacco leaf capillary system takes place. Subsequently, the compacted cake is pushed through the base 13 with a relatively large transfer force and the cigarette is subsequently cut.

  The pressure generators 14 and 14 'may be configured as gas pressure spring devices.

In FIG. 2b, the device consisting of FIG. 2a is shown together with a schematic cigarette. The bold line represents the upper course of the tobacco present in the compressor by itself.
Clearly, this cigarette has an optimum contact with the transfer devices 6 and 26 in the upper region of the cigarette compression device 7 and is therefore fed to the base 13 with an even feed rate. Can be recognized.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows a further embodiment of the present invention of a cigarette compression device 7 comprising a press chain 4 and a press chain 6, in which the press chain 6 is shown in the vertical direction with the arrows 9. The position of the base 13 can be moved together with the upper member 11 of the base 13. FIG. 3b shows a diagram of the forces acting on the tobacco cake over the path. It can be well recognized that this force is clearly increased in the region in the vicinity of the base.

  In order to form an even force distribution and likewise a relatively good transfer, in FIG. 4a the transfer path 8 of the upper chain 6, i.e. the movement direction 8, is not linear but rather non-linear. It is formed in the transfer direction 5. This induces a force-path diagram as illustrated in FIG. 4b. For a comparatively good comparison, the force-path diagram according to FIG. 3b is likewise illustrated in this FIG.

  The cigarette compression according to the embodiment of Fig. 3a is illustrated in Fig. 3b, which consists of three phases: a solid phase (cellulose), a liquid phase (resin, etc.) and a gaseous phase. Thus, the displacement changes based on the fact that it is not linear during linear compression. This is primarily because the gaseous component of the cigarette is pressed. Subsequent, i.e., higher press pressure, results in a uniform flow in the tobacco leaf capillary system. That is, approximately the full pressing force is applied on the cigarette that exists between the two front turning rollers. The working time is very short and the section for driving this cigarette into the base is likewise very short. This lightly induces this cigarette slip, which induces inaccurate feeding and inaccurate cutting width. Furthermore, the necessary high pressing force induces a reduction in quality (degradation) of the cigarette.

  According to FIG. 4a, if the compression path is changed, this mode of compression allows the pressure to rather increase in the cigarette and that the total compression force is clearly distributed over a relatively large cigarette surface. In this way, the area driving the cigarette is clearly enlarged, and thus the cigarette is better transported through the base 13, which induces an improved cutting width invariance. Furthermore, the peak pressure acting on the cigarette is reduced, so that it is not damaged. A progressive, non-linear or non-linear tobacco compression path thus achieves improved cut width invariance and relatively little tobacco degradation due to compression. Instead of the embodiment according to FIG. 4, a number of press chains 4, 6 can likewise be used, which are arranged one after the other in the direction of movement, and non-linear tobacco transport Make the journey possible. This embodiment is not shown in the figure. The individual belts or chains must then be arranged at different angles, of course.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the cigarette compression device according to the invention in the form of two press chains 4 and 6, in particular with a chain 20 by means of a chain link 21. Is simply shown. These chain links 21 are driven via gears that engage gears 22 and that are actuated by at least one of these gears 22, suitably with a motor.
These chains 20 further each go around one turning roller, i.e. a tension roller 23, and
In the region of the press passage formed by both oppositely located chains 20 of the press chains 4 and 6, it is exactly non-linear, ie non-linear, based on the bearing member 27 which is not linear. Travel along the moving direction 8.
Along with this, in the region of the press passage, a progressive and non-linear linear displacement of the cigarette is obtained.

It is a schematic side view of the tobacco cutting device by this invention. 1 is a schematic side view of a cigarette compression device according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic side view of a cigarette compression device according to the present invention, together with cigarettes. 1 is a schematic view of a cigarette compression device according to the prior art. FIG. FIG. 3 is a force-path diagram illustrating cigarette compression. FIG. 6 is yet another schematic diagram of a cigarette compression device according to the present invention. FIG. 5 is a force-path diagram of the compression device illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the tobacco compression apparatus by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cigarette cutting machine 2 Pit 4 Press chain 5 Transfer direction 6 Press chain 7 Press apparatus 8 Moving direction 9 Vertical moving direction 10 Opening part 11 Upper member 12 Lower member 13 Base 14, 14 'Pressure generator 15 Joint 16 Cutter Reference Signs List 17 Drive unit 18 Cutter drum 20 Chain 21 Chain link 22 Gear 23 Direction changing roller, that is, tension roller 24 Transfer belt 26 Transfer belt 27 Bearing member

Claims (13)

In a cigarette compression device (7) comprising an upper transport device (6, 26) and a lower transport device (4, 24) that act on each other for cigarette compression,
Cigarette compression, characterized in that at least one of the transport devices (4, 6, 24, 26) consists of a transport chain (4, 6) and a transport belt (24, 26) apparatus.   2. The cigarette compression device according to claim 1, wherein the upper transfer device (6, 26) and the lower transfer device (4, 24) are close to each other in the transfer direction (5).   The transfer chain (4, 6) is disposed along the base (11, 12, 13) provided at the outlet of the transfer device (4, 6, 24, 26). The cigarette compression apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The height of the moving belt (24, 26) is configured to be adjustable depending on the cigarette filling height, particularly when disconnected from the transfer chain (4, 6) The cigarette compression apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The upper transfer device (6, 26) is the upper transfer chain (6) and the upper transfer belt (26), and the lower transfer device (4, 24) is the lower transfer chain (4). And the lower transfer belt (24), with the transfer chains (4, 6) acting as the main compressor and the transfer belts (24, 26) acting as the precompressor. The cigarette compression device according to claim 1, wherein the cigarette compression device is configured as described above. Comprising an upper transfer device (6, 26) and a lower transfer device (4, 24), which act on each other for cigarette compression,
In this case, the upper transfer device (6, 26) is provided with an upper chain (6), and the lower transfer device (4, 24) is provided with a lower chain (4). In a cigarette compression device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The cigarette compression device as described above, wherein all the upper chains (6) are configured to be movable in the vertical direction.   The base upper member (11) provided on the outlet side of the upper chain (6) is configured to be movable together with the upper chain (6) in the vertical direction. Item 7. The cigarette compression device according to Item 6.   Comprising an upper transport device (6, 26) and a lower transport device (4, 24) acting on each other for cigarette compression, at least one upper chain (6) and at least one lower 8. A cigarette compression device (7) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a side chain (4), and at least one transfer of these transfer devices (4, 6, 24, 26). Tobacco compression device, characterized in that the device has a non-linear transport path (8).   9. Tobacco compression device according to claim 8, characterized in that only the upper transfer device (6, 26) has a non-linear transfer path (8).   The transfer path (8) is, first of all, configured with a steep slope with respect to the other transfer devices (4, 6) and towards the outlet side of this transfer device (4, 6). 10. The cigarette compression device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the cigarette compression device is configured to be slightly steeper than the transfer device (4, 6).   The non-linear transfer path (8) is realized by at least two transfer chains (4, 6) arranged one after the other in the transfer direction (5). The cigarette compression apparatus as described in any one of 1-10.   11. The non-linear transfer path (8) is realized with a single transfer chain (4, 6) of the transfer device (4, 6). The cigarette compression device described in 1.   A cigarette cutting machine (1) comprising the cigarette compression apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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