JP2007508213A - Container for tobacco material - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container 10 in the tobacco processing industry for tobacco material having a lid surface 12 and a bottom surface 14. The container 10 is improved in that the lid surface 12 is smaller than the bottom surface 14 and the lid surface 12 and the bottom surface 14 can be closed. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of the container 10 in the above manner in the tobacco processing industry.

Description

  The present invention relates to a container in the tobacco processing industry for tobacco material having a lid surface and a bottom surface, and the use of a container of the type described above.

  In the tobacco processing industry, tobacco materials such as chopped tobacco, tobacco flakes, raw tobacco, tobacco scaffolds, expanded tobacco, and fermented tobacco are collected in containers and ready for further processing or preparation of tobacco. Transferred to machine and / or stored. For this subsequent processing, the container with the tobacco material is tumbled or tilted to empty. In this case, it happens that the containers are not completely unloaded and therefore valuable tobacco material remains behind in these containers.

Furthermore, in the prior art according to US Pat. No. 3,935,959 (Patent Document 1), rectangular parallelepiped containers for tobacco materials are known.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,935,959

  Thus, starting from this known technique, the object of the present invention is to improve containers for the tobacco processing industry.

The object is a container for the tobacco processing industry for tobacco material, having a lid surface and a bottom surface,
This is solved by the container described above, which is improved by the fact that the lid surface is smaller than the bottom surface, in which case the lid surface and the bottom surface can be closed. According to the present invention, a container filled with tobacco material is unloaded downward by opening the bottom surface, and at this time, the container is tapered from the bottom surface to the lid surface. Based on thought. By the above, it is achieved that the container is completely unloaded and that no rare tobacco material remains in the container. Unlike containers known from the prior art, transport and / or storage containers are prepared for the tobacco material, i.e. for the tobacco processing industry, which containers are pyramid-shaped, i.e. konische basic. It has a shape. In this case, the basic shape of the bottom surface or the cover surface can be, for example, a circle, a polygon, or a rectangle as appropriate.

  Furthermore, in an advantageous embodiment, the containers can be stacked in a closed state and / or nestbar in an open state. The containers are thus stacked in an appropriate sequence in a closed state and stacked in an open state, in a self-aligning state, overlapped and stacked into each other. Due to the nesting characteristics of these containers, one stack of empty containers is reduced to a single, slightly sized packing piece with multiple containers. In order to stack the containers into one another, it is sufficient if they are open at least on one side, i.e. at the bottom. It is not necessary to open the lid and the bottom at the same time, so the container can be nested.

  Furthermore, it is advantageous if the lid surface and / or the bottom surface has a closing device and / or a sealing material, so that the tobacco material remains durable in the container for a certain period of time. Is preserved in length. This closure device prevents the container from being inadvertently opened during transport. This sealing material allows a reliable closure of the lid and / or the bottom of the container.

  In particular, the bottom surface has legs, so that the container can be handled well for transport and for placing the container underneath.

  In order to transport the container, for example using a forklift, the legs can advantageously be passed underneath.

  In yet another advantageous configuration of the invention, the legs are provided with rollers, so that the container can run and slide.

  Improved handling is provided when the lid for the lid surface and / or the bottom for the bottom consists of multiple parts. For example, this lid is formed of four lid members, and each lid member is provided on one side of a quadrilateral or rectangular lid surface.

  Advantageously, gripping devices and / or spacing elements are provided along the container, so that the container is suitable for automatic or semi-automatic handling.

  Advantageously, the container has a vent so that in a durable state, the tobacco material is stored in the container. This is because an advantageous environment or an advantageous atmosphere for the tobacco material is obtained in the container through these vents.

  According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the container is made of plastic, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.

  In particular, the inner surface of the container has a smooth surface, so that no tobacco material remains attached along the inner surface of the container when the container is unloaded.

  Furthermore, this problem is solved by the use of the aforementioned container for the transport and / or storage of tobacco material in the tobacco processing industry. In order to avoid repeated explanations here, please refer to the container according to the invention described above.

  This problem is further solved by a container in the tobacco processing industry for containing tobacco material, the container comprising a weighing device for detecting the weight of tobacco material contained in the container. It has been improved by being.

  With the weighing device according to the invention it is possible, for example, to permanently monitor and measure the quantity of tobacco material contained. This is because the contained tobacco material, for example tobacco leaves, can have different moisture contents depending on the handling of the tobacco preparation in different stations. This makes the container particularly suitable for storing and transporting tobacco articles, ie tobacco material, in the tobacco preparation section. For example, in order to ferment tobacco leaves, or during other processes, substances and / or water vapor are introduced into the container for the treatment of the stored tobacco material. This increases or changes the weight of the tobacco material. For possible confirmation of these changes, a weighing device integrated in this container is used. Thus, in the case of a tobacco container according to the invention, the process of changing the tobacco material contained in the container can be confirmed in a simple manner, or likewise, the amount of added substance, for example water vapor, is also measured. obtain.

  Since the container according to the present invention does not fall horizontally or is not oriented, an attitude detection device is provided for the attitude of the container, in particular for tilting, and therefore the normality of the horizontal state of the container is provided. The difference from the posture is detected. Differences that depend on the horizontal orientation of the container or weighing device further inevitably induce fraud or measurement errors.

  In particular, for the above, an evaluation unit is provided for weighing the tobacco material.

  Because the difference in container inclination from the normal horizontal position does not affect the weighing result, the advantageous configuration of the present invention allows the weight of the tobacco material to affect the detected position of the container, in particular the inclination. It is proposed that errors that depend on the inclination of the container can be compensated for in weighing.

  In an alternative embodiment, a reference-weighing device is provided for checking the slope-dependent error of the weighing result of the tobacco material contained in the container.

  In order to compensate for tilt-dependent errors in the weighing results, according to the invention, the weight of the tobacco material can be weighed depending on the measurement of the reference-weighing device, and thus the weighing device or the tilt of the container However, it is proposed to have no influence on the weight determination of the tobacco material.

  Furthermore, if the weight of the tobacco material is quantifiable depending on the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor, the temperature-dependent influence on the weight quantification, ie on the measurement, is taken into account. For this purpose, at least one temperature sensor is provided along or in the container, which temperature sensor is likewise advantageously coupled to the evaluation unit according to the invention.

  Furthermore, it is advantageous if a weighing device is provided in the bottom part of the container and / or in the legs.

  Advantageously, the weighing device is configured with a pressure sensor and / or a weighing cell and / or a compression spring.

  Advantageously, the weighing device and / or the evaluation unit has a display area, so that the result of the weight measurement is displayed to the operator.

  According to an advantageous further configuration of the invention, the measurement data of the weighing device and / or the reference-weighing device and / or the attitude detection device and / or the evaluation unit is in particular non-contact with the external evaluation device. It is proposed that it can be communicated. This allows measurement data to be detected and evaluated outside the container in a central detection device.

Furthermore, this problem is solved by the use of a weighing device in a container in the tobacco processing industry for detecting the weight of tobacco material contained in the container.
The weighing apparatus used, and the advantageous configuration of the container, have been described above, and therefore the above embodiments should be referred to clearly here to avoid repeated description.

  The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, without limitation of the general inventive idea, in which In particular, it is expressly shown in connection with the disclosure of the detailed matter of the present invention which is not explained in detail in all the specification.

  In the following figures, the same or similar elements, or corresponding members, are indicated with the same reference numerals, respectively, so that the appropriate updated concept is not an issue.

  Within FIG. 1 a, one cross section of the container 10 is illustrated. The container 10 is equipped with inclined side walls 11, and these side walls are provided in an inclined state with respect to a vertical line by a preset angle. The container 10 further has a lid 12 composed of two lid members. These lid members of the lid 12 are provided around the hinge 13 so as to be pivotable.

  In an alternative embodiment, it is possible for the lid 12 and the bottom part 14 to be formed of one member each, so that the lid 12 and the bottom part 14 are connected via a groove guide. It is pushed into the container 10. Optionally, the possibility exists for the lid 12 to be constructed of one piece and to be loosely placed on the container 10.

  The bottom region of the container 10 is formed by one bottom portion 14 having two tiltable bottom members, and these bottom members are provided so as to be pivotable about hinges 15 provided on two sides. Yes. The bottom 14 is further equipped with legs 16 so that it is possible to place the container 10 on a flat surface.

  In order to reliably close the lid member of the lid 12 and the bottom member of the bottom portion 14, the lid 12 and the bottom portion 14 are provided with a sealing material and / or a closing device, Unintentional opening of the lid 12 and the bottom 14 is prevented.

  The bottom part 14 is constituted by a leg part 16 so that the leg part 16 can pass through underneath with, for example, a fork of a forklift. In addition, the legs 16 are equipped with rollers which are integrated together in the legs 16 in a further configuration. Thereby, the container 10 can be slid and moved on a flat surface.

The volume of the container 10 is advantageously approximately 1 m ³ .

  In FIG. 1b, a longitudinal section of a container 10 according to the invention is illustrated, in which case the side wall 17 is likewise provided inclined with respect to the vertical line, so that, as a whole, the pyramid A shape is formed, i.e., an upwardly tapered shape.

  Within the scope of the invention, it is possible for the lid 12 to occupy an appropriate shape with the lid surface of the lid and the bottom 14 with the bottom surface of the bottom. The shape can be a polygon, i.e. a polygon, as well as a circle. For the container 10 according to the invention, it is important that the horizontal cross section is tapered from the bottom 14 to the lid 12. Due to the upside-down hopper shape, the tobacco material is stored in the container 10 with high reliability, with the tobacco material being unloaded by the opening of the bottom 14. This completely unloads the container 10, i.e., no residual amount of tobacco material remains in the container.

  In FIG. 1b, the legs 16 further have through openings 18 on the longitudinal sides, so that grip elements can be inserted laterally into these through openings 18, whereby It is illustrated that the container can be handled using a gripper or forklift.

  In FIG. 1c, a view of the container 10 from below is illustrated. From this figure, the bottom members of the bottom 14 are engaged with each other, so that this achieves a reliable closure of the bottom 14 and the container 10 is additionally reinforced. I can see it.

  In FIGS. 2a and 2b, yet another characteristic of the container 10 is illustrated. FIG. 2 a shows that the container 10 according to the invention can be stacked together with other containers 10 in a closed state. In the closed state, the multiple containers are placed one on top of the other so that the filled containers are prepared for further processing of tobacco material.

  In FIG. 2b yet another advantageous characteristic of the container 10 is illustrated, in which a number of containers 10 are empty, ie open, overlapped and can be stacked into one another, ie nested. is there. This prepares multiple containers 10 in a stack of multiple empty containers 10 that require little space. In another embodiment, these stacked containers 10 are closed on the lid side.

  Advantageously, the container 10 is made of plastic, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene. It is equally possible, however, for these containers 10 to be made of wood or metal. Furthermore, the outer surfaces of the side walls 11, 17 can be equipped with stopper elements or grip elements, so that a relatively good handling of the container 10 is achieved. In order to clean these containers 10 satisfactorily, the inner surfaces of the side walls 11 and 17 are formed smoothly.

  FIG. 3 shows a further configuration of the container 10 in a cross-sectional view. In order to achieve reliable and tight closure of the lid surface and the leg surface, a sealing material 19 is provided in the middle of the tiltable lid 12 and in the middle of the tiltable leg 16, respectively. It has been. Furthermore, these legs 16 are equipped with rollers 21, so that the container 10 can be used for transportation.

  In order to reliably close the lid 12 and the legs 16 during the transfer, one closing lock mechanism 22 is provided on the lid 12 and the legs 16 respectively.

  A grip 24 is additionally mounted on the outside on the side wall 11, which improves the handling of the container 10. Furthermore, a spacing holder 25 is provided below the grips 24, and these spacing holders prevent the container 10 from being tightened and moving when the container 10 is nested. The side wall 11 of the container 10 likewise has a vent hole 26 as well, in order to prepare an advantageous atmosphere for the accommodated tobacco material.

  In FIG. 4, a container 10 for the tobacco processing industry is schematically shown in cross section. The container 10 is equipped with side walls 112, 114 and a lid 116 which are inclined at the sides. Furthermore, the container 10 is equipped with a bottom member 118 which is formed as a double bottom in the bottom region.

  The bottom member 118 is equipped with a lower member 120 and an upper member 122. A tobacco material 130 accommodated in the container 10 is disposed on the upper member 122. Due to the inclined side walls 112, 114, relatively little friction is generated between the tobacco material 130 and the inner walls of the side walls 112, 114.

  In the bottom member 118, one or a plurality of weighing cells 124 are provided between the lower member 120 and the upper member 122. Therefore, a weighing device is formed using these weighing cells 124. . Based on the force exerted on the upper member 122 by the gravity of the tobacco material, the weight of the tobacco material 130 is measured and quantified using these weighing cells 124. This upper member 122 is joined to the stationary lower member 120 at the edge towards the side walls 112, 114 via a sealed membrane 126 and is therefore sealed closed. ing. As a result, the upper member 122 of the bottom member 118 is sealed against the inner space of the container 10.

  The weighing cell 124 in the double-walled bottom member 118 is coupled to the lower member 120 at one end and to the upper member 122 at the other end. Advantageously, a number of weighing cells 124 are provided evenly distributed over the entire surface of the bottom member 118.

  In FIG. 5a, yet another embodiment of the bottom member 118 is schematically illustrated, in which liquid is injected between the lower member 120 and the upper member 122, and thus gravity. Acts on the upper member 122 and the weight of the tobacco material 130 is measured laterally via a pressure sensor 125 provided on the bottom member 118.

  Advantageously, a liquid having a slight coefficient of thermal expansion is injected between the upper member 122 and the lower member 120 in order to achieve temperature independence of the gravimetric measurement. In yet another embodiment, a temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature of the liquid in the bottom member 118, thereby achieving gravimetric temperature compensation. In an optional further configuration, this bottom member 118 is equipped with a heating device in order to achieve a constant temperature of the injected liquid.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5b, the bottom member 118 consists of a single bottom, with the weighing cell 124 being provided laterally in the leg of the container 10. In this case, these weighing cells 124 are grouped together in the legs of the container 10 or on a plate for the container 10, where the plate and the container 10 form one structural unit. Forming.

  FIG. 5 c shows the bottom member 118 in cross-section with two further alternative weighing device embodiments for the container 10. Two compression springs 141 are provided between the upper member 122 and the lower member 120. The left compression spring 141 is coupled to the internal evaluation unit 142. The evaluation unit 142 additionally receives a measurement value of a temperature sensor 143 that measures the ambient temperature of the container 10 on the outer surface of the container 10.

  In the right part of FIG. 5 c, the compression spring 141 is coupled to a sensor 145 that transmits the detected value of the compression force of the (right) compression spring 141 to the receiver 146 in a non-contact manner. The receiving unit 146 transfers the received value to the evaluation unit 147. The evaluation unit 147 is equipped with a display area 148, and the detected weight of the tobacco material 130 is displayed using the display area 148.

  FIG. 6 shows the container 10 in a perspective view, which has one inclination sensor 128.1 and 128.2 on the inclined side walls 114, 115, respectively. With this tilt sensor, the tilt of the container 10 in the x-axis-z-axis plane is measured. The tilt sensor 128.1 is used to measure the tilt of the bottom member 118 in the z-axis direction, while the tilt sensor 128.2 is used to measure the tilt of the bottom member 118 in the x-axis direction. Is measured. By these inclination sensors 128.1 and 128.2, for example, an attitude detection device for the container 10 is possible.

  By means of the tilt sensors 128.1 and 128.2, the tilt of the bottom member 118 and the attitude of this bottom member are quantified with respect to the horizontal x-axis-z plane, and thus based on the confirmed tilt, the container The weight measurement of the tobacco material contained within 10 is corrected. For example, the tilt sensors 128.1 and 128.2 are formed using a pendulum, and the angle state of the pendulum is measured via the sensor. Based on the measured rotation angle of the pendulum, the weight measured using the weighing device is subsequently corrected.

  In FIG. 7, a further embodiment of the container 10 is illustrated in cross-section, in which case the container 10 is different from the container shown in FIG. The reference weighing cell is provided along the lower member 120 of the bottom member 118. The weighing cell 127 has a preset reference weight, so that when the container 10, ie, the bottom member 118, is not horizontally oriented using the reference weighing cell 127, The exact weight is weighed. Based on the measurement of the weight of the tobacco material 130 using the weighing cell 124 and the simultaneous measurement of the reference weighing cell 127, the weight of the tobacco material 130 is likewise determined by the bottom member 118 relative to the horizontal direction. It is possible to detect accurately even in the case of the state of inclination.

  In order to evaluate the measured and detected measurement data of the weighing device and the tilt sensor or the reference weighing cell, an evaluation unit, not shown here, is provided, which is accommodated using this evaluation unit. The exact weight of the tobacco material 130 is weighed. Furthermore, the evaluation device is equipped with a display, with which the measured weight of the tobacco material 130 is displayed. In an alternative embodiment, the detected measurement data is transmitted to an external evaluation device wirelessly, i.e. contactlessly, and thus the tobacco material is weighed using this external evaluation device. The

FIG. 4 is a view of a container according to the present invention in three different views. FIG. 4 is a view of a container according to the present invention in three different views. FIG. 4 is a view of a container according to the present invention in three different views. FIG. 6 is a diagram of multiple containers in a stacked arrangement. FIG. 6 is a view of multiple containers in an arrangement stacked into one another. FIG. 3 is a view of a container in a cross-sectional view. 1 is a diagram of a container according to the invention of the tobacco processing industry in a schematic cross-sectional view. FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the possible alternative weighing device embodiments within the bottom member of a container in the tobacco processing industry. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the possible alternative weighing device embodiments within the bottom member of a container in the tobacco processing industry. FIG. 6 is a diagram of the possible alternative weighing device embodiments within the bottom member of a container in the tobacco processing industry. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a container having a tilt sensor. FIG. 2 is a diagram of a container according to the present invention having a reference weighing cell.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Container 11 Side wall 12 Lid 13 Hinge 14 Bottom part 15 Hinge 16 Leg part 17 Side wall 18 Through-opening part 19 Sealing material 21 Roller 22 Closure lock mechanism 24 Grip 25 Spacing holder 26 Vent hole 112 Side wall 114 Side wall 115 Side wall 116 Lid 118 Bottom part Material 120 Lower member 122 Upper member 124 Weighing cell 125 Pressure sensor 126 Film body 127 Reference weighing cell 128.1 Tilt sensor 128.2 Tilt sensor 130 Tobacco material 141 Compression spring 142 Evaluation unit 143 Temperature sensor 145 Sensor 146 Receiver 147 Evaluation Unit 148 display area

Claims (34)

In a tobacco processing industry container (10) for tobacco material having a lid surface (12) and a bottom surface (14),
Container (10), characterized in that the lid surface (12) is smaller than the bottom surface (14), the lid surface (12) and the bottom surface (14) being closable in this case. ).   Container (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (10) is configured to be stackable in a closed state and / or to be nested in an open state.   Container (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lid surface (12) and / or the bottom surface (14) comprises a closing device and / or a sealing material.   4. A container (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bottom surface (14) has legs (16).   5. Container (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the leg (16) is configured to be able to pass under.   6. Container (10) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the leg (16) comprises a roller (21).   A container (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid for the lid surface (12) and / or the bottom for the bottom (14) consists of multiple members. 10).   8. Container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a grip device (24) and / or a spacing element (25) are provided.   A container (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (10) has a vent (26).   10. Container (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the container (10) is made of plastic, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.   The container (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the inner surface of the container (10) has a smooth surface.   Use of a container (10) in the tobacco processing industry according to any one of the preceding claims. In a container (10) of the tobacco processing industry for containing tobacco material (130) or according to claim 1
The container (10) is provided with a weighing device (124, 125, 141) for detecting the weight of the tobacco material (130) accommodated in the container (10). ).   14. Container (10) according to claim 13, characterized in that an attitude detection device (128.1, 128.2) is provided for the attitude of the container (10), in particular for tilting.   15. Container (10) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that an evaluation unit (142, 147) is provided for quantifying the weight of the tobacco material (130).   16. Container according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the weight of the tobacco material (130) is quantifiable depending on the detected attitude of the container (10), in particular the inclination. (10).   16. Container (10) according to claim 13 or 15, characterized in that a reference-weighing device (127) is provided.   18. Container (10) according to claim 15 or 17, characterized in that the weight of the tobacco material (130) is quantifiable depending on the measurement of the reference-weighing device (127). .   The weight of the tobacco material (130) is configured to be quantifiable depending on the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor (143). Container (10).   20. The weighing cell (124, 125) according to any one of claims 13 to 19, characterized in that the weighing cell (124, 125) is provided in the bottom member (118, 120, 122) and / or the leg of the container (10). Container (10) as described.   14. The weighing device (124, 125, 141) is constructed using a pressure sensor (125) and / or a weighing cell (124) and / or a compression spring (141). The container (10) of any one of 20.   22. The weighing device (124, 125, 141) and / or the evaluation unit (142, 147) has a display area (148), according to any one of claims 13 to 21 Container (10).   The measurement data of the weighing device (124, 125, 141) and / or the reference-weighing device (127) and / or the attitude detection device (128.1, 128.2) and / or the evaluation unit (142) are 23. Container (10) according to any one of claims 13 to 22, characterized in that it can be transmitted to an external evaluation device (147), in particular in a non-contact manner.   Use of a weighing device (124, 125, 141) in a container of the tobacco processing industry for detecting the weight of tobacco material (130) contained in the container (10).   25. Use according to claim 24, characterized in that an attitude detector (128.1, 128.2) is provided for the attitude of the container (10), in particular for tilting.   26. Use according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that an evaluation unit (142, 147) is provided for quantifying the weight of the tobacco material (130).   27. Use according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the weight of the tobacco material (130) is quantifiable depending on the detected attitude of the container (10), in particular the inclination. .   27. Use according to claim 24 or 26, characterized in that a reference-weighing device (127) is provided.   29. Use according to claim 26 or 28, characterized in that the weight of the tobacco material (130) can be determined depending on the measurement of the reference-weighing device (127).   Use according to claim 27 or 29, characterized in that the weight of the tobacco material (130) is quantifiable in dependence on the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor (143). .   31. A weighing cell (124, 125, 141) is provided in the bottom member (118, 120, 122) and / or the leg of the container (10). Use as described in 1.   25. The weighing device (124, 125, 141) is constructed using a pressure sensor (125) and / or a weighing cell (124) and / or a compression spring (141). 31. Use according to any one of 31.   The weighing device (124, 125, 141) and / or the evaluation unit (142, 147) has a display area (148), according to any one of claims 24 to 32. use.   The measurement data of the weighing device (124, 125) and / or the reference-weighing device (127) and / or the attitude detection device (128.1, 128.2) and / or the evaluation unit (142) 34. Use according to any one of claims 24 to 33, characterized in that it can be transmitted to the evaluation device (147), in particular in a non-contact manner.

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