JP2023530237A - Method and apparatus for transporting stick-shaped articles - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for transporting rod-shaped articles (11, 12), in particular rod-shaped articles (11, 12) for the tobacco industry, comprising alternating rows of first and second rod-shaped articles (11, 12) in a first and feeding the second rod-shaped articles (11, 12) along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the length of the first rod-shaped article (11) being equal to the length of the second rod-shaped article (12). picking up individual rod-shaped articles (11, 12) from alternating rows by respective movable working units (32) of the transport means (30) at a pick-up station (P); , each working unit (32) is movable along a closed supply path, and each working unit (32) carrying an individual rod-shaped article (11, 12) is moved along the supply path from a pick-up station (P). By moving along a section to a release station (R) and axially moving the rod-shaped article (11) at the release station (R), individual pieces are deposited from the respective working unit (32) onto the forming beam (20). releasing the rod-like articles (11, 12), each working unit (32) being measured along the feed path of the respective working unit (32) and discharging the first and second rod-like articles ( 11, 12) arranged equidistantly from each other by a distance (D) adjusted and/or selected as a function of the average length (Lm).

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transporting rod-shaped articles, particularly (but not exclusively) tobacco industry rod-shaped articles. More specifically, the present invention relates to the transfer of articles between a flow advancing transversely to the article itself and a flow advancing axially.

What is currently known in the tobacco industry is the use of specific carousel conveyors (known as "spiders") at the intersection area between the laterally advancing article stream and the axially advancing article stream. is. These carousels are provided with work units that pivot about their respective axes for receiving incoming articles from the laterally moving stream of articles and for supplying articles to the axially moving stream. ing.

These conveyors are arranged in the axial flow, particularly in the longitudinal grooves of the shaping beams, by positioning each article so that it advances along the beam in alignment with the previously fed article. , based on the idea of supplying each article.

In the case of very long constructs, the prior art also teaches dividing the construct into two parts, in which case the laterally advancing series of articles is divided into a series of first Defined by a unit and a second unit, each first unit and second unit being continuous with each other and defining a respective construct (and thus one article) within the beam. In some situations, such "long" constructs cannot be divided into two units of equal length, so that a series of laterally advancing articles can be divided by a series of first long and second short units. Defined.

In such a situation, a transfer device (spider) is required that alternately (long and short) successively mounts an even number of working units in order to match the order of the units that make up the structure.

Disadvantageously, these transfer devices are complex and necessarily have an even number of working units.

In this regard, the basic technical objective of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for transferring stick-like articles to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the present invention provides a high level of flexibility for selecting the number of work units, especially in complex situations where the series of articles to be transferred is a sequence of long and short units. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for transporting stick-shaped articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for transporting stick-like articles, characterized in that the embodiment is very simple.

The indicated technical object and the specified object are a rod-shaped article comprising the technical features recited in one or more of claims 1 and 6 and/or the appended claims, respectively. This is substantially achieved by a method and apparatus for transferring.

Further features and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative and therefore non-limiting descriptions of preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of methods and apparatus for transferring rod-like articles. is more evident in
1 is a front view of a transfer device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 1 is a schematic view of two articles to be moved by a transfer device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a complete schematic view of an assembly machine with the apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of two articles suitable to be moved by the transfer device according to the invention;

Reference numeral 1 in the accompanying drawings indicates the entire device for transferring stick-shaped articles according to the present invention.

In the context of the present invention, a "rod-shaped article" is an article having an elongated cylindrical shape and preferably a circular cross-section, which in particular may optionally have different properties or be of different types. means an article defined by one or more segments that may be For example, an article according to the invention may be constructed of multiple filter segments or a single filter segment or a series of one or more segments of the following types. That is, it may be constructed of a series of one or more segments of filter segments, tubular segments, tobacco segments, heating material segments, and other segments. However, the unique nature of the segment is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is characterized by mode of operation and construction rather than the type of article being transported. For the same reason, therefore, the present invention also provides machines for the tobacco industry, more generally machines for producing aerosol-generating articles and the like, and more specifically assembly machines, the construction of which is: Applies to both the assembly machines described in

The apparatus 1 consists essentially of feeding means 10 for feeding alternating rows of first and second rod-shaped articles 11, 12 along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the articles 11, 12; and rotary transfer means 30 arranged between the supply means 10 and the shaping beam 20 . The rotary transfer means 30 is a platform 31 (or other means suitable for the purpose, e.g. a wheel) rotatable about a horizontal axis X to close the feed past the pick-up station P and the release station R. It comprises a platform 31 with a plurality of working units 32 movable along a path, at the pick-up station P each working unit 32 picking up a corresponding article 11, 12 from the supply means 10 in a lateral movement and releasing it. At station R, each work unit 32 releases a corresponding article 11, 12 onto the forming beam 20 in an axial movement.

The general construction of the transfer means 30 is known and will therefore not be described in detail. However, it should be noted that a particular feature of the transfer means 30 is to move the working units 32 along a closed feed path, preferably a circular feed path. Thus, between the pick-up station P and the release station R, each work unit 32 follows a curved trajectory, preferably corresponding to a circular arc. Moreover, the working units 32 are pivotable in a controlled manner about respective pivot axes parallel to the axis X of the rotatable platform 31 such that the working units 32 maintain the same orientation. Since each working unit 32 has a seat at its bottom holding the respective article 11, 12 by air suction, the orientation of the articles 11, 12 also remains the same along the feed path, especially the horizontal feed path. In other words, each work unit 32 undergoes translational movement only along the curved trajectory defined by the closed feed path.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the transport means shown comprise only eight working units 32 for clarity of illustration. However, there may be more work units (eg, up to 30 or more) depending on requirements.

Upstream of the transfer means 30 is an orientable arm of known construction which forms part of the feed means 10 and defines the last drum of a series of drums for laterally feeding the articles 11,12. There is a drum 40 having A drum 40 with orientable arms acts in conjunction with the transfer means 30 to transfer the articles 11, 12 to the contact area. Upstream of the drum 40 with orientable arms, the feeding means 10 also comprise a plurality of feed lines 51, 52, 53, 54 for feeding individual series of segments and the feed lines 51, 52, 53 , 54 and a conveying device 55 adapted to receive and assemble segments supplied by 54 to obtain alternating rows of articles 11, 12. Preferably, assembly unit 50 assembles and positions articles 11, 12 so that they are centrally aligned, as shown in FIG. "Center-aligned" means, in other words, that the plane dividing each item 11, 12 into two equal parts coincides with the plane dividing the preceding or following item 11, 12 into two equal parts. means

In certain applications of the method and apparatus according to the invention, the articles 11, 12 supplied by the supply means 10 may differ in length and more particularly be defined by a combination of different segments (many possible implementations One of the forms is shown in FIG. 2).

In the illustrated embodiment, the first article 11 has a first length L1 and the second article 12 has a length L2 different from L1 and is composed of different sequences of segments.

Figures 4-6 illustrate embodiments in which an article may include a combination of segments and empty spaces.

More specifically, FIG. 4 shows that the first article 11 is defined by a series of rod-shaped segments and the second article 12 is a rod-shaped segment with two empty spaces at each end. 4 illustrates an embodiment defined by segments; In this case, when the first and second articles 11, 12 are successively released onto the forming beam 20, the continuous rod to be formed has, for example, a cavity to accommodate the filling material or an empty space. Adequate empty space is provided to form the section.

In the particular embodiment of FIG. 4, in particular, the second article 12 has two spaces at its ends and at least one central segment preferably centered on the centerline of the article 12 .

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 5, the first item 11 corresponds to the first item 11 of FIG. 4 but has a space at one end corresponding to one of the two spaces of the item of FIG. and the second article 12 has only one space adjacent to one bar segment (or sequence of segments).

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 6, the first article 11 corresponds to the first article 11 of FIG. 5, but with the positions of the spaces reversed, ie, with the spaces at the opposite ends.

Advantageously, the working unit 32 of the transfer means 30 is measured along the feed path of the working unit 32 (Fig. 1A) and adjusted and adjusted as a function of the average length _Lm of the first and second articles 11,12. /or separated from each other by a selected linear distance D. The distance D is the same for all pairs of successive working units 32 , which means that they are equidistant around the axis X of the transfer means 30 . In other words, the distance D is a function of the average length _Lm of the first and second articles 11,12.

More specifically, the average length _Lm of the first and second articles 11, 12 can be calculated with the following formula.

Preferably, the distance D corresponds to the average length _Lm .

If desired, based on the type of article, the average length _Lm of the first and second articles 11, 12 calculated above may include adding a correction factor.

The distance D according to this criterion is measured in particular at the pivot axis of the individual working units 32, and regardless of whether the working units 32 receive first articles 11 or second articles 12 of different lengths. It is possible to set a uniform space between 32. In fact, even in this situation, the excess of the length of the longest article over the average length _Lm compensates for the empty space left when the shorter (preceding or following) consecutive articles are released.

In one embodiment, this also allows having an odd number of work units 32 . It is understood that this solution is possible even if the number of work units 32 is even.

In use, the supply means 10 supplies alternating rows of first and second articles 11, 12 along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the articles 11, 12, the individual articles 11, 12 11, 12 are picked up from alternating rows by respective working units 32 of transfer means 30 (specifically by drums 40 with orientable arms) at pick-up station P as they advance in lateral motion. and released by the work unit 32 onto the shaping beam 20 at the release station R as the articles 11 , 12 advance in longitudinal motion to form a continuous rod 100 . The rod 100 is then wrapped in a web, preferably a web of paper, in the usual manner, cut into individual products and sent for further processing.

During the release step, each item 11, 12 is aligned on the beam 20 behind the previously released item 11, 12, and by virtue of the specific distance between the working units 32, each item 11, 12 leads Accurate end-to-end alignment with preceding items without interfering or colliding with preceding items, or relieved by defining corresponding spaces (if provided) of the correct length.

Claims (8)

A method for transporting rod-shaped articles (11, 12), in particular rod-shaped articles (11, 12) for the tobacco industry, comprising:
feeding alternating rows of first and second rod-like articles (11, 12) along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said first and second rod-like articles (11, 12), the length of said first rod-shaped article (11) being different from the length of said second rod-shaped article (12);
picking up individual stick-like articles (11, 12) from said alternating rows by respective movable working units (32) of transfer means (30) at a pick-up station (P), said respective working units (32) is movable along the closed feed path;
moving said respective working unit (32) carrying said individual rod-shaped articles (11, 12) from said pick-up station (P) along a section of said supply path to a release station (R);
releasing said individual rod-shaped articles (11, 12) from said respective working units (32) onto shaping beams (20) by axial movement of said rod-shaped articles (11) at said release station (R); and including
Said respective working unit (32) has an average length (L _m ) of said first and second rod-like articles (11, 12) measured along said feed path of said respective working unit (32) are equidistant from each other by a distance (D) adjusted and/or selected as a function of . Said respective working unit (32) is moved between said pick-up station (P) and said release station (R) along a curved trajectory, preferably a curved trajectory corresponding to a circular arc, in particular said transfer means ( 30) is a platform (31) preferably rotatable about a horizontal axis (X) and a plurality of platforms (31) pivotable in a controlled manner about respective pivot axes parallel to said axis (X). 2. A method according to claim 1, comprising a platform (31) supporting a working unit (32) of . 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the distance (D) between the respective working units (32) corresponds to the average length ( _Lm ) of the first and second segments (11, 12). Method. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in said alternating rows said first and second rod-like articles (11, 12) are centrally aligned. A device for transporting rod-shaped articles, in particular for the tobacco industry, comprising:
Feeding means ( 10), wherein the length (L1) of said first rod-like article (11) is different from the length of said second rod-like article (12); and
a shaped beam (20);
A rotary transfer means rotatable about a horizontal axis (X) with a plurality of peripheral working units (32) movable along a closed feed path passing through pick-up stations (P) and release stations (R). (30), wherein each work unit (32) picks up a corresponding stick-like article (11, 12) from said supply means (10) in said pick-up station (P) in a lateral movement and each work unit (32) a unit (32) comprising rotary transfer means (30) for releasing said corresponding rod-like articles (11, 12) onto the forming beam (20) in an axial movement at said release station (R);
The plurality of working units (32) is measured along the feed path of the plurality of working units (32) and of the average length (L _m ) of the first and second segments (11, 12). Devices equally spaced from each by a distance (D) adjusted and/or selected as a function. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the distance (D) between said plurality of working units (32) corresponds to said average length ( _Lm ) of said first and second segments (11, 12). Said supply means (10) is supplied by a plurality of supply lines (51, 52, 53, 54) for supplying individual series of segments and said plurality of supply lines (51, 52, 53, 54). a conveying device (55) configured to receive and assemble said individual series of segments to obtain alternating rows of said first and second rod-like articles (11, 12). , an apparatus according to claim 5 or 6. Assembly machine for manufacturing multi-segment articles, comprising a transfer device (1) according to any one or more of claims 5 to 7.

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