JP3076804B1 - Rotating drive mechanism for smoking articles or parts thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to adjust the length of a guide surface for rotating an object to be rotated in a rotation driving mechanism of a smoking article or the like. A rotation driving mechanism includes a checking drum.
4 and a kicker roller 36 disposed opposite thereto. The drum 34 and the roller 36 are both rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the outer surfaces 62 and 72 cooperate to rotate the tobacco T sequentially while being moored at the inspection position IP. A large number of first and second grooves 6 are provided on the outer peripheral surface 62 of the drum 34.
4 and 66 are formed, and a guide surface 68 is defined between the first and second grooves 64 and 66. The first and second grooves 64 and 66 are formed separately from each other and as part of the first and second components 63 and 65, respectively. A different type of second component 65m in which the position of the second groove 66 is changed is mounted on the checking drum 34 instead of the original second component 65, so that the guide surface 68 is provided.
Length can be adjusted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rotation driving mechanism for sequentially rotating a plurality of cylindrical articles made of smoking articles or parts thereof in a main processing section. This rotation drive mechanism rotates a workpiece in a winding device for winding a tip paper around a smoking article such as a cigarette or a visual inspection apparatus for inspecting a finished or semi-finished smoking article. Used to let.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, when inspecting the appearance of smoking articles such as tobacco rods and filters or parts thereof, and when integrating tobacco rods and filters by winding tip paper, the object to be processed is rotated. While these processes are performed. A typical mechanism for rotating an object to be processed uses a rotating drum having a large number of two types of grooves, a carry-in groove and a carry-out groove, formed on an outer peripheral surface.

FIG. 6 shows a rotation driving mechanism 132 (for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 11-96560) used in a visual inspection apparatus for tobacco and the like.
FIG. This rotation drive mechanism 132
Is a drum 134 and a roller 13 disposed opposite thereto.
6. The drum 134 and the roller 136 are both rotated counterclockwise, and the outer peripheral surfaces 162 and 172 cooperate with each other to rotate the tobacco T sequentially while being moored at the inspection position IP.

[0004] On the outer peripheral surface 162 of the drum 134, a number of carry-in grooves 164 and a number of carry-out grooves 166 extending along the rotation axis of the drum 134 are formed. Loading and unloading groove 1
64 and 166 between each pair of groove pairs.
8 is defined. On the other hand, on the outer peripheral surface 172 of the roller 136, the tobacco T is driven in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tobacco T.
One convex portion 174 and three concave portions 176 for releasing the tobacco T from the convex portion 174 are formed corresponding to the tobacco T being seated in the carry-out groove 166. That is, drum 1
The rotational speeds of the roller 34 and the roller 136 are set so that the circumferential speeds of the guide surface 168 and the convex portion 174 are the same.

The carry-in groove 164 of the drum 134 and the adjacent pair of carry-out grooves 166 arranged back to back are formed as part of a common part 165 detachably attached to the drum 134. With this configuration, the drum 1
34 is easier to manufacture and assemble.

[0006]

However, in the rotation drive mechanism having the above structure, the length of the guide surface 168 between the carry-in and carry-out grooves 164 and 166 is fixed. Therefore, when the tobacco T, that is, the diameter of the object to be processed is different, the guide surface 1
The amount of rotation of the object to be processed on 68 also differs. From another point of view, the rotation amount cannot be arbitrarily set for the objects having the same diameter according to the processing mode.

The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has a rotation drive for sequentially rotating a plurality of workpieces formed of cylindrical smoking articles or parts thereof in the main processing section. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism in which the length of a guide surface for rotating an object defined between a carry-in and a carry-out groove can be adjusted.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
A rotation drive mechanism for sequentially rotating a plurality of workpieces formed of cylindrical smoking articles or parts thereof in the main processing unit, for sequentially loading and unloading the workpieces to and from the main processing unit. A drum having an outer peripheral surface and being rotated in a first direction, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the drum is arranged along the rotation axis of the drum so as to sequentially carry the object to be processed into the main processing unit; A plurality of first grooves extending, a plurality of second grooves extending along a rotation axis of the drum, and the first and second grooves for sequentially carrying out the object to be processed from the main processing unit. A plurality of guide surfaces disposed between each of the groove pairs, and that the object to be processed moves from the first groove to the second groove of the drum in the main processing portion. While rotating, it comes into contact with the object and An opposing member having an opposing surface for driving the object in cooperation with the guide surface of the drum, wherein the first and second grooves are configured separately from each other. Each of the first and second parts is formed as a part of two parts, and one of the first and second parts is detachable from the drum, and the position or type of the one part on the drum is changed. The length of the guide surface between the first and second grooves is adjustable.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the rotation driving mechanism according to the first aspect, the one component is the second component having the second groove.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the rotation drive mechanism according to the first or second aspect, the opposing member rotates so that the object to be processed is moored in the main processing section. It is characterized by comprising a roller rotated in the first direction at substantially the same peripheral speed as the drum.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the rotation driving mechanism according to the third aspect, a convex portion functioning as the facing surface is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the roller, and the object to be processed is provided in the second groove. Corresponding to the seating, concave portions for releasing the object from the convex portions are alternately formed along the circumferential direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the rotation driving mechanism according to the fourth aspect, the main processing is performed to stop the self-propelled rotation of the object immediately after being released from the convex portion of the roller. And a brake member that is separate from the roller and that is disposed to face the drum at the portion.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having substantially the same functions and configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description will be made only when necessary.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an entire appearance inspection apparatus 10 such as a cigarette having a rotation drive mechanism 32 according to an embodiment of the present invention. One end of a casing 11 of the apparatus 10 is provided with a hopper 1 for pooling a large number of tobacco T.
4 are provided. The belt conveyor 12 is connected to the entrance of the hopper 14, whereby the tobacco T is carried in from outside. At the outlet of the hopper 14, a hopper drum 22 that rotates in a counterclockwise direction is provided as indicated by an arrow in the figure.

On the outer peripheral surface of the hopper drum 22, a large number of tobacco support grooves 22a are formed at a fine pitch so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. In the hopper 14, the cigarette T
Is scraped off by the agitator roller 16 toward the outer peripheral surface of the hopper drum 22. Furthermore, cigarette T
When unloaded from the hopper 14, the fusers 18 arrange the seats one by one in the groove 22 a of the hopper drum 22. A guide 23 is provided facing the hopper drum 22, and the tobacco T is guided in a counterclockwise direction between the hopper drum 22 and the guide 23, and is taken over by the transfer drum 24.

On the outer peripheral surface of the transfer drum 24, a large number of tobacco support grooves 24a are formed at a fine pitch so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. A guide 25 is provided facing the transfer drum 24, and the tobacco T is guided clockwise between the transfer drum 24 and the guide 25, and is taken over by the first and second rolling drums 26 and 28.

First and second rolling drums 26, 28
Is used to sequentially adjust the supporting pitch of the tobacco T so that the tobacco T supported at a fine pitch on the transfer drum 24 is adapted to a wide pitch on the checking drum 34 described later.

On the outer peripheral surface of the first rolling drum 26, a large number of tobacco support grooves 26a are formed at a somewhat wider pitch than the transfer drum 24 so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. A guide 27 is provided to face the first rolling drum 26, and the tobacco T is
Is guided in a counterclockwise direction between the first rolling drum 28 and the second rolling drum 28.

On the outer peripheral surface of the second rolling drum 28, a large number of tobacco support grooves 28a are formed at a wider pitch so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. Each groove 28a is connected to a suction mechanism provided in the second rolling drum 28, and the tobacco T is guided clockwise while being sucked onto the groove 28a by the suction mechanism, and is taken over by the checking drum 34.

The checking drum 34 and the kicker roller 36 disposed opposite to the checking drum 34 sequentially carry the tobacco T into the inspection position (main processing unit) IP, and the inspection position IP.
Drive mechanism 32 for rotating tobacco T at
Is configured. Above the rotation drive mechanism 32, an imaging member for imaging the outer peripheral surface of the tobacco T, that is, a camera 52 is disposed. The camera 52 is connected to a control unit 54 for determining the quality of the tobacco T based on the image signal. The tobacco T after the imaging at the inspection position IP is passed from the checking drum 34 to the ejector drum 42.

The ejector drum 42 is used to discharge the tobacco T determined to be defective. On the outer peripheral surface of the ejector drum 42, a large number of tobacco support grooves 42a are formed at a wide pitch so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. Each groove 42a is connected to a suction mechanism arranged in the ejector drum 42, and the tobacco T is guided clockwise while being sucked onto the groove 42a by the suction mechanism.
Further, a guide 43 is provided to face the ejector drum 42. The suction mechanism of the ejector drum 42
In cooperation with the guide 43, the tobacco T on the groove 42a can be removed individually and independently. As a result, the defective cigarette T is discharged while the ejector drum 42 is rotating, and only the good cigarette T is carried over to the carrier drum 44.

On the outer peripheral surface of the carrier drum 44, a large number of tobacco support grooves 44a are formed at a wide pitch so as to extend in the rotation axis direction. A guide 45 is provided facing the carrier drum 44, and the tobacco T is guided counterclockwise between the carrier drum 44 and the guide 45, and is carried out of the apparatus 10 via the belt conveyor 46.

Below the drums 24 to 28, a belt conveyor 38 for discharging the dropped tobacco T is disposed in the apparatus casing 11. An operation panel 48 for operating the apparatus 10 such as starting and stopping is disposed on the upper portion of the casing 11.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a tobacco T rotation drive mechanism 3.
It is a side view and a perspective view showing 2. The checking drum 34 of the rotation drive mechanism 32 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1, and sequentially carries in the tobacco T to and from the inspection position IP by the outer peripheral surface 62. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a large number of first grooves 64 extending along the rotation axis of the checking drum 34 are provided on the outer peripheral surface 62 of the checking drum 34 in order to sequentially carry the tobacco T to the inspection position IP. It is formed. In addition, a large number of second grooves 66 extending along the rotation axis of the checking drum 34 are formed on the outer peripheral surface 62 of the checking drum 34 in order to sequentially carry out the tobacco T from the inspection position IP. First
A number of guide surfaces 68 are defined between each of the groove pairs of the second groove 64 and the second groove 64. The first and second grooves 64 and 66 are provided for the suction mechanism 6 provided in the checking drum 34.
9, the tobacco T is guided in the rotation direction while being sucked on the first and second grooves 64 and 66 by the suction mechanism 69. In addition, a protrusion 67 is provided on the side of each of the second grooves 66 to ensure that the tobacco T is locked after the rotation is completed.

The kicker roller 36 of the rotation drive mechanism 32 is
In FIG. 1, the tobacco T is rotated counterclockwise similarly to the checking drum 34, and the tobacco T is rotated by its outer peripheral surface 72 in cooperation with the outer peripheral surface 62 of the checking drum 34 sequentially while being moored at the inspection position IP. Specifically, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, on the outer peripheral surface 72 of the kicker roller 36, the tobacco T is moored from the first groove 64 of the checking drum 34 to the second groove 66 while being moored at the inspection position IP. Three convex portions 74 that drive the tobacco T in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tobacco T are formed so as to rotate on the top. That is, the rotation speeds of the checking drum 34 and the kicker roller 36 are set such that the circumferential speeds of the guide surface 68 and the convex portion 74 are the same. In addition, kicker roller 3
6, three concave portions 76 for releasing the tobacco T from the convex portions 74 are formed corresponding to the tobacco T being seated in the second grooves 66. Convex part 74 and concave part 76
Are alternately formed along the circumferential direction. The recess 7
The first groove 6 is provided at three portions that transition from
Fins 77 for scraping out the tobacco T from 4 are provided.

The protrusion 74 of the kicker roller 36 is divided into two parts 74a and 74b along the axial direction of the kicker roller 36. The contact surfaces of the two parts 74a, 74b of the projection 74 are covered with a layer 75 having a high coefficient of friction, for example, a cloth.

In order to stop the self-propelled rotation of the tobacco T immediately after being released from the protrusion 74 of the kicker roller 36, a brake separate from the kicker roller 36 is provided so as to face the checking drum 34 at the inspection position IP. A member 78 is provided. By preventing the self-propelled rotation of the tobacco T by the brake member 78, the tobacco T after the inspection is moved to the second groove 66.
It is possible to securely seat the inside.

The brake member 78 is disposed between the two portions 74a and 74b of the projection 74. Brake member 78
Is made of a metal plate, and its surface is always in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tobacco T at the inspection position IP. However, the brake member 7
8 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the tobacco T at a pressure lower than that of the projection 74 of the kicker roller 36, and the contact surface of the brake member 78 is smooth, and its friction coefficient is lower than that of the surface of the layer 75 of the projection 74. Therefore, even if the brake member 78 is always in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the tobacco T, the rotation operation of the tobacco T is not impaired.

The first and second grooves 64, 66 of the checking drum 34 are respectively formed as parts of a short first part 63 and a long second part 65 which are formed separately from each other. The first and second components 63 and 65 are detachably mounted on the mounting portion on the outer peripheral surface of the checking drum 34, and are fixed at predetermined positions by engaging with the pressing plates 35 on both sides of the checking drum 34. You.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the second component 65m of a different type in which the position of the second groove 66 is changed is replaced with the original second component 65.
FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where the check drum is mounted on a corresponding mounting portion. By changing the position of the second groove 66 in this way, it is possible to adjust the length of the guide surface 68 between the first and second grooves (import and export grooves) 64 and 66. Therefore, it is possible to arbitrarily set the rotation amount of the object to be processed, which is determined by the length of the guide surface 68. If the first component 63 is a long component, the first and second components can be replaced by using a different type of first component in which the position of the first groove 64 is changed in place of the original first component 65. Groove 6
The length of the guide surface 68 between 4, 66 can be adjusted.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a checking drum 34 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first and second grooves 64, 66 of the checking drum 34 are formed as part of a short first component 82 and a short second component 84, respectively, configured separately from each other. Further, third and fourth parts 86 and 88 in which no groove is formed are disposed between the first and second parts 82 and 84.
The widths of the third and fourth components 86 and 88 are set to be the same as those of the second component 84. The first to fourth components 82 to 88 are detachably mounted on the mounting portion on the outer peripheral surface of the checking drum 34, and are fixed at predetermined positions by engaging with the pressing plates 35 on both sides of the checking drum 34. You.

In this embodiment, the second component 84
Can be arbitrarily exchanged with the positions of the third and fourth parts 86 and 88. Therefore, the length of the guide surface 68 between the first and second grooves (load-in and carry-out grooves) 64 and 66 can be adjusted to three types.

In the above embodiment, the kicker roller 36, which is an opposing member for rotating the object in cooperation with the checking drum 34, rotates, but in the present invention, it is essential that the opposing member rotate. is not. For example,
In a wrapping device for wrapping chip paper around a smoking article such as a cigarette, the facing member is fixed, and the object to be processed is rotated while moving in parallel between the guide surface of the drum and the facing surface of the facing member. The tip paper is wound around the object during this rotation. Also in the apparatus having such a configuration, the length of the guide surface between the carry-in and carry-out grooves is adjusted by applying the structure of the drum as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. The rotation amount can be set.

As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. Within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims, those skilled in the art can come up with various modified examples and modified examples, and these modified examples and modified examples are also within the technical scope of the present invention. It is understood that it belongs to.

[0035]

According to the present invention, in a rotation drive mechanism for sequentially rotating a plurality of objects to be processed consisting of cylindrical smoking articles or parts thereof in the main processing section, the rotation is defined between the carry-in and carry-out grooves. The length of the guide surface for rotating the object to be rotated can be adjusted. Therefore, it is possible to arbitrarily set the amount of rotation of the object to be processed, which is determined by the length of the guide surface.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an entire appearance inspection apparatus such as a cigarette having a rotation driving mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the rotation drive mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the rotation drive mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a state in which, in the rotation drive mechanism shown in FIG. 1, different types of second parts in which the positions of the second grooves are changed are mounted on corresponding mounting portions of the checking drum in place of the original second parts. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a checking drum according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a rotation driving mechanism (for example, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 11-96560) used in a visual inspection device for tobacco and the like.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 32: rotation driving mechanism 34: checking drum 35: holding plate 36: kicker rollers 63, 82: first components having grooves 64: first grooves 65, 84: second components having grooves 66: second 2 groove 68 guide surface 69 suction mechanism 74 convex portion 76 concave portion 78 brake member 86, 88 third and fourth parts without groove IP inspection position (main processing unit) T cigarette

Continuation of the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A24C 5/00-5 / 60D A24D 3/02 G01N 21/88

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A rotation drive mechanism for sequentially rotating a plurality of workpieces formed of a cylindrical smoking article or parts thereof in a main processing unit, wherein the workpieces are sequentially loaded into the main processing unit. And a drum having an outer peripheral surface for unloading and rotating in a first direction, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the drum is provided with A plurality of first grooves extending along a rotation axis; a plurality of second grooves extending along a rotation axis of the drum; and a plurality of second grooves extending along the rotation axis of the drum for sequentially carrying the object from the main processing unit. 1st and 2nd
A plurality of guide surfaces disposed between each of the groove pairs of the grooves, and the object to be processed is moved from the first groove to the second groove of the drum in the main processing unit. While rotating
And an opposing member having an opposing surface for driving the object in contact with the object and cooperating with the guide surface of the drum, wherein the first and second grooves are separate from each other. The first and second parts are respectively formed as a part of a first and a second part configured as a body, and one of the first and the second parts is detachable from the drum, and the one of the parts is on the drum. The length of the guide surface between the first and second grooves can be adjusted by changing the position or type of the smoking article or the component for rotating the smoking article or the component thereof. 2. The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the one part is the second part having the second groove. 3. A roller rotated in the first direction at substantially the same peripheral speed as the drum so that the object to be processed is rotated in a state where the object is moored in the main processing section. The rotation drive mechanism for smoking articles or parts thereof according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. An outer peripheral surface of the roller has a convex portion functioning as the facing surface, and the object to be processed is moved from the convex portion in response to the object to be seated in the second groove. The mechanism for rotating a smoking article or a part thereof according to claim 3, wherein the concave portions for releasing are alternately formed along the circumferential direction. 5. The roller disposed in the main processing section so as to face the drum in order to stop the self-propelled rotation of the object immediately after being released from the convex portion of the roller. The rotation drive mechanism for smoking articles or parts thereof according to claim 4, further comprising a separate brake member.