JP5179728B2 - Device for supplying filter to filter chip mounting machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus (unit) for supplying a filter to a filter chip (tip piece) mounting machine.
More particularly, the present invention is equipped with a holding hopper installed between the outlet of the filter maker (manufacturing machine) and the inlet of the pneumatic supply duct which in turn connects to the filter tip (tip piece) mounting machine. The present invention relates to a filter supply device (unit).

  Conventionally, the filter delivered by the production machine is sent in the direction of the hopper, acting as a containment vessel, via a single supply point at the top of the hopper. The filters are collected inside the hopper, arranged horizontally and side by side, and prepared to be transported to the pneumatic supply duct.

The hopper forms a single interior chamber (compartment) that houses one type of filter, and therefore all are the same diameter and the same length.
The transport of the filter from the outlet of the hopper to the inlet of the supply duct has traditionally consisted of a plurality of drums (body parts) that rotate around their respective horizontal axis parallel to the axis of the filter and are located below the hopper It is carried out by the transportation means provided.

  The drum is provided with a suction flute (vertical groove) at the periphery, and the flute is arranged in parallel to the axis of the drum, each of which can accommodate one filter.

  Lowering from the container, the filter is held (or picked up) by the flute described above, rotated 180 degrees in the drum, passed one by one, and proceeds to the transport station where the filter is a flow of compressed air. To the filter chip attachment machine along the pneumatic supply duct.

  Conventional filter supply devices (units) are generally supplied with one type of length and one type of filter during operation. The space enclosed by the hopper can be changed when not in operation by moving the rear wall to adapt the depth of the hopper to the length of the incoming filter.

  Therefore, as already implied, each unit (unit) handles only one type of filter, corresponds to one type of filter maker on the inlet (in) side, and one type of filter chip on the outlet (out) side. Corresponding to the machine.

  Alternatively, the filter feeder (unit) can be used with multiple filter tip attachment machines that process the same type of filter but operate at different speeds. In this example, different numbers of drums correspond to different downstream machines according to their operating speed.

  The filter supply device (unit) can only handle one brand (brand) filter, and a single device (unit) can only be used by a specific filter manufacturer and a specific filter chip attachment machine. Therefore, it can be seen from the above-mentioned outline that the versatility is lacking.

  In addition, since there is a possibility of a change in the operating speed of the downstream mounting machine, and the output capacity of the entire machine device is limited, it is not always possible to use all the plurality of drums (drum sets).

  The present invention aims to improve the versatility of the device (unit) for supplying the filter by making it possible to handle filters of different lengths simultaneously.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a filter feeder (unit) suitable for use by multiple filter manufacturers or filter chip mounting machines that utilizes different size filters or operates at different speeds. is there.

  The stated purpose is a filter chip mounting machine as described in the appended claim 1 and more preferably as described in any other claim that is directly or indirectly dependent on claim 1. This is realized by a device (unit) for supplying a filter.

The device (unit) for supplying the filter to the filter chip mounting machine is designed to accept at least one progression of the cigarette filter plug (2), which is for dispensing the filter. And a hopper (5) disposed on the plurality of drums (11). Each drum (11) is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis (12) and is provided with a plurality of sucking axial flutes (13) around it. Are picked up (or held) one by one from the hopper (5) and travel to the transport station (15) where the flute (13) is empty in which the filter (2) is sent towards the user machine. It is arranged at a position aligned axially with the inlet of the pressure duct. The device comprises means (16) capable of dividing the hopper (5) into at least two parts (17), each means (16) serving at least one drum (1). (Or corresponding). The means (16), which can divide the hopper (5) into at least two parts (17), comprise at least one movable baffle (18). A means (20) is further provided for accommodating the filters (2) of different lengths by changing the dimensions of at least one of the delimited parts (17) formed in the hopper (5). The hopper (5) comprises a front wall (6) and a rear wall (7), interconnected by two side walls (8, 9) and provided at a defined distance, separated by It was part (17) by changing the dimension of at least one part of the, to accommodate different lengths of the filter (2), means (20) includes a front wall (6) and the rear wall (7) It operates by changing the defined distance between. The filters supplied by the unit have different lengths.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a supply device (unit) is indicated by 1 as a whole, and the filter plug 2 is supplied to a conventional type filter chip mounting machine (not shown) by the supply device.

  The device (unit) 1 is interconnected by a lower base (base) portion 4 and two side walls 8 and 9, which incorporate a well-known type of control system (device), which is not described in detail, with supports and ducts. And a frame-like structure 3 having an upper portion supporting a hopper 5 separated by a front wall 6 and a rear wall 7.

  Since the side walls 8 and 9 include a first portion that stands vertically from the base portion and a second portion that converges toward the top portion, when viewed in a longitudinal section, the hopper 5 Provide a substantially inverted funnel shape.

  The front wall 6, preferably formed of a transparent material and whose outer shape is substantially rectangular, is releasable on the inside to allow inspection and maintenance of the hopper 5, and two doors 6 a 6b.

  The rear wall 7, on the other hand, is delimited by side walls 8 and 9 and thus has a funnel shape that is flipped over in the same way as the shape of the hopper 5.

  The frame-like structure 3 further comprises a vertical partition 10, which supports the hopper 5, faces the rear wall 7 and is connected to the side walls 8 and 9.

  A filter plug 2 installed upstream of the device (unit) 1 and delivered by a filter maker (not shown) is sent in a direction in the hopper 5 and arranged vertically on the front and rear walls 6 and 7. In the installed state, they can be collected side by side.

  The hopper 5 is delimited at the bottom by a plurality of drums (body portions) 11, each provided rotatably about a respective longitudinal axis 12 perpendicular to the front and rear walls 6 and 7.

  Each drum 11 is provided with a plurality of suctioning axial flutes (vertical grooves) that are arranged in the same manner as in the prior art and that each act to accommodate a single filter 2.

  The bottom of the hopper 5 is surrounded by a plurality of transparent flaps (wings) (not shown) arranged side by side. Since the flaps are installed directly in front of each drum 11, the drum 11 can be exposed alone and inspected in the event of a disturbance or failure.

  As shown in FIG. 1, each drum 11 forms a loading station 14 on which a filter 2 is picked up continuously by an axial flute 13 around which a filter 2 is placed. ) Form an unloading and transport station below, corresponding to the inlet of the pneumatic supply duct, connecting 1 to the filter tip mounting machine (not shown).

  The hopper 5 further includes means 16, and the accommodation space (space) is partitioned into at least two parts (or areas) 17 by the means 16, and each of the parts 17 is divided into at least one drum 11. Serve (or respond). Such means 16 is illustrated as at least one movable baffle (or adjustment) plate (baffle) 18 arranged vertically and parallel to the side walls 8 and 9.

  A position where the baffle plate 18 is fully drawn to the rear of the partition wall 10 outside the hopper 5, and a position where the baffle plate 18 is fully extended to bridge the gap between the front wall 6 and the rear wall 7 inside the hopper 5. In between, it can move along a direction parallel to the axis 12 of the drum 11.

  Therefore, the partition wall 10 includes a vertical slot (long hole) 19 through which the baffle plate 18 can pass.

  In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, which is illustrated purely by way of example, the device (unit) 1 comprises three baffle (adjustment) plates (baffles) 18, by means of the baffle plates 18, which The space can be divided into four parts 17, shown as two clearly identical pairs. Since the hopper 5 is symmetric with respect to a vertical axis coinciding with the central baffle 18, the two outermost parts (or regions) 17 a and 17 b are identical to each other, and further to the innermost 2 The two parts (or regions) 17c and 17d are identical to each other. Each outer portion 17a and 17b serves (or corresponds) to two drums 11, and each inner portion 17c and 17d serves (or corresponds) to a single drum 11.

  Each baffle 18 is individually operable and independent of the others, allowing the hopper 5 to be partitioned so that it may be suitably and most appropriate.

  In the preferred solution of FIG. 1, different forms can be formed depending on which baffles 18 and how many baffles 18 are actuated and advanced toward the front wall 6. It is.

  The single parts 17 operate independently of one another and their arrangement with respect to the drum 11 can be selectively predetermined.

In the example of FIG. 1 in which the device (unit) 1 is illustrated having six drums 11 and three baffle plates 18, the baffle plates can be drawn or extended to form the following forms (or configurations). .
Three parts 17 having each part (or region) 17 acting on two drums 11;
Two parts 17 having each part 17 acting on three drums 11;
Two parts 17 having one part 17 acting on two drums 11 and another part acting on four drums.
Thus, the hopper can handle different types of filters simultaneously.

  The filter supply device (unit) 1 further comprises means 20 for changing the dimensions of the at least one part 17 in the partitioned hopper 5. The means 20 in question comprises at least one movable panel 21 associated with the rear wall 7. In a preferred solution, each part 17 includes one such movable panel 21 that delimits the rear of the part 17 and coincides with the rear wall 7.

  Each panel 21 is movable and remains parallel to the front wall 6 in such a way as to change the depth of the associated portion 17.

  In the preferred solution of FIG. 1, the hopper is arranged in two clearly identical pairs arranged symmetrically on either side of the vertical axis as described above, like the part 17. 21 is provided.

  Since the movement of each single panel 21 is performed independently of the movement of another, the individual parts 17 can be formed to accommodate different lengths of the filter 2.

  The top of the hopper 5 allows the filter 2 to enter the opening 22. In particular, referring to the example of FIG. 1, the hopper 5 comprises three openings 22, ie a central opening 22a and two outer parts 17a, by which two inner parts 17c and 17d are filled. And 17b with which two side openings 22b are filled.

  More precisely, when the hopper 5 is divided into two parts 17 only by the central baffle 18, each serves (or corresponds to) three drums 11 and the filter 2 passes through the side openings 22b. Carrying alone is permitted. In the other two possible configurations, the three parts 17 each serve (or correspond) two drums 11 and further serve (or correspond) two and four drums 11 by two drums 17 and filter Enters both through the side opening 22b and the central opening 22a.

  The top of the hopper 5 further comprises at least one photo (photoelectric) cell 23 for each part 17 and functions to monitor the level (height) of the filter 2 accumulated in the enclosure. .

  The photocell 23 is a filter upstream of the supply unit 1 in such a way that when the part 17 is filled to a certain level, the flow of the filter 2 from the manufacturer to the hopper 5 is temporarily interrupted. Electrically connected to a control unit (not shown) that works with the manufacturer.

  Since the baffle plate 17 and the panel 21 are provided, the supply device (unit) 1 can be operated in a system (device) incorporating a plurality of machines that handle filters 2 of different sizes, and the space surrounded by the hopper 5 is mutually connected. The divided states are formed in such a way as to form a plurality of portions 17 that are independent of each other and operate together with the drum 11.

  The element 24 is placed on each drum 11 and towards one side of the loading station 14, with the surface 2 a facing downward at an angle towards the drum 11 and the filter 2 at the loading station 14. It acts to limit the cross-sectional area that can be passed. This configuration is designed to reduce the weight of the column of filter 2 that is supported below in the loading station 14.

  The means 16 for partitioning the interior of the hopper 5 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for an actuator 25 which is associated with the associated baffle plate 18 and which is firmly connected to the vertical partition 10 of the supply device 1. It further comprises.

  The actuator 25 in question acts to produce a sliding movement of the baffle 18 and is formed by a pneumatic cylinder 26.

  Each baffle plate 18 is provided with a protrusion 18 a that is permanently installed outside the hopper 5 and supports the linear hanger 27, and the linear hanger 27 is connected to the partition wall 10 outside the hopper 5. Slidably engages the straight path 28 of the “C” profile.

  The operation of the cylinder 26 is similarly transmitted to the projection 18a having the “C” shape by the bracket 29 attached to the lower side of the projection 18a.

  The protrusion 18 a, the linear support (hanger) 27, the linear path 28 and the pneumatic piston 26 are arranged at the top end 19 a of the slot 19.

  The protrusion 18a is also mounted laterally in the slot 19, with the bracket 29 attached to it, so that once the baffle 18 is fully within the hopper 5, it is prevented from further progressing by the septum 10. As far as possible, the movement range of the baffle plate 18 is limited.

  Each vertical slot 19 in which the baffle 18 slides back and forth is flanged by two matching guide plates 30 that are fully retracted by the baffle plate 18. Sometimes it acts to ensure that it does not slip out of its normal position.

  In a preferred embodiment, the means 20 for changing the dimensions of the at least one part 17 of the hopper 5 are located in the vertical partition 10 and each movable as shown in FIG. 3 and described below. It further comprises at least one drive unit (device) 31 associated with the panel 21.

  Each such drive unit 31 occupies a fixed position outside the hopper 5 by a first stud (stopper) 33a and a second stud 33b, and by an installation plate 32 attached to the partition wall 10. Supported.

  The drive unit 31 includes an electric motor 34 that is connected to a speed reducer 35 that drives the gear 36. The gear 36 is in turn connected by means of a chain 37 or a belt to two further gears 38 which are also installed on the bulkhead 10 outside the hopper.

  Each installation plate 32 is pivotable about a first stud 33a and is engageable with a slot 39 by a second stud 33b, which can be fixed to fix the plate in the most advantageous position. The resulting mechanism allows some degree of movement relative to the drive unit (device) 31, which is used to adjust the tension of the chain 37.

  Each of the two drive gears 38 includes a central hole 40 that coincides with a respective hole in the partition wall 10. Each hole 40 is in turn engaged by a rod (rod-like body) 41 having an external thread that is firmly fixed to the surface of the panel 21 facing the partition wall 10.

  A mechanism such as a ball screw is installed between the rod 41 of each drive gear 38 and the central hole 40 to move the rod 41 back and forth through the hole 40 and displace the associated panel 21.

  The first gear 36 is rotated by the electric motor 34, and the motion is transmitted to the other two gears 38 by the chain 37. The angular movement of the two drive gears 38 is transmitted to the rod 41 via a ball screw mechanism and converted into a linear movement, so that the panel 21 to which the rod is fixed is pushed forward or pulled backward. .

  Each electric motor 34 is provided with an encoder (not shown), which determines the distance from the front wall 6 of the hopper 5 to the associated panel 21. Therefore, it is possible to adapt each portion 17 to a different type of filter 2 based on the length.

  The operation of the actuator 25 and the electric motor 34 is such that the position of the baffle plate 18 and the position of the panel 18 can be changed by the operator either automatically or in a manual mode, and each part 17 is accommodated in the filter 2. It is controlled by a control unit (device) 42 to adapt to the type of

  In the example of FIG. 1, in terms of length and diameter, it is preferred that up to three different types of filters can be handled, so a single supply device (unit) 1 can be divided into three different types. It can be connected to the filter maker and the filter chip mounting machine on both the inlet (in) side and the outlet (out) side.

  Apart from this, the feeding device (unit) 1 can be connected to similar machines operating at different speeds.

FIG. 1 is a front three-dimensional view of an apparatus (unit) for supplying a filter according to the present invention, which is illustrated in a preferred embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. FIG. 3 is a rear three-dimensional view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the preferred embodiment of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Supply apparatus 2 Filter plug 3 Structure 4 Lower base part 5 Hopper 6 Front wall 7 Rear wall 8 Side wall 9 Side wall 10 (Vertical) Bulkhead 11 Drum 12 Axis 13 Flute 14 Loading station 16 Means 17 Part (area)
18 baffle plate 19 slot 21 panel 22, 22a, 22b opening 25 actuator 27 hanger

Claims (11)

An apparatus for supplying a filter to a filter chip mounting machine, the apparatus being designed to receive at least one progression of a cigarette filter plug (2), comprising:
A hopper (5) for dispensing the filter and disposed on a plurality of drums (11);
Each drum (11) is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis (12) and is provided with a plurality of sucking axial flutes (13) around which the filter causes the filter to Pneumatic ducts held one by one from the hopper (5) and proceeding to a transport station (15) where the flute (13) is fed to the filter (2) towards the user machine It is arranged at a position aligned in the axial direction at the entrance of the
The apparatus comprises means (16) capable of dividing the hopper (5) into at least two parts (17), each means (16) being connected to at least one drum (1). Serving
The means (16), which is capable of dividing the hopper (5) into at least two parts (17), comprises at least one movable baffle (18);
Means (20) for accommodating different lengths of the filter (2) by changing the dimension of at least one of the delimited parts (17) formed in the hopper (5). And
The hopper (5) comprises a front wall (6) and a rear wall (7) interconnected by two side walls (8, 9) and provided at a defined distance,
The separated portion (17) by changing the dimension of at least one part of the, to accommodate different lengths of the filter (2), means (20), said front wall (6) and the rear wall (7) is operating by changing the prescribed distance between
The device characterized in that the filters supplied by the unit have different lengths.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (16) for separating the hopper (5) comprises three baffle plates (18) forming four parts (17). Means (20) for accommodating different lengths of the filter (2) by varying the dimensions of at least one of the delimited parts (17 ) is at least associated with the rear wall (7) Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises one movable panel (21). The means (20) for accommodating the filters (2) of different lengths by varying the dimensions of at least one of the delimited parts (17) comprises four movable panels (21). The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: The hopper (5) enters the at least two-delimited portions filter plug (2) is formed in said hopper (5) in (17), and characterized in that it comprises at least two openings (22) The apparatus according to claim 1. Wherein a hopper (5) can be separated Rukoto in at least two parts (17), means (16) is associated with said at least one movable baffle (18), at least one actuator (25 The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Wherein the at least one actuator (25), prior SL moves associated movable baffle to the (18), Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises at least one pneumatic cylinder (26) . By changing the dimensions of the at least one portion of the pre-Symbol ku cut portion (17), to accommodate the different lengths of the filter (2), means (20), the formed in the hopper (5) and which, according to claim 3, wherein the further comprising the associated drive unit (31) to at least one movable panel (2). Said drive unit (31) A device according to claim 8, wherein the actuating at least one movable panel (21), characterized by comprising an electric motor (34).   A photocell (23) acting to monitor the level of the assembled filter (2) occupying each of the at least two delimited parts (17) formed in the hopper (5); The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The means (16) is capable of dividing the hopper (5) into at least two parts (17), the means (16) being associated with the at least one movable baffle (18), at least one actuator (25) It has
A control unit (42) connected to the at least one actuator (25) and the at least one drive unit (31);
The actuator (25) and the drive unit (31) can automatically change the positions of the at least one baffle plate (18) and the at least one panel (21), and the supply device (1) 9. Device according to claim 8 , characterized in that it is possible to adapt a predetermined type of filter (2).

Images