JP5297618B2 - Adsorbent strand conveyor and method for producing strands in the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The suction line conveyor (1) has a fiber channel (6), on which a conveyor belt (2) is conveyed in a conveying direction, where a guiding unit is provided for guiding the conveyor belt, which provides a cross-sectional contour of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt has a bent cross section in the area of a fiber look up field (Z) of the fiber channel that has a less bent to straight cross sectional contour of the conveyor belt provided in a detachment area (20) of a strand formed on or at the conveyor belt. INDEPENDENT CALIMS are also included for the following: (1) a combination of intake sleeve of a format device (2) a strand machine for tobacco processing industry (3) a method for manufacturing a strand for tobacco processing industry.

Description

  The present invention is provided with a guide device for guiding the conveyor belt, in which the conveyor belt is transportable in the transport direction in the fiber passage and sets a cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt, and in the fiber supply region of the fiber passage. The present invention relates to an adsorbent strand conveyor in the tobacco processing industry with fiber passages, wherein the conveyor belt has a curved cross-sectional profile. The invention further relates to a process for producing strands in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter strands or tobacco strands.

  From US Pat. No. 6,057,049, a method and apparatus for producing tobacco strands is known. An apparatus for producing tobacco strands for the production of cigarette strands comprises a circulating strand conveyor that passes through the strand construction zone, the strand conveyor in the strand construction zone being capable of loading fibers to form the strands It is. In addition, the strand conveyor comprises a discharge end for discharging the fiber strands. An excess removing device is attached to the strand conveyor.

  Means are provided in the region of the strand conveyor for generating a cross-sectional profile of the fiber strand that corresponds to the strand profile of the finished strand along at least the peripheral portion of at least some of the fiber strands. The tobacco belt used there is guided in the tobacco passage, the back side is attached to the vacuum chamber, and the vacuum chamber is connected to the vacuum source and is attracted by the bottom of the breathable passage and the breathable tobacco belt. Produces ventilation. Within the feed zone or strand construction zone, tobacco fibers are fed onto the tobacco belt and held on the tobacco belt by the draft air. The tobacco belt has a cross-sectional profile that corresponds to at least a portion of the cross-sectional profile of the cigarette strand that is approximately manufactured. In order to peel the tobacco strands from the tobacco belt, a sizing device is provided at the discharge end of the tobacco belt or at the granules of the tobacco passage, the sizing device being adapted to the cross-sectional profile of the tobacco belt and in advance Inlet fingers used to enter the sizing device connecting the constructed tobacco strands.

However, this device has the disadvantage that the finishing accuracy of the inlet fingers with a curved cross-sectional profile must be extremely high. In addition, a relatively short service life is possible because relatively large wear of the sizing belt and the inlet finger cannot be avoided in the peeling area or in the working area of the sizing belt and the inlet finger.
German Patent Application Publication No. 36 27 057 European Patent Application Publication No. 1 281 329

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an adsorbent strand conveyor and method for producing fiber strands in the tobacco processing industry that allows a long service life even when the fiber strands are pre-formed by the adsorbent strand conveyor.

  This problem has been developed by the fact that the cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt in the stripping region of the strands that can be configured on or along the conveyor belt has evolved from being slightly curved to straight. The conveyor belt is transportable in the transport direction, and a guide device for guiding the conveyor belt is provided to set a cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt in the fiber supply region of the fiber passage is curved and traversed. Solved by an adsorbent strand conveyor in the tobacco processing industry with a fiber profile, with a surface profile.

  The conveyor belt has a cross-sectional profile that is slightly curved to straight in the stripping region of the strands that can be configured on the conveyor belt, in which case a straight cross-sectional profile is preferred, The finishing of the inlet finger is very simple and the problems of the prior art are no longer caused by the inlet finger having a curved cross-sectional profile, in particular by the curved front edge of the inlet finger. Thereby, the wear in the working area of the conveyor belt inlet fingers is very low, so that a long service life can be achieved. The small curvature should be understood as compared to the curvature in the fiber feed region of the fiber passage within the framework of the present invention. In particular, the cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt is curved transversely or straight with respect to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt. Within the framework of the present invention, the concept of a conveyor belt includes the concept of a suction belt.

  Advantageously, the cross-sectional profile in the first region of the adsorbed strand conveyor is curved only at the periphery of the conveyor belt. The first region of the adsorption strand conveyor may be upstream of the fiber supply region in the direction of conveyor belt transfer, but may be the start of the fiber supply region. The first region may be downstream of the fiber supply region in the transport direction of the conveyor belt, but is excellent immediately before and / or within the separation region of the fiber strand formed on the conveyor belt.

  The cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt is excellently curved throughout the second region of the adsorbed strand conveyor. The second region is advantageously a fiber supply region or an essential region of the fiber supply region, for example at least two thirds of the fiber supply region, in this case two thirds of the fiber supply region Includes a downstream portion of the fiber supply region. Advantageously, the curvature constitutes a partial circle or a partial ellipse. In this case, the fiber strands can be subjected to some form of preforming that can make the cross-section of the cigarette or filter strand circular or elliptical.

  Further, in accordance with the formation of FIGS. 5 and 6 of Patent Document 1, an excess removing device or an excess removing device mentioned therein which enables the preforming of the fiber strand on the side opposite to the conveyor belt of the fiber strand. It is preferable to provide a unit. Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,017 for a disclosure for forming a corresponding excess removal device or device unit.

  Advantageously, the adsorbent strand conveyor in the fiber strand peeling area cooperates with the inlet finger of the sizing device so that the strands on the conveyor belt are peeled off from the conveyor belt. The inlet fingers are formed at least partially straight transverse to the transport direction of the suction strand conveyor.

  In this case, the peeling is effected by the stop or end of the vacuum action and the cooperation of centrifugal force and fiber mass inertia with fiber guiding or feeding by the inlet finger.

  Advantageously, the inlet finger has a straight edge, the inlet finger side of this edge being located upstream in the direction of transport of the conveyor belt, and excellently essentially perpendicular to the direction of transport of the conveyor belt. It is arranged at this point essentially parallel to the cross-sectional profile.

  Fortunately, the edge of the inlet finger or the inlet finger is at least as wide as the conveyor belt transverse to the conveyor belt transport direction, so that all fibers adhering to the conveyor belt can be effectively peeled off. it can.

  According to the present invention, a sizing apparatus comprising a suction strand conveyor described in the preceding paragraph according to the present invention or as a preferred embodiment, and a straight edge transverse to the transfer direction of the suction strand conveyor in the region of action of the suction strand conveyor. Inlet finger combinations are provided.

  According to the present invention, there is provided a strand making machine for the tobacco processing industry having the suction strand conveyor described in the preceding paragraph according to the present invention or as preferred or the combination according to the present invention described in the preceding paragraph.

The task further includes the following method steps:
The conveyor belt in the fiber supply region is at least partially provided with a curved cross-sectional profile to supply fibers on the conveyor belt of the adsorbent strand conveyor in the fiber supply region of the adsorbent strand conveyor;
A strand in the tobacco processing industry, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt in the discharge area is formed from a slightly curved to a straight line and has the step of transferring the supplied fibers in the direction of the discharge area In particular by a process for producing filter strands or tobacco strands.

  The process according to the invention makes it possible to produce strands in the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter strands or tobacco strands, with an effective and long service life. In particular, when producing filter strands for producing filters with or without granulated material, such as monomers fibers or bicomponent fibers, in the strand construction region by strong molding based on vacuum. Circular or curved pre-formation avoids the conventional angled shaping that is likely to be found in the prior art, probably in finished filters.

  Advantageously, the cross-sectional profile changes at least partly continuously in the transport direction so that it is curved, slightly curved or straight.

  Advantageously, the cross-sectional profile in the first region of the suction strand conveyor has a larger radius than in the second region. Finally, excellently, the curvature constitutes a partial circle or a partial ellipse.

  In the following, the present invention will be described without limiting the general inventive idea on the basis of the embodiments associated with the drawings, but for all details of the present invention not described in detail in the text, reference is made to the drawings. Please refer.

  In each of the following figures, the same or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, and corresponding new introductions are omitted.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a suction strand conveyor 1 according to the invention. The suction strand conveyor 1 is illustrated in a side view. The adsorption strand conveyor 1 is a part of a cigarette strand manufacturing machine or a filter strand manufacturing machine in the tobacco processing industry. As a transfer element, a breathable suction belt 2 is provided, for example, a perforated belt or a breathable cloth belt, and this belt circulates around the front and rear turning rollers 3 a or 3 b and the guide roller 4. The lower belt portion 2a of the suction belt 2 is guided in a fiber passage 6 that partially has a breathable bottom that is rounded according to the desired contour of the finished strand. The fiber passage 6 extends straight in the guide body 8. The guide body 8 is schematically illustrated in FIGS.

  The guide body 8 may consist of one member, preferably a plurality of members, for example in accordance with Patent Document 2 which should be generally accommodated in the disclosure of the present application. Within the framework of the invention, the suction belt 2 is to be understood as a strand conveyor belt or conveyor belt, but the individual elements adjacent to each other for guiding the so-called strand conveyor belt corresponding to the suction belt 2 are both guides. Acts as a body. By using a large number of relatively small individual elements that can constitute the guide body 8 as a whole, the individual elements are cheap but can nevertheless be made very wear resistant. The advantage is obtained. The continuous or individual element comprises a surface for the suction belt or fiber passage, which surface can have a corresponding desired shape to which the suction belt fits, so that the contour of the surface of the guide body 8 can be obtained. A cross-sectional profile according to the invention of an essentially identical suction belt is obtained.

  A vacuum chamber 9 is attached to the back side of the suction belt 2 that guides the inside of the fiber passage 6. The vacuum chamber 9 is connected to a vacuum source 11, and is attracted by the bottom of the breathable passage and the breathable suction belt 2. Produces ventilation. The suction belt 2 circulates in the direction of the arrow 12.

  To transport fibers or a mixture of fibers and other components of tobacco strands or filter strands that feed loosened or individualized fibers from a distributor (not shown) to the adsorption belt 2 in the direction of arrow 14 The opening of the transfer shaft 13 defines a strand construction zone Z in which the fiber strand 16 is fed to its full height.

  The transfer shaft 13 can be the end of a fluidized bed conveyor.

  Figures 2a to 2d show the formation of the fiber passage 6, the guide of the lower belt part of the adsorption belt 2 and the arrangement of the vacuum chamber 9 for generating the required draft.

  Since the bottom of the fiber passage 6 is partially rounded, i.e. in the region of the strand construction zone Z, in a U-shape, the lower belt portion 2a of the adsorption belt 2 is also desired for the finished filter strand. It becomes the outline.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 a-2 d, which schematically illustrate various cross-sections of the device according to FIG. 1, the vacuum chamber 9 extends over almost the entire length of the fiber passage 6 and is relative to the transport direction of the adsorption belt 2. And attached to at least a part of the suction belt 2 laterally. FIGS. 2 a to 2 c show that the vacuum chamber 9 does not completely reach the same width as the suction belt 2 in the transverse direction of the suction belt 2. However, it can also be seen that the suction passage or the vacuum chamber 9 covers the entire suction belt laterally with respect to the width or transfer direction of the suction belt 2. In order to prevent the suction belt 2 from being sucked into the vacuum chamber 9, a breathable bottom portion 7 of the guide body 8 having an intake slit or an intake port is provided. The bottom part is perforated, for example. According to Patent Document 1, the vacuum can be controlled to be appropriately settable. For example, a vacuum chamber for separating the center strip from the center strip and applying an intake action can be provided.

  An excess removing device 19 for removing excess tobacco 16 a from the tobacco strand 16 is disposed downstream of the strand constituting zone Z. The excess removing device 19 is also called a trimmer, and has, for example, one or two circular cutters 28, which are formed to rotate, and the cutting circle is used to remove excess components. Touch within the region of the strand. Advantageously, the circular cutter 28 is formed or arranged to provide the fiber strand with a cross-sectional profile that at least approximately corresponds to at least a portion of the desired profile of the finished strand in removing excess. ing. A corresponding embodiment is shown in US Pat.

  The suction end 2 of the suction belt 2 or the fiber passage 6 is located above the paper inlet of a sizing device 22 that coats the fiber strands with a coating material tape 23, such as a cigarette paper tape or filter paper tape, which is fed in the direction 23a. The circulating sizing belt 24 transports the coating material tape 23 and the fiber strands 16 placed thereon under the inlet fingers 26 to the sizing device 22 so that only a small pre-forming force needs to be applied, so that the fiber path is rounded. The pre-formed strand profile by means of the bottom 7 with the rim facilitates entry of the strand into the sizing device and the dressing. It is surprisingly not a problem to provide a short cross-sectional profile of the suction belt 2 that is slightly curved compared to the straight cross-sectional profile of the suction belt 2 or the cross-sectional profile in the strand-constituting zone Z. This is because the rate of exposure to a straight or slightly curved contour, or a relatively short time, does not follow an almost straight or slightly curved contour and remains essentially a pre-shaped curved contour. In this case, according to the present invention, a normal inlet finger 26 having a straight edge arranged on the right in FIG. 1 can be provided, which inlet finger is known per se in the tobacco processing industry, Such a technique for constructing a strand with a cross-sectional profile of a straight adsorbing belt 2 provided over the entire inlet finger and the adsorbing strand conveyor itself has been very well developed.

  Since the fiber strands 16 are removed from the excess and are then placed on the already-concave coating material tape in the entrance area of the sizing device, the cross-section maintained by the fiber strands during the removal of the excess The profile remains well maintained and facilitates entry of the sizing device by reducing the preforming operation to be applied.

  The negative pressure chamber 9 ends on the inlet area of the sizing device 22. However, the sizing device extends to the upstream edge, that is, the peeling region 20 in the transfer direction of the turning roller 3a or the inlet finger 26. The turning roller 3a may be formed as a press roller.

  In addition, FIG. 1 shows the compression means 33, which comprises, for example, a rotary control disk (not shown) that is rotatably supported in a cylindrical housing (not shown) of the housing 34. And can be used to provide a compressed portion on the strand. A detailed description of the compression device 33 can be read from US Pat.

  2a to 2c show cross-sectional views of the guide body 8 in various cross-sections of FIG. FIG. 2a shows a cross-sectional view along the cutting line EE. This is a cross-sectional view through the start of the negative pressure chamber 9. Since the corresponding negative pressure dominates in the negative pressure chamber 9, the air-permeable bottom 7 to which the suction belt 2 is in close contact is shown. Here, the guide body is formed such that the suction belt 2 is formed laterally with respect to the transport direction or the cross-sectional profile thereof is straight. Furthermore, the transport direction 12 is illustrated in FIG.

  FIG. 2b shows a schematic cross-sectional view along section lines AA and DD. In this case, the breathable bottom portion 7 is already formed in a curved state, and the side surface of the breathable bottom portion, particularly the side surface that is not affected by negative pressure, can be strongly curved. The radius of curvature is large compared to the curvature according to FIG. In FIGS. 2b and 2c, a partial circular contour is provided. In this case, relatively shortly in the transport direction of the cross-section illustrated by AA, is followed by a cross-sectional profile schematically illustrated by FIG. 2c, in which a cross-section along BB or CC is to be illustrated. Here, the semicircular breathable bottom 7 of the guide body 8 is shown, whereby a semicircular cross-sectional profile of the suction belt 2 is obtained.

  FIG. 2d shows a schematic cross-sectional view along the section line FF. There is no longer a pressureless chamber 9 as in the previous cross section. In addition, the bottom 7 'of the guide body 8 is no longer breathable at this point and the cross-sectional profile is again straight.

  By means of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, fiber strands consisting of tobacco and filter fibers can be produced effectively. In the region of fiber strand delivery by the inlet finger 26, it is formed straight ahead with superiority so that it is slightly curved before it, thereby enabling effective and simple material delivery. Thereby, it is possible to easily turn the suction belt 2. In addition, the inlet finger 26, which may be formed as a scraper, cannot be changed compared to functional technology, which results in a difficult shape. The fiber nest land is formed into a circle or ellipse in the sizing device immediately after it is made up of the adsorbed strand conveyor. The section where the cross-sectional profile of the suction belt 2 is straight is very short, for example smaller than 10 cm.

  Although the shape of the adsorption belt 2 is temporarily changed, the fiber strand retains its original shape at the time of construction, and the fiber strand is rounder than when constructed on the adsorption belt having a straight cross-sectional profile. Arise. Thereby, a high quality improvement is obtained regarding the roundness of the fiber strand.

1 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a suction strand conveyor according to the invention in a side view. FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view along the cutting line EE of FIG. FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view along cutting lines AA and DD in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view along section lines BB and CC in FIG. 1. The schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the cutting line FF of FIG. 1 is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Adsorption strand conveyor 2 Adsorption belt 2a Lower belt part 3a Turning roller 3b Turning roller 4 Guide roller 6 Fiber path 7 Breathable bottom 7 'Non-breathable bottom 8 Guide body 9 Vacuum chamber 11 Vacuum source 12 Transfer direction 13 Transfer Shaft 14 Fiber transport direction 16 Fiber strand 16a Excess fiber 19 Excess removal device 20 Peeling area 21 Discharge end 22 Sizing device 23 Coating material tape 23a Arrow direction 24 Sizing belt 26 Inlet finger 28 Circular cutter 33 Compression device 34 Housing Z Strand configuration zone

Claims (9)

Guide device (8) for guiding the conveyor belt (2), in which the conveyor belt (2) can be transferred in the transfer direction (12) in the fiber passage (6) and which sets the cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt (2) The conveyor belt (2) in the fiber supply area (Z) of the fiber passage (6) has a curved cross-sectional profile, and in this fiber supply area (Z) the fibers are conveyed by a negative pressure to the conveyor belt ( In the adsorption strand conveyor (1) of the tobacco processing industry with fiber passages (6) adsorbed on 2)
The cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt (2) in the peeling region (20) of the strand (16) that can be configured on or along the conveyor belt (2) is changed from slightly curved to straight Adsorption strand conveyor characterized by becoming.   Adsorption strand conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-sectional profile in the first region of the adsorption strand conveyor (1) has a larger radius than in the second region.   The adsorption strand conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the curve constitutes a partial circle or a partial ellipse.   The adsorbing strand conveyor (1) in the stripping area (20) is sizing device (20) so that the inlet finger (26) peels the strand (16) constructed on the conveyor belt (2) from the conveyor belt (2). In cooperation with the inlet finger (26) of 22), the inlet finger (26) in the peeling zone (20) is formed straight and transverse to the transfer direction (12) of the suction strand conveyor (1). The adsorption strand conveyor according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Action of the adsorption strand conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 or the adsorption strand conveyor (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the adsorption strand conveyor (1). A strand making machine in the tobacco processing industry having a combination of inlet fingers (26) of a sizing device (22) with a straight edge transverse to the transfer direction (12) of the adsorbing strand conveyor (1) in the region . The following method steps:
The conveyor belt (2) in the fiber supply zone (Z) is at least partly provided with a curved cross-sectional profile, the conveyor of the suction strand conveyor (1) in the fiber supply zone (Z) of the suction strand conveyor (1) Supplying fibers onto the belt (2), wherein the fibers are adsorbed to the conveyor belt (2) by negative pressure in the fiber supply region (Z) ;
The conveyor belt (2) in the discharge area (20) is shaped so that the cross-sectional profile of the conveyor belt (2) is slightly curved to straight, and the supplied fibers are directed in the direction of the discharge area (20) (12) For producing a strand (16) of the tobacco processing industry. 7. A method according to claim 6 , characterized in that the cross-sectional profile changes at least partly continuously in the transfer direction so that it is curved, slightly curved or straight. Method according to claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the cross-sectional profile in the first region of the suction strand conveyor (1) has a larger radius than in the second region. 9. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 8 , wherein the curvature constitutes a partial circle or a partial ellipse.

Images