JP5594794B2 - Granular material supply apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a supply device for continuously supplying particulate matter and a supply method thereof.

  Conventionally, a filter cigarette including a flavor capsule as a granular material is known, and the perfume capsule is disposed in a filter of the filter cigarette. A manufacturing machine for manufacturing a filter incorporating such a fragrance capsule includes a fragrance capsule supply device, and an example of this supply device is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below.

  The supply device of Patent Document 1 has a hopper for a fragrance capsule, and a rotating wheel disposed between the hopper and a manufacturing line of the manufacturing machine, and the rotating wheel intermittently transmits the fragrance capsule in the hopper to the manufacturing line. To supply. Specifically, the rotating wheel has a large number of pockets on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and these pockets are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating wheel.

As the rotating wheel rotates, it receives perfume capsules from the hopper into individual pockets and transports the received perfume capsules with the pockets toward the production line, after which the perfume capsules reach directly above the production line. The perfume capsules are supplied from the pockets to the production line.
Here, if the filter material for forming the filter is traveling on the production line at the same speed as the peripheral speed of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating wheel, the fragrance capsules are supplied to the filter material at a certain interval. The

Special table 2009-508524

According to the above-mentioned supply device, when the fragrance capsule is received in the pocket of the rotating wheel, it is inevitable that the inner wall of the pocket strongly collides with the fragrance capsule. Since such a collision causes damage to the fragrance capsule, the supply device of Patent Document 1 does not guarantee a stable supply of the fragrance capsule while maintaining the quality of the fragrance capsule.
In addition, when the production speed of the filter, that is, the traveling speed of the filter material is increased, the supply speed of the fragrance capsules from the supply device to the production line (the peripheral speed of the rotating wheel) must also be increased. I must. In this case, the inner wall of the pocket in the rotating wheel will more strongly impact the perfume capsule, further increasing the possibility of damage to the perfume capsule.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a granular material supply apparatus and a method for supplying the same, which can stably supply the granular material without damaging it.

The above object is achieved by the granular material supply apparatus of the present invention,
A hopper with a large number of granular materials,
A transfer path connecting between the hopper and the supply position where the granular material is to be supplied;
A wheel unit arranged in the transfer path,
A rotatable wheel member;
Extending in a radial direction of the wheel member to form a part of the transport path by using the wheel member therein, the upstream portion of the transfer feed path Te in the central region of the outer edge and the wheel units open at the outer peripheral region of the wheel unit An internal passage having an inner end for receiving particulate matter from,
As the wheel member rotates, the granular material received at the inner end is held in cooperation with the internal passage, while the granular material is directed along the internal passage toward the radially outer side of the wheel member while maintaining the holding state. And a wheel unit including a holding element to be transferred to the outer end thereof .

Specifically, the wheel unit further includes a fixed plate that is interposed between the rotating plate as the wheel member and the upstream portion of the transfer path and is superimposed on the rotating plate. The interior passage is formed on the inner surface of the rotary plate, it becomes particulates from a plurality of radial grooves capable receives through and the fixing plate extends in a radial direction of the rotating plate and the holding element is formed on the inner surface of the fixed plate And a spiral groove that extends spirally from the inner end side of the radiation groove toward the outer periphery of the rotating plate and has an outlet that opens at the outer periphery of the fixed plate. In this case, the spiral grooves, one granulate received the inner end of the radial grooves and held in cooperation with the radial grooves, transferring the particulate material held to the outer end of the radial grooves.

According to the above-described supply device, the particulate matter taken out from the hopper is received at the inner end of the internal passage in the wheel unit, that is, the inner end of one radial groove. Thereafter, the radiating groove and the spiral groove hold the granular material in cooperation with each other, and the granular material is transferred from the inner end to the outer end of the radiating groove (internal passage) while maintaining the held state .
Since the inner end of the internal passage is positioned in the central region of the wheel unit, the moving speed of the inner end of the radial groove is slow even if the rotation speed of the wheel member, that is, the rotating plate is high. Therefore, when the granular material moves from the upstream portion of the transfer path to the inner end of the radiating groove, it becomes easy to reduce or zero the relative speed between these upstream portion and the inner end of the radiating groove. It is received at the inner end of the radiation groove without being damaged.

Specifically, the upstream portion of the transfer path includes a row of wheels and / or drums for transferring particulates, or between a hose extending downward from the hopper and the inner end of the radial groove. And a chute member for connecting the two. Further, the transfer path may include a downstream portion that connects between the outlet of the spiral groove and the supply position and transfers the particulate matter to the supply position at a constant speed .
Preferably, the upstream portion of the transfer path includes means for applying a force in the rotational direction of the rotating plate to the granular material when the granular material is sent from the terminal end toward the inner end of the radiation groove. In this case, the granular material smoothly transfers from the upstream portion of the transfer path to the inner end of the radiation groove, and damage to the granular material can be further reduced.

On the other hand, the outlet of the spiral groove can be arranged directly above the supply position. In this case, the supply device includes a transport path for transporting the element rows to which the particulates are to be supplied in the spaces, and the transport path passes through the supply position. It extends. In order to supply the particulate matter to the space of the element row, the fixing plate includes a lower edge having the outlet of the spiral groove, and the lower edge extends from the upstream of the supply position to the downstream of the supply position on the transport path. It is preferable to extend directly above the element row along the element row. Such a lower edge of the fixed plate allows the outlet of the spiral groove to be positioned outside the outer periphery of the rotating plate, while also functioning as a cover that covers the element row from above.
The present invention also provides a granular material supply method using the above-described wheel unit, and details of the supply method and other advantages of the supply device will be apparent from the following description.

  According to the granular material supply apparatus and the supply method thereof of the present invention, it is possible to stably supply the granular material to the supply position without damaging the granular material, and it is also easy to increase the supply speed of the granular material. Become.

It is the figure which showed roughly the manufacturing machine of the filter rod containing the supply apparatus of this invention. It is the figure which showed the divider | distributor (supply apparatus) of 1st Example, and its periphery. It is the figure which showed a part of FIG. 2 in detail. It is a figure for demonstrating the function of the groove | channel of FIG. It is the figure which fractured and showed a part of wheel unit. It is the figure which showed the function of the radiation groove and the spiral groove. It is the figure which showed the periphery of the 2nd transfer position. It is a figure which shows the state with which the capsule was hold | maintained at the radiation | emission groove | channel and the spiral groove | channel. It is a figure for demonstrating the transfer of the capsule in a 2nd transfer position. It is an enlarged view which shows the transfer loader of a capsule. It is the figure which showed the divider | distributor of 2nd Example. It is the figure which expanded and showed a part of distributor of FIG. It is the figure which showed the detail of the chute | shoot member of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the fixed plate of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the lower edge of the fixing plate of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the malfunction of a circular fixed plate after contrast with the fixed plate of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, a filter rod manufacturing machine is schematically shown, and this manufacturing machine is equipped with a feeding device for carrying out the feeding method of the invention. First, the outline of a manufacturing machine and a supply apparatus will be briefly described below.
The manufacturing machine includes a horizontally extending manufacturing line 12, which includes an upstream conveyor 14 and a downstream conveyor 16. The upstream conveyor 14 is connected to an element supply 18 that supplies filter elements.

  Specifically, the element supply source 18 includes a pair of hoppers 20 and 22. These hoppers 20 and 22 are arranged along the upstream conveyor 14 and store a large number of filter rods Fp and Fc, respectively. The filter rod Fp has an acetate fiber tow, that is, a filter material, and a web that wraps the filter material in a rod shape. On the other hand, the filter rod Fc differs from the filter rod Fp only in that it further has activated carbon particles distributed in the filter material.

  The hopper 20 is positioned upstream of the hopper 22 with respect to the upstream conveyor 14, and the hopper 20 and the upstream conveyor 14 are connected to each other via a supply path 24. The supply path 24, while taking out the filter rod Fp from the hopper 20, equally cuts the taken out filter rod Fp into a plurality of filter elements Fpe, and supplies the filter elements Fpe one by one to the upstream conveyor 14. .

Specifically, the supply path 24 includes a take-out drum 26 and a supply wheel 28 arranged at the start and end of the supply path 24, respectively. Extraction drum 26 is taken out from the hopper 20 the filter rod Fp one by one, the filter was taken out rod Fp is Ru is cut into a plurality of filter elements Fpe by cutting unit 30 at the upper extraction drum 26. Thereafter, the cut filter rods Fp, that is, the rows of filter elements Fpe, are transferred from the take-out drum 26 along the supply path 24 to the supply wheel 28.

  When the row of filter elements Fpe reaches the supply wheel 28, the supply wheel 28 sequentially separates the first filter element Fpe from the subsequent filter elements Fpe among the filter elements Fpe in the row and supplies the separated filter elements Fpe onto the upstream conveyor 14. . Therefore, a row of filter elements Fpe is formed on the upstream conveyor 14 so that the filter elements Fpe are arranged at intervals. Such a row of filter elements Fpe is transported to the upstream conveyor 14 toward the downstream conveyor 16.

  On the other hand, the hopper 22 and the upstream conveyor 14 are also connected to each other via a supply path 32, and the supply path 32 has the same structure as the supply path 24 described above. Therefore, the supply path 32 forms a plurality of filter elements Fce from the filter rod Fc, and supplies the filter elements Fce one by one between the filter elements Fpe on the upstream conveyor 14. As a result, a composite element row in which the filter elements Fpe and the filter elements Fce are alternately arranged is formed on the upstream conveyor 14, and this composite element row is transferred on the upstream conveyor 14 toward the downstream conveyor 16.

Further, a spacer drum 34 is disposed at the end of the upstream conveyor 14, and this spacer drum 34 has a spiral groove on its outer peripheral surface. When the composite element row passes through the spacer drum 34, the space between the filter elements Fpe and Fce in the composite element row is adjusted to be constant by the groove of the spacer drum 34.
Thereafter, the composite element row is transferred from the upstream conveyor 14 to the downstream conveyor 16, and the paper web W has already been supplied onto the downstream conveyor 16. Therefore, the composite element row is arranged on the paper web W. Accordingly, the composite element row is transferred together with the paper web W onto the downstream conveyor 16 toward the subsequent wrapping section 36. In this case, the downstream conveyor 16 forms a transport path for the composite element row. The paper web W is supplied to the downstream conveyor 16 from a roll (not shown).

On the other hand, a supply device 38 for supplying a spherical capsule as a granular material is disposed immediately above the downstream conveyor 16. In this embodiment, the supply device 38 includes two distributors 40 and 42. These distributors 40 and 42 have the same structure and are arranged side by side along the downstream conveyor 16.
The upstream distributor 40 supplies the capsule B to every other space in the composite element row, while the downstream distributor 42 supplies the capsule B to the remaining space. Therefore, when a composite element row is supplied to the wrapping section 36, capsules B are distributed in all spaces of the composite element row. The distributors 40 and 42 will be described later.

The wrapping section 36 receives the composite element array and the paper web W, and wraps the composite element array continuously with the paper web W using a garnish tape (not shown) as is known, thereby forming a continuum C of filter rods. To do.
After this, the continuum C is delivered from the wrapping section 36 and passes through the cutting section 44. The cutting section 44 cuts the continuum C into predetermined lengths, and manufactures the filter rod FR. The filter rod FR has a length that is a multiple of the filter F used in one filter cigarette.

  Specifically, the continuum C of the filter rod FR is cut at the center of the filter element Fce, and as is clear from FIG. 1, each filter rod FR has a half Fceh of the filter element Fce at both ends thereof. The manufactured filter rod FR is supplied to a filter attaching machine (not shown) and used for manufacturing a filter cigarette. That is, the filter rod FR is further cut into individual double filters DF, and each double filter DF has a length twice that of the filter F.

  Specifically, the double filter DF includes a half body Fceh of filter elements Fce at both ends thereof, a central filter element Fpe, and a capsule B disposed between the filter element Fpe and each half body Fceh. Such a double filter DF forms a double filter cigarette together with two cigarettes by wrapping chip paper as is well known, and then the double filter cigarette is cut into individual filter cigarettes.

Next, the distributors 40 and 42 described above will be described in detail.
Since the distributors 40 and 42 have the same structure, only the distributor 40 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the distributor 40 of the first embodiment includes a hopper 46. The hopper 46 is disposed above the downstream conveyor 16 and stores a large number of capsules B therein. Specifically, the hopper 46 is connected to a supply source of the capsule B, and the capsule B is supplied from the supply source to the hopper 46. Here, the capsule B is a spherical capsule containing solid beads or liquid fragrance formed from a mixture of polyethylene and fragrance, for example, and has a diameter of about 3 to 5 mm, for example.

  Further, the hopper 46 has a pair of delivery rollers 48, and these delivery rollers 48 extend across the flow path in the hopper 46. A part of each feed roller 48 enters the hopper 46 to reduce the cross-sectional area of the flow path of the hopper 46. Specifically, the pair of delivery rollers 48 are separated from each other in the hopper 46 with a predetermined interval, and this interval is slightly larger than the diameter of the capsule B. Therefore, the hopper 46 has a throttle opening defined by a pair of delivery rollers 48, that is, a throat in the hopper 46, and this throat causes the capsule B to flow down toward the hopper outlet 50 as a single layer.

A rotatable take-out wheel 52 is disposed directly under the hopper 46, and the take-out wheel 52 closes the hopper outlet 50 at a part of the outer peripheral surface thereof. Specifically, when the traveling direction of the downstream conveyor 16 is from right to left as seen in FIG. 2, the take-out wheel 52 is rotated counterclockwise.
As is apparent from FIG. 3, the take-out wheel 52 has a large number of grooves 54 on the outer peripheral surface thereof. These grooves 54 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the take-out wheel 52 and have a semicircular cross section.

  Specifically, each groove 54 has a size capable of receiving one capsule B one by one. The received capsule B can be sucked and held. Accordingly, the capsules B in the hopper 46 are received one by one in the groove 54 on the outer peripheral surface of the take-out wheel 52 that closes the hopper outlet 50, and taken out from the hopper 46 in a row by the rotation of the take-out wheel 52.

  On the other hand, a rotatable receiving drum 56 is disposed in the vicinity of the take-out wheel 52, and the receiving drum 56 is attached to a rotating shaft 58. The receiving drum 56 and the hopper outlet 50 are separated from each other in the diameter direction of the take-out wheel 52, and the receive drum 56 is positioned so as to make rolling contact with the take-out wheel 52.

Further, the receiving drum 56 has a smaller diameter than the take-out wheel 52 and includes a plurality of grooves 60 on the outer peripheral surface thereof. Each groove 60 has an inner end and an outer end respectively opened at both end surfaces of the receiving drum 56 (see FIG. 5) . The interval between the grooves 60 matches the interval between the grooves 54, and the peripheral speed of the outer peripheral surface of the receiving drum 56 matches the peripheral speed of the outer peripheral surface of the take-out wheel 52. Further, the rotation direction of the receiving drum 56 is opposite to the rotation direction of the take-out wheel 52, that is, clockwise as viewed in FIG.

  Accordingly, when the take-out wheel 52 and the receiving drum 56 are rotated in opposite directions, the receiving drum 56 is moved at the contact point between the take-out wheel 52 and the receiving drum 56, that is, at the first transfer position P1 shown in FIG. The groove 60 periodically matches the groove 54 of the take-out wheel 52. At this time, if the groove 54 holds the capsule B, the capsule B moves from the groove 54 to the groove 60. Therefore, as apparent from FIG. 3, the capsule B on the take-out wheel 52 sequentially transfers to the receiving drum 56 at the first transfer position P <b> 1, and thereafter is transferred in the circumferential direction of the receiving drum 56.

Here, in order to ensure reliable Noriutsuri capsules B, the first ride repositioned P ₁ at groove 54 receives a supply of compressed air in place of the suction force, the compressed air is directed into the groove 60 from the groove 54 Then, the capsule B in the groove 54 is pushed out into the groove 60. At this time, the groove 60 has already been supplied with the suction force, and holds the capsule B received from the groove 54 with the suction force. Specifically, in FIG. 3, reference numerals 62 and 64 indicate suction holes of the grooves 54 and 60, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the groove 54 can be selectively connected to one of the negative pressure source 63 and the compressed air source 65, so that suction force and compressed air are selectively applied to the groove 54. Supplied.

On the other hand, as is apparent from FIG. 2, the distributor 40 further includes a wheel unit 66, which is arranged coaxially with the receiving drum 56.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the wheel unit 66 includes a fixed plate 68 and a rotating plate 70. These plates 68 and 70 are both disk-shaped and have the same diameter larger than the diameter of the take-out wheel 52. The fixed plate 68 is concentric with the receiving drum 56, surrounds the receiving drum 56, and is supported so as not to rotate.

Furthermore, the fixed plate 68 has a circular aperture in its central area, which apertures open on both sides of the fixed plate 68 and have a diameter larger than the diameter of the receiving drum 56. Therefore, an annular gap 72 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the aperture and the outer peripheral surface of the receiving drum 56. An axial groove 74 is formed at the lowermost portion of the inner peripheral surface of the aperture. The axial groove 74 has a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape, and is open on the back surface and the front surface of the fixed plate 68. Having an end and an outer end. Therefore, the axial groove 74 sequentially matches the groove 60 passing through the lowermost portion of the receiving drum 56, and at this time, the groove 60 and the axial groove 74 cooperate with each other to form one of the transfer paths 76 described later. Forming part.

  A spiral groove 78 is formed on the back surface of the fixed plate 68. The spiral groove 78 has a substantially semicircular cross section, and spirals over substantially one and a half times of the fixed plate 68 in the clockwise direction from the central region of the fixed plate 68 toward the outer peripheral edge (the rotation direction of the receiving drum 56). It extends in a shape. Specifically, the spiral groove 78 has an inner end positioned on the same virtual circle as the inner end of the axial groove 74 and an outer end opened upward at the top of the outer peripheral surface of the fixed plate 68. Have.

On the other hand, the rotating plate 70 is disposed on the back side of the receiving drum 56 and the fixed plate 68 and has a boss region that contacts the receiving drum 56. The rotating plate 70 is attached to the rotating shaft 58 and rotates integrally with the receiving drum 56.
The rotating plate 70 has a front surface facing the back surface of the fixed plate 68 and surrounding its boss region. The same number of radiating grooves 80 as the grooves 60 are formed on the front surface of the rotating plate 70, and these radiating grooves 80 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating plate 70. These radial grooves 80 have a width slightly larger than the diameter of the capsule B.

  Further, each radiation groove 80 has an inner end positioned on an imaginary circle having a diameter substantially the same as the distribution diameter of the groove 60, and an outer end that opens at the outer peripheral surface of the rotating plate 70. Specifically, the inner end of each radial groove 80 is connected to the inner end of the corresponding groove 60 of the receiving drum 56. For the convenience of drawing, FIG. 5 does not show a part of the radiation groove 80.

  The wheel unit 66 may further include a cover 82 that can be opened and closed. The cover 82 has a cylindrical shape with one end opened, and covers the protruding end portion of the receiving drum 56 protruding from the fixed plate 68. When the cover 82 is in the closed position, the open end of the cover 82 is in contact with the front surface of the fixed plate 68. Further, a part of the outer periphery of the cover 82 is cut away to form an opening area (not shown), and the opening area is formed at the first transfer position P1 so that a part of the take-out wheel 52 and the receiving drum 56 are respectively provided. Expose.

  The opening area of the cover 82 allows the transfer of the capsule B at the first transfer position P1 to be visually recognized from the outside even when the cover 82 is in the closed position. Further, since the cover 82 can be opened and closed, the access to the receiving drum 56 is facilitated as necessary for maintenance or the like.

  According to the wheel unit 66 described above, the capsule B received in the groove 60 of the receiving drum 56 at the first transfer position P1 is rotated from the first transfer position P1 together with the groove 60 by the rotation of the receiving drum 56. It is moved to the lowest part, that is, the second transfer position P2. At the second transfer position P <b> 2, the suction force that has been supplied to the groove 60 is released, and compressed air is supplied into the groove 60 from the outer end of the groove 60. Release of the suction force here causes the capsule B to fall from the groove 60 to the axial groove 74, and the capsule B is received by the axial groove 74.

On the other hand, the supply of compressed air moves the capsule B in the axial groove 74 along the axial groove 74, and the capsule B extends from the inner end of the axial groove 74 to the radiation groove 80 that passes through the second transfer position P 2. Received at the inner end. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the capsule B is transferred from the receiving drum 56 to the rotating plate 70 at the second transfer position P2.
Therefore, an injection nozzle (not shown) for compressed air is arranged at the second transfer position P2, and this injection nozzle is compressed into the groove 60 at the timing when the groove 60 passes the second transfer position P2. Air is blown out.

When the rotating plate 70 is further rotated, as shown in FIG. 8, the inner end of the radial groove 80 that has received the capsule B meets the inner end of the spiral groove 78, and the capsule B has the radial groove 80 and the spiral groove 78. It is sandwiched between the inner ends.
Thereafter, when the rotation of the rotating plate 70 further proceeds, the capsule B moves along the radial groove 80 toward the outer periphery of the rotating plate 70 while being restrained by the spiral groove 78.

  In other words, as apparent from FIG. 6, the capsule B is held from the inner end of the radiating groove 80 according to the spiral shape of the spiral groove 78 while being held at the intersection of the radiating groove 80 and the spiral groove 78. Move towards the outer edge. That is, the radiation groove 80 and the spiral groove 78 cooperate with each other to form a radiation guide for guiding the capsule B supplied to the center portion of the wheel unit 66 to the outer periphery of the wheel unit 66.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 9, the inner end portions of the axial groove 74 and the groove 60 are preferably curved toward the rotation direction of the rotary plate 70. According to the axial groove 74 and the groove 60, when the capsule B is transferred from the axial groove 74 and the groove 60 to the inner end of the radiating groove 80 by receiving the jet of compressed air, the rotation of the radiating groove 80 on the capsule B is performed. Since a force in the direction is applied, the capsule B can smoothly and satisfactorily transfer to the radiation groove 80, and damage to the capsule B can be effectively prevented.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the distributor 40 further includes a suction transfer device 84, which has a transfer wheel 86. The transfer wheel 86 is disposed on the back side of the wheel unit 66 described above, and is attached to the rotary shaft 58. Therefore, the transfer wheel 86 rotates integrally with the rotating plate 70 of the wheel unit 66. The transfer wheel 86 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the wheel unit 66.

  Further, a support ring 88 is attached to the front surface of the transfer wheel 86, and this support ring 88 surrounds the outer periphery of the wheel unit 66. Although the support ring 88 is not shown in FIG. 2, the support ring 88 is shown in FIG. A plurality of transfer loaders 90 are attached to the support ring 88, and these transfer loaders 90 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the support ring 88. Specifically, the number of transfer loaders 90 is the same as the number of radial grooves 80 of the rotary plate 70, and each transfer loader 90 has a gap between the fixed plate 68 and the rotary plate 70 and the axis of the rotary shaft 58. It is arranged on the extension line of the connecting line segment.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, the transfer loader 90 includes a suction nozzle 92 and a support link 94 that supports the suction nozzle 92 on a support ring 88, and the support link 94 rotates the transfer wheel 86. Regardless of this, the suction nozzle 92 is always maintained in a downward posture. Incidentally, with a suction pad Aspirate nozzle 92 at its lower end (not shown).

  Specifically, the support link 94 includes a cam mechanism (not shown) disposed between the lower end of the support link 94 and the support link 88 while being rotatably supported by the support ring 88 at the upper end thereof. . For example, this cam mechanism is realized by a circular cam groove formed on the transfer wheel 86 and concentric with the rotating plate 70, and a cam follower that is rotatably provided at the lower end of the support link 94 and rolls in the circular cam groove. Yes. In this case, during the rotation of the transfer wheel 86, the lower end of each suction nozzle 92 moves along a circular orbit that is eccentric with respect to the rotation shaft 58. The center of this circular track is positioned below the axis of the rotary shaft 58, and the circular track has a slightly smaller diameter than the transfer wheel 86.

During the rotation of the transfer wheel 86, when one transfer loader 90 reaches the top of the transfer wheel 86, that is, the third transfer position P3 shown in FIG. ) Meets the outer end of the corresponding radial groove 80 at the top of the wheel unit 66.
At this time, since the capsule B is guided to the outer end of the corresponding radiation groove 80 by the action of the spiral groove 78 described above, the suction nozzle 92 adsorbs the capsule B (see FIG. 5). That is, the transfer of the capsule B from the wheel unit 66 to the transfer loader 90 is executed at the third transfer position P3.

  The transfer of the capsule B described above is repeated when the next transfer loader 90 reaches the third transfer position P3. That is, the movement speed of the transfer loader 90 (the lower end of the suction nozzle 92) matches the movement speed of the outer end of the radiation groove 80, and the third end of the transfer loader 90 and the outer end of the radiation groove 80 are the same at the same timing. Arrive at transfer position P3.

  As the rotation of the transfer wheel 86 proceeds, the capsule B adsorbed by the transfer loader 90 is transferred toward the downstream conveyor 16 along the circumferential direction of the transfer wheel 86. Then, when the capsule B reaches the lowest position of the transfer wheel 86, that is, the supply position P4, the capsule B is positioned immediately above the composite element row on the downstream conveyor 16, as is apparent from FIG. Specifically, the capsule B is positioned immediately above one space between the filter elements Fpe and Fce.

  At this time, the suction nozzle 92 of the transfer loader 90 releases the suction force of the capsule B. As a result, the capsule B falls from the suction nozzle 92 between the filter elements Fpe and Fce and is received on the web W. The suction nozzle 92 preferably ejects compressed air simultaneously with the release of the suction force. The jet of compressed air here ensures the supply of capsule B between the filter elements Fpe, Fce. In this case, each suction nozzle 92 is connected to a negative pressure source and a compressed air source, respectively, and the suction force and the supply of compressed air to the suction nozzle 92 are controlled by a switching device including a valve or a control ring as is well known.

The above-described supply of the capsule B is repeated every time the next transfer loader 90 reaches the supply position P4 together with the capsule B. Here, the next transfer loader 90 has the capsule B in the space of the composite element row. The capsule B is supplied from the supplied space to the next space where one space is placed.
That is, the moving speed of the transfer loader 90 matches the moving speed of the composite element row, but the lower end of the transfer loader 90, that is, the suction nozzle 92, is at the supply position P4 with respect to the space in the composite element row. Reach periodically for every other space. Therefore, every other capsule B is supplied to the space of the composite element row after passing through the distributor 40.

  On the other hand, the distributor 42 arranged downstream of the distributor 40 also supplies the capsule B to the remaining space of the composite element row in the same manner as the distributor 40. As a result, the composite element row after passing through the distributor 42 is in a state where the capsule B is received in all spaces.

  According to the supply device 38 described above, since the diameter of the wheel unit 66 is larger than the diameter of the take-out wheel 52, the capsule B moves in the wheel unit 66, that is, in the radial groove 80 from its inner end. Accelerated in the process of moving towards the outer edge. Therefore, when the capsule B reaches the top of the rotating plate 70, that is, the third transfer position P3, the moving speed of the capsule B is faster than the peripheral speed of the take-out wheel 52. This indicates that the manufacturing speed of the downstream conveyor 16, that is, the filter rod FD can be increased.

  On the other hand, the transfer of the capsule B between the rotating members at the first to third transfer positions P1, P2, P3 and the supply of the capsule B from the turning member to the rectilinear member at the supply position P4 are all between the rotating members. And it is executed in a state in which the relative speed between the turning member and the rectilinear member is zero. Therefore, the capsule B is not damaged when the capsule B is transferred or supplied.

The present invention is not limited to the first embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible.
For example, instead of the suction transfer device 84 described above, a transfer wheel train that connects the wheel unit 66 and the downstream conveyor 16 can be used. This transfer wheel train is formed by connecting the same wheels as the take-out wheel 52 described above.

  Although the fixed plate 68 of the wheel unit 66 is not rotatable, it may be movable along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 58. In this case, since the fixed plate 68 can be pulled away from the rotating plate 70 along the rotating shaft 58, even if the capsule B is clogged in the wheel unit 66, this clogging can be easily removed.

  Unless the manufacturing speed of the filter rod FD is required to be increased, the diameter of the wheel unit 66 does not necessarily need to be larger than the diameter of the take-out wheel 52. Therefore, the number of the radiating grooves 80 of the rotating plate 70 is not limited to the illustrated number, and can be arbitrarily selected. Furthermore, the capsule is not limited to a spherical shape, and is not only applicable to a cigarette filter.

Next, the supply device 96 of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
The supply device 96 also includes a pair of distributors 98, which are disposed along the downstream conveyor 16 and have the same structure as the distributors 40 and 42 described above. Therefore, also here, in describing one distributor 98, the members of the distributor 98 that perform the same functions as the members of the distributor 40 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Only the differences will be described below, avoiding duplication.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the hopper 46 of the distributor 98 is connected to the hose 100. The hose 100 has an antistatic function and extends straight downward from a hopper outlet (not shown) of the hopper 46. The hose 100 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the capsule B. Therefore, the capsules B discharged from the hopper 46 into the hose 100 are stacked in a line in the hose 100. Further, an outlet valve (not shown) is disposed at the hopper outlet, while an upper level sensor 102 and a lower level sensor 104 are disposed outside the hose 100. These level sensors 102 and 104 detect the capsule B in the hose 100 and are used for opening / closing control of the outlet valve.

  Specifically, when the upper level sensor 102 detects the capsule B, the outlet valve is closed, and the discharge of the capsule B from the hopper 46 into the hose 100 is stopped. On the other hand, when the lower level sensor 104 does not detect the capsule B, the outlet valve is opened and the capsule B is supplied from the hopper 46 into the hose 100. Accordingly, the filling height of the capsule B in the hose 100 is always maintained at a level position between the upper level sensor 102 and the lower level sensor 104.

  On the other hand, a wheel unit 66 is disposed below the hopper 46, and the fixed plate 106 of the wheel unit 66 is not circular like the rotating plate 70. For example, the wheel unit 66 is substantially square and has four rounded corners. Have Specifically, the lower edge of the fixed plate 106 is positioned immediately above the composite element row transferred by the downstream conveyor 16 and extends along the composite element row.

The spiral groove 78 of the fixed plate 106 has an inner end located in the vicinity of the rotation shaft 58. However, as is apparent from FIG. 12, the outer end of the spiral groove 78 opens as an outlet 79 at the lower edge 106u of the fixed plate 106. The outlet 79 is positioned immediately above the supply position Ps. Here, the lower edge 106u extends in parallel with the composite element row immediately above the composite element row on the downstream conveyor 16.
11 and 12 show the wheel unit 66 in a skeleton state, the front-rear relationship between the fixed plate 106 and the rotating plate 70 is difficult to understand from FIGS. 11 and 12. However, even in the case of the second embodiment, the rotating plate 70 is disposed on the back side of the fixed plate 106.

Further, the fixed plate 106 is formed with an opening that exposes an inner end of a part of the radiating groove 80 in the rotating plate 70, and this opening is a rotating direction of the rotating plate 70, that is, a moving direction of the inner end of the radiating groove 80. As a result, it is positioned immediately before the inner end of the spiral groove 78.
On the other hand, the lower end of the hose 100 described above and the inner end of the radiation groove 80 exposed by the opening of the fixed plate 106 are connected by a chute member 108. Note that the chute member 108 shown in FIG. 11 and the chute member 108 shown in FIG. 12 have different lengths, but this is due to drawing convenience.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the chute member 108 is disposed on the front side of the fixed plate 106, and has an end surface 110 at a lower portion thereof. This end face 110 is closely opposed to the inner end of the radiation groove 80 exposed through the opening of the fixed plate 106. A chute hole 112 is formed in the chute member 108, and the chute hole 112 has an inner diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the hose 100. While the chute hole 112 is connected to the lower end of the hose 100 on the upper surface of the chute member 108, the chute hole 112 is inclined downward from the upper surface toward the end surface 110 and is opened at the end surface 110.

  Further, a guide groove 114 is formed on the end surface 110. The guide groove 114 has a width capable of receiving the capsule B, extends from the open end of the chute hole 112 to the inner end of the spiral groove 78, and faces the inner end of the radiation groove 80. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 58 a indicates the axis of the rotating shaft 58.

  If the chute hole 112 is connected to the lower end of the hose 100 as described above, the capsule B in the hose 100 is guided by the dead weight from the hose 100 to the guide groove 114 through the chute hole 112, and By rotation, it is sequentially received at the inner end of the radiation groove 80 that passes through the guide groove 114. That is, in the case of the wheel unit 66 of the second embodiment, the guide groove 114 defines the transfer position Pt, and this transfer position Pt corresponds to the second transfer position P2 in the first embodiment.

  When the rotation of the rotary plate 70 proceeds, the capsule B received at the inner end of the radiation groove 80 reaches the inner end of the spiral groove 78 while being guided by the guide groove 14, and between the spiral groove 78 and the radiation groove 80. It is caught. Therefore, after that, as in the case of the first embodiment, the spiral groove 78 and the radial groove 80 cooperate with each other to guide the capsule B to the position immediately above the supply position Ps. As will be described later, it is supplied from the outlet 79 of the spiral groove 78 to one space of the composite element row by its own weight.

  Here, the capsule B is accelerated in the process in which the capsule B is guided in the radial groove 80 toward the radially outer side of the rotary plate 70. Needless to say, the moving speed of the capsule B matches the transfer speed of the composite element row when one space of the capsule B and the composite element row reaches the supply position Ps.

As shown in FIG. 11, the wheel unit 66 further includes a capsule detection sensor 116, which is disposed under the fixed plate 106 and detects the capsule B passing through a predetermined position of the spiral groove 78. The detection signal is output. If the radial grooves 80 of the rotating plate 70 is accepted all capsules B, capsule detection sensor 116 generates a pulse waveform having a constant pitch.

  However, when there are empty radiating grooves 80 that capsule B does not accept, these empty radiating grooves 80 appear as missing pulses from the pulse waveform. Such missing pulses help to identify the defective filter rod FD with missing capsule B and then remove the defective filter rod FD from the production line.

  According to the supply device 96 of the second embodiment described above, that is, the distributor 98, the transfer of the capsule B in the distributor 98 is executed only at the transfer position Pt. That is, the number of transfer positions in the distributor 98 is greatly reduced compared to the distributors 40 and 42 of the first embodiment. Since the capsule B is easily damaged when the capsule B passes through the transfer position, the decrease in the transfer position is effective in preventing the capsule B from being damaged.

  When the capsule B is transferred from the guide groove 114 as the fixed member to the inner end of the radiation groove 80 as the movable member at the transfer position Pt, the moving speed of the inner end of the radiation groove 80 is higher than the peripheral speed at the outer periphery of the rotating plate 70. Since the inner wall of the radiating groove 80 does not hit the capsule B strongly, the capsule B is received at the inner end of the radiating groove 80 without being damaged.

  Further, as apparent from FIG. 14, the lower edge 106 u of the fixed plate 106 extends downward from the outer periphery of the rotating plate 70 on both lowermost sides of the rotating plate 70. The outer end of the groove 78 can be positioned outside the outer periphery of the rotating plate 70. In this case, even after the capsule B is pulled out from the outer end of the radiation groove 80, the capsule B is stably guided to the supply position Ps while being guided by the spiral groove 78, so that the capsule B does not fall off the wheel unit 66. It is reliably supplied to the space of the composite element row. Note that the fixed plate 106 of FIG. 14 is shown only in the lower part thereof.

  As is clear from FIG. 15, the lower edge 106u of the fixed plate 106 also functions as a cover extending in parallel with the composite element row in the downstream area of the supply position Ps. Therefore, the pop-out of the capsule B from the composite element row is reliably prevented by the lower edge 106u of the fixed plate 106. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 16, when the fixing plate 68 of the first embodiment is used instead of the fixing plate 106, the fixing plate 68 cannot prevent the capsule B from popping out.

38,96 Supply device 46 Hopper 52 Take-out wheel (upstream part of transfer path)
56 Receiving drum (upstream part of transfer path)
58 Rotating shaft 66 Wheel unit 68 Fixed plate 70 Rotating plate 78 Spiral groove ( holding element)
79 Exit 80 Radiation groove (internal passage)
84 Suction transfer device 86 Transfer wheel 90 Transfer loader 92 Suction nozzle 100 Hose (upstream part of transfer path)
108 Chute member (upstream part of transfer path)
B capsule (granular material)
P4, Ps supply position

Claims (9)

A hopper with a large number of granular materials,
A transfer path connecting between the hopper and a supply position where the granular material is to be supplied;
A wheel unit disposed in the transfer path,
A rotatable wheel member;
By using the wheel member therein extending in a radial direction of the wheel member to form a part of the transport path, prior to Te in the central region of the outer end and the wheel unit having an opening at an outer peripheral region of the wheel unit An internal passage having an inner end for receiving the particulate matter from an upstream portion of the transfer path;
As the wheel member rotates, the granular material received at the inner end is held in cooperation with the internal passage, while the granular material is moved along the internal passage while maintaining the holding state. A granular material supply apparatus, comprising: a wheel unit including a holding element that is moved radially outward to the outer end . The wheel unit further includes a fixed plate that is interposed between the rotating plate as the wheel member and the upstream portion of the transfer path, and is superimposed on the rotating plate.
Said internal passage, said formed on the inner surface of the rotary plate, becomes the particulates through pre Symbol fixing plate from the receivable plurality of radial grooves,
The holding element is
A spiral groove formed on the inner surface of the fixed plate, extending spirally from the inner end side of the radiation groove toward the outer periphery of the rotating plate and having an outlet opened at the outer periphery of the fixed plate;
The spiral groove holds the granular material received at the inner end of one radial groove in cooperation with the radial groove, and transfers the held granular material to the outer end of the radial groove. The granular material supply apparatus according to claim 1.   The granular material supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upstream portion of the transfer path includes a wheel and / or drum row for transferring the granular material.   The upstream portion of the transfer path includes means for applying a force in the rotation direction of the rotating plate to the granular material when the granular material is sent from the terminal end toward the inner end of the radiation groove. The granular material supply apparatus according to claim 3.   3. The transfer path according to claim 2, further comprising a downstream portion connecting the outlet of the spiral groove and the supply position, and transferring a granular material to the supply position at a constant speed. Granule supply device.   The granular material according to claim 2, wherein an upstream portion of the transfer path includes a hose extending downward from the hopper and a chute member connecting the hose and an inner end of the radiation groove. Feeding device.   The granular material supply apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the outlet of the spiral groove is disposed immediately above the supply position. The elements are arranged with a certain space, and further include a transport path for transporting the element row to which the granular material is to be supplied to the space, the transport path extending through the supply position,
The securing plate includes a lower edge having the outlet of the spiral groove;
The said lower edge is extended from the upstream of the said supply position toward the downstream of the said supply position along the said element row | line | column just above the said element row | line | column on the said conveyance path | route. Granule supply device. The supply method of supplying granular materials individually to the supply position is as follows:
Take out the granular material from the hopper that stores many granular materials,
The taken particulate matter is supplied to the inner end of the internal passage in the wheel unit according to claim 1,
The particulate matter that has reached the outer end of the internal passage is supplied directly from the outer end to the supply position, or is supplied to the supply position via a connection path that connects the outer end and the supply position. A method for supplying granular materials.

Images