JP6016040B2 - Apparatus and method for introducing an object into a smoking article - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for introducing an object into a continuous material flow. For example, the object may be a capsule to be introduced into a continuous stream of filter material during the manufacture of the filter element of a smoking article.

  For example, smoking articles such as cigarettes generally have a rod-like structure and include columnar smokable materials such as cut fillers. The cut filler is generally wound with a paper wrapper to form a so-called “cigarette rod”. In a cigarette with a filter, a cylindrical filter element is aligned in a relationship in which the tobacco rod and the end are in contact with each other. As an example, the filter element can include a cellulose acetate tow filter material. This filter material can be surrounded by a paper material known as “plug wrap”. Typically, the filter element is attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a surrounding wrapping material known as “chip paper”.

  Various proposed methods for improving the sensory characteristics of smoke include incorporating additional elements into the filter as a means of adding additional flavor to the mainstream smoke of smoking articles. For example, it has been proposed to introduce an object, such as a capsule, into the filter material during the manufacture of the filter element.

  Various methods and devices have been proposed for introducing such objects into the filter material during the manufacture of filter elements for smoking articles. For example, WO 2010/0555120 describes one such device. The device according to WO 2010/0555120 comprises a reservoir containing an object. The reservoir opens into a transfer chamber that circulates objects during operation. An object circulating in the transfer chamber moves along the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel. The transport wheel has a recess (pocket) on its peripheral surface, and an object is guided into the recess by the suction force applied to the recess and held there. The object is transferred to the insertion position by rotation of the transport wheel, where it is discharged from the transport wheel and introduced into the continuous flow of filter material.

International Publication No. 2010/0555120

  In the mass production of filters, there is still a need to produce such filters as efficiently and reliably as possible. That is, there is a need for a device that reliably places an object within a filter element.

  In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and method are provided for introducing an object into a continuous material flow. In the following specification, only embodiments for inserting an object into the filter material are shown, but the invention also includes the case of inserting an object into other parts of the smoking article, for example a tobacco rod or a cavity in the filter.

  The device according to the invention comprises a reservoir for providing a plurality of objects, a rotary transport wheel for transferring objects to an insertion unit for introducing the objects into a continuous material flow, and a rotary transport wheel. A transfer chamber for transferring an object. The transfer chamber is disposed between the reservoir and the rotary transfer wheel. The rotary conveyance wheel includes a recess capable of carrying an object, and the object can be held therein by applying a suction force. The object is held in the recess until it is delivered from the rotary transport wheel to an insertion unit for introducing the object into a continuous material flow. The rotary transport wheel includes a suction port disposed at the center of the rotary wheel so as to apply a suction force through the center of the rotary wheel. The rotary transport wheel further includes a fluid connection for enabling fluid communication between the suction port and the recess.

  “Fluid connection for enabling fluid communication” means any connection that allows a suction force or overpressure to be transmitted from a suction port at the center or center of the rotary transport wheel to a recess in the transport wheel; It means the connection part.

  According to the present invention, an object means any individual item that can be processed by the apparatus and method according to the present invention. The object is preferably a substantially spherical object. The substantially spherical object preferably has a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 6.5 mm, and more preferably has a diameter of about 2.5 mm to about 4.0 mm. The substantially spherical object is preferably a capsule. The capsule preferably contains a liquid. The liquid is preferably a flavor such as menthol. Capsules are preferably smashable, that is, their contents can be released when sufficient crushing strength is applied. For such objects, it is particularly important to handle the objects carefully so that the liquid in the capsule is not released during the manufacturing process.

  By placing a suction port in the center of the rotary transport wheel and a fluid connection to allow fluid communication between the suction port and the recess, the suction force is at a single location (at least the rotary transport It can be easily supplied to a suction port located in the center so that a suction force is applied along a part of the rotation axis of the wheel. This suction force is then “distributed” in the individual recesses of the rotary transport wheel by the fluid connection. This configuration is a simple and reliable solution from a structural point of view, especially when compared to devices known from the prior art. As will become apparent from the embodiments described below, this structural approach allows various simple embodiments to be conceived from a structural standpoint. At the same time, these embodiments are very reliable, especially on high-speed transport wheels, so that the device according to the invention is particularly effective.

  In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rotary transport wheel has three discs arranged adjacent to each other. The first of these three disks is a transport disk with a recess for receiving an object from the transport chamber. The second disk is a connection disk that includes at least a portion of the fluid connection between the suction port and the recess. The third disk is a supply disk, and a suction port is arranged at the center thereof. The connection disk is arranged between the supply disk and the transport disk. The structural approach with the three discs described above makes it possible to “supply external suction at the center of the wheel”, “distribution of suction from the center of the wheel to the individual recesses”, and “from the transfer chamber to the insertion unit”. The function of “object transfer” can be basically separated. This separation of functions allows for further structural options that will become apparent below.

  In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the suction port comprises a socket adapted to receive a connecting cylinder of the supply pipe. The connecting cylinder includes a bearing such as a ball bearing or a sliding bearing. This bearing allows the rotary wheel to rotate around the connecting cylinder. This embodiment represents an easy way to attach a suction supply line to the wheel. It is only necessary to connect the connecting cylinder to the supply disk. As a result, the entire rotary wheel including the supply disk can rotate around the bearing with the supply line fixedly disposed in the socket.

  In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, the fluid connection further comprises a transport disk channel extending into the transport disk. Each of the carrier disk channels includes a respective radial channel portion that extends substantially radially from the bottom of the respective recess toward the respective radially innermost end. A respective lateral channel portion extends from the respective radially innermost end of the radial channel portion to a respective orifice provided on the surface of the transport disc facing the connecting disc. Each orifice and each lateral channel portion has a cross section that is larger than the cross section of the radial channel portion. As a result, it is possible to satisfactorily “transmit” the suction force to the bottom of each recess. Thus, the object can be reliably sucked into the recess and held therein during transfer to the position where the object is to be inserted into the continuous material flow.

  In one particular embodiment of such an apparatus, the orifice of the surface of the transport disk is located at the working diameter. The connecting disk includes a centrally located opening in fluid communication with the suction opening of the supply disk. The opening located in the center of the connecting disk has a diameter smaller than the working diameter. Therefore, there is no direct fluid communication between the opening located in the center of the connection disk and the orifice located on the surface of the transport disk. The connection disk further includes a plurality of connection channels extending radially from the centrally located opening to at least the working diameter. The connecting channel is in fluid communication with the circumferential working channel. This working channel is provided on the surface of the connecting disk facing the transport disk. The working channel has an open surface that faces towards the transport disk. The transfer disk forms a cover that closes the open surface of the working channel except for the location of the orifice where the working channel is in fluid communication with the orifice. Therefore, the suction force can be reliably transmitted from the suction port into the working channel through the connection channel and from the working channel to the bottom of the recess through the carrier disk and the orifice of the carrier channel.

  In a variation of this embodiment of the device, the connection disk comprises a plurality of connection channels that are less than the number of orifices of the transport disk. These connection channels are provided on the surface of the connection disk facing the supply disk. The connection channel has an open surface facing the supply disk. The supply disk forms a cover that closes the open surface of the connection channel. A through opening is provided that extends from the connection channel through the connection disk to the circumferential working channel to establish fluid communication. As an example, the connecting channel extends from the central opening in a (star-shaped) radial direction to the working diameter. There can be a through-opening connecting the connection channel and the circumferential working channel on the opposite side of the connection disk. This example is a simple structural solution for “distributing” the suction force supplied to the center to the individual orifices and from there to the respective recesses in the transport disk.

  In another embodiment of the device according to the invention, the orifice of the surface of the conveying disk is also arranged at the working diameter. The connecting disk includes a centrally located opening in fluid communication with the suction opening of the supply disk. The centrally located opening has a diameter that is larger than the working diameter. Thus, the opening located in the center of the connection disk is in direct fluid communication with the orifice of the transport disk. The opening located in the center of the connection disk is covered by the supply disk from one side and by the transport disk from the other side. This embodiment differs from the above-described embodiment because it does not include a connection channel. Instead, a centrally located opening is in direct fluid communication with the orifice of the transport disk to directly transmit the suction force. Both the supply disk and the transport disk cover the opening located at the center, so that the suction force can be reliably transmitted to the orifice of the transport disk. This embodiment is another simple structural solution for “distributing” the suction force supplied to the center to the individual orifices and from there to the respective recesses of the transport disk.

  Further embodiments of the device according to the invention further comprise means for creating a circular movement along the circulation path of the object in the transfer chamber. A part of the circulation path extends in the rotation direction of the rotary transfer wheel along the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel. The circular motion of the object along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel (or transport disc) (respectively) ensures that the object is transported into each recess of the rotary transport wheel to avoid emptying the recess. It helps to make it. Moreover, clogging in the transfer chamber is prevented by circulating the object in the transfer chamber. In general, the speed of the object may vary over a wide range, but the speed of the object along the part of the circulation path that extends along the peripheral surface of the rotating transport wheel is the same as the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotating transport wheel. Or it is preferable that it is substantially the same. For example, the speed of the object can differ from the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel within a range of about 25 percent slower to about 25 percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel. More preferably, the speed of the object can differ from the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel within a range of about 10 percent slower to about 10% percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel. (Including the case where the speed of the object and the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel are almost the same). In general, when the term “about” is used in connection with a particular value, it is always intended to include that exact value.

  Another embodiment of the device according to the invention further comprises a return member. The return member is disposed on the curved side wall portion of the transfer chamber within the transfer chamber. The curved side wall portion and the return member are arranged at the end of the portion extending along the peripheral surface of the rotary conveying wheel in the circulation path. In particular, the return member is arranged such that the return member and the curved side wall portion reverse the direction of movement of the object in the transfer chamber. Therefore, the return member further improves the circulation movement of the object in the transfer chamber.

  In one embodiment of such a device, the return member has a drop shape. The drop-shaped return member includes a vertex, two generally straight side surfaces, and a curved portion connecting the side surfaces. The apex faces toward the inside of the transfer chamber. This apex is directed towards the inside in such a way that the side surface of the drop directed towards the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel essentially extends tangentially to the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel. Thereby, the circulation motion of the object in the transfer chamber can be further improved. The term “substantially straight sides” is intended to include straight sides and slightly curved sides. It is preferable that the substantially straight side surface facing the conveyance wheel has a concave curved surface. This side curvature substantially corresponds to the curvature of the transport wheel, ie the side curvature is preferably concentric with the transport wheel.

  Specifically, the straight side surface is a direction in which the space between the straight side surface and the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel is directed toward the end of the portion extending along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel in the circulation path. It can arrange | position so that it may taper to. Thereby, the introduction of the object into the recess (pocket) of the transport wheel can be further supported. However, this space should taper only to the extent that the object is not damaged or broken. This taper is preferably less than about 1/4 of the diameter of the capsule.

  In a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, a substantially straight side facing towards the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel is arranged at a predetermined distance from the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel. This predetermined distance is selected such that one to six layers of objects are formed between the substantially straight side surface and the peripheral surface of the rotary conveying wheel. In particular, this predetermined distance is selected such that two to four layers of objects are formed between the substantially straight side and the peripheral surface of the rotary conveying wheel. This layer is preferably as deep as one object so that the object is packed over the transport area.

  In this embodiment, the objects into the recesses on the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel so that one object is held in each recess when each recess in the rotary transport wheel leaves the area of the transport chamber. It is advantageous in that it further contributes to the introduction of

  In yet another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the means for producing a circulating movement of the object in the transfer chamber comprises a nozzle. These nozzles are arranged at the end of the portion extending along the peripheral surface of the rotary conveying wheel in the circulation path. These nozzles can create an air flow. These airflows reverse the direction of movement of the object in the transfer chamber with the curved sidewall portion or return member of the transfer chamber, or with both the curved sidewall portion and the return member. These nozzles further improve the circulation movement of the object in the transfer chamber.

  Another aspect of the invention relates to a method for introducing an object into a continuous material flow. The method includes providing a reservoir containing a plurality of objects, introducing an object from the reservoir into a transfer chamber disposed between the reservoir and a rotary transfer wheel having a recess, and a recess in the rotary transfer wheel. A step of transporting an object from the transport chamber into the recess of the rotary transport wheel to hold the object in the recess by applying a suction force to the transport chamber, and a continuous material flow through the object held in the recess. Transferring the object to an insertion position to be introduced into the apparatus and introducing the object into the continuous material flow at the insertion position. The step of applying a suction force to the concave portion of the rotary transport wheel is a fluid connection that establishes fluid communication between the suction port and the concave portion through the center of the rotary wheel and through the suction port arranged at the center of the rotary transport wheel. This is done by applying a suction force through the part.

  An embodiment of the method according to the invention creates a circular movement of the object so that the object in the transfer chamber moves along a circulation path extending in the direction of rotation of the rotary transfer wheel on the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel; Providing a return member for reversing the moving direction of the object in the transfer chamber at the end of the circulation path of the object along the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel in the transfer chamber, And a drop shape that includes two straight sides and a curved portion connecting the straight sides, the apex being essentially the drop side facing the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel It faces toward the inside of the transfer chamber in such a way as to extend in the tangential direction of the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel.

  The advantages of this method embodiment are the same as those described above with respect to the corresponding device embodiments according to the invention.

  Further advantageous aspects will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the apparatus and method according to the present invention with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the basic parts of the device according to the invention. Figure 2 shows some further details viewed through the front plate of the apparatus of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a central portion of an embodiment of a rotary transport wheel that includes a supply disk, a connection disk, and a transport disk, and in which a connection cylinder of a central supply pipe is connected to a socket of the supply disk. FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing some details of the transport disk and connection disk of the rotary transport wheel embodiment. It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment of the connection disk of the rotary conveyance wheel in front of a conveyance disk. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of the connection disk of the rotary conveyance wheel in front of a conveyance disk. It is a figure which shows 3rd Embodiment of the connection disk of the rotary conveyance wheel in front of a conveyance disk. It is a figure which shows the detail of the conveyance chamber which has arrange | positioned the return member for reversing the flow of the object in a conveyance chamber inside.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembled embodiment of the basic parts of the device according to the invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view disclosing some further details of this embodiment. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device comprises a reservoir 1 provided with an object to be introduced into a continuous flow of material, for example capsules or beads. In FIG. 1, the opaque front plate 10 of the reservoir 1 can be seen, and in FIG. 2 the front plate 10 is shown transparent so that further details of the device can be seen.

  As can be seen in FIG. 2, the apparatus further comprises a transfer chamber 2 arranged between the reservoir 1 and the rotary transfer wheel 3. A return member 20 having a drop shape is disposed in the transfer chamber 2. The return member 20 helps to reverse the movement of the capsule along the periphery of the rotating transport wheel 3 in the transport chamber 20, as will be described in more detail below.

  A plurality of nozzles 100 are arranged on the front wall 10. These nozzles 100 create a circulating movement of the capsule in the transfer chamber 2 as indicated by the arrows in the transfer chamber 2 of FIG. 2 and assist the capsule in moving toward the rotary transfer wheel 3. Therefore, an overpressure or a suction force can be applied. The transfer chamber 2 is formed between the rear wall 11 and the front wall 10. The depth of the transfer chamber 2 between the front wall 10 and the rear wall 11 is such that only one capsule layer can be formed. As an example, the depth (“thickness”) of the transfer chamber 2 can be about 110 percent to about 120 percent of the outer dimensions of the capsule or bead. A further nozzle (not shown) can be arranged on the rear wall 11 at a position similar to the position of the nozzle 100 on the front wall 10. Through these additional nozzles, as in the case of the nozzles 100, to create a circulating movement of the capsules in the transfer chamber 2 and to help the capsules move towards the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel 3. Overpressure or suction can be applied. The capsule is sucked into a recess provided in the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 while moving toward or along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 (this recess is , Not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2). This suction is performed by applying a suction force through the bottom of each recess so as to suck one capsule into each recess, and this capsule is introduced into a continuous flow of material such as a filter tow, for example. Until here. The introduction of the capsule is performed by a unit for introducing the capsule into a continuous material flow. The unit for introducing the capsule into the filter tow is not shown, and can be a conventional unit well known in the art. As an example, FIGS. 10 to 12 of WO 2010/0555120 show a suitable unit for introducing a capsule into a continuous filter tow stream, which is described in detail in the corresponding part of this specification. Explained. Accordingly, the disclosure relating to the unit for introducing capsules into this continuous flow of filter material is incorporated herein by reference. As can be seen in WO 2010/0555120, the capsules are introduced into the continuous filter tow stream when the respective recesses of the rotary conveying wheel come to the lowest position.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the central portion of the embodiment of the rotary transfer wheel 3. The rotary transport wheel 3 includes a supply disk 30, a connection disk 31 and a transport disk 32. The connection cylinder 40 of the center supply pipe 4 is connected to the socket 300 of the supply disk 30. The socket 300 forms a suction port and accommodates the connection cylinder 40. The connection cylinder 40 includes a ball bearing 400. With the ball bearing 400, the rotary conveyance wheel 3 can rotate around the connection cylinder 40, and at the same time, suction force can be supplied to the center of the rotary wheel 3 through the supply pipe 4. An O-ring 301 is disposed in a groove 302 provided in the supply disk 30 to surround the innermost end of the connection cylinder 40, and the suction force supplied through the conduit 4 and the connection cylinder 40 is applied to the connection disk 31. It is given to the central opening 310 provided. The connection disk 31 “distributes” the suction force radially outward toward the transport disk channel provided in the transport disk 32. These transport disk channels lead to the bottom of each of the recesses in which the beads are held.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic view of an embodiment of a rotary transport wheel 3 that includes a supply disk 30, a connection disk 31 and a transport disk 32. In FIG. 4, the supply disk 30 is shown only schematically, but the connection disk 31 and the transport disk 32 show some details. In particular, it can be seen from FIG. 4 that the transport disc 32 includes a recess 320 in which the capsule is sucked from the transport chamber 2. The capsule is held in the recess 320 while being transferred to a unit for introducing the capsule into a continuous filter tow stream. A transport disk channel 321 extends from the bottom of each recess 320. The carrier disk channel 321 includes a radial channel portion 322 that extends radially toward the innermost end. A lateral channel portion 323 extends from the innermost end of the radial channel portion 322 to an orifice 324 provided on a surface 325 of the transport disc 32 facing the connection disk 31. The orifice 324 is arranged in a circle with an operating diameter 326.

  In the following, further details of FIG. 4 will be described in connection with the embodiment of the connection disk 31 shown in FIG. The connecting disk 31 includes a centrally located opening 310 (also see FIG. 5) having an inner diameter 311 (see FIG. 5) that is smaller than the working diameter 326. Thus, the centrally located opening 310 is not in direct fluid communication with the orifice 324 of the transport disk 32. A plurality of connecting channels 312 extend radially outwardly from the centrally located opening 310 to a working diameter 326 (see FIG. 4) or slightly outside the working diameter 326 (see FIG. 5). The connection channel 312 is provided on the surface of the connection disk 31 facing the supply disk 30. The connection channel 312 has an open surface facing the supply disk 30. When supplied, the supply disk 30 covers the connection channel 312 and closes the open surface of the connection channel 312 to substantially form a fluid tight channel.

  The connection disk 31 includes a circumferential working channel 314 on the surface facing the transport disk 32. The working channel 314 is disposed at the working diameter 326 and has an open surface facing the transport disk 32. The working channel 314 provided on the surface facing the transport disk 32 and the connection channel 312 provided on the surface facing the supply disk 30 are connected by a through opening 313. When loaded, the transport disk 32 closes the open surface of the circumferential working channel 314 except for the position of the orifice 324.

  Accordingly, fluid communication is established between the suction port and the recess 320 through the centrally located opening 310, connection channel 312, through opening 313, actuation channel 314, orifice 324 and transport disk channel 321.

  FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the connection disk 34. This embodiment of the connection disk 34 is somewhat similar to the embodiment of the connection disk 31 shown in FIG. The connecting disk 34 has a centrally located opening 340 having an inner diameter 341 that is smaller than the working diameter 326 (see FIG. 4). The connection disk 34 includes a connection channel 342 that is wider than the connection channel 312 of the connection disk 31. Again, the connection channel 342 has an open face that faces towards the supply disk 30 (not shown in FIG. 6). When installed, the supply disk 30 covers the channel 342 and closes the open surface of the connection channel 342 so that a substantially fluid-tight channel is formed. A through opening 343 is provided to connect the connection channel 342 and the actuation channel. The working channel is not visible in FIG. 6, but is arranged as shown in FIG. A part of the orifice 324 of the transport disk 32 can be seen through the through opening 343 of the connection disk 34. The suction force is transmitted in the same manner as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and therefore the description will not be repeated here.

  FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the connection disk 35. In this embodiment of the connecting disk 35, the centrally located opening 350 has an inner diameter 351 that is larger than the working diameter 326 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, in this embodiment of the connection disk 35, there is no connection channel. In FIG. 7, the orifice 324 of the transport disk 32 is visible. At the time of mounting, the opening 350 arranged in the center is covered with the supply disk 30 from one side and covered with the transport disk 32 from the other side, so that the fluid is substantially sealed. Accordingly, the suction force applied through the centrally located opening 350 is transmitted directly to the orifice 324 and from there to the recess 320 (also see FIG. 4) through the transport channel 321.

  FIG. 8 shows details of the transfer chamber 2 and shows the return member 20 in more detail. The return member 20 is disposed at the end of the transport chamber 2 where the capsule circulation path extends along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3. The return member 20 has a drop shape including an apex 200, two side surfaces 201 and a curved portion 202 connecting the two side surfaces 201. The apex 200 faces toward the inside of the transfer chamber 2. The side surface 201 facing the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 basically extends in the tangential direction of the peripheral surface of the transport wheel 3 so that the capsule flows around the return member 20. Accordingly, the return member 20 assists in reversing the moving direction of the capsule in the transfer chamber 2.

  The side surface 201 of the return member 20 facing the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 is disposed at a predetermined distance 204 from the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3. The predetermined distance 204 is selected so that one to six capsule layers can be formed between the side surface 201 and the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3. In particular, the predetermined distance 204 can be selected such that two to four capsule layers are formed between the side surface 201 and the peripheral surface of the rotary conveying wheel 3. As can also be seen from the figure, the return member 20 can be configured such that the space between the side surface 201 and the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 is slightly tapered. This space is tapered in a direction toward the end of the portion of the circulation path extending along the peripheral surface of the rotary conveyance wheel 3. This causes a slight pressure on the capsules as they move along the circulation path. This slight pressure can assist the insertion of the capsule into the recess 320 of the rotary transport wheel 3. However, this tapering must be chosen so that the slight “pressure” caused by this tapering does not cause capsule or bead damage or breakage.

  Furthermore, one or more nozzles 203 (respectively) can be arranged at the end of the circulation path of the capsule along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 (or transport disk 32). The nozzle 203 provides an air flow that reverses the direction of movement of the capsule in the transfer chamber 2 with either the curved sidewall of the transfer chamber 2, the return member 20, or both, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. Can communicate.

  In operation, the reservoirs 1 are filled with capsules, and these capsules enter the transfer chamber 2 at the lower end of the reservoir 1 (see FIG. 1) by gravity. In the transfer chamber 2, the capsule circulates as shown by arrows in FIG. 2. The capsule moves along the peripheral surface of the rotary conveyance wheel 3. By applying a suction force to the bottom of each recess 320, each recess 320 is filled with a capsule. The capsule that has not been sucked into the recess 320 is turned along the circulation path indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2 with the assistance of the return member 20 and the nozzle 203. The capsule sucked into the recess 320 is transferred by the rotary transport wheel 3 to a unit for introducing capsule beads into a continuous flow of filter material. The capsule is released from the recess 320 at this location and introduced into the filter material as described in detail in WO2010 / 0555120. During further rotation of the rotary transport wheel 3, the empty recess 320 again reaches the region of the transport chamber 2, where again the capsule is sucked into the recess 320 as described above.

  The capsule moves along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 at the same or substantially the same speed as the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3. Specifically, the speed of the capsule along the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3 is in a range from a speed that is 25 percent slower to a speed that is 25 percent faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transport wheel 3. More preferably, the speed of the capsule is in the range from 10% slower to 10% faster than the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary conveying wheel 3. When the moving speed of the capsule is the same as or substantially the same as the speed of the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel 3, the speed of the capsule and the speed of the transfer wheel are substantially synchronized, thereby causing the rotary transfer wheel 3 to move from the transfer chamber 2. This is advantageous because it further improves the transport of the capsule to the recess 320.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Reservoir 3 Rotary conveyance wheel 10 Front plate 100 Nozzle 300 Socket

Claims (9)

An apparatus for introducing an object into a continuous material flow,
-A reservoir (1) for providing a plurality of objects;
A rotary transport wheel (3) for transferring said object to an insertion unit that introduces said object into said continuous material flow;
A transfer chamber (2) arranged between the reservoir (1) and the rotary transfer wheel (3) for transferring the object to the rotary transfer wheel (3);
The rotary transport wheel (3) has a recess (320) into which the object can be carried, and the insertion unit introduces the object from the rotary transport wheel (3) into the continuous material flow Until the object is delivered to the recess (320) through the application of suction,
The rotating conveyor wheel (3), with said rotary conveyor wheel (3) the center arranged suction port of the rotary conveyor wheel (3) to provide a suction force through the center of, and the suction port look contains a fluid connection for allowing fluid communication between said recess (320),
The rotary transfer wheel (3) includes a transfer disk (32) including the recess (320) for receiving the object from the transfer chamber (2), and the fluid between the suction port and the recess (320). connecting disc that includes at least a portion of the connecting portion (31; 34; 35), and supply disc (30) the supply disk (30) 3 disposed adjacent that containing arranged the suction port in the center of A disk (30, 31, 32; 34, 35), the connection disk (31; 34; 35) being arranged between the supply disk (30) and the transport disk (32);
A device characterized by that. The suction port includes a socket (300) adapted to receive a connection cylinder (40) of a supply pipe (4), the connection cylinder (40) being connected to the rotary transport wheel (3; 30, 31). , 32; 34, 35) comprises a bearing (400) that allows rotation around the connecting cylinder (40),
The apparatus according to claim 1. The fluid connection further includes a transport disk channel (321) extending within the transport disk (32), each of the transport disk channels (321) extending from a bottom of the respective recess (320) in a respective radial direction. Each radial channel portion (322) extending radially inward toward the innermost end of the carrier and the conveying disc (32) from the respective radially innermost end of the radial channel portion (322). Each lateral channel portion (323) extending to a respective orifice (324) provided in a surface (325) facing the connecting disk (31; 34; 35) of the respective orifice (324) ) And the respective lateral channel portions (323) are cross sections of the radial channel portions (322). Also it has a large cross-section,
The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The orifice (324) of the surface (325) of the transport disk (32) is disposed at the working diameter (326), and the connection disk (31; 34) is connected to the suction port of the supply disk (30). A centrally located opening (310; 340) in fluid communication, wherein the centrally located opening (310; 340) of the connecting disc (31; 34) is from the working diameter (326); Has a small diameter (311; 341), and the connecting disk (31; 34) extends radially outward from the centrally located opening (310; 340) to the working diameter and circumferentially. a plurality of connecting channels in fluid communication with the working channel (314); further comprising a (312 342), the circumferential working channel (314), said conveying of said connecting disc Provided on the operating diameter on the surface facing the disk (32), the circumferential working channel (314) has said open surface facing towards the transport discs (32), the transport disk (32 ) Forms a cover that closes the open surface of the circumferential working channel (314) except where the circumferential working channel (314) of the orifice (324) is in fluid communication with the orifice (324). To
The apparatus according to claim 3. The connection disk (31; 34) includes a plurality of connection channels (312; 342) less than the number of the orifices (324) of the transport disk (32), and the connection channel (312; 342) includes Provided on the surface of the connection disk (31; 34) facing the supply disk (30), the connection channel (312; 342) having an open surface facing the supply disk (30), A supply disk (30) forms a cover that closes the open surface of the connection channel (312; 342), and the circumferential working channel from the connection channel (312; 342) through the connection disk (31; 34). A through opening extending to (314) and establishing said fluid communication between said connection channel (312; 342) and said circumferential actuation channel (314) Part (313; 343) is provided,
The apparatus according to claim 4. The orifice (324) on the surface of the transport disk (32) is disposed at a working diameter (326), and the connection disk (35) is in fluid communication with the suction port of the supply disk (30). The opening (350) disposed at the center of the connection disk (35) is the opening (350) disposed at the center of the connection disk (35). The opening (350) having a diameter (351) larger than the working diameter so as to be in direct fluid communication with the orifice (324) of the connecting disk (35), The other side is covered by the supply disk (30), and the other side is covered by the transport disk (32).
The apparatus according to claim 3. The apparatus further comprises means for generating a circular movement along the circulation path of the object in the transfer chamber (2), and a part of the circulation path is the rotary type along the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel (3). Extending in the direction of rotation of the transport wheel (3),
An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that A method of introducing an object into a continuous material flow,
Providing a reservoir (1) comprising a plurality of objects;
Providing a rotary transport wheel (3) having a recess (320);
- introducing said object, from said reservoir (1), the arranged transfer chamber (2) between the between the reservoir (1) rotating conveyor wheel (3),
-Applying an attractive force to the recess (320) of the rotary transport wheel (3) to move the object from the transport chamber (2) into the recess (320) of the rotary transport wheel (3); Transporting and holding the object in the recess (320);
-Transferring the object held in the recess (320) to an insertion position where the object is to be introduced into the continuous material flow;
Introducing the object into the continuous material flow at the insertion position, the step of applying a suction force to the recess (320) of the rotary transfer wheel (3) comprising the rotary transfer Suction force through the fluid connection that establishes fluid communication between the suction port and the recess (320) through the center of the wheel (3), through the suction port located at the center of the rotary transport wheel (3) Is done by granting
The step of providing the rotary transfer wheel includes the transfer disk (32) including the recess (320) for receiving the object from the transfer chamber (2), the fluid between the suction port and the recess (320). connecting disc that includes at least a portion of the connecting portion (31; 34; 35), and supply disc (30) the supply disk (30) 3 disposed adjacent that containing arranged the suction port in the center of Providing a disk (30, 31, 32; 34, 35), the connection disk (31; 34; 35) being arranged between the supply disk (30) and the transport disk (32);
A method characterized by that. The method further includes the step of creating a circulation movement along the circulation path of the object in the transfer chamber (2), wherein a part of the circulation path is the rotary type along the peripheral surface of the rotary transfer wheel (3). Extending in the direction of rotation of the transport wheel (3),
The method according to claim 8, wherein:

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