JPH0471512B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a cigarette feeding device for pneumatically feeding tobacco from a common feeding station to several cigarette making machines, the invention comprising: Cigarettes were spread around them,
by several tubes, each leading to the cigarette making machine and being circumferentially separated from each other and having an inlet part, an outlet part for feeding tobacco to the cigarette making machine, and an intermediate part. The invention relates to a cigarette dispensing device of the type in which cigarettes are received from said dispensing table.

As used herein, "substantially continuous" with respect to the delivery of cigarettes means that the cigarette delivery device supplies a metered supply of cigarettes at a rate slightly greater than the rate at which the cigarette maker consumes the cigarettes. It means possible.

The present invention provides a cigarette feeding device of the above type, comprising:
The intermediate section comprises generally parallel tube sections, the first of the parallel tube sections acting as a buffer being arranged to receive cigarettes supplied to the inlet section and from the downstream end thereof. A metering device is provided in the first tube section for supplying cigarettes at a controlled rate to the outlet section such that at least while the tube draws cigarettes through the inlet section, the air drawn into the inlet section is A cigarette dispensing device is provided, characterized in that the cigarette dispensing device is configured to pass through a second pipe section to the outlet section.

According to the invention, cigarettes are fed almost continuously to each cigarette machine through a tube section extending from an intermediate section having a section acting as a buffer, i.e. a first tube section. Tobacco is received by each of the tubes from the feed table and delivered to each of the sections acting as a buffer, and then delivered substantially continuously to each cigarette maker. Even though the cigarettes are received intermittently by each tube, since the received cigarettes are delivered almost continuously to each cigarette making machine, the delivery speed can be relatively slow and damage to the cigarettes is minimized. kept to a minimum.

The flow of tobacco is preferably continuous in nature (albeit in varying proportions) and thus:
The cigarettes used to make every part of the continuous cigarette rod may be fresh cigarettes as described in the applicant's UK Patent Application No. 8211140;
It is a concoction with abandoned cigarettes.

Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a pneumatic feed tube that delivers tobacco almost continuously to a cigarette machine from a common dispensing station (i.e., common to several cigarette machines). , an inlet for receiving cigarettes and an outlet for pneumatically delivering the cigarettes to the cigarette making machine;
each feed tube having an intermediate section consisting of a generally parallel tube section, a portion of which acts as a buffer, each feed tube being arranged to receive cigarettes delivered to the tube inlet;
a metering device for delivering cigarettes from its downstream end at a controlled rate, while air drawn into the tube inlet is directed to the second tube at least while the tube draws cigarettes through its inlet. Go through the parts.

This arrangement allows continuous delivery from the first tube section of cigarettes that are intermittently supplied from the tube inlet. In other words, this arrangement is capable of converting a discontinuous supply of cigarettes from the dispensing station into a continuous supply to the cigarette making machine. The parallel tube sections may extend downwardly, in which case gravity assists the downward movement of the cigarettes as they accumulate in the first tube section. The parallel tube sections may also extend horizontally. In this case, the first tube section exerts a small frictional force on the cigarette to drive the cigarette toward the metering device, and the first tube section applies a small frictional force to the cigarette to drive the cigarette toward the metering device, as well as when the cigarette is delivered by the metering device at a relatively small rate. It may also include a lower wall formed by a continuously moving smooth conveyor band that can slide against the cigarettes. In each case, the metering device may for example comprise a roller with a ribbed outer surface.

A device for dispensing tobacco intermittently into several pipes each leading to a different cigarette making machine may basically be equipped with a vibrating circular feeding table as described in British Patent No. 1520424. good.

The delivery tube shown in FIG. 1 has an inlet portion arranged to intermittently receive cigarettes from a cigarette delivery table of any shape and preferably arranged to draw cigarettes from the delivery table. 200
and an outlet section 202 arranged to substantially continuously feed cigarettes to the cigarette making machine. Between these two sections is an intermediate section 204 having generally parallel sections 206, 208 communicating with each other at its inlet end and its outlet end.

The tube section 210 is curved so that the cigarettes conveyed therethrough are thrown by centrifugal force toward the outer wall 210A, and the cigarettes slide along the wall 210A until they enter the first tube section 206. Also, air entering through the tube section 210 bypasses the first tube section 206 containing the cigarettes and passes through the second tube section 206.
Pass through 08.

A metering device or ribbed metering roller 212 at the lower end of the first tube section 206 moves in a counterclockwise direction so as to deliver cigarettes from the tube section 206 to the region of the joint between the downstream ends of the tube sections 206, 208. The cigarettes are then pneumatically conveyed from that location through tube section 202 to the cigarette making machine. This last purpose air is obtained from the air flowing through the second tube section 208 while the cigarette is being introduced into the first tube section 206. When cigarettes accumulate in the first tube section 206 to the level of a photoelectric or other detector 214, the detector rotates the pivot member 218 about its pivot 220 (shown in dashed outline). position). As a result, air will not be able to pass through the second tube section 208 (and thus will not draw cigarettes from the source communicating with the section 200). At this time, air enters through the vent that is then formed between the member 218 and the fixed portion 222;
Thus, it is possible for cigarettes to continue to be pneumatically conveyed from the first tube section 206 through the tube section 202.

In FIG. 1, the first tube section 206 extends around the metering roller 212 and pivots generally at its upper end so as to be free to pivot clockwise in response to the pressure of the cigarette passing around the metering roller. It has a wall portion 206A to which it is attached. Note that in FIG. 1, the portion of the wall of the second tube section 208 opposite the pivot section 218 is directed toward the section 218 so as to increase the velocity of the air as it approaches the metering roller 212. Converge.

The following modifications to FIG. 1 are possible. Entrance part 2
Control of the supply of cigarettes to the inlet 200 may be achieved with a pivoted flap opening which allows air to enter the inlet section 200 from the atmosphere, thus interrupting the drawing of cigarettes from the feed table. . In this case, air can continue to flow through the second tube section 208 in order to continue the pneumatic conveyance of the cigarettes from the first tube section 206 to the section 202. Therefore, there is no need to control member 218.

Figure 2 shows different tubes. Between the inlet section 300 and the outlet section 302 is an intermediate section 304 having horizontally extending parallel tube sections 306, 308.
The floor of the first tube section or cigarette storage section 306 urges the horizontal column 314 of cigarettes accumulated in the section 306 toward the metering device or metering roller 312 in a manner similar to that of FIG. It is formed by a smooth conveyor band 310 that is continuously driven.

As shown in FIG. 1, at the downstream end of the second tube section 308 is an air control member 316. The member 316 is 31
8 and any suitable actuator (Fig. (not shown). However, as described with respect to FIG. 1, the pivot member 316 may be replaced with a device that allows air to enter the inlet section 300 when the supply of cigarettes to the first tube section 306 requires cessation. good.

Conveyor band 310 may be replaced with a vibrating tray. In either case, the band or tray may be of such width that it is common to several tubes, each having a separate driven roller 312 to control the supply of tobacco to the outlet 302 of the corresponding tube. .

The tube section 200 may have a diameter of 100 mm. FIG. 1 shows the tube tapering towards a curved section 210. FIG. The portion 200 may gradually change from a circular cross-section to a flat rectangular cross-section (which may be, for example, 200 x 40 mm or 250 x 40 mm) of similar or somewhat larger cross-sectional area in nature. The same applies to Figure 2. The thickness of the tobacco buffer column may be somewhat smaller than that shown, for example as small as 50 mm, if in each case a sufficiently slackened cigarette is used. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a view of one of several cigarette delivery tubes with a buffer, and FIG. 2 is a view of a modified embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 200,300...Entrance part, 202,302...
...Exit part, 204, 304...Middle part, 20
6,306...first pipe section, 208,308...
Second pipe section, 212, 312...control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Tobacco feeding device for pneumatically feeding tobacco from a common feeding station to several cigarette making machines, the tobacco being spread around a circular feeding table of said feeding station, each with a respective by several tubes leading to the cigarette making machine, circumferentially separated from each other and having an inlet part, an outlet part for feeding tobacco to the cigarette making machine, and an intermediate part. In a cigarette dispensing device configured for receiving cigarettes from the dispensing table, the intermediate section 204, 304 comprises generally parallel tube sections, the first of the parallel tube sections acting as a buffer. pipe part 20
6,306 is arranged to receive cigarettes supplied to said inlet section, and a metering device 212,312 is arranged to supply cigarettes at a controlled rate from its downstream end to said outlet section 202,302. 1 tube section, at least while the tube inhales cigarettes through the inlet section, air drawn into the inlet section is provided in the second tube section 208, 308.
A cigarette supply device, characterized in that the cigarette supply device is configured to be directed to the outlet portion through.