JPH0628581B2 - Drilling device for rods - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a device for making many holes in a rod.

The present invention is particularly suitable for producing smoking articles, especially cigarettes, the following description of which is given by way of illustration only, without any limitation.

[Conventional technology]

In the cigarette manufacturing industry, the so-called "ventilated" cigarettes, i.e. having a large number of holes in the filter part,
Produces a cigarette that allows a smoker to breathe in a quantity of air with the cigarette smoke in such a way as to dilute the smoke inhaled and reduce both the temperature of this smoke and the content of harmful substances. It is known.

It is known that the ventilation holes are formed by using a piercing device, which preferably comprises a source of a pulsating laser and a route through which this laser beam is given to the cigarette. And a light concentrator which is directed onto the cigarette and is preferably rotated about its axis as it travels along.

In this known type of piercing device, the light concentrating device typically includes a reflector member configured to direct the light rays collected on these cigarettes as they follow them as they move. It is applied.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

One of the main drawbacks of the type of punches described above is that the multiple holes formed as described above are generally non-uniform in shape and non-uniformly arranged around the cigarette. The main reason for this is that the laser source, the concentrator and the associated reflector are generally placed at some distance from the cigarette to be pierced and the movement of the cigarette along the given path. Is determined by the carrying device supported away from each punching device. This punching device is therefore not subject to the vibrations normally imparted on the cigarettes by the carrier, so that these cigarettes to be punched are unpredictable from what should be the ideal path given. Will be out of.

That is, in the prior art, since the cigarette transporting device and the punching device are separately supported, vibration of the cigarette transporting device, which is independent of the punching device, forms elongated uneven holes in the cigarette. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the cigarette from vibrating independently of the punching device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a laser drilling device which overcomes the abovementioned drawbacks.

[Means for solving problems]

To this end, the invention relates to a device for punching rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, which device comprises a conveyor and
A number of moving recesses supported on the conveyor or transverse to the direction of travel of the conveyor, each adapted to receive the article; a laser source adapted to emit a pulsating laser beam; A perforating device comprising a concentrating device adapted to continuously focus a laser beam on the moving article, the concentrating device being integral with the conveyor for each recess and in a given path. It is provided with a condensing lens that runs along with the conveyor, and a rotating device that is supported on the conveyor to rotate each of the recesses around the axis of the conveyor.

〔Example〕

A non-limiting device of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 indicates a conveyor or supply roller for a cigarette 2, said roller 1 forming part of a filter assembling machine indicated in its entirety by 3, which filter assembling machine In addition, it is provided with a supply roller 4 and a take-out roller 5 which are arranged in contact with each other at two points around the roller 1 and rotate in the same direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roller 1 forms part of a perforating device generally designated by 6, which is generally designated by 7 and is fixed to rotatably support the roller 1. A pulsating laser source adapted to emit a laser beam 8 along the axis of the central bore 9 of the tubular shaft 10;
Is deflected outward in the radial direction, and more specifically, as will be described later, a diffuser 11 is formed to form a plurality of holes that rotate together with the roller 1 and that form a plurality of cigarette-shaped, ring-shaped holes. 8 laser beams on a cigarette
To rotate the cigarettes about their respective axes when the cigarettes 2 are moved by the light collecting device 12 adapted to collect the light and the roller 1 rotating about the axis of the shaft 10. The rotating device 14 described above is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hole 9 is closed by a flanged cap 15 on the side opposite to the side facing the laser source 7, the central part of which cap 15 defines a perforation mirror 16 inside the hole 9. The limit is set by a 45 ° mirror surface. This mirror forms a part of the diffuser 11 and deflects the laser beam 8 through the slit 17 to the outside in the radial direction of the axis 10. The slit 17 extends over one arc as shown in FIG. 1
0, the arc opening corresponds to an arc equal to at least three times the space of the cigarettes 2 around the roller 1.

As shown in FIG. 3 and particularly in FIG. 2, the diffuser 11 further comprises a first essentially cylindrical lens having an axis parallel to the axis of the axis 10 in the particular example shown.
Lens 18 and, in the particular example shown, a second lens 19 consisting of an essentially flat cylindrical lens having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the axis 10. This lens 1
8 and 19 are both integrated with the shaft 10 and arranged so that the second lens is outside the first lens with respect to the axis of the shaft 10 and the slit 17 is formed along the central radial axis of the slit 17. Facing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light collectors 12 are evenly arranged around the roller 1 and each of which is axially formed around the roller to accommodate a respective cigarette 2. A large number of condenser lenses 20 are provided, which cooperate with the recesses 21 in FIG.

According to the particular device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shaft 10 projects from the side wall 22 of the machine 3 and, on its free end, a first bearing 24 for coupling the cap 15 and supporting the roller 1.
Forming an outer flange 23 cooperating with the outer circumference of the cap with the inner ring of the. The roller 1 comprises an essentially cylindrical bell 25 which is coaxial with the shaft 10 and on which the concave side facing the wall 22 is fitted. Bell 25
Defines an end wall 26 having a central axial bore 27 for accommodating the bearing 24 and an essentially cylindrical outer wall 28 having an annular groove 29 adjacent the end wall 26. Holes 30 are formed through the end wall of the annular groove 29, and these holes 30 are evenly arranged around the axis of the shaft 10 and have the same number as the recesses 21 and each of them is a condenser lens. It houses 20.

The side wall 28 of the bell 25 has a small diameter portion 31 adjacent to the groove 29.
And a large diameter portion 32 that faces the wall 22 and is joined to the small diameter portion 31 by an annular shoulder portion 33.

Two annular flanges 34 and 35 extend radially inward from the inner surface of the wall 28 such that a first flange near the shoulder 33 and a second flange near the free end of the wall 28 face the wall 22, A hole 36 having a cylindrical diameter which is coaxial with the shaft 10 and accommodates a second bearing 37 for supporting the roller 1 is defined on the shaft 10.

Adjacent to the flange 35, the side wall 28 has an outer ring gear 38.
This gear 38 forms a drive (not shown) which is rotatably supported on the wall 22 and rotates the roller 1 about its axis at a constant speed applied in the opposite direction of the rollers 4 and 5. It meshes with the connected gear 39.

Rotating device 1 shown as an example in FIGS. 3 and 4.
4 is divided into two groups of gear chains 40 and 41 which cooperate with alternating pairs of recesses 21. In other words, when one of the pairs of recesses 21 cooperates with one gear chain 40, for example, two adjacent pairs of recesses 21 have a gear chain 41.
Cooperate with.

Each gear chain 40 comprises a rocker arm 42, which comprises a pivot pin 43 having an axis parallel to the axis of the bell 25. Each pin 43 has a flange 34
A tappet roller 46, which is rotatably engaged with each through hole 44 formed through the hole, and whose end facing the wall 26 is perpendicular to the pin 43 and whose free end moves along the cam 47. Is integrally connected to the first arm 45 linked to the. The cam 47 is integral with the shaft 10 and has a working surface formed about the axis of the shaft 10 itself.

At the end facing the wall 22, each pin 43 is integrally connected to a second arm, which extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 10 and moves along the cam 50. The fan-shaped gear 48 is integrated with the tappet roller 49. The cam 50 is integral with the shaft 10 and has a working surface formed around the axis of the shaft 10 itself. Each fan gear 48 has 2
Mesh with two gears 51, each of which has a shaft
10 is parallel to 10, and one end thereof penetrates the hole 53 of the bell 25 adjacent to the shoulder 33, and the other end thereof is the hole 5 of the flange 35.
It is fitted on each shaft 52 which is rotatably mounted through the shaft 4.

The end of the shaft 52 facing the wall 26 extends through the holes 53 to the outside of the bell 25, extends outside the portion 31 of the wall 28 and defines each recess 21. Are integrally connected to an axial accessory 55 having. Each of the recesses 21 has a discharge groove 56 that runs along it and communicates with a duct 57, the duct 57 extending along each axis 52 and facing the wall 22 to a discharge source not shown. It communicates with the discharge groove 58 which communicates.

The groove 58 is formed on the entire surface of the annular distribution plate 59, and
And 5 extend around the axis of the shaft 10 over essentially the entire arc between the points of contact with the roller 1.

The distributor plate 59 is axially slidably mounted on a cylindrical bush 60 which is coaxial with the shaft 10 and integral with the wall 22, so that the distributor plate 59 flexibly contacts the end of the shaft 52 by a number of springs 61. Is held. Each gear chain 41 includes a large number of rocker arms 62, and each of the rocker arms includes a pivot pin 63 that is rotatably mounted through each through hole 64 formed in the flange 35.

The rocker arms 62 are essentially the same as the rocker arms 42, each of the rocker arms 62 being the same as the arm 45 and having a tappet roller 66, and the same as the sector gear 48 and the tappet roller. 68
And a fan-shaped gear 67 having

Each roller 68 is mounted in contact with the working surface of the cam 50, while each roller 66 is integral with the shaft 10 and has its working surface formed about the axis of the shaft 10 itself. It is attached in contact with two cams 69.

Each sector gear 67 meshes with two gears 51, which pair of recesses 2 are located between two pairs of adjacent recesses 21 controlled by each sector gear 48.
It is mounted on each shaft 52 corresponding to 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cams 47 and 69 along which the rollers 46 and 66 run, respectively, are identical, each including a lower portion 70, a higher portion 71 and two sloping merged portions. When each recess 21 runs on a perforating arc 73 which forms a working surface consisting of 72 and whose opening essentially coincides with the opening of the slit 17, the roller 46
And 66 run continuously along the central portion of one of the ramps 72.

The cam 50, on the other hand, has alternating rollers 49 and 68 running along it and, like the cams 47 and 69, forms a lower portion 74, a higher portion 75 and two beveled merging portions 76. , The corresponding rollers 46 and 66 are attached to each cam 4
When traveling along the central portion of the inclined portion 72 on 7 or 69, the rollers 49 and 68 continuously run along the central portion of one of the two inclined portions 76.

When the bell 25 is rotated by the drive gear 39, the rollers 46 and 66 roll along the working surface of each cam 47 and 69, and the rollers 49 and 68 roll along the working surface of the cam 50.

When one roller 46 rolls away from the lower portion 70 on the cam 47 and begins rolling along one of the sloped portions 72,
The corresponding roller 49 rolls away from the corresponding lower portion 74 on the cam 50 and begins rolling along the corresponding inclined portion 76 on this cam.

As the rollers 46 and 49 roll along the corresponding ramps 72 and 76, the corresponding rocker arm 42 and thus the corresponding sector gear 48 correspond between the two distinct end angles. It will be gradually rotated around the axes of the pins 43, so that the two corresponding accessories 55 will be rotated around these axes.

The drive ratio between each sector gear 48 and corresponding gear 51 is typically
Angular movement of the sector gear 48 between the two end angles is such as to rotate the accessory 55 by more than 360 ° about these axes. Obviously, said rollers 46 and 49
As and roll along other pairs of corresponding ramps 72 and 76, accessory 55 is rotated in the opposite direction to return to their original position.

In the device described above, three cams 47, 50 and 69 are used exclusively for specific structural requirements, eg a single cam 50 allows positive two-way guidance for rollers 49 and 68. Having two grooves on opposite sides thereof is sufficient to allow angular control of the fan gears 48 and 67, and therefore the cams 47 and 69 and the roller 4.
6 and 66 can be omitted.

Furthermore, the reason why the two gear chain devices 40 and 41 are provided is that it is necessary to keep the diameter of the roller 1 within a certain range. In fact, if the diameter of the roller 1 and thus the diameter of the cam were to be very large, all of the rocker arms 42 and 62 would be located on the same side of the cam 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, after passing through the slit 17 and being redirected radially outward by the mirror 16, the ray 8 impinges on the lens 18, which directs this ray on the axis 10. Spread in a direction perpendicular to the axis of. The diffused rays on the facing lens 19 are parallel to the axis of the axis 10 in such a way that they define a "spread" of light whose width is as constant as possible and equal to the diameter of at least a number of lenses 20. Is further diffused into.

Furthermore, at least in the device shown, the shaft 10
The size of the widened rays in the plane perpendicular to the axis of and which corresponds to the size of the perforating arc 73 is such that it passes through at least four consecutive lenses 20 simultaneously.

As the roller 1 rotates, a plurality of cigarettes 2 travel on the alternating perforation arcs 73 and at the same time the cams 47, 50.
Corresponding rollers 46 and 49 or 68 and 66 rolling along ramped portions 72 and 76 on and 69 rotate these cigarettes about their respective axes.

More specifically, before reaching the perforation arc 73, these cigarettes 2 begin to rotate about their own axis until they reach an essentially constant rotational speed, which constant rotational speed It is maintained over the opening arc, and at the end of this arc, the rotation speed of the cigarette 2 gradually decreases toward zero. Moreover, the angular movement of the rocker arms 42 and 62 by the inclined portions 72 and 76 is such that essentially full rotation of the cigarette 2 about its axis takes place while the cigarette 2 travels over the perforation arc 73.

Finally, the pulsation frequency of the laser source 7 is 73
The number of pulses emitted during the time expended by each cigarette traveling above is equal to the number of holes 13 to be drilled in each cigarette.

With respect to the above description, because of the special rotating device 14, each cigarette 2 is rotated around its axis without any rotational distortion, and the drilled holes 13 are very clean and precise, It should be emphasized that this is due to the essentially absence of relative movement between each cigarette 2 and each lens 20.

With respect to lenses 18 and 19, the expanded light spread produced by these lenses and as described above can be obtained by using one or more lenses in a way that is not different from said lenses 18 and 19. .

With respect to the length of the light spread, i.e., the length of the perforation arc 73, its length corresponding to the space occupied by at least four lenses is solely for the intended structural reason, On the one hand it is possible to use a laser source 7 which is as small as possible, and on the other hand it is emphasized that the cigarette 2 keeps within a certain range its rotational speed around its axis while moving on the perforating arc 73. Should be.

Finally, each fan gear 48 and 67 has two consecutive recesses 2
The fact that 1 is applied is also due to structural reasons: each recess 21 and one respective fan gear is applied or each fan gear has three or more recesses 21. One rotating unit to control would be fully feasible.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the invention, the cigarette conveying device and the piercing device are mounted on the same support, so that no relative movement occurs between these two devices and therefore the moving paper Cigarettes can be punched with precisely shaped and regularly arranged holes.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a front view of the punching device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main portion of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is clear. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of FIG. 1 ... Supply roller, 2 ... Cigarette, 3 ... Assembling machine, 4 ... Supply roller, 6 ... Drilling device, 7 ... Laser source, 8 ... Laser beam, 11 ... Diffuser, 12 ... … Condensing device, 14 …… Rotating device, 18,19 …… Lens, 20 …… Condensing lens, 21 …… Concave, 42,62 …… Rocker arm, 48,67 …… Fan gear, 47,50 , 69 …… Cam, 51 …… Gear.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device for punching holes (13) in rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, said device comprising a conveyor (1).
A plurality of moving recesses which are supported on the conveyor (1) transversely to the direction of travel of the conveyor (1) and each of which accommodates the respective article, and a pulsating laser beam ( 8) A device comprising a laser source (7) adapted to emit and a focusing device (12) adapted to continuously focus the laser beam (8) on the moving article (2), The condensing device (12), for each of the recesses (21), traveling together with the conveyor (1) and along a given path together with the conveyor (1); And a rotating device (14) supported on the conveyor (1) for rotating each recess (21) about its own axis.