JPH0646820A - Method and machine for preparing filter tow material - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely prepare a filter tow by a high machine output by moving two tow ropes simultaneously pulled out from a tow material storing part in an adjacent state, simultaneously expanding, elonging and processing them so as to supply to a next processing part in a parallel state. CONSTITUTION: The tow ropes 4 and 6 simultaneously pulled out from the tow material storing part 7 are moved along mutually adjacent two tow guiding routes 2 and 3. The two tow ropes are simultaneously expanded by an expansion nozzle 14, elonged by a elonging device 16, simultaneously processed by an applying device 29, etc., and supplied for a filter continuous body processing unit 44.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a continuous method of cigarette filters, in which rope-shaped filter tow material is drawn from a tow material store, widened, drawn and treated with at least one additive material. A method for preparing a filtered material for manufacturing.

Furthermore, the invention belongs to the tow guide / feed means for widening, stretching and treating the filter tow rope, the tow guide / feed means and the filter tow rope with an additive material, in particular a softening agent. And a machine for preparing a filter tow rope for producing a cigarette filter by a continuous method.

[0003]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Such machines are described, for example, in US Pat.
511,420 and US Pat. No. 5,060,
No. 664 is known. These known machines use conventional methods to draw a filter tow rope (e.g. cellulose acetate filament) from the package, widen it, stretch it, and treat it with a softening agent to prepare it into the desired shape component for further processing. Delivered to a filter continuum processing unit, which is wrapped with a tape of coating material from the prepared filter rope to make a filter continuum, and finally the filter continuum is used for cigarettes or other tobacco products. Is cut into filter rods.

[0004]

The problem underlying the present invention is to further improve a machine of the type described at the outset.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, the above-mentioned problem resides in a method of the type mentioned at the outset, in which two tow ropes are withdrawn simultaneously from the tow material reservoir, the filter tow ropes are placed next to each other. By moving along two tow guideways, widening, stretching and processing these filter tow ropes simultaneously, and feeding these filter tow ropes in parallel to the next processing section. Will be resolved.

According to the present invention having the above structure, the filter tow ropes extend laterally in parallel with each other,
Alternatively, it can be moved in two side-by-side tow guideways that extend essentially vertically above and below each other. In this second method, the filter tow ropes are guided together vertically and are moved over each other along at least a predetermined guide portion, in which case they are widened, stretched and / or with additive material. It is processed.

With this configuration according to the invention, a significant productivity increase in the manufacture of filters can be achieved with a low structural and mechanical outlay. Other configurations of the method according to the invention are set forth in the appended claims for the method.

In a machine according to the invention of the type described at the outset, the problem underlying the invention is the squid,
That is, the filter tow storage contains two filter tow ropes, the tow guide and feeding means are provided with two tow guide paths, and the filter tow ropes are widened and extended in these tow guide paths. It is solved by the membership of the means for processing.

In this machine, according to the invention, at least one of the means for widening, stretching and treating the tow rope is provided in common for both tow guideways. A common unit or at least a unit which is driven together, such as rollers or roller pairs, in both tow guideways reduces the structural and mechanical costs.
In addition, it is useful for uniformly treating the filter tow rope in both tow guideways.

In another arrangement according to the invention, at least one of the widening, stretching and treating means for individually treating the filter tow ropes is independently controllable in both tow guideways. It is provided in. With this configuration, the tow guideways are separately provided for business. With this configuration, it is possible to homogenize the products (continuity of the filter, the filter rod) made by the two tow guide paths, even if there is a difference. In this way, products with equal properties in both tow guideways are produced.

Due to the advantageous construction according to the invention, each tow guideway is associated with a respectively controllable stretching device for individually stretching the filter tow rope.

The drawing device is particularly well suited for treating filter ropes separately in both tow guideways. Because the characteristics of the product from which this stretching device is manufactured,
This is because, for example, it directly affects the density or the tensile resistance. That is, the properties are mutually homogenized by individual treatments by stretching the filter ropes in both tow guideways of the article to be produced.

Other configurations of the machine according to the invention are set forth in the appended claims relating to the machine. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0014]

1 and 2, a machine according to the invention for widening a filter tow rope for producing a cigarette filter by a continuous process is shown schematically in side and plan views. In this case, the respective drawings show only the parts necessary for understanding the present invention. Mechanical elements that are common to the mechanical construction of the machine, such as the machine base, holding parts, bearings or linings, have not been shown in order to improve the view of the drawing. The same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in both drawings.

The filter tow preparation machine 1 illustrated in the drawing comprises, according to the invention, two tow guideways 2 and 3, which guide two filter ropes 4 and 6 side by side through the machine. ing. The filter ropes 4 and 6 are pulled out from a filter tow storage unit 7 in which two filter tow packages 8 and 9 are provided in parallel. Unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the filter ropes 4 and 6 may be stored in a common bale.

Above the filter tow storage 7, the machine is equipped with a turning and toe widening mechanism 11, which comprises two equal and parallel tow guides 12. Widening nozzles 13 and 14 are provided in front of the work upstream of the turning mechanism 11 and in front of the work downstream,
These widening nozzles act on the filter ropes 4 and 6, respectively.

A two-line drawing device 16 is connected to the second widening nozzle 14. This stretching device consists of a pair of braking rollers 17 and 18, which individually belong to both tow guide paths 2 and 3, a first driven stretching roller pair 19 and a second driven stretching roller pair 21. Operating mechanisms 22 and 23 belong to the braking roller pair 17 and 18, and the braking force applied to the filter rope by the braking roller pair is adjusted by these operating mechanisms. As the operating mechanisms 22 and 23, an electric braking mechanism for transmitting a braking moment to the braking roller may be provided, or a hydraulic or pneumatic means for exerting a pressing force on the braking roller may be provided.

The first stretching roller pair 19 has a driving mechanism 24.
The second stretching roller pair 21 is connected to the drive mechanism 26. The second stretching roller pair 21 is driven at a peripheral speed higher than that of the first stretching roller pair 19, so that the filter ropes 4 and 6 are stretched at a constant value between the stretching roller pairs 19 and 21. As can be seen from FIG. 2, both stretching roller pairs 19 and 21 capture both filter ropes 4 and 6 to the same extent. In contrast, the filter ropes 4 and 6 have separate braking roller pairs 17 and 18, respectively.

On the upstream side of the work, another widening nozzle 27 is provided in front of the braking device 16, and the widening nozzle is provided so as to uniformly act on both toe guide paths 2 and 3. Following the widening nozzle 27 in the feeding direction 28 of the filter tow rope, there is provided an applicator 29 for applying the softening agent liquid to the widened filter rope as a means for treating the filter tow rope with the additive material. Has been. The coating device 29 includes a housing 31 that covers the entire tow guide paths 2 and 3. Within this housing is a cylindrical rotating brush 32 which is driven in a known manner by a motor 33. The supply of the softening agent is carried out on the lower side of the housing through one or a plurality of slits 34. The softener is applied to these slits from the softener reservoir 37 by the pump 36. Excess softener is returned to softener reservoir 37 via return conduit 38. As can be seen in the drawing, two pumps 36 are provided, which supply the tow guideways via slits 34 individually and in a constant amount of softener.
The amount of this softening agent is adjusted by the flow rate control unit 39. This allows two other things besides the individual tow stretching by the individually adjustable braking roller pairs 17 and 18, namely individually adjusting the properties of the filter tow rope, and of the product made from the filter tow rope. It is possible to make the quality uniform.

Following the coating device 29, transfer rollers 42 and 43 driven by a motor 41 are provided. These transfer rows feed them in parallel with one another into a filter continuum processing unit 44 for further processing of the filter rope, in which the filter rope is processed and formed into a filter continuum,
It is then cut into sections of suitable length, in particular so-called filter rods. This filter continuum processing unit 44
Are not the subject of the present invention and will not be described in further detail here.

The filter continuum processing unit 44 comprises measuring means 46 and 47 which detect at least one characteristic of the product produced in both continuous guide paths of the machine and give a corresponding signal. It is given to the evaluation device 48. The evaluation device 48 compares the measurement signals of both measuring means 46 and 47 with each other and, if these measurement signals do not match, forms a corresponding difference signal. Depending on this difference signal, either one of the operating mechanisms 22 and 23 or both of them is controlled, and if it is determined that the characteristics of the products coming from both continuum guide paths are different, this characteristic is homogenized.

The measuring means 46 and 47 are further connected to a comparison mechanism 49, which is itself connected on the output side to a control mechanism 51, which in turn is connected to a reference value generator 52. There is. This comparison mechanism 49 compares the measured values obtained from both measuring means 46 and 47 and gives a comparison signal to the control mechanism 51. This comparison signal is measured by both measuring means 46.
If the measured values obtained from ## EQU1 ## and ## EQU23 ## are in agreement within a predetermined tolerance limit, then the values of the measured characteristics of the products in the two continuum guideways are indicated. This comparison signal provided by the comparison mechanism 49 is compared with the reference value stored in the characteristic reference value generator 52. If the comparison signals representing the characteristics are different, the control mechanism 51 issues a control signal, which activates the drive means 41, 24, 26 and 33 and the pump 36 in synchronism. As a result, the speed of the filter toe adjusting machine 1 is increased by the filter continuum processing unit 44.
Compared with the above, and in this case, the speed ratio in the filter toe adjusting machine 1 does not change. This provides a feedback of the reference values of the properties of the manufactured products to the reference values of these products.

The properties here of primary concern for the product made from the filter tow rope are the density and weight of the filter continuum produced and / or the ventilation resistance of the filter rods cut from this filter continuum. is there. Of course, other characteristics of these products are also detected and used as basic data for controlling the filter toe adjusting machine 1. As a measuring means for detecting the density and weight of the filter continuum, there is a radiation measuring device known per se or a density measuring device for transmitting infrared rays into the continuous film. In order to measure the ventilation resistance of the cut filter rod, a test of known structure is provided with a pneumatic test pressure on this filter rod and with pneumatic measuring means for detecting this test pressure on this filter rod. A drum is provided.

In operation, the two filter tow ropes 4 and 6 are drawn out from the filter tow storage unit 7, widened by the first widening nozzle 13 and turned through the turning roller 11, and further widened by the widening nozzle 14. After that, it is transferred into the stretching device 16. The filter tow ropes 4 and 6 are moved from the filter tow storage unit 7 to the turning roller 1 by their own weight.
The first pre-stretching is carried out on the way to 1, and the pre-stretching is followed by the individual stretching of both filter tow ropes between the braking roller pairs 17, 18 and the first stretching roller pair 19 of the stretching device 16. Be seen. This individual stretching is done by a pair of braking rollers 17,1
Depending on the density difference or the ventilation resistance difference of the products made from the filter tow rope by the operating mechanisms 22 and 23 belonging to No. 8, the properties of these products are proportional to each other and kept as constant as possible. Controlled to

Both filter tow ropes 4 and 6 on one side between the braking roller pair 17 and the first stretching roller pair 19,
On the other hand, after the first stretching between the braking roller pair 18 and the first stretching roller pair 19, with respect to these filter tow ropes 4 and 6, roller pairs 19 and 21 driven at appropriately different speeds. Common stretching takes place in the stretching zones between. After this stretching, the filter tow rope is again widened by the widening nozzle 27 before entering the coating device 29 where the treatment with the softening agent is performed. The supply of softeners is made separately by pumps 36 for both filter tow ropes 4 and 6 and adjusted individually. This method also makes it possible to optimize the widening of the filter tow rope. This method makes it possible to work by controlling the properties of the products made from both filter tow ropes which differ from each other or when trying to reach the constant properties of this product.

After the filter tow rope is treated with the softening agent, it is sent to the filter continuum processing unit via the transfer rollers 42 and 43 for the next processing. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 53 indicates a dividing device. This dividing device radiates a divided flow from the compressed air nozzle 54 toward the tow guideway. The compressed air nozzle is associated with a compressed air source 56. The dividing device 53 draws from the filter tow storage 7 only one filter tow rope having a double use width and, as described above, before the actual widening process in the stretching device 16 is started. It makes it possible to divide into two filter tow ropes to be processed in both tow guideways 2,3. After the divided flow passes through the tow guide path, the divided flow is led out via the air guide portion 57. Instead of this split-flow nozzle, it is also possible to use mechanical splitting means, for example split rods or similar means.

FIG. 1 shows stationary deflection rollers 11 for both filter tow ropes 4 and 6 through which the tow ropes are pulled. In this case, instead of this stationary plate, it is also possible to provide one or two pairs of deflecting or braking rollers 17 and 18 which rotate freely in synchronization.

The second embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in a side view and a plan view. For purposes of illustrating the present invention, a simplified drawing has been employed which illustrates substantially only the attachment of tow guideways 58 and 59. These tow guideways 58 and 59
1 is different from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that they are provided above and below each other in a vertical plane. The same elements as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.

The filter tow store 7 in this embodiment comprises two tow bins 8 and 9. Moreover, these tow packages are provided one behind the other in a different manner than in the embodiment according to FIG. Through the turning rollers 11a and 11b, the filter tow ropes 61 and 62 are pulled out from the tow packages 8 and 9, and are supplied to the first processing stage 63 substantially vertically and vertically. Through this processing stage, these filter tow ropes are passed by two lines which are spaced one above the other. This first processing stage 63 comprises the same means as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for widening both filter tow ropes, for example a widening nozzle and tow guideways 58 and 5.
A pair of drawing rollers 19 belonging to each of
Together with the braking roller pair 17 and 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, forming the first stage of the stretching device 16, not shown here.
Eight separate pairs of braking rollers are provided. The separately processed filter tow ropes in the first processing stage 63 are merged in the stretching roller pair 19, so that these filter tow ropes are formed into two layers of filter tow ropes 64, which are of the stretching device 16. In the second processing stage, stretching is performed between the stretching roller pair 19 rotating at a slow rotation speed and the stretching roller pair 21 rotating at a rapid rotation speed. Following this treatment, the filter tow ropes are again guided away from one another and then pass through the treatment device 66 at a distance above and below each other. In the processing device 66, each filter tow rope is separately supplied with an additive material, for example, a conventional softening agent. The filter tow rope 61 thus widened, stretched and treated with a softening agent
And 62 are then separately separated by the filter continuum processing unit 4
No. 4, and in the filter continuum processing unit, these filter tow ropes are coated with a filter-coated paper tape to prepare filter rods.

As already mentioned in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2,
In this embodiment as well, the characteristics of the produced filter continuum or articles cut from these filter continuums are detected and used for the control of individual processing steps. In this way, even in the embodiment corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4, it is possible to produce a product having completely uniform characteristics in both tow guide paths. The process for making this possible can be inferred from the configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0031]

The present invention has the advantage that a high mechanical output can be achieved even when the speed is reduced. Along with this, a filter tow adjustment is ensured which ensures a gentle and high product quality during tow preparation. The possibility of separate treatment of the filter tow rope in both tow guideways guarantees a consistent product in both tow guideways. Product quality monitoring in both tow guideways allows for the individual correction of quality defects or deviations from quality standards that may occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a filter toe rope preparation machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of each of the tow guideways according to the invention with the processing unit shown together.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing only a toe guide portion according to another embodiment of the toe guide path.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing only a toe guide portion according to another embodiment of the toe guide path.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Filter tow rope continuum preparation machine 2, 3, 58, 59 Tow guideway 4, 6; 61, 62 Filter tow rope 7 Filter tow storage unit 8, 9 Tow bale 11, 11a, 11b Rolling roller 12 Tow guide unit 13, 14,27 Widening nozzle 16 Stretching device 17,18 Braking roller pair 19 First stretching roller pair 21 Second stretching roller pair 22,23 Operation mechanism 24,26 Stretching roller driving mechanism 29 Coating device 31 Housing 32 Brush 33 Brush motor 37 Softening agent storage section 38 Return conduit 39 Flow control section 42, 43 Transfer roller 44 Filter continuum processing unit 46, 47 Measuring means 48 Evaluation means 49 Comparison means 51 Control means 52 Reference value generator 53 Dividing device 54 Compressed air nozzle 56 Compressed air source 63 First treatment stage 64 Two-layer stage 66 Treatment Equipment

Front page continued (72) Uwe Heitmann, Federal Republic of Germany, Hamburg 80, Scherstraße, 3 (72) Inventor Wolfgang Wiese, Federal Republic of Germany, Hanwalde, Goethtachter Strasse, 8

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A filter tow material for the manufacture of a cigarette filter by a continuous process in which a rope-shaped filter tow material is drawn from a tow material reservoir, widened, drawn and treated with at least one additive material. In the method for preparing, the two tow ropes are simultaneously withdrawn from the tow material storage, the filter tow ropes are moved along two adjacent tow guideways, and these filter tow ropes are A process for the preparation of a filter tow rope, characterized in that it simultaneously widens, stretches and processes, and that these filter tow ropes are juxtaposed in parallel and fed to the next processing section. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the filter tow rope is moved in two tow guideways running parallel to each other for widening, stretching and processing. 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the filter tow rope is moved laterally in two tow guideways running parallel to each other, widened, stretched and treated. 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the filter tow rope is moved essentially vertically in two tow guideways running one above the other, widened, stretched and treated. . 5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the filter tow ropes are guided together and moved as a two-layer filter tow rope one above the other along at least one predetermined path. 6. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the filter tow ropes are widened one above the other, drawn and / or treated. 7. A filter tow storage, tow guide and feed means and means belonging to said tow guide and feed means for widening, stretching and treating the filter tow rope with an additive material, especially a softening agent. A machine for preparing a filter tow rope for producing a cigarette filter by a continuous method, comprising: a filter tow store (7)
Includes two filter tow ropes (4, 6; 61, 62), the tow guide and feed means comprises two tow guideways (2; 3, 58, 59), and these Filter tow rope, characterized in that means for widening, stretching and treating the filter tow rope (4, 6; 61, 62) belong to the tow guideway (2; 3, 58, 59). Machine for preparing. 8. A filter tow rope (4, 6; 61, 6)
2) means for widening, stretching and treating (13,
At least one of 14, 16, 19, 21, 21, 27, 29, 63, 66) has both toe guideways (2; 3, 58, 59)
8. A machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it is provided in common for 9. A filter tow rope (4, 6; 61, 6)
At least one of the widening, stretching and treating means (17, 18, 36; 63, 66) for individually treating 2) is provided in both tow guideways (2, 3; 58, 59). 9. Machine according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is provided separately controllable. 10. Each tow guideway (2; 3, 58, 5)
9) The relevant filter toe rope (4, 6; 61, 62)
Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that each of them has a separately controllable stretching device (17, 18, 19) for individually stretching. 11. Machine according to claim 7, wherein the tow guideways (2, 3) are oriented essentially in the same plane as one another. 12. The tow guideways (58, 59) are provided at least partially at a predetermined distance in a substantially vertical direction and are oriented vertically above and below each other. Machine described in one. 13. At least one of the means (16) for widening, stretching and treating the filter tow ropes (61, 62) is designed as a single wire preparation stage.
The tow guide / feed means (63, 19) collectively guides the filter tow rope to form a double layer filter tow rope (64).
Machine according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises means for forming a double layer and feeding this two-layered filter tow rope through a single wire preparation stage (16). 14. At least part of the stretching device (16) is formed as a single-wire preparation stage, in which the filter tow ropes (61, 62) are moved up and down relative to one another and simultaneously drawn. The machine according to claim 13, wherein the machine is configured as follows. 15. Both tow guideways (2; 3, 58, 59)
Of the stretching rollers (16, 17, 18, 19; 63) commonly driven, and a pair of braking rollers (19) that can be individually controlled by operating devices (22, 23) in each tow guide path. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a machine (17, 18). 16. A stretching device (16) is provided with both tow guide paths (2; 3, 5) upstream of the working of the first pair of stretching rollers (19).
8, 59) with another pair of stretching rollers (21) common to them, and the peripheral speed of the other pair of stretching rollers is higher than the peripheral speed of the first pair of stretching rollers. The machine according to any one of Items 10 to 15. 17. Dual filter tow ropes as means for treating the filter tow rope with an additive material.
At least one application chamber (31) with a tow guide for application and a means (32, 34) for applying the additive material to the filter tow rope, and each tow guide 17. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that it has associated with it a separately controllable supply means (36) for supplying the additive material separately to the application means. 18. Each filter tow rope (2, 3)
Is provided with a tow turning and widening mechanism (11) at a predetermined height from the filter tow storage section (7), and of the stretching device belonging to the tow guideway as the tow turning and widening mechanism. 18. A machine as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that a pair of braking rollers is provided. 19. The filter tow storage (7) comprises two separate filter tow packs (8, 9) and each tow guide and feed means of the tow guideways (2; 3, 58, 59) comprises a tow guide. Machine according to any one of claims 7 to 18, characterized in that it is arranged to withdraw the filter tow rope (4, 6; 61, 62) from each one of the packages. 20. A filter tow store (7) comprising two separately removable filter tow ropes (4, 6; 61, 62) in a single bale, and a tow guideway (2). Each of the tow guide and feed means of (3,58,59) is configured to withdraw one filter tow rope from a common bale. Machine described in one. 21. The filter tow storage (7) in the package is provided with a filter tow rope having a double use width, and the tow guide / feeding means is configured to pull out the filter tow double the package from the package. In addition, a dividing device (53) for dividing the doubled filter tow rope into two filter tow ropes having a use width of one line belongs to the tow guide / feed means. A machine according to any one of claims 7 to 18. 22. Machine according to claim 21, characterized in that a dividing device (53) is provided upstream of the work and before the stretching device (16). 23. Measuring means (46, 47) for separately detecting at least one characteristic of a product made from both widened filter taut ropes (4, 6) and forming a corresponding measuring signal. Being provided and this measuring means being connected to a comparison mechanism (48),
The comparison mechanism is configured to compare the measurement signals obtained on the products of both filter tow ropes (4, 6) and to form a difference signal from the difference generated between these measurement signals. A machine according to any one of claims 7 to 22. 24. A comparison mechanism (48) is connected to at least one preparation stage operating device (22, 23) acting on the treatment of at least one filter tow rope (4, 6), and this comparison 24. Machine according to claim 23, characterized in that the mechanism is arranged to control the operating device so that the measured signals are balanced with each other in dependence on the difference signal. 25. At least one of the measuring means (46, 47) is associated with a control mechanism (49, 51), which control mechanism determines the actual value of the measurement signal indicative of the detected characteristic of the product. It is arranged to compare the reference value of the characteristic given by the reference value generator (52) with the reference value signal representing it and to form a correction signal when a difference between the measured signal and the reference value signal occurs. , And the drive mechanism (24, 26, 33, 36, 41) of the feeding means in which the control mechanism (49, 51) belongs to both tow guideways (2, 3) commonly depend on the correction signal. 25. Machine according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that it is arranged to provide control such that different actual values are fed back to a reference value.