WO2011066911A1

WO2011066911A1 - Method and apparatus for changing tow bales

Info

Publication number: WO2011066911A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/007079
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephan Wolff; Sönke Horn; Matthias Bogusch; Bastian Benz; Andreas Tönsmann
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau Ag
Priority date: 2009-12-02
Filing date: 2010-11-23
Publication date: 2011-06-09
Also published as: DE102009047408A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for changing tow bales (51, 53), which are transported in or on bale supports (52, 54) and from which filter tow strips (4) are supplied to a filter rod machine (1, 2) in order to form a filter rod (4a), wherein a filter tow strip (4) is removed from a first tow bale (51) arranged in a removal position (64, 84, 111, 111 ', 121, 121 ') and supplied to a filter rod machine (1, 2), a second tow bale (53) is moved into an exchange position (61, 83, 110, 110', 120, 120'), one end (55) of the filter tow strip (4) of the first tow bale (51) is connected to a beginning (56) of a filter tow strip of the second tow bale (53), and, in order to change the tow bale (51, 53), a bale support (52) of the first tow bale (51) is moved from the removal position (64, 84, 111, 111', 121, 121') into a conveying-away position (66, 83, 110, 110', 120, 120') and the second tow bale (53) is moved from the exchange position (61, 83, 110, 110', 120, 120') into the removal position (64, 111, 111', 121, 121'). The method according to the invention is distinguished in that the conveying-away movement of the bale support (52) of the first tow bale (51) runs vertically below the movement of the second tow bale (53) into the removal position (64, 84, 111, 111', 121, 121').

Description

Method and device for changing towballs Description

The invention relates to a method for changing towballs which are transported in or on bale pads and from which filter towers are fed to a filter rod machine for forming a filter strand, wherein a filter tow is removed from a first towball arranged in a removal position and fed to a filter rod machine, a second Towballen is moved to an exchange position, one end of the filter tow band of the first Towballens is connected to a beginning of a filter tow strip of the second Towballens and wherein for changing the Towballen a completely or substantially empty bale pad of the first Towballens from the removal position to a discharge position and the second Towballen is moved from the exchange position to the removal position. The invention further relates to corresponding devices.

CONFIRMATION COPY Filter tow, which is used to make filter rods for smokable articles of the tobacco processing industry, usually consists predominantly of cellulose acetate filaments or similar materials. Filtertow is supplied for further processing as a quasi-silent filter tow, which is highly compressed in the form of towballs. The towballs have a weight of several 100 kg and are individually or successively on their documents, such as pallets, or conveyed in their containers and optionally with packaging material to a filter rod machine.

The beginning and the end of the filter tow are at defined positions out of the towball so that the filter tow can be introduced into the filter rod machine with its beginning, while the end of the filter tow can be connected to the beginning of the filter tow of a subsequent bale. As connecting means, for example, welds or adhesions are used. So an uninterrupted feeding of the filter rod machine with filter tow is possible.

The feeding of a filter rod machine with a filter tow strip or a double-strand filter rod machine with two filter tow strips can take place in different ways. When towballs are disposed in the vicinity of the filter rod machine, the filter tow is usually passed through a guide ring and a gallows in the filter rod machine. If the towballs are further away, for example in another room, a pneumatic filter tow can be used. A corresponding filter trough channel is described by way of example in DE 43 00 841 A1.

EP 1 800 553 A1 discloses an exchange device for towballs. in which towballs are introduced successively from one side. The beginning of the filter tow strip of a freshly fed towball is connected to the end of the filter tow strip of the previous towball. The container or pad of a spent towball is carried out to the other side. Thus, two entrances and three parking spaces for towballs or their documents or containers are required in order to supply new towballs to the apparatus and to reclaim the documents or containers and the packaging material from spent towballs.

In contrast, the present invention has the object to enable the change of towballs with a small footprint and low cost.

This object is achieved by a method for changing towbales, which are transported in or on bale pads and from which filter towers are fed to a filter rod machine for forming a filter strand, wherein a filter tow is removed from a first towball arranged in a removal position and fed to a filter rod machine a second towball is moved to an exchange position, one end of the filter tow strip of the first towball is connected to a beginning of a filter tow strip of the second towball, and wherein for changing the tow ball a completely or substantially deflated pad backing the first towball from the picking position to a discharge position and the second towball is moved from the exchange position to the removal position, which is developed by the fact that the movement of the removal of the bale pad of the first towball vertically below the movement of the second n Towballens runs into the removal position. Here and below, according to the invention, a bale support is always understood as meaning a bale container and / or optionally packaging material. Accordingly, the delivery of a bale support, a bale container and / or packaging material of the spent bale is understood in accordance with the invention. By "substantially deflated" is understood according to the invention that the complete emptying is imminent, so that it is carried out in the removal of the bale support, without the removal of the filter tinfoil has been hindered by the removal, for example, by contact between the filter tow and parts of a rallies device.

The invention is based on the basic idea that instead of a space-consuming sideways movement takes place a staggering of the movements in the vertical. It is thus consumed for the feeding of fresh bales and the removal of spent bales less floor space, since both conveyor movements share the same footprint. The method according to the invention has the further advantage that the replacement position and the discharge position are in close spatial proximity to one another and thus with access both the charging with a fresh towball and the delivery of a bale pad, a bale container and / or the packaging material from one position is possible.

The filter tow is arranged horizontally in the towballen so that the height of the towball decreases continuously when the filter tow is removed. In an advantageous development, therefore, the first towball is moved during the removal of the filter tow strip, in particular vertically, wherein in particular In particular, a height of the top of the first Towballens is kept constant. Since the towball is arranged adjustable in height during the removal in the removal position, it is achieved that the distance of the surface of the filter towball remains constant to a removal device, in particular by keeping constant the height of the surface of the Towballens during removal of the filter tow from the Towballen. As a result, the removal of the filter tow strip from the towbale is kept uniform, which contributes to a uniform quality and density of the produced filter strand.

Preferably, the discharge position is arranged vertically below the exchange position or coincides with the exchange position. In both cases it is possible to set fresh towballs from one position to the replacement position and to remove used bale materials from the discharge position. This can be done for example by means of a forklift, which initially loads a fresh towballen in the upper exchange position and then removes a spent bale pad from the discharge position and abfördert.

Preferably, the movement of the bale pad of the first towball is completed in the discharge position before or while the second tow ball is moved to the removal position. This also means that the movement of the first towball and of the second towball can take place simultaneously or the movement of the first towball begins before the movement of the second towball. In this way it is avoided that the discharged bale pad and the promoted fresh second towball block each other.

In order to achieve an advantageous fast Towballenwechsel, Preferably, the removal of the filter tow strip from the second towball before the second tow ball has reached the removal position, in particular while the second tow ball is still in the exchange position. In this way, the removal of the filter tow strip is continued continuously and it is no machine stop necessary for the bale change. As soon as the removal position has been cleared, the second towballen is moved to the removal position.

Preferably, for connecting the end of the filter tow strip of the first towball to the beginning of the filter tow strip of the second towball, the first tow ball is moved from the picking position to the exchange position while the filter tow tire is withdrawn from the first tow ball and before the second tow ball is brought to the exchange position in that, when the first towball has reached the replacement position, the filter tow strips are connected and then the first tow ball is moved back into the removal position. Thus, the method can be performed even with very little space in the removal position. In larger space, the joining of the beginnings and ends of the filter tow can also take place while the towballs are in the removal position and the exchange position.

In order to ensure a continuous production of a filter strand, the change process is preferably repeated. This means that the abovementioned method steps of the method according to the invention are repeated until a machine stop has occurred for another reason.

In a double-strand machine, the method is preferably parallel with two first towballs and two second towballs carried out in particular towballs for the two strands are staggered over time. This makes it possible for an operator to continuously charge a double filter rod machine with towballs. Even a staggered loading and removal of Towballen and bales under the two strands is thus advantageously possible, even if the bale change takes place substantially simultaneously.

The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a device for changing towballs, which are arranged in or on bale pads and from which filter tow strips of a filter rod machine can be fed to form a filter strand, which is further developed in that the device comprises a first conveying device, a second conveying device and a third conveying device, by means of which towballs are horizontally conveyable, wherein the first conveying device is arranged at a replacement position, the third conveying device is arranged at a discharge position vertically or substantially vertically below the replacement position and the second conveying device in a removal position is height-adjustable and aligned in an upper escape position with the first conveyor and in a lower position of escape with the third conveyor.

In particular, the conveying directions of the first conveying device, the second conveying device and / or the third conveying device are parallel to one another. The term "substantially vertically below the replacement position" is understood in accordance with the invention to mean that the first conveying device is arranged with respect to a conveying direction of the first and the third conveying device with one another without lateral offset.

By means of such a device according to the invention is the above described inventive method executable, in which a towball is first loaded to the upper exchange position. In order to bring the towballs from the exchange position into the removal position, the second conveyor device is moved into the height aligned with the first conveyor, ie, the upper escape position, and then the towbomb horizontally from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, ie in the removal position , postponed. After exhausting the filter tow, the second conveyor is moved into the lower escape position aligned with the third conveyor and the remaining bale support, ie a pallet, container and / or packaging material, is conveyed horizontally from the second conveyor to the discharge position on the third conveyor , Subsequently, the second conveyor can be moved vertically back into the upper escape position to receive from the first conveyor from the one brought into the exchange position Towballen.

Suitable first, second and third conveying devices are, for example, horizontal conveyors such as roller conveyors, chain conveyors or plate belt conveyors. A lifting movement of the second conveying device is preferably effected by means of a vertical conveyor, such as a vertical conveyor. a scissor lift or one or more cylinders causes.

Since the second conveying device can be moved vertically at the position of the removal position, the bale can advantageously be moved up vertically continuously during removal of the filter tow strip in order to keep the height of the upper edge of the shrinking towball constant. As a result, the distance to a removal device, such as a gallows or the entrance of a Filterertowkanals, kept constant to to ensure as uniform a removal of the filter tow strip from a towbail.

Advantageously, it is provided that there is a vertical distance between the first conveying device and the third conveying device which is greater than the height of an empty bale pad. This means that a bale pad, including a bale container and / or packaging material, can be carried away through the gap between the first and the third conveyor. This vertical distance can be smaller than the height of a fresh Towballens, so that the vertical extent of the device according to the invention is kept small.

The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a device for changing Towbailen, which are arranged in or on bale pads and from which filter towers of a stranding machine for forming a filter strand can be fed, which is further developed in that the device comprises two holding devices for Towbailen which are rotatable by means of a turning device on a common closed rotational path with a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein an orientation of the holding devices in space is independent of the rotational movement.

The corresponding device according to the invention is to be compared in one embodiment with a Ferris wheel, which instead of gondolas two holding devices, which may be arranged in particular diagonally opposite each other, and which can each accommodate a Towbailen. During a rotational movement of the rotating device about the horizontal axis of rotation, the holding devices are moved one above the other or with each other, wherein the Holding devices in the room are each oriented so that they can hold a Towballen or support from below. The closed rotational path in this case is a circular path. As holding devices according to the invention, inter alia, shelves for bale pads, for example, for pallets, or jaws for bale pads, especially for bale container, in question.

Other suitable rotary devices are, for example, a disc, a device with arms which are rotatable about a common horizontal axis or a paternoster. In this respect, a closed rotation path in addition to a circular path according to the invention also means an elliptical, angular or rectangular or also irregular, but in any case closed, rotational path.

Preferably, an exchange and / or discharge position for loading a holder with a towbale and / or for conveying a bale support is defined on the rotation path, wherein a removal position on the circular path for removing the filter tow is defined by a towbale. Since the movement of the holders or Towballen takes place on a circular path, the exchange position and the discharge position can coincide. Thus, the removal position may be immediately adjacent to a filter rod machine while the replacement and / or removal position is farther from the filter rod machine.

Preferably, a holding device with an empty bale pad on the closed rotational path is movable only below a holding device with a full bale pad from the removal position to the exchange and / or discharge position. By promoting the empty bale underlay half of the fresh towballs prevents the drawn-off filter tow from the fresh towballs from touching the bale pad to be picked or removed, which would interfere with the removal of the filter tow from the fresh towbale. This applies to the method according to the invention as well as to the devices according to the invention.

Preferably, a connection device is provided for connecting one end of the filter tow strip of a first towball to a beginning of a filter tow strip of a second towball.

Finally, the object underlying the invention is also achieved by a machine of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular a, in particular double-stranded, filter rod machine, which has at least one device according to the invention described above.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

1 is a schematic side view of a filter rod machine,

2 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention in side view,

Fig. 3 shows the device of FIG. 2 in a schematic

Side view in another process stage um, the apparatus of FIG. 2 in a schematic side view in a further stage of the method,

5 shows the device according to FIG. 2 in a schematic side view in a further method stage,

Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a second

Embodiment of a device according to the invention in side view,

Fig. 7, the apparatus of FIG. 6 in a schematic

Side view in a further process stage,

Fig. 8, the apparatus of FIG. 6 in a schematic

Side view in a further process stage,

Fig. 9, the apparatus of FIG. 6 in a schematic

Side view in a further process stage,

Fig. 10a) is a schematic plan view of the configuration of a bale changing apparatus for a double-strand machine according to the prior art and

10b), 10c) are schematic plan views of configurations of bale changing machines according to the invention. In the following figures, identical or similar elements or corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a corresponding renewed idea is dispensed with.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a known filter rod machine, comprising a treatment device 1 and a processing device 2. The filter rod machine is a filter strand 24, for. manufactured for the production of filter rods 28 for cigarettes and other smokable articles. The illustrated device for producing filter rods 28 may, for example, be a model of the Applicant's distributed product line KDF, which is designed as a double-strand machine in the KDF-M version. The device consists of two main assemblies, a processing device 1 for filter tow supplied in an endless filter material strip 4 and a processing device 2 for producing wrapped filter rods 28.

The processing device 1 has a pair of rollers 3 for the continuous removal of an endless filter material strip 4 from a bale 6. After removal from the bale 6 of the filter tow 4 passes on its way to the pair of rollers 3, on which it is guided over a guide roller 5, two air nozzles 7 and 8, which serve to spread and loosening of the fabric of the filter material strip 4.

In the direction of movement of the filter material strip 4 after the air nozzle 8 and in front of the pair of rollers 3 there is a climate chamber 10 serving as an air conditioning device for the filter material strip 4, through which the filter material strip 4 passes becomes. In the climatic chamber 10, the filter material strip 4 is supplied with water vapor from a water vapor source 10a or dry hot air from a hot air source 10b. To regulate the humidity of the filter material strip 4, the humidity in the climate chamber 10 can be controlled by the supply of water vapor can be controlled by means of one of a control or regulating device 43 according to the control line 10e controllable control valve 10c, while the supply of dry hot air by means of a can be controlled by the control or regulating device 43 via the control line 10f controllable control valve 10d.

After the climatic chamber, a pre-stretching roller pair 13 provided with a drive controllable by a control 14 is arranged to pre-stretch the filter material strip 4. The stretching of the filter material strip 4 to eliminate the so-called residual crimp in the strip of filter material is done by deflecting the strip of filter material 4 from its movement path through a dancer roller 15. The dancer roller 15 is acted upon via a controllable by the controller 14 actuator 16 with a defined force, so that the Tensile stress in the filter material strip 4 between the Vorreckwalzen 13 and the roller pair 3 assumes a desired predetermined value. As a result, the residual crimp in the strip of filter material 4 is pulled smoothly. This results in a variable extension of the filter material strip 4, whereby the position of the dancer roller 15 changes. The position of the dancer roller 15 is measured by the controller 14 via the actuator 16 and controlled by controlling the conveying speed of the Vorreckwalzen 13 to a constant value. Reference is made to the DE 101 52 162 A1 of the applicant.

The pair of rollers 3 are followed by two further pairs of rollers 9 and 1 1. All pairs of rollers 3, 9 and 1 1 are driven individually. The speed of the roller pair 9 substantially corresponds to the conveying speed in the processing device 2. The speed of the roller pair 3 is smaller than that of the roller pair 9, so that the roller pairs 3 and 9 form a stretching device for the material strip 4. By stretching the mass of the filter tow is determined in the finished filter rods 28, whereby the mass can be adjusted by controlling the conveying speed of the first pair of rollers 3. The rotational speed of the roller pair 3 can be controlled according to the control line 3a by a control / regulating device.

Between the pairs of rollers 9 and 1 there is an applicator 12 for applying a plasticizer, such as triacetin, on the guided between the roller pairs 9 and 1 1 guided filter material strip 4. The supply of the plasticizer to the applicator 12 by means of a metering pump 33 via a supply line 34th from a softener supply 36. The metering pump 33 can be controlled by the control or regulating device 43 via a control line 33a.

The processed, sprayed with plasticizer strip of filter material 4 passes over the pair of rollers 1 1 of the processing unit 1 in an inlet hopper 17 of a housing 2a having processing device 2, in which he summarized and withdrawn from a reel 18 and by means of a glue nozzle having Beleimvorrichtung 19th applied with glue provided wrapper strips. The wrapping strip 21 and a filter material strand 4a formed by combining the filter material 4 reach a format strip 22 which guides both components through a format 23 which places the wrapping strip 21 around the filter material bar 4a, forming an endless filter strand 24. The speed of the format tape 22 is controlled by a main controller 25 via a control line 25a and tuned to the also determined by the main controller 25 by controlling the drives of the roller pairs 9 and 11 according to the control lines 25a and 25c determined conveying speed of the stretched filter tow 4.

The filter strand 24 passes through a seam plate 26, in which the adhesive seam is dried. Subsequently, filter rods 28 are cut off continuously from the filter strand 24 by means of a knife apparatus 27, which are transferred by an accelerator 29 into a discharge drum 31, in which they are conveyed in the transverse-axial conveying direction. From the Ablegertrommel 31 enter the filter rods 28 to a Ablegerband 32, from which they are fed to a further processing or intermediate storage or excluded from further processing by an ejector, not shown.

Downstream of the suture plate 26 and upstream of the knife apparatus 27 are disposed first and second measuring devices 37, 38 which can separately detect the proportions of the components of the strand 24, namely dry filter tow, plasticizer and water. The second measuring device 38 comprises a microwave measuring system with a measuring head with a microwave source and a microwave detector, which detects the microwaves emanating from the microwave source and penetrates the filter strand 24 to generate and deliver two measured values 38a and 38b to the evaluating device 42. These measured values make it possible, for example, to make a statement about the water content and the combined proportion of the chemically similar components plasticizer and filter tow in the filter strand 24. A suitable measuring method and a corresponding device can be found, for example, in EP 0 791 823 A2 of the applicant. The measuring frequency of the measuring device 37 may be in the range of radio or microwaves or in the optical or in the infrared range. When using wavelengths in the infrared range, the first measuring device 37 comprises an optical measuring head with an infrared radiation source and an infrared detector, which detects the emanating from the infrared radiation source, the filter strand 24 penetrating infrared waves. The intensity of the infra-red light penetrating the filter strand 24 is not influenced by a proportion of plasticizer in the filter strand 24, so that the infrared detector emits an evaluation signal to the evaluation device 42 via an amplifier which corresponds only to the proportion of the dry filter tow material in the filter strand 24. In this way, in a particularly simple manner, the connection point 45, which can be detected by connecting the end of the filter strand 4 from the bale 6 with the beginning of the filter strand 4 ', which is produced from the bale 6'. Instead of the infrared measuring head, a measuring head can be used, which works with microwaves. This may be a cavity resonator, which is acted upon by only one frequency act. For measuring in the range of radio waves, for example, a nuclear magnetic resonance measurement can be provided, in which the magnetic moments of the atomic nuclei of the substance to be measured are aligned by an external magnetic field and then excited by radio waves in an energetically higher state in which they are substantially parallel to the external magnetic field are oriented. A possible embodiment of such a measuring device can be found for example in DE 33 12 841 A1 of the applicant.

In order to enable an efficient and gentle filter material transition from a bale 6 to a bale 6 'is, in particular according to FIG. 1, proceed as follows. First, the end of the filter material strand 4 of the bale 6, for example in a connecting device 48 with the filter material strip 4 'of the bale 6' connected, so that a joint 45 results, for example, twice as much filter material as the filter material strips 4 and 4 '. A connection can be made, for example, with an adhesive.

By continuous removal of the filter material strip 4 by the guide ring 49 in the processing device 1, the bale 6 is reduced or shrinks this existing in the bale 6 material more and more. By means of an optical sensor 46, which may be a camera, for example, is detected in the detection direction 47, when the last layer of filter material strip 4 is reached in the bale 6 or when the last layer of the filter material strip 4, the area was deducted in the detection 47th of the optical sensor 46 is located. At this moment, a signal is supplied to the main controller 25 via a signal line 46a, for example. Then, the speed of the filter rod machine is reduced immediately or with a predetermined time delay, which is particularly dependent on the speed of removal of the filter material strip 4. It is also the components through which the filter material strip 4 passes, are at least partially pulled apart, so that the components of the filter rod machine are spared by the reduced speed and also the pulling apart of these components. A corresponding signal may also be supplied to the main control 25 from a third sensor 48 ', which represents the removal of the connection point 45 from this sensor.

The connection point 45 then passes through the filter rod machine and in particular the processing device 1 and the processing processing device 2 and is wrapped in the format 23 by a wrapping material strip 21 and formed into a filter strand 24. The measuring device 37 can then be designed as above in order to detect the moment in which the filter strand has the connection point 45. This signal can then be used to exclude this area of the filter strand from further processing and / or to increase the speed of the filter rod machine again to a higher predefinable value. It may also be useful to exclude the portion of the filter string from further processing made during the slower operation of the filter rod machine.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a bale changing device according to the invention in a first embodiment. On the left hand, a filter tow 4 is fed via a gallows 50 into a processing device 1 of a filter rod machine. For this purpose, the filter tow 4 from a towbale 51, which is already partially removed, deducted. The towbale 51 rests on a bale support 52 and is held on a vertically height-adjustable conveyor 62, which is shown in the embodiment as a roller conveyor, at a removal position 64. During the removal of the filter tow strip 4 from the towbale 51, the surface of the towbar 51 can be kept at a constant height by means of the height adjustment, which is designed as a scissor lift table 63.

At the second conveyor 62 close, vertically staggered, a first conveyor 60 and a third conveyor 65, which are also designed as roller conveyors. The conveyors 60 and 65 define an exchange position 61 and a discharge position 66. On the first conveyor 60 is a second towballs 53 on a ball pad 54. From the second towbale 53, the beginning 56 of a filter tow has been pulled out and connected at a junction 57 with one end 55 of the filter tow strip of the first towbar 51. Reference numeral 70 designates the direction of movement with which the second towball 53 has been moved from the outside onto the first conveying device 60, ie into the replacement position 61.

The bale pads 52, 54 are shown in the embodiment as pallets that can be handled for example by means of a forklift.

In Fig. 3, the same device as in Fig. 2 in a subsequent process step is shown schematically from the side. Meanwhile, the entire filter tow tires of the first Towballens 51 is used up and the filter strip is now subtracted from the second Towballen 53. The second conveyor 62 is in the lower escape position 68, i. it is aligned with the third conveyor 65.

For conveying the pallet or the bale pad 52 of the used towball 51, the roller conveyor of the conveying devices 62 and 65 is set in motion, so that the bale pad 52 is conveyed in the direction of movement 71 from the removal position 64 into the discharge position 66. The vertical distance between the third conveyor 65 and the first conveyor 60 is sufficient for a block-free movement of the pad 52 through this gap.

FIG. 4 shows the subsequent method step in which the second conveying device 62 is moved in the vertical movement direction. 72 in the upper alignment position 67 has been moved, in which the second conveyor 62 is aligned with the first conveyor 60. After reaching the upper escape position 67 of the second towballs 53 is moved on its bale pad 54 in the direction of movement 73 from the exchange position 61 in the removal position 64. The removal of the filter tow strip 4 from the second towballs 53 takes place uninterruptedly.

FIG. 5 shows that the second filter towbasket 53 is moved vertically downwards in the direction of movement 74 on the second conveying device 62. Meanwhile, another towball 51 'with a bale pad 52' onto the first conveyor 60, i. in the exchange position 61, has been moved. The ends or beginnings 55 ', 56' of the filter tow strips of the second bale 53 and the new bale 51 'have been connected together in a connection point 57'.

Meanwhile, the pad 52 of the spent first bale 51 is carried away in the direction of movement 75. After the delivery of the bale support 52, the configuration shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to that of FIG. 2. These process steps are repeated as long as the production of a filter rod runs in the filter rod machine.

In Fig. 6, a second embodiment of a device according to the invention is shown schematically from the side. The components belonging to the filter rod machine or the treatment device 1, in particular the gallows 50, are unchanged from the components shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

The bale changing device in this case comprises a rotating device 82 which has a first holding device 80 and a second holding device 80. tevorrichtung 81 for Towballen or bale pads and which are movable on a circular closed rotational path 85. In this case, the position of the holding devices 80, 81 during the rotation of the rotating device 82 is constant. This means that the holding devices 80, 81 are formed horizontally during rotation, so that a towball securely rests on the corresponding holding device 80, 81.

On the first holding device 80, a towball 51 is held with a ball pad 52. The first holding device 80 is located in a removal position 84, in which the towbale 51 a filter tow 4 is removed. The end 55 of the filter tow strip 4 of the towball 51 is also shown. The diagonally opposite thereto arranged second holding device 81 is located in Fig. 6 in an exchange and / or discharge position 83 and is not loaded with a towball.

In Fig. 7 is shown schematically in the same device as in Fig. 6 that in a further process step, a second towball 53 has been placed in the direction of movement 90 on the second holder 81 and the beginnings 56 and ends 55 of the corresponding filter towers of the first Towballens 51 and the second towball 53 have been connected to each other. The removal of the filter tow strip 4 from the first towbale 51 has meanwhile allowed it to shrink.

FIG. 8 shows a situation in which the first towball 51 has meanwhile been completely consumed and the conveying of the filter tow strip 4 from the second towball 53, which is still in the replacement position 83, continues. There is a rotation of the rotating device 82 in the direction of movement 91, with which the first holding device 80 below the second Haltevor- direction 81 is moved. Thus, the first holding device 80 is moved with the tow pad 52 in the exchange and / or Abförderposition and the second holding device 81 with the towball 53 in the removal position 84.

The configuration achieved upon completion of this rotation is shown in FIG. The bale pad 52 or, accordingly, a bale container or packaging material is conveyed away from the first holding device 80 in the direction of movement 93.

After removal or removal of the bale pad 52, the situation of FIG. 6 is restored. The method steps shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 can be repeated as often as desired.

FIGS. 10 a) to 10 c) show plan views of changing devices and filter rod machines for double-stranded filter rod processing machines 1. Towballs are shown at the corresponding positions and the directions of movement are marked with arrows.

In Fig. 10a), a situation according to the prior art is shown, are arranged in the parallel extraction positions 101, 101 'for the two filter strands in the vicinity of the treatment device 1. Since no gap exists between the removal positions 101, 101 ', the replacement position 100, 100', the removal position 101, 101 'and the removal position 102, 102' are arranged mirror-symmetrically "L" -shaped for each strand.

A movement of the tow ball first takes place in the direction of movement 103 from frontally arranged exchange positions 100, 100 'into the removal position 101, 101'. After using up the filter tow strip from the bale in the removal position 101, 101 ' the documents with a further movement 104, 104 'perpendicular to the first movement 103, 103', ie laterally away, in each case a discharge position 102, 102 'are conveyed away.

In this known method for a double-strand machine six positions are necessary. This generates a comparatively large space consumption. In addition, the towballs and the bale pads must be promoted and removed at various points.

In Fig. 10b), a first embodiment of the invention is shown, which is executable, for example, with a device according to Figures 2 to 5 and Figures 6 to 9. In this case, when viewed from above, the replacement position and the removal position fall into an exchange and / or removal position 1 10, 1 10 'up or into one another. The replacement position and the discharge position may, as in the case of the device according to FIGS. 2 to 5, be vertically staggered or, as in the case of the device according to FIGS. 6 to 9, coincide.

The movement 1 12, 1 12 'of the towballen or bale pads is reciprocally first to the removal position 1 1 1, 1 1 1' to and in the reverse direction then again from the removal position 1 1 1, 1 1 1 'away in the exchange and / or discharge position 1 10, 1 10 '. The directions of movement 1 12, 1 12 'are parallel in this case.

In Fig. 10c), the alternative version is shown, which differs from the device according to FIG. 10b) in that the direction of movement is sideways, ie the movements of the exchange and / or Abförderposition 120, 120 'to the respective removal position 121st , 121 'to, are in reverse, as well as the reverse movement directions back to the exchange and / or Abförderpositionen 120, 120 '. If space requirements so require, the configurations of Figs. 10b) and 10c) may also be mixed.

Both in the version according to FIG. 10b) and in the version according to FIG. 10c), only four instead of six storage spaces for towballs of a double-stranded filter rod machine are required, as a result of which the required area has been reduced. Moreover, it has been made possible by the procedure according to the invention to enable the request of fresh towballs and the removal of spent bale pads and other bale materials from the same position. The choice of whether to select a configuration according to FIG. 10b) or according to FIG. 10c) or a mixed form of both depends on the available space and space.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 processing device

2 processing device 2a housing

3 roller pair

3a control line

4, 4 ', 4 "filter material strips

4a filter material strand

5 pulley

6, 6 'bales

7 air nozzle

8 air nozzle

9 roller pair

10 climate chamber

10a steam source

10b warm air source

10c control valve

10d control valve

10e control line

10f control line

11 roller pair

12 application device

13 Vorreckwalzenpaar

14 control

15 dancer roller

16 actuator

17 inlet funnel

18 Bobine

19 gluing device

21 serving strips

22 format tape 22a drive device

23 format

24 filter strand

25 main control

b, c control line

26 seam plate

27 knife apparatus

28 filter rod

29 accelerators

31 Ablegertrommel

32 Ablegerband

33 dosing pump

33a control line

34 supply line

36 plasticizer supply

37 first measuring device

37a reading

38 second measuring device a, b measured value

42 evaluation device

43 control or regulating device

44 data line

45 connection point

46 optical sensor

46a reading

47 detection direction

48 connection device

48 'third sensor

49 guide ring

50 gallows

51 first towball

52 bale pad 53 second towball

54 bale pad

55, 55 'End of the filter tup

56 beginning of the filter tempo strip

57 connection point

60 first conveyor

61 exchange position

62 second conveyor

63 height adjustment

64 removal position

65 third conveyor

66 discharge position

67 upper escape position

68 lower escape position

70 direction of movement loading

71 Direction of movement to the discharge position

72 vertical movement

73 Direction of movement to the removal position

74 vertical movement

75 Direction of movement of the discharge

80 first holding device

81 second holding device

82 turning device

83 exchange and / or discharge position

84 removal position

85 closed rotation path

90 direction of feed

91 - 93 direction of rotation

94 Direction of movement of the removal

100, 100 'exchange position

101, 1 01 'removal position

102, 102 'discharge position movement direction

movement direction

Replacement and / or discharge position

removal position

movement direction

Replacement and / or discharge position

removal position

movement direction

Claims

Method and device for changing towballen claims

A method for changing towballs (51, 53) which are transported in or on bale pads (52, 54) and from which filter tow strips (4) are fed to a filter rod machine (1, 2) for forming a filter strand (4a), wherein a filter tow strip (4) is removed from a first tow ball (51) arranged in a removal position (64, 84, 111, 11 ', 121, 121') and fed to a filter rod machine (1, 2), a second tow ball (53 ) is moved to an exchange position (61, 83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120'), one end (55) of the filter tow strip (4) of the first towball (51) having a beginning (56) of a filter tow strip of the second towball (53) is connected and wherein for changing the towballs (51, 53) a completely or substantially empty bale pad (52) of the first towball (51) from the removal position (64, 84, 111, 11 1 ', 121, 121' ) in a discharge position (66, 83, 1 10, 110 ', 120, 120') and the second Towballen (53) from the exchange position (61, 83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') in the removal position (64, 111, 111 ', 121, 121') is moved, characterized in that the movement of the removal of Ballenunterlage (52) of the first Towballens (51) vertically below the movement of the second Towballens (53) in the removal position (64, 84, 111, 111 ', 121, 121') extends.

A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first towball (51) during the removal of the filter tow strip (4), in particular vertically, is moved, wherein in particular a height of the top of the first Towballens (51) is kept constant.

A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the discharge position (66, 83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') vertically below the exchange position (61, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') is arranged or with the Exchange position (83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') coincides.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement of the bale pad (52) of the first Towballens (51) in the discharge position (66, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') is completed before or during the second Towballen (53) in the removal position (64, 111, 111 ', 121, 121') is moved.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the removal of the filter tow strip from the second tow ball (53) begins before the second tow ball (53) the removal position (64, 84, 111, 111 ', 121, 121') has reached, in particular during the second towball (53) is still in the replacement position (61, 83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120').

Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for connecting the end (55) of the filter tow strip (4) of the first towball (51) with the beginning (56) of the filter tow strip of the second towball (53) of the first towball (51 ) from the removal position (64, 84, 111, 111 ', 121, 121') in the exchange position (61, 83, 110, 1 10 ', 120, 120') is moved, while the filter tow (4) from the first Towballen (51) is withdrawn and before the second towbale (53) in the exchange position (61, 83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') is brought, wherein, when the first towball (51) the exchange position (61, 83 , 110, 110 ', 120, 120'), the filter tow strips are connected and then the first tow ball (51) is again moved into the removal position (64, 84, 11 ', 11 1', 121, 121 ').

Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the change process is repeated.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the method is carried out in a double-strand machine in parallel with two first towballs and two second towballs, in particular towballs for the two strands are changed over time staggered.

Apparatus for changing towballs (51, 53) which are arranged in or on bale supports (52, 54) and from which filter tow strips (4) can be fed to a filter rod machine (1, 2) for forming a filter strand (4a), characterized in that the device has a first conveying device (60), a second conveyor (62) and a third conveyor (65) by means of which towballs (51, 53) are horizontally conveyable, wherein the first conveyor (60) at an exchange position (61, 1 10, 110 ' , 120, 120 ') is arranged to 5, the third conveyor (65) on a

Abförderposition (66, 1 10, 110 ', 120, 120') vertically below the exchange position (61, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') is arranged and the second conveyor (62) in a removal position (64, 1 1 1 , 11 ', 121, 121') is height adjustable and in an upper escape position (67) is aligned with the first conveyor (60) and in a lower alignment position (68) with the third conveyor (65).

Device according to claim 9, characterized in that between the first conveyor (60) and the third

Conveyor (65) is a vertical distance which is greater than the height of an empty bale pad (52, 54).

11. An apparatus for changing Towballen (51, 53), which are arranged in or on bale pads (52, 54) and from which

Filter tow strips (4) of a filter rod machine (1, 2) for forming a filter strand (4a) are fed, characterized in that the device comprises two holding devices (80, 81) for towballs (51, 53) by means of a Drehvorrich-5 device (82) on a common closed rotational path (85) are rotatable with a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein an orientation of the holding devices (80, 81) in space is independent of the rotational movement. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that on the closed rotational path (85) an exchange and / or discharge position (83, 110, 110 ', 120, 120') for loading a holder (80, 81) with a towball (51, 53) and / or for conveying a bale support (52, 54) is defined, wherein a removal position (84, 1 1 1, 1 1 1 ", 121, 121 ' ) is defined on the closed rotational path (85) for removing the filter tow strip (4) from a towball (51, 53).

Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that a holding device (80) with an empty bale pad (52) on the closed rotational path (85) only below a holding device (81) with a full bale pad (54) from the removal position (84, 1 1, 1 1 1 ', 121, 121') in the exchange and / or Abförderposition (83, 1 10, 1 10 ', 120, 120') is movable. 14. Device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that a connecting device for connecting one end (55) of the filter tow strip (4) of a first Towballens (51) provided with a beginning (56) of a filter tow a second Towballens (53) is.

15. Machine of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter rod machine (1, 2), in particular double-strand machine, with at least one device according to one of claims 9 to 14.