WO2011070639A1

WO2011070639A1 - Powder adding device and adding method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2011070639A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/070474
Authority: WO
Inventors: 加藤勝男; 鳥居敦; 本溜哲也; 小城貞雄
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2009-12-07
Filing date: 2009-12-07
Publication date: 2011-06-16

Abstract

Disclosed is a powder adding device which has: a transfer path (12) for transferring a filter tow (T) as webbing material; a spray unit (24) for spraying air together with a perfume, catalyst, or other such powder toward the transfer path (12); and a fixing unit (32) for separating inside the filter tow (T) the air and the powder which is blown onto the filter tow (T), and for fixing the powder to the filter tow (T).

Description

Powder and particle adding apparatus and method for adding the same

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an addition apparatus for adding a granular material to a web material having air permeability, and an addition method thereof, and more particularly, an addition of a granular material suitable for a filter manufacturing machine for manufacturing a filter for a filter cigarette. The present invention relates to an apparatus and an addition method.

The filter manufacturing machine has a filter tow supply path as a web material, and this filter tow is supplied to the wrapping apparatus along the supply path. The filter tow is formed from filter fibers and is in the form of a web. When the filter tow is supplied to the wrapping device, the filter tow is squeezed into a rod shape, and is wrapped by a packaging material and formed into a continuous rod. After this, the continuous rod is cut into individual filter rods, which have multiple times the length of the filters used in the individual filter cigarettes.

The original function required for the above-mentioned filter is to remove nicotine and tar in the mainstream smoke of the cigarette when smoking the filter cigarette, but in addition to the original function, in recent years other functions have been added to the filter. It is desired to add. As such other additional functions, it is conceivable to add a fragrance to the mainstream smoke, or to oxidize CO in the mainstream smoke to CO _2. It is necessary to add a granular material such as a catalyst.

For example, the filter manufacturing machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 is provided with an adding device for adding the above-described powder particles. Specifically, the adding device includes a sealed chamber, that is, a powder chamber, and this powder chamber is disposed in the supply path of the filter tow. Therefore, the filter tow passes through the powder chamber and is conveyed toward the wrapping device. Further, a powder particle ejection nozzle is disposed in the powder chamber, and this ejection nozzle ejects the powder particle toward the filter tow passing through the powder chamber, thereby adding the powder particle to the filter tow.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-239472

According to the addition apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is considered that the granular material is not scattered outside the powder chamber because the granular material is added to the filter tow in the powder chamber. However, a large amount of powder particles ejected from the ejection nozzle float in the powder chamber, and such suspended powder particles are a major factor that hinders uniform addition of powder particles to the filter tow.

For this reason, a suction fan and a pair of rod-shaped chargers are indispensable for the adding device of Patent Document 1. Specifically, the suction fan keeps the powder chamber in a vacuum state, thereby discharging the suspended powder particles from the powder chamber, and the charger uniformly charges the filter tow upstream of the powder chamber. While aiming at reduction of a granular material, adhesion of the granular material to a filter tow is promoted.

However, the above-described suction fan and charger increase the size and complexity of the entire addition device.
In addition, the discharge of the floating granular material from the powder chamber by the suction fan wastes a part of the granular material ejected from the ejection nozzle and makes it impossible to effectively attach the granular material to the filter tow.

Furthermore, when increasing or decreasing the addition amount of the granular material to the filter tow, the addition apparatus of patent document 1 is not only the amount of the granular material ejected from an ejection nozzle but the charge level of the filter tow by a charger. Control is also required, and the amount of powder added cannot be easily adjusted.

The object of the present invention is to allow the powder material to be effectively added to the web material without the need for a closed chamber such as a powder chamber or a suction fan for exhausting the sealed chamber. An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adding a granular material and an addition method thereof, the amount of which can be easily adjusted.

In order to achieve the above object, the granular material addition apparatus of the present invention is provided with a transfer path for transferring a web material having air permeability, and a powder disposed toward the web material, disposed above the transfer path. A spray unit that ejects particles together with air, and a fixing unit that is positioned downstream of the spray unit in the transfer path and fixes the particles to the web material, and guides the transfer of the web material, A fixing unit including a sieving member for leaving the granular material in the web material out of the granular material and air sprayed on the material, while allowing the air to escape downward from the web material;

According to the above-described addition apparatus, the spray unit ejects the powder and the granular material together with the air toward the web material transferred on the sieve member of the fixing unit. Of the granular material and air sprayed on the web material, air passes through the web material and the sieve member, but the granular material is prevented from passing through the web material by the sieve member and remains in the web material. Therefore, the granular material does not float above the web material, and the granular material is effectively fixed to the web material.

Specifically, the fixing unit is the above-described sieve member, and extends below the transfer path along the transfer path and allows the passage of air, and an upper conveyor extends above the transfer path along the transfer path. The upper conveyor has a downstream end that sandwiches the web material in cooperation with the lower conveyor.

When the web material passes the downstream end of the upper conveyor, the web material is pressed between the downstream end of the upper conveyor and the lower conveyor, and the granular material exposed on the upper surface of the web material is pushed into the web material.
In this case, the above-mentioned spray unit can include a plurality of electrostatic nozzles that charge and eject the powder particles, and in this case, the charged powder particles are effectively attached to the web material.
More specifically, the lower conveyor has an endless mesh belt. Such a mesh belt allows only air to escape from the web material, leaving a granular material in the web material.

Furthermore, the above-described upper conveyor is inclined with respect to the transfer path and has an upstream end positioned above the transfer path. In this case, it is preferable that the upper conveyor can adjust the height level of the upstream end from the transfer path.
On the other hand, the upper conveyor may extend along the transfer path in parallel with the lower conveyor. In this case, the upper conveyor presses the web material on the entire lower surface thereof.
Furthermore, the fixing unit can further comprise a suction source arranged below the lower conveyor, which sucks the air escaped through the web material and the lower conveyor.

The present invention also provides a method for adding powder particles. The addition method of the present invention transfers a web material having air permeability along a transfer path, and the powder particles are applied to the web material from above the web material. Out of the powder and air blown onto the web material, and using the sieving member to leave the powder material in the web material, while letting the air escape from the web material, the powder on the web material Fix the body.
Preferably, the addition method presses the web material after the air is released from the web material, while sucking the air released from the web material and the sieve member.
In addition, it is preferable that the web material processed by the addition apparatus and the addition method is a filter material for cigarettes, for example.

The granular material addition apparatus and the addition method of the present invention effectively fix the granular material in the web material without floating the granular material above the web material by the function of the sieving member of the fixing unit. be able to. Therefore, the above-described sealed chamber and suction fan are not necessary for fixing the granular material to the web material. Moreover, the addition amount of the granular material to a web material is determined only by the ejection amount of a granular material, and adjustment of the additional amount of a granular material becomes easy.
Furthermore, if the fixing unit includes a lower conveyor and an upper conveyor, these conveyors can uniformly transfer the filter tow along the transfer path toward the wrapping device even if the web material is a filter tow. Therefore, when the filter rod is formed from the filter tow by the lapping apparatus as described above, the packing density of the filter tow in the filter rod becomes uniform, and a high quality filter rod can be obtained.

It is the schematic which shows the granular material addition apparatus of 1st Example integrated in the filter manufacturing machine. It is a figure which expands and shows the spray unit of FIG. It is the schematic which showed the addition apparatus of 2nd Example. It is the schematic which showed the addition apparatus of 3rd Example. It is the schematic which showed the addition apparatus of 4th Example.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an upstream section 10 of a filter maker.
The upstream section 10 includes a supply path 12 for the filter tow T as a web material, and the supply path 12 extends horizontally. An upstream end of the supply path 12 is connected to a filter tow supply source (not shown), and a downstream end thereof is connected to a downstream section, that is, a wrapping section 14.

The filter tow T is formed from a filter material for cigarettes, i.e., filter fibers, and has air permeability. The filter tow T is transferred along the supply path 12 toward the wrapping section 14. A pair of extension rollers 16 and a pair of guide rollers 18 are disposed in the upstream portion of the supply path 12, while a trumpet guide 20 is disposed immediately upstream of the wrapping section 14.
Further, a plasticizer addition device (not shown) is disposed downstream of the guide roller 18 in the supply path 12, and this addition device adds liquid triacetin as a plasticizer to the filter tow.

As the filter tow T passes the trumpet guide 20, the filter tow T is squeezed into a rod shape and fed to the wrapping section 14.
The wrapping section 14 further squeezes the supplied filter tow T, wraps it with a packaging material and forms it into continuous rods (not shown), and then cuts the continuous rods into individual filter rods FR. Is sent out. The filter rod FR is packed in a box and shipped to a filter cigarette manufacturing factory.

The supply passage 12 is further provided with the powder material adding device 22 of the first embodiment. This adding device 22 is provided between the plasticizer adding device and the trumpet guide 20 described above. Arranged upstream. The addition device 22 includes a spray unit 24, which is disposed above the supply path 12 and connected to a powder quantitative supply device 26. The powder fixed amount supply device 26 has a hopper 28 in which powder particles such as a fragrance and a catalyst are stored. The powder fixed quantity supply device 26 can supply the powder particles in the hopper 28 to the spray unit 24 in a fixed quantity, and the supply amount can be varied.

The spray unit 24 injects the granular material supplied from the powder quantitative supply device 26 toward the filter tow T on the supply path 12. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the spray direction of the granular material from the spray unit 24 is inclined downstream and downward of the supply path 12. In FIG. 1, the reference symbol P is attached to the position where the powder particles sprayed from the spray unit 24 reach the filter tow T.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the spray unit 24 has a large number of electrostatic nozzles 30, and these electrostatic nozzles 30 are arranged at regular intervals in the width direction of the filter tow T. The powdered particles are ejected together with compressed air. Therefore, the powder particles are uniformly added to the filter tow T, and the added powder particles adhere to the filter fibers of the filter tow T based on the adsorption action by static electricity.

As shown in FIG. 1, the adding device 22 further includes a fixing unit 32. The fixing unit 32 is disposed downstream of the spray unit 24, and the granular material adhered to the filter tow T or above the filter tow T. In addition, the granular material floating in the vicinity is fixed to the filter tow T.

Specifically, the fixing unit 32 includes a lower and

upper conveyors

34 and 36. The lower conveyor 34 is disposed immediately below the supply path 12, and extends downstream from the position directly below the spray unit 24 beyond the position P along the supply path 12. The lower conveyor 34 has a width sufficiently wider than the width of the filter tow T (see FIG. 2). The lower conveyor 34 has a driving roller 38 and a driven roller 40, and these

rollers

38, 40 are separated from each other along the supply path 12. The driving roller 38 is positioned downstream of the driven roller 40, and an endless air permeable belt as a sieving member, that is, a mesh belt 42 is attached to the

rollers

38 and 40. The mesh of the mesh belt 42 is, for example, smaller than the average particle diameter of the granular material.

On the other hand, the upper conveyor 36 has the same width as that of the lower conveyor 34 and is disposed above the supply path 12. The upper conveyor 36 extends along the supply path 12 like the lower conveyor 34, but is not parallel to the supply path 12 but is inclined with respect to the supply path 12.

That is, the upper conveyor 36 also has a driving roller 44, a driven roller 46, and an endless fixing belt 48 attached to these

rollers

44 and 46. The driving roller 44 is arranged so as to be able to sandwich the filter tow T on the supply path 12 in cooperation with the driving roller 38, while the driven roller 46 is upstream of the driving roller 44, specifically, the driving roller 38 and the driven roller. 40 and above the supply path 12. Unlike the mesh belt 42, the fixing belt 48 does not have air permeability.

The fixing unit 32 described above defines an inlet 50 between the upstream end (driven roller 46) of the upper conveyor 36 and the supply path 12, and the height of the inlet 50, that is, the upper conveyor 36 with respect to the supply path 12. Can be adjusted according to the spray angle β of the granular material from the spray unit 24.

In order to enable adjustment of the inclination angle α, the upper conveyor 36 is supported so as to be rotatable up and down around a roller shaft (not shown) of the driving roller 44, while the roller shaft (not shown) of the driven roller 46 is The lift actuator 52 is supported. Specifically, the elevating actuator 52 is an air cylinder, and adjusts the inclination angle α, that is, the height of the inlet 50 by bringing the upstream end of the upper conveyor 36 into and out of contact with the supply path 12.

On the other hand, the roller shafts of the

drive rollers

38 and 44 are connected to a drive unit 56 through a common power transmission path 54, and the drive unit 56 includes a drive source 58 such as an electric motor and a speed controller 60. Therefore, when the driving force of the driving source 58 is transmitted to the driving

rollers

38 and 44 via the power transmission path 54, the driving roller 38 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. It is rotated at the same peripheral speed in the direction. Therefore, the upper surface of the mesh belt 42 and the lower surface of the fixing belt 48 travel in the same direction as the transfer direction of the filter tow T, and the traveling speed of these

belts

42 and 48 depends on the transfer speed of the filter tow T. 60.

As is clear from FIG. 1, the inlet 50 of the fixing unit 32 and the spray unit 24 described above are separated from each other along the supply path 12. Therefore, a cover 62 may be disposed between the inlet 50 and the spray unit 24 as necessary. The cover 62 extends from the inlet 50 to the spray unit 24 and covers the transfer path 12. The cover 62 does not hinder the ejection of powder from the spray unit 24.

Further, a dust collecting unit 64 as a suction source is arranged below the fixing unit 32, that is, the lower conveyor 34. The dust collection unit 64 has a mesh sheet 66 on its upper surface, and the mesh sheet 66 extends along the lower conveyor 34. The dust collection unit 64 sucks air through the mesh sheet 66, and the mesh of the mesh sheet 66 is also preferably smaller than the average particle diameter of the granular material.

Next, the addition method of the granular material by the addition apparatus 22 mentioned above is demonstrated.
During the transfer of the filter tow T, the lower and

upper conveyors

34 and 36 are traveling at a speed corresponding to the transfer speed of the filter tow T. In such a state, each electrostatic nozzle 30 of the spray unit 24 ejects the charged granular material together with air toward the filter toe T just before entering the inlet 50 of the fixing unit 32. Of the powder particles and air sprayed on the filter tow T, the air passes through the filter tow T and the mesh belt 42 of the lower conveyor 34 and escapes from the filter tow T. However, the powder particles are contained in the filter tow T. And separated from the air.

Specifically, since the mesh of the mesh belt 42 is smaller than the average particle diameter of the powder particles, the powder particles do not pass through the mesh belt 42. Further, since the powder particles are charged and the plasticizer is already added to the filter tow T, the powder particles are effectively attached to the filter fibers of the filter tow T, that is, fixed.
On the other hand, the generation of the air passing through the filter tow T and the mesh belt 42, that is, the air flow A indicated by the reference symbol A in FIGS. To reduce. Therefore, the floating of the granular material due to the rebound of the air flow is effectively suppressed.

Further, even if floating particles are generated, the floating particles are prevented from being scattered by the fixing belt 48 of the upper conveyor 36, and a part of the floating particles adheres to the lower surface of the fixing belt 48 or is fixed. After colliding with the lower surface of the belt 48, it is dropped on the filter tow T.
Since the downstream ends of the lower and

upper conveyors

34 and 36 cooperate with each other to sandwich the filter tow T on the supply path 12, when the filter tow T is sent out from the fixing unit 32, the filter tow T is moved to the lower conveyor 34. And the upper conveyor 36. Therefore, the granular material adhering to the lower surface of the fixing belt 48 and the granular material exposed on the upper surface of the filter tow T are pushed between the filter fibers of the filter tow T.

Furthermore, the lower conveyor 34 cooperates with the upper conveyor 36, so that not only can the powder particles be well fixed on the filter tow T as described above, but also the filter tow T on which the powder particles are fixed can be used in the next process. It also plays the role of continuously feeding into the wrapping section 14. Therefore, the lower conveyor 34 greatly contributes to uniforming the density of the filter fibers and the distribution of the powder particles of the filter tow T to be supplied to the wrapping section 14.

As described above, since the addition device 22 can effectively add the granular material to the filter tow T in a state in which the floating and scattering of the granular material is prevented, a sealed chamber for adding the granular material, A suction fan for exhausting the room becomes unnecessary.
Furthermore, since the cover 62 is disposed between the spray unit 24 and the upper conveyor 36, even if there is a powder that jumps upward from the main jet flow of the powder from the spray unit 24, it jumped out. The powder particles are captured by the cover 62, and the powder particles are not scattered around the fixing unit 32.

Furthermore, since the dust collection unit 64 is disposed below the lower conveyor 34, the dust collection unit 64 can suck the air flow A described above through the mesh sheet 66 therein. Therefore, even if the airflow A contains powder particles that have passed through the mesh belt 42, these passing powder particles are captured on the mesh sheet 66 and the passing powder particles are not scattered around. .
On the other hand, the addition device 22 only adjusts the amount of powder and particles ejected from the spray unit 24, that is, the amount of powder and particles supplied from the powder fixed amount supply device 26 to the spray unit 24. The amount of powder added can be easily and easily controlled.

The present invention is not limited to the addition apparatus of the first embodiment described above, and various modifications are possible.
FIG. 3 shows the addition apparatus of the second embodiment.
When compared with the addition device of the first embodiment, the addition device of the second embodiment is such that the upper conveyor 36 extends in parallel with the transfer path 12 and is between the entire lower surface of the fixing belt 48 and the upper surface of the mesh belt 42. The only difference is that the filter tow T is sandwiched.

FIG. 4 shows the addition apparatus of the third embodiment.
When compared with the addition apparatus of the second embodiment, the addition apparatus of the third embodiment is different only in that the transfer path 12 is not horizontal but is inclined downward toward the downstream side.
In the case of the second and third embodiments, the spray unit 24 preferably ejects the powder particles toward the position immediately before the entrance of the fixing unit 32.

FIG. 5 shows the addition apparatus of the fourth embodiment.
When compared with the addition apparatus of the first embodiment, the addition apparatus of the fourth embodiment is different only in that the transfer path 12 is not horizontal but is inclined downward toward the downstream side.
3 to 5 show the downstream ends of the lower conveyor 34 and the upper conveyor 36 in a state where they are separated from the transfer path 12, this is for the convenience of drawing.
Any of the addition apparatuses of the first to fourth embodiments described above is applied to a filter manufacturing machine. However, the addition apparatus of the present invention can be used in the same manner for adding powder particles to a web material other than the filter tow T.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Transfer route 24 Spray unit 30 Electrostatic nozzle 22 Adder 26 Powder fixed quantity supply device 32 Fixing unit 34 Lower conveyor 36 Upper conveyor 42 Mesh belt 48 Fixing belt 52 Lifting actuator 56 Drive unit 62 Cover 64 Dust collection unit (suction source)
T Filter tow (web material)

Claims

A transfer path for transferring a web material having air permeability;
A spray unit that is disposed above the transfer path, and sprays the granular material together with air toward the web material;
A fixing unit that is disposed downstream of the spray unit in the transfer path and fixes the granular material to the web material, and guides the transfer of the web material, and is sprayed on the web material Of the powder and the air, the powder and granule adding apparatus, comprising: a fixing unit having a sieve member that leaves the powder in the web material and allows the air to escape downward from the web material. .
The fixing unit includes:
A lower conveyor that extends below the transfer path as the sieve member along the transfer path and allows the passage of the air;
The addition apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an upper conveyor that extends along the transfer path along the transfer path and has a downstream end that sandwiches the web material in cooperation with the lower conveyor.
The addition device according to claim 2, wherein the spray unit includes a plurality of electrostatic nozzles that charge and eject the powder particles.
The additive device according to claim 2, wherein the lower conveyor has an endless mesh belt.
The addition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upper conveyor has an upstream end that is inclined with respect to the transfer path and is positioned above the transfer path.
The addition device according to claim 5, wherein the upper conveyor is capable of adjusting a height level of the upstream end from the transfer path.
The addition apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the upper conveyor extends along the transfer path in parallel with the lower conveyor.
The addition device according to claim 2, wherein the fixing unit further includes a suction source that is disposed below the lower conveyor and sucks the web material and the air released from the lower conveyor.
The addition device according to claim 3, wherein the web material is a filter material for cigarette.
It is an addition method of adding a granular material to a web material having air permeability,
Transporting the web material along a transport path;
A powder body is ejected from above the web material to the web material together with air,
Of the powder particles and the air sprayed on the web material, a sieve member is used to leave the powder particles in the web material, while letting the air escape from the web material. A method for adding a granular material, wherein the granular material is fixed.
The addition method according to claim 10, wherein the web material is pressed after the air has escaped from the web material.
The addition method according to claim 11, wherein the air released from the web material and the sieve member is sucked.
The addition method according to claim 10, wherein the web material is a filter material for cigarette.