WO2013062430A1

WO2013062430A1 - Method for fastening safeguards of a multi-segment tray made of plastic against negative action of electrostatic field, and multi-segment tray made of plastic, safeguarded against negative action of electrostatic field

Info

Publication number: WO2013062430A1
Application number: PCT/PL2012/000112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Gielniewski; Marek Warchoł
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery
Priority date: 2011-10-27
Filing date: 2012-10-25
Publication date: 2013-05-02
Also published as: PL396781A1; PL217428B1

Abstract

A fastening method consists in a permanent spot-joining together of planes (11, 11', 11") of a cover plate (10, 10', 10") comprising vertical side walls (3) and inner walls (6) of a tray (1), at the places of holes (7) made in the walls (3, 6), whereas the planes (11,11', 11") cover lateral surfaces (13, 13',13") of an insert (9, 9', 9'') disposed on the bottom (4) of each segment (5) and lateral surfaces (12, 12', 12") of a shield (8, 8', 8'') put onto the upper edge of each Vertical wall (3, 6). The planes (11,11' 11") are connected by means of their recesses (14, 14', 14") made at the places of the holes (7) and are joined by means of welding, riveting or gluing. The tray (1) made of a dielectric material has vertical side walls (3) and inner walls (6), provided with the holes (7), forming together with the bottom (4) the segments (5). Oft the upper edge of the vertical walls (3, 6) U-shaped metal shields (8, 8', 8'') are situated, and on the bottom (4) the metal inserts (9, 9', 9'') in each segment (5) are situated. The cover plate (10, 10', 10") is put onto the vertical edge of the walls (3, 6) and encloses with its planes (11,11',11") the vertical lateral surfaces (12, 12', 12") of the shield (8, 8', 8'') and the vertical lateral surfaces (13, 13', 13'') of the insert (9, 9', 9''). The planes (11, 11') have the recesses (14, 14') directed to each other, and the lateral surfaces (12, 12') of the shield (8, 8') and the lateral surfaces (13, 13') of the insert (9, 9') have the recesses (14, 14') with which they are joined in the holes (7) of the walls (3, 6), whereas the planes (11"). the lateral surfaces (12") of the shield (8'') and the lateral surfaces (13") of the insert (9'') are smooth and joined through the metal discs (15") disposed in the holes (7).

Description

METHOD FOR FASTENING SAFEGUARDS

OF A MULTI-SEGMENT TRAY MADE OF PLASTIC AGAINST NEGATIVE ACTION OF ELECTROSTATIC FIELD, AND MULTI-SEGMENT TRAY MADE OF PLASTIC, SAFEGUARDED AGAINST NEGATIVE ACTION OF ELECTROSTATIC FIELD

The object of the invention is a method for fastening safeguards of a conducting material inside the segments of a tray made of a dielectric material, used for transporting and/or storing rod like articles in the production lines of the tobacco industry, and a multi- segment tray made of a dielectric material, provided with safeguards of a conducting material, protecting against the negative action of the electrostatic field.

The trays are used in the production lines manufacturing tobacco products such as cigarettes, filters, cigars or cigarillos as intermediate stores for a temporary storage of rod like articles and/or their transport from the manufacturing machine for further operations. For many years the trays have been made of plastic, resistant to the action of components occurring in the tobacco or in the filters, using the injection moulding method. All trays have the shape of a cuboid box, usually without a front wall and a top wall, with a movable Or fixed bottom wall, whereas the width of the bottom wall corresponding to the depth of the tray depends on the length of the rod like articles. For the purpose of sta- bilising the mass of rod like articles, particularly when loading and unloading, trays the interior of which is divided into a certain number of segments by means of vertical inner walls, parallel to the side walls of the tray, are used. Such a tray, constituting an intermediate store, was disclosed in the description of the German utility model No. DE 1.915.446. The publication of the European invention No. EP 1.972.212 Al disclosed a multi-segment tray for rod like articles, made of plastic, particularly of polystyrene (PS) or acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), having a body shaped by a rear wall, two parallel side walls disposed at a distance from each other and a bottom in the articles receiving position, whereas the space receiving the articles is divided into segments by partition Walls parallel to the side walls. The said partition walls are mounted independently of the body by means of fastening elements situated in the rear wall of the body. A significant technical problem in unloading the trays made of a plastic is remaining of rod like articles at the turned over bottom of an unloaded tray, and at its vertical walls as a result of the action of the electrostatic field. The said field forms as a result of accumulation of the electric charge both on the tray made of a dielectric material and on dielectric rod like articles when filling the trays with the articles, when rubbing of the articles against the walls and the bottom of the tray occurs, whereas the rubbing intensifies the formation of this phenomenon. As a result of the rubbing the articles and the tray pick up opposite static charges, in consequence of which a differently oriented electrostatic field in the tray and the rod like articles is formed. A considerable attractive force of such field causes sticking of the articles to the walls of the tray, which makes its complete emptying impossible. The abovementioned phenomenon intensifies in view of the fact that the rod like articles have picked up static already when being manufactured and transferred, and that the electrical charge, which has earlier accumulated in empty trays when handling, is not removed before the filling operation owing to which on one tray locally, independently of each other, many electrostatic fields may exist. An attempt to solve this long known problem was made in the invention presented in the description according to the international publication no. WO 2011/090395 concerning a design of a tray for temporary storage and transport of rod like articles in the production line of the tobacco industry, made of a dielectric material, with the shape of an approximately cuboid box without a front wall and a top wall, which for the purpose of protection against the negative action of the electrostatic field is provided with an insert of a conducting material located inside the tray, whereas the insert can have the form of a layer of a conducting material applied on the side walls and the bottom of the tray or can have the form of a U-shaped element coating the bottom and the side walls. In case of the multi-segment trays provided with a plurality of vertical inner walls parallel to the side walls, each segment can have a layer of a conducting material applied on the inner walls or the side Wall and the bottom or can have a U-shaped insert coating the bottom and the inner walls or the side wall, whereas the insert can coat the bottom as well as the outer edges and the inner edges of the inner walls or the side wall, or the bottom and a fragment of the inner walls or the side wall near the bottom, while a U-shaped insert coating the bottom of each segment can consist of two parts. The presented invention has not solved the problem of fastening the inserts to the surface of the inner walls and/or the side walls and the bottom of the multi-segment tray. In practice, the inserts were fastened by means of gluing, which in view of different thermal expansion coefficients of the tray plastic and the metal inserts caused the said inserts to come unglued and necessitated the withdrawal of the tray from use. The problem became considerably larger in the warm climate zone where the glue applied oh large surfaces of the tray, subjected to multiple changes of stresses, which usually exceeded the stresses permitted by the glue manufacturer, did not fulfil its function.

The aim of the invention is to develop such method for fastening the metal elements so as to obtain a tray protected against the negative action of the electrostatic field and at the same time avoid the risk of tray damage resulting from the use of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients.

According to the invention, a method for fastening safeguards protecting against the negative action of the electrostatic field to a multi-segment tray made of a dielectric material, where on each vertical inner or side wall of a segment of the tray a metal cover plate enclosing the vertical walls with its planes is applied, consists in permanent spot joining together of both planes of the cover plate situated on both sides of the inner wall and/or the side wall, at the places of holes made in the inner walls and the side walls, whereas on the bottom of each segment of the tray a U-shaped metal insert is mounted, and onto the upper edge of each vertical wall a U-shaped metal shield is put, whereas the planes of the cover plate put from the side of the vertical edge of the walls of the segments cover the vertical lateral surfaces of the insert and the shield in each segment of the tray. The planes of the cover plate, situated on both sides of the inner wall and/or the side wall, can be joined by means of their recesses made at the places of holes situated in the vertical walls, whereas the recesses of both planes contact each other in the holes and are joined together. The said recesses can be joined by means of welding, riveting or gluing, which does not exclude other methods of joining. If metal discs are placed in the holes made in the inner walls and the side walls of the tray, both planes of the cover plate can be joined by means of the said discs, whereas the joint can be made by means of welding or by means of gluing. Such fastening method allows avoiding inconveniences related to the fastening of a cover plate inserted from above and joined by means of the glue only.

A multi-segment tray made of a dielectric material, having vertical side walls and vertical inner walls forming together with the bottom the segments of the tray, protected against the negative action of the electrostatic field by means of metal elements located in each Segment of the tray, according to the invention having holes in the vertical side walls and the vertical inner walls. On the edge of the vertical walls U-shaped metal shields are located, and on the bottom of each segment a U-shaped metal insert is situated. The vertical lateral surfaces of the shield and the vertical lateral surfaces of the insert in each segment are enclosed by the planes of the cover plate put onto the vertical edge of the side Walls and the inner walls, whereas both symmetrical planes of the cover plate, with the dimensions corresponding to the surface of the vertical side walls or inner Walls, are permanently joined together in the region of the said holes made in the vertical walls of the tray. For the purpose of joining, the planes of each cover plate can have recesses directed to each other the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes made in the vertical walls of the tray. The U-shaped insert can be fastened in the region of the bot- torn of the tray by means of glue. Similarly, the U-shaped shield can be fastened in the region of the upper edge of the vertical walls by means of glue. In an embodiment of the tray according to the invention the vertical lateral surfaces of the insert can have outwards directed recesses the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes made in the vertical walls of the tray and the axes of the recesses made in the planes of the cover plate. Similarly, the vertical lateral surfaces of the shield have inwards directed recesses the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes made in the vertical walls of the tray and the axes of the recesses made in the planes of the cover plate. In yet another embodiment of the tray according to the invention, inside the holes in the vertical walls of the tray are situated metal discs with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the holes, with which the smooth surfaces of the cover plate are joined, whereas at the bottom of the tray the planes of the cover plate are joined with the discs through the smooth vertical lateral surfaces of the insert, and at the top of the tray the planes of the cover plate are joined with the discs through the smooth vertical lateral surfaces of the shield. Such structure of the tray eliminates the risk of formation of stresses resulting from the Use of materials with a different thermal expansion, which so far has resulted in the tray having been damaged and taken out of use.

For a better understanding, the object of the invention is presented in embodiments in a drawing in which Fig. 1 shows a multi-segment tray made of a dielectric material in a perspective view with a partly removed plane of the cover plate on one vertical inner wall, Fig. 2 - enlarged elements of safeguards of a segment of the tray of Fig. 1 against the negative action of the electrostatic field, with a shield fastened from above on the vertical wall and an insert fastened to the bottom and the vertical walls by means of gluing, and the planes of the cover plate joined by means of welding, Fig. 3 - an embodiment of the tray of Fig. 1 in a perspective view with a partly removed plane of the cover plate on one vertical inner wall, Fig. 4 - enlarged elements of safeguards of the tray of Fig. 3 against the negative action of the electrostatic field, with a shield, an insert and the planes of the cover plate joined by means of welding, Fig. 5 - a perspective view of an enlarged fragment of a vertical wall of a segment of the tray with a sectional view showing dif- ferent variants of the method of joining the elements protecting the tray, Fig. 6 - another embodiment of the tray of Fig. 1 in a perspective view with a partly removed smooth surface of the cover plate on one vertical inner wall, Fig. 7 - enlarged elements of safeguards of the tray of Fig. 6 against the negative action of the electrostatic field, with a smooth shield, an insert and the planes of the cover plate joined using metal discs situated in the holes of the vertical walls of the tray, Fig. 8 - a perspective view of an enlarged fragment of a vertical wall of a segment of the tray with a sectional view showing the method of joining the elements protecting the tray by means of the metal discs, as in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.

A multi-segment tray I is made of a dielectric material in the form of a cuboid box having a rear wall 2, vertical side walls 3 and a bottom 4 stretching between the side walls 3. The inside of the tray I is divided into segments 5 by means of vertical inner walls 6. In the side walls 3 and in the inner walls 6 holes 7 in two parallel columns and multiple, preferably five, rows are made, whereas the axes of the corresponding holes 7 in all vertical walls 3 and 6 overlap. The individual segments 5 of the tray i are protected against the negative action of the electrostatic field by means of metal elements in the form of U-shaped shields 8 put onto the upper edges of the vertical walls 3 and 6, U-shaped inserts 9 situated on the bottom 4 of each segment 5 and U-shaped cover plates 10 inserted along the vertical edges of the walls 3 and 6 so that with their two symmetrical planes H they enclose also the vertical lateral surfaces 12 of the shield 8 arid the vertical lateral surfaces 13 of the insert 9 in two adjacent segments 5. In a first embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 the planes ϋ of the cover plate 10 have recesses 14 directed to each other the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes 7 in the vertical walls 3 and 6, whereas the shields 8 are stuck to the upper edge of the vertical walls 3 and 6 and to their lateral surfaces, and the inserts 9 are stuck to the bottom 4 of the segments 5 of the tray 1 and to the lateral surfaces of the walls 3 and 6, whereas both planes ϋ of the cover plate 10 are connected inside the holes 7 by joining the ends of opposite recesses 14. The recesses 14 can be joined by means of welding (Fig. 5a), gluing (Fig. 5b) or riveting (Fig. 5c). The cover plate 10 attached to the vertical wall 3 or 6 presses also against the vertical lateral surfaces 12 of the shield 8 and the vertical lateral surfaces 13 of the insert 9 in the adjacent segments 5, enhancing the stability of these elements. In a second embodiment of the invention (Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) the shield 8 has in the vertical lateral surfaces 1 1 the recesses 14_1 directed to each Other the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes 7 and the axes of the recesses 141 made in the planes HI of the cover plate 101. Similarly, the insert 9_1 has in the vertical lateral surfaces 131 outwards directed recesses 141 the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes 7 and the axes of the recesses 141 made in the planes HI of the cover plate 10' . Both planes HI of the cover plate 101 are connected inside the holes 7 by joining the ends of the opposite recesses 141 with the simultaneous joining of the recesses HI of the vertical lateral surfaces 12 and the vertical lateral surfaces IV_ with the recesses 141 of the planes 1_1 \ The recesses 1 1 can be joined by means of welding (Fig. 5a), gluing (Fig. 5b) or riveting (Fig. 5c). In a third embodiment of the invention (Fig. 6, Fig. 7 and Fig. 8), inside the holes 7 in the vertical walls 3 and 6 of the tray 1 metal discs 15", with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the holes 7, are disposed with which the smooth surfaces 1 1 " of the cover plate 10" are joined, whereas at the bottom 4 of the tray 1 the planes 1 1 " are joined with the discs 15" through the smooth vertical lateral surfaces 13 " of the insert 91, and at the top of the tray 1 the planes HI of the cover plate 1P_1 are joined with the discs 151 through the smooth vertical lateral surfaces 12" of the shield 8 . The joining of the planes HI with the discs 151 or the planes HI and the lateral surfaces 13" and 12" with the discs 151 can be made by means of welding or gluing (Fig. 8).

Claims

1. A method of fastening safeguards of a multi-segment tray made of a dielectric material against negative action of the electrostatic field, where onto each vertical inner or side wall of a segment of the tray a metal cover plate enclosing the vertical walls with its planes is put, characterised in that both planes of the cover plate situated on both sides of the inner wall and/or the side wall of the tray are permanently spot- joined together at the places of holes made in the inner walls and the side walls, whereas on the bottom of each segment of the tray a U-shaped metal insert is mounted, and onto the upper edge of each vertical wall a U-shaped shield is put, while the planes of the cover plate put from the side of the vertical edge of the segment walls cover the vertical lateral surfaces of the insert and the shield in adjacent segments of the tray.

2. A method as in claim 1, characterised in that the planes of the cover plate situated on both sides of the inner wall and/or the side wall are connected by means of their recesses made at the places of the holes located in the vertical walls, whereas the recesses of both planes contact each other in the holes and are joined together.

3. A method as in claim 2, characterised in that the recesses are joined by means of welding.

4. A method as in claim, 2 characterised in that the recesses are joined by means of riveting.

5. A method as in claim, 2 characterised in that the recesses are joined by means of gluing.

6. A method as in claim 1, characterised in that both planes of the cover plate are joined through metal discs placed in the holes made in the inner walls and the side walls of the tray.

7. A method as in claim 6, characterised in that the planes of the cover plate are joined with the metal discs by means of welding.

8. A method as in claim 6 characterised in that the planes of the cover plate are joined with the metal discs by means of gluing.

9. A multi-segment tray made of a dielectric material, having vertical side walls and vertical inner walls forming with the bottom the segments of the tray, protected against the negative action of the electrostatic field by means of metal elements disposed in each segment of the tray, characterised in that the vertical side walls (3) and the inner walls (6) have holes (7), whereas on the upper edge of the vertical walls (3, 6) U-shaped metal shields (8) are situated, and on the bottom (4) of each segment (5) U-shaped metal inserts (9) are situated, while vertical lateral surfaces ( 12) of the shield (8) and vertical lateral surfaces (13) of the insert (9) in each segment (5) are enclosed by planes (1 1) of cover plates (10) put onto the vertical edge of the side walls (3) and the inner walls (6), whereas both symmetrical planes (ϋ) of each cover plate (10), with the dimensions corresponding to the surface of the vertical side walls (3) and inner walls (6), are permanently joined together in the region of the holes (7) made in the vertical walls (3, 6) of the tray (1).

10. A tray as in claim 9, characterised in that the planes (1 1) of each cover plate (10) have recesses (14) directed to each other the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes (7) made in the vertical walls (3, 6) of the tray (1).

11. A tray as in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the insert (9) is attached in the region of the bottom (4) of the tray (1) by means of glue.

12. A tray as in claim 9 Or 10, characterised in that the insert (8) is attached in the region of the upper edge of the vertical wall (3 or 6) of the tray(I) by means of glue.

13. A tray as in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the vertical lateral surfaces (13') of the insert (9_1) have outwards directed recesses (14') the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes (7) made in the vertical walls (3, 6) of the tray (I) and the axes of the recesses (14') made in the planes (1 1 ') of the cover plate (10').

14. A tray as in claim 13, characterised in that the vertical lateral surfaces (12') of the shield (8^) have iriwards directed recesses (14') the axes of which overlap the axes of the holes (7) made in the vertical walls (3, 6) of the tray (1) and the axes of the recesses (14') made in the planes (11 ') of the cover plate (10').

15. A tray as in claim 9, characterised in that inside the holes (7) in the vertical walls (3, 6) of the tray (1) are disposed metal discs (15") with dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of the holes (7) with which the smooth planes (1 1") of the cover plate (10") are joined, whereas at the bottom (6) of the tray (!) the planes (1 1") of the cover plate (10") are joined with the discs (15") through the smooth vertical lateral surfaces (13") of the insert (9^), and at the top of the tray(I) the planes (1 1") of the cover plate (10") are joined with the discs (15") through the smooth vertical lateral surfaces (12") of the shield (ST).