WO2015169596A1

WO2015169596A1 - Distribution arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2015169596A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/058668
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dietmar Zielke
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau Ag
Priority date: 2014-05-05
Filing date: 2015-04-22
Publication date: 2015-11-12
Also published as: EP3139775A1; CN106413431A; DE102014208364A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a distribution arrangement (30) for a device (10) for feeding one or more machines with tobacco, comprising two distribution pipes (22a, 22b) which can be supplied with suction pressure and which are arranged opposite each other, and are connected to each other by means of a funnel outlet (21) of the device (10). In at least one of the distribution pipes (22a, 22b), a branching device (24a, 24b) is arranged in two conveying pipes (25c, 25d; 25e, 25f) which are arranged opposite each other,

Description

DISTRIBUTION ARRANGEMENT

The invention relates to a distributor arrangement for a device for charging one or more machines with tobacco, comprising two distributor tubes connected in each case to a funnel outlet of the device, arranged opposite one another and can be acted upon with suction pressure. The invention further relates to a device for feeding one or more machines with tobacco and a machine assembly of the tobacco-processing industry.

For feeding high-performance cigarette making machines with tobacco, a feed device sold under the name KAM by the Applicant according to DE 40 00 312 C2 has become established. The KAM feeder is designed to independently feed a maximum of two cigarette manufacturing machines with a capacity of up to 20,000 cigarettes per minute.

The opposing arrangement of two suction pipes achieves a very precise distribution of tobacco depending on the amount of suction air on both pipes, which allows a uniform feed of one or two machines. If both pipes are sucked at the same air velocity, an exact 50/50 mass flow distribution of the tobacco takes place. If a pipe is sucking at a lower air velocity, the tobacco is divided according to the flow conditions.

The market repeatedly demands feeders for more than two cigarette making machines. For example, two KAM feeders can be combined into one unit and supplied with tobacco via a turning shaft. In this way, up to four high-performance cigarette manufacturing machines can be charged simultaneously and independently.

To feed more than two machines simultaneously with just one feeder, the use of a triple nozzle with three tubes arranged at equal angles of 120 ° was investigated. Experiments have shown, however, that the mass distribution in three pipes is no longer given the required accuracy. Even slight design tolerances lead here to an uneven tobacco distribution. In addition, it has been shown that in the suction operation of only two of the three tubes, the tobacco is sucked over the angle and lingers there, because it is pulled from two sides, which leads to rapid clogging of the inlet funnel. Such an arrangement can not be operated safely and with the required mass distribution. Such a triple nozzle was considered impracticable on the basis of the test results and was not offered on the market.

In other known triple nozzles, the tubes are arranged offset by 90 °, with a fourth tube is used for air intake, resulting in an overall cross-shaped arrangement. Even with these nozzles, there is a risk of constipation, because when simultaneously sucking on two tubes, the tobacco can also be held over an edge. An accurate mass flow distribution is also difficult to achieve here. The suitability of connecting three high-performance cigarette making machines is questionable. The object of the invention is to provide a distributor arrangement for a feeding device, which enables the simultaneous feeding of more than two machines with tobacco by simple means.

The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1. The invention has recognized that the only way to divide the tobacco mass flow without risk of clogging accurately and reproducibly according to the flowing air quantities, is to arrange the conveyor tubes opposite each other. In order to be able to feed more than two machines at the same time with such an arrangement, it is provided according to the invention that a branch is arranged in two delivery pipes in at least one of the delivery pipes. Thus, according to the invention, at least one of the distributor pipes is divided in the same way into two conveying pipes opposite one another, as is the division at the funnel outlet into two distributor pipes.

The advantage of this arrangement according to the invention is that at each mass flow split, i. at the funnel exit and in the branch or branches, only two opposite tubes are provided, with which the tobacco mass flow can be distributed according to the amount of flowing air as desired. Tubes connected at an acute angle are avoided according to the invention so that no tobacco can be held at one corner and blockages are counteracted.

Mutually opposite in the context of the present application means that the tubes enclose an angle of more than 120 °, preferably at least 140 °, more preferably at least 160 ° and most advantageously 180 ° with each other. If only in one of the distribution pipes, a branch is arranged in two oppositely disposed delivery pipes, up to three machines, especially at the same time, can be fed with tobacco. Preferably, however, a branch i two delivery pipes is arranged in the other of the two delivery pipes. In this advantageous embodiment, up to four machines, especially at the same time, can be charged with tobacco.

Preferably, a false air supply for supplying false air is provided in the branch at the junction. This measure counteracts unwanted settling of tobacco in the area of the branch and consequent blockages.

The invention will be explained below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures. Showing:

Fig. 1A, 1B is a front and a side view of a feeder;

FIGS. 2A-2D are side views (FIGS. 2A, 2C) and plan views

(Figures 2B, 2D) of a manifold assembly in a first embodiment;

Fig. 3A, 3B is a side view and a plan view of a United divider arrangement in a second embodiment

4 shows a side view of a distributor arrangement in a third embodiment; 5A, 5B show a side view and a plan view of a distributor arrangement in a fourth embodiment; and

6A, 6B a side view and a top view of a distributor arrangement in a fifth embodiment.

The charging device 10 comprises a housing 11 and a stowage chamber 12 arranged in the housing, which serves as a tobacco storage container and to which cut tobacco 14 can be supplied at its inlet 13. At the bottom of the storage shaft 12, the cut tobacco 14 is metered by means of a metering device 31 into an outlet-side hopper 18. The metering device 31 here includes, for example, a driven belt conveyor 15 and two driven discharge rollers 16, 17, which are equipped with Abkämmrechen. The speeds of the belt conveyor 15 and the discharge rollers 16, 17, and thus the metering of the metering device 31 are controlled and / or regulated by means of appropriate drives 19, in particular depending on the consumption of the connected cigarette maker - machines.

At its lower end, the funnel 18 has a funnel exit opening 21. The funnel outlet opening 21 will be referred to briefly as funnel exit 21 in the following. Funnel 18 and funnel exit 21 are preferably elongated, in particular oval-shaped, wherein the extension in the longitudinal direction is advantageously at least 1.5 times as large as the extension in the transverse direction, see, for example, FIG. 2B. The transverse extent of the funnel outlet opening 21 advantageously corresponds to the diameter of the distributor tubes 22 described below. To achieve a maximum tobacco mass flow, alternating tively a funnel exit opening 21 can be ^λ with a larger cross-section advantageous, see Fig. 5B.

Below the funnel exit 21, a distributor 30 is connected to two horizontally extending distributor tubes 22a, 22b, which enclose an angle of 180 ° and are therefore arranged exactly opposite each other. The distributor pipes 22a, 22b can therefore also be regarded as a continuous distributor pipe 22, the funnel outlet opening 21 being formed at the top in the pipe wall. By means of a suction flow, the tobacco 14 is withdrawn from the hopper 18 and falls through the hopper outlet opening 21 in the connecting portion 23 of the manifolds 22a, 22b.

Due to the opposite arrangement of the distribution pipes 22a, 22b, the tobacco 14 is accurately and reproducibly conveyed away in the ratio of the suction pressures applied to the distribution pipes 22a, 22b and the suction flows in the distribution pipes 22a, 22b. For example, if the suction pressures applied to the manifolds 22a, 22b are equal, so that the same suction flows are established in the manifolds 22a, 22b, then exactly the same tobacco mass flows are carried away by the manifolds 22a, 22b.

The distributor 30 further comprises one or more branches 24a, 24b, by means of which a corresponding distributor tube 22a, 22b branches off into two further delivery tubes 25c, 25d or 25e, 25f. In the embodiments according to FIGS. 2A to 5B, a T-branch 24a, 24b is arranged in each distributor tube 22a, 22b. In each case, the two conveying tubes 25c, 25d or 25e, 25f branching out of a distributor tube 22a, 22b enclose an angle of 180 ° and are therefore likewise located exactly opposite one another. see Fig. 2B. Due to the opposing arrangement of the conveying pipes 25c, 25d and 25e, 25f, the tobacco 14 is accurately and reproducibly in relation to the suction pressures applied to the conveying pipes 25c, 25d and 25e, 25f and the suction flows in the conveying pipes 25c, 25d and 25e, respectively , 25f carried off. The delivery pipes 25c to 25f in this embodiment are arranged in a horizontal plane at the same height as the distribution pipes 22a, 22b.

At each suction-side end of a conveying pipe 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, a cigarette manufacturing machine 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f may be connected, respectively. The cigarette manufacturing machines 26c to 26f are schematically indicated by way of example in FIG. 2B. In this way, with a feeder 10 and the distributor 30 according to the invention, up to four cigarette manufacturing machines 26c to 26f can be fed simultaneously with tobacco. Each connected cigarette manufacturing machine 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f can request an individually desired tobacco mass flow by applying a suitable suction pressure to the corresponding conveying tube 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f. Due to the respective opposite arrangement of the conveying pipes 25c, 25d and 25e, 25f, the risk of blockages in the region of the T-branches 24a, 24b is equally minimal in the absence of acute-angled connections as in the connecting region 23 of the distributor pipes 22a, 22b.

The tobacco supply by means of the metering device 31 can advantageously be controlled on the basis of the suction pressure in the individual delivery pipes 25c to 25f. The suction pressure is measured, for example, by means of corresponding pressure sensors 29c to 29f arranged in the conveying pipes 25c to 25f. The measuring signals from the pressure sensors 29c to 29f are advantageously forwarded to an electronic control device. tet processed there and issued a corresponding control signal to the metering device 31.

The branches 24a, 24b are expediently arranged at a distance from the funnel outlet 21, the distance advantageously being at least a maximum tube diameter, more preferably at least two maximum tube diameters of the distributor tube 22.

As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the tobacco first falls down onto the horizontal distributor pipe 22a, 22b due to the gravity-induced supply in the hopper 18. As a result, therefore, the tobacco initially rests on the bottom of the horizontal manifold 22a, 22b (position 50 in Figure 2C) and is thereafter, i. downstream from position 50, raised by the air flow and conveyed to the upper tube wall (position 51 on the right in FIG. 2C). Overall, this results in a wavy promotion of the tobacco 14 through the horizontal manifold 22a, 22b. This waveform is at the beginning of the horizontal manifold 22a, 22b, i. in the region of the mouth 21 of the funnel 18, most pronounced and weakens more and more with further horizontal promotion.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2C and 2D, left side, the branch 24a is located near the connection region 23 of the distribution pipes 22a, 22b at the point where the tobacco emerging from the hopper 18 hits the bottom of the distribution pipe 22a, see FIG. 2C , In the branch 24a, the tobacco then flows upwards tangentially or in the circumferential direction at the rounding of the branch 24a. The result is a swirling flow in the branch 24a, which gently distributes the tobacco to the two conveying pipes 25c, 25d. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 2C and 2D, right side, the branch 24b is arranged farther away from the connection region 23 at the location where the branch from the

Hopper 18 leaking tobacco on the top of the manifold 22 b meets, see Figure 2C. In the branch 24b, the tobacco then flows down tangentially or in the circumferential direction at the rounding of the branch 24a. In turn, there is a swirling flow in the branch 24b, which gently distributes the tobacco to the two conveying pipes 25e, 25f. The direction of rotation is in the inflow at the top (right side in Figure 2C) opposite to the direction of rotation of the inflow at the bottom (left side in Figure 2C).

The short rail embodiment 22a (left side in Figs. 2C, 2D) may be preferable to the longer rail 22b embodiment (right side in Figs. 2C, 2D), because there the position of the flowing tobacco is unique.

In further embodiments, not shown, both manifolds 22a, 22b are short, i. corresponding to the left side in Figures 2C, 2D, or long, i. in accordance with the right-hand side in FIGS. 2C, 2D.

The arrangement of the branch 24b in a middle position 52 between the positions 50, 51 (see Figure 2C), where the tobacco flows in the middle of the manifold 22b, may be unfavorable. In this case, the tobacco 14 shoots at high speed into the center of the branch 24b and bounces against the opposite wall in the branch 24b. The tobacco is very heavily mechanically stressed by this impact, which leads to a shortening of the fiber structure and thus to tobacco destruction. In the following, possible operating modes of the charging device 10 according to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B are shown.

If only one of the delivery tubes 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f is sucked, then the tobacco mass flow is clearly defined by the flow. The metering into the funnel 18 takes place in accordance with the quantity of tobacco for one, namely the cigarette manufacturing machine 26c, 26d, 26e or 26f connected to the sucking tube.

If two of the conveying tubes, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, are suctioned, twice the quantity of tobacco is added by the metering device 31. The tobacco mass flow is divided between the two sucking conveyor tubes 25. If two delivery pipes 25c and 25d or 25e and 25f are sucked on one side, the tobacco is split in the corresponding side strand, in particular in the corresponding branch 24a or 24b. In the distributor tube 22, the double tobacco mass flow is sucked off to one side by the corresponding distributor tube 22a or 22b. Suction two production pipes from opposite sides, i. 25c and 25e or 25c and 25f or 25d and 25e or 25d and 25f, the mass flow in the manifold 22 is divided according to the sucking air quantities.

If three delivery pipes are sucked, ie 25c, 25d and 25e or 25c, 25d and 25f or 25c, 25e and 25f or 25d, 25e and 25f, then the mass flow in the branch 24a or 24b with two sucking delivery pipes corresponding to the sucking air quantities becomes 1: 1 split. In the manifold 22, the mass flow 1: 2, if, for example, sucks twice the amount of air on one side. Of the metering device 31 in this case the triple amount of tobacco is metered. If all conveying pipes 25c to 25f are being suctioned, then the mass flow in the distributor pipe 22 and in the branches 24a, 24b is divided 1: 1, corresponding to the sucking air quantities, for example. From the metering device 31 then the fourfold amount of tobacco is added.

It is not necessary to connect or operate a cigarette maker 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f on each conveyor pipe 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f. With the loading device 10 according to FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B, therefore, less than four cigarette manufacturing machines 26 can also be operated if required. Furthermore, it is conceivable to provide one or more further T branches in one or more conveying tubes 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f so that, if required, more than four cigarette manufacturing machines can be fed with a feeding device 10.

In the alternative embodiment according to FIGS. 3A, 3B, a further deflection downwards takes place in the distributor tubes 22a, 22b, here the overall height is slightly larger than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 2A, 2B.

The alternative embodiment according to FIG. 4 differs from that according to FIGS. 3A, 3B in that the conveying tubes 25c to 25b lie in the plane of the distributor tubes 22a, 22b. In this case, the conveying pipes 25c, 25d and 25e, 25f are advantageously arranged at different heights.

The use of the different variants according to FIGS. 2A, 2B; Figs. 3A, 3B; Fig. 4A, Fig. 4B or other suitable variants takes place depending on the spatial conditions. In order to avoid an undesirable settling of tobacco in the region of the branches 24a, 24b and consequent blockages, false air supply lines 27a, 27b for introducing secondary air into the branches 24a, 24b may be provided at the branches 24a, 24b. This is shown in the embodiment according to FIGS. 5A, 5B. A false air line 28 or 28a, 28b (see Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B) in the connecting portion 23 of the manifolds 22a, 22b is already known per se.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 6A, 6B illustrates that a branching 24a, 24b need not necessarily be provided in both distributor tubes 22A, 22B. In this embodiment, a branch 24a, 24b is provided only in a manifold 22a. The distributor 30 according to FIGS. 6A, 6B is therefore set up for the simultaneous feeding of up to three cigarette manufacturing machines.

Claims

Claims :

A distributor arrangement (30) for a device (10) for charging one or more machines with tobacco, comprising two distributor tubes (22a, 22b) each connected to a funnel outlet (21) of the device (10), arranged opposite one another and can be acted upon by suction pressure. , characterized in that in at least one of the distribution pipes (22a, 22b) a branch (24a, 24b) in two oppositely arranged conveying tubes (25c, 25d; 25e, 25f) is arranged.

2. Distributor assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the branch (24a, 24b) is spaced from the funnel outlet (21).

3. Distributor arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the distance of the branch (24a, 24b) from the funnel outlet (21) is at least one pipe diameter.

4. Distributor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the other of the two distribution pipes (22b, 22a) a branch (24a, 24b) in two oppositely arranged conveying pipes (25e, 25f, 25c, 25d) is arranged.

5. Distributor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveying pipes (25c, 25d;

25e, 25f) are arranged perpendicular to the distributor tube (22a, 22b) from which they branch off.

6. Distributor arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the branch (24a, 24b) a false air supply line (28; 28a, 28b) is provided.

A manifold assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manifold (24a) is located at a position (50) in the manifold (22a) where the tobacco (14) first strikes the bottom of the manifold (22a).

A manifold assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the manifold (24b) is located at a position (51) in the manifold (22b) where the tobacco (14) is first placed on top of the manifold (22a, 22b). meets.

A distributor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the branches (24a, 24b) are arranged at a position (50) in the distributor pipe (22a, 22b) where the tobacco (14) is first placed on the bottom of the distributor pipe (24). 22a, 22b).

Distributor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the branches (24a, 24b) are arranged at a position (51) in the distributor pipe (22a, 22b) where the tobacco (14) is first placed on the top of the distributor pipe (24). 22b).

11. An apparatus (10) for feeding one or more machines of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a funnel (18) with the funnel exit (21), characterized in that a distributor arrangement (30) according to one of preceding claims with the funnel exit (21) is connected.

Machine arrangement of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a charging device according to claim 11, characterized in that in each case a cigarette making machine (26c-26f) to a suction-side end of a För derrohrs (25c-25f) can be connected.