WO2016142500A1

WO2016142500A1 - A filling unit for a loose material and a method for feeding a loose material

Info

Publication number: WO2016142500A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/055214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leszek Sikora
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O.
Priority date: 2015-03-12
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: PL411548A1

Abstract

A filling unit (103) for a loose material, for use in tobacco industry in machines for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, the filling unit comprising: a container (21) for the loose material; a pocket transporter (22) comprising a plurality of pockets (23), each for collecting a portion of the loose material from the container (21) and transporting the collected portion; and a transferring transporter (24) comprising a plurality of feeding channels (29), each for transferring the portion of the loose material to a space between the rod- like elements (S1, S2) arranged in a linearly moving train (ST1) and wrapped with a wrapper (101) at the side opposite the side of transferring the loose material, wherein each of the feeding channels (29) comprises an inlet (35) for receiving the loose material and an outlet (36) for feeding the loose material to the space between the rod-like elements (S1, S2). The inlet (35) of each of said feeding channels (29) of the transferring transporter (24) has a surface area larger than the surface area of the outlet of each of said pockets (23) of the pocket transporter (22). The filling unit (103) further comprises at least one limiting surface (38) located between the outlets (36) of the neighboring feeding channels (29), the limiting surface (38) having a shape adapted to the surface of the rod-like elements (S1, S2) at the side of transferring the loose material.

Description

A FILLING UNIT FOR A LOOSE MATERIAL AND A METHOD FOR FEEDING A

LOOSE MATERIAL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a filling unit for a loose material and a method for feeding a loose material, for use in tobacco industry machines.

BACKGROUND

Tobacco industry products, such as cigarettes, may comprise segment filters with various filtering materials, such as activated charcoal in a form of a loose granulate. The segment with activated charcoal is typically formed by placing the charcoal between other segments having a solid form. The solid segments typically have a form of rod-like elements with or without filtering properties, for example comprising aromatic capsules. The manufacturers of filters comprising charcoal or other loose materials need to feed repeatable portions of loose materials of various granulation levels into the space between the segments, such that the portion of the loose material fills the space between the segments to the highest extent.

The US patent US3312152 discloses an apparatus comprising a container and a belt with blind pockets for transferring a portion of charcoal to compartments between segments.

The US patent US3570557 discloses a device comprising a wheel with pockets for transferring portions of charcoal.

The presented solutions have the drawback that the compartments between the segments cannot be completely filled and that the apparatus is subject to contamination. There is a need to provide an apparatus which is free of the abovementioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed a filling unit for a loose material, for use in tobacco industry in machines for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, the filling unit comprising: a container for the loose material; a pocket transporter comprising a plurality of pockets, each for collecting a portion of the loose material from the container and transporting the collected portion; and a transferring transporter comprising a plurality of feeding channels, each for transferring the portion of the loose material to a space between the rod-like elements arranged in a linearly moving train and wrapped with a wrapper at the side opposite the side of transferring the loose material, wherein each of the feeding channels comprises an inlet for receiving the loose material and an outlet for feeding the loose material to the space between the rod-like elements. The inlet of each of said feeding channels of the transferring transporter has a surface area larger than the surface area of the outlet of each of said pockets of the pocket transporter. The filling unit further comprises at least one limiting surface located between the outlets of the neighboring feeding channels, the limiting surface having a shape adapted to the surface of the rod-like elements at the side of transferring the loose material.

The surface area of the inlet of the feeding channel of the transferring transporter may be larger than the surface area of the outlet of the feeding channel.

The transferring transporter may have a form of a chain comprising internal links connected by external links, wherein the feeding channel is shaped by the internal surfaces of the external links, a side surface of the internal link and a side surface of a neighboring internal link.

The pins of the chain may extend outside the external links so as to be used to drive the chain.

The transferring transporter may have a form of a chain with internal links connected by external links, and the feeding channels are formed in the internal links of the chain.

The feeding channel may have slanted side surfaces at the inlet.

The angle of inclination of the slanted side surfaces with respect to each other may be from 5° to 90°, preferably from 5° to 45°.

The internal link at the outlet of the feeding channel may have a shape of a concave section of a cylinder.

The outlet of the pocket of the pocket transporter may have a width smaller than the width of the inlet of the feeding channel.

The outlet of the feeding channel may have a width smaller than the width of the space between the rod-like elements.

The speed of the surface of the pocket transporter may be equal to the linear speed of the transferring transporter, and the spacing of the pockets of the pocket transporter may be equal to the spacing of the feeding channels of the transferring transporter.

The speed of the surface of the pocket transporter may be higher than the linear speed of the transferring transporter, and the spacing of the pockets of the pocket transporter may be larger than the spacing of the feeding channels of the transferring transporter.

There is also disclosed a machine for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, the machine comprising: a feeding unit for arranging the rod-like elements in a spaced-apart arrangement as a train on a wrapper placed on a garniture belt; a filling unit for feeding a loose material into spaces between the rod-like elements; a garniture unit for wrapping the wrapper around the rod-like elements and the loose material to form a continuous multi- segment rod; and a cutting head for cutting the continuous multi-segment rod to individual multi-segment rods; wherein the filling unit is as described above.

There is also disclosed method for feeding a loose material, in tobacco industry in machines for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods comprising rod-like elements, the method comprising: arranging the rod-like elements in a spaced-apart arrangement as a train on a wrapper placed on a garniture belt; feeding portions of the loose material from a container to successive pockets of a pocket transporter; feeding the portions of the loose material from the pockets of the pocket transporter to successive feeding channels of a transferring transporter; and feeding successive portions of the loose material from the feeding channels of the transferring transporter to spaces between the rod- like elements in the train of the rod-like elements. The method comprises narrowing the stream of the loose material along the filling path from the pocket of the pocket transporter to the spaces between the rod-like elements.

The method may comprise running the pocket transporter with a speed higher than the linear speed of the transferring transporter.

The apparatus as described herein enables to increase the extent to which the compartments are filled with the loose material, in order to increase the quality of the manufactured rods. In addition, the machine for manufacturing the rods becomes less contaminated with the loose material. Moreover, the loose material does not get between the rod-like elements and the wrapper. Furthermore, the apparatus can operate at a high speed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The filling unit is shown by means of example embodiments in a drawing, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 show fragments of various examples of continuous multi-segment rods;

Fig. 3 shows an example of a multi-segment rod;

Fig. 4 shows schematically a fragment of a machine for manufacturing multi-segment filtering rods;

Fig. 5 shows a filling unit;

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged side view of a feeding channel;

Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a chain;

Fig. 8 shows a top view of the feeding channel;

Fig. 9 shows an enlarged side view of the feeding channel; Fig. 10 shows an enlarged side view of a second embodiment of the feeding channel;

Figs. 11a, 1 lb, 11c show consecutive stages of feeding a material of small fragmentation; Figs. 12a, 12b, 12c show consecutive stages of feeding a material of high fragmentation; Fig. 13 shows a second embodiment of a filling unit;

Fig. 14 shows a third embodiment of the filling unit;

Fig. 15 shows a fragment of a transferring transporter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figs. 1 and 2 show fragments of various examples of continuous multi-segment rods CR1 and CR2 formed from a train of rod-like elements SI, S2 and SC formed by the presented unit, wherein the segments are wrapped in a wrapper 101. The segments SI and S2 have a solid shape, typically cylindrical, whereas the segment SC is formed from a loose material 102 which is located between the segments SI and SI or between the segments SI and S2. The presented continuous rods are cut into multi-segment rods. Fig. 3 shows an example of a multi-segment rod R2 formed from the continuous rod CR2.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a fragment of a machine for manufacturing the multi- segment filtering rods. The machine comprises a feeding unit 1, which is configured to arrange the rod- like elements SI and S2 as a train STl, wherein the rod- like elements SI and S2 are transported in a particular preset spaced relationship. The rod- like elements SI and S2 are fed to a garniture belt 5. A wrapper, such as a wrapping paper, is fed on a belt of the garniture belt 5 and the elements SI and S2 are placed on the wrapper 101. Over the moving train STl there is located a filling unit for supplying the loose material, for example activated charcoal, in order to form the segment CS. Lifted edges of the wrapper 101 and front surfaces of the elements SI and S2 form compartments, into which the loose material 102 is supplied from the filling unit 103. A train ST2 of the rod-like elements S I, S2 and CS that moves on a band 40 of the garniture belt 5 is wrapped in the wrapper 101 by a garniture unit 6. The garniture belt 5 is typically a part of the garniture unit 6. The manufactured continuous rod CR is transported further and, after the wrapper is glued in the garniture unit 6, the continuous rod is cut by a cutting head 8 into individual multi-segment rods R.

The filling unit 103 shown in Fig. 5 comprises a container 21 for the loose material

102. Below the container 21 there is placed a pocket wheel 22, which has a plurality of pockets 23 arranged circumferentially and configured to receive a predetermined amount of the loose material 102, the amount corresponding to the volume of the compartment between the segments SI and S2. The pocket wheel 22 is shown in the drawing as rotating clockwise, and a guide 27 is positioned next to the circumference of the pocket wheel 22, between the bottom edge of the container 21 and the top edge of a transferring transporter 24. The surface of the guide 27 is substantially adjacent to the circumference of the pocket wheel 22. The guide 27 protects the loose material from falling out of the pockets 23. The filling unit 103 comprises the transferring transporter 24 formed as a chain transporter comprising internal links 25 and external links 26 connected together by pins 28. The transferring transporter comprises a plurality of pass-through feeding channels 29. The transferring transporter 24 may have a continuous form, an example path of the transporter is marked with a dashed line 24A. Each feeding channel 29 is formed by slanted (inclined with respect to each other) side surfaces 30 and 31 and parallel (to each other) side surfaces 32 and 33 (the enlarged view A in Fig. 6) of the neighbouring internal links 25 and the surfaces 34 of the external links 26. The inlet 35 of the feeding channel 29 is configured to receive the loose material on the surfaces 30 and 31 which are inclined at an angle a to each other, wherein the angle a may be from 5° to 90°, preferably from 5° to 45°. When, during operation of the apparatus, the space of the pocket 23 opens into the space of the feeding channel, the loose material falls first on the surface 31, next directly to the space of the feeding channel 29, and at a final stage its remaining portion falls on the surface 30. The outlet 36 of the feeding channel 29, that is configured to feed the loose material to the compartment 37, has surfaces 32 and 33 positioned in parallel to each other. Preferably, the outlet 36 of the feeding channel has a smaller cross-section than the inlet 35. All the loose material from the stream that falls out from the pocket 23 is directed to the inlet 35 and the particles of the loose material do not bounce off towards the pocket wheel. After the particles of the loose material bounce off from the surfaces 32 and 33, they are directed downwards towards the outlet. The chain transporter is also shown in a top view in Fig. 8. The bolts 28 pass through the internal links 25 and the external links 26 and extend outside the external links such that they enter the notches of the chain wheel 41 as shown in Fig. 15. In another embodiment the feeding channel 29 may have the side surfaces which are only slanted or only parallel to each other. In yet another embodiment, the feeding channel may be made only in the internal link of the chain (Fig. 10). As shown in Fig. 7, the limiting surface 38 of the transferring transporter 24 between the outlets 36 of the successive feeding channels 29 has a shape corresponding to the surface of the rod-like elements (SI, S2), for example a shape of a section of a cylinder that is substantially adjacent to the top surfaces of the elements SI, S2. In other words, the limiting surface 38 has a shape adapted to the shape of the rod- like elements (S I, S2) from the side of transferring the loose material. In other words, the limiting surface 38 has a shape adapted to the shape of the rod-like elements (SI, S2) that is not wrapped by the wrapper. This at least limits, or blocks, the transfer of the loose material into the space between the limiting surface 38 and the top surfaces of the elements SI , S2. Therefore, when the elements are wrapped by the wrapper, the loose material between the elements SI or S2 is at least reduced or even eliminated.

The loose material is transferred from the pocket of the pocket wheel to the inlet of the feeding channel having a surface area larger than the outlet of the pocket of the pocket wheel, therefore the machine may be operated at a higher speed - the transfer of the loose material from the pocket of the pocket wheel lasts shorter than the transfer of the loose material from the feeding channel to the compartment between the rod-like elements, which may be effected over a longer path. It is, indeed, enough that during the contact of the pocket 23 with the space of the feeding channel 29, appropriate portion of the loose material 102 is transferred to the space of the feeding channel 29, and the following transfer of the loose material from the space of the feeding channel 29 into the space of the compartment 37 may be continued while the pocket 23 is no longer in contact with the feeding channel 29. The transferring transporter 24 should run in parallel to the train ST2 for the time necessary to transfer the whole portion of the loose material to the compartment 37. The transfer of the loose material to the compartment 37 may be supported by a negative pressure provided to a compartment 39 located below air-permeable belt 40 of the garniture belt 5.

Moreover, if the outlet of the pocket 23 of the pocket transporter has a width dl smaller than the width d2 of the inlet 35 of the feeding channel 29 (the enlarged view B in Fig. 9) (or, in general, a smaller surface area), and the outlet 36 of the feeding channel 29 has a width d3 smaller than the width d4 of the compartment between the rod-like elements (or, in general, a smaller surface area), this leads to reduced amount of loose material that is lost during the transfer.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a feeding channel 29' formed in an internal link 25' of the chain, wherein the feeding channel 29' has an inlet 35' and an outlet 36' and is shaped similarly to the feeding channel 29.

In the embodiment described above, the rotational speed col of the wheel 22 is selected such that the circumferential speed vl of the circumferential surface 22A of the wheel 22 is equal to the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter 24 (Fig. 5). The spacing tl of the pockets 23 on the circumference 22A for vl=v0 is equal to the spacing tO of the feeding channels 29 in the transferring transporter 24. Experiments have shown, that for a loose material of a low fragmentation, such as a granulate, the rotational speed col of the wheel 22 (Fig. 13) may be set such that the circumferential speed v2 is higher than the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter 24.

The granulate feeding process is shown in Figs. 11a, l ib and 11c. Fig. 11a shows the beginning of the granulate 102' feeding process. Fig. l ib shows a successive stage of the feeding process, wherein the granulate 102' passes via the inlet 35 to the channel 29 towards the surface 31. Fig. 11c shows the end of the granulate 102' transfer process, wherein some of the granulate 102' passes towards the surface 30. The period during which the granulate 102' may be transferred from the pocket 23 to the channel 29, for the circumferential speed v2 of the pocket wheel 22 which is higher than the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter 24 (v2>v0) is shorter than in case when the circumferential speed of the pocket wheel vl is equal to the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter (vl=v0). Moreover, the spacing t2 of the pockets 23 along the circumference 22A for v2>v0 is larger than the spacing tl (Fig. 13). In turn, for a loose material of a high fragmentation, such as a powder, it is preferred to use a rotational speed co3 of the pocket wheel 22 (Fig. 14) such that the circumferential speed v3 of the pocket wheel 22 is lower than the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter 24 (v3<v0).

The process of feeding the loose material of a powder type is shown in Figs. 12a, 12b and 12c. Fig. 12a shows the beginning of the powder 102" feeding process, wherein the powder 102" passes through the inlet 35 to the channel 29 towards the surface 30. In Fig. 12b the process of feeding the powder 102" is continued. Fig. 12c shows the end of the powder feeding process, therein some of the powder is directed towards the surface 31. The period, during which the powder 102" may be transferred from the pocket 23 to the channel 29, for the circumferential speed v3 of the pocket wheel 22 which is lower than the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter 24 (v3<v0) is longer than in case when the circumferential speed of the pocket wheel vl is equal to the linear speed vO of the transferring transporter (vl=v0). Moreover, the spacing t3 of the pockets 23 along the circumference for v3<v0 is smaller than the spacing tl (Fig. 14).

The ultimate selection of the ratio of the speeds of the pocket wheel and the transferring transporter depends on the type of the loose material and does not depend directly on the level of fragmentation, it may depend on the particular properties of the material that influence the ease of transfer of material. The selection of the ratio of the pocket wheel speed and the transferring transporter speed influences the time window, during which the loose material is transferred from the pocket to the feeding channel. The selection of the time window and the angle of inclination of the feeding channel surfaces allows to achieve higher speeds of manufacturing multi-segment rods.

The transferring transporter may also have a form of a plastic belt having feeding channels with side surfaces formed similarly to the channels of the aforementioned chain transporter. The belt may be driven by gearwheels.

The apparatus is particularly useful for loose materials of small grain size, such as a granulate or powder.

Claims

1. A filling unit (103) for a loose material, for use in tobacco industry in machines for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, the filling unit comprising:

- a container (21) for the loose material;

- a pocket transporter (22) comprising a plurality of pockets (23), each for collecting a portion of the loose material from the container (21) and transporting the collected portion; and

- a transferring transporter (24) comprising a plurality of feeding channels (29), each for transferring the portion of the loose material to a space between the rod- like elements (SI,

S2) arranged in a linearly moving train (ST1) and wrapped with a wrapper (101) at the side opposite the side of transferring the loose material, wherein each of the feeding channels (29) comprises an inlet (35) for receiving the loose material and an outlet (36) for feeding the loose material to the space between the rod- like elements (SI, S2);

characterized in that

- the inlet (35) of each of said feeding channels (29) of the transferring transporter (24) has a surface area larger than the surface area of the outlet of each of said pockets (23) of the pocket transporter (22); and

- the filling unit (103) further comprises at least one limiting surface (38) located between the outlets (36) of the neighboring feeding channels (29), the limiting surface (38) having a shape adapted to the surface of the rod-like elements (SI, S2) at the side of transferring the loose material.

2. The filling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface area (35) of the inlet (35) of the feeding channel (29) of the transferring transporter (24) is larger than the surface area of the outlet (36) of the feeding channel (29).

3. The filling unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the transferring transporter (24) has a form of a chain comprising internal links (25) connected by external links (26), wherein the feeding channel (29) is shaped by the internal surfaces (34) of the external links (26), a side surface (30, 32) of the internal link (25) and a side surface (31, 33) of a neighboring internal link (25).

4. The filling unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the pins of the chain extend outside the external links so as to be used to drive the chain.

5. The filling unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the transferring transporter (24) has a form of a chain with internal links (25') connected by external links (26), and the feeding channels (29') are formed in the internal links (25') of the chain.

6. The filling unit according to any of previous claims, characterized in that the feeding channel (29, 29') has slanted side surfaces (30, 31) at the inlet (35, 35') of the feeding channel (29, 29').

7. The filling unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the angle (a) of inclination of the slanted side surfaces (30, 31) with respect to each other is from 5° to 90°, preferably from 5° to 45°.

8. The filling unit according to any of previous claims, characterized in that the internal link (25, 25') at the outlet (36, 36') of the feeding channel (29, 29') has a shape of a concave section of a cylinder.

9. The filling unit according to any of previous claims, characterized in that the outlet of the pocket (23) of the pocket transporter (22) has a width (dl) smaller than the width (d2) of the inlet (35, 35') of the feeding channel (29, 29').

10. The filling unit according to any of previous claims, characterized in that the outlet (36, 36') of the feeding channel (29, 29') has a width (d3) smaller than the width (d4) of the space between the rod-like elements (SI, S2).

11. The filling unit according to any of previous claims, characterized in that the speed (vl) of the surface (22A) of the pocket transporter (22) is equal to the linear speed (vO) of the transferring transporter (24), and the spacing (tl) of the pockets (23) of the pocket transporter (22) is equal to the spacing (tO) of the feeding channels (29) of the transferring transporter (24).

12. The filling unit according to any of claims 1-10, characterized in that the speed (v2) of the surface (22 A) of the pocket transporter (22) is higher than the linear speed (vO) of the transferring transporter (24), and the spacing (t2) of the pockets (23) of the pocket transporter (22) is larger than the spacing (tO) of the feeding channels (29) of the transferring transporter (24).

13. A machine for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, the machine comprising:

- a feeding unit (1) for arranging the rod- like elements (SI, S2) in a spaced-apart arrangement as a train (ST1) on a wrapper (101) placed on a garniture belt (5);

- a filling unit (103) for feeding a loose material (102) into spaces between the rod- like elements (SI, S2);

- a garniture unit (6) for wrapping the wrapper (101) around the rod- like elements (SI, S2) and the loose material (102) to form a continuous multi-segment rod (CR); and

- a cutting head (8) for cutting the continuous multi-segment rod (CR) to individual multi- segment rods (R);

characterized in that

- the filling unit (103) is the filling unit according to any of claims 1-12.

14. A method for feeding a loose material, in tobacco industry in machines for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods comprising rod-like elements (SI, S2), the method comprising:

- arranging the rod- like elements (SI , S2) in a spaced-apart arrangement as a train (ST1) on a wrapper (102) placed on a garniture belt (5);

- feeding portions of the loose material (102) from a container (21) to successive pockets (23) of a pocket transporter (22);

- feeding the portions of the loose material (102) from the pockets (23) of the pocket transporter (22) to successive feeding channels (29) of a transferring transporter (24); and

- feeding successive portions of the loose material (102) from the feeding channels (29) of the transferring transporter (24) to spaces between the rod- like elements (SI, S2) in the train (ST1) of the rod-like elements (SI, S2);

characterized by: - narrowing the stream of the loose material (102) along the filling path from the pocket (23) of the pocket transporter (22) to the spaces (37) between the rod-like elements (SI, S2).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized by running the pocket transporter (22) with a speed (v2) higher than the linear speed (vO) of the transferring transporter (24).