WO2020035830A1

WO2020035830A1 - Method and apparatus for conversion of moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles

Info

Publication number: WO2020035830A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/056950
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leszek Sikora; Robert Zadecki; Radoslaw Owczarek
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O.
Priority date: 2018-08-17
Filing date: 2019-08-16
Publication date: 2020-02-20
Also published as: PL3836805T3; PL242035B1; PL426684A1; EP3836805A1; EP3836805B1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus for the conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles wherein the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are turned around the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of oriented rod-like articles so that the oriented rod-like articles take a consistent orientation, characterised in that the individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are held in at least two layers, and, in addition, the rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are transferred to grouping modules and groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation, containing at least two layers of the rod-like articles in the consistent orientation, are formed.

Description

Method and apparatus for conversion of moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles

The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus for the conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

The invention is applied in the tobacco industry in rod-like article conveying systems.

Apparatuses and methods for turning oppositely oriented rod-like articles are known from the prior art.

From the document US2988199 an apparatus for turning oppositely oriented rod-like articles using a double sided V-belt is known. The belt is provided with wedges adapted to receive the rod-like articles from a drum feeder, protecting against the possibility that a rod-like article falls out of a wedge. The rod-like articles, which are individually placed in the wedges, are turned in an axis which corresponds to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles due to a twist of the belt on transmission rollers. Turned rod-like articles are released one by one from the wedges onto a belt feeder which forms them into an oriented flow of rod like articles.

From the document US2929489 an apparatus for turning oppositely oriented cut rod-like articles is known. In the rod-like article cutting process, two flows with opposite orientations are obtained. In order to make the orientation uniform, one of the belt conveyors is provided with a crossed transfer belt which allows turning the rod-like articles arranged one after another by 180 degrees in the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles, as a result of which a common orientation for both parallel flows is obtained. A similar solution was presented in the document GB1015562, the difference being that in place of the transfer belt a small belt composed of an inner element e.g. a steel cord covered outside with a soft material e.g. a rubber sponge ensuring an appropriate adhesion of the rod-like articles and preventing their damage was used.

From the document GB1519293 an apparatus for turning oppositely oriented rod-like articles is known. The apparatus comprises independent belt conveyors on which oppositely oriented rod-like articles arranged one after another are situated. At least one of the belt conveyors is adapted to change the orientation of the rod-like articles by 90 degrees in the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles, as a result of which a common orientation for both flows is obtained. Correctly oriented rod-like articles from each of the belt conveyors merge and, at a further stage, form a mass flow. From the document US4860880 an apparatus for turning a multi-layer flow of rod-like articles is known. The apparatus comprises belt conveyors on which oppositely oriented rod-like articles are situated. By controlling the speed of conveyor travel, multi-layer flows of oppositely oriented rod-like articles are formed and by means of appropriately twisted belts are turned by the angle of 90 degrees in the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles. Correctly oriented flows obtained in this way merge and form a mass flow. During a further transport, the mass flow may be turned again to set the desired orientation.

The object of the invention is a method of conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles wherein the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are turned around the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of oriented rod-like articles so that the oriented rod-like articles take a consistent orientation. The method according to the invention is characterised in that individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are held in at least two layers, and, in addition, the rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are transferred to grouping modules and groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation, containing at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation, are formed.

The method according to the invention is further characterised in that the groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation are transferred to a receiving apparatus at a movement speed different from the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

The method according to the invention is further characterised in that the groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation are transferred to the receiving apparatus at the movement speed of the stream in the transferring area in the receiving apparatus equal to 0 m/s.

The method according to the invention is further characterised in that the groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation are transferred to the receiving apparatus at the same movement speed as the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

The method according to the invention is further characterised in that individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are held in two layers.

The object of the invention is also an apparatus for the conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles, comprising a transport unit adapted to transport oppositely oriented rod-like articles and a turning unit adapted to turn the transported, oppositely oriented rod-like articles around the axis corresponding to the direction of movement so that the oriented rod-like articles take a consistent orientation. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the turning module is further adapted to keep the individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation in at least two layers. The apparatus according to the invention further comprises a transferring unit adapted to transfer oriented rod like articles in the consistent orientation to grouping modules so as to form the groups of oriented rod-like articles with the consistent orientation comprising at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the transferring unit is adapted to transfer consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at a movement speed different from the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the transferring unit is adapted to transfer consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at the movement speed of the stream in the transferring area in the receiving apparatus equal to 0 m/s. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the transferring unit is adapted to transfer consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at the same movement speed as the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the transport unit is a unit of electromagnetic trolleys or a transport conveyor with a speed compensator.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the turning module is constituted by turning means adapted to turn individual rod-like articles or groups of rod-like articles.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the turning module is constituted by means adapted to turn the transport unit in the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being further provided with a unit for detecting damage and rejecting damaged rod-like articles adapted to detect damage to the rod-like articles occurring on one or both front surfaces of the rod-like articles. The apparatus according to the invention is further provided with a module for replacing rejected rod-like articles with undamaged rod-like articles.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being adapted to convey the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles so that the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are widely spaced.

An advantage of the method and the apparatus is a reduction of the number of operations performed on the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, which contributes to an increase in the system efficiency. Moreover, obtaining and keeping a two-layer stream of consistently oriented rod-like articles allows an easier implementation of quality control processes, and keeping the rod-like articles in a group in a constant arrangement allows simplifying the process of transferring the rod-like articles to a successive apparatus in the production chain. The introduction of the compensation module allows to feed with the rod-like articles the receiving apparatuses operating with a different speed than the feeding apparatuses.

The object of the invention was shown in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a view of the first embodiment of steps of the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a view of the second embodiment of steps of the method according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a view of the method for transferring a group of rod-like articles;

Fig. 4 shows the first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 5 shows the second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows the third embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a method of conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles wherein the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are turned around the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of oriented rod-like articles so that the oriented rod-like articles take a consistent orientation. Fig 1 shows two streams 10, 20 of rod-like articles which are fed in the opposite orientation. The orientation of an article is understood as the direction which is significant from the viewpoint of structure or function of an individual rod-like article along its longitudinal axis. In the case of the rod-like articles of the tobacco industry it is for example the direction of airflow in the article, during its use. In the tobacco industry, there are oriented and unoriented (symmetrical) articles, in the case of spatially oriented articles the direction of orientation is relevant, for unoriented (symmetrical articles) both directions are equivalent. So it can be noted that in the case of spatially oriented rod-like articles it may be necessary to turn them to obtain consistent or opposite orientation, whereas in principle for unoriented articles the direction in which they are fed is irrelevant, which is why it is not necessary to turn them in order to give them the consistent orientation, as for example in the case of single-segment filter rods or symmetrical filter rods. In Figs. 1 to 3, the orientation of the rod-like articles was shown by shadowing one of the ends of the article, however, it is only an example, and the orientation of an article may result from other features of the article, for example from an asymmetrical arrangement of the filter segments inside a multi-segment filter.

Fig. 1 shows the first embodiment of the method of conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles by turning the streams 10 and 20 of rod-like articles by about 90^° and forming two layers of consistently oriented rod-like articles. The turn of individual streams may be accomplished by means of individual elements turning individual articles, trays turning several or between ten and twenty rod-like articles, or similar means. The turn of the streams may be accomplished continuously, i.e. not in groups by means of chains provided with self-aligning elements whose position is continuously changed by means of cams. The turn of the streams may be accomplished on grooved belts which are guided on profiled guides with twisted surfaces. The rod-like articles may be held during the movement by the vacuum or by means of special holders. After making the turn, the rod-like articles are held in two layers in the consistent orientation along the path T so as to transfer them later to the grouping modules 30 and to form the groups G of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation, containing at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation. The grouping module may be a transport tray which may convey the group to successive stations, e.g. quality control or packing stations. The grouping module may be a positioning insert attached to a transport chain.

Fig. 2 shows the second method for changing the conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod like articles by turning one of the streams 10 or 20 of rod-like articles by about 180^° and forming two layers of consistently oriented rod-like articles placed parallel to each other. The turn of individual streams may be accomplished similar to the preceding embodiment by means of individual elements turning individual articles or continuously. After making the turn, the rod-like articles are held in two layers in the consistent orientation along the path T so as to transfer them later to the grouping modules 30 and to form the groups G of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation, containing at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation. The grouping module may be the same grouping modules as used in the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 shows a method for placing consistently oriented rod-like articles moving along the path T in the grouping modules 30 and forming two layers of consistently oriented rod-like articles, arranged next to each other, parallel to each other. In the embodiment shown, in order to form the group G of rod-like articles it is required to perform an operation consisting in an axial shift or the rod-like articles by means of a mechanism 40, provided with a pusher controlled by a cam. Such operation may be performed by means of a fork pusher, a slant guide mounted diagonally to the path of movement of the rod-like articles or another apparatus which will ensure a shift of the rod-like articles in a direction lateral to the direction of movement of the stream. The operation of placing the rod-like articles may be accomplished on a stream in which the rod-like articles move in groups or individually. In addition, it should be noted that in each of the discussed embodiments in the two-layer stream it is possible to keep the spatial orientation of individual rod-like articles to one another as well as to the environment.

Preferably, in the method according to the invention, a conversion of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles is made to obtain a two-layer group G of consistently oriented rod-like articles, and the group G of consistently oriented rod-like articles is transferred to the receiving apparatus with the movement speed of the group G of articles different from the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles. In particular, depending on the needs of the production process, the transfer of the two-layer group G of consistently oriented rod-like articles takes place at a stream transport speed equal to 0 m/s, i.e. when the grouping module 30 stops in an area in which the groups G of rod-like articles are transferred to the receiving apparatus. The transfer of the rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus may also take place without changing the speed between the system entrance and exit if only the receiving apparatus is able to receive the two-layer group G of oriented rod-like articles on the run.

According to the invention, the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles is conveyed so that the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are widely spaced, in particular when it is also necessary to introduce diagnostic operations in order to eliminate defective rod-like articles. Conveying the rod-like articles in widely spaced streams allows performing the quality control of both the ends and the lateral surfaces.

As shown in Fig. 4, the apparatus according to the invention comprises a unit 100 and a unit 200 whose principal task is, respectively, to transport a stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles, and to transport modules 30 carrying the group G containing two layers of consistently oriented rod-like articles.

Fig. 4 shows an apparatus for the conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles, comprising a transport unit 100 adapted to transport oppositely oriented rod-like articles supplied from a drum conveyor 110, and a turning module 120 adapted to turn the transported oppositely oriented rod-like articles around the axis corresponding to the direction of movement so that the oriented rod-like articles take the consistent orientation.

The turning module 120 is further adapted to keep the individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation in at least two layers, in addition, it comprises a transferring unit adapted to transfer oriented rod-like articles in the consistent orientation to the grouping modules 30 so as to form the groups G of oriented rod-like articles with the consistent orientation containing at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation. The groups G are transferred to the unit 200 in a transferring area 210 of the unit 200 transporting the groups of rod-like articles to a section 220 working with the receiving apparatus. The groups G are transferred to the receiving apparatus in an area 240 in which the modules 30 are emptied of the consistently oriented rod-like articles.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the unit 200 operates in principle with different speeds. The variable speed results from the character of operation of the unshown receiving apparatus, for example a packer which requires a stoppage of the unit 200 for the time of transferring of the groups of rod-like articles to the packer. The transfer of the consistently oriented rod-like articles to the grouping modules 30 takes place at a speed v1 at which the unit 100 operates, in the drawing vT means the speed of movement of the grouping modules 30 in the unit 200. In production systems, the receiving apparatuses often operate with a different speed than the unit 100. In order to allow transferring the rod-like articles from the grouping modules 30 in the area 240 to the receiving apparatus, the transferring unit 200 is adapted to transfer the consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at a movement speed different from the speed v1 of movement of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles. In the embodiment shown, the unit 200 is provided with a compensation module 230. The compensation module allows changing the movement speed of a part of the transport chain while maintaining an unchanged movement speed of the remaining part of the transport chain. The rollers of the compensation unit 230 make a reciprocating motion so that the transport chain of the unit 200 may, in the part from the side of the unit 100, run with a speed vT different from the speed v2 in the part from the side of the receiving apparatus. With appropriately selected parameters of the compensation unit, it is possible to achieve a situation where the transfer of the consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus takes place at the movement speed of the stream in the transferring area in the receiving apparatus equal to 0 m/s.

Fig. 5 diagrammatically shows the second embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention wherein the compensation unit 130 was designed on the side of the unit 100. In this embodiment, the compensation of the movement speed of the rod-like articles takes place before making the conversion of the stream in the turning module 120. In this embodiment, the unit 200 operates with a variable speed v3' depending on the operating cycle of the receiving apparatus. The speed v3 of the unit 100 is adapted to the speed v3' by the use of the compensation unit 130.

A change of the transport speed is an optional solution, in a situation where the receiving apparatus operates with the same speed as the unit 100 conveying the stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles the change of the transport speed of the stream or the groups G is not required.

Fig. 6 shows the third embodiment of the invention wherein the unit 200 is a unit of electromagnetic carriages provided with a speed compensator module. Such solution allows eliminating mechanical compensators which are troublesome in maintenance. By departing from the rigid transport chain, the structure of the apparatus was decidedly simplified. The unit 200 operates with a variable speed v4' depending on the operating cycle of the receiving apparatus. The speed v4 of the unit 100 is adapted to the speed v4' by the use of the turning module 120 which turns the groups of rod-like articles. A speed v5 is the speed of the group of rod-like articles during the conversion of the streams of rod-like articles, whereas a speed v6 is the speed of the group of rod-like articles after the conversion, while the speed v6 is variable during the operation of the unit 100.

In the context of all embodiments, it should be noted that the turning module may be adapted to turn individual rod-like articles or groups of rod-like articles. In addition, the turning module may by adapted to the rod-like articles or the groups of articles in the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles.

The apparatus according to the invention may be further provided with a unit for detecting damage and rejecting damaged rod-like articles adapted to detect damage to the rod-like articles occurring on one or both front surfaces of the rod-like articles, being further provided with a module for replacing rejected rod like articles with undamaged rod-like articles. The damage detection apparatuses may be standard optical apparatuses operating with the use of X-ray or infrared radiation, whereas the rod-like articles may be replaced individually or in groups with the use of storage buffers.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A method of conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles wherein the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are turned about the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of oriented rod-like articles so that the oriented rod-like articles take a consistent orientation,

characterised in that

individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are held in at least two layers, and, in addition,

the rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are transferred to grouping modules and groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation, containing at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation, are formed.

2. The method as in claim 1 further characterised in that the groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation are transferred to a receiving apparatus at a movement speed different from the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

3. The method as in claim 2 characterised in that the groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation are transferred to the receiving apparatus at the movement speed of the stream in the transferring area in the receiving apparatus equal to 0 m/s.

4. The method as in claim 1 further characterised in that the groups of rod-like articles with the consistent orientation are transferred to the receiving apparatus at the same movement speed as the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

5. The method as in any of the preceding claims 1 to 4 characterised in that individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation are held in two layers.

6. An apparatus for the conversion of a moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles, comprising

a transport unit adapted to transport oppositely oriented rod-like articles, and a turning module adapted to turn the transported oppositely oriented rod-like articles around the axis corresponding to the direction of movement so that the oriented rod-like articles take a consistent orientation, characterised in that

the turning module is further adapted to keep the individual rod-like articles in the consistent orientation in at least two layers,

and further comprises

a transferring unit adapted to transfer oriented rod-like articles in the consistent orientation to grouping modules so as to form the groups of oriented rod-like articles with the consistent orientation comprising at least two layers of rod-like articles in the consistent orientation.

7. The apparatus as in claim 6 characterised in that the transferring unit is adapted to transfer consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at the movement speed different from the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7 characterised in that the transferring unit is adapted to transfer consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at the movement speed of the stream in the transferring area in the receiving apparatus equal to 0 m/s.

9. The apparatus as in claim 6 characterised in that the transferring unit is adapted to transfer consistently oriented rod-like articles to the receiving apparatus at the same movement speed as the movement speed of the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles.

10. The apparatus as in any of the claims 6 to 9 characterised in that the transport unit is a unit of electromagnetic carriages or a transport conveyor with a speed compensator.

11. The apparatus as in any of the claims 6 to 10 characterised in that the turning module is constituted by turning means adapted to turn individual rod-like articles or groups of rod-like articles.

12. The apparatus as in any of the claims 6 to 11 characterised in that the turning module is constituted by means adapted to turn the transport unit in the axis corresponding to the direction of movement of the rod-like articles.

13. The apparatus as in any of the claims 6 to 12 characterised by being further provided with a unit for detecting damage and rejecting damaged rod-like articles adapted to detect damage to the rod like articles occurring on one or both front surfaces of the rod-like articles, being further provided with a module for replacing rejected rod-like articles with undamaged rod-like articles.

14. The apparatus as in claim 13 characterised by being adapted to convey the moving stream of oppositely oriented rod-like articles so that the oppositely oriented rod-like articles are widely spaced.