WO2023038592A1

WO2023038592A1 - In-line tobacco dust recovery unit

Info

Publication number: WO2023038592A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/051437
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ayhan ŞAHİN
Original assignee: Kon-Tek Kontrol Teknoloji̇leri̇ Ve Otomasyon Sanayi̇ Ti̇caret Anoni̇m Şi̇rketi̇
Priority date: 2021-09-07
Filing date: 2021-12-20
Publication date: 2023-03-16
Also published as: TR2021013986A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, which was developed to ensure that the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes and similar tobacco products can be re-used in production in the same line. The in-line tobacco dust recovery unit ensures that the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes and separated by means of pneumatic transportation and separation equipment within the system is converted into particles of such size so that they can be reused in the production of cigarettes and similar products within the same line.

Description

IN-LINE TOBACCO DUST RECOVERY UNIT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, which was developed to ensure that the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes and similar tobacco products can be re-used in production in the same line.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Part of the tobacco used during the production of cigarettes and similar tobacco products exists in dust form. Since the tobacco in dust form cannot be used in the final product, it is removed from the system as a waste. Considering the volume of production and raw material used during production, tobacco dust discarded as a waste constitutes significant economic loss.

In the prior art, tobacco dust discarded during cigarette production are collected in the central dust collection system. Since these wastes constitute a material financial loss, some factories send tobacco dust to a limited number of facilities around the world, and in these facilities, dust tobacco is transformed into paper and reused for making cigarettes. However, in these methods, tobaccos with different quality characteristics mix with each other, and this results in an end-product having undesired properties in cigarette production.

In an alternative system, which is used to make tobacco dust reusable, the aim is to recover tobacco dusts by crushing them with tobacco veins. In this art, tobacco dust cannot be recovered homogeneously without vein.

The patent document with application number US6840248 discusses a method, which relates to re-introduction of tobacco particles in different sizes, which are classified and separated during cigarette production, into the process. In this art, the tobacco in dust form is mechanically compressed with the agglomeration technique used for recycling plastic and re-fed into the filling line. However, as explained in the document, in this case, there is a likelihood of re- dispersion of tobacco dust compressed during the filling of tobacco and generation of tobacco particles of such small sizes that cannot be reused.

The improvements regarding the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes in the prior art generally focus on in-line recovery of tobacco of desired size sorted together with tobacco dust from the tobacco mixtures gathered together via sifting equipment. However, it is still not possible to re-introduce tobacco dust directly into production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the invention, namely, the in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, has been developed in order to recover the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes and similar tobacco products into the system in a reusable form within the line.

The in-line tobacco dust recovery unit ensures that the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes and separated by means of pneumatic transportation and separation equipment within the system is converted into particles of such size so that they can be reused in the production of cigarettes and similar products within the same line.

In the in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the tobacco dust removed from the system is mixed with the pulverised liquid in the mixer (4) after it is brought into the unit. After that, tobacco particles in such sizes that can be reused in production is generated by means of mechanical conveyor (5), pressing rollers (7) and blade rollers (9). Whereby, the tobacco dust released during production is re-introduced into production on the same line without leaving the process. Moreover, the production efficiency increases significantly since the same quality tobacco is used without mixing tobacco of different qualities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1. Overview of the In-Line Tobacco Dust Recovery Unit Descriptions of numbers used in the preferred embodiments are as follows:

1. Dust Inlet

2. Dust Collector

3. Dust Feeding Slot

4. Mixer

4.1 .Atomiser

5. Mechanical Conveyor

6. Routing Vent

7. Pressing Roller

8. Surface Scraper

9. Helical Blade Roller

10. Counter Roller

11. Outlet Tray

12. Outlet

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The in-line tobacco dust recovery unit comprises the following constituents and sections: at least one dust inlet (1), onto which the tobacco dust forwarded from the cigarette machine to the dust collection system and captured by the dust capture equipment is directed; at least one dust collector (2) in which the tobacco dust entering from the dust inlet (1 ) is collected so that the dust has a regular flow; at least one dust feeding slot (3), which transfers the tobacco dust that reaches to a certain volume inside the collector (2) to the mixer (4); at least one mixer (4), in which the tobacco dust collected is mixed with an optional bonding liquid; at least one mechanical conveyor (5), which carried mechanically the tobacco dust mixture coming out of the mixer (4); at least one routing vent (6) into which excess material can be transferred to prevent clogging in case of mixture jamming inside the mechanical conveyor (5); at least one pressing roller (7), which ensures that the tobacco dust mixture is compressed into a desired material form; at least one surface scraper (8), which prevents residual material formation on the pressing roller (7); at least one helical blade roller (9), which ensures that the compressed tobacco dust mixture is brought to the desired material sizes; at least one counter roller (10), which forms a counter pressing surface across the blade roller (9); at least one outlet tray (11 ) into which the tobacco dust mixture in desired particle sizes is transferred; and at least one outlet (12), which ensures that the final tobacco dust mixture collected in the outlet tray (11 ) is forwarded to the production line.

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the dust collector (2) is the section that is preferably located between the dust inlet (1 ) and the dust feeding slot (3). The dust collector (2) comprises at least one level measurement sensor that checks whether the dust collected inside the dust collector (2) is at desired level. The dust collector (2) is the section that provides a regular material flow during the feeding of tobacco dust into the unit.

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the dust feeding slot (3) comprises at least one preferably pneumatically operated flap. This flap controls the open and closed positions of the dust feeding slot (3) depending on the amount of tobacco dust accumulated inside the dust collector (2) by means of level measurement sensor.

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the mixer (4) comprises at least one atomiser (4.1 ), which ensures that the liquid chosen to be mixed with the tobacco dust is fed into the mixer (4) preferably in a pulverised manner. The mixer (4) further comprises at least one mixing palette, which ensures that the tobacco dust is mixed with the liquid used inside the mixer (4) homogeneously. The mixer (4) further comprises at least one cover, which is preferably located at the bottom of the mixer (4), which preferably operates pneumatically, and which controls the removal of the mixture out of the mixer (4).

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the mechanical conveyor (5) comprises at least one mixing and transporting component preferably in spiral structure. In this way, it will be possible to improve the homogenous structure of the tobacco dust mixture received from the mixer (4) by mixing it inside the mechanical conveyor (5) as well as to transport it mechanically. In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the routing vent is a component preferably positioned on at least one mechanical conveyor (5) so that the excess product is transferred out of the mechanical conveyor (5) in case of product jamming inside the mechanical conveyor (5) to eliminate the jamming.

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the pressing roller (7) is a component, which is preferably positioned as two pairs facing each other so that the tobacco dust mixture mixed inside the mixer (4) and carried by means of the mechanical conveyor (5) is compressed into desired material form. The pressing roller (7) is a component whose position inside the unit can be adjusted from the outside so that the desired pressing force between the rollers can be set in a controlled manner.

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the surface scraper (8) is a component, which is positioned preferably at the bottom of the pressing roller (7) inside the unit at such level so that the distance between the pressing roller (7) and the surface scraper (8) will allow the scrapping is done so that no tobacco dust mixture remains on surface of the pressing roller (7).

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the helical blade roller (9) is a component, which allows the tobacco dust mixture, which comes out in the desired tobacco form between the pressing rollers (7), to be cut into the desired size and brought to such sizes of tobacco particles sizes that are suitable for use.

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, the counter roller (10) is a component that applies counter pressure force to carry out the cutting process by moving facing the helical blade roller (9) and in the opposite direction to the helical blade roller (9).

In the said in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, a direct or indirect drying equipment, which can be used optionally, can be positioned inside the outlet tray (11). In this way, the product received can be dried in the outlet tray (11 ), if necessary.

The in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, which is the subject of the invention, can have different embodiments. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the tobacco dusts, which are ejected from the cigarette machine to the dust collection system and captured by the dust capture system consisting of two layers equipped with fixed-angle flaps along the line going to the central dust collection system, are transferred from the dust inlet (1 ) to the dust collector (2) and collected therein. When the tobacco dust reaches at a pre-set volume in the dust collector (2), a pneumatic flap located at the dust feeding slot (3) is opened by means of the level measurement sensor. The tobacco dust is forwarded from the dust feeding slot (3) into the mixer (4) and a pulverised liquid is sprayed on the tobacco dust by means of an atomiser (4.1 ) while the tobacco dust is mixed with mixing palettes that are preferably rotated at low speed inside the mixer (4). The mixing process of the tobacco dust with the liquid used continues for a specified period of time inside the mixer (4). When the mixture reaches a homogeneous state, the pneumatically operated cover system is opened and the mixture is transferred onto the mechanical conveyor (5). The mechanical conveyor (5) ensures that the homogenisation of the mixture is intensified by means of a screw and is carried mechanically. If the materials are clogged during mechanical transportation, any excess material is transferred to the routing vent (6) so that the system continues to operate in a stable manner. The mixture transferred from the mechanical conveyor (5) into the pressing rollers (7) is extracted from the rollers (7) in such thickness based on the desired tobacco profile. Any residual material on the pressing roller (7) is removed by means of a surface scraper (8) to ensure material flow through the roller (7). The tobacco dust mixture, which has been brought to the tobacco profile through the pressing rollers (7), is then transferred between the helical blade roller (9) and the counter roller (10). The tobacco dust mixture, which is sliced in desired sizes by means of helical blades, is collected in the outlet tray (11 ). The product, which may be dried inside the outlet tray (11) if necessary, is transferred to the outlet (12) and fed into the cigarette machine from there on the same line.

By means of the in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, which is the subject of the invention, the tobacco dust discarded from the cigarette machine is recovered and converted into a tobacco form that can directly be used in the production. At the same time, tobacco dust of different quality is processed in the unit without mixing with each other and fed into the cigarette manufacturing machine in the same.

Claims

C L A I M S An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit, which was developed to ensure that the tobacco dust generated during the production of cigarettes and similar tobacco products can be re-used in production in the same line; characterised in that comprising the following constituents and sections: at least one dust inlet (1 ), onto which the tobacco dust forwarded from the cigarette machine to the dust collection system and captured by the dust capture equipment is directed; at least one dust collector

(2) in which the tobacco dust entering from the dust inlet (1) is collected so that the dust has a regular flow; at least one dust feeding slot

(3), which transfers the tobacco dust that reaches to a certain volume inside the collector (2) to the mixer (4); at least one mixer

(4), in which the tobacco dust collected is mixed with an optional bonding liquid; at least one mechanical conveyor

(5), which carried mechanically the tobacco dust mixture coming out of the mixer (4); at least one routing vent

(6) into which excess material can be transferred to prevent clogging in case of mixture jamming inside the mechanical conveyor (5); at least one pressing roller

(7), which ensures that the tobacco dust mixture is compressed into a desired material form; at least one surface scraper

(8), which prevents residual material formation on the pressing roller (7); at least one helical blade roller (9), which ensures that the compressed tobacco dust mixture is brought to the desired material sizes; at least one counter roller (10), which forms a counter pressing surface across the blade roller

(9); at least one outlet tray (11 ) into which the tobacco dust mixture in desired particle sizes is transferred; and at least one outlet (12), which ensures that the final tobacco dust mixture collected in the outlet tray (11) is forwarded to the production line. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said dust collector (2) is a section that is

- 8 - preferably located between the dust inlet (1 ) and the dust feeding slot (3). An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said dust collector (2) comprises at least one level measurement sensor that checks whether the dust collected inside the dust collector (2) is at desired level. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said dust feeding slot (3) comprises at least one flap, which controls the open and closed positions of the dust feeding slot (3) depending on the amount of tobacco dust accumulated inside the dust collector (2) by means of level measurement sensor, and which preferably operates pneumatically. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said the mixer (4) comprises at least one atomiser (4.1 ), which ensures that the liquid chosen to be mixed with the tobacco dust is fed into the mixer (4) preferably in a pulverised manner. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said the said mixer (4) further comprises at least one mixing palette, which ensures that the tobacco dust is mixed with the liquid used inside the mixer (4) homogeneously. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said mixer (4) further comprises at least one cover, which is preferably located at the bottom of the mixer (4), which preferably operates pneumatically, and which controls the removal of the mixture out of the mixer (4). An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said mechanical conveyor (5) comprises at least one mixing and transporting component preferably in spiral structure. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said routing vent is a component preferably

- 9 - positioned on at least one mechanical conveyor (5) so that the excess product is transferred out of the mechanical conveyor (5) in case of product jamming inside the mechanical conveyor (5) to eliminate the jamming.

10. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said pressing roller (7) is a component, which is preferably positioned as two pairs facing each other so that the tobacco dust mixture mixed inside the mixer (4) and carried by means of the mechanical conveyor (5) is compressed into desired material form.

11. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said pressing roller (7) is a component whose position inside the unit can be adjusted from the outside so that the desired pressing force between the rollers can be set in a controlled manner.

12. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said surface scraper (8) is a component, which is positioned preferably at the bottom of the pressing roller (7) inside the unit at such level so that the distance between the pressing roller (7) and the surface scraper (8) will allow the scrapping is done so that no tobacco dust mixture remains on surface of the pressing roller (7).

13. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said helical blade roller (9) is a component, which allows the tobacco dust mixture, which comes out in the desired tobacco form between the pressing rollers (7), to be cut into the desired size and brought to such sizes of tobacco particles sizes that are suitable for use.

14. An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said counter roller (10) is a component that applies counter pressure force to carry out the cutting process by

- 10 - moving facing the helical blade roller (9) and in the opposite direction to the helical blade roller (9). . An in-line tobacco dust recovery unit as set forth in Claim 1 , characterised in that the said outlet tray (11 ) comprises section inside of which a direct or indirect drying equipment, which can be used optionally, can be positioned and the product received can be dried, if necessary.

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