WO2023208800A1 - A feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry - Google Patents

A feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023208800A1
WO2023208800A1 PCT/EP2023/060566 EP2023060566W WO2023208800A1 WO 2023208800 A1 WO2023208800 A1 WO 2023208800A1 EP 2023060566 W EP2023060566 W EP 2023060566W WO 2023208800 A1 WO2023208800 A1 WO 2023208800A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
feeding channel
supporting element
articles
feeding
rod
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2023/060566
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Bartosz Cieslikowski
Robert PIETOWSKI
Original Assignee
International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O. filed Critical International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O.
Publication of WO2023208800A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023208800A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/47—Attaching filters or mouthpieces to cigars or cigarettes, e.g. inserting filters into cigarettes or their mouthpieces
    • A24C5/478—Transport means for filter- or cigarette-rods in view of their assembling
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/322—Transporting cigarettes during manufacturing
    • A24C5/325—Transporting cigarettes during manufacturing from a hopper
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/35—Adaptations of conveying apparatus for transporting cigarettes from making machine to packaging machine

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry.
  • the manufactured semi-products for example in the form of filter rods, as well as final products, for example in the form of smoking articles, are transferred in a single-layer or multilayer streams.
  • Such articles may be collectively referred to as rod-like articles.
  • Multilayer streams are transferred horizontally, vertically as well as under various angles, wherein often the multilayer streams combine with single-layer streams.
  • the multilayer streams may feed receiving devices in the form of hoppers or production machines.
  • a conveyor for feeding the stream of rod-like articles may feed another rod-like articles conveyor.
  • a problem faced by machine operators in the tobacco industry is the efficient filling of the production line, i.e. the first filling procedure.
  • the first filling is particularly difficult to accomplish with vertical feeding channels and vertical conveyors.
  • the procedure should be carried out in such a way as to keep the products parallel to each other in the channel and prevent deformation of the products.
  • a PCT application W02013019131A1 discloses a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry to the receiving device, comprising a feeding channel and a supporting element adapted to move the rod-like articles along the feeding channel, mounted on the first side of the plate.
  • a drive unit On the other side of the plate there is a drive unit provided with a transport element for moving the supporting element. At least a portion of the supporting surface of the supporting element occupies a position in the feeding channel during movement of the rod-like articles to fill the supplying channel, and the supporting element occupies a position outside the feeding channel after filling the feeding channel with rod-like articles.
  • the supporting element moves backward in the feeding direction during filling the channel and against it before performing the next filling procedure.
  • the transport element is a linear guide driven by a toothed belt, and the supporting element itself is mounted on a slider.
  • the movement path of the supporting element has a linear section, after passing through the linear section, the supporting element withdraws outside the channel during the movement along the arc section. For this reason, it is not possible to fill a channel that has two linear sections, and during filling along the arc section in the final phase, the articles are released in an uncontrolled manner, which can lead to uneven alignment and blockage of the channel.
  • this construction shall be applicable to channels of various shapes and ensure the possibility of controlled transferring of the rod-like articles along the entire length of the channel, up to the location of their arrangement at the outlet of the channel.
  • the object of the invention is a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry to a receiving device, comprising: a feeding channel for displacing the rod-like articles arranged in a stream in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream, a supporting element adapted to support the rodlike articles during their movement along the feeding channel, a drive unit comprising a transport element for displacing the supporting element, wherein the supporting element is configured such that at least part of a supporting surface of the supporting element is positioned in the feeding channel when the rod-like articles are moved while filling the feeding channel and such that the supporting element is positioned outside the feeding channel after filling the feeding channel with the rod-like articles.
  • the feeding device further comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to attach the supporting element to the transport element while filling the feeding channel and to disconnect the supporting element from the transport element after filling the feeding channel with the rodlike articles.
  • the transport element may be flexible.
  • the transport element may be a chain.
  • the transport element may be a belt.
  • the supporting element may be mounted on at least one bolt located on the transport element.
  • the supporting element may comprise brackets and openings located in the brackets for inserting on the bolt, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a drive element for repositioning or drawing apart the brackets of the supporting element.
  • the supporting element may comprise a pin configured to be inserted into the mounting opening in the transport element, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a linear drive element for moving the supporting element.
  • the supporting element may be mounted on the supporting surface of a link, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a linear drive element for moving the supporting element perpendicularly to the supporting surface of the link.
  • a first wall of the feeding channel may be formed by the supporting surface of the transport element, and a second wall of the feeding channel has a form of a plate.
  • the first wall of the feeding channel may be formed by the supporting surface of the transport element, and the second wall of the feeding channel is formed by a supporting surface of a conveyor.
  • the walls of the feeding channel may have a form of plates.
  • the supporting surface may comprise at least two partial supporting surfaces, and the wall of the channel has a narrowing having a width lower than a width of cut-out between the partial supporting surfaces.
  • a fragment of the wall of the feeding channel located above the transport element may be mounted pivotally and is deflectable.
  • the coupling mechanism may be located above an outlet of the feeding channel.
  • the device may further comprise a hopper adapted to feed the rod-like articles to the feeding channel.
  • the invention also relates to a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of the tobacco industry to a receiving device, comprising: a feeding channel for displacing the rod-like articles arranged in a stream in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream, a supporting element adapted to support the rodlike articles during their movement along the feeding channel, a drive unit comprising a transport element for displacing the supporting element, wherein the supporting element is configured such that at least part of the supporting surface of the supporting element is positioned in the feeding channel when the rod-like articles are moved while filling the feeding channel, and such that the supporting element is positioned outside the feeding channel after filling the feeding channel with the rod-like articles, wherein at least one of the transport element or the drive element is flexible.
  • the feeding device allows the rod-like articles to be transferred very gently during filling of the feeding channel, with little risk of damage to the rod-like articles. Thus, the number of damaged articles that become a production waste is reduced.
  • the filling of the feeding device and its preparation for operation takes place in an automatic mode without the need to assist the filling process by the operator.
  • the transport element may continue to operate even after filling the channel, for example to facilitate the transfer of elements in the channel (if it constitutes one of the walls of the channel).
  • Detaching the supporting elements allows the use of different supporting elements, for example with soft pads or specially profiled pads, when changing the type of rod-like articles being fed.
  • the present invention further provides a supporting element mounted on a flexible transport element which is a transport element for the supporting element and is driven by one of the wheels.
  • the solution according to the invention provides a drive unit implemented as an alternative to the state of the art solutions - it proposes a flexible support/transport element which is also a drive element.
  • the supporting element can move on a curvilinear/ polygonal chain path defined by a curvilinear guide and may be driven by a flexible drive element.
  • the curvilinear guide and the curvilinear motion path include straight and arc sections.
  • the feeding device according to the invention may be used with feeding channels of various geometries, even having several sections set at different angles to each other, both linear and arcuate (thus they may be generally called polygonal chain or curvilinear channels).
  • the supporting surface is located substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the guiding element, which allows effective support of the rod-like elements during their movement through the channel, while the risk of damage to articles lying directly on the supporting element is reduced.
  • the feeding device according to the invention provided with a suitable curvilinear guide ensures a stable movement of the supporting element, wherein the curvilinear guide may perform movement along a path of any shape. It is particularly advantageous to use a chain as a transport element, since the chain is unextendable, which ensures stable guidance of the supporting element. The device also improves the transfer of articles in the channel after it is filled.
  • Fig. 1 shows a feeding device in the first embodiment before starting the filling
  • Fig. 2 shows the feeding device of Fig. 1 at the start of filling
  • Fig. 3 shows the feeding device of Fig. 1 after completion of filling
  • Fig. 4 shows the feeding device in the second embodiment before starting the filling
  • Fig. 5 shows the feeding device in the third embodiment at the start of filling
  • Fig. 5a shows the feeding device in the fourth embodiment before starting the filling
  • Fig. 6 shows the feeding device in the fifth embodiment before the start of filling
  • Fig. 6a shows the feeding device in the sixth embodiment before starting the filling
  • Fig. 7a shows a supporting element in the first embodiment before connection to a transport element and shows a coupling mechanism in the first embodiment
  • Fig. 7b shows the supporting element of Fig. 7a after being connected to the transport element
  • Fig. 8 shows the supporting element in the second embodiment before being connected to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the first embodiment
  • Fig. 9 shows the supporting element of Fig. 8 in the view indicated in Fig.
  • Fig. 10a shows the supporting element in the third embodiment before connection to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the second embodiment
  • Fig. 10b shows the supporting element of Fig. 10a after being connected to the transport element
  • Fig. 11 shows the supporting element in the third embodiment before connection to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the second embodiment
  • Fig. 12 shows the supporting element in the fourth embodiment in the view indicated in Fig. 5a
  • Fig. 13a shows the supporting element in the fifth embodiment before connection to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the third embodiment
  • Fig. 13b shows the supporting element of Fig. 13a after connection with the transport element.
  • Fig. 1 shows a feeding device 1 for feeding a stream of rod-like articles R of the tobacco industry in a first embodiment.
  • the feeding device 1 feeds the rodlike articles R to the receiving device 2 being a part of the production machine for manufacturing of multi-segment filter rods.
  • the feeding device 1 comprises a feeding channel 3, a supporting element 4 adapted to move rod-like articles R along the feeding channel 3 and a drive unit 5 for displacing the supporting element 4.
  • the feeding channel 3 is provided with two walls 6 and 7, the guiding planes of which are located parallel to the axis of the rod-like articles being fed, the walls 6, 7 are located perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing.
  • the feeding channel 3 may additionally be provided with walls (not shown on the drawing) located perpendicularly to the walls 6 and 7, i.e. perpendicularly to the axis of the articles being fed.
  • the feeding channel 3 has an inlet 3A, four feeding sections 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and an outlet 3F.
  • the drive unit 5 is provided with a flexible transport element 8, in the presented embodiment the transport element 8 is in the form of a flexible chain consisting of links 9, and in variants of this example the transport element 8 may also be in the form of a flexible belt.
  • the transport element 8 is driven by a motor M (a transmission gear is not shown).
  • the feeding device 1 is provided with a coupling mechanism 10 adapted to attach the supporting element 4 to the transport element 8 while the feeding channel 3 is filled and to disconnect the supporting element 4 from the transport element 8 after the feeding channel 3 is filled.
  • the feeding section 3B, 3C and 3D has a wall 6 formed by a transport element 8, namely by a supporting surface 8A of the transport element 8 and by the wall 7 in the form of a plate.
  • the feeding section 3E is formed by the transport element 8 and the belt conveyor 11 .
  • the widths of the feeding sections may be the same, it is possible to make a device in which the individual widths may be different, for example the walls of the channel may be located not in parallel to each other. In such case, the supporting surface 4A must be as wide or wider than the widest feeding section to support the rod-like articles R at each point of the feeding channel 3.
  • the feeding device 1 feeds the rod-like articles R to the receiving device 2, which are supplied by a suppling device 12.
  • the supplying device 12 comprises a hopper 13 of rod-like articles R and a conveyor 14.
  • the feeding channel 3 is located directly below an outlet 12A of the supplying device 12, the outlet 12A is connected to the inlet 3A of the feeding channel 3.
  • the supplying device 12 supplies the feeding channel 3 with the rod-like articles in a mass manner, a multilayer stream of the rod-like articles is formed at the outlet 12A.
  • the stream S formed in this way passes through the feeding channel 3 to the receiving device 2.
  • the receiving device 2 comprises a hopper 15 and a drum conveyor 16, which has, on its transport surface 17, flutes 18 and disc knives 19 for cutting the rod-like articles R.
  • the drum conveyor 16 rotates at a rotational speed co during its operation.
  • the feeding channel 3 is empty and needs to be filled in order for the receiving device 2 to start operating.
  • the supporting element 4 is located in the operating range the coupling mechanism 10, wherein the coupling mechanism 10 is located outside the feeding channel 3 on the side opposite to the supporting surface 8A of the transport element 8 which forms the wall 6 of the feeding channel 3.
  • the coupling mechanism 10 is located above the outlet 3F of the feeding channel 3, i.e. above the outlet of the last feeding section 3E.
  • the coupling mechanism 10 is located above the receiving device 2.
  • the coupling mechanism 10 may be located directly above the outlet 3F and/or directly above the hopper 15 of the receiving device 2, it may be located higher, for example directly below the supplying device 12.
  • the supporting element 4 not connected to the transport element 8 is located outside the feeding channel 3.
  • the coupling mechanism 10 is adapted to connect the supporting element 4 to the transport element 8.
  • the drive unit 5 displaces the transport element 8 so that the supporting element 4 is displaced to the inlet 3A of the feeding channel 3 along the path T presented as a dotted line.
  • the supporting element 4 is in a position in which the filling process may be started, namely the supporting element 4 is located in a position under the outlet 12A of the supplying device 12, wherein the outlet 12A of the supplying device 12 is presented as filled up with the rod-like articles R and the rod-like articles R are supported by the supporting surface 4A of the supporting element 4.
  • the drive unit 5 is displacing the supporting element 4 and the rod-like articles R along the feeding channel 3, wherein the path of movement of the supporting element 4 is indicated as F and constitutes the filling path.
  • the supporting element 4 is inserted into the coupling mechanism 10, the rod-like articles R are transferred along a part of the filling path F to the outlet 3F, and then along the path G, wherein the path G represents the movement which results in that the rod-like articles R fill up the hopper 15.
  • FIG. 3 shows the feeding device 1 , in which the feeding channel 3 is filled, and furthermore, the rod-like articles R are fed into the receiving device 2, the hopper 15 is filled, furthermore, the flutes 18 of the drum conveyor 16 are filled with rod-like articles R.
  • the rod-like articles R are transferred in the feeding channel 3 as a stream S, wherein the detached supporting element 4 remains within the coupling mechanism 10.
  • Figs. 7a and 7b show the supporting element 4, which is used in the aforementioned first embodiment of the feeding device 1 .
  • the supporting element 4 is provided with two brackets 25 located on opposite sides of the supporting surface 4A.
  • the brackets 25 may be deformable or may be pivotably attached to the supporting element 4.
  • Bolts 26 are located in the link 9 of the chain 8, and the brackets 25 are provided with openings 27 corresponding to the diameter of the bolts 26.
  • two cylindrical bolts or one bolt with a square, rectangular or other non-cylindrical cross-section may be used.
  • the brackets 25 are deformable, wherein two drive elements 28 in form of actuators are used for deforming or pivoting the brackets 25.
  • any mechanism having two actuators for moving the brackets may be used. In the pivoted position of the brackets 25, before attachment of the supporting element 4 on the chain 8 presented in Fig.
  • the chain 8 may move within the coupling mechanism 10, after the chain 8 is stopped, the actuators 28 are retracted to mount the brackets 25 on the bolts 26 before starting the filling process of the feeding channel 3.
  • the supporting element 4 is located within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 10, the brackets 25 are deformed or pivoted (Fig. 7a) and the transport element 8 can operate without the supporting element 4, i.e. it can move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
  • the transport element 8 provides two functions, it supports the movement of the rod-like articles R in the stream S in the feeding channel 3 of the feeding device 1 , and furthermore, after the supporting element 4 is attached, the transport element 8 guides the supporting element 4 along the feeding channel 3 to fill the feeding channel 3.
  • Fig. 4 shows the feeding device T in a second embodiment.
  • the rod-like articles R from the supplying device 12 are fed to the receiving device 2, the presented feeding device T is not filled.
  • the supporting element 24 is presented during its motion along the path T' from the coupling mechanism 10 so as to locate the supporting element 24 under the inlet 23A of the feeding channel 23.
  • the supporting element 24 is presented as a dashed line within the coupling mechanism 10 as well as in a position below the inlet 23A of the feeding channel 23.
  • the filling of the feeding channel 23 is effected during the movement of the supporting element 24 along the filling path F'.
  • the supporting element 24 Before starting the filling, the supporting element 24 is located in the feeding channel 23 in the direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the stream S of the rod-like articles along the feeding channel 23 (the movement of the supporting element is carried out in one direction along a closed path). It is also possible to displace the supporting element 24 before filling in the same way as in the first embodiment, i.e. in the direction opposite to the direction of the stream S (the movement of the supporting element 24 is a reciprocating movement).
  • the supporting element 24 used in this embodiment is configured analogously to the supporting element 4 in the first embodiment of the feeding device 1 , wherein it is provided with a cut-out 29 (FIG. 8) of a width D, the cut-out 29 is separating the two partial supporting surfaces 24A.
  • the wall 6B of the feeding channel 23 is provided with a narrowing 31 of a width d smaller than the width D of the cut-out 29.
  • the narrowing 31 does not disturb the flow of the rod-like articles R through the inlet 23A and at the same time allows the displacement of the supporting element 24 to a position where filling of the feeding device T can be started.
  • the feeding channel 23 comprises an inlet 23A, feeding sections 23B, 23C, 23D and an outlet 23F.
  • one wall 6' is formed by a transport element, namely the chain 8, while the other wall 7' is stationary and has the form of a plate.
  • the filling section 23C and 23D one wall is formed by the transport element 8 and the other wall is formed by the supporting surface 32A and 11A of the belt conveyor 32 and 11 , respectively.
  • Fig. 5 shows the feeding device 1" in the third embodiment, as in the previous embodiments, the rod-like articles R from the supplying device 12 are fed to the receiving device 2'.
  • the supporting element 34 is located in the inlet 33A and the feeding device 1" is prepared for filling, the rod-like articles R were fed into the inlet 33A of the feeding channel 33 and are supported on the supporting surface 34A of the supporting element 34.
  • the path of movement of the supporting element 34 from the coupling mechanism 30 is the same as in the first embodiment.
  • Fig. 10a shows the supporting element 34 within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 30 before being attached to the chain 8.
  • the supporting element 34 is provided with the bracket 35 in which the pin 36, for example having a rectangular or square cross-section, is fixed.
  • the pin 36 is adapted to be inserted into the opening 37 located in the link 9.
  • a gripper 38 engages an arm 35A on the bracket 35 and is fixed and moved by a drive element in a form of an actuator 39.
  • the supporting element 34 is in a position disengaged from the chain 8, the movement of the actuator 39 causes the pin 36 to be inserted into the opening 37 of the link 9 and the supporting element 34 to be positioned above the supporting surface 9A of the link 9 as shown in Fig. 10b.
  • the chain 8 is moved together with the supporting element 34 (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), wherein the arm 35A is retracted from the gripper 38.
  • the arm 35A is re-inserted into the gripper 38 after filling the feeding channel 3 in order to detach the supporting element 34 from the chain 8.
  • Fig. 11 also shows the supporting element 34 fixed on the transport element 8 in the form of a flexible toothed belt.
  • the bracket 35' is provided with the pin 36' inserted into the opening 37', and the gripper 38 cooperates with the arm 35A'. Connecting of the supporting element 34 to the transport element 8 and disconnecting it, is performed analogously.
  • the feeding channel comprises an inlet 33A, feeding sections 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E and an outlet 33F.
  • the feeding section 33E is provided with additional strips 51 which are inclined with respect to the filling direction F" and cause a narrowing of the feeding section 33E, wherein the smallest width e of the feeding section 33E is smaller than the width E of the supporting surface 34A.
  • the rod-like articles R in the form of stream G' are transferred to the hopper 52 and to the channel 53.
  • Fig. 5a shows the feeding device T" in the fourth embodiment.
  • the rodlike articles R from the supplying device 12 are fed to a receiving device 2 comprising a hopper 15 and a drum conveyor 16 with disc knives 19.
  • a supporting element 74 is provided with a roller-type guiding element 71 shown in Fig. 12 in a view E, which is guided in a curvilinear guide 72, wherein the roller 71 attached to the supporting element 74 by means of a bracket 73.
  • the guide 72 is shaped such that when the feeding channel 33 is filled, the supporting surface 74A moves along a path F" from the position shown in Fig. 5a at the inlet 33A of the channel 33.
  • the path of movement of the supporting element 74 from the coupling mechanism 30 is analogous to that of the first embodiment.
  • the bracket 73 is attached to a flexible drive element 75, in the embodiment shown the drive element 75 is in the form of a belt, wherein the drive element 75 may be in the form of a chain.
  • the supporting element 74 moves between walls in the form of plates 21 and 22.
  • Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the feeding device 1", wherein the presented feeding device 1" is not filled.
  • the supporting element 34 is shown during its movement along a path T'" in a position directly before locating the supporting element 34 under the inlet 43A, additionally the dotted line shows the supporting element 34 within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 30 and in a position at which filling can be started i.e. under the inlet 43A.
  • the supporting element 34 Prior to filling, the supporting element 34 is located in the feeding channel 43 in the direction corresponding to the direction of the stream S in the feeding channel 43. It is possible to dislocate the supporting element 34 before filling in the same way as in the first embodiment, i.e. in the direction opposite to the direction of the stream S.
  • the wall 6C of the feeding channel 43 has the form of a pivotable plate mounted on the axis 50.
  • the supporting element 34 raises the wall 6C as shown in Fig. 6.
  • the wall 6C under the influence of gravity force returns to its original, i.e. vertical position, in which it remains during the feeding of the rod-like articles R.
  • both walls are formed by a transport element, namely the supporting surface 8A of the flexible chain 8 and the supporting surface 45A of the chain conveyor 45.
  • the filling section 43C is formed similarly.
  • the filling of the feeding channel 43 is effected during the movement of the supporting element 24 along the filling path F'".
  • the rod-like articles R are fed as a stream G" from the outlet 43F to a receiving device 2", which is provided with a hopper 54, a conveyor 55 and a vertical gravity channel 56, wherein the stream G" is divided into two parts.
  • the supporting element is displaced to the inlet 63A in the direction opposite to direction of the stream S.
  • all the conveyors forming the feeding channel 63 are provided with belts, and the walls of the feeding channel 63 are formed by the supporting surfaces 8A, 65A, 11 A of the belt conveyors.
  • the feeding channel 63 has an inlet 63A, filling sections 63B, 63C and an outlet 63F.
  • Fig. 13a shows the supporting element 44 in another embodiment within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 40 before being attached to the chain 8.
  • the supporting element 44 is provided with two bolts 57 located on the side edge 58, and the link 9 of the chain 8 is provided with two openings 59 on the supporting surface 9A of the link 9, wherein the bolts 57 are spaced apart and aligned with the openings 59 so that the supporting element 44 can be fixed on the supporting surface 9A of the link 9 transversely to the supporting surface 9A.
  • the supporting element 44 is provided with a projection 60.
  • the coupling mechanism 40 is provided with a linear drive element 41 in the form of an actuator for moving the gripper 61 which engages the projection 60 of the supporting element 44.
  • the supporting element 44 is in a position disconnected from the chain 8, after attaching the supporting element 44 (Fig. 13b), the chain 8 is moved together with the supporting element 44 (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), and the protrusion 60 is retracted from the gripper 61.

Abstract

A feeding device (1, 1', 1'', 1'''', 1''''') for feeding rod-like articles (R) of tobacco industry to a receiving device (2, 2', 2''), comprising: a feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) for displacing the rod-like articles (R) arranged in a stream (S) in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream (S), a supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) adapted to support the rod-like articles (R) during their movement along the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43), a drive unit (5) comprising a transport element (8) for displacing the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44), wherein the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is configured such that at least part of a supporting surface (4A, 24A, 34A, 44A) of the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is positioned in the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) when the rod-like articles (R) are moved while filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) and such that the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is positioned outside the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) after filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) with the rod-like articles (R). The feeding device (1, 1', 1'', 1'''', 1''''') further comprises a coupling mechanism (10, 30, 40) adapted to attach the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) to the transport element (8) while filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) and to disconnect the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) from the transport element (8) after filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) with the rod-like articles (R).

Description

A FEEDING DEVICE FOR FEEDING ROD-LIKE ARTICLES OF TOBACCO
INDUSTRY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry.
BACKGROUND
In tobacco industry the manufactured semi-products, for example in the form of filter rods, as well as final products, for example in the form of smoking articles, are transferred in a single-layer or multilayer streams. Such articles may be collectively referred to as rod-like articles. Multilayer streams are transferred horizontally, vertically as well as under various angles, wherein often the multilayer streams combine with single-layer streams. The multilayer streams may feed receiving devices in the form of hoppers or production machines. Moreover, a conveyor for feeding the stream of rod-like articles may feed another rod-like articles conveyor.
A problem faced by machine operators in the tobacco industry is the efficient filling of the production line, i.e. the first filling procedure. The first filling is particularly difficult to accomplish with vertical feeding channels and vertical conveyors. The procedure should be carried out in such a way as to keep the products parallel to each other in the channel and prevent deformation of the products.
A PCT application W02013019131A1 discloses a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry to the receiving device, comprising a feeding channel and a supporting element adapted to move the rod-like articles along the feeding channel, mounted on the first side of the plate. On the other side of the plate there is a drive unit provided with a transport element for moving the supporting element. At least a portion of the supporting surface of the supporting element occupies a position in the feeding channel during movement of the rod-like articles to fill the supplying channel, and the supporting element occupies a position outside the feeding channel after filling the feeding channel with rod-like articles. The supporting element moves backward in the feeding direction during filling the channel and against it before performing the next filling procedure. The transport element is a linear guide driven by a toothed belt, and the supporting element itself is mounted on a slider. The movement path of the supporting element has a linear section, after passing through the linear section, the supporting element withdraws outside the channel during the movement along the arc section. For this reason, it is not possible to fill a channel that has two linear sections, and during filling along the arc section in the final phase, the articles are released in an uncontrolled manner, which can lead to uneven alignment and blockage of the channel.
SUMMARY
There is a need to provide an alternative structure of the feeding device, which will allow efficient carrying out of the procedure of the first filling of the channel with the rod-like articles. Preferably, this construction shall be applicable to channels of various shapes and ensure the possibility of controlled transferring of the rod-like articles along the entire length of the channel, up to the location of their arrangement at the outlet of the channel.
The object of the invention is a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry to a receiving device, comprising: a feeding channel for displacing the rod-like articles arranged in a stream in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream, a supporting element adapted to support the rodlike articles during their movement along the feeding channel, a drive unit comprising a transport element for displacing the supporting element, wherein the supporting element is configured such that at least part of a supporting surface of the supporting element is positioned in the feeding channel when the rod-like articles are moved while filling the feeding channel and such that the supporting element is positioned outside the feeding channel after filling the feeding channel with the rod-like articles. The feeding device further comprises a coupling mechanism adapted to attach the supporting element to the transport element while filling the feeding channel and to disconnect the supporting element from the transport element after filling the feeding channel with the rodlike articles.
The transport element may be flexible.
The transport element may be a chain.
The transport element may be a belt.
The supporting element may be mounted on at least one bolt located on the transport element. The supporting element may comprise brackets and openings located in the brackets for inserting on the bolt, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a drive element for repositioning or drawing apart the brackets of the supporting element.
The supporting element may comprise a pin configured to be inserted into the mounting opening in the transport element, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a linear drive element for moving the supporting element.
The supporting element may be mounted on the supporting surface of a link, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a linear drive element for moving the supporting element perpendicularly to the supporting surface of the link.
A first wall of the feeding channel may be formed by the supporting surface of the transport element, and a second wall of the feeding channel has a form of a plate.
The first wall of the feeding channel may be formed by the supporting surface of the transport element, and the second wall of the feeding channel is formed by a supporting surface of a conveyor.
The walls of the feeding channel may have a form of plates.
The supporting surface may comprise at least two partial supporting surfaces, and the wall of the channel has a narrowing having a width lower than a width of cut-out between the partial supporting surfaces.
A fragment of the wall of the feeding channel located above the transport element may be mounted pivotally and is deflectable.
The coupling mechanism may be located above an outlet of the feeding channel.
The device may further comprise a hopper adapted to feed the rod-like articles to the feeding channel.
The invention also relates to a feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of the tobacco industry to a receiving device, comprising: a feeding channel for displacing the rod-like articles arranged in a stream in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream, a supporting element adapted to support the rodlike articles during their movement along the feeding channel, a drive unit comprising a transport element for displacing the supporting element, wherein the supporting element is configured such that at least part of the supporting surface of the supporting element is positioned in the feeding channel when the rod-like articles are moved while filling the feeding channel, and such that the supporting element is positioned outside the feeding channel after filling the feeding channel with the rod-like articles, wherein at least one of the transport element or the drive element is flexible.
The feeding device according to the invention allows the rod-like articles to be transferred very gently during filling of the feeding channel, with little risk of damage to the rod-like articles. Thus, the number of damaged articles that become a production waste is reduced. In addition, the filling of the feeding device and its preparation for operation takes place in an automatic mode without the need to assist the filling process by the operator.
Since the feeding device is provided with a coupling mechanism adapted to attach and detach the supporting element to and from the transport element, respectively, the transport element may continue to operate even after filling the channel, for example to facilitate the transfer of elements in the channel (if it constitutes one of the walls of the channel). Detaching the supporting elements allows the use of different supporting elements, for example with soft pads or specially profiled pads, when changing the type of rod-like articles being fed.
The present invention further provides a supporting element mounted on a flexible transport element which is a transport element for the supporting element and is driven by one of the wheels.
Therefore, the solution according to the invention provides a drive unit implemented as an alternative to the state of the art solutions - it proposes a flexible support/transport element which is also a drive element.
The supporting element can move on a curvilinear/ polygonal chain path defined by a curvilinear guide and may be driven by a flexible drive element. The curvilinear guide and the curvilinear motion path include straight and arc sections.
Due to the fact that the transport element is flexible, the feeding device according to the invention may be used with feeding channels of various geometries, even having several sections set at different angles to each other, both linear and arcuate (thus they may be generally called polygonal chain or curvilinear channels). In the solution according to the invention, the supporting surface is located substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of the guiding element, which allows effective support of the rod-like elements during their movement through the channel, while the risk of damage to articles lying directly on the supporting element is reduced.
Due to the fact that the drive element is flexible, the feeding device according to the invention provided with a suitable curvilinear guide ensures a stable movement of the supporting element, wherein the curvilinear guide may perform movement along a path of any shape. It is particularly advantageous to use a chain as a transport element, since the chain is unextendable, which ensures stable guidance of the supporting element. The device also improves the transfer of articles in the channel after it is filled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention is presented with reference to embodiments in a drawing, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows a feeding device in the first embodiment before starting the filling,
Fig. 2 shows the feeding device of Fig. 1 at the start of filling,
Fig. 3 shows the feeding device of Fig. 1 after completion of filling,
Fig. 4 shows the feeding device in the second embodiment before starting the filling,
Fig. 5 shows the feeding device in the third embodiment at the start of filling,
Fig. 5a shows the feeding device in the fourth embodiment before starting the filling,
Fig. 6 shows the feeding device in the fifth embodiment before the start of filling,
Fig. 6a shows the feeding device in the sixth embodiment before starting the filling,
Fig. 7a shows a supporting element in the first embodiment before connection to a transport element and shows a coupling mechanism in the first embodiment,
Fig. 7b shows the supporting element of Fig. 7a after being connected to the transport element,
Fig. 8 shows the supporting element in the second embodiment before being connected to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the first embodiment, Fig. 9 shows the supporting element of Fig. 8 in the view indicated in Fig.
4,
Fig. 10a shows the supporting element in the third embodiment before connection to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the second embodiment,
Fig. 10b shows the supporting element of Fig. 10a after being connected to the transport element,
Fig. 11 shows the supporting element in the third embodiment before connection to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the second embodiment,
Fig. 12 shows the supporting element in the fourth embodiment in the view indicated in Fig. 5a,
Fig. 13a shows the supporting element in the fifth embodiment before connection to the transport element and shows the coupling mechanism in the third embodiment, and
Fig. 13b shows the supporting element of Fig. 13a after connection with the transport element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fig. 1 shows a feeding device 1 for feeding a stream of rod-like articles R of the tobacco industry in a first embodiment. The feeding device 1 feeds the rodlike articles R to the receiving device 2 being a part of the production machine for manufacturing of multi-segment filter rods. The feeding device 1 comprises a feeding channel 3, a supporting element 4 adapted to move rod-like articles R along the feeding channel 3 and a drive unit 5 for displacing the supporting element 4. The feeding channel 3 is provided with two walls 6 and 7, the guiding planes of which are located parallel to the axis of the rod-like articles being fed, the walls 6, 7 are located perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. The feeding channel 3 may additionally be provided with walls (not shown on the drawing) located perpendicularly to the walls 6 and 7, i.e. perpendicularly to the axis of the articles being fed. The feeding channel 3 has an inlet 3A, four feeding sections 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E and an outlet 3F. The drive unit 5 is provided with a flexible transport element 8, in the presented embodiment the transport element 8 is in the form of a flexible chain consisting of links 9, and in variants of this example the transport element 8 may also be in the form of a flexible belt. The transport element 8 is driven by a motor M (a transmission gear is not shown). The feeding device 1 is provided with a coupling mechanism 10 adapted to attach the supporting element 4 to the transport element 8 while the feeding channel 3 is filled and to disconnect the supporting element 4 from the transport element 8 after the feeding channel 3 is filled. The feeding section 3B, 3C and 3D has a wall 6 formed by a transport element 8, namely by a supporting surface 8A of the transport element 8 and by the wall 7 in the form of a plate. The feeding section 3E is formed by the transport element 8 and the belt conveyor 11 . The widths of the feeding sections may be the same, it is possible to make a device in which the individual widths may be different, for example the walls of the channel may be located not in parallel to each other. In such case, the supporting surface 4A must be as wide or wider than the widest feeding section to support the rod-like articles R at each point of the feeding channel 3.
The feeding device 1 feeds the rod-like articles R to the receiving device 2, which are supplied by a suppling device 12. In the presented embodiment, the supplying device 12 comprises a hopper 13 of rod-like articles R and a conveyor 14. The feeding channel 3 is located directly below an outlet 12A of the supplying device 12, the outlet 12A is connected to the inlet 3A of the feeding channel 3. The supplying device 12 supplies the feeding channel 3 with the rod-like articles in a mass manner, a multilayer stream of the rod-like articles is formed at the outlet 12A. The stream S formed in this way passes through the feeding channel 3 to the receiving device 2. In the presented embodiment, the receiving device 2 comprises a hopper 15 and a drum conveyor 16, which has, on its transport surface 17, flutes 18 and disc knives 19 for cutting the rod-like articles R. The drum conveyor 16 rotates at a rotational speed co during its operation.
In Fig. 1 , the feeding channel 3 is empty and needs to be filled in order for the receiving device 2 to start operating. The supporting element 4 is located in the operating range the coupling mechanism 10, wherein the coupling mechanism 10 is located outside the feeding channel 3 on the side opposite to the supporting surface 8A of the transport element 8 which forms the wall 6 of the feeding channel 3. The coupling mechanism 10 is located above the outlet 3F of the feeding channel 3, i.e. above the outlet of the last feeding section 3E. In the presented embodiment, the coupling mechanism 10 is located above the receiving device 2. The coupling mechanism 10 may be located directly above the outlet 3F and/or directly above the hopper 15 of the receiving device 2, it may be located higher, for example directly below the supplying device 12. In any case, the supporting element 4 not connected to the transport element 8 is located outside the feeding channel 3. The coupling mechanism 10 is adapted to connect the supporting element 4 to the transport element 8. After the supporting element 4 is attached on the transport element 8, the drive unit 5 displaces the transport element 8 so that the supporting element 4 is displaced to the inlet 3A of the feeding channel 3 along the path T presented as a dotted line. In Fig. 2, the supporting element 4 is in a position in which the filling process may be started, namely the supporting element 4 is located in a position under the outlet 12A of the supplying device 12, wherein the outlet 12A of the supplying device 12 is presented as filled up with the rod-like articles R and the rod-like articles R are supported by the supporting surface 4A of the supporting element 4. During the filling of the feeding channel 3, the drive unit 5 is displacing the supporting element 4 and the rod-like articles R along the feeding channel 3, wherein the path of movement of the supporting element 4 is indicated as F and constitutes the filling path. After passing along the filling path F, the supporting element 4 is inserted into the coupling mechanism 10, the rod-like articles R are transferred along a part of the filling path F to the outlet 3F, and then along the path G, wherein the path G represents the movement which results in that the rod-like articles R fill up the hopper 15. Fig. 3 shows the feeding device 1 , in which the feeding channel 3 is filled, and furthermore, the rod-like articles R are fed into the receiving device 2, the hopper 15 is filled, furthermore, the flutes 18 of the drum conveyor 16 are filled with rod-like articles R. During operation of the feeding device 1 , the rod-like articles R are transferred in the feeding channel 3 as a stream S, wherein the detached supporting element 4 remains within the coupling mechanism 10. Figs. 7a and 7b show the supporting element 4, which is used in the aforementioned first embodiment of the feeding device 1 . The supporting element 4 is provided with two brackets 25 located on opposite sides of the supporting surface 4A. The brackets 25 may be deformable or may be pivotably attached to the supporting element 4. Bolts 26 are located in the link 9 of the chain 8, and the brackets 25 are provided with openings 27 corresponding to the diameter of the bolts 26. In order to mount the supporting element 4, two cylindrical bolts or one bolt with a square, rectangular or other non-cylindrical cross-section, may be used. In the presented embodiment, the brackets 25 are deformable, wherein two drive elements 28 in form of actuators are used for deforming or pivoting the brackets 25. For changing the position of the brackets 25, any mechanism having two actuators for moving the brackets may be used. In the pivoted position of the brackets 25, before attachment of the supporting element 4 on the chain 8 presented in Fig. 7a, the chain 8 may move within the coupling mechanism 10, after the chain 8 is stopped, the actuators 28 are retracted to mount the brackets 25 on the bolts 26 before starting the filling process of the feeding channel 3. After filling the feeding channel 3, the supporting element 4 is located within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 10, the brackets 25 are deformed or pivoted (Fig. 7a) and the transport element 8 can operate without the supporting element 4, i.e. it can move in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. The transport element 8 provides two functions, it supports the movement of the rod-like articles R in the stream S in the feeding channel 3 of the feeding device 1 , and furthermore, after the supporting element 4 is attached, the transport element 8 guides the supporting element 4 along the feeding channel 3 to fill the feeding channel 3.
Fig. 4 shows the feeding device T in a second embodiment. As in the first embodiment, the rod-like articles R from the supplying device 12 are fed to the receiving device 2, the presented feeding device T is not filled. The supporting element 24 is presented during its motion along the path T' from the coupling mechanism 10 so as to locate the supporting element 24 under the inlet 23A of the feeding channel 23. The supporting element 24 is presented as a dashed line within the coupling mechanism 10 as well as in a position below the inlet 23A of the feeding channel 23. The filling of the feeding channel 23 is effected during the movement of the supporting element 24 along the filling path F'. Before starting the filling, the supporting element 24 is located in the feeding channel 23 in the direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the stream S of the rod-like articles along the feeding channel 23 (the movement of the supporting element is carried out in one direction along a closed path). It is also possible to displace the supporting element 24 before filling in the same way as in the first embodiment, i.e. in the direction opposite to the direction of the stream S (the movement of the supporting element 24 is a reciprocating movement). The supporting element 24 used in this embodiment is configured analogously to the supporting element 4 in the first embodiment of the feeding device 1 , wherein it is provided with a cut-out 29 (FIG. 8) of a width D, the cut-out 29 is separating the two partial supporting surfaces 24A. As shown in view C in Fig. 9 marked in Fig. 4, the wall 6B of the feeding channel 23 is provided with a narrowing 31 of a width d smaller than the width D of the cut-out 29. The narrowing 31 does not disturb the flow of the rod-like articles R through the inlet 23A and at the same time allows the displacement of the supporting element 24 to a position where filling of the feeding device T can be started. The feeding channel 23 comprises an inlet 23A, feeding sections 23B, 23C, 23D and an outlet 23F. In the filling section 23B, one wall 6' is formed by a transport element, namely the chain 8, while the other wall 7' is stationary and has the form of a plate. In the filling section 23C and 23D, one wall is formed by the transport element 8 and the other wall is formed by the supporting surface 32A and 11A of the belt conveyor 32 and 11 , respectively.
Fig. 5 shows the feeding device 1" in the third embodiment, as in the previous embodiments, the rod-like articles R from the supplying device 12 are fed to the receiving device 2'. The supporting element 34 is located in the inlet 33A and the feeding device 1" is prepared for filling, the rod-like articles R were fed into the inlet 33A of the feeding channel 33 and are supported on the supporting surface 34A of the supporting element 34. The path of movement of the supporting element 34 from the coupling mechanism 30 is the same as in the first embodiment. Fig. 10a shows the supporting element 34 within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 30 before being attached to the chain 8. The supporting element 34 is provided with the bracket 35 in which the pin 36, for example having a rectangular or square cross-section, is fixed. The pin 36 is adapted to be inserted into the opening 37 located in the link 9. A gripper 38 engages an arm 35A on the bracket 35 and is fixed and moved by a drive element in a form of an actuator 39. In Fig. 10a, the supporting element 34 is in a position disengaged from the chain 8, the movement of the actuator 39 causes the pin 36 to be inserted into the opening 37 of the link 9 and the supporting element 34 to be positioned above the supporting surface 9A of the link 9 as shown in Fig. 10b. After the supporting element 34 is attached, the chain 8 is moved together with the supporting element 34 (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), wherein the arm 35A is retracted from the gripper 38. The arm 35A is re-inserted into the gripper 38 after filling the feeding channel 3 in order to detach the supporting element 34 from the chain 8. Fig. 11 also shows the supporting element 34 fixed on the transport element 8 in the form of a flexible toothed belt. Similarly, the bracket 35' is provided with the pin 36' inserted into the opening 37', and the gripper 38 cooperates with the arm 35A'. Connecting of the supporting element 34 to the transport element 8 and disconnecting it, is performed analogously. The feeding channel comprises an inlet 33A, feeding sections 33B, 33C, 33D, 33E and an outlet 33F. The feeding section 33E is provided with additional strips 51 which are inclined with respect to the filling direction F" and cause a narrowing of the feeding section 33E, wherein the smallest width e of the feeding section 33E is smaller than the width E of the supporting surface 34A. The rod-like articles R in the form of stream G' are transferred to the hopper 52 and to the channel 53.
Fig. 5a shows the feeding device T" in the fourth embodiment. The rodlike articles R from the supplying device 12 are fed to a receiving device 2 comprising a hopper 15 and a drum conveyor 16 with disc knives 19. In this embodiment, a supporting element 74 is provided with a roller-type guiding element 71 shown in Fig. 12 in a view E, which is guided in a curvilinear guide 72, wherein the roller 71 attached to the supporting element 74 by means of a bracket 73. The guide 72 is shaped such that when the feeding channel 33 is filled, the supporting surface 74A moves along a path F" from the position shown in Fig. 5a at the inlet 33A of the channel 33. The path of movement of the supporting element 74 from the coupling mechanism 30 is analogous to that of the first embodiment. The bracket 73 is attached to a flexible drive element 75, in the embodiment shown the drive element 75 is in the form of a belt, wherein the drive element 75 may be in the form of a chain. As shown, the supporting element 74 moves between walls in the form of plates 21 and 22.
Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the feeding device 1", wherein the presented feeding device 1" is not filled. The supporting element 34 is shown during its movement along a path T'" in a position directly before locating the supporting element 34 under the inlet 43A, additionally the dotted line shows the supporting element 34 within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 30 and in a position at which filling can be started i.e. under the inlet 43A. Prior to filling, the supporting element 34 is located in the feeding channel 43 in the direction corresponding to the direction of the stream S in the feeding channel 43. It is possible to dislocate the supporting element 34 before filling in the same way as in the first embodiment, i.e. in the direction opposite to the direction of the stream S. In the presented embodiment, the wall 6C of the feeding channel 43 has the form of a pivotable plate mounted on the axis 50. During the movement along the path T", the supporting element 34 raises the wall 6C as shown in Fig. 6. After passing of the supporting element 34, the wall 6C under the influence of gravity force returns to its original, i.e. vertical position, in which it remains during the feeding of the rod-like articles R. In the filling section 23B, both walls are formed by a transport element, namely the supporting surface 8A of the flexible chain 8 and the supporting surface 45A of the chain conveyor 45. The filling section 43C is formed similarly. The filling of the feeding channel 43 is effected during the movement of the supporting element 24 along the filling path F'". The rod-like articles R are fed as a stream G" from the outlet 43F to a receiving device 2", which is provided with a hopper 54, a conveyor 55 and a vertical gravity channel 56, wherein the stream G" is divided into two parts.
In another feeding device 1"" shown in Fig. 6a, the supporting element is displaced to the inlet 63A in the direction opposite to direction of the stream S. In this embodiment, all the conveyors forming the feeding channel 63 are provided with belts, and the walls of the feeding channel 63 are formed by the supporting surfaces 8A, 65A, 11 A of the belt conveyors. The feeding channel 63 has an inlet 63A, filling sections 63B, 63C and an outlet 63F.
Fig. 13a shows the supporting element 44 in another embodiment within the range of operation of the coupling mechanism 40 before being attached to the chain 8. The supporting element 44 is provided with two bolts 57 located on the side edge 58, and the link 9 of the chain 8 is provided with two openings 59 on the supporting surface 9A of the link 9, wherein the bolts 57 are spaced apart and aligned with the openings 59 so that the supporting element 44 can be fixed on the supporting surface 9A of the link 9 transversely to the supporting surface 9A. The supporting element 44 is provided with a projection 60. The coupling mechanism 40 is provided with a linear drive element 41 in the form of an actuator for moving the gripper 61 which engages the projection 60 of the supporting element 44. In Fig. 13a, the supporting element 44 is in a position disconnected from the chain 8, after attaching the supporting element 44 (Fig. 13b), the chain 8 is moved together with the supporting element 44 (in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing), and the protrusion 60 is retracted from the gripper 61.

Claims

Claims
1. A feeding device (1 , 1 ', 1", 1"", 1 ) for feeding rod-like articles (R) of tobacco industry to a receiving device (2, 2', 2"), comprising:
- a feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) for displacing the rod-like articles (R) arranged in a stream (S) in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream (S),
- a supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) adapted to support the rod-like articles (R) during their movement along the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43),
- a drive unit (5) comprising a transport element (8) for displacing the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44),
- wherein the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is configured such that at least part of a supporting surface (4A, 24A, 34A, 44A) of the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is positioned in the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) when the rod-like articles (R) are moved while filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) and such that the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is positioned outside the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) after filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) with the rod-like articles (R), characterized in that the feeding device (1 , 1 ', 1", 1"", 1 ) further comprises
- a coupling mechanism (10, 30, 40) adapted to attach the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) to the transport element (8) while filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) and to disconnect the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) from the transport element (8) after filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) with the rod-like articles (R).
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport element (8) is flexible.
3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport element (8) is a chain.
4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the transport element (8) is a belt.
5. The device according to any of claims from 2 to 4, wherein the supporting element (4) is mounted on at least one bolt (26) located on the transport element (8).
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the supporting element (4, 24) comprises brackets (25) and openings (27) located in the brackets (25) for inserting on the bolt (26), wherein the coupling mechanism (10) comprises a drive element (28) for repositioning or drawing apart the brackets (25) of the supporting element (4, 24).
7. The device according to any of claims from 2 to 4, wherein the supporting element (34) comprises a pin (36, 36’) configured to be inserted into the mounting opening (37, 37’) in the transport element (8), wherein the coupling mechanism (30) comprises a linear drive element (39) for moving the supporting element (34).
8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the supporting element (44) is mounted on the supporting surface (9A) of a link (9), wherein the coupling mechanism (40) comprises a linear drive element (41 ) for moving the supporting element (44) perpendicularly to the supporting surface (9A) of the link (9).
9. The device according to any of claims from 1 to 8, wherein a first wall of the feeding channel (3, 23) is formed by the supporting surface (8A) of the transport element (8), and a second wall of the feeding channel (3, 23) has a form of a plate (7, 7’).
10. The device according to any of claims from 1 to 8, wherein the first wall of the feeding channel (3, 23, 43) is formed by the supporting surface (8A) of the transport element (8), and the second wall of the feeding channel (3, 23, 43) is formed by a supporting surface (11 A, 32A, 45A) of a conveyor (11 , 32, 45).
11 . The device according to any of claims from 1 to 8, wherein the walls of the feeding channel (33) have a form of plates (21 , 22).
12. The device according to any of claims from 1 to 11 , wherein the supporting surface comprises at least two partial supporting surfaces (24A), and the wall (6B) of the channel (23) has a narrowing (31 ) having a width (d) lower than a width (D) of cut-out (29) between the partial supporting surfaces (24A).
13. The device according to any of claims from 1 to 11 , wherein a fragment (6C) of the wall of the feeding channel (43) located above the transport element (8) is mounted pivotally and is deflectable.
14. The device according to any of claims from 1 to 13, wherein the coupling mechanism (10, 30, 40) is located above an outlet (3F, 23F, 33F, 43F) of the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43).
15. The device according to any of claims from 1 to 14, further comprising a hopper (13) adapted to feed the rod-like articles (R) to the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43).
16. A feeding device (1 , 1 ', 1 ", 1 1 1 ) for feeding rod-like articles (R) of the tobacco industry to a receiving device (2, 2', 2"), comprising:
- a feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) for displacing the rod-like articles (R) arranged in a stream (S) in a direction transverse to a transfer direction of the stream (S),
- a supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44, 74) adapted to support the rod-like articles (R) during their movement along the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43),
- a drive unit (5) comprising a transport element (8) for displacing the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44, 74),
- wherein the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44) is configured such that at least part of the supporting surface (4A, 24A, 34A, 44A, 74A) of the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44, 74) is positioned in the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) when the rod-like articles (R) are moved while filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43), and such that the supporting element (4, 24, 34, 44, 74) is positioned outside the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) after filling the feeding channel (3, 23, 33, 43) with the rod-like articles (R), characterized in that at least one of the transport elements (8) or the drive element (75) is flexible.
PCT/EP2023/060566 2022-04-29 2023-04-24 A feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of tobacco industry WO2023208800A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PLP.441065 2022-04-29
PL441065A PL441065A1 (en) 2022-04-29 2022-04-29 Feeding device for feeding rod-like articles of the tobacco industry

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090025737A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Axel Leifheit Method and apparatus for conveying a cigarette stream in a controlled manner
US20110120835A1 (en) * 2008-05-16 2011-05-26 International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O Store-transport assembly for elongated rod shaped elements, as well as method of controlling mass flow and filling and emptying of store-transport assembly for elongated rod shaped elements
WO2013019131A1 (en) 2011-08-02 2013-02-07 International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O. Valve unit for filling angular transport channels with mass flow of rod like articles

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20090025737A1 (en) * 2007-07-26 2009-01-29 Axel Leifheit Method and apparatus for conveying a cigarette stream in a controlled manner
US20110120835A1 (en) * 2008-05-16 2011-05-26 International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O Store-transport assembly for elongated rod shaped elements, as well as method of controlling mass flow and filling and emptying of store-transport assembly for elongated rod shaped elements
WO2013019131A1 (en) 2011-08-02 2013-02-07 International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. Z O.O. Valve unit for filling angular transport channels with mass flow of rod like articles

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