CA1324053C

CA1324053C - Method of and apparatus for manipulating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry

Info

Publication number: CA1324053C
Application number: CA 554096
Authority: CA
Inventors: Rolf Dahlgrun; Rolf Schmidt
Original assignee: Decoufle SARL
Current assignee: Decoufle SARL
Priority date: 1986-12-11
Filing date: 1987-12-11
Publication date: 1993-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2010-11-09
Also published as: GB2201135A; GB2201135B; DE3740459A1; FR2608022B1; FR2608022A1; DE3740459C2; GB8728980D0

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A method of and an apparatus for delivering successive filter rod sections of a series of such sections onto the upper reach of an endless belt conveyor whereon the sections form a single file of coaxial articles. A first rotary drum-shaped conveyor has axially parallel peripheral flutes which draw successive filter rod sections from a magazine and move them at right angles to their axes to a transfer station where each oncoming section is brought to a halt in the flute of a stationary ramp. A second rotary drum-shaped conveyor has peripheral pushers which engage the rear end faces of successive sections in the flute of the ramp and move the entrained sections axially toward and onto the belt conveyor. A brush is adjacent the path of sections on the second drum-shaped conveyor to ensure that each section abuts the respective pusher not later than immediately prior to transfer onto the belt conveyor. The second drum-shaped conveyor has a peripheral groove wherein the sections in front of the respective pushers are attracted by suction.

Description

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The invention relates to a method of and to an apparatus for manipulating rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, especially filter rod sections of unit length or multiple unit length. More ~` particularly, the invention relates to improvements in a method and in an apparatus which can be used with advantage for the making of composite rod-shaped articles wherein rod-shaped components of a first type alternate with rod-shaped components of one or more different types or with hollow tubes.
It is well known to form composite filter rod sections by placing discrete filter rod sections of unit length or multiple unit length onto a continuously running web of cigarette paper or other wrapping material and by thereupon draping the web around the thus formed file of filter rod sections to obtain a filter rod wherein neighboring filter rod sections are separated from each other by clearances or gaps of predetermined width. The resulting filter rod is then severed across successive filter rod sections and/or across successive gaps, depending upon the nature of composite filter mouthpieces which are to be obtained from such rod. It is further known to make filter cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos by placing filter rod sections and plain cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos end-to-end so that they form a single file, by draping a web of cigarette paper or other wrapping material around such file, and by thereupon severing the resulting rod midway across each filter mouthpiece to form a file of discrete .

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filter cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos of unit length or multiple unit length. ~eretofore known methods and apparatus for delivery of discrete rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry onto a continuously running web of wrapping material are not entirely satisfactory, for example, when the rod-shaped articles are to be delivered at a high ~` or very high frequency.
One feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a method of transporting a series of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, particularly filter rod sections, into an elongated path. The method comprises the steps of conveying successive articles of the series -~; along a first substantially circular path, transferring successive articles of the series from the first ` circular path into a second substantially circular .
. path, and advancing successively transferred articles along the second circular path into the elongated path. The transferring step includes decelerating and holding successive articles of the series, and the advancing step includes moving successive held articles into and along the second circular path at predetermined intervals.
The conveying step preferably includes moving the articles in a direction substantially transversely of their respective longitudinal axes, and the advancing step preferably includes moving the articles substantially axially. The first circular path is preferably located in a first .~

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, ` plane, and the second circular path is preferably s~ located in a second plane substantially at right angles to the first plane. Each of these planes is x preferably a substantially vertical plane.
~ The decelerating step can include decelerating : ~ successive articles of the series all the way or close to zero speed. The predetermined intervals are , preferably equal intervals. The holding step can include holding the articles by suction between the first and 10 second circular paths.
The advancing step can comprise pushing the articles substantially axially along the second path. Such advancing step can further comprise holding the articles in the second path by suction.
The arrangement can be such that the articles are moved substantially axially along the second substantially circular path by a series of pushers, and such method can further comprise the step of applying to successive articles in the second 20 substantially circular path a braking force so as to urge each of the thus braked articles against the respective pusher. This ensures that the articles are delivered into the elongated path at predetermined intervals and/or at a predetermined mutual spacing from one another.
The elongated path is or can be a substantially straight (e.g., substantially horizontal) path which is defined by an endless flexible conveyor.
Another feature of the invention resides 30 in the provision of an apparatus for manipulating a ~: .
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series of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, particularly filter rod sections. The apparatus comprises a first conveyor which defines an elongated first path, a second conveyor having means for conveying successive articles of the .:
series along a first substantially circular path, a third conveyor having means for advancing successive articles of the series along a second substantially circular path from the first circular path into the elongated path, and means for temporarily decelerating and holding successive articles of the series intermediate the first and second circular paths.
The conveying means of the second conveyor can comprise means for accelerating successive articles of the series (e.g., from zero speed to a normal operating speed) and for moving such articles substantially at right angles to their respective axes. The second conveyor can comprise a driven rotary drum, and the conveying means are preferably located at the periphery of the drum.
The third conveyor can be provided with ` an endless circular or substantially circular groove for the articles, and the advancing means of ' the third conveyor can include means for moving the articles substantially axially. The third conveyor can include a driven rotary drum; the groove and the advancing means are preferably located at the periphery of such drum.
The second conveyor is preferably mounted ,, '.~' .~
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for rotation about a first substantially horizontal axis, and the third conveyor is preferably mounted for rotation about a second substantially horizontal axis extending at right angles to the first axis so that the first circular path is located in a first substantially vertical plane and the second circular path is located in a second substantially vertical plane extending at right angles to the first plane.
The third conveyor is preferably located at a level above the first but below the second conveyor.
The holding means can comprise a stationary supporting member having means for temporarily retaining successive articles of the series by suction.
The advancing means of the third conveyor ; can comprise a plurality of spaced apart pushers which serve to move successive articles of the series substantially axially along the second circular , path. The pushers are or can be equidistant from each other in the direction of advancement of articles along the second circular path. The third conveyor can be provided with suction ports which attract the articles in the groove during advancement of articles from the first circular path into the elongated first path.
The apparatus can further comprise means for braking successive articles in the groove of the third conveyor so as to maintain the rear end faces , :
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~ of the articles in abutment with the respective `~ pushers. This ensures that successive articles `~ reach the elongated first path at a predetermined spacing from one another. The braking means can include at lea~t one brush which is adjacent a portion of the second Gircular path.
The means for temporarily holding successive articles of the series intermediate the first and second circular paths preferably defines a channel for successive articles of the series. Such channel defining holding means can comprise a first stationary member having a first guide ; surface at one side of the channel and a second ~ ~ stationary member having a second guide surface at s ~i the other side of the channel opposite the first guide surface. The holding means can further comprise suction ports or analogous means for attracting successive articles of the series to the channel defining holding means by suction.
The first conveyor can include an endless flexible conveyor having an elongated reach (particularly an elongated upper reach) which defines the elongated first path.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed ., ~..

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~ 8 ,~i ;s description of certain specific embodiments with :~ reference to the accompanying drawing wherein ~ FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an :~ apparatus which embodies the invention; and FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the apparatus as seen in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1, with portions of the holding means, second rotary conveyor and first conveyor broken away.
The apparatus which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises an endless first conveyor 22 having a substantially horizontal upper reach or stretch which defines an elongated path for the transport of rod-shaped articles 3 (such as filter rod sections of unit length or multiple unit length) in the form ^ i~ of a single file wherein successive articles 3 may ` but need not be disposed end-to-end.
,; A second conveyor 2 in the form of a drum with axially parallel peripheral article conveying . - flutes 1 is driven to rotate about a horizontal axis at a level above a third conveyor 16 in the form of a driven drum rotatable about a horizontal axis which extends at right angles to the axis of ~; rotation of the conveyor 2. The conveyor 16 has a set of equidistant article advancing elements in the form of pushers 17 which are installed at the periphery of the conveyor 16 and overlie the adjacent , portions of an endless circular peripheral groove 14.
The conveyor 2 serves to accelerate successive articles 3 of a series of articles which . ~ 30 are stored in a magazine adjacent the endless circular .~, ~..
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path along which the flutes 1 travel when the conveyor 2 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow 4. The flutes 1 accept successive articles 3 ~ and move them on to a transfer station 7 between the ;~ circular path for the articles 3 on the conveyor 2 i`' and the circular path for the articles 3 on the conveyor 16. The two circular paths are located in vertical planes at right angles to each other. The conveyor 16 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow 19. That portion of the path which is defined by the conveyor 2 wherein the articles 3 advance from the magazine to the transfer station 7 ' is overlapped by a shroud 6 which ensures that the ; articles 3 remain in their respective flutes 1 during movement toward the station 7.
The transfer station 7 accommodates a holding or supporting device including a first stationary member or ramp 8 at the lower end of the shroud 6 and a strip-shaped second stationary member or ramp 9. The ramps 8, 9 have confrontin~
downwardly sloping surfaces which define a narrow channel wherein successive accelerated articles 3 advance from the respective flutes 1 of the conveyor , 2 into a flute 12 which is machined in the surface 11 of the ramp 9 and wherein the articles 3 are held (one at a time) by suction. To this end, the - ramp 9 has one or more suction ports 13 which communicate with the flute 12 and can be connected to the suction intake of a vacum pump, blower or other suitable suction generating device, not shown. The .

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articles 3 which enter the channel between the ' ramps 8, 9 are decelerated and come to a full stop ;, on entry into the flute 12. One end face of the .. article 3 which is attracted to the ramp 9 by the suction port or ports 13 is then engaged by the oncoming pusher 17 of the conveyor 16 to advance substantially axially in the adjacent portion of the ., groove 14 which communicates with suction ports 18 to ensure that the articles 3 cannot leave the groove 14 under the action of centrifugal force.
It will be noted that the direction of movement of successive articles 3 is changed from sidewise or transverse movement (substantially at right angles to their respective longitudinal axes) in the flutes 1 of the conveyor 2 to substantially axial in the groove 14 of the conveyor 16. The period of dwell of successive articles 3 in the flute 12 of the ramp 9 is determined by the mutual spacing of neighboring pushers 17 on the conveyor 16 and by the peripheral speed of this conveyor. The illustrated conveyor 16 has six equidistant pushers 17.
In order to ensure that the articles 3 . which rebound when their rear end faces are engaged by the oncoming pushers 17 will return into contact with such pushers not later than on arrival at the ~: transfer station between the conveyors 16 and 22, the apparatus further comprises a retarding device 21 in the form of an arcuate brush adjacent the ~ circular path which is defined by the conveyor 16 :~ 30 and serving to apply to successive articles 3 in the ~ .

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groove 14 a braking force which overcomes the ~, suction in the respective ports 18 and ensures that each article 3 which is not in actual contact with the pusher 17 behind it will be shifted rearwardly until it comes into actual contact with such pusher.
This ensures that the articles 3 are deposited in the elongated path which is defined by the endless belt conveyor 22 at predetermined intervals, e.g., at ~¢~ intervals which are required to place a plain 10 cigarette of unit length or multiple unit length or a filter mouthpiece of unit length or multiple unit length between pairs of successive articles 3 in the file of such articles on the upper reach of the conveyor 22. Each article 3 can constitute a ~ hollow tubular component of paper, cardboard or -~ the like. Alternatively, each such article can contain a tubular wrapper surrounding a mass of filter material for tobacco smoke.
s Each article 3 can constitute one-half or -~ 20 even a smaller fraction of a longer rod-shaped article which has been severed ahead of the conveyor `~` 2 so as to have an optimum length for processing on the belt conveyor 22. It is also possible to sever the articles on the conveyor 2 and to deliver , groups of two or more coaxial articles to the flute ~^ 12 of the ramp 9 so that each pusher 17 actually " advances two or more coaxial sections of a composite article 3.
; The ramps 8, 9 at the transfer station 7 ~ 30 constitute an optional but desirable and advantageous .~
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' 12 feature of the improved apparatus. They ensure that ' each article 3 is positively guided (by the flutes 1 and shroud 6, between the ramps 8, 9 and in the groove 14 of the conveyor 16) all the way from the source of supply of articles 3 to the running web (not shown) on the upper reach of the conveyor 22.
Moreover, the ramps 8, 9 cooperate with the pushers 17 to ensure that the conveyor 16 advances past the brush 21 a series of at least substantially equidistant ~; 10 articles 3 whereby the brush ensures that the mutual ~- spacing of successive articles 3 in the groove 14 is invariably uniform not later than at the locus of transfer of articles onto the conveyor 22. In many instances, each article 3 will constitute a filter rod section of double unit length.
The brush 21 can be replaced with other suitable means (e.g., one or more rollers or elastic ~: lips) which can frictionally engage the wrappers of successive articles 3 in the groove 14 to produce a braking or retarding action which is sufficiently pronounced to ensure that each and every article 3 abuts the respective pusher 17 but is not of such magnitude that it could affect the appearance and/or ~; other desirable characteristics of the conveyed articles.
An important advantage of the improved , ~ method and apparatus is that each article 3 is positively guided and retained in a prescribed position all the way from the source to the upper reach of the conveyor 22. Such reliable guidance is .
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Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of the above outlined contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.

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Claims

1. A method of transporting a series of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, particularly filter rod sections, into an elongated path, comprising the steps of conveying successive articles of the series along a first substantially circular path; transferring successive articles of the series from the first circular path into a second substantially circular path; and advancing successively transferred articles along the second circular path into the elongated path, said transferring step including decelerating and holding successive articles of the series and said advancing step including moving successive held articles into and along the second circular path at predetermined intervals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said conveying step includes moving the articles in a direction substantially transversely of their respective longitudinal axes and said advancing step includes moving the articles substantially axially.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first circular path is located in a first plane and the second circular path is located in a second plane substantially at right angles to the first plane.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second planes are substantially vertical.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said transferring step includes holding successive articles by suction between the first and second circular paths.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said advancing step includes pushing the articles substantially axially along the second circular path.

7. The method of claim 7, wherein said advancing step further comprises holding the articles in the second circular path by suction.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said advancing step includes moving the articles along the second circular path substantially axially by a series of pushers and further comprising the step of applying to successive articles in the second circular path a braking force so as to urge each of the thus braked articles against the respective pusher.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said elongated path is a substantially straight path and is defined by an endless flexible conveyor.

10. Apparatus for manipulating a series of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, particularly filter rod sections, comprising a first conveyor defining an elongated first path; a second conveyor having means for conveying successive articles of the series along a first substantially circular path; a third conveyor having means for advancing successive articles of the series along a second substantially circular path from said first circular path into said elongated path; and means for temporarily decelerating and holding successive articles of said series intermediate said first and second circular paths.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said conveying means includes means for accelerating successive articles of the series and for moving such articles substantially at right angles to their respective axes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said second conveyor includes a driven rotary drum and said conveying means are located at the periphery of said drum.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said third conveyor has an endless circular groove for the articles and said advancing means includes means for moving the articles substantially axially.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said third conveyor includes a driven rotary drum, said groove and said advancing means being located at the periphery of said drum.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second conveyor is arranged to rotate about a first substantially vertical axis and said third conveyor is arranged to rotate about a second substantially horizontal axis extending at right angles to said first axis so that said second path is located in a first substantially vertical plane and said third path is located in a second substantially vertical plane disposed at right angles to the first plane.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said third conveyor is located at a level above said first but below said second conveyor, said first circular path being located in a first substantially vertical plane and said second circular path being located in a second substantially vertical plane extending substantially at right angles to said first plane.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said holding means comprises a stationary supporting member having means for temporarily retaining successive articles of the series by suction.

18 18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said advancing means includes a plurality of spaced apart pushers arranged to move successive articles of said series substantially axially along said second circular path.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said pushers are equidistant from each other in the direction of advancement of articles along said second circular path.

20. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said third conveyor has an endless groove for articles in said second circular path and suction ports for attracting the articles in said groove during advancement from the first circular path to the first path.

21. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said advancing means includes pushers arranged to move the articles substantially axially along said second circular path, and further comprising means for braking successive articles in said second circular path so as to maintain the articles in abutment with the respective pushers.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said braking means comprises at least one brush adjacent said second circular path.

23. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising means defining a channel for successive articles of said series intermediate said first and second circular paths.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said channel defining means comprises a first stationary member having a first guide surface at one side of said channel and a second stationary member having a second guide surface at the other side of said channel opposite said first guide surface.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising means for attracting successive articles of said series to said channel defining means by suction.

26. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said first conveyor includes an endless flexible conveyor having an elongated reach which defines said elongated first path.