EP1010621B1 - Device for feeding groups of cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for manufacturing cigarette packs for cigarette groups that are complete or in layers can be pushed out of the shafts of a cigarette magazine by tappets are, individually stacked cigarettes in each shaft during the extension movement on the top store the plunger and when the plunger returns to a Starting position due to own weight in a lower extension position on a fixed support - plate the plunger during the ejection of the cigarettes and always during the return movement to the starting position movable above the plate, are.

Such a device is known for example from US-A-4 856 538.

The content of a pack of cigarettes is a group of organized, namely cigarettes arranged in layers or rows. to Formation of the cigarette group will be an appropriate number of Cigarettes from individual, side-by-side shafts of a cigarette magazine pushed out by pestle. The cigarette outlet can be in layers, but preferably as an extension the complete cigarette group with preferably three superimposed ones Cigarettes take place in each shaft. Upon return the pestle in a starting position, the cigarettes fall down Dead weight in the shafts down to a base or plate.

The invention has for its object to take measures compared to the gentle treatment of sensitive cigarettes mechanical stresses higher cycle speeds allow when ejecting cigarette groups.

a) die Stößel sind während der Ausschubbewegung der Zigaretten mit Abstand oberhalb der Auflage - Platte - bewegbar,

b) bei der Rückbewegung in die Ausgangsstellung sind die Stößel abwärts bewegbar, derart, dass die Abwärtsbewegung der Zigaretten in den Schächten vor Rückkehr der Stößel in die Ausgangsstellung einleitbar und bei Erreichen der Endstellung der Stößel vollendet ist.

To achieve this object, the device according to the invention is characterized by the following features:

a) the plungers can be moved at a distance above the support - plate - during the ejection movement of the cigarettes,

b) during the return movement to the starting position, the plungers can be moved downwards in such a way that the downward movement of the cigarettes in the shafts can be initiated before the plunger returns to the starting position and is completed when the plunger has reached the end position.

The invention is based on the finding that the downward movement of cigarettes in the chutes relatively much It takes time when this necessary movement takes place after the plunger has completely returned to the starting position is initiated. In the method according to the invention there is a longer period for the downward movement of the cigarettes because this movement cycle already during the return movement the plunger starts moving downwards, and at a higher speed than the falling motion of the cigarettes. The superimposed downward and backward movement of the ram is controlled so that the plunger until it reaches the end position (outside the shafts) no longer from the cigarettes be touched.

The downward movement or the downward movement component the plunger during the return movement is selected so that the Follow cigarettes freely downwards without touching the pestle can. The speed component is therefore higher than the speed of the falling motion of the cigarettes.

The device according to the invention comprises a cigarette magazine with plungers, due to a corresponding drive mechanism perform a superimposed downward movement on the return movement.

Fig. 1

einen Teilbereich einer Verpackungsmaschine, nämlich ein Zigaretten-Magazin mit Zigarettenrevolver in schematischer Seitenansicht, teilweise geschnitten,

Fig. 2

eine Einzelheit des Zigaretten-Magazins während einer anderen Bewegungsphase in vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 3 bis Fig. 6

unterschiedliche Phasen der Bewegung von Zigaretten und Stößeln im unteren Bereich eines Zigaretten-Magazins in schematischer Seitenansicht.

Further details of the invention are explained below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a partial area of a packaging machine, namely a cigarette magazine with cigarette turret in a schematic side view, partially cut,

Fig. 2

a detail of the cigarette magazine during another movement phase on an enlarged scale,

3 to 6

Different phases of the movement of cigarettes and pestles in the lower area of a cigarette magazine in a schematic side view.

For the manufacture of cigarette packs, cigarette groups have to be 10 are formed, the contents of a pack of cigarettes correspond. There is predominantly a cigarette group 10 from three layers positioned one above the other or next to each other several cigarettes each 11.

The cigarette groups 10 are wholly or partially by extension formed by cigarettes 11 from a cigarette magazine 12. Such devices for collecting, storing and organizing of cigarettes 11 are known in principle (US 4,856,538). The typical structure of a cigarette magazine 12 includes one Group of adjacent (magazine) shafts 13. Everyone Manhole 13 forms an essentially upright, narrow one Channel, roughly corresponding to the diameter of a cigarette 11. In each shaft 13 is a sealing layer of one above the other Cigarettes 11 collected. At the bottom of the shafts 13 or a shaft group become a cigarette group 10 belonging cigarettes 11 in the longitudinal direction thereof ejected. The cigarette group 10 becomes automatic or at least one layer of the same is formed.

To eject the cigarettes 11 from the chutes 13 of the cigarette magazine 12 serve plungers 14. One of the number of Shafts 13 is the corresponding number of web-like tappets 14 arranged side by side and forms a jointly operated Tappet group 15.

The plunger 14 or the plunger group 15 can be moved back and forth. In a starting position (Fig. 6) are the Tappet 14 outside the area of the manholes 13. Lower cigarettes 11 inside each shaft 13 can now on one the plunger 14 facing end face and by movement the plunger in the direction of extension (arrow 16) from the shaft 13 be pushed out. The shafts 13 are through on the sides Upright magazine walls 17, 18 closed. These extend down to above the range of movement of the plunger 14, so that a number of cigarettes 11 during an ejection movement the plunger 14 pushed out on the opposite side can be. In the present example, each Ejection stroke three superimposed cigarettes 11 by each Tappet 14 detected.

The cigarettes 11 in the shafts 13 are on the bottom horizontal support, namely on a plate 19. This is so dimensioned that the cigarettes 11 with their predominant area lie on the plate 19. A facing the plungers 14 End region, namely a part facing the plungers 14 Cigarette filters 20 is free downwards, since the plate 19 with Distance from the filter-side end faces of the cigarettes 11 ends. A small area of the cigarette filter 20 is on the Plate 19 on, so that a stable support of the cigarettes 11 in the shafts 13 is guaranteed. Shaft walls 21 to lateral delimitation of the shafts 13 extend below plate 19 and laterally to out of range of the shafts 13, so that the plunger 14 with its extension side Ends in the retracted end position between the shaft walls 21 are positioned.

The cigarette group 10 ejected from the shafts 13 becomes through the plunger 14 into the area of a cigarette conveyor transported, namely up to a cigarette turret 22. This has a plurality of pockets 23 distributed along the circumference on, each to hold a cigarette group 10. The cigarette group 10 is supported by the plunger 14 on the plate 19 pushed into an open or free pocket 23. In the area are located between the shafts 13 and the cigarette turret 22 themselves lateral guiding organs, the formation of the cigarette group 10 accordingly during the transfer transport Deform a pack of cigarettes 10.

6 return to the starting position Cigarettes 11 down in the chutes 13, because of of own weight. If a position of the cigarettes according to Fig. 6 is reached, a new extension stroke can begin.

The falling motion of cigarettes is used to improve performance 11 initiated in the shafts 13 before the plunger reaches the end position 6 have reached. For this purpose the plungers 14 during the return movement (direction of movement moved downwards in accordance with arrow 24) in such a way that the cigarettes 11 in the shafts 13 already during the return movement of the ram 14 can fall down. For this purpose, the plunger in a superimposed movement during a final phase of the return movement moved down at the same time.

The plungers 14 are corresponding to carry out this movement designed, namely with a lower constructive Height formed as the fall height of the cigarettes 11. As in particular 1 can be seen, the plunger 14 during the extension movement and during a phase of the return movement moved to the starting position of an upper level, namely at a distance from the plate 19. If the return movement (Arrow 24) a certain relative position has been reached (Fig. 3), the plungers are moved down to (approximately) the plate 19. This downward movement is at such a speed performed that the cigarettes 11 within the Manholes 13 can fall under their own weight without to touch the plunger 14. These are outside the area of the cigarettes 11, if this is the distance to the Tappets 14 have overcome. The cigarettes 11 can continue the previously initiated fall movement unhindered.

The downward movement of the plunger 14 - with the continuation unchanged the return movement - is expediently in one phase initiated when the cigarettes 11 are still stable on the top the plunger 14 rest, so the focus of the cigarettes 11 is still in the area above the plunger 14 (Fig. 3). The plungers 14 perform a movement path 25, 2 in FIG. 2 with the aid of an end lower corner 26 Tappet 14 is shown. The trajectory 25 forms in the Return movement a downward loop 27 and returns at the end of the movement path 25, clearly outside the range of cigarettes 11, to the original level at a distance of the plate 19 back. The distance mentioned is to be selected that the extension process is not affected. As cheap a distance has proven to be about half the diameter corresponds to a cigarette, i.e. about 4 mm.

The described movement of the plunger 14 can be different Way to be achieved. In the embodiment shown (Fig. 1) are the plungers 14 of a plunger group 15 on the the cigarettes 11 distal ends with a pivot bearing 28 attached to a reciprocating mechanism, in present case on a carriage 29 on guide rods 30 is displaceable. The carriage 29 is in the usual way movable back and forth (by a drive, not shown) to carry out the back and forth movements of the Tappet 14. The superimposed downward movement is by a separate Swivel gear 31 generated. On the plungers 14 is an operating rod 32 is attached. This is with one Swivel lever 33 connected, which in turn by a cam mechanism is moved in a pivoting sense according to arrow 34. The Cam gear consists of a cam 35, on the Scope a roller lever 36 expires. This carries out accordingly the contour of the cam 35 pivotal movements that on the pivot lever 33 and from this via the actuating rod 32 are transferred to the plunger 14, so that in particular performed in connection with Fig. 2 movement becomes. The coordination of this movement is also chosen that the corner 26 in the superimposed back and down movement the plunger 14 is not in contact with the plate 19.

By the early initiation of the downward movement of the cigarettes 11 is a noticeable one without impairment thereof Performance increase possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

cigarette group

11

Cigarette

12

Cigarette magazine

13

shaft

14

tappet

15

plunger assembly

16

arrow

17

magazine wall

18

magazine wall

19

plate

20

cigarette filter

21

shaft wall

22

cigarette revolver

23

bag

24

arrow

25

trajectory

26

corner

27

loop

28

pivot bearing

29

carriage

30

guide rod

31

swing Drive

32

actuating rod

33

pivoting lever

34

arrow

35

cam

36

roller lever

Claims (7)

1. Apparatus for producing cigarette packs for cigarette groups (10) which can be pushed, in full or in layers, by push rods (14) out of shafts (13) of a cigarette magazine (12), it being the case that, in each shaft (13), cigarettes (11) arranged individually one above the other bear on the top side of the push rods (14) during the pushing-out movement and, once the push rods (14) have returned to a starting position, move under their own weight into a bottom, pushing-out position, on a fixed support - plate (19), it being possible for the push rods (14) always to be moved above the plate during the pushing-out movement of the cigarettes (11) and during the backward movement into the starting position, characterized by the following features:

   a) the push rods (14), during the pushing-out movement of the cigarettes (11), can be moved at a distance above the plate (19),

   b) the push rods can be moved downwards, during the backward movement into the starting position, such that the downward movement of the cigarettes (11) in the shafts (13) can be initiated before the push rods (14) have returned to the starting position and is completed when the end position of the push rods has been reached.
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that, during the backward movement, the push rods run along a downwardly directed, arcuate movement path above the support - plate (19) - and in the retracted, starting position, return to a top pushing-out position.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the downward movement of the push rods (14), which takes place at the same time as the latter move back into the starting position, can be initiated when the cigarettes (11) still bear on the push rods (14) over most of their extent, namely with their centre of gravity.
4. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the push rods (14) can be driven back and forth and, furthermore, can be moved up and down, in particular in a pivoting movement.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the plate (19) extends merely over part of the length of the cigarettes (11) in the shafts (13), in particular as far as the starting region of a cigarette filter (20) assigned to the starting position of the push rods (14), such that the cigarettes (11) located in the pushing-out position have a (short) region of the cigarette filters (20) located in the region of the plate (19), and the rest of the cigarette filters (20) or an end region of filter-free cigarettes is exposed.
6. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, characterized in that the push rods (14) can be moved up and down by a separate lifting mechanism, in particular by an actuating rod (32) which can be moved in the lifting and lowering actuating direction of the push rods (14) by a cam mechanism.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or one of the further claims, charaterized in that the speed of the downward movement of the push rods (14) during the return movement is greater than the free-fall movement of the cigarettes (11) in the shafts (13).

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