EP1535523B1 - Devices and method to separate tobacco from a tobacco block - Google Patents

Abstract

An assembly separates loose tobacco fibers from tobacco cake. The assembly has a powered (13) rotating separator unit (11) with a separator blade (12). The power is delivered by an electromagnetic direct drive torque motor acting directly on the separator unit (11).

Description

The invention relates to a device for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, comprising a rotationally drivable release agent with at least one separating element, and a drive for driving the separating means, wherein the drive is an electromechanical direct drive. The invention further relates to a device for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, comprising a rotationally drivable release agent having at least one separating element, and a plurality of drives, wherein a first drive for driving the separating means and a second drive for moving the separating element is used. The invention further comprises a method of separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, comprising the steps of: supplying the tobacco cake to a release agent having at least one separator, and driving the separator to separate the tobacco from the tobacco cake by each separator, the release agent communicating with the tobacco or each separator for separating the tobacco is driven to rotate directly by an electromechanical direct drive.

Such devices, which are part of a so-called tobacco cutter, are used in particular in the tobacco-processing industry in cigarette production. The device is suitable for separating tobacco and / or ribs or other products. In this case, a previously formed from compressed tobacco tobacco cake is fed from a compressor to the cutting device. The cutting device then portions the tobacco cake by rotation of the separating agent with the separating elements. This also leads to wear of the separating elements, which is why they are advanced continuously or intermittently to compensate for the wear. When fully worn, the dividers must be replaced.

In the known devices and methods, the release agent is driven by a drive by means of belts, toothed belts or other conventional drive elements. However, this indirect drive has a number of disadvantages. Thus, the construction of a device with such an indirect drive is very expensive and has a large variety of parts. Furthermore, there is a slip between the drive and release agent by the belt, timing belt or the like.

To compensate for the wear of the separating elements, these are separately movable in the known devices with conventional indirect drives, for example by means of belts, toothed belts or the like, namely in particular in the feed direction. However, this has the disadvantage that a very complex structure of the device exists, which requires a large amount of space. Furthermore, the known devices are maintenance-intensive, in particular because of the large number of parts. The replacement of the separating elements is carried out manually, which requires a considerable amount of time, which is incurred in particular by Justagetätigkeiten the new separating elements. The downtime of the device are therefore very high.

From the US-A-2835299 Devices with the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 8 and a method with the features of the preamble of claim 28 are known. The bearing of the direct drives has a negative effect on the wear, which leads to a considerable maintenance effort.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a compact and easy to handle device. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact and easy to handle device that ensures a continuous adjustment of the separating elements in on-line operation and a semi-automatic change of the separating elements. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a reliable and precise method for separating tobacco, which simplifies handling.

This object is achieved by a device having the features mentioned in the fact that the direct drive is a torque motor, wherein the torque motor as bearing-free hollow shaft motor is formed. The inventive construction a particularly compact design is achieved because it can be dispensed with a variety of components. By thus achieved smaller size, the drive can be easily encapsulated, so that the noise pollution is reduced by the drive. The reduction of components and components leads at the same time to a reduced maintenance and cleaning effort. Another advantage is that the moment to be transmitted depends solely on the drive. Slippage between the drive and the release agent is thereby avoided. Due to the design as a bearing-free hollow shaft motor can be dispensed with an internal motor bearing, whereby the wear and thus the maintenance is reduced.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, a stator of the drive is arranged stationary on an axis, while a corresponding rotor of the drive is connected via a hub to the separating means. By this training it is ensured that the drive speed corresponds to the speed of the release agent, so that a lower or translation is eliminated. As a result, in particular the wear on the bearings can be reduced.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stator and the rotor are arranged in a recess of the hub, whereby a particularly compact and rigid arrangement is achieved.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a device which is characterized in that both drives are electromechanical direct drives, the direct drives are torque motors, which are designed as a hollow shaft motor. This ensures a simple and compact construction of the device.

Preferably, both drives are designed as electromechanical direct drives, wherein the second direct drive for the synchronous advancing or retracting all separating elements or separating blades, which are part of the separating elements, is formed. This allows a particularly effective and simple way a continuous adjustment of the cutting blade in on-line operation.

Advantageously, the second direct drive is directly and directly coupled to a ring gear, which is movable relative to the separating means. Thus, it is possible, depending on customer requirements or production or operating requirements, to achieve a stepless and exact adjustment of the synchronous movement of all separating blades, and online.

In an advantageous development of the invention, each separating element in addition to the cutting knife a knife holder, liners, held in the bushes web, spindles on which the liners are movable, guide rails and transmission elements and a drive pinion, wherein the ring gear respectively engaged with the drive pinion each separating element is. As a result, a semi-automatic exchange / replacement of the cutting blade is possible because the cutting blades can be moved in different directions.

The object is also achieved by a method with the steps mentioned in that the release agent with the or each separator directly by a torque motor as a direct drive, which is designed as a bearing-free hollow shaft motor is driven. By this method, the torque to be transmitted depends solely on the direct drive, as can be dispensed with transmission links. Also, the method allows a slip-free drive of the release agent, whereby an exact adjustment of the separating elements or the separating knife is guaranteed as part of the separating elements.

In a development of the method, the rotational movement of the separating means is superimposed by a rotational movement of a toothed ring for moving the separating elements or separating blades. This allows a continuous adjustment of the separating elements or the separating knife. Furthermore, the method ensures a high adjustment range of the separating elements or the separating knife.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines Trennmittels mit einem Antrieb als Teil einer Vorrichtung zum Trennen von Tabak von einem Tabakkuchen im Schnitt,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht des Trennmittels gemäß Figur 1 mit zwei Antrieben als Teil einer Vorrichtung zum Trennen von Tabak von einem Tabakkuchen im Schnitt,

Fig. 3

eine Vorderansicht des Trennmittels mit mehreren gleichmäßig konzentrisch um die Drehachse angeordneten Trennelementen,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung von Teilen eines Trennelementes,

Fig. 5

eine Vorderansicht eines Trennelementes mit teilweise aufgebrochener Abdeckung,

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht des Trennelementes gemäß Figur 5,

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht des Trennelementes im Teilschnitt, und

Fig. 8

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Trennelementes mit teilweise aufgebrochener Abdeckung.

Further advantageous and preferred features and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. Especially preferred Embodiments and details of the invention and the method will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a side view of a release agent with a drive as part of a device for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake in section,

Fig. 2

a side view of the separating means according to Figure 1 with two drives as part of a device for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake in section,

Fig. 3

a front view of the separating means with a plurality of uniformly concentrically arranged around the axis of rotation separating elements,

Fig. 4

a perspective view of parts of a separating element,

Fig. 5

a front view of a separating element with partially broken cover,

Fig. 6

a side view of the separating element according to Figure 5,

Fig. 7

a side view of the separating element in partial section, and

Fig. 8

a perspective view of a separating element with partially broken cover.

The devices shown as well as the described method for separating tobacco from the tobacco cake are used in the manufacture of cigarettes or the like.

FIG. 1 shows a device 10 for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake. The device 10 is part of a tobacco cutter and has a release agent 11 with at least one separating element 12 and a drive 13. In the embodiments shown, the separating means 11 is a cutting plate 14. On the cutting plate 14 a plurality, preferably eight uniformly and concentrically arranged about the rotation axis 15 separating elements 12 are arranged. However, the number and location of the dividers 12 may vary. Also, the release agent 11 may alternatively be formed as a cutting drum.

The drive 13 is an electromechanical direct drive. The direct drive is designed as a torque motor and connected directly to the cutting plate 14 or on attached to this. The torque motor is designed as a hollow shaft motor, which is self-bearing-free. The torque motor is disposed within a concentric about the axis of rotation 15 recess 16 of a hub 17, wherein the hub 17 by means of conventional bearings 18, eg ball bearings, is rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 19. The axis 19 is hollow, so that it can serve as a cable gland or the like.

The torque motor comprises a stator 20 and a rotor 21. The stator 20 is fixedly arranged on the axis 19. For this purpose, the stator 20 is fastened to a flange element which is designed as an annular disc 22, which in turn is arranged in the region of the hub 17 on the side facing the cutting plate 14. The annular disc 22 also serves as a centering for the stator 20 and is fastened to a cover element 23 which is designed as a base plate. The interior of the hub 17 is sealed off from the base plate by means of a labyrinth seal. The rotor 21 is fixedly connected to the hub 17, so that a rotational movement of the rotor 21 directly and directly on the hub 17 is transferable. The rotor 21 is coupling-free directly and rigidly connected via the hub 17 with the cutting plate 14.

In a further, independent embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2, the device 10 has two drives, namely the drive 13 for driving the separating means 11 and a drive 24 for moving separating knives 35, which are part of the separating elements 12 as knife blades. Both drives 13, 24 are designed as direct drives, as torque motors. As drive 24 and a conventional indirect drive can be used. However, other conventional direct drives are also usable. The drives 13, 24 are preferably arranged in succession on the same axis 19. Alternatively, however, each drive 13, 24 may be arranged on its own axis. The drives 13, 24 are separately controllable, so that a differential speed is adjustable. However, the drives 13, 24 may be connected to a common (not shown) control and / or regulating unit, on the one hand to set a desired differential speed or on the other hand to synchronize the drives 13, 24.

The drive 13 is formed and arranged according to the above description, so that a further description is omitted. The drive 24 serves to drive a toothed rim 25 or the like, which is in operative connection with the separating elements 12. The ring gear 25 extends concentrically about the axis of rotation 15 and is fixedly connected to a cylindrical member 26 which is slipped over the hub 17. The element 26 is designed to be movable relative to the hub 17 and arranged.

The drive 24 also comprises a stator 27 and a rotor 28. The stator 27 is fixedly arranged on a support element 29. The support member 29 is fixed and secured against rotation on the axis 19. The rotor 28 is fixedly connected to the element 26, such that a rotation of the rotor 28 leads to a rotation of the element 26 and thus of the ring gear 25. The element 26 is rotatable by means of conventional bearings 30, e.g. Ball bearing, mounted on the axle 19. Preferably, in the region of the axis 19, rotary encoders 31, 32 are arranged, by means of which the rotational speed or the rotational angle position of the drives 13, 24 can be detected. A first rotary encoder 31 is arranged on the one hand on the axis 19 and detects the rotation angle position of the drive 24 via a rotational position transfer frame 50. The second rotary encoder 32 is attached to the cover element 23, which is designed as a base plate, and detects the rotation angle position of the hub 17 via a pinion and thus that of the drive 13.

For both embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the following explanations apply analogously to the separating elements 12. The separating elements 12 are detachably arranged on the cutting plate 14. Each separating element 12 has a housing 33. Within the housing 33, which is accessible at least by means of a removable cover 34, the actual cutting knife 35 is arranged. The plate-like separating knife 35 is radially aligned with its cutting edge 36 and arranged detachably on a knife holder 37. For this purpose, the separating knife 35 is preferably fastened to a web 39 with at least one screw 38, a snap closure or the like. The web 39 is fixedly but detachably held at opposite ends in bushings 40, 41, wherein the liners 40, 41 on a respective spindle 42, 43, namely a so-called feed screw, are arranged movable. On the other hand, the liners 40, 41 guided on guide rails 44, 45.

The guide rails 44, 45 extend parallel to one another and are fastened to the housing 33. In the embodiment shown, the cutting knife 35 is disposed obliquely within the housing 33, such that the cutting knife 35, starting from the web 39, on which the cutting blade 35 is mounted, with respect to the spindles 42, 43 extends obliquely upward.

The spindles 42, 43 are provided on the side facing the cutting edge 36 with a transmission element 46, 47 which are each designed to transmit the rotation of a drive pinion 48 to the spindles 42, 43. The drive pinion 48 is engaged with the ring gear 25. As soon as a speed difference exists between the drive 13 and the drive 24, the cutting plate 14 rotate with the releasably arranged separating elements 12 and the ring gear 25 at different speeds, resulting in the movement of the cutting blade 35th leads. In the event that the drive 24 for the movement of the cutting blade 35 rotates slightly slower than the drive 13 for the cutting plate 14, this leads to an extension movement of the cutting blade 35. In this context, extension movement means that the cutting blade 35 in the direction of ( not shown) to move grinding device. For this purpose, the liners 40, 41 from its initial position shown in Figure 4 in the direction of the transmission elements 46, 47 movable, so that the separating blade 35 is thereby advanceable. If the speed of the drive 24 is higher than the speed of the drive 13, this will cause the cutting blades 35 to retract in the opposite direction. In other words, determines the phase position of the drives 13, 24, the position of the cutting blade 35. Alternatively, however, other conventional drive mechanisms for the transmission of the rotation of the ring gear 25 in a linear movement of the cutting blade 35 can be used.

In the following, the method which applies to all embodiments is described in more detail:

The release agent 11, which carries a plurality of separating elements 12, is directly driven by the first drive 13. The hub 17, which transmits the torque from the rotor 21 to the cutting plate 14 is mounted on the axis 19 and thus absorbs the tilting moments and axial forces. The advantages of this method are that the moments that can be transmitted depend solely on the drive 13. On a lower or translation can be omitted, since the cutting plate speed corresponds to the drive speed.

The movement of the separating knife 35 is achieved in that the drive 13, the rotation of the cutting plate 14 and the drive 24, the rotation of the ring gear 25 relative to the cutting plate 14 realized. By the rotation of the ring gear 25 relative to the cutting plate 14, the spindles 42, 43 are set in a rotary motion. By means of the differential speed between the drive 13 and the drive 24, the movement, namely the feed or the retraction of the cutting blade 35 is determined. This method thus allows a central and synchronous movement of the cutting blade 35. The required differential speed is very low, so that the drives 13, 24 run almost synchronously.

The rotational speeds of the cutting plate 14 and the ring gear 25 are respectively directly from the rotor 21 and 28 of the drive 13 and 24 in the corresponding functional unit, namely once the unit for driving the cutting plate 14 and the other unit for driving the cutting blade 35, initiated ,

In addition to the synchronous movement of the separating blade 35, a semi-automatic change of the separating blade 35 is ensured. The arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to detect the wear of the separating knife 35. When a separating knife 35 is consumed, the production is stopped, and the separating blades 35 are retreated by motor at an increased speed. When the cutting blades 35 are in their maximum retracted position, a signal is given to indicate to an operator that a change of the separating blade 35 can be completed. By loosening the single screw 38 - after opening the housing 33 - the separating knife 35 can be solved and replaced by a new cutting knife 35. Anschleißend the cutting blade 35 is motor-engaged in the spindles 41, 42 and advanced in rapid traverse to engage in a grinding device. After grinding in the separating knife 35, production is resumed. This has u.a. also the advantage that unpolished cutting blades 35 can be used.

Claims (38)

1. Apparatus for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, including a rotationally drivable separating means (11) with at least one separating element (12), as well as a drive (13) for driving the separating means (11), wherein the drive (13) is an electromechanical direct drive, characterized in that the direct drive is a torque motor, wherein the torque motor is designed as a bearing-free hollow-shaft motor.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the torque motor is coupled directly and immediately to the separating means (11).
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a stator (20) of the drive (13) is mounted stationarily on a shaft (19), while a corresponding rotor (21) of the drive (13) is connected by a hub (17) to the separating means (11).
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the stator (20) is centred and held by a flange element.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the stator (20) and the rotor (21) are arranged in a recess (16) of the hub (17).
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the hub (17) is mounted rotatably on the shaft (19) by means of bearings (18).
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the rotor (21) is connected without coupling and rigidly to the separating means (11).
8. Apparatus for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, including a rotationally drivable separating means (11) with at least one separating element (12), as well as several drives (13, 24), wherein a first drive (13) serves to drive the separating means (11) and a second drive (24) to move the separating element (12), characterized in that both drives (13, 24) are designed as electromechanical direct drives, wherein the direct drives are torque motors which are designed as hollow-shaft motors.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the second drive (24) is designed for synchronously advancing or retracting all the separating elements (12) or separating blades (35) which form part of the separating elements (12).
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the two drives (13, 24) are arranged one behind the other on the same shaft (19).
11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the first drive (13) is coupled directly and immediately to the separating means (11).
12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that a stator (20) of the drive (13) is arranged stationarily on the shaft (19), while a corresponding rotor (21) of the drive (13) is connected by a hub (17) to the separating means (11).
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the stator (20) is centred and held by a flange element.
14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the stator (20) and the rotor (21) are arranged in a recess (16) of the hub (17).
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the hub (17) is mounted rotatably on the shaft (19) by means of bearings (18).
16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the rotor (21) is connected without coupling and rigidly to the separating means (11).
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 16, characterized in that the second drive (24) is coupled directly and immediately to a gear rim (25) which is movable relative to the separating means (11).
18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 17, characterized in that movement of the separating elements (12) or separating blades (35) for synchronously advancing or retracting them can be achieved by the differential speed of the two drives (13, 24).
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 18, characterized in that the drives (13, 24) are separately controllable.
20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 19, characterized in that the drives (13, 24) are connected to a common control and/or regulating unit.
21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 20, characterized in that a stator (27) of the second drive (24) is arranged stationarily on the shaft (19), while a rotor (28) of the second drive (24) is connected to a flange element.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the gear rim (25) is arranged stationarily on the flange element.
23. Apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the flange element is mounted rotatably on the shaft (19) by means of bearings (30).
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 23, characterized in that each separating element (12) has, in addition to the separating blade (35), a blade holder (37), bearing bushes (40, 41), a web (39) held in the bearing bushes (40, 41), spindles (42, 43) on which the bearing bushes (40, 41) are movable, guide rails (44, 45), and transmission elements (46, 47) and a drive pinion (48).
25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that the gear rim (25) is functionally connected to each separating element (12).
26. Apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the gear rim (25) is respectively engaged with the drive pinion (48) of each separating element (12).
27. Apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that rotation of the drive pinion (48) can be converted to a linear movement of the separating blade (35).
28. Method for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, including the steps of:

    - delivering the tobacco cake towards a separating means (11) having at least one separating element (12), and

    - driving the separating means (11) for separation of the tobacco from the tobacco cake by each separating element (12), wherein

    - the separating means (11) with the or each separating element (12) for separating the tobacco is rotationally driven directly by an electromechanical direct drive,

    characterized in that

    - the separating means (11) with the or each separating element (12) is driven by a torque motor as direct drive, which is designed as a bearing-free hollow-shaft motor.
29. Method according to claim 28, characterized in that a rotational movement of a gear rim (25) for moving the separating elements (12) or separating blades (35) which form part of the separating elements (12) is superimposed on the rotational movement of the separating means (11).
30. Method according to claim 29, characterized in that the gear rim is rotationally driven directly by an electromechanical direct drive.
31. Method according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that advance or retraction of the separating elements (12) or separating blades (35) is determined by the differential speed of the two direct drives.
32. Method according to any one of claims 29 to 31, characterized in that all the separating blades (35) are moved synchronously.
33. Method according to any one of claims 29 to 32, characterized in that the position of the separating blades (35) is determined by the phase position of the drives (13, 24).
34. Method according to claim 33, characterized in that the current wear on the separating blades (35) is detected and determined.
35. Method according to any one of claims 29 to 34, characterized in that changing of the separating blades (35) is carried out semi-automatically.
36. Method according to claim 34 or 35, characterized in that the worn separating blades (35) are automatically retracted at a speed which is greater than the usual speed of advance.
37. Method according to claim 36, characterized in that the worn separating blades (35) are exchanged for new separating blades (35) and moved in the direction of a grinding device at a speed which is greater than the usual speed of advance.
38. Method according to claim 37, characterized in that the new, blunt separating blades (35) are ground in.

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