EP3111786A1 - Assembly of segments of the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for assembling groups of segments, in particular filter segments, for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry.

The document EP 1 427 299 B1 discloses a device for assembling groups of filter segments for the production of multi-segment filters of the tobacco-processing industry in a continuous process, wherein at least two different types of filter segments are provided per multi-segment filter. In this case, the device is subdividable into a plurality of independent functional units, which are each designed as a module, wherein the filter segments in the independent functional units can be conveyed transversely axially. As a result, an efficient combination of groups of filter segments is possible, which is also variable. In the assembly process filter segments are placed in corresponding wells of conveyors, such as conveyor drums or a conveyor belt, more and more filter segments are introduced into the wells in the conveying direction.

Out EP 1 393 640 B1 Furthermore, a correspondingly further developed device is known. In this case, first several filter segments are put together to then divide these groups of filter segments in that they are staggered on corresponding conveyor elements and arranged in cross-axial conveying direction one behind the other to be delivered by a transfer element from a transverse axial conveying direction in a longitudinal axial conveying direction in a strand ,

It is an object of the present invention to enable a safe and variable production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein in particular an efficient and variable composition of groups of segments, preferably groups of segments, in particular filter segments should be possible.

This object is achieved by a method for assembling groups of segments, in particular filter segments, for the production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry, wherein segments of a first type in a direction which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the segments are conveyed, wherein the segments of the first type are arranged at a transverse axial distance which is greater than the diameter of the respective segment of the first type, wherein segments of a second type are arranged between the segments of the first type, so that the segments of the first type and the segments of the second Art are arranged alternately in a row in the transverse axial direction one behind the other, wherein the segments of the first type and the segments of the second type are conveyed in a row queraxial, each one segment of a third type longitudinally adjacent to the segments of the first type and the segments of the second Art is added.

According to the invention, this results in a very variable combination of rod-shaped or cylindrical segments, in particular filter segments, for the production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular for the production of multi-segment filters. allows. In this case, at least three different segments can be introduced into one strand. Segments of a first type, segments of a third type, segments of a second type and again segments of a third type can thus be introduced alternately in the strand, whereupon the sequence of the segments repeats. This avoids any problems caused by excessively long groups of segments that could potentially cause problems in transferring from a cross-axial conveying direction to a longitudinal axial conveying direction. In this way, for example, a multi-segment filter with three different segments can be produced very efficiently.

Preferably, segments of the second type and segments of a fourth type are arranged between the segments of the first type. The segments of the second type and the segments of the fourth type can be introduced, for example, in the gaps between the segments of the first type so that the longitudinal axes of the segments of the second type or segments of the fourth type are arranged side by side. However, it is preferred if the segments of the second type and the segments of the fourth type are arranged transversely to each other or spaced apart. As a result, for example, a rod-shaped article with four different segments can be produced in a very simple manner. In the variant in which the segments of the second type and the segments of the fourth type are arranged transversely to each other or spaced, the distance between the segments of the first type is to be chosen correspondingly large. For example, this should then be more than two diameters of the segments of the first type. Similarly, other segments, i. For example, a segment of a fifth type in transverse axial direction additionally be introduced between the segments of the first type. There is thus a total of a very variable combination of segments for the production of rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry given.

Preferably, at least two different segments of the third Kind before. As a result, the number of different types of segments in a manufactured rod-shaped article can be increased in a simple manner. For example, the segments of the third type corresponding to the segments of the first and second type can be arranged to each other in the transverse axial conveying direction spaced from each other in alternating order. The segments of the different types (first type, second type, third type, fourth type, fifth type and following types) may have a different length. Preferably, the diameter of the segments of the different types is the same or substantially the same.

The rod-shaped segments are preferably conveyed in depressions of conveying elements, in particular conveying drums or a conveyor belt. This makes possible a very precise and reliable assembly of segments, in particular of at least two segments or of groups of segments.

Preferably, the segments of the first type and / or the segments of the second type and / or the segments of the fourth type are arranged in alignment with each other in the conveying direction. As a result, a very precise transfer of the groups of segments in a longitudinal axial promoted strand is possible.

Preferably, the segments of the third type abut with an end face against an end face of the segments of the first and / or second and / or fourth type. As a result, a very secure transfer of the groups of segments from a transverse axial conveying direction in a longitudinal axial conveying direction is possible.

Preferably, the segments are filter segments and / or tobacco rod segments. Preferably, the filter segments are or comprise soft elements and / or hard elements, these being in particular hollow tubes, granule segments, fiber filter segments, tow filter segments and / or segments filled with capsules. The capsules can here, for example Contain a flavor and be crushed in use by a consumer to release the flavor.

Preferably, the segments of the first and second types are similar. As a result, a very fast and very accurate combination of groups of filter segments can be provided.

In addition, preferably a method for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry comprising a method according to the invention or preferred, which is shown above, provided, wherein the assembled segments are transferred from a transverse axial conveying direction in a longitudinal axial conveying direction in a strand, during the promotion longitudinal axial conveying direction are enveloped with a wrapping material strips and then cut into rod-shaped article.

In particular, a method for producing double-length triple filters in a transverse process or in a transverse-axial promotion is described, wherein the individual components or segments of the triple filter are different from each other. Segments, in particular filter segments from three feeders, in particular filter feeders, assembly drums of a drum barrel of a multisegment filter production apparatus, are supplied. The filter segments of the first filter feed device in the transport direction are inserted into each second trough of a compilation drum or a compilation drum is provided, the troughs of which have a double distance, such as, for example, eight n. The filter segments of the second filter feed device in the conveying direction or transport direction are inserted into the unoccupied troughs of the assembly drum of the second filter feed device after transfer of the first filter segments to the assembly drum of the second filter feed device. Filter segments of a third filter feed device, viewed in the transport direction, are then placed next to the filter segments of the first and second filter feed devices, namely on an assembly drum the third filter feeder.

With the method according to the invention it is also possible to produce multisegment filters or rod-shaped articles with a plurality of segments, for example n-fold filters. It is only necessary to adjust the spacing of the troughs at the first assembly drum and accordingly at the next assembly drum. Alternatively, the number of unused wells can be adjusted to the amount of different filter elements. In addition, it makes sense to adjust the pitch of the assembly drum in the filter feeder. In multi-segment filter manufacturing devices, a common pitch is four π. The first two modules or filter feeders in the conveying direction or transport direction then have, for example, a pitch of eight π. These are the drums, which are arranged above the assembly drum, which have this division of eight π.

Double-length double filters can also be produced in this way if, for example, the filters of the first type and the filters of the second type are the same.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may satisfy individual features or a combination of several features.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens mit einer hierzu vorgesehenen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine schematische Schnittdarstellung durch einen mit dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren hergestellten stabförmigen Artikel, und

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Strangs der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1

FIG. 2 a schematic sectional view of a method according to the invention with a device provided for this purpose, FIG.

Fig. 2

a schematic sectional view of a rod-shaped article produced by the method according to the invention, and

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of a strand of the tobacco processing industry.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that apart from a new idea each.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the method steps and a device by means of which the method steps are executable. It is a corresponding multi-segment filter manufacturing apparatus or multi-segment article manufacturing apparatus of the tobacco processing industry Fig. 1 in a schematic plan view in the lower area of Fig. 1 shown.

In transverse-axial conveying direction 19, a first module 21, then a second module 22 and then a third module 23 are arranged one behind the other there. In these modules, the segments 11, 12, 13 first, as explained below, processed, to be then assembled. After assembling the segments 11-13 into pairs of segments 11, 13 and 12, 13, these pairs of segments, which may also be referred to as groups of segments, are transferred into or to a stranding machine 24 in which a strand is conveyed in the longitudinal axial conveying direction. In the stranding machine 24, a wrapping material strip is wound around the strand 20 and the strand is cut at corresponding cutting layers 16 '.

In the first module 21, which includes a Filtersegmentzuführeinrichtung, a filter rod eight times the length of use is first taken from a magazine and cut in the middle, then the two resulting filter rods four times the length of use in each case the center in filter rods twice the useful length to cut. The resulting four filter rods are twice the length of use, as in Fig. 1 is indicated, staggered and then arranged in alignment in transverse axial conveying direction to be discharged onto a conveying element on which the filter rods are arranged twice the use length with a distance A. In the second module 22, which may also constitute a filter feed device, in principle first the same as in the first module 21 is performed, namely a filter rod eight times the length of use cut into four filter rods twice the length of use, then to stagger them and to arrange in the conveying direction aligned , Exactly the same is done in itself in the third module 23.

The filter rods 11 twice the useful length are transferred from the first module 21 to a transfer element of the second module 22. On a drum, which may be, for example, a compilation drum, in which every other trough is occupied by a filter rod of the first type 11, a filter rod or segment of the second type is inserted between the filter rods or segments of the first kind. The introduction preferably takes place in a transverse axial conveying direction 19 in alignment. It is then passed this alternating series of filter rods twice usable length or segments of the first and second type in the third module 23 and there is in the wells of a corresponding assembly drum a filter rod or a third type segment 13 to the filter rods first and second type 11 and 12, so that the end faces 30, 31 are opposite each other.

After these groups of segments 11-13 have been assembled accordingly, they are transferred in a longitudinal axial conveying direction in a strand 20, so that each filter rods 11, 13, 12, 13, 11, 13, etc. alternate. The strand 20 is conveyed in the longitudinal axial conveying direction 18, wrapped with a wrapping material, not shown, as known in the art, and cut by a knife at the cutting layers 16 '. This creates a multi-segment filter double use length comprising a halved segment 15 of the first kind toward each end, a third type segment adjacent to these halved segments 15 of the first kind and in the middle a second kind of segment.

In further processing, this multi-segment or multi-segment filter may be inserted between two tobacco rods, wrapped in tipping paper, and then cut through the first type segment 11 to make corresponding filter cigarettes.

The corresponding segments of the first, second or third type may also already comprise, for example, a tobacco rod. As a result, a filter cigarette can already be produced in this way, for example, a cigarette in which tobacco is no longer burned, but only heated.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a rod-shaped article 10 produced by the method according to the invention, in a schematic sectional view. In each case, halved segments 15 of the first type are provided towards the ends. This may be a common filter element or a tobacco rod. This is followed by a segment of third type 13 inward, on both sides. This may be a hollow segment or hollow tube. In the middle of a segment of the first kind is then provided, for example, a filter segment of a filter tow. In the middle of the segment of the first type 11, a cutting position 16 is indicated, through which a corresponding cut can be made in order to produce a single-length article from the double-length article of the tobacco-processing industry. Moreover, in Fig. 2 nor a longitudinal axis 17 of the rod-shaped article 10 shown.

In Fig. 3 schematically a part of a strand 20 is shown, which is conveyed longitudinally in the conveying direction 18. Here is an example in which four different segments are introduced into the strand are. This can be done, for example, by initially arranging or assembling a segment of the first type, a segment of the second type, and a fourth type of segment in a longitudinal axial alignment in a transverse axial conveying direction, in each case in each case for each segment which has been assembled in longitudinal axial Direction adjacent each to arrange a third type segment 13. After the transfer into strand 20, a sequence then results as in Fig. 3 namely segment 11 of the first kind, segment 13 of the third kind, segment 12 of the second kind, segment 13 of the third kind, segments 14 of the fourth kind and segment of the third kind. Various other variants can be used or applied.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features. In the context of the invention, features which are identified by "particular" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

rod-shaped article

11

Segment of the first kind

12

Segment of the second kind

13

Segment of the third kind

14

Segment of the fourth kind

15

Halved segment of the first kind

16, 16 '

cut position

17

longitudinal axis

18

conveying direction

19

conveying direction

20

strand

21

first module

22

second module

23

third module

24

rod machine

30

front

31

front

D

diameter

A

distance

Claims (10)

Method for assembling groups of segments (11-14), in particular filter segments, for producing rod-shaped articles (10) of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein segments (11) of a first type are arranged in a direction (19) transverse to the longitudinal axis (17 ) of the segments (11) are conveyed, wherein the segments (11) of the first type are arranged at a transverse axial distance (A) from one another which is greater than the diameter (D) of the respective segment (11) of the first type, wherein segments (12) of a second type are arranged between the segments (11) of the first type, such that the segments (11) of the first type and the segments (12) of the second type are alternately arranged in a row in a transverse axial direction one behind the other, wherein the segments (11) of the first type and the segments (12) of the second type are conveyed transaxially in a row, wherein in each case a segment (13) of a third type longitudinally adjacent to the segments (11) of the first type and the segments (12 ) of the second kind is added. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that segments (12) of the second type and segments (14) of a fourth type are arranged between the segments (11) of the first type. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the segments (12) of the second type and the segments (14) of the fourth type are arranged transversely to each other or spaced apart. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least two different segments (13) of the third type are provided. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the segments (11 - 14) are conveyed into depressions of conveying elements, in particular conveying drums. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the segments (11) of the first type and / or the segments (12) of the second type and / or the segments (14) of the fourth type in the conveying direction (19) are aligned with each other are arranged or will be. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the segments (13) of the third type with an end face (30) on an end face (31) of the segments (11, 12, 14) of the first and / or second and / or or fourth kind. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the segments (11-14) are filter segments and / or tobacco rod segments, the filter segments comprising soft elements, and / or hard elements, in particular hollow tubes, granule segments, fiber filter segments, tow filter segments, and / or segments filled with capsules. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the segments (11, 12) of the first and the second type are similar. A method of manufacturing rod-shaped articles (10) of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a method according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the assembled segments (11-14) from a transverse axial conveying direction (19) in a longitudinal axial conveying direction (18) into a strand (20), during the conveyance in the longitudinal axial conveying direction (18) are wrapped with a wrapping material strip and then cut into rod-shaped article (10).

Images