EP4437860A1

EP4437860A1 - Mechanism for crimping or incising material strip, apparatus comprising said mechanism and method of controlling mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP4437860A1
Application number: EP23164806.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bartosz Cieslikowski
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Current assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Priority date: 2023-03-28
Filing date: 2023-03-28
Publication date: 2024-10-02
Also published as: WO2024200500A1

Abstract

Mechanism (4) for crimping or incising a material strip (3) comprising two rotary mounted rolls (21, 22) provided with circumferential grooves (21U, 22U) and projections (21T, 22T), whereas the rotation axes (k, m) of the first and second roll are situated parallel to each other, width (T) of the first projections of the first roll is adapted to width (U) of the second grooves (22F) of the second roll, and width of the second projections of the second roll is adapted to width of the first grooves of the first roll, the first roll being settable relative to the second roll so as to alter the distance (d) between the rotation axis of the first roll and the rotation axis of the second roll. The apparatus further comprising a carrying mechanism (31) provided with a lever (23), and a setting mechanism (32, 32', 32") coupled with the carrying mechanism.

Description

The object of the invention is a mechanism for crimping or incising a material strip, an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods and a method of controlling the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip.
The invention finds application in the tobacco industry on machines for manufacturing filter rods.
The publication EP 3 725 168 A1 discloses an apparatus for crimping a paper strip for the production of filters in the tobacco industry wherein setting of the distance between the pressing or incising rolls is carried out by means of a hydraulic actuator.
The publication CN202020511979 discloses setting of the pressing depth by mounting a pressing roll to an actuator arm.
The publication EP3 473 113 A1 discloses a unit for crimping or incising a material strip used to manufacture tobacco industry products, comprising: a feeding station provided with feeding means for feeding the material strip used to manufacture tobacco industry products; a pressing station which comprises a first pressing roll and a second pressing roll operatively connected to make a plurality of longitudinal lines of increased air overlapping on the strip when the material strip passes through the two pressing rolls.
The problem known in the state of the art is to achieve a precise setting of the depth of pressing performed in the material strip used to manufacture tobacco industry products, namely the overlapping of the rolls for incising or crimping the material strip. The precise setting of the degree of overlapping of the rolls is related to the precise setting of the crimping parameter.
The object of the invention is a mechanism for crimping or incising a material strip comprising two rotary mounted rolls provided with circumferential grooves and projections, whereas the rotation axis of the first roll and the rotation axis of the second roll are situated parallel to each other, width of the first projections of the first roll is adapted to width of the second grooves of the second roll, and width of the second projections of the second roll is adapted to width of the first grooves of the first roll, the first roll being settable relative to the second roll so as to alter the distance between the axis of rotation of the first roll and the axis of rotation of the second roll. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by comprising a carrying mechanism provided with a lever having a rotation axis on which the first roll is mounted, and a setting mechanism coupled with the carrying mechanism so that altering the position of the setting mechanism causes an alteration of the position of the lever to alter the distance between the rotation axes of the rolls, the rotation axis of the first roll being situated on a first arm and the point of coupling the lever with the setting mechanism being situated on a second arm.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised by comprising a push-away mechanism for altering the position of the carrying mechanism so that the distance of the axis of the first roll to the axis of the second roll is altered independently of the position of the setting mechanism.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that the push-away mechanism comprises an actuator acting on the lever of the carrying mechanism so that the carrying mechanism is uncoupled from the setting mechanism and the distance between the axes of the rolls is increased so that there is no overlapping of the first roll and the second roll.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that the setting mechanism is provided with two setting ranges, whereas in the first setting range it causes an alteration of the distance between the axes of the rolls and an alteration of the degree of overlapping of the projections and the grooves, and in the second setting range it causes an alteration of the distance between the axes of the rolls so that the projections and the grooves are pushed away so that there is no overlapping of the first roll and the second roll.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that the setting mechanism is a cam mechanism.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised by comprising a rotatably mounted cam.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised by comprising a slidably linearly mounted cam.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that, at the coupling point, the lever is provided with a coupling roll which is in contact with the cam.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that at one of the rolls there is arranged a detection unit for detecting dirt in the grooves of the first roll or the grooves of the second roll, the detection unit being provided with a movable scraper adapted to alter its position when dirt is detected.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that the ratio of the carrying mechanism is in the range 20:1 to 5:1, preferably 10:1.
Preferably, the mechanism according to the invention is characterised in that the ratio of the setting mechanism is in the range 20:1 to 5:1, preferably 10:1.
The object of the invention is also an apparatus for the manufacture of tobacco industry rods, comprising a feeding apparatus for feeding a material strip adapted to continuously feed the material strip, provided with a splicing device for splicing consecutive sections of the material strip, a mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip, a compacting apparatus for pre-compacting the material strip, a supplying unit for supplying a wrapping material, a forming apparatus for forming a continuous rod, a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into rods, a controller. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being provided with a mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip according to the invention, whereas the controller of the rod manufacturing apparatus transmits a signal of splicing the sections of the material strip as a result of the actuation of the splicing device or of a variation in the quality of the material strip so as to alter the distance between the axes of the rolls in the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip.
The object of the invention is also a method of controlling the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip in the apparatus for the manufacture of tobacco industry rods, comprising steps wherein, in normal operation, the crimping parameter and the corresponding degree of overlapping of the grooves and the projections of the first roll and the second roll are determined, and in the case of a signal of splicing of sections of the material strip or a signal of a variation in the quality of the material strip, the first roll is pushed away from the second roll so that there is no overlapping of the rolls.
The advantages of the invention are obtaining a precise setting of the pressing depth, avoiding the destruction of the rolls for incising or crimping the material strip. An unexpected effect is obtaining, by setting the pressing depth of the material strip, a precise setting of the final parameters of the rod R, in relation to the pressure drop of the gas flowing through the rod in the axial direction, which is an important quality parameter of the filters in smoking articles.
The object of the invention is shown in more detail in a preferred embodiment a drawing in which:

Fig. 1: shows an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry rods according to the invention,
Fig. 2a, 2b, 2c: schematically show a mechanism for crimping or incising a material strip according to the invention,
Figs. 3a, 3b, 3c: show a cross-sectional view of the rolls in various setting positions of the distance between the rolls;
Fig. 4: shows a cross-sectional view of the rolls in a another embodiment of the invention,
Figs. 5a, 5b: schematically show the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip in another embodiment of the invention,
Figs. 6a, 6b, 6c: schematically show the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip in another embodiment of the invention,
Figs. 7a, 7b: schematically show the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip in another embodiment of the invention,
Figs. 8a, 8b: schematically show the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip in another embodiment of the invention, and
Figs. 9a, 9b: schematically show the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip in another embodiment of the invention.

An apparatus 1 for manufacturing rods R from a strip of a filling material 3 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a feeding unit 2 for feeding the strip of the filling material 3, a mechanism 4 for crimping or incising the filling material 3, a compacting apparatus 5 for pre-compacting of the filling material 3, a guiding channel 6, an apparatus 10 for feeding a wrapping material 11, a forming apparatus 8 for forming a continuous rod CR, a cutting head 9 for cutting the continuous rod CR of the tobacco industry into individual rods R. The strip of the filling material 3 is unwound from a bobbin 15, the terms "material strip" and "strip of filling material" being used equivalently in this description. The forming apparatus 8 comprises a format bar 12, a glue apparatus 13 and a wrapping unit 14. Moreover, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing the rods R is provided with a tensioning apparatus 16 for tensioning the material 3 and a splicing apparatus 17 for splicing consecutive sections of the material 3, being adapted to splice sections of the material after changing the bobbin 15. The apparatus 1 for manufacturing the rods R from a strip of the filling material 3 is provided with a controller 18.
The mechanism 4 for crimping or incising the material strip 3 shown in Fig. 2a comprises a first roll 21 with a rotational axis k and a second roll 22 with a rotational axis m. The first roll 21 and the second roll 22 are provided, on the circumferential surfaces, with circumferential grooves and circumferential projections adapted to crimp or incise the material. The first roll 21 has first grooves 21U and first projections 21T, the second roll 22 has second grooves 22U and second projections 22T, whereas the grooves and projections may overlap, Figs. 3a, 3b show the grooves and projections in various degrees of overlapping, and in Fig. 3c the rolls 21, 22 are pushed away so that there is no overlapping of the grooves 21U, 22U and the projections 21T, 22T, the figure does not show the material strip that is situated between the rolls 21, 22. Fig. 3a shows a situation where the rolls 21 and 22 are pushed together so that the maximum degree of overlapping is reached and the maximum value of the crimping parameter Cl is achieved. The term "crimping parameter" used in the present description is understood as the distance over which adjacent fragments of the material are pulled apart when the material strip is crimped or incised. The crimping parameter is dependent on the degree of overlapping of the circumferential projections and grooves of the rolls of the mechanism for crimping or incising the material strip. Fig. 3b shows a situation where the rolls 21, 22 are to some extent pulled apart and the crimping parameter CI' is smaller than the maximum parameter Cl. The widths U of the grooves 21U, 22U and the thicknesses T of the projections 21T, 22T can be selected so as to incise the material strip 3 or to crimp the material strip 3. Fig. 4 shows a cross-section through the first roll 21 and the second roll 22 which are provided with rounded projections and grooves adapted to crimp the strip of the filling material 3.
In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 2a , the mechanism 4 for crimping or incising the material strip 3 comprises a carrying mechanism 31 and a setting mechanism 32. The carrying mechanism 31 comprises a lever 23 with a rotation axis n and a coupling roll 24 with a rotation axis s mounted on the lever 23. On the carrying mechanism 31, a first roll 21 with a rotation axis k is mounted. The mechanism 4 for crimping or incising the material strip comprises the first roll 21 and the second roll 22 which rotate concurrently, whereas the drive elements are not shown in the figure. The first roll 21 is movable, the position of the rotation axis k of the first roll 21 may change, the second roll 22 is stationary, the position of the rotation axis m of the second roll 22 does not change. The first roll 21 is mounted on a lever 23 on a first arm 23a of the length a. The coupling roll 24 is mounted on the lever 23 on the arm 23b of the length b, the swinging movement of the lever 23 being carried out by the pressure of the setting mechanism 32 on the coupling roll 24. The movement of the setting mechanism 32 forces an alteration of the position of the carrying mechanism 31. In this embodiment, the setting mechanism 32 comprises a cam 26 rotary mounted on the axis c. The cam 26 of the setting mechanism 32 is in contact with the carrying mechanism 31 at the coupling point A which may be the point at which the coupling roll 24 rolls over the cam 26, whereas a sliding contact may be provided at the coupling point A when the lever 23 slides over the cam 26. The carrying mechanism 31 may comprise a spring 25 or another element or mechanism that provides a contact between the carrying mechanism 31 and the setting mechanism 32, in the present embodiment the spring 25 provides the pressure of the roll 24 against the cam 26, and the rotational movement of the cam 26 of the setting mechanism 32 provides a swinging movement of the lever 23, which alters the degree of overlapping of the grooves 21U, 22U with the projections 21T, 22T. Fig. 2a shows the position of the cam 26 for which the distance d between the axis k of the first roll 21 and the axis m of the second roll is the smallest, which corresponds to the maximum value of the crimping parameter Cl marked in Fig. 3a , in practice the maximum used value of the crimping parameter Cl is about 1mm. The push-away mechanism 36, discussed further below, alters the position of the carrying mechanism 31 so that the distance d from the axis k of the first roll 21 to the axis m of the second roll 22 is altered independently of the position of the setting mechanism 32. Fig. 2b shows the cam 26 after a rotation by a certain angle so that the lever 23 has been rotated and the distance from the axis k of the first roll 21 to the axis m of the second roll 22 is d', where d'>d. In Fig. 2a, Fig. 2b and Fig. 2c there are indicated the setting ranges Z1, Z2 of the setting mechanism 32 with respect to the working surface of the cam 26, whereas the setting of the crimping parameter Cl in the range from 0mm to 1mm is provided when the coupling roll 24 is in contact with the cam 26 in the first setting range Z1. In both Fig. 2a and Fig. 2b , the coupling roll 24 is in contact with the cam 26 in the first setting range Z1, i.e. the coupling point A lies in the first setting range Z1. In Fig. 2c , the cam 26 has been rotated so that the coupling point A lies in the second setting range Z2, and the lever 23 has been rotated so that the distance of the axis k of the first roll 21 to the axis m of the second roll 22 is d", where d">d'>d. The position of the first roll 21 relative to the second roll 22 is such that the projections 21T are pulled out from the grooves 22U, and the projections 22T are pulled out from the grooves 21U as shown in Fig. 3c . In this way, the altered quality section J of the material strip 3 can move between the rolls 21, 22 without incising, for example the section J can have a double thickness as a result of splicing of two consecutive material strips 3 after changing the bobbin 15. The mechanism 4 for incising or crimping the material strip 3 can be provided with a detection unit 40 for detecting dirt. In the embodiment shown, the detection unit 40 is situated at the second roll 22 and comprises a rotary mounted scraper 41 which is provided with two stable positions. The scraper 41 has a comb shape corresponding to the shape of the grooves 22U and the projections 22T. A spring 42 holds the scraper 41 in the working position as shown in Fig. 2c . When it is detected that the groove 22U is contaminated with glue or with fragments of the material 3, the scraper 41 is rotated, the scraper 41' after rotation is shown with a dashed line, its position being detected by the sensor 43, whereas the signal from the sensor 43 can be used to stop the machine. Thus, it is possible that if the rolls 21, 22 are not pushed away fast enough and the grooves of the second roll 22 are contaminated with the material or the glue from the section J, the operation of the machine will be interrupted.
In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 5a , the carrying mechanism 31' comprises the lever 23 with a rotation axis n on which the coupling roll 24 is mounted. The push-away mechanism 36 comprises an actuator 28 whose piston rod is articulated with the lever 23, in the embodiment shown, the actuator 28 is connected to the end of the lever 23 opposite to the rotation axis n of the carrying mechanism 31', whereas different connection points for the actuator 28 are possible. The setting mechanism 32 comprises the rotary cam 26 similar to the first embodiment. The actuator 28 presses the coupling roll 24 against the cam 26. The actuator 28 is part of the push-away mechanism 36 and has the function of deflecting the lever 23 in the event that the altered quality section J of the material strip appears. When the push-away mechanism 36 in Fig. 5b is actuated, the lever 23 is rotated so that the coupling roll 24 is not in contact with the cam 26 and the distance d‴ between the axis k of the first roll 21 and the axis m of the second roll 22 is greater than the distance d" and ensures that the projections 21T, 22T and the grooves 21U, 22U are pushed away to a greater extent than in the first embodiment, where the first roll 21 is pushed away by the cam 26. The actuation of the push-away mechanism 36 can be carried out for any position of the cam 26. After the actuation of the push-away mechanism 36, the altered quality section J of the material strip 3 can move between the rolls 21, 22 without incising or crimping.
The apparatus in the third embodiment shown in Fig. 6a, 6b , 6c is built similar to the apparatus in the second embodiment, whereas the lever 23 is a flexible lever, the axis k of the first roll 21 is mounted on the arm 23a, and the coupling point A is arranged on the arm 23b situated perpendicular to the arm 23a. The arm 23a has a length a and the arm 23b has a length b. As in the first embodiment, the first setting range Z1 and the second setting range Z2 are marked in relation to the working surface of the cam 26, the setting of the crimping parameter Cl in the range from 0mm to 1mm being provided when the coupling roll 24 is in contact with the cam 26 in the first setting range Z1. In Fig. 6c , the first roll 21 and the second roll 22 have been pushed away after the actuation of the push-away mechanism 36.
The apparatus in the fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 7a, 7b comprises a setting mechanism 32' which is provided with a cam 29 adapted to perform a linear movement in the direction P, whereas a drive element for moving the cam is not shown. The working surface 29A of the cam 29 causes an alteration of the position of the coupling roll 24 and an alteration of the distance between the axis k of the first roll 21 and the axis m of the second roll 22. As in the preceding embodiments, the setting mechanism 32' allows precise setting of the distance between the axes of the rolls and setting of the crimping parameter Cl. In Fig. 7a , the coupling roll 24 has a coupling point A with the cam 29 in the first setting range Z1. Fig. 7b shows the cam 29 having been displaced by a certain value so that the coupling point A of the coupling roll 24 also lies in the first setting range Z1, whereas the lever 23 is rotated so that the distance between the axis k of the first roll 21 and the axis m of the second roll 22 is d', where d'>d, whereas, as in the preceding embodiments, the first setting range Z1 corresponds to the setting of the crimping parameter Cl. After a further displacement of the cam 29, the coupling point A will be in the second setting range Z2 for which the projections and grooves of the rolls 21 and 22 do not overlap. Complete pushing away of the rolls 21 and 22 can be carried out by a pulling movement of the actuator 28 in the push-away mechanism 36.
The apparatus in the fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 8a, 8b comprises the setting mechanism 32' which is provided with the cam 29 as in the previous embodiment, whereas a precise mechanism with a pulling screw 33 and a nut 34 is used to perform the linear movement of the cam 29. In this embodiment, the cam 29 is slidably linearly mounted. The working surface 29A of the cam 29 is adapted to alter the position of a slide member 35, whereas the movement of the slide element 35 causes an alteration of the position of the lever 23. The first setting range Z1 and the second setting range Z2 are the same as in the fourth embodiment.
The apparatus in the sixth embodiment shown in Fig. 9a, 9b comprises the carrying mechanism 31 and a setting mechanism 32". The setting mechanism 32" comprises a lever 27 which is rotary mounted on the axis r. The end of the lever opposite the axis of rotation r is displaced by means of a screw mechanism 30. The first setting range Z1 and the second setting range Z2 refer to the angular position of the lever 27. The proportion of the length b to a determines the ratio of the carrying mechanism 31, the ratio may be in the range 20:1 to 5:1, preferably 10:1. The proportion of the length f to e determines the ratio of the setting mechanism 32", the ratio may be in the range 20:1 to 5:1, preferably 10:1.

Claims

A mechanism (4) for crimping or incising a material strip (3) comprising two rotary mounted rolls (21, 22) provided with circumferential grooves (21U, 22U) and projections (21T, 22T), whereas the rotation axis (k) of the first roll (21) and the rotation axis (m) of the second roll (22) are situated parallel to each other, width (T) of the first projections (21T) of the first roll (21) is adapted to width (U) of the second grooves (22F) of the second roll (22), and width (T) of the second projections (22T) of the second roll (22) is adapted to width (U) of the first grooves (21U) of the first roll (21), the first roll (21) being settable relative to the second roll (22) so as to alter the distance (d) between the rotation axis (k) of the first roll (21) and the rotation axis (m) of the second roll (22),
characterised by
comprising a carrying mechanism (31) provided with a lever (23) having a rotation axis (n) on which the first roll (21) is mounted, and a setting mechanism (32, 32', 32", 32") coupled with the carrying mechanism (31) so that altering the position of the setting mechanism (32, 32', 32", 32‴) causes an alteration of the position of the lever (23) to alter the distance (d) between the rotation axes (k, m) of the rolls (21, 22), the rotation axis (k) of the first roll (21) being situated on a first arm (23a) and the point of coupling (A) the lever (23) with the setting mechanism (32, 32", 32", 32‴) is situated on a second arm (23b).
The mechanism as in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a push-away mechanism (36) for altering the position of the carrying mechanism (31) so that the distance (d) of the axis (k) of the first roll (21) to the axis (m) of the second roll (22) is altered independently of the position of the setting mechanism (32, 32', 32",32").
The mechanism as in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the push-away mechanism (36) comprises an actuator (28) acting on the lever (23) of the carrying mechanism (31) so that the carrying mechanism (31) is uncoupled from the setting mechanism (32, 32', 32", 32") and the distance between the axes of the rolls (21, 22) is increased so that there is no overlapping of the first roll (21) and the second roll (22).
The mechanism as in claim 1 or 3, characterised in that the setting mechanism (31) is provided with two setting ranges, whereas in the first setting range (Z1) it causes an alteration of the distance (d) between the axes (k, m) of the rolls (21, 22) and an alteration of the degree of overlapping of the projections (21T, 22T) and the grooves (21U, 22U), and in the second setting range (Z2) it causes an alteration of the distance (d) between the axes (k, m) of the rolls (21, 22) so that the projections (21T, 22T) and the grooves (21U, 22U) are pushed away so that there is no overlapping of the first roll (21) and the second roll (22).
The mechanism as in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the setting mechanism (32, 32', 32") is a cam mechanism.
The mechanism as in claim 5, characterised in that the setting mechanism comprises a rotatably mounted cam (26).
The mechanism as in claim 5, characterised in that the setting mechanism comprises a slidably linearly mounted cam (29).
The mechanism as in any of the claims 5 to 7, characterised in that at the coupling point (A) the lever (23) is provided with a coupling roll (24) which is in contact with the cam (26, 29).
The mechanism as in any of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that at one of the rolls (21, 22) there is arranged a detection unit (40) for detecting dirt in the grooves (21U) of the first roll (21) or the grooves (22U) of the second roll (22), the detection unit (40) being provided with a movable scraper (41) adapted to alter its position when dirt is detected.
The mechanism as in any of the claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the ratio of the carrying mechanism (31) is in the range 20:1 to 5:1, preferably 10:1.
The mechanism as in any of the claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the ratio of the setting mechanism (32) is in the range 20:1 to 5:1, preferably 10:1.
An apparatus (1) for manufacture of tobacco industry rods, comprising a feeding apparatus (2) for feeding a material strip (3) adapted to continuously feed the material strip (3), provided with a splicing device (17) for splicing consecutive sections of the material strip (3), a mechanism (4) for crimping or incising the material strip (3), a compacting apparatus (5) for pre-compacting the material strip (3), a supplying unit (10) for feeding the wrapping material (11), a forming apparatus (8) for forming a continuous rod (CR), a cutting head (9) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into rods (R), a controller (18),
characterised in that
the apparatus is provided with a mechanism (4) for crimping or incising the material strip (3) as in any of claims 1 to 11, whereas the controller (18) of the rod manufacturing apparatus (1) transmits a signal of splicing sections of the material strip (3) as a result of the actuation of the splicing device (17) or of a variation in the quality of the material strip (3) so as to alter the distance (d) between the axes of the rolls (21, 22) in the mechanism (4) for crimping or incising the material strip (3).
A method of controlling the mechanism (4) for crimping or incising a material strip (3) on the machine (1) for the manufacture of tobacco industry rods, comprising steps wherein, in normal operation, the crimping parameter (CI) and the corresponding degree of overlapping of the grooves (21U, 22U) and the projections (21T, 22T) of the first roll (21) and the second roll (22) are determined, and in the case of a signal of splicing of sections of the material strip (3) or a signal of a variation in the quality of the material strip (3),the first roll (21) is pushed away from the second roll (22) so that there is no overlapping of the rolls (21, 22).