EP1314364A1 - Device for producing rod-like articles - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for use in cigarette filter production in which an encasing device (23) encases a material strand with encasing material (21). A heating device (28) for warming the material stand is positioned after the encasing device in terms of the production direction.

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing rod-shaped Objects from a strand of material, in particular the tobacco processing Industry, with a wrapping device for wrapping the Strands of material with wrapping material, a heating device for heating of the strand of material or the rod-shaped produced therefrom Objects and a first transport device for transporting the Material strand or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom by the aforementioned devices, preferably in the longitudinal axial direction.

Such a device can be used in the tobacco processing industry Part of a filter rod machine for the production of filter rods his. When producing filter rods, this is done by a bale in one endless strips of peeled filter material (tow) made up of individual Threads or fibers (e.g. of cellulose acetate), processed before tied it up into a filter string with a wrapping strip, the seam area is provided with adhesive, wrapped and in individual filter rods single or multiple usage length is cut. The In practice, processing usually takes place in such a way that the filter material strip after pulling off the bale, first loosened by air nozzles and widened and then stretched longitudinally in a stretching zone becomes. In this state, the filter material strip is then included Plasticizer wets, which makes the surface of the threads or fibers sticky does what they stick to. The strip prepared in this way is then gathered together to form the strand, encased and easier in individual filter rods or cut multiple lengths of use.

The plasticizer mentioned, which is usually triacetin, forms a solvent for the filter material. When wetting the fiber surfaces the plasticizer dissolves them and can glue at contact points. For curing the fiber connections formed in this way the concentration of the plasticizer in the dissolved filter material be reduced. This is done by diffusing the plasticizer inside the fibers, causing a spread of the plasticizer on a much larger amount of material and thus the desired dilution is achieved. As with most chemical processes, it depends Speed of this diffusion depends on the temperature, with an increased Temperature leads to accelerated curing.

The wrapping device usually has an endlessly rotating conveyor belt on, also known as a format tape, with the help of which the strand of material and the separately supplied wrapping material in the longitudinal axial direction promoted by the wrapping device, also referred to as format becomes. This creates a wrapping strip in the wrapping device placed around the strand of material by stationary molding tools and accordingly bonded.

A device of the type mentioned is from US 4,357,188 A known. In this known device, the filter train is through resonator spaces out, which are supplied with microwave energy. The filter strand together with the format tape is passed through the Guided resonator rooms. The filter strand is thus during the action of the microwaves enclosed by the format tape. Only after leaving the The format tape then becomes resonator-clearing with the wrapping material covered filter strand again.

A similar device is disclosed in DE 29 36 490 C2.

To an undesired successive heating of the through the resonator rooms to prevent guided format tape, it is necessary to this to cool outside the resonator spaces during the return, as in DE 2 443 056 B2 is proposed. However, this means Measure a not inconsiderable additional apparatus Effort, particularly in terms of manufacturing costs and makes maintenance negatively noticeable.

It is an object of the present invention, the structure of those mentioned Simplify device.

This object is achieved in that the device at the beginning mentioned type the heating device, in the direction of transport of the strand of material considered, is arranged behind the wrapping device.

The present invention leads to a considerable simplification of the Construction of the device. This applies in particular if the wrapping device has a rotating conveyor or format belt. Because in such a case, the heat treatment only takes place after the Format tape, so that the format tape is not heated and thus also does not need to be cooled.

The heat treatment can preferably be carried out in the device according to the invention by means of microwaves, which is an independent aspect of the invention represents.

For the usual case that a cutting device for cutting of the encased strand of material provided in rod-shaped objects is, the cutting device between the wrapping device and the heating device can be arranged so that in this embodiment the rod-shaped already produced from the encased strand of material Objects are subjected to heat treatment.

If a second transport device for removing the rod-shaped Objects, preferably in the transverse axial direction, should be provided this second transport device, which usually has a drum, viewed in the direction of transport of the rod-shaped objects, behind the Heating device may be arranged. This is preferably the second Transport device housed in a housing and the housing surrounding thermal insulation and / or a device for air conditioning of the housing provided to allow the cooling of the the heating device to prevent heated rod-shaped objects.

The heating device should have a guide device, along which the strand of material or the rod-shaped made therefrom Objects are movable by the heating device. Preferably is this guide device relative to the movement of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made from it stationary arranged and for passive management of the strand of material or rod-shaped objects produced therefrom, the Strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom so much kinetic energy is applied by the first transport device that they move along the guide alone can.

The guide device expediently has a web-shaped guide means for the flexible admission of the strand of material or of it manufactured rod-shaped objects.

In a currently particularly preferred embodiment, the guide means a lower section for the flexible support of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom and one upper section, the distance between the lower section and the upper section according to the thickness of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom is dimensioned. While their movement through the heating device becomes the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom between the lower and upper sections of the guide means, by moving along the bottom section and essentially are also in contact with the upper section.

The lower section expediently forms a concave cross section Supporting surface. This creates a tub-like shape in which the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom become.

Additionally or alternatively, it is also conceivable that the lower section has at least two spaced-apart support elements.

In a currently particularly preferred further development of this embodiment these support elements form an essentially punctiform or in the direction of movement of the strand of material or of the material produced from it rod-shaped objects linear support for the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made from it. This will create a Cross-sectional support bearing, for example a two-point bearing for the lower section, and in this way the area with which the Strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom rest as far as possible minimized. This way a reduction can be made the friction can be achieved, which in turn is advantageous to the Movement of the strand of material or the rod-shaped made from it Objects. Another not inconsiderable advantage of a such a discrete requirement in this context is that the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom and the support can be aligned to each other so that a Avoid contact with seams or glue points on the casing, which otherwise there is a risk of contamination. Accordingly, the Material strand or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom be aligned so that the seam or glue point between the support elements or outside the support elements and thus out of engagement located with these.

The upper section can also be a substantially punctiform or in the direction of movement of the strand of material or the material produced from it rod-shaped objects linear system for the strand of material or the made from it rod-shaped objects, so that here in the same Way to bear the effects and advantages explained above come. In this way, for example, viewed in cross section, a three-point support bearing is formed together with the lower section.

Usually the web-shaped guide means should be of an elongated shape exhibit. In a further development of this embodiment, the support elements itself in the direction of movement of the strand of material or from it produced rod-shaped objects, preferably parallel to one another, have extending rods. The upper section can at least one in the direction of movement of the rod-shaped objects have extending rod. To achieve the aforementioned linear The support or bars should expediently have a round cross section have.

The web-shaped guide means for guiding the strand of material is usually or the rod-shaped objects made from it in formed in the axial direction. The transverse spacing of the support elements must be used smaller than the thickness or diameter of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made from it.

The guide means should expediently be made of a heat-resistant, preferably ceramic, and / or low-friction material.

At this point it should be noted that the arrangement of the Guide device in the heating device also an independent Represents aspect of the invention.

In another currently particularly preferred embodiment, at which the heating device has a housing is in the housing the guide means arranged and the housing has an opening Section on which is designed so that when opening the housing Guide means is essentially exposed. This version offers easy and easy access to the transport path of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made from it within the heating device, which is not only beneficial for maintenance but also if a material jam occurs during operation due to a malfunction should occur in the heater.

The section to be opened expediently forms a lid of the Housing. The housing can consist of two half-shells, from to whom the lower half-shell is fixed and to open the upper half-shell is. For easy handling, the opening section of the Housing be pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, wherein the pivot axis preferably essentially in the direction of movement of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom should extend to one in the heating device as possible easy access to the transport path of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom essentially over to be able to have its entire length.

The upper section of the guide means should preferably be opened Section of the housing may be arranged. This way, with opening the housing also opens the transport route, making particularly easy access possible.

Finally, a safety circuit should be provided, which when opening the heater disables the heater. The user needs to switch off the heating device in this version Not to be taken into account as this is automatic due to the safety circuit happens. This is especially true when using microwaves advantageous.

Fig. 1

einen schematischen Aufbau einer Filterstrangmaschine;

Fig. 2

eine teilweise ausgebrochene Seitenansicht eines in der Filterstrangmaschine gemäß Fig. 1 enthaltenen Mikrowellenapplikators; und

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch den Mikrowellenapplikator von Fig. 2 im geschlossenen Zustand (Fig. 3a) und im geöffneten Zustand (Fig. 3b).

A preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic structure of a filter rod machine;

Fig. 2

a partially broken side view of a microwave applicator contained in the filter rod machine according to FIG. 1; and

Fig. 3

a cross section through the microwave applicator of Fig. 2 in the closed state (Fig. 3a) and in the open state (Fig. 3b).

The structure of a filter rod machine 2 is shown schematically in FIG. 1.

Upstream of the filter rod machine 2 is a processing device, not shown, as described in DE 42 09 606 A1. In one such processing device becomes a filter material strip from a bale deducted and among other things by spreading and stretching and spraying with finely divided liquid plasticizer such as Triacetin treated. The filter material strip sprayed with plasticizer is in the treatment unit finally into a gathered rope shape transferred and then transported to the filter rod machine 2. 1 is the Filter material strips provided by the processing device schematically shown and marked with the reference number 10.

The filter material strip 10 then enters via an inlet funnel 17 the filter rod machine 2, where it is summarized and one of one Bobine 18 peeled off and by means of a gluing device 19 with hot melt adhesive provided wrapping strip 21 is placed. The wrapping strip 21 and the combined filter material strip 10 arrive on an endlessly circulating format tape 22, the two components through a format 23 that the wrapping strip 21 around the Filter material strips 10 lies around and an endless filter strand 24 forms. This runs with its seam past a cooling strip 26, in which the adhesive seam is solidified. Then the filter string 24 continuously cut off filter rods by means of a knife apparatus 27, by a microwave applicator 28 in the longitudinal axial direction moved and from an accelerator 29 into a cantilever drum 31 are transferred through which they are transported in the transverse axial direction become. From the depositing drum 31, those not shown in FIG. 1 arrive Filter rods to an off-set belt 32, from which one in Fig. 1 also not shown further processing or intermediate storage are fed.

The microwave applicator 28 is a microwave generator 34 with an integrated Control assigned, which like the microwave applicator 28 in one Additional device 36 is housed. The microwave generator 34 receives from a control device 38, which in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG Filter strand machine 2 is arranged and also a format belt drive 39 controls, information about the operating speed of the filter rod machine and controls the generated microwave power accordingly. The Format tape drive 39 drives the endlessly rotating format tape 22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the accelerator 29, the cuttings drum 31 and also in sections the offshoot belt 32 from one Enclosed housing 40, the wall of which is provided with insulation 40a in order to cool the microwave applicator 28 to prevent heated filter rods. For the same purpose, in addition or alternatively also a device for air conditioning, not shown in FIG. 1 of the housing 40 in particular by supplying warm air be provided. Furthermore, a temperature sensor 42 is arranged in the housing 40, which is connected to the microwave generator 34, whereby with the help of the integrated control that generated by the microwave generator 34 Microwave energy in the microwave applicator 28 to a certain one Value is controlled by the microwave applicator 28 conveyed filter rods to a certain temperature.

The housing 40 accordingly forms a storage unit that the additional device 36 and the filter rod machine 2 is connected or part of the Additional device 36 can be.

Fig. 2 shows a more detailed, partially broken side view of the Microwave applicator 28, while in Fig. 3 is a cross section of the microwave applicator 28 in the closed state (Fig. 3a) and in the open State (Fig. 3b) is shown.

The microwave applicator 28 has a housing 50, which over a Lid 50a can be opened. 3 reveals, the lid forms 50a a foldable upper half shell of the housing 50 and the lower portion of the housing 50 the fixed lower half shell. Opening the cover 50a gives free access to the interior of the housing 50 and the internals there. In operation of the microwave applicator 28, the cover 50a of the housing 50 is replaced by a Closure 52 kept closed. As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3 leaves, the cover 50a is a hinge 53 on the rest of the housing 50a supported, the pivot axis 53a of the hinge 53 in the direction of The longitudinal extent of the housing 50 runs. Fig. 2 shows that the cover 50 extends over almost the entire length of the housing 50.

2 also shows, a safety switch 54 is provided, the opening of the housing 50 by pivoting the lid 50a causes the microwave generator 34 (FIG. 1) to be switched off. Therefore is the safety switch 54 to the microwave generator via a cable 54a 34 or the controller 38 (Fig. 1) connected.

An inlet pipe 56 is provided on one end face of the housing 50, through which the cut out of the knife apparatus 27 (Fig. 1) and thus isolated filter rods in the housing 50 of the microwave applicator 28 occur. On the opposite end of the housing 50 there is an outlet pipe 57 through which the microwave applicator 28 heated filter rods in the downstream accelerator 29 (Fig. 1) reach. As can also be seen in FIG. 2, the inlet pipe 56 and the Outlet pipe 57 aligned axially.

The microwave applicator 28 has a guide device 60 which in the Inside the housing 50 is arranged. In the illustrated embodiment the guide device 60 is made up of three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 are formed, which are arranged parallel to each other and in the longitudinal direction of the housing 50 run. The three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 in front of the inlet pipe 56 and the outlet pipe 57 and extend parallel to the common axis of the inlet pipe 56 and the outlet pipe 57.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 3a, form in the illustrated embodiment the first and second guide rods 61 and 62 are a pair and lie in an imaginary horizontal plane, while the third management staff 63 centrally above the first and second guide rods 61 and 62 is arranged. The first and second guide rods 61 thus form and 62 two lower guide rods and the third guide rod 63 one top management staff.

The lower first and second guide rods 61 and 62 are on first Fixed supports 64, which fixed to the fixed part of the housing 50 are. In contrast, the upper third guide rod 63 is on second supports 66 fixed, which are attached to the cover 50 a of the housing 50. The latter has the consequence that when the cover 50a is opened, the upper third guide rod 63 taken away and thus from the lower first and second Guide rods 61 and 62 is removed, as shown in Fig. 3b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 at the corner points of an imaginary isosceles triangle arranged that the common axis of the inlet pipe 56 and the Outlet pipe 57 encloses. Accordingly, the inlet pipe 56 form the the three spaced apart guide rods 61, 62 and 63 Space and the outlet pipe 57 a transport route, along which the filter rods move in the axial direction.

Accordingly, the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 form linear or, in Cross-section considered, selective three-point support bearings.

The inside diameter of the inlet pipe 56 and the outlet pipe is 57 corresponding to the outer diameter of the filter rods to be applied sized. The same applies to the distance between the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 from each other.

After passing through the inlet tube 56, the filter rods reach the two lower first and second guide rods 61, 62 on which they then slide along until it passes the microwave applicator 28 over the exit tube 57 leave again. While moving to the bottom the first and second guide rods 61 and 62 along the ensures lying upper third guide rod 63 that the filter rods that of the lower first and second guide rods 61 and 62 are not formed being able to leave. Accordingly, the lower first and second guide rods serve 61 and 62 as a support, while the upper third management staff 63 is provided as the upper limit of the conveying path thus formed. The distance between the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 is chosen so that the filter rods in the longitudinal axial direction only with a relative can move little game, the distance between the lower first and second guide rods 61 and 62 are smaller than that The diameter of the filter rods is.

3, the three guide rods 61, 62 and 63 have each have a circular cross-section. As a result, an almost only linear support for the filter rods on the lower first and second Guide rods 61 and 62 as well as an almost only linear system is formed for the filter rods on the upper third guide rod 63. On this way the contact between the filter rods and the guide rods 61, 62 and 63 and thus the resulting friction is minimized. In addition, the filter rods entering through the inlet pipe 56 can be aligned so that the adhesive seam does not come into contact with the Guide rods 61, 62 and 63 arrives, but is aligned so that it is between them.

In the illustrated embodiment, there are none in the microwave applicator 28 Conveyor drives are provided for the active transport of the filter rods. Much more must the kinetic energy that the filter rods when entering the Have inlet tube 56, sufficient for the filter rods through the inlet tube 56, along the guide rods 61, 62 and 63 and through the outlet pipe 57 to the accelerator 29 (Fig. 1) can slide easily. Therefore, the inlet pipe 56, the guide rods 61, 62 and 63 and the outlet pipe 57 are made of low-friction material. Because of the The material for the three guide rods 61, 62 should be exposed to heat and 63 and also be heat-resistant for the outlet pipe 57, for which purpose for example, ceramic material is suitable.

Claims (26)

Device for producing rod-shaped objects from a strand of material, in particular the tobacco processing industry, with
a wrapping device (23) for wrapping the strand of material with wrapping material (21),
a heating device (28) for heating the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom and
a first transport device (22) for transporting the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom through the aforementioned devices, preferably in the longitudinal axial direction,
characterized in that the heating device (28), viewed in the direction of transport of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom, is arranged behind the wrapping device (23). Device according to claim 1, with a cutting device (27) for cutting the strand of material into rod-shaped objects,
characterized in that the cutting device (27) is arranged between the wrapping device (23) and the heating device (28). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, with a second transport device (31) for the removal of the rod-shaped objects, preferably in the transverse axial direction,
characterized in that the second transport device (31), viewed in the transport direction of the rod-shaped objects, is arranged behind the heating device (28). Device according to Claim 3, in which the second transport device (31) is accommodated in a housing (40),
characterized by thermal insulation (40a) surrounding the housing (40) and / or a device for air conditioning the housing (40). Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heating device (28) has a guide device (60) along which the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom can be moved by the heating device (28). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the guide device (60) is arranged stationary relative to the movement of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom and is designed to passively guide the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the guide device (60) has a web-shaped guide means (61, 62, 63) for movably receiving the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide means (61, 62, 62) has a lower section (61, 62) for the movable support of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom and an upper section (63) and the distance between the lower section (61, 62) and the upper section (63) is dimensioned according to the thickness of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the lower section forms a bearing surface which is concave in cross section. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the lower section has at least two spaced-apart support elements (61, 62). Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the support elements (61, 62) form a support for the rod-shaped objects which is essentially punctiform or linear in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom. Device according to at least one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the upper section (63) forms an essentially point-shaped or linear arrangement for the rod-shaped objects in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom. Device according to at least one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the web-shaped guide means (61, 62, 63) has an elongated shape. Device according to claims 10 and 13, characterized in that the support elements have rods (61, 62) extending in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom, preferably parallel to one another. Apparatus according to claim 8 and 13 or 14, characterized in that the upper section has at least one rod (63) extending in the direction of movement of the material strand or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom. Apparatus according to claim 14 and / or 15, characterized in that the rod or rods have a round cross section. Device according to at least one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the web-shaped guide means (61, 62, 63) is designed to guide the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects produced therefrom in the longitudinal axial direction. Apparatus according to claims 10 and 17, characterized in that the transverse spacing of the support elements (61, 62) is smaller than the thickness or the diameter of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom. Device according to at least one of claims 7 to 18, characterized in that the guide means (61, 62, 63) consists of a heat-resistant, preferably ceramic, material. Device according to at least one of claims 7 to 19, characterized in that the guide means (61, 62, 63) consists of a low-friction material. Device according to at least one of Claims 7 to 20, in which the heating device (28) has a housing (50),
characterized in that the guide means (61, 62, 63) is arranged in the housing (50) and the housing (50) has an opening section (50a) which is designed such that the guide means when the housing (50) is opened (61, 62, 63) is essentially exposed. Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the section to be opened forms a cover (50a) of the housing (50). Apparatus according to claim 21 or 22, characterized in that the section (50a) to be opened is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (53a). Apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the pivot axis (53a) extends essentially in the direction of movement of the strand of material or the rod-shaped objects made therefrom. Device according to Claim 8 and at least one of Claims 21 to 24, characterized in that the upper section (63) of the guide means is arranged on the section (50a) of the housing (50) which is to be opened. Device according to at least one of claims 21 to 25, characterized by a safety circuit (54) which deactivates the heating device (28, 34) when the housing is opened.

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