BLOCKAGE REMOVAL OF HEAT SOURCES ON CONVEYOR RAIL

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveying system comprising a conveyor rail configured for conveying heat sources for aerosol-generating articles. The system further comprises a heat source detector configured to detect heat sources conveyed by the conveyor rail. The system further comprises a moving actuator. The moving actuator is configured to move the conveyor rail in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. The moving actuator is configured to move the conveyor rail if the heat source detector detects absence of heat sources for a predetermined time.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. Conveying system comprising: a conveyor rail configured for conveying heat sources for aerosol-generating articles; a heat source detector configured to detect heat sources conveyed by the conveyor rail; and a moving actuator, wherein the moving actuator is configured to move the conveyor rail in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, wherein additionally the moving actuator is arranged below the conveying plane of the conveyor rail and is arranged to vertically vibrate the conveyor rail, wherein the moving actuator is configured to move the conveyor rail if the heat source detector detects absence of heat sources for a predetermined time, wherein the conveyor rail is configured as a guiding rail, and wherein the moving actuator is configured as a vibration actuator.

18. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein the conveying system is not configured as a vibrating conveying system.

19. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein the conveying system further comprises mounting elements, wherein the conveyor rail is mounted on the mounting elements, and wherein the mounting elements are configured to enable movement of the conveyor rail perpendicular to the conveying direction.

20. Conveying system according to claim 19, wherein the mounting elements are configured flexible.

21. Conveying system according to claim 19, wherein the mounting elements are configured movable, preferably slidably movable, in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction.

22. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein the conveying system further comprises a conveyor base, wherein the heat sources are conveyed on the conveyor base, wherein the conveyor rail is configured as a guiding rail limiting lateral movement of the heat sources, and wherein the conveyor base is preferably not configured as a vibrating conveyor base.

23. Conveying system according to claim 22, wherein the conveying system further comprises a second conveyor rail, wherein the second conveyor rail is preferably configured as a second guiding rail limiting lateral movement of the heat sources, and wherein the second guiding rail is preferably arranged opposite the first conveyor rail.

24. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein one or more of: the heat source detector is configured as a proximity sensor; the heat source detector comprises an optical emitter and an optical sensor; the heat source detector comprises an IR emitter and an IR sensor; the heat source detector comprises an IR LED and an IR sensor; and the heat source detector comprises a camera.

25. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein one or more of: the conveyor rail comprises a downward slope in a conveying direction; and the conveyor rail is provided with a low friction coating.

26. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein the conveying system further comprises air jet generators configured to create air jets for conveying the heat sources.

27. Conveying system according to claim 17, wherein the conveying system comprises at least two heat source detectors and at least two moving actuators, wherein the conveying system comprises a controller configured to control actuation of the movement actuators, wherein the controller is configured to receive an output of the heat source detectors, and wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the moving actuators based on the output of the heat source detectors.

28. System comprising a conveying system according to claim 17 and at least one heat source for an aerosol-generating article.

29. System according to claim 28, wherein the heat source comprises combustible material, preferably carbonaceous material, and heat conductive material, preferably aluminum.

30. System according to claim 28, wherein the heat source has a cylindrical shape, and wherein the conveying system is configured to convey the heat source in a horizontal rolling orientation.

Description

[0042] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an illustrative conveying system according to the present invention; and

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a heat source to be conveyed on the conveying system.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a conveying system. The conveying system comprises a first conveyor rail 10. Opposite of the conveyor rail, a second conveyor rail 12 is arranged. The first conveyor rail 10 and the second conveyor rail 12 are configured as guiding rails for laterally guiding conveying of heat sources 14. The heat sources 14 to be conveyed in the conveying system are described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0046] The heat sources 14 are conveyed on a conveyor base 16. For simplicity, one or more of the first conveyor rail 10, the second conveyor rail 12 and the conveyor base 16 is referred to within this disclosure as conveyor rail. The conveyor base 16 is configured as a supporting surface. As shown in FIG. 1, the heat sources 14 are arranged on the conveyor base 16 in a lying rolling arrangement. In the lying rolling arrangement, the longitudinal axis of the heat sources 14 is parallel to the plane of the conveyor base 16. In other words, the cylindrical side surface of the heat sources 14 contacts the conveyor base 16 in this arrangement. The conveying direction of the heat sources 14 is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1.

[0047] The conveying system comprises a heat source detector 18. The heat source detector 18 is configured as a proximity sensor. The heat source detector 18 is configured to detect when a heat source 14 passes the heat source detector 18. The heat source detector 18 is further configured to measure the time between detection of individual heat sources 14. The heat source detector 18 is further configured to output a signal, when the time between detection of individual heat sources 14 exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0048] The conveying system further comprises a controller (not shown) for receiving the output of the heat source detector 18. The controller is configured to control operation of a moving actuator 20. The controller is configured to control operation of the moving actuator 20 on basis of the output of the heat source detector 18. Particularly, if the controller receives an output of the heat source detector 18 that the time between detection of individual heat sources 14 has exceeded the predetermined threshold, the controller concludes that a conveying defect, particularly a blockage, of heat sources 14 has occurred. The conveying defect is detected to have occurred upstream of the heat source detector 18. In FIG. 1, a blockage of heat sources 14 is depicted, since the most downstream heat source 14 has a twisted orientation and is jammed between the first conveyor rail 10 and the second conveyor rail 12. Subsequent upstream heat sources 14 are pushed into the jammed heat source 14 so that the conveying defect occurs.

[0049] As a consequence of the detection of the conveying defect, the controller is configured to control actuation of the moving actuator 20. The moving actuator 20 is configured to move the conveyor rail. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the moving actuator 20 is configured to move the first conveyor rail 10. However, the moving actuator 20 may be configured to move one or more of the first conveyor rail 10, the second conveyor rail 12 and the conveyor base 16. Preferably, the first conveyor rail 10, the second conveyor rail 12 and the conveyor base 16 are connected with each other or integral such that movement of the first conveyor rail 10 also moves the second conveyor rail 12 and the conveyor base 16. The moving actuator 20 is configured as a vibration or shock actuator. Consequently, the moving actuator 20 is configured to vibrate or shock the first conveyor rail 10, the second conveyor rail 12 and the conveyor base 16. The moving actuator 20 is arranged laterally next to the first conveyor rail 10. The moving actuator 20 is configured to laterally move the first conveyor rail 10.

[0050] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the moving actuator 20 is arranged in the vicinity of the heat source detector 18. Thus, activation of the moving actuator 20 vibrates the area in the vicinity of the heat source detector 18. This vibration may be sufficient to remove the conveying defect. Particularly, the vibration of the conveyor rail may vibrate the heat sources 14 to remove the conveying defect. Alternatively, the moving actuator 20 may be arranged upstream of the heat source detector 18. Since detection of a conveying defect by means of the output of the heat source detector 18 means detection of a conveying defect upstream of the heat source detector 18, the moving actuator 20 may be arranged upstream of the heat source detector 18 to remove the conveying defect in this upstream location.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, at least two heat source detectors 18 may be provided. Alternatively or additionally, at least two moving actuators 20 may be provided. The number of heat source detectors 18 and moving actuators 20 may be adapted to the specific system. Exemplarily, a single heat source detector 18 may be provided and at least two moving actuators 20 may be provided. The at least two moving actuators 20 may be provided in the vicinity of the heat source detector 18 or upstream of the heat source detector 18. Also, one moving actuator 20 may be provided in the vicinity of the heat source detector 18 and one or more moving actuators 20 may be provided upstream of the heat source detector 18. The controller may be configured to control activation of the at least two moving actuators 20. Exemplarily, detection of a conveying defect by a heat source detector 18 may lead to the controller activating at least two moving actuators 20, exemplarily in the vicinity of the heat source detector 18 and upstream of the heat source detector 18 or only upstream of the heat source detector 18.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a heat source 14 to be conveyed by the conveying system. The heat source 14 comprises a powder unit 22 containing combustible powder, which is compressed and delivered in a cylindrical shape. The combustible powder is a carbon based powder. Further, the heat source 14 comprises a heat conductive material 24, for example metal such as aluminium. The heat conductive material 24 is in contact with the powder unit 22. The heat conductive material 24 is arranged at a top of the heat source, while the powder unit 22 is arranged at a bottom of the heat source. As shown in FIG. 2, the heat source 14 has a cylindrical shape. During conveying the heat source 14 in the conveying system, the heat source 14 preferably is arranged in a lying orientation such that the individual heat sources 14 can roll on the conveyor base 16.