APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-SEGMENT RODS IN TOBACCO INDUSTRY PRODUCTS AND CONVEYING UNIT FOR TRANSFERRING ROD-LIKE ELEMENTS TRAIN

Abstract

The object of the application is an apparatus for the manufacturing of multi-segment rods, comprising a feeder (2) delivering rod-like elements (S1, S2) in the form of a rod-like elements train (ST1); a wrapping device (6) situated downstream of the feeder (2) in the direction of movement of the elements train (ST1), for wrapping the rod-like elements train (ST1) into the wrapping material (7) thereby forming a continuous rod (CR); a conveying unit (1) disposed between the feeder (2) and the wrapping device (6) for the formation of the train (ST2) of axially positioned rod-like elements (S1, S2) and for transferring rod-like elements (S1, S2) by means of a number of conveying wheels (9, 10, 11) to the wrapping device (6), whereas the rod-like elements are moved along guides (20, 21, 22); as well as cutting means (8) used for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into rods (R), each containing a set of rod-like elements (S1, S2), wherein at least the last of the wheels (11) in the unit (1) conveying the rod-like elements (S1, S2) to the wrapping device (6) is a wheel whose circumferential surface (11A) has no lugs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing of multi-segment rods comprising a feeder delivering rod-like elements in the form of a rod-like elements train; a wrapping device situated downstream of the feeder in the direction of movement of the elements train, for wrapping the rod-like elements train in a wrapping material thereby forming a continuous rod; a conveying unit disposed between the feeder and the wrapping unit for the formation of a train of axially positioned rod-like elements and for transferring of rod-like elements by means of a number of conveying wheels to the wrapping device, whereas rod-like elements are transferred along guides, a cutting head used for cutting the continuous rod into rods, each containing a set of rod-like elements, wherein at least the last of the wheels in the unit conveying the rod-like elements to the wrapping device is a wheel whose circumferential surface has no lugs.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the conveying unit is adapted to the variation of the relative position of rod-like elements between one another in axial direction.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the conveying unit is adapted to the variation of the distance between rod-like elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the smooth wheel has a smaller diameter than the other wheels of the assembling unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wheels of the conveying unit and the guides are made of materials selected depending on the material of which the outside coating of conveyed rod-like elements was made so that the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the circumferential surface of the wheels is smaller than the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the guiding surface of the guides.

6. A conveying unit for transferring a train of rod-like elements in the tobacco industry having an inlet for receiving rod-like elements train, a number of conveying wheels, a number of guides for guiding rod-like elements, an outlet for transferring the rod-like elements train wherein the last of the wheels in the conveying unit is a wheel whose circumferential surface has no lugs.

7. The unit as in claim 6 wherein the unit is adapted to the variation of relative position of rod-like elements between one another in axial direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the conveying unit is adapted to the variation of the distance between rod-like elements.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the smooth wheel has a smaller diameter than the other wheels of the assembling unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the smooth wheel has a smaller diameter than the other wheels of the assembling unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the wheels of the conveying unit and the guides are made of materials selected depending on the material of which the outside coating of conveyed rod-like elements was made so that the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the circumferential surface of the wheels is smaller than the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the guiding surface of the guides.

12. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the wheels of the conveying unit and the guides are made of materials selected depending on the material of which the outside coating of conveyed rod-like elements was made so that the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the circumferential surface of the wheels is smaller than the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the guiding surface of the guides.

13. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wheels of the conveying unit and the guides are made of materials selected depending on the material of which the outside coating of conveyed rod-like elements was made so that the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the circumferential surface of the wheels is smaller than the coefficient of friction between rod-like elements and the guiding surface of the guides.

Description

[0018] The object of the invention was presented in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a rod-like elements train;

[0020] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the rod-like elements train;

[0021] FIG. 3 shows a fragment of a machine for the manufacturing of multi-segment rods; and

[0022] FIG. 4 shows a conveying unit of the rod-like elements train.

[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2 show the fragments of embodiments of continuous multi-segment rods CR1 and CR2 formed of rod-like elements trains prepared during the production, S1, S2, S3 and S4, respectively, manufactured as a result of the operation of the apparatus according to the invention. Presented continuous rods are cut into multi-segment rods, FIGS. 1 and 2 show with the broken lines X1 and X2 the examples of cutting points at the continuous rods. The distance between successive lines X1, X2, respectively, shows the length of manufactured rods.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a fragment of the machine for the manufacturing of multi-element filter rods. The machine has feeding units 3 and 4 for the delivery of rod-like elements S1 and S2 onto the feeder 2 (generally a conveying device). The machine has a conveying unit 1 according to the invention whose task is to transfer the rod-like elements S1, S2 delivered by the feeder 2 from the feeding units 3 and 4 in the form of the train ST1, whereas the elements S1, S2 move at certain intervals to one another i.e. are not in contact with one another. The conveying unit 1 is provided with three wheels 9, 10, 11, whereas the wheel 9 receives the elements S1, S2 from the feeder 2 in the form of the elements train ST1. The wheel 11 delivers the transferred rod-like elements S1, S2 onto the formatting conveyor 5, whereas the wrapping material 7 is delivered onto the belt of the formatting conveyor 5, and the elements S1, S2 are placed onto the wrapping material 7. The elements S1 and S2 received by the formatting conveyor 5 form the train ST2 of rod-like elements S2, whereas these elements are arranged in such a way that successive elements keep the contact with one another. The train ST2 of rod-like elements S1 and S2 moving on the belt of the formatting conveyor 5 is wrapped into the wrapping material 7 by means of the formatting device 6. The formatting conveyor 5 is usually a part of the formatting device 6. The manufactured continuous rod CR moves further and is cut by means of a cutting head 8 into individual multi-segment rods R.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, the elements S1, S2 are transferred in the area A from the feeder 2 onto the wheel 9, whereas the area A constitutes the inlet of the conveying unit 1. In the area B, the elements S1, S2 are transferred from the wheel 9 to the wheel 10, respectively in the area C the elements are transferred from the wheel 10 to the wheel 11, and in the area D from the wheel 11 onto the formatting conveyor 5, whereas the area D constitutes the outlet of the conveying unit. The wheel 9 rotating around the axis of rotation X is provided with circumferentially disposed lugs 12 with a thickness smaller than the distances d among the elements S1 and S2 on the feeder 2. In addition, the elements S1, S2 in one elements group conveyed in the notches 13 between adjoining lugs 12 on the circumferential surface 9A may be in contact with one another. The lugs 14 on the circumferential surface 10A of the wheel 10 rotating around the axis of rotation Y have a thickness close to the lugs 12 on the wheel 9, similarly the notches 15 on the wheel 10 have a length close to the notches 13. The wheel 11 rotating around the axis of rotation Z has a smooth circumferential surface 11A without any lugs. On the path between the areas C and D the intervals between successive rod-like elements S1, S2 in the axial direction gradually decrease, and the speed of the elements decreases so that their speed finally comes close to the speed of the belt of the formatting conveyor 5 or equals this speed. The distances d1 between successive elements groups S1, S2 are reduced or completely eliminated. Generally, the rod-like elements S1, S2 are transferred from the outlet of the conveying unit 1 at smaller intervals than they are delivered at the inlet. After the transfer from the outlet, the rod-like elements S2, ST2 move further in the train ST2 on the belt of the formatting conveyor 5 and the wrapping material 7.

[0026] The elimination of the lugs from the wheel 11 has a favourable influence on the improvement of the process of transferring of rod-like elements S1, S2 from the wheel 11 onto the wrapping material 7. In the prior art, there is a problem related to the exit of the lug of the last wheel from among the rod-like elements which are placed onto the wrapping material 7. The presence of the lug on the last wheel caused the occurrence of stresses and displacements of segments in the situation when the lug was leaving the space among rod-like elements placed onto the wrapping material 7 which are pressed against one another. The rod-like elements in the transition area are namely pressed against one another due to the occurrence of the difference between the circumferential speed of the wheel 11 and the movement speed of the wrapping material 7, with the wrapping material having a smaller speed. Furthermore, a problem was noticed which consisted in that the lug on the last wheel tore the rod-like element moving before it off the conveyor, which caused the risk of improper i.e. misaligned arrangement of successive segments, which disturbed the production process.

[0027] Furthermore, the elimination of the lugs resulted in further advantageous effects related to the reduction of stresses occurring among successive rod-like elements moving in groups already on the circumferential surface 11A of the wheel 11. Namely a decrease in the speed of successive rod-like elements resulting precisely in the reduction of stresses among rod-like elements being in contact with one another was noticed. The slowing down effect may also be achieved by using a wheel with a reduced diameter.

[0028] The rod-like elements S1, S2 move on a path being a composition of three arches and are guided by the guides 20, 21 and 22 which, together with the circumferential surfaces 9A, 10A, 11A of the wheels 9, 10 and 11, respectively, are forming the channels for the elements S1, S2. The apparatus is additionally provided with not shown guides parallel to the plane of the drawing, situated before and behind the surface of the wheels 9, 10 and 11. The material of the wheels 9, 10, 11 of the conveying unit 1 and the guides 20, 21, 22 may be selected depending on the wrapping material of which the outside coating of conveyed rod-like elements S1, S2 has been made. These may be different materials provided that the coefficient of friction of rod-like elements S1, S2 relative to the circumferential surface 9A, 10A, 11A of the wheels 9, 10, 11, respectively, is smaller than the coefficient of friction of rod-like elements relative to the guiding surface of the guides 20, 21, 22. For example, for typical materials used in the tobacco industry, the wheels and the guides may be made of different grades of stainless steel or tool steel, may have hard coatings made for example of tungsten carbide or titanium or chromium nitride. It is also possible to use plastics approved for the contact with food products.