Process and device for conveying a wrapper strip in a machine of the tobacco processing industry

Abstract

Process and apparatus for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry. The process includes guiding at least one wrapper strip along a conveyor path from a wrapping strip supply to a garniture device, and fixing the at least one wrapper strip in at least one preset position along the conveyor path. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 355,005 filed Jan. 31, 2003, and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 102 05 055.4, filed on Feb. 7, 2002, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates to a process for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry. [0004] The invention also relates to a device for feeding at least one wrapper strip to a feed element that feeds the at least one wrapper strip to a rod of smokeable material or filter material of the tobacco processing industry, whereby the device comprises at least one cutting element severing the at least one wrapper strip. [0005] The invention further relates to a process for returning to service a rod machine, whereby at least one wrapper strip is fed to at least on...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] The present invention provides a process for operating a machine of the tobacco processing industry which renders possible a reduction of the startup wastage after a machine is stopped.

[0011] Further, the invention provides a device for feeding at least one wrapper strip to a feed element such that a reliable operation is ensured after an operational stoppage or a tear in the wrapper strip, in particular in the case of a return to service. The resumption of operation of a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry should occur in particular with little time taken and very reliably. Furthermore, the present invention provides a corresponding process for the return to service of a rod machine and a process for emptying a rod machine, in particular a cigarette rod machine or a filter rod machine of the tobacco processing industry, such that they can be carried out quickly and reliably.

[0013] The invention is based on the inventive concept that in order to reduce the startup wastage fixing the wrapper strip supply during a machine stoppage or in the case of a malfunction that when the machine is started up again it can be made available again and conveyed further in a defined manner and without a loss of time due to manual threading of the wrapper strip. According to the invention, this consequently results in an automation of the operation of the machine of the tobacco processing industry.

[0023] In a particularly preferred embodiment the fixing unit is contained in the cutting element. To this end, e.g., the knife can be provided with a holding surface so that after cutting the wrapper strip or during the cutting of the wrapper strip the wrapper strip on one end presses with the pressure surface of the knife on another element, e.g., a thrust bearing, so that the wrapper strip is correspondingly held clamped. The fixing unit is preferably a mechanical element, such as, e.g., an element that comprises a corresponding pressure surface. When the fixing unit fixes the one end of the severed wrapper strip with suction air, a fixing is possible that can be realized or released very quickly.

[0024] The fixing unit is preferably arranged upstream of the cutting element. Through this measure it is particularly easy to remove from the machine the remaining wrapper strip that is no longer needed.

[0032] When the fixing occurs mechanically, in particular by a fixing unit, a process is possible that is particularly simple to implement. When the fixing occurs by suction air, the process according to the invention can be conducted very quickly and with little wear. The severing is preferably a cutting off.

Problems solved by technology

With cigarette rod production or filter rod production, the problem can nevertheless occur that wrapping paper remains in the machine at the end of the production of cigarette rods or filter rods, so that this has to be removed afterwards before start up or return to service.

This takes a relatively long time and is disruptive, in particular with two-rod machines, and also leads to faulty cigarette rods or filter rods.

Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that in the event of an unintended tear in the wrapper strip, an undefined wrapper strip length can remain in the machine in the event of a stoppage.

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