Method for recycling waste filter rods using a smoke machine device and application

Abstract

The application discloses a method for recycling waste filter rods by using a cigarette machine device and application, and the method sequentially comprises shearing and screening by a threshing and piling machine, impurity removal by an air separator, high-temperature immersion washing by a stem washing machine, mechanical dissociation of filter rods by a scraper rehydrating device, extrusion of moisture aggregation paper by a stem pressing machine, removal of paper by a vibrating screen, puffing and drying of acetate fiber by an air flow dryer, further impurity removal by an air separator, and finally classification and utilization in a storage tank. The method has the following advantages: (1) all the equipment is modified from cigarette equipment, investment is reduced, and the use range of the equipment is expanded; (2) dust and impurity removal can effectively remove dust, impurities and adsorbed smoke components; (3) paper removal can effectively remove the packaging materials such as tipping paper and forming paper on the filter rods; and (4) the drying part can quickly remove the moisture of the filter rods after water absorption, so that the obtained filter rods can be directly applied to cigarette production.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cigarette waste recycling technology, and in particular to a method and application for recycling waste filter rods using cigarette equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Cigarette butts are the remaining parts of a cigarette after it has been smoked, including the filter tip, unburned tobacco segments, and ash. The filter rod is the part that has recycling value. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate wrapped in forming paper and tipping paper. Although cellulose acetate has some photodegradability, its biodegradability is weak due to the presence of acetyl groups, and its decomposition period is very long.

[0003] Reports indicate that approximately 845,000 tons of discarded cigarette filters are generated globally each year, resulting in non-biodegradable cigarette butt waste. Therefore, the comprehensive utilization of cigarette butts is of great significance, but research and industrial development in this area are relatively limited both domestically and internationally.

[0004] Under the extended producer responsibility system, the principle of "whoever produces, recycles" generally applies, and cigarette manufacturers have an undeniable responsibility to recycle waste filter rods. However, industrial-scale recycling of waste filter rods requires a significant investment in equipment and places higher demands on a company's operational capabilities and profitability. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a method and application for recycling waste filter rods using cigarette manufacturing equipment. It has the advantages of cost saving, simplicity and feasibility, and strong operability by simply modifying the cigarette manufacturing equipment.

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0007] A method for recycling waste filter rods using a smoke machine includes the following steps:

[0008] S1. Shearing and screening: Add the waste filter rod material to the leaf-breaking and stacking machine, so that the material is spread on the screen belt and rotates along the upper roller of the belt, driving the toothed nails to grind and puncture the material on the belt.

[0009] S2. Primary screening by air classifier: The material is thrown from the end of the belt, and the air classifier airflow passes through the material flow from bottom to top, removing the impurities that were separated after the previous treatment. The clean filter rod material after air classification enters the next process.

[0010] S3. High-temperature immersion washing: The material enters the sealed cavity to complete the cleaning process, removing the adhesive and adsorbed tar from the filter rod material, while the paper material is softened, decomposed, and deformed.

[0011] S4, separating the wrapping paper: the material is rubbed against the wrapping paper attached to the filter rod by a separating scraper to separate the wrapping paper from the filter rod completely;

[0012] S5, packing paper extrusion agglomeration: the separated packing paper is extruded by a stem pressing machine to squeeze out moisture, and the separated paper is agglomerated into dense spherical, cylindrical or strip-shaped;

[0013] S6, separating the wrapping paper: the agglomerated wrapping material is vibrated by an eccentric vibrating screen, and the dense paper is passed through the mesh screen belt into the lower paper recycling box, while the loose state of the filament is passed through the mesh screen belt into the next process;

[0014] S7, drying and expanding the filament: the filament formed in the previous process is dried and expanded by an air flow dryer to form clean and neat, single-component dry filament;

[0015] S8, sorting the filament: the filament is separated by air flow selection to separate acetate fiber debris, sheet acetate fiber, and filament material in the form of filament with complete structure;

[0016] S9, classified storage: the obtained single, clean, dry, and similar form acetate fiber filament is stored in a spice tank after processing.

[0017] Preferably, in S1, the unburned tobacco, cigarette paper and ash attached to the waste filter rod are all broken and separated, and move forward with the vibration of the belt, wherein the sand and stone blocks mixed in the filter rod are separated into the bottom waste frame through the mesh screen.

[0018] Preferably, in S2, the impurities are unburned tobacco, cigarette paper and ash.

[0019] Preferably, S3 is specifically: the material enters a sealed cavity, and an extraction solution is added, and the extraction solution is heated after the addition is completed; then the circulating pump is opened for washing, and the material is soaked for 30 minutes; after the soaking is completed, the material is drained and transported out of the device.

[0020] Preferably, the extraction solution is a 5% potassium carbonate 1:1 ethanol / water (V / V) solution.

[0021] Preferably, in S5, the filament in the filter rod remains loose because it does not have a bundling property.

[0022] Preferably, S7 is specifically: the combustion furnace warms up the cold wind sucked from the environment to 90-95 DEG C, then mixes with the material after the Venturi expansion in the mixing chamber, then enters the drying tower for drying for a proper length of time, at which time the moisture is transferred from the material to the hot air, then the mixture of hot air and material passes through the circulating pipeline, part of the sundries with large density sink at the lower part of the pipeline, and the filter rods with small density are driven into the separator by the hot air, and the filter rods are separated from the mixture, while the process waste gas is dehumidified and enters the cyclone separator for further purification, and the purified hot air is reused in the circulating pipeline.

[0023] Preferably, S8 is specifically: the material is evenly spread on the high-speed belt and is thrown out quickly at the end of the belt, the winnowing air flow passes through the material layer from bottom to top, and the material shows different motion trajectories in the winnowing air flow due to the difference in volume form, thereby separating out the acetate fiber debris, the sheet acetate fiber, and the filter rod material in the form of a relatively complete filament.

[0024] Preferably, S9 further comprises: classifying and utilizing the waste filter rods according to the form difference, such as recycling the acetate fiber debris as acetate fiber raw material after dissolution, recycling the sheet acetate fiber as a filter rod after hardening and adjusting the shape, and repeatedly applying the filament in the form of a complete shape to cigarette rolling.

[0025] An application of a method for recycling waste filter rods by using a cigarette machine device in cigarette production.

[0026] The above technical scheme of the present application has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] (1) The equipment is all modified from a cigarette machine, which reduces investment and expands the use range of the equipment, and the equipment is easy to modify;

[0028] (2) The dust and impurities can be effectively removed;

[0029] (3) The paper can be effectively removed from the filter rod, such as tipping paper and forming paper;

[0030] (4) The drying part can quickly remove the moisture of the filter rod after water absorption, so that the obtained filter rod can be directly applied to cigarette production.

[0031] Therefore, the method has good economic and practical value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0033] Figure 1 It is a structure diagram of the device for recycling waste filter rods by using the improved cigarette silk making equipment.

[0034] Wherein, 1 - leaf threshing and stacking machine, 2 - winnower, 3 - stalk washing machine, 4 - scraper moisture machine, 5 - stalk press, 6 - vibrating screen, 7 - air flow dryer, 71 - feeding port, 72 - venturi, 73 - material hot gas mixing pipe, 74 - drying tower, 75 - cyclone separator, 76 - discharge port, 77 - moisture removal pipeline, 78 - cyclone separator, 79 - circulating fan, 710 - combustion furnace, 711 - furnace end, 8 - winnower, 9 - material liquid storage tank. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and numerical values of components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present application unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0036] A method for recycling waste filter rods using a cigarette making machine, specifically comprising the following steps:

[0037] (1) Leaf threshing and stacking machine 1 shear screen. This process equipment is improved on the basis of leaf threshing and stacking machine 1, divided into upper and lower two parts, the lower part is a vibrating forward net screen belt, with the vibration of the waste cigarette butts moving forward, the sand and stones mixed in it enter the bottom layer of waste material frame through the screen holes of the belt net screen. The upper part is two rollers covered with teeth, each roller has 8 rows of teeth, and each row of teeth is spaced about 2 cm apart. Following the rotation of the roller, the teeth on the roller grind and pierce the material on the belt, and the waste filter rod is pierced and separated from the unburned tobacco, cigarette paper, and ash.

[0038] (2) Winnowing machine 2 preliminary screening. This process device mainly includes a throwing belt and a winnowing air current passing through it from top to bottom. The material is thrown from the end of the belt, and the winnowing air current passes through the material flow from bottom to top to remove the unburned tobacco, cigarette paper, and ash separated after the previous treatment.

[0039] (3) Stalk washing machine 3 high temperature immersion washing. This part of the device mainly includes a sealed cavity, a temperature control device for adjusting the temperature and humidity of the cleaning agent, and a belt with an upward slope for carrying the material. The material is cleaned in this device to remove the adhesive and adsorbed tar on the filter rod material, and the paper material is softened, separated, and deformed.

[0040] (4) Scraper moisture machine 4 mechanical dissociation. This device is composed of two parts, the outside is a downward inclined U-shaped groove, and the inside is a roller shaft with dissociation scraper on it. The roller shaft rotates to drive the dissociation scraper to rub and dissociate the paper material wrapped around the filter rod in the groove.

[0041] (5) The stem press 5 extrudes the agglomerates. The device is composed of two parallel rollers with specific grooves, which extrude the internal moisture of the material and simultaneously dissociate the paper into compact spherical, cylindrical or long strip shapes under the drive of the motor.

[0042] (6) The vibrating screen 6 separates the paper. The device vibrates the screen surface with a pore size of 4-10 by means of an eccentric shaft to remove the agglomerated paper and other sundries from the previous step.

[0043] (7) The air flow dryer 7 puffs and dries the filter rod. The device mainly includes a combustion furnace 710, a mixing chamber, a drying tower 74, a separator, a cyclone separator 78, and a venturi tube 72. The combustion furnace 710 warms the cold air sucked from the environment to 90-95°C, and then the material after expansion through the venturi tube 72 is fully mixed with the hot air in the material hot air mixing pipe 73, and then enters the drying tower 74 for appropriate length of drying, at which time the moisture is transferred from the material to the hot air. Then the mixture of hot air and material passes through the circulating pipeline, and part of the sundries with higher density sink at the lower part of the pipeline, while the filter rod with lower density is driven by the hot air into the separator, and the filter rod is separated from the mixture after separation, while the process exhaust air is dehumidified through the dehumidification pipeline 77 and enters the cyclone separator 78 for further purification. The purified hot air is reused by entering the circulating pipeline.

[0044] (8) The air separator 8 further removes sundries. The device mainly includes a high-speed throwing belt and an air flow passing through the belt from top to bottom. The material is evenly spread on the high-speed belt and thrown out quickly at the end of the belt. The air flow passes through the material layer from bottom to top. Due to the difference in volume and shape, the material shows different motion trajectories in the air flow, so that acetate fiber scraps, sheet acetate fiber, and filter rod materials with relatively complete structure can be separated.

[0045] (9) The flavor tank (material liquid storage tank 9) classifies and stores. After the above steps, the single, clean, dry, and similar shape acetate fiber tow obtained from the waste cigarette filter rod is stored in the flavor tank. According to the morphological differences, it is classified and utilized, for example, the acetate fiber scraps are dissolved and recycled as acetate fiber raw materials; the sheet acetate fiber is hardened and adjusted in shape, and then recycled as a filter rod, and the relatively complete tow is added with a forming paper and repeatedly applied to cigarette rolling.

[0046] The process production device of the present application is shown in Figure 1 . Since the main equipment is modified from a cigarette equipment, it belongs to the modification of conventional equipment, and the modification belongs to the conventional technical operation of those skilled in the art, which will not be described here.

[0047] The following will be described in detail by examples:

[0048] Experimental material:

[0049] The cigarette butts after suction and other test materials were provided by Henan China Tobacco Industrial Co., Ltd.

[0050] Example 1

[0051] The technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present application.

[0052] (I) Dust and impurity removal: mainly including three processes of shear impurity removal, sorting dust removal and soaking adsorbate removal, specifically:

[0053] 1. Shear impurity removal: 10 kg of waste filter rod material is weighed and added to a threshing and piling machine, so that the material is laid on the mesh belt at a speed of 10 m / min. The upper roller of the belt is rotated to drive the teeth to grind and pierce the material on the belt. The unburned tobacco, cigarette paper and ash and other impurities attached to the waste filter rod are broken and separated. Then the belt vibrates forward, and the heavier impurities such as sand and stones mixed in the filter rod fall into the bottom layer of the waste material frame through the mesh screen.

[0054] 2. Wind selection preliminary screening: The material after the previous process is thrown onto the belt and passes through the air flow of the wind selection. The air flow passes through the material flow from bottom to top, removing the lighter impurities such as unburned tobacco, cigarette paper and ash. The clean filter rod material after wind selection enters the next process.

[0055] 3. Soaking and washing filter rod: The material enters a sealed cavity and is added with an extraction solution (5% potassium carbonate 1:1 ethanol / water (V / V) solution). After the liquid is added, the extraction solution is heated. Then the circulating pump is turned on for washing, and the material is soaked for 30 minutes. After soaking, the material is drained and transported out of the device. The material completes soaking and washing in this process, and the glue and adsorbed tar and other smoke components on the filter rod material are removed. The paper materials such as wrapping paper on the outer layer of the filter rod are softened, broken, and deformed.

[0056] (II) Removing wrapping paper: mainly including three processes of dissociation, agglomeration and separation of wrapping paper, specifically:

[0057] 4. Dissociation of wrapping paper: The paper materials such as wrapping paper on the outer layer of the filter rod after soaking in the previous process are rubbed and dissociated by the dissociation scraper in this process, and are completely separated from the filter rod.

[0058] 5. Agglomeration of wrapping paper: The separated wrapping paper in the previous process is extruded to remove water by the stem pressing machine, and at the same time, the paper is agglomerated into dense paper balls, cylinders or strips due to its agglomeration property. The filter rod inside the filter rod remains loose because it does not have the agglomeration property.

[0059] 6. Separation of wrapping paper: the agglomerated wrapping material in the previous process is vibrated by an eccentric vibrating screen, and the compacted paper is passed through the mesh belt into the lower paper recycling box, while the loose state of the tow is passed through the mesh belt into the next process.

[0060] (III) Tow recycling: mainly including three processes of drying and expanding, sorting and storage of the tow, specifically:

[0061] 7. Drying and expanding of the tow: the tow formed in the previous process is dried and expanded by the air flow dryer, and then forms clean and neat, single-component dry tow.

[0062] 8. Sorting of the tow: the tow in the previous process is separated by air flow selection, and the tow materials in the form of acetate fiber debris, sheet acetate fiber, and complete structure of the tow are separated.

[0063] 9. Classified storage. After the above steps, the single, clean, dry, and similar form of acetate fiber tow is stored in a spice tank.

[0064] Table 1: weight of materials separated in each step

[0065]

[0066] Note: The weight is calculated based on the dry weight of the material; impurities such as sand and stone are not included.

[0067] Example 2

[0068] 10 kg of waste filter rod material was accurately weighed, and the three links of dust removal and impurity removal, wrapping paper removal, and tow recycling were carried out. The working parameters of the air flow dryer during tow recycling were adjusted, and different air flow temperatures were changed to 220, 240, and the material residence time (from feeding to unloading) was 30 s and 45 s, respectively. The moisture content of the material before and after drying is shown in the following table 2.

[0069] The device of this process mainly includes a combustion furnace, a mixing chamber, a drying tower, and a Venturi tube. The cold air sucked from the environment is heated by the combustion furnace, and then mixed with the material expanded by the Venturi tube in the mixing chamber, and then enters the drying tower to dry the material. At this time, the water is transferred from the material to the hot air, and then the mixture of hot air and material passes through the circulating pipeline, and part of the impurities with higher density are collected and sink at the lower part of the pipeline, while the filter rod with lower density is driven into the separator by the hot air. After separation, the filter rod is separated from the mixture, and at the same time, the process waste gas is dehumidified and enters the cyclone separator for further purification, and the purified hot air is reused in the circulating pipeline.

[0070] Table 2: moisture content of the tow under different drying parameters

[0071]

[0072]

[0073] Test method: GB / T 22838.8-2009 Determination of the physical properties of tobacco and filter rods - Part 8: Moisture content

[0074] From the comparison results in Table 2, it can be seen that the method adopted by the present application has the following advantages: 1. The equipment is all modified from cigarette equipment, reducing investment while expanding the use range of the equipment; 2. Dust and impurities can be effectively removed; 3. The paper can effectively remove the tipping paper, forming paper and other packaging materials on the filter rod; 4. The drying part can quickly remove the moisture of the filter rod after water absorption, so that the obtained filter rod can be directly applied to cigarette production. Therefore, the equipment provided by the present application has good economic and practical value.

[0075] Although the present application has been disclosed as above with examples, it is not intended to limit the present application, and any person skilled in the art can make various selections and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, and therefore the protection scope of the present application is defined by the claims and their equivalent forms.

Claims

1. A method for recycling waste filter rods using a smoke machine, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Shearing and screening: Waste filter rods are added to the leaf-breaking and stacking machine, so that the material is spread on the screen belt. As the upper roller of the belt rotates, the toothed nails grind and puncture the material on the belt. Specifically, the unburned tobacco, cigarette paper and ash attached to the waste filter rods are punctured and separated. With the vibration of the belt, the sand and stones mixed in the filter rods enter the bottom waste frame through the screen holes of the belt. S2. Primary screening by air classifier: The material is thrown from the end of the belt, and the air classifier airflow passes through the material flow from bottom to top, removing the impurities separated after the previous treatment. The clean filter rod material after air classification enters the next process; the impurities are unburned tobacco, cigarette paper and tobacco ash. S3. High-temperature washing: The material enters the sealed chamber to complete the washing process, removing the adhesive and adsorbed tar from the filter rod material. At the same time, the paper material is softened, unraveled, and deformed. Specifically, the material enters the sealed chamber and the extraction solution is added. After the solution is added, the extraction solution is heated. Then, the circulation pump is turned on to rinse the material for 30 minutes. After rinsing, the material is drained and transported out of the device. The extraction solution is a 5% potassium carbonate 1:1 ethanol / water (V / V) solution. S4. Decontamination of Packaging Paper: The material is decontaminated by friction from the paper material attached to the filter rod by the decontamination scraper, and is completely separated from the filter rod; S5. Packaging paper compression and agglomeration: The separated packaging paper is squeezed out of the water by the pressing machine, and at the same time the separated paper agglomerates into dense spheres, cylinders or strips. S6. Packaging paper separation: The agglomerated packaging material is vibrated by an eccentric vibrating screen. The dense paper balls enter the paper recycling bin below through the screen belt, while the loose filaments enter the next process through the screen belt. S7. Drying and expansion of the filament bundle: The filament bundle formed in the previous process is fully dried and expanded under the action of the airflow dryer to form a clean and neat dry filament bundle with a single composition; specifically, the combustion furnace heats the cold air drawn in from the environment to 90-95℃, and then fully mixes it with the material expanded by the Venturi tube in the mixing chamber. S8. Sorting of fiber bundles: The fiber bundles are separated into cellulose acetate fragments, flaky cellulose acetate, and fiber bundles with complete morphology and structure by air separation. S9. Categorized Storage: After processing, the obtained single, clean, dry, and similarly shaped cellulose acetate tows are stored in a flavoring jar; specifically: they are classified and utilized according to the differences in the shape of waste cigarette filter rods; cellulose acetate fragments are dissolved and recycled as cellulose acetate raw materials; sheet-like cellulose acetate is hardened and shaped and then recycled as filter rods; and shaped tows with intact morphology are fitted with forming paper and reused in cigarette rolling.

2. The method for recycling waste filter rods using a smoke machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, In S5, the filament bundles inside the filter rod remain loose because they do not clump together.

3. The method for recycling waste filter rods using a smoke machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, S7 also includes: the fully mixed material then enters the drying tower for drying for an appropriate period of time. During this time, moisture is transferred from the material to the hot air. Then, the mixture of hot air and material passes through the circulation pipeline. Some of the denser impurities accumulate and sink at the bottom of the pipeline, while the less dense filter rods enter the separator under the drive of the hot air. After passing through the separator, the filter rods are separated from the mixture. At the same time, the process waste gas enters the cyclone separator for further purification after dehumidification. The purified hot air enters the circulation pipeline for reuse.

4. The method for recycling waste filter rods using a smoke machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, S8 specifically involves: the material being evenly spread on a high-speed belt and quickly thrown out at the end of the belt; the air classifier airflow passes through the material layer from bottom to top; due to the differences in volume and shape, the material exhibits different movement trajectories in the air classifier airflow, thereby separating cellulose acetate fragments, sheet-like cellulose acetate, and filter rod materials in the form of relatively complete filament bundles.

5. The application of the method for recycling waste filter rods using tobacco machinery according to any one of claims 1-4 in cigarette production.

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