A cigarette machine process negative pressure pipeline tobacco online recycling device and method

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of cigarette production equipment, and provides a device and method for online recycling of cut tobacco in a process negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette making machine. The device comprises a shunting module, a collecting module and a recycling control module. The shunting module is provided with a flow guide mechanism with adjustable flow angle. The collecting module comprises a separation channel, a flow distribution mechanism arranged in the separation channel and a gate roller conveying mechanism. The flow distribution mechanism comprises multiple layers of grid plates arranged in a vertical direction. The open hole rate of the multiple layers of grid plates decreases from top to bottom, so as to form an air flow field with decreasing wind speed gradient in the separation channel. The roller surface of the gate roller conveying mechanism is in gap cooperation with the inner wall of the separation channel, so as to form a dynamic seal. The recycling control module is used for quantitatively recycling the cut tobacco to the cut tobacco supply pipeline of the cigarette making machine. The present application can be directly integrated in the existing negative pressure pipeline, so that the cut tobacco with still utilization value in the suction pipeline is separated from the air flow and is filled back to the production line in real time, thereby reducing the consumption of raw materials.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cigarette production equipment technology, and in particular to an online recycling device and method for tobacco shreds in a negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette machine. Background Technology

[0002] During cigarette production, the workshop's centralized negative pressure system continuously supplies 8000Pa~12000Pa of negative pressure air to the suction chamber through pipelines. Under the action of suction, the tobacco shreds from the tobacco feeding system are evenly adsorbed onto the surface of the suction belt and continuously conveyed forward. Due to the inherent design of the suction belt drive system and its tendency to stretch and deform, some tobacco shreds enter the negative pressure system through the gaps between the passive roller of the suction belt and the suction chamber, the gap between the tail roller and the suction chamber, and the gap between the suction belt and the tobacco forming groove. These tobacco shreds are broken and dehydrated due to impact and friction in the high-speed airflow, ultimately becoming tobacco dust with very low utilization value, which is directly sent to the dust removal system, causing significant waste of raw materials. Experimental measurements show that the tobacco shred loss per machine is approximately 30g / min~35g / min, resulting in resource waste and increased production costs.

[0003] Currently, the industry lacks an effective online solution to this problem. A common practice is to install a fixed filter at the end of the pipeline for interception, but this method is prone to clogging. The filter is quickly clogged by the mixture of tobacco and tobacco dust, requiring the machine to be stopped for cleaning, which affects production efficiency. Moreover, the intercepted material is a mixture of tobacco and tobacco dust, which is difficult to separate effectively and cannot be directly reused. The filter also increases resistance, which may disturb the stability of the negative pressure system and affect the quality of cigarettes.

[0004] For example, patent application CN110721534A discloses an integrated vertical tobacco recycling and air pressure regulation device connected to the branch pipe of a cigarette machine. When airflow carrying tobacco enters the inlet pipe, guided by a baffle plate, the airflow spirals upwards and exits from the top of the inlet pipe. At this time, the tobacco, under centrifugal force, is thrown against the inner wall of the collection cylinder and moves upwards, adhering tightly to the inner wall. When its upward speed naturally drops to zero or is blocked by a baffle plate, the tobacco sinks and falls into the collection hopper for collection. Air, under negative pressure, enters the exhaust pipe and flows into the rear section of the pneumatic branch pipe, thus achieving tobacco separation and recycling. However, this system has strict requirements on the vertical height of the installation space. In space-constrained modification scenarios such as the interlayer of cigarette machine equipment, it is often difficult to find a suitable vertical installation location. Furthermore, this system relies on a single centrifugal force for separation, limiting the purity of the separation.

[0005] For example, patent CN215224716U discloses a method using a separating turntable in conjunction with a pneumatic conveying pipeline to separate and recycle usable tobacco shreds, thereby reducing tobacco consumption and effectively increasing the utilization value of the tobacco. However, this solution relies on the mechanical rotation of the separating turntable for physical sieving, which cannot effectively distinguish between whole tobacco shreds and tobacco dust, resulting in a high rate of tobacco dust contamination and low purity in the recycled tobacco shreds. Furthermore, this solution has a large vertical height, making it difficult to adapt to the typically limited installation space in the interlayer of cigarette rolling equipment.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a solution that can separate and recycle whole tobacco shreds online, automatically, and efficiently without interfering with normal production or disrupting negative pressure stability. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides an online tobacco recycling device and method for negative pressure pipelines in cigarette manufacturing processes. This device can be directly integrated into existing negative pressure pipelines, separating the still usable tobacco from the airflow in the intake pipeline and returning it to the production line in real time, thereby reducing raw material consumption.

[0008] To achieve the above and related objectives, the present invention employs the following technical means:

[0009] The first aspect of the present invention provides an online recycling device for tobacco shreds in a negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette machine, comprising a diversion module integrated into a horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline, a collection module connected to the discharge port of the diversion module, and a recycling control module connected to the discharge port of the collection module.

[0010] The diversion module has a cavity through which the mixed airflow passes, and the cavity is equipped with a flow guide mechanism with an adjustable angle of attack. The flow guide mechanism is used to guide the tobacco in the mixed airflow to the discharge port.

[0011] The collection module includes a separation channel, an airflow distribution mechanism disposed within the separation channel, and a guillotine conveying mechanism disposed at the bottom of the separation channel. The airflow distribution mechanism includes multiple layers of grid plates arranged at intervals along the vertical direction. The opening ratio of the through holes of the multiple layers of grid plates decreases from top to bottom to form an airflow field with decreasing wind speed gradient within the separation channel. The roller surface of the guillotine conveying mechanism is fitted with the inner wall of the separation channel with a clearance to form a dynamic seal.

[0012] The recycling control module is used to quantitatively return the separated tobacco shreds to the cigarette machine's shred supply pipe.

[0013] Furthermore, the flow guiding mechanism includes at least two flow guide plates, which are arranged at an asymmetrical angle on the upstream and downstream sides of the airflow within the cavity to form a baffle-type flow guiding channel.

[0014] Furthermore, a static pressure balance hole is provided at the top of the cavity of the diversion module.

[0015] Furthermore, the roller conveying mechanism includes a drive motor and a roller driven by the drive motor, with the axial ends of the roller sealed and mounted on the opposite inner walls of the separation channel via bearing seats.

[0016] Furthermore, the recycling control module includes a material level sensor located on the side wall of the collection module and a pneumatic butterfly valve located at the discharge port. The material level sensor is used to monitor the height of tobacco accumulation in the separation channel to trigger the pneumatic butterfly valve to open.

[0017] Furthermore, the angle of the guide vane is adjusted by an adjustable hinge and a drive element, which operates in response to changes in the tobacco flow rate.

[0018] Furthermore, the collection module is also equipped with a humidity sensor.

[0019] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for online recycling of tobacco shreds in a negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette machine. The method involves the following steps:

[0020] The diversion module guides and diverts the mixed airflow containing tobacco in the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline, causing the tobacco in the mixed airflow to separate from the main airflow and fall into the separation channel along a preset path;

[0021] The tobacco enters the separation channel and is separated by airflow through a gradient of decreasing wind speed from top to bottom.

[0022] Under dynamic sealing conditions, the separated recycled tobacco is conveyed downwards and temporarily stored;

[0023] The recycling control module monitors the accumulation status of temporarily stored recycled tobacco in real time. When the preset emission conditions are met, a certain amount of recycled tobacco is fed back to the cigarette machine's tobacco supply pipeline.

[0024] Furthermore, guiding and diverting the mixed airflow containing tobacco shreds within the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline includes:

[0025] The flow rate signal of the tobacco shreds is acquired in real time, and the flow angle of the guide mechanism is dynamically adjusted according to the flow rate signal to adapt to the current material feeding conditions.

[0026] Furthermore, the air separation of tobacco shreds through a top-down wind speed gradient includes:

[0027] The humidity signal of the tobacco shreds in the separation channel is acquired, and the opening ratio of the airflow distribution mechanism or the distribution intensity of the airflow field is adaptively adjusted according to the humidity signal of the tobacco shreds.

[0028] The beneficial technical effects of this invention are as follows:

[0029] The device of this invention adopts a modular integrated design, which can be directly embedded into the horizontal section of the existing negative pressure pipeline. The device is optimized for the limited space of the interlayer of the cigarette machine equipment. The modular structure facilitates rapid installation and modification on existing equipment and has strong scalability.

[0030] This invention innovatively designs a gradient air separation combined with dynamic sealing technology, which can achieve efficient and high-purity separation of tobacco shreds and tobacco dust, with high integrity of the recovered tobacco shreds, which can be directly used in production. Specifically, this invention uses an adjustable flow guide mechanism to asymmetrically deflect the mixed airflow, causing the heavier tobacco shreds to deviate from the mainstream airflow and fall precisely into the separation channel, thereby effectively improving the primary interception efficiency. The arrangement of the multi-layer grid plates in the collection module with the opening ratio of the through holes decreasing from top to bottom can create a stable airflow field with a decreasing wind speed gradient in the separation channel. By utilizing the dynamic differences between tobacco shreds and tobacco dust in gravity and variable gradient airflow, high-purity air separation is achieved. The precise gap fit between the bottom roller and the inner wall of the channel forms a dynamic sealing structure, which ensures continuous and stable delivery of tobacco shreds while effectively blocking the upward flow of airflow from below, thereby providing a stable negative pressure environment for the upper air separation area and ensuring the continuous reliability of the separation process.

[0031] This invention features a fully automated device that can adaptively adjust to different operating conditions, significantly reducing manual intervention. It boasts stable and reliable operation with a high degree of automation and intelligence. Furthermore, the entire recycling process is completed synchronously within the continuous operation of the production line, eliminating the need for shutdowns. The recycled tobacco is recovered without delay, enabling true online and real-time recycling. This invention can recover over 60% of lost tobacco, directly reducing raw material costs and shortening the return on investment period. Specifically, by monitoring tobacco flow and humidity signals in real time, this invention dynamically adjusts the angle of the guide plate and the intensity of the airflow distribution, allowing the device to adapt to different material characteristics under varying operating conditions and maintain optimal separation. Combined with quantitative discharge control logic triggered by a material level sensor, this invention can achieve the mixed reuse of recycled and raw tobacco, with the entire recycling process operating continuously and synchronously with the main production line.

[0032] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0033] The accompanying drawings, incorporated in and forming part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without inventive effort. In the drawings:

[0034] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the online tobacco recycling device for the negative pressure pipeline of the cigarette machine in this application;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A longitudinal sectional view.

[0036] Figure Labels

[0037] 1: Wire feeding return pipe; 2: Fixed bracket; 3: Funnel; 4: Gusset roller conveyor mechanism; 5: Material level sensor; 6: Separation channel; 7: Airflow distribution mechanism; 8: Regulating valve; 9: Exhaust pipe; 10: Negative pressure pipe; 11: First guide plate; 12: Diversion module; 13: Second guide plate. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and / or scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. It should be understood that certain features of the invention (described in the context of separate embodiments for clarity) may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, multiple features of the invention (described in the context of a single embodiment for brevity) may also be provided separately or in any suitable combination or, where appropriate, in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments will not be considered essential features of those embodiments unless the embodiment is inoperable without those elements. The invention is further illustrated below by specific examples; however, it should be noted that the specific process conditions and results described in the embodiments of the invention are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of the invention. All equivalent changes or modifications made in accordance with the spirit and essence of the invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the invention.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this application provides an online tobacco recycling device for a negative pressure pipeline in a cigarette machine, including a diversion module 12 integrated into the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline 10, a collection module connected to the discharge port of the diversion module 12, and a recycling control module connected to the discharge port of the collection module.

[0041] The diversion module 12 has a cavity through which the mixed airflow passes, and the cavity is equipped with a flow guide mechanism with an adjustable angle of attack. The flow guide mechanism is used to guide the tobacco in the mixed airflow to the discharge port.

[0042] The collection module includes a separation channel 6, an airflow distribution mechanism 7 disposed within the separation channel 6, and a roller conveying mechanism 4 disposed at the bottom of the separation channel 6. The airflow distribution mechanism 7 includes multiple layers of grid plates arranged at intervals along the vertical direction. The opening ratio of the through holes of the multiple layers of grid plates decreases from top to bottom to form an airflow field with decreasing wind speed gradient within the separation channel 6. The roller surface of the roller conveying mechanism 4 is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the separation channel 6 to form a dynamic seal.

[0043] The recycling control module is used to quantitatively return the separated tobacco shreds to the cigarette machine's shred supply pipe.

[0044] Furthermore, the diversion module 12 of this application is used for primary interception and flow guidance. When the mixed airflow carrying tobacco enters the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipe 10 from the vertical pipe, the guiding mechanism, through physical obstruction and momentum exchange, causes the tobacco with higher density and inertia to detach from the mainstream airflow, change its direction of movement, and fall in an approximately vertical state, thus being initially separated. Preferably, the top of the cavity of the diversion module 12 of this application is provided with a static pressure balance hole, which can automatically balance the pressure difference between the inside of the device and the main negative pressure pipe 10, ensuring that the installation of this device does not affect the process negative pressure stability of the main unit core. More preferably, the inner wall and / or the surface of the guiding mechanism of the diversion module 12 of this application are treated with low surface energy or have an anti-adhesion coating (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene coating) to significantly reduce tobacco adhesion.

[0045] Furthermore, the diversion module 12 of this application is sealed to the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline 10 via a flange. Its flow guiding mechanism includes at least two guide plates, which are arranged asymmetrically at an angle on the upstream and downstream sides of the airflow within the cavity to form a baffle-type flow guiding channel. This application utilizes the second guide plate 13 on the upstream side to initially intercept and dissipate the momentum of the high-speed material-carrying airflow, forcing the denser and more inertial tobacco shreds to detach from the mainstream airflow. Subsequently, the first guide plate 11 on the downstream side provides secondary guidance for the tobacco shreds that still have residual kinetic energy after the initial deflection, effectively eliminating the short-circuiting phenomenon of the airflow within the cavity. Through this baffle-type flow guiding channel, the effective residence time of the tobacco shreds within the cavity is significantly extended. Moreover, through the synergistic effect of physical obstruction and momentum exchange, the precise transformation of the tobacco shreds from horizontal movement to a near-vertical falling state is achieved, greatly improving the tobacco processing and interception efficiency while ensuring low pressure loss. In this application, the first guide plate 11 and the second guide plate 13 can be stainless steel guide plates, and the angle of the first guide plate 11 and the second guide plate 13 towards the airflow can be 45°, etc. After preliminary separation, the tobacco falls into the separation channel 6 of the collection module, while the main flow of the separated airflow is discharged through the exhaust pipe 9.

[0046] Furthermore, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the roller conveying mechanism 4 of this application includes a drive motor and a roller driven by the drive motor. The axial ends of the roller are sealed and installed on the opposite inner walls of the separation channel 6 through bearing seats. The collection module of this application is used for fine separation and sealed conveying. The collection module is directly welded to the bottom of the diversion module 12. Its main body is a vertical separation channel 6 with a square cross section. The separation channel 6 has multiple layers of perforated grid plates arranged at equal intervals from top to bottom to form an airflow distribution mechanism 7. The airflow distribution mechanism 7 of this application is characterized by the gradient decrease in the perforation rate of each layer of grid plates from top to bottom (for example, 35%, 25% and 15% respectively). This physical structure arrangement makes the permeable area narrow layer by layer when the gas flows through the channel from bottom to top, thereby forcibly constructing a stable airflow field with a gradient decrease in wind speed from top to bottom in the channel. In this specific airflow field, the falling tobacco mixture is subjected to the coupling effect of gravity and variable gradient airflow resistance. The denser, more inertial, whole tobacco shreds are accelerated to sink because gravity is sufficient to overcome the gradually weakening upward airflow adsorption force. Meanwhile, the extremely low-density tobacco fragments and light impurities are carried upward by the relatively stronger airflow in the upper layer and eventually discharged into the exhaust pipe 9 (leading to the dust removal system). This utilizes a physical structure to achieve efficient air separation of tobacco shreds and tobacco dust, avoiding the drawbacks of traditional single-speed air separation or static filtration. At the same time, to prevent backflow of airflow from the lower outlet from disrupting this precise gradient air separation environment, a motor-driven guillotine roller conveyor mechanism 4 is installed at the bottom of the channel. The roller surface maintains a precise gap of less than 0.5 mm between itself and the inner wall of the channel. This structure can form an effective dynamic seal during mechanical operation, allowing the guillotine roller to rotate at a uniform speed and smoothly and continuously convey and temporarily store the sinking and accumulated tobacco shreds while physically blocking any possible upward negative pressure airflow from below, ensuring that the negative pressure environment within the separation channel 6 remains stable and undisturbed.

[0047] Furthermore, the collection module of this application also possesses a certain degree of adaptive expansion capability. By adding a humidity sensor within the collection module, the opening ratio of the airflow distribution mechanism 7 can be automatically adjusted according to the detected humidity value to optimize the separation effect for tobacco shreds with different humidity levels. The adjustment method involves manually replacing the corresponding opening ratio grid plate. In summary, the collection module of this application can achieve gas-solid separation based on a physical field through a gradient decreasing grid plate structure, and resolves the contradiction between continuous discharge and sealing pressure maintenance through a high-precision gap-fitted rotating roller. The overall structure is compact and highly compatible with the online operating conditions of the negative pressure pipeline 10 of the cigarette machine.

[0048] Furthermore, the recycling control module of this application includes a level sensor 5 installed on the side wall of the collection module and a pneumatic butterfly valve installed at the discharge port. The level sensor 5 is used to monitor the height of tobacco accumulation in the separation channel 6 to trigger the opening of the pneumatic butterfly valve. The recycling control module of this application is used for automated control and precise discharge. The recycling control module consists of the level sensor 5, a controller such as a PLC, and a pneumatic butterfly valve. The level sensor 5 is an inductive level sensor installed on the side wall of the separation channel 6, used to monitor in real time the height of the recycled tobacco that gradually accumulates in the channel due to the conveying of the rollers; while the pneumatic butterfly valve is installed at the discharge port at the bottom of the device, serving as the execution terminal for controlling the discharge of tobacco. The working process of the recycling control module of this application strictly follows the preset logic control program: when the level sensor 5 detects that the height of tobacco accumulation in the separation channel 6 reaches the set threshold, it will output a corresponding detection signal to the controller. After receiving the signal, the controller sends a command to the pneumatic butterfly valve to open the pneumatic butterfly valve according to the predetermined control logic. In practice, this typically involves timed and quantitative discharge actions. For example, the pneumatic butterfly valve is opened for approximately 2 seconds, discharging about 100 grams of purified and separated tobacco into the cigarette machine's feed pipe below. This tobacco mixes with the original tobacco before re-entering the production process. After discharge, the controller immediately closes the pneumatic butterfly valve, cutting off the airflow and awaiting the next material level trigger.

[0049] Building upon this foundation, the control module of this application can further integrate intelligent prediction functionality. By introducing a prediction unit based on historical operating data, the device can analyze and predict short-term tobacco feed trends. Based on this prediction data, the controller can pre-adjust the rotational speed of the brake roller or the discharge frequency of the pneumatic butterfly valve, thereby making the entire discharge process smoother and reducing fluctuations caused by sudden feed arrivals or frequent start-stop cycles.

[0050] Furthermore, the entire device of this application is securely installed in the interlayer of the cigarette machine equipment by a fixed bracket 2. The fixed bracket 2 supports the diversion module 12 and the collection module above, ensuring the stability of the entire device under continuous negative pressure.

[0051] Furthermore, the cavity of the diversion module 12 in this application is also equipped with a regulating valve 8, which is used to fine-tune the airflow resistance and negative pressure state within the cavity, thereby helping to optimize the primary interception efficiency of the tobacco. After primary interception, the remaining airflow containing tobacco dust and a small amount of residual air are discharged from the exhaust pipe 9 and sent to the downstream dust removal system.

[0052] Furthermore, the bottom of the collection module of this application is connected to a funnel 3, which is used to receive and collect the sinking tobacco shreds, and plays a role in buffering and guiding.

[0053] Furthermore, the bottom of the device in this application is connected to a tobacco feed return pipe 1. When the material level sensor 5 detects that the tobacco shreds have accumulated to a set height, the controller will periodically open the pneumatic butterfly valve at the bottom to discharge the quantitatively recovered high-purity tobacco shreds into the tobacco feed return pipe 1, so that it can be re-entered into the original tobacco feed pipe of the cigarette machine through the pipe, thus completing the entire closed-loop recycling process.

[0054] Furthermore, the working process of the online tobacco recycling device of this application is as follows:

[0055] The mixed airflow carrying lost tobacco and dust enters the diversion module 12 integrated into the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipe 10. The guiding mechanism inside the cavity uses physical obstruction and momentum exchange to cause the tobacco with higher density and inertia to detach from the mainstream airflow and fall vertically, while the remaining airflow and light impurities are discharged to the dust removal system through the exhaust pipe 9. Subsequently, the falling tobacco enters the separation channel 6 of the collection module. The multi-layered grid plates with decreasing porosity from top to bottom create a stable airflow field with decreasing velocity. The intact tobacco accelerates to sink due to gravity overcoming the weakened airflow adsorption force, while the extremely light dust is carried away by the upward airflow and discharged, achieving fine air separation. Next, the separated tobacco gathers at the bottom of the channel and is smoothly and continuously conveyed downward by the uniformly rotating guillotine roller conveyor 4 with the help of its precise dynamic seal with the inner wall and temporarily stored in the funnel 3, while effectively blocking the upward flow of the airflow below to maintain the negative pressure stability of the separation zone. Finally, when the material level sensor 5 of the recycling control module detects that the tobacco shreds have accumulated to the set height, the controller triggers the bottom pneumatic butterfly valve to open in a timed and quantitative manner, discharging the high-purity recycled tobacco shreds into the tobacco supply return pipe 1 and back into the cigarette machine production line. After the discharge is completed, the valve closes in time to cut off the airflow and waits for the next material level trigger, thereby completing the efficient online recycling and backfilling of tobacco shreds without stopping the machine.

[0056] Example 2

[0057] To further improve performance, based on Example 1:

[0058] In this embodiment, the angle of the guide plate is adjusted by an adjustable hinge and a driving element, which operates in response to changes in the tobacco flow rate.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an online flow meter is added at the inlet of the diversion module 12 to monitor the instantaneous flow rate of the airflow containing tobacco in real time; at the same time, the fixed hinges of the original two guide plates are replaced with adjustable hinges with micro servo motors (i.e. the aforementioned driving elements), so that the angle of the guide plates facing the flow can be dynamically fine-tuned according to the working conditions.

[0060] To address the aforementioned hardware improvements, this embodiment also incorporates corresponding adaptive adjustment logic design for the PLC controller: the device collects data from the flow meter in real time. When the tobacco flow rate is detected to be consistently higher than the set value for 10 seconds, the PLC controller controls the micro servo motor to increase the angle of the guide vane by 5 degrees, thereby enhancing its interception and guiding capabilities for the tobacco. Conversely, when the flow rate is detected to be consistently low, the PLC controller controls the motor to decrease the angle of the guide vane to reduce airflow resistance and lower energy consumption. Through the coordinated operation of the flow meter, adjustable hinge, and PLC controller, automatic closed-loop adjustment of the guide vane's angle against the flow is achieved, effectively maintaining optimal interception efficiency and device operational stability.

[0061] Example 3

[0062] This embodiment provides a method for online recycling of tobacco shreds in a negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette machine. The method involves the following steps:

[0063] The diversion module guides and diverts the mixed airflow containing tobacco in the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline, causing the tobacco in the mixed airflow to separate from the main airflow and fall into the separation channel along a preset path;

[0064] The tobacco enters the separation channel and is separated by airflow through a gradient of decreasing wind speed from top to bottom.

[0065] Under dynamic sealing conditions, the separated recycled tobacco is conveyed downwards and temporarily stored;

[0066] The recycling control module monitors the accumulation status of temporarily stored recycled tobacco in real time. When the preset emission conditions are met, a certain amount of recycled tobacco is fed back to the cigarette machine's tobacco supply pipeline.

[0067] Furthermore, guiding and diverting the mixed airflow containing tobacco shreds within the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline includes:

[0068] The flow rate signal of the tobacco shreds is acquired in real time, and the flow angle of the guide mechanism is dynamically adjusted according to the flow rate signal to adapt to the current material feeding conditions.

[0069] Furthermore, the air separation of tobacco shreds through a top-down wind speed gradient includes:

[0070] The system acquires the humidity signal of the tobacco shreds within the separation channel and adaptively adjusts the aperture ratio of the airflow distribution mechanism or the distribution intensity of the airflow field based on this signal. For example, to optimize the separation effect for tobacco shreds with different humidity levels, the corresponding aperture ratio grid plate can be manually replaced.

[0071] Furthermore, the method in this embodiment utilizes the synergistic effect of guided flow diversion, gradient air separation, and dynamic sealing to achieve efficient separation and real-time backfilling of tobacco shreds and tobacco dust in the negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette machine. Specifically, the method in this embodiment first guides and diverts the mixed airflow containing lost tobacco shreds and tobacco dust in the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline. Through physical obstruction and momentum exchange, the tobacco shreds with higher density and inertia are decoupled from the mainstream airflow, changing their direction of motion to a near-vertical downward falling state, thereby achieving primary interception and initial separation of the tobacco shreds.

[0072] Subsequently, the falling tobacco shreds enter a separation channel with a gradient decreasing airflow field. In this channel, a stable airflow field with a velocity gradient decreasing from top to bottom, combined with the synergistic effect of gravity and airflow, achieves fine separation: the denser, intact tobacco shreds are able to overcome the gradually weakening airflow adsorption force due to their own gravity and sink faster, while the extremely low-density tobacco dust is carried upward by the remaining airflow and discharged to the dust removal system, thus completing the efficient air separation of tobacco shreds and tobacco dust.

[0073] Next, the separated tobacco shreds are conveyed downwards and temporarily stored in a sealed state by a dynamically sealed rotating roller. The rotating roller operates at a constant speed, and a precise dynamic seal is formed between its roller surface and the inner wall of the channel. This not only smoothly and continuously conveys the sinking and accumulating tobacco shreds downwards, but also effectively blocks any upward airflow that may rise from below, providing an undisturbed and stable negative pressure environment for the upper gradient wind selection zone.

[0074] Finally, the level of the temporarily stored tobacco is monitored in real time. When the level reaches the set conditions, the control system discharges a fixed amount of recycled tobacco into the cigarette machine's tobacco supply system according to preset logic. This mixes the recycled tobacco with the original tobacco and then re-enters the production process, forming a closed-loop recycling system. The entire process is completed synchronously during the continuous operation of the production line, achieving true online and real-time recycling.

[0075] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. An online tobacco recycling device for a negative pressure pipeline in a cigarette rolling machine, characterized in that, It includes a diversion module (12) integrated into the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline (10), a collection module connected to the discharge port of the diversion module (12), and a recycling control module connected to the discharge port of the collection module; The diversion module (12) has a cavity through which the mixed airflow passes, and the cavity is provided with an adjustable flow guide mechanism, which is used to guide the tobacco in the mixed airflow to the discharge port; The collection module includes a separation channel (6), an airflow distribution mechanism (7) disposed in the separation channel (6), and a roller conveying mechanism (4) disposed at the bottom of the separation channel (6). The airflow distribution mechanism (7) includes multiple layers of grid plates arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. The opening ratio of the through holes of the multiple layers of grid plates decreases from top to bottom to form an airflow field with decreasing wind speed gradient in the separation channel (6). The roller surface of the roller conveying mechanism (4) is clearance-fitted with the inner wall of the separation channel (6) to form a dynamic seal. The recycling control module is used to quantitatively return the separated tobacco shreds to the cigarette machine's shred supply pipe.

2. The online tobacco recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flow guiding mechanism includes at least two flow guiding plates, which are arranged at an asymmetrical angle on the upstream and downstream sides of the airflow in the cavity to form a baffle-type flow guiding channel.

3. The online tobacco recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The top of the cavity of the diversion module (12) is provided with a static pressure balance hole.

4. The online tobacco recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The roller conveying mechanism (4) includes a drive motor and a roller driven by the drive motor. The axial ends of the roller are sealed and installed on the opposite inner walls of the separation channel (6) through bearing seats.

5. The online tobacco recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The recycling control module includes a material level sensor (5) located on the side wall of the collection module and a pneumatic butterfly valve located at the discharge port. The material level sensor (5) is used to monitor the height of tobacco accumulation in the separation channel (6) to trigger the pneumatic butterfly valve to open.

6. The online tobacco recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle of the guide plate is adjusted by an adjustable hinge and a drive element, which operates in response to changes in the tobacco flow rate.

7. The online tobacco recycling device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collection module is also equipped with a humidity sensor.

8. A method for online recycling of tobacco shreds in a negative pressure pipeline of a cigarette rolling machine, characterized in that, The method of recycling tobacco using the online tobacco recycling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 includes the following steps: The diversion module guides and diverts the mixed airflow containing tobacco in the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline, causing the tobacco in the mixed airflow to separate from the main airflow and fall into the separation channel along a preset path; The tobacco enters the separation channel and is separated by airflow through a gradient of decreasing wind speed from top to bottom. Under dynamic sealing conditions, the separated recycled tobacco is conveyed downwards and temporarily stored; The recycling control module monitors the accumulation status of temporarily stored recycled tobacco in real time. When the preset emission conditions are met, a certain amount of recycled tobacco is fed back to the cigarette machine's tobacco supply pipeline.

9. The method for online recycling of tobacco shreds according to claim 8, characterized in that, The method of guiding and diverting the mixed airflow containing tobacco shreds within the horizontal section of the negative pressure pipeline includes: The flow rate signal of the tobacco shreds is acquired in real time, and the flow angle of the guide mechanism is dynamically adjusted according to the flow rate signal to adapt to the current material feeding conditions.

10. The method for online recycling of tobacco shreds according to claim 8, characterized in that, Air separation of tobacco shreds using a top-down, decreasing wind speed gradient includes: The humidity signal of the tobacco shreds in the separation channel is obtained, and the opening ratio of the airflow distribution mechanism or the distribution intensity of the airflow field is adaptively adjusted according to the humidity signal of the tobacco shreds.

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