A cutting device for filter rods

Abstract

The patent provides a cutting device for filter rods, which comprises a pushing mechanism, a first alignment mechanism, a second alignment mechanism, a cutter assembly, a pushing-out mechanism and an end face alignment mechanism. The second alignment mechanism comprises a plurality of second through holes. When the filter rod enters the second through hole, the end face alignment mechanism pushes the pushing-out mechanism to move synchronously to the end face of the filter rod in the second through hole until the end face of the filter rod is aligned, thereby realizing the synchronous alignment and accurate cutting of batch filter rods. This mechanism avoids the uneven end face of filter rods caused by the different actions of each push rod, establishes an accurate reference for subsequent cutting, greatly improves the cutting precision and end face quality of filter rods, effectively avoids quality defects such as bevel cutting and edge collapse, and greatly improves the yield.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This patent relates to the field of tobacco equipment manufacturing, specifically to a cutting device for filter rods. Background Technology

[0002] In the modern production system of the tobacco industry, filter rods are an indispensable core component of cigarettes, and their processing precision and quality directly affect the draw resistance, filtration efficiency, and overall sensory quality of cigarettes. To meet the stringent standards for filter rod dimensions on automated cigarette production lines, filter rods are usually cut to a uniform length to ensure precise matching between the filter rod and the cigarette during the rolling process, thereby guaranteeing product consistency and stability.

[0003] Currently, most filter rod trimming devices on the market use mechanical transmission or pneumatic drive to eject and cut the filter rods arranged on a carrier. However, these traditional technologies have revealed many shortcomings in practical applications. In the ejection stage, some devices use rigid push rods that lack adaptive adjustment capabilities. When the filter rods experience slight dimensional deviations due to batch differences in raw materials or changes in storage environment, the push rod cannot guarantee the accuracy of each ejection displacement. In addition, improper damping parameter settings in the spring return system can easily cause the push rod to vibrate or lag during the return stroke, severely affecting the cutting accuracy of subsequent cutters.

[0004] During the cutting process, the lack of a synchronous linkage mechanism in the existing pusher array results in a time difference in the extension stroke of each pusher, causing the filter rod end faces to be unable to form a uniform cutting reference surface. When the high-speed cutting blade performs batch cutting of filter rods, this asynchrony causes problems such as slanted cuts and chipped edges on some filter rods, resulting in a high scrap rate. In addition, the split pusher drive structure used in some equipment not only increases the number of transmission components but also introduces cumulative assembly errors, making the equipment debugging cycle several hours long. Furthermore, precision calibration is required after continuous production, which seriously restricts the improvement of production efficiency.

[0005] Meanwhile, existing filter rod trimming devices mostly adopt a modular, independent control method. A failure at a single station often leads to the shutdown of the entire production line for maintenance, resulting in low overall equipment utilization. Moreover, the complex mechanical structure makes it necessary to replace vulnerable parts frequently.

[0006] Therefore, a filter rod cutting device with adaptive adjustment capability, precise synchronous alignment, and compact and stable structure is needed. Utility Model Content

[0007] This patent aims to solve the problems of poor cutting accuracy caused by asynchronous ejection, low equipment stability due to improper waste disposal, and high maintenance costs due to complex structure in existing filter rod trimming devices. It achieves precise trimming of filter rods, ensures a stable and efficient cutting process, and avoids the cut ends affecting equipment operation. This patent provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] In a first aspect, a cutting device for a filter rod is provided, comprising a feeding mechanism, a first alignment mechanism, a second alignment mechanism, a cutting tool assembly, an ejection mechanism, and an end face alignment mechanism. The second alignment mechanism includes a plurality of second through holes. The filter rod is fed from the first alignment mechanism. The feeding mechanism pushes the filter rod from the first alignment mechanism into one side of the second through hole. The ejection mechanism is partially disposed on the other side of the second through hole. After the filter rod enters the second through hole, the end face alignment mechanism pushes the ejection mechanism to move synchronously towards the end face of the filter rod in the second through hole until the end face of the filter rod is aligned. The end faces of the filter rod are located on the same plane in the radial direction of the second through hole. The aligned filter rod is cut into segments by the cutting tool assembly.

[0009] Furthermore, the ejection mechanism includes a reset rod and a compression spring. The axial extension lines of the reset rod and the second through hole coincide. Part of the reset rod is always positioned in the second through hole and can move axially within the second through hole. When the end face alignment mechanism pushes the reset rod from its initial position toward the end face of the filter rod, the compression spring is compressed. When the end face alignment mechanism removes its pushing force on the reset rod, the compression spring provides elastic force to restore the reset rod to its initial position. The number of reset rods, compression springs, and second through holes are equal, and their positions correspond one-to-one.

[0010] Furthermore, the reset rod includes a rod body and a baffle plate, which are an integral structure, with the baffle plate located at the rear end of the rod body; the push-out mechanism also includes a limiting rod, with the front section of the rod body passing through the through hole of the limiting rod and entering the second through hole, and the rear section of the rod body fitted with a compression spring; one end of the compression spring abuts against the limiting rod and the other end abuts against the baffle plate.

[0011] Furthermore, the end face alignment mechanism includes a fourth driving member and a push plate. The push plate applies a pushing force to the baffle plate under the drive of the fourth driving member. The force exerted by the pushing mechanism on the filter rod and the force exerted by the end face alignment mechanism on pushing the filter rod are opposite forces along the same axial extension line.

[0012] Furthermore, the propulsion mechanism includes a first driving member, a propulsion slider, and a push rod. The push rod is disposed on the propulsion slider. The first driving member drives the propulsion slider to move until the push rod abuts against the other end face of the filter rod. The first driving member drives the propulsion slider to move along the axial direction of the second through hole. The first driving member drives the propulsion slider to push the filter rod from the first alignment mechanism into the second alignment mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, the first alignment mechanism includes a first alignment protrusion and a protrusion support member, the protrusion support member being used to fix and support the first alignment protrusion; the first alignment protrusion is made of a high-strength alloy; the first alignment protrusion includes a first through hole, the first through holes being arranged in an array along the radial direction on the first alignment protrusion; the axial extension lines of the first through hole and the second through hole coincide, the filter rod is positioned through the first through hole and then enters the second through hole; the number of the first through hole and the second through hole are equal and their positions correspond one-to-one; the diameter of the filter rod is less than or equal to the diameter of the second through hole and the first through hole.

[0014] Furthermore, the second alignment mechanism includes a second driving member and a second alignment protrusion. The second through holes are arranged in a radial array on the second alignment protrusion. The second driving member can drive the second alignment protrusion to rotate and discharge material. The material of the second alignment protrusion is a high-strength alloy.

[0015] Furthermore, a second through hole is provided on the second alignment protrusion; the number of the second through holes is 3 to 7, 7 to 11, or 11 to 15.

[0016] Furthermore, the axial extension lines of the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism coincide, and there is a cutting space between the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism. A tool assembly is provided in the cutting space to cut the filter rod in the cutting space. The tool assembly includes a third drive member and a cutter. The third drive member can drive the cutter to rotate and can adjust the cutting position of the cutter in the longitudinal and vertical directions.

[0017] Furthermore, the number of filter rods is less than or equal to the number of second through holes.

[0018] This patent has the following beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. A cutting device for filter rods is provided, including a feeding mechanism, a first alignment mechanism, a second alignment mechanism, a cutting tool assembly, an ejection mechanism, and an end face alignment mechanism. The second alignment mechanism includes a plurality of second through holes. When the filter rod enters the second through hole, the end face alignment mechanism pushes the ejection mechanism to move synchronously towards the end face of the filter rod in the second through hole until the end face of the filter rod is aligned, thereby realizing synchronous alignment and precise cutting of batch filter rods.

[0020] 2. In this patent, the end-face alignment mechanism and the push-out mechanism work together to achieve synchronous and precise alignment of all filter rod end faces. Specifically, the push plate of the end-face alignment mechanism, under the action of the driving component, can simultaneously and synchronously push the baffles of all reset rods, overcoming the elastic force of the compression spring, and causing all reset rods to move forward along the axial direction of the second through hole. This forces all filter rod end faces that have come from the other side to be pushed onto a uniform and rigid reference plane. This mechanism avoids the phenomenon of uneven filter rod end faces caused by the different actions of each push rod, establishes an accurate reference for subsequent cutting, greatly improves the cutting accuracy and end face quality of the filter rods, effectively avoids quality defects such as slanted cuts and chipped edges, and significantly improves the yield.

[0021] 3. In this patent, the integrated automatic waste removal function significantly improves the stability and automation of equipment operation. After cutting, the cut-off filter rod ends are temporarily stored in the second through hole of the second alignment mechanism, preventing them from immediately falling and interfering with equipment operation. When cleaning is required, the second driving component drives the entire second alignment protrusion to rotate, changing the second through hole from a horizontal to a vertical state. At this time, the waste ends remaining in the hole automatically tilt downwards and fall off under gravity, or are pushed out by the auxiliary ejection mechanism, thus completing the cleaning. This process requires no manual intervention, achieving centralized and automatic waste processing, completely avoiding equipment failures that may be caused by waste accumulation, reducing downtime for maintenance, ensuring long-term continuous and stable operation of the equipment, and greatly improving production efficiency.

[0022] 4. In this patent, the overall structural design is compact and reasonable, and the various functional modules work together smoothly, resulting in excellent reliability and economy. The propulsion mechanism and end face alignment mechanism both adopt a method of directly driving simple mechanical structures with driving components, resulting in a short transmission chain and avoiding complex linkage mechanisms. This not only reduces accumulated errors and simplifies assembly and debugging, but also reduces potential failure points. The automatic reset function of the reset rod under the action of the compression spring simplifies the operation process. At the same time, the first and second alignment protrusions are made of high-strength alloy, which has strong wear resistance and high dimensional stability, ensuring the accuracy retention under long-term use, extending the service life of the equipment, and effectively reducing the overall maintenance cost. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this patent, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this patent and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1This is a side view of the cutting device in this patent;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cutting device in this patent;

[0026] Figure 3 A side view of the cutting device excluding the first alignment mechanism;

[0027] Figure 4 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a cutting device excluding the first alignment mechanism;

[0028] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Enlarged view of part A in the middle;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the first alignment mechanism in this patent;

[0030] Figure 7 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the second alignment mechanism in this patent;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the second alignment mechanism and the limiting rod in this patent;

[0032] Figure 9 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the cutting device in this patent from another perspective;

[0033] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the push rod in this patent.

[0034] The reference numerals in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0035] 100: Propulsion mechanism;

[0036] 110: First driving component;

[0037] 120: Propel the slider;

[0038] 130: Putting rod;

[0039] 200: First alignment mechanism;

[0040] 210: First aligned bump;

[0041] 211: First through hole;

[0042] 220: Protrusion support component;

[0043] 300: Second alignment mechanism;

[0044] 310: Second drive component;

[0045] 320: Second alignment bump;

[0046] 321: Second through hole;

[0047] 400: Tooling assembly;

[0048] 410: Third drive component;

[0049] 420: Cutting knife;

[0050] 500: The issuing organization;

[0051] 510: Reset lever;

[0052] 511: Rod;

[0053] 512: Baffle

[0054] 520: Compression spring;

[0055] 530: Limit rod;

[0056] 600: End face alignment mechanism;

[0057] 610: Fourth driving component;

[0058] 620: Push plate. Detailed Implementation

[0059] The detailed features and advantages of this application are described below in the specific embodiments. The content of this description is sufficient to enable any person skilled in the art to understand the technical content of this application and implement it accordingly. Based on the specification, claims and drawings disclosed in this specification, a person skilled in the art can easily understand the related objectives and advantages of this application.

[0060] This patent will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals denote similar elements. While specific structures and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done merely for illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other structures and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this patent. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that this patent can also be used in a variety of other applications.

[0061] In this specification and claims, several terms will be used, and unless otherwise indicated, these terms will be defined to have the following meanings:

[0062] The singular forms “a” and “the” include their corresponding plural forms. “At least one” means one or more, and “more” means two or more. “At least one of the following” or similar expressions refer to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b, or c can be expressed as: a, b, c, ab, ac, bc, or abc, where a, b, and c can be single or multiple.

[0063] All figures used to represent component amounts, properties (e.g., molecular weight), reaction conditions, etc., should be considered to be modified in all cases by the terms "within the unavoidable margin of error" or "approximately". Therefore, the numerical values ​​presented herein are approximate and may vary depending on the desired properties sought to be obtained by this patent. The principle of equivalents, which is applied to a minimum and not intended to limit the scope of the claims, should be applied, for example, each value should be interpreted at least according to the reported significant digits and by applying conventional rounding techniques.

[0064] It should be understood that the term "and / or" in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. A and B can be singular or plural. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates an "or" relationship between the preceding and following related objects, but it can also represent an "and / or" relationship. Please refer to the context for a more accurate understanding.

[0065] In the description of this embodiment, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the product is usually placed during use. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0066] A servo motor is an engine that controls the operation of mechanical components in a servo system; it is a type of auxiliary motor with indirect speed change.

[0067] Servo motors can control speed and position with extremely high accuracy. They convert voltage signals into torque and speed to drive the controlled object. The rotor speed of a servo motor is controlled by the input signal and can respond quickly. In automatic control systems, they are used as actuators and have characteristics such as a small electromechanical time constant and high linearity. They can convert received electrical signals into angular displacement or angular velocity output on the motor shaft. Servo motors are divided into two main categories: DC and AC servo motors. Their main characteristic is that they do not rotate when the signal voltage is zero, and their speed decreases uniformly as the torque increases.

[0068] A servo motor is a motor used in servo systems to drive mechanical components. By inputting control signals and processing them through a servo controller, the servo motor is ultimately driven to output motion. A servo system is an automatic control system that enables the output controlled variables, such as the position, orientation, and state of an object, to follow any changes in the input target. The working principle of a servo motor is based on its ability to rotate by a corresponding angle upon receiving a pulse, thereby achieving precise displacement control. This characteristic allows the servo motor to convert voltage signals into torque and speed to drive the controlled object.

[0069] The working mechanism of a servo motor can be summarized in the following steps:

[0070] A. Input control signals: First, the external system sends control signals to the servo controller. These signals usually contain commands such as position, speed, or torque.

[0071] B. Signal processing: After receiving the control signal, the servo controller processes it and converts it into a voltage or current signal suitable for driving the servo motor.

[0072] C. Drive Motor: The processed signal is sent to the servo motor, which then begins to rotate. The rotor of the servo motor starts to rotate under the influence of the electromagnetic field, while the encoder built into the motor provides real-time feedback on the rotor's position.

[0073] D. Feedback and Adjustment: The encoder feeds back the actual position information of the rotor to the servo controller. The servo controller compares the feedback position information with the target position information. If a deviation is found, it adjusts the output signal to make the servo motor continue to rotate until the target position is reached.

[0074] E. Output Motion: Through continuous feedback and adjustment, the servo motor ultimately outputs precise motion, achieving precise position control of the object.

[0075] The drive motor system is the part that directly converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, and it determines the performance indicators of the equipment. The drive motor system consists of a drive motor (DM), a drive motor controller (MCU), and a cooling system. It is electrically and thermally connected to other systems through high and low voltage wiring harnesses and cooling pipes.

[0076] The drive motor includes a permanent magnet synchronous motor, a rotary transformer, and a temperature sensor.

[0077] Permanent magnet synchronous motor: A typical drive motor with advantages such as high efficiency, small size, and high reliability. It is the actuator of a power system and the carrier of electrical energy converted into mechanical energy. It relies on a built-in rotary transformer and temperature sensor to provide the motor's operating status information and sends the motor's operating status information to the MCU in real time.

[0078] Rotary transformer: It detects the position of the motor rotor. After the rotary transformer decoder in the motor controller decodes the position, the motor controller can know the current position of the motor rotor, thereby controlling the corresponding IGBT power transistors to conduct, energizing the three coils of the stator in sequence, and driving the motor to rotate.

[0079] Temperature sensor: Its function is to detect the temperature of the motor windings and provide the information to the MCU. The MCU then transmits the information to the VCU via the CAN line, thereby controlling the water pump, water circulation, cooling fan operation, and regulating the motor operating temperature.

[0080] All other terms used herein for special definition are intended to have the general meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in particular, meaning that one of ordinary skill in the art, upon reading the claims, specification and drawings of this patent, can directly and without doubt determine how the technical solution of this patent can be implemented.

[0081] Even if there are incomplete descriptions, omissions, or ambiguities in the grammar, words, punctuation, graphics, symbols, etc. of the claims, specification, and drawings of this patent, a person skilled in the art can still arrive at the only correct understanding by reading the claims, specification, and drawings as a whole without extensive reasoning or experimentation, and effectively exclude various incorrect interpretations that are not aimed at achieving the purpose of this patent.

[0082] Those skilled in the art would first choose to read the claims, specification, and drawings of this patent to reasonably interpret the terms; secondly, they would choose to refer to the relevant definitions in other documents published by the applicant before the filing date to reasonably interpret the terms; thirdly, they would choose the references cited in this patent to reasonably interpret the terms; and finally, they would choose to combine the technical dictionaries, technical manuals, reference books, textbooks, national or industry technical standards, etc., commonly used by those skilled in the art to reasonably interpret the terms.

[0083] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0084] A cutting device for filter rods, please refer to Figures 1-5 The system includes a feeding mechanism 100, a first alignment mechanism 200, a second alignment mechanism 300, a cutting tool assembly 400, an ejection mechanism 500, and an end-face alignment mechanism 600, arranged horizontally from left to right. The feeding mechanism 100 pushes the filter rods steadily into the second alignment mechanism 300. The first alignment mechanism 200 positions the fed filter rods, and the second alignment mechanism 300 provides space for alignment and discharge. The end-face alignment mechanism 600 and the ejection mechanism 500 simultaneously align the filter rods within the second alignment mechanism 300. The cutting tool assembly 400 cuts the aligned filter rods. These mechanisms work together to achieve the processes of filter rod feeding, positioning, leveling, cutting, and discharge.

[0085] The pushing mechanism 100 includes a first driving member 110, a pushing slider 120, and a push rod 130. The push rod 130 is disposed on the pushing slider 120 and is used to stabilize the filter rod in contact. The first driving member 110 drives the pushing slider 120 to move in the lateral direction. The pushing slider 120 moves until it abuts against the filter rod fed from the first alignment mechanism 200, and continues to push the filter rod into the second alignment mechanism 300 until the filter rod enters the second alignment mechanism 300 and the end face of the filter rod initially abuts against the ejection mechanism 500, thus paving the way for subsequent alignment and cutting. The first driving member 110 can also drive the pushing slider 120 to reset.

[0086] Please refer to Figure 6 The first alignment mechanism 200 includes a first alignment protrusion 210 and a protrusion support 220, the protrusion support 220 being used to fix and support the first alignment protrusion 210. The first alignment protrusion 210 is a rectangular block structure, and multiple first through holes 211 are arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction on the side of the first alignment protrusion 210. The main function of the first through holes 211 is to allow filter rods to be inserted, realizing the initial placement and positioning of the filter rods. This arrangement can ensure a certain processing capacity of filter rods while facilitating the coordinated work of various mechanisms.

[0087] The filter rods are fed through the first through hole 211. After feeding, the filter rods are arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction, just like the first through hole 211, and each filter rod is parallel to the others. The diameter of the filter rods is 6.85 to 6.95 mm.

[0088] It is easy to understand that, in this description, the transverse direction of the pushing mechanism 100, the first alignment mechanism 200, the tool assembly 400, the second alignment mechanism 300, the ejection mechanism 500, and the end face alignment mechanism 600 is the same as the axial direction of the first through hole 211, the second through hole 321, the reset rod 510, and the filter rod; and the longitudinal direction of the pushing mechanism 100, the first alignment mechanism 200, the tool assembly 400, the second alignment mechanism 300, the ejection mechanism 500, and the end face alignment mechanism 600 is the same as the radial direction of the first through hole 211, the second through hole 321, the cutter 420, the reset rod 510, and the filter rod.

[0089] Please refer to Figures 7-8 The second alignment mechanism 300 includes a second driving member 310 and a second alignment protrusion 320. The second alignment protrusion 320 is a rectangular block structure. Multiple second through holes 321 are arranged in an array along the longitudinal direction on the side of the second alignment protrusion 320. The filter rod can enter the second through hole 321 through the first through hole 211. The axial extension lines of the first through hole 211 and the second through hole 321 coincide. After being positioned through the first through hole 211, the filter rod enters the second through hole 321. The number of first through holes 211 and second through holes 321 are equal and their positions correspond one-to-one.

[0090] The second driving member 310 can drive the second alignment protrusion 320 to rotate, so that the second through hole 321 rotates from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, so as to expose the cut filter rod end upward, so that the push rod below the second alignment mechanism 300 can push out and pick up the cut filter rod.

[0091] In this embodiment, the first alignment bump 210 and the second alignment bump 320 are made of high-strength alloy, but this patent is not limited to this.

[0092] The axial extension lines of the first alignment mechanism 200 and the second alignment mechanism 300 coincide. There is a cutting space between the first alignment mechanism 200 and the second alignment mechanism 300. A cutting space is provided between the second alignment protrusion 320 and the first alignment mechanism 200. A tool assembly 400 is provided in the cutting space. The cutting space provides space for the operation of the tool assembly 400. The tool assembly 400 can be inserted into the cutting space and move within the cutting space to complete the action of cutting the filter rod.

[0093] The tool assembly 400 includes a third drive unit 410 and a cutter 420. The third drive unit 410 can drive the cutter 420 to rotate and can adjust the cutting position of the cutter 420 in the longitudinal and vertical directions, so as to drive the cutter 420 to perform linear motion in the longitudinal and vertical directions and to drive the cutter 420 to rotate. The combination of multiple motion modes ensures that the cutter 420 can accurately cut the filter rod, thereby meeting different cutting requirements.

[0094] The ejection mechanism 500 includes a reset rod 510 and a compression spring 520. The axial extension lines of the reset rod 510 and the second through hole 321 coincide. A portion of the reset rod 510 is always disposed in the second through hole 321 and can move axially within the second through hole 321. The reset rod 510 includes a rod body 511 and a baffle 512. The rod body 511 and the baffle 512 are an integral structure, and the baffle 512 is disposed at the rear end of the rod body 511. The ejection mechanism 500 also includes a limiting rod 530. The front section of the rod body 511 passes through the through hole of the limiting rod 530 and enters the second through hole 321. The rear section of the rod body 511 is fitted with the compression spring 520. One end of the compression spring 520 abuts against the limiting rod 530, and the other end abuts against the baffle 512.

[0095] When the end face alignment mechanism 600 pushes the reset rod 510 from the initial position toward the end face of the filter rod, the compression spring 520 is compressed. The end face alignment mechanism 600 pushes the ejection mechanism 500 to move synchronously toward the end face of the filter rod in the second through hole 321 until the end face of the filter rod is aligned. The aligned filter rod is then cut into sections by the cutter assembly 400.

[0096] After the cutting is completed, the end face alignment mechanism 600 removes the pushing force on the reset rod 510, and the compression spring 520 provides elastic force to return the reset rod 510 to its initial position, preparing it for the next cutting.

[0097] The number of reset rods 510, compression springs 520 and second through holes 321 are equal and their positions correspond one-to-one.

[0098] Please refer to Figures 9-10 The end face alignment mechanism 600 includes a fourth driving member 610 and a push plate 620. The fourth driving member 610 drives the push plate 620 to push the reset rod 510 simultaneously. The end face alignment mechanism 600 can overcome the elastic force of the compression spring 520 to push the baffle 512 of the reset rod 510, so that the filter rod is flattened by the rear section of the reset rod 510, ensuring the neatness of the cut.

[0099] It is easy to understand that only when the force exerted by the pushing mechanism 100 on the filter rod and the force exerted by the end face alignment mechanism 600 on the filter rod are opposite forces along the same axial extension line can the requirements for feeding and leveling the filter rod be met.

[0100] It is easy to understand that, in terms of quantity, the number of the first through hole 211, the second through hole 321, the reset rod 510, and the compression spring 520 should be equal and located on the same axial extension line. The number of filter rods is less than or equal to the number of the second through holes 321, and the diameter of the filter rods is less than or equal to the diameter of the second through holes 321 and the first through hole 211. In this embodiment, the number of the first through hole 211, the second through hole 321, the reset rod 510, and the compression spring 520 is 10. The first driving member 110, the second driving member 310, the third driving member 410, and the fourth driving member 610 are driven by motors.

[0101] The following is the complete working process of this embodiment: The first alignment mechanism 200 adopts a rectangular block structure, and ten first through holes 211 are opened in the longitudinal direction inside. The ten first through holes 211 are arranged in a linear array, and the center distance between two adjacent first through holes 211 is equal, so as to facilitate the corresponding operation of subsequent components. The first alignment mechanism 200 is made of high-strength alloy to ensure that it is not easily deformed during long-term use and to ensure the dimensional accuracy of the first through holes 211.

[0102] The second alignment protrusion 320 is also a block structure, arranged parallel to the first alignment mechanism 200, with a certain cutting space between them. The width of this cutting space is sufficient to accommodate the entry and exit of the blade assembly 400. Ten second through holes 321 are provided on the second alignment protrusion 320 corresponding to the positions of the first through hole 211. The diameter of the second through holes 321 is adapted to the first through hole 211 to ensure that the filter rod can smoothly enter the second through hole 321 from the first through hole 211.

[0103] The reset rod 510 has a cylindrical structure, with one end inserted into the second through hole 321. The outer diameter of the reset rod 510 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the second through hole 321, allowing the reset rod 510 to move freely back and forth along the axial direction within the second through hole 321. The length of the reset rod 510 is designed to prevent it from dislodging from the second through hole 321. The other end of the reset rod 510 is provided with a baffle 512, the diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the compression spring 520. The compression spring 520 is sleeved on the reset rod 510, with one end abutting against the baffle 512 and the other end abutting against the outer wall of the second alignment protrusion 320. In its natural state, the compression spring 520 is in a slightly compressed state, keeping the reset rod 510 in its initial position.

[0104] The tool assembly 400 includes a third drive unit 410 and a cutter 420, with the third drive unit 410 and the cutter 420 fixedly connected by a connector. The third drive unit 410 can provide multiple driving modes, driving the cutter 420 to move linearly in the longitudinal and vertical directions, and also driving the cutter 420 to rotate around its own axis to adapt to different cutting requirements, ensuring a smooth cutting process and a flat cut surface.

[0105] The propulsion mechanism 100 consists of a first driving member 110 and ten propulsion sliders 120, each corresponding to one of the ten first through holes 211. The propulsion sliders 120 are connected to the output end of the first driving member 110, and the first driving member 110 can drive the propulsion sliders 120 to move linearly in the horizontal direction.

[0106] The end-face alignment mechanism 600 includes a push plate 620 and a fourth driving member 610. The push plate 620 is a long strip-shaped flat plate structure, the length of which is adapted to the length of the second alignment protrusion 320, and can simultaneously contact the baffles 512 of the ten reset rods 510. The fourth driving member 610 is connected to the push plate 620 and can drive the push plate 620 to move in the horizontal direction, thereby synchronously pushing the baffles 512 of all reset rods 510 to achieve synchronous movement of the reset rods 510.

[0107] The device also includes a second drive member 310, which is connected to the second alignment protrusion 320 via a transmission mechanism. The second drive member 310 can drive the second alignment protrusion 320 to rotate along the central axis in the longitudinal direction, so that the second through hole 321 can rotate from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, so as to expose the filter rod end remaining in the second through hole 321 upward.

[0108] Before operation, the cutting device of this embodiment first inserts the filter rods to be cut into the first through holes 211 of the first alignment mechanism 200. After the cutting device is started, the first driving member 110 drives the push slider 120 to move towards the filter rod. The push slider 120 pushes the filter rod in the first through hole 211 towards the second through hole 321 until the end of the filter rod abuts against the end of the reset rod 510 inserted into the second through hole 321.

[0109] Subsequently, the fourth driving component 610 drives the push plate 620 to move forward. The push plate 620 pushes the baffle 512 of the reset rod 510, causing the reset rod 510 to overcome the elastic force of the compression spring 520 and move within the second through hole 321. During this process, the ends of all filter rods are aligned under the action of the reset rod 510, ensuring that the positions where each filter rod needs to be cut are on the same plane.

[0110] Next, the third drive unit 410 drives the cutter 420 to move longitudinally to the cutting space between the first alignment mechanism 200 and the second alignment protrusion 320, and then moves vertically downward into the cutting space. At the same time, the cutter 420 rotates to cut the filter rod. After the cutting is completed, the third drive unit 410 drives the cutter 420 to reset and leave the cutting space.

[0111] Afterwards, the fourth driving component 610 drives the push plate 620 to retract, and the reset rod 510, under the elastic force of the compression spring 520, drives the baffle 512 to reset, returning to the initial position, ready for the next cutting. At this time, the cut-off end of the filter rod remains in the second through hole 321.

[0112] After the push plate 620 retracts, the second drive unit 310 drives the second alignment protrusion 320 to rotate, causing the second through hole 321 to change from a horizontal to a vertical direction. Since the reset rod 510 remains within the second through hole 321, the ejection mechanism 500 rotates together with the second alignment mechanism 300, exposing the cut end of the filter rod upwards. The ejection mechanism 500 is located below the second alignment protrusion 320. The push rod below the second alignment mechanism 300 pushes the baffle 512 of the reset rod 510, and the filter rod is once again pushed out by the rear section of the rod body 511 so that the mechanical claw can pick up the cut filter rod. After the pickup is completed, the second drive unit 310 drives the second alignment protrusion 320 to rotate and reset, waiting for the next operation cycle.

[0113] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices, apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways.

[0114] For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0115] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0116] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0117] In this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "a specific implementation" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment / specific implementation is included in at least one embodiment / specific implementation of this patent. Therefore, the phrase "in one embodiment / specific implementation" appearing in various places in this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment / setting, but rather to potentially different embodiments. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in one or more embodiments / settings in any suitable manner, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0118] Similarly, it should be understood that in the above description of exemplary embodiments / specific implementations of this patent, various features of this patent are sometimes combined in a single embodiment / specific implementation or its figures and descriptions, with the aim of simplifying the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various patent aspects. However, except for expressly stated instructions to the contrary or obvious technical contradictions or exclusions, the descriptive method of this patent should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed features are more numerous than those expressly stated in each claim.

[0119] Conversely, the patentable aspect reflected in the claims lies in not all the features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment / specific implementation. Therefore, the claims following the detailed description are expressly incorporated herein, each claim existing independently as a separate embodiment / specific implementation of this patent.

[0120] Furthermore, while some embodiments / specific implementations described herein include, but are not limited to, other features included in other embodiments / specific implementations, combinations of features from different embodiments / specific implementations are intended to be within the scope of this patent and form different embodiments / specific implementations, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, embodiments / specific implementations of any claim can be used in any combination.

[0121] The terms and expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. In using these terms and expressions, there is no intention to exclude any equivalents of the features or portions thereof shown and described, but rather to recognize that various variations may exist within the scope of this patent claim.

[0122] Therefore, it should be understood that although this patent has been specifically disclosed through preferred embodiments, exemplary embodiments and optional features, those skilled in the art may take variations or modifications of the concepts disclosed in this specification, and such variations and modifications are therefore considered to be within the scope of this patent as defined by the appended claims.

[0123] The specific implementations given in this specification are examples of useful implementations of this patent. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this patent can be implemented using many variations of the equipment, equipment components, and method steps disclosed in this specification.

[0124] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments fully discloses the general features of this patent, enabling others to easily modify and / or transform such specific embodiments for various applications by applying knowledge within the scope of the art, without conducting excessive experiments and without deviating from the general concept of this patent.

[0125] Therefore, based on the teachings and guidance provided herein, it is intended that such modifications and alterations be included within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It should be understood that the wording or terminology used herein is for descriptive purposes and is not intended to be limiting; thus, the wording or terminology in this specification will be interpreted by those skilled in the art based on the foregoing teachings and guidance.

[0126] Furthermore, the scope of this patent should not be limited to any of the exemplary embodiments described above, but only to the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cutting device for filter rods, characterized in that, It includes a feeding mechanism, a first alignment mechanism, a second alignment mechanism, a tool assembly, an ejection mechanism, and an end face alignment mechanism. The second alignment mechanism includes multiple second through holes. The filter rod is fed from the first alignment mechanism. The feeding mechanism pushes the filter rod from the first alignment mechanism into one side of the second through hole. The ejection mechanism is partially disposed on the other side of the second through hole. When the filter rod enters the second through hole, the end face alignment mechanism pushes the ejection mechanism to move synchronously towards the end face of the filter rod in the second through hole until the end face of the filter rod is aligned. The end faces of the filter rod are located on the same plane in the radial direction of the second through hole. After being aligned, the filter rod is cut into sections by the cutter assembly.

2. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ejection mechanism includes a reset rod and a compression spring. The axial extension line of the reset rod coincides with that of the second through hole. Part of the reset rod is always disposed in the second through hole and can move axially in the second through hole. When the end face alignment mechanism pushes the reset rod from the initial position toward the end face of the filter rod, the compression spring is compressed; When the end face alignment mechanism removes the pushing force on the reset rod, the compression spring provides elastic force to restore the reset rod to its initial position; The number of reset rods, compression springs, and second through holes are equal, and their positions correspond one-to-one.

3. The cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The reset rod includes a rod body and a baffle plate, the rod body and the baffle plate are an integral structure, and the baffle plate is disposed at the rear end of the rod body; The ejection mechanism further includes a limiting rod, the front section of which passes through the through hole of the limiting rod and enters the second through hole, and the rear section of the rod is fitted with the compression spring; One end of the compression spring abuts against the limiting rod, while the other end abuts against the stop plate.

4. The cutting device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The end face alignment mechanism includes a fourth driving member and a push plate, wherein the push plate applies a pushing force to the baffle under the drive of the fourth driving member; The force exerted by the propulsion mechanism on the filter rod and the force exerted by the end face alignment mechanism on pushing the filter rod are opposite forces along the same axial extension line.

5. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The propulsion mechanism includes a first driving member, a propulsion slider, and a push rod. The push rod is disposed on the propulsion slider. The first driving member drives the propulsion slider to move until the push rod abuts against the other end face of the filter rod. The first driving member drives the push slider to move along the axial direction of the second through hole; The first driving member drives the propulsion slider to push the filter rod from the first alignment mechanism into the second alignment mechanism.

6. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first alignment mechanism includes a first alignment bump and a bump support member, wherein the bump support member is used to fix and support the first alignment bump; The first alignment bump is made of a high-strength alloy; The first alignment bump includes a first through hole, and the first through holes are arranged in an array on the first alignment bump in a radial direction; The axial extension lines of the first through hole and the second through hole coincide, and the filter rod enters the second through hole after being positioned through the first through hole; The number of the first through holes and the number of the second through holes are equal and their positions correspond one-to-one; The diameter of the filter rod is less than or equal to the diameter of the second through hole and the first through hole.

7. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second alignment mechanism includes a second driving member and a second alignment protrusion. The second through holes are arranged in a radial array on the second alignment protrusion. The second driving member can drive the second alignment protrusion to rotate and discharge material. The second alignment bump is made of a high-strength alloy.

8. The cutting device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The second through hole is provided on the second alignment protrusion; The number of the second through holes is 3 to 7, 7 to 11, or 11 to 15.

9. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axial extension lines of the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism coincide, and there is a cutting space between the first alignment mechanism and the second alignment mechanism. The cutting space is provided with the tool assembly to cut the filter rod in the cutting space. The tool assembly includes a third drive member and a cutter. The third drive member is capable of driving the cutter to rotate and adjusting the cutting position of the cutter in the longitudinal and vertical directions.

10. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of filter rods is less than or equal to the number of the second through holes.

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