Apparatus for pushing together rod-like articles of tobacco industry

Abstract

The subject of the application is an apparatus (1) for pushing together rod-like articles (A, B, C, D, E) of the tobacco industry, comprising a rotary drum conveyor (2), provided with grooves (3) situated on the circumferential surface (4), wherein the axes (m) of the grooves (3) are positioned parallel to the rotation axis (k) of the drum conveyor (2), and pressing means (5, 5', 5''), wherein the grooves (3) are arranged to transport rod-like articles (A, B, C, D, E), whereas the pressing means (5, 5', 5'') is arranged to press on the front surface (A1, D1, E1) of the outermost rod-like article (A, D, E) during the rotary motion of the drum conveyor (2) and occupies a retracted position (P1), in which the pressing points (R) of the pressing means (5, 5', 5'') do not come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles (A, D, E) and a pushed together position (P2), in which the pressing points (R) come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles (A, D, E), characterized in that the pressing points (R) of the pressing means (5, 5', 5'') are spaced apart at a distance less than the length (W) of the groove (3) of the drum conveyor (2) both in the retracted position (P1) and in the pushed together position (P2) and remain within the length (W) of the groove (3).

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR PUSHING TOGETHER ROD-LIKE ARTICLES OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY

[0002] The subject of the invention is an apparatus for pushing together rod-like articles of the tobacco industry along grooves of a drum conveyor. In the tobacco industry, the term rod-like article refers to cigarettes with or without a mouthpiece, mono-material filter rods, segmented filter rods, filter segments, and other semifinished or finished smoking products, or products in which tobacco or processed tobacco is heated. During the manufacturing process, products or semi-finished products are moved in drum conveyors, which are provided on their side surfaces with grooves, the axes of which are positioned parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum conveyor. There is often a need to move the transported rod-like articles along the grooves, i.e., in the direction along the axes of the grooves, where the known method of moving the articles involves pressing on their front surfaces.

[0003] For example, filter segments or filter rods and tobacco rods are prepared for wrapping with a mouthpiece tipping material so that they are pushed towards each other to eliminate gaps between individual elements. After pushing together, the section of the mouthpiece tipping material with applied adhesive is wrapped to connect all elements. The resulting double smoking article, for example, a cigarette, is cut into two single articles, cigarettes. During the above operation, it is required, among other things, that individual elements be moved in the direction of their axes and along the axes of the grooves. It is possible to move the articles symmetrically from both sides in a group or to move all the articles in one direction. In each case, the final effect is such a displacement of elements in the group that gaps between the elements are eliminated and the elements abut each other.

[0004] Currently, in the tobacco industry, multi-segment products are produced, which include many segments with various filtration parameters, such as multi-segment filters or products intended for heating, where very short segments are used, the length of which is close to the diameter. Multi-segment filters can be manufactured using a linear technique on a format belt and a drum technique, and in each of these techniques, it is necessary to eliminate gaps between the segments. Groups of segments for producing multi-segment products assembled on a drum conveyor can be transferred further as a group to subsequent production stages or can be wrapped with a wrapping material.

[0005] In the German patent description DE954038, a mechanism is presented for pushing together tobacco rods and a double filter rod, which includes disks mounted on mandrels and supported by springs, and rollers, which press the disks so as to push the tobacco rods towards the filter rod. The total length of the tobacco rods and the filter rod is greater than the length of the groove on the drum conveyor.

[0006] In the German patent description DE1008173, a mechanism is presented for moving elements of a group, in which rings are mounted by multiple springs on a hub of a drum, in whose grooves groups of articles are transported. Patent DE19909465A1 presents another modification of the pressing rings, wherein the rings are mounted on flexible rings attached to a hub of a drum. From international publication WO 03 / 024256, an apparatus for assembling groups of segments is known, where segments are sequentially added and pushed in the grooves towards previously supplied segments.

[0007] Known devices for pushing together rod-like articles are adapted to push together long rods, which usually are not supported along their entire length before pushing, and their movement during pushing is stabilized by the cylindrical part of the groove. Such movement of a short rod-like article, whose length is close to the diameter, positioned at the end of a group is not feasible with the known devices discussed above, as such a short segment would need to be supported only on part of its length, i.e., it would be very unstable. The task would be additionally complicated in the case of pushing many articles, which would extend the path along which the external short article would have to travel. The essence of the invention is an apparatus for pushing together rod-like articles of the tobacco industry, comprising a rotary drum conveyor, provided with grooves located on the circumferential surface, wherein the axes of the grooves are positioned parallel to the rotation axis of the drum conveyor, and pressing means, wherein the grooves are arranged to transport rod-like articles, whereas the pressing means is arranged to press on the front surface of the outermost rod-like article during the rotary movement of the drum conveyor and occupies a retracted position, in which the pressing points of the pressing means do not contact the rod-like articles, and a pushed together position, in which the pressing points come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles. The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the pressing points of the pressing means are spaced apart at a distance less than the length of the groove of the drum conveyor both in the retracted position and in the pushed together position and remain within the length of the groove.

[0008] Advantageously, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the pressing means includes rotary pressing rings mounted on elastic elements and pressing rollers acting on the pressing rings so as to press the pressing rings towards the groove.

[0009] Advantageously, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the pressing rings is provided with teeth, on which the pressing points are located.

[0010] Advantageously, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the pressing means includes pushers and rollers moved by a cam, wherein the pushers are arranged to rotate along with the drum conveyor.

[0011] The apparatus according to the invention enables pushing together groups of rod-like articles when the rod-like articles are supported along their entire length. The device provides a possibly short stroke, as the pressing points are located in the space of the groove, within the length of the groove both in the retracted and pushed together positions, therefore less time is needed to push together the articles towards each other, a short angular path of the drum conveyor is needed to push the articles together. Additionally, one universal wide drum conveyor can be used for different total lengths of groups of rod-like articles.

[0012] The subject of the invention is further presented in a favorable embodiment in the drawing, where:

[0013] Fig. 1, 2, and 3 present the apparatus for pushing together rod-like articles in the first embodiment,

[0014] Fig. 4 presents the apparatus for pushing together rod-like articles in the second embodiment,

[0015] Fig. 5 presents the apparatus of Fig. 2 in an axial view,

[0016] Fig. 6 presents the apparatus for pushing together rod-like articles in the third embodiment.

[0017] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, an apparatus 1 for pushing together rod-like articles A, B, C includes a rotary drum conveyor 2, which is provided with grooves 3 located on the circumferential surface 4, and pressing means 5, wherein the pressing means 5 is arranged for moving the rod-like articles A, B, C transversely to the axes of the rod-like articles during their transport in the grooves 3 of the drum conveyor 2. The axes m of the grooves 3 are positioned parallel to the rotation axis k of the drum conveyor 2. The pressing means 5 is arranged to press the front surface A1 of the outermost rod-like article A. In the embodiments below, the group of rod-like articles includes articles A, B, C, B, A in sequence, which are typically pushed together before wrapping such a group in a segment of sheath material. The pushing together is effected symmetrically from both sides towards the article C. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the pressing means 5 includes rings 7, located on both sides of the drum conveyor 2, which are mounted on elastic elements 8, wherein the apparatus 1 is provided with rollers 9, which press the rings 7 towards the drum conveyor 2. The pressing means is provided with pressing members 6, which are located on the rings 7. The pressing means 5 occupies a retracted position P1, in which the pressing points R of the pressing means 5 do not come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles A and occupies a pushed together position P2, in which the pressing points R come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles A.

[0018] In the retracted position P1 (the drawing shows a group of rod-like articles A, B, C drawn apart, i.e., gaps are maintained between the articles), the pressing points R of the pressing means 5 are spaced at a maximum distance, this is the retraction distance D, wherein the retraction distance D is less than the width W of the drum conveyor 2, which in this embodiment is equal to the length of the groove 3.

[0019] In the shown embodiments, the length of the groove 3 and the width of the conveyor 2 are equal, however, an embodiment is possible where the circumferential surface 4 and grooves 3 have a dimension greater than the body of the drum conveyor 2. In the pushed together position P2 (the drawing shows a group of pushed together rod-like articles A, B, C, i.e., there are no gaps between the articles), the pressing points R of the pressing means 5 are spaced at a minimal distance, this is the pressing distance d, where the pressing distance d is also less than the length of the groove 3 of the drum conveyor 2. The rod-like articles A, B, C are held in the groove by vacuum supplied through channels 10 reaching the bottom of the groove 3, which is cut off during pushing together, and the articles are held by a shield.

[0020] In Fig. 2, the apparatus is shown in the first embodiment for a group including rod-like articles D, E, B, C, B, E, D, with the outermost rod-like articles D being the shortest among the articles in the group. The pressing points R act on the front surfaces D1 of the articles D. In the pushed together position P2, the pressing points R are spaced apart at a distance d, similarly to that in Fig. 1.

[0021] In Fig. 3, the apparatus is shown in the first embodiment for a group including rod-like articles E, B, C, B, E, which has a total length shorter than the group of articles in Fig. 2. The width W of the drum conveyor 2 is the same as in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, therefore, longer pressing members 6’ than members 6 are used for pushing the articles together. The pressing points R act on the front surfaces E1 of the articles E. In the pushed together position P2, the pressing points R are spaced apart at a distance d’ smaller than the distance d in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The drum conveyor 2 can be used for various groups of rod-like articles regardless of the length of individual articles and their position in the group.

[0022] In the second embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the pressing means 5’ includes rings 11, which similarly to the previous embodiment are pressed by rollers 9. The ring 11 is provided with teeth 12 and notches 13 (Fig. 5), with the pressing points R located on the teeth 12, which are partially inserted radially into the grooves 3. The rings 11, as in the previous embodiment, are mounted on elastic elements, whereas in this embodiment, the elastic elements are not shown. The rod-like articles A, B, C are guided and held in the grooves 3 by a guide 14 positioned above the circumferential surface 4 of the drum conveyor 2. The guide 14 may be in the form of a thinwalled cylindrical segment. Additionally, a vacuum may be applied to hold the articles in the grooves 3. The drum conveyor 2 rotates in direction T, and the rod-like articles A, B, C can be placed by a feeding conveyor in the grooves 3 at point E and received by a receiving conveyor at point F. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the pressing means 5” includes pushers 15, which move along with the drum conveyor 2. The pusher 15 is provided with a roller 16, which cooperates with a drum cam 17, wherein the drum cam 17 is stationary. The pusher 15 is positioned in a guide 18. The pushers 15 and guides 18 are rotatably mounted on the axis k and move at the rotational speed of the drum conveyor 2, wherein the bearings of the pushers 15 and guides 18 are not shown. The pressing point R is located on the front surface 19 of the pusher 15. The pushing together of articles A, B, C, B, A is realized symmetrically as in the previous embodiments.

Claims

Patent claims1. An apparatus (1) for pushing together rod-like articles (A, B, C, D, E) of the tobacco industry, comprising a rotary drum conveyor (2), provided with grooves (3) located on the circumferential surface (4), wherein the axes (m) of the grooves (3) are positioned parallel to the rotation axis (k) of the drum conveyor (2), and pressing means (5, 5’, 5”), wherein the grooves (3) are arranged to transport rod-like articles (A, B, C, D, E), whereas the pressing means (5, 5’, 5”) is arranged to press on the front surface (A1 , D1, E1) of the outermost rod-like article (A, D, E) during the rotary motion of the drum conveyor (2) and occupies a retracted position (P1 ), in which the pressing points (R) of the pressing means (5, 5’, 5”) do not come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles (A, D, E) and a pushed together position (P2), in which the pressing points (R) come into contact with the outermost rod-like articles (A, D, E), characterized in that the pressing points (R) of the pressing means (5, 5’, 5”) are spaced apart at a distance less than the length (W) of the groove (3) of the drum conveyor (2) both in the retracted position (P1) and in the pushed together position (P2) and remain within the length (W) of the groove (3).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the pressing means (5, 5’) includes rotary pressing rings (7, 11) mounted on elastic elements (8) and pressing rollers (9) acting on the pressing rings (7) so as to press the pressing rings (7, 11) towards the groove (3).

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressing rings (11) is provided with teeth (12), on which the pressing points (R) are located.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , characterized in that the pressing means (5”) includes pushers (15) and rollers (16) moved by a cam (17), wherein the pushers (15) are arranged to rotate along with the drum conveyor (2).

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