Flat-web handling device and method for producing a filter rod for the tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a filter rod for the tobacco processing industry and to a flat-web handling device (14) for the tobacco processing industry, which device has a flat-web withdrawal device (16), by means of which a flat web (20) can be or is withdrawn from a non-woven bale (15), wherein: the non-woven bale (15) comprises rows (30), arranged next to one another, of overlaid segments of a flat web (20); the flat web (20) has a longitudinal extent (29) and two lateral edges (27, 28); the flat-web withdrawal device (16) comprises an infeed head (17) which is arranged above the non-woven bale (15). The flat-web handling device (14) according to the invention is developed such that a traction equalisation device (18) is provided between the infeed head (17) and the non-woven bale (15) and / or such that a device (19, 36) is provided, by means of which the position of the infeed head (17) relative to the lateral edges (27, 28) of the segment of the flat web (20), from the flat-web row (30) of the non-woven bale (15) from which the flat web (20) is withdrawn, can be changed and / or adjusted.

Description

[0001] Flat web handling device and method for producing a filter rod for the tobacco processing industry

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to a method for producing a filter rod for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a filter material made of nonwoven fabric, wherein a flat web of nonwoven fabric is drawn from a nonwoven fabric bale by means of a flat web draw-off device and is introduced into a strand machine in the tobacco processing industry, in which the flat web is conveyed in a longitudinal axial conveying direction and formed into a filter rod. The invention further relates to a flat web handling device for the tobacco processing industry, having a flat web draw-off device, by means of which a flat web can be or is drawn from a nonwoven fabric bale, wherein the nonwoven fabric bale has juxtaposed rows of superimposed segments of a flat web, wherein the flat web has a longitudinal extension and two lateral edges, wherein the flat web draw-off device has an inlet head arranged above the nonwoven fabric bale.

[0004] Finally, the invention relates to a filter manufacturing machine for the tobacco processing industry.

[0005] When processing nonwovens into filter rods, especially cigarette filter rods, a flat web of nonwovens can be pulled off a reel or, alternatively, from a nonwoven bale. A flat web of nonwovens is laid in a meandering pattern within the nonwoven bale, hereinafter referred to as the nonwoven bale. Preferably, segments of the flat web are arranged one above the other in a meandering pattern in a row, with the lowest end of the flat web in the row preferably being connected to the upper end of an adjacent row. Thus, preferably, several rows are provided in the nonwoven bale, with preferably several segments of flat webs arranged one above the other in a meandering pattern in each row.

[0006] Preferably, the flat sides of the flat sheets lie essentially on top of each other or lie on top of each other over their entire surface.

[0007] When removing the flat sheet from the fleece bale, a jolt may occur at the end of the flat sheet segment in the respective row, i.e., where the flat sheet bends 180°, during transport or during removal of the flat sheet. Furthermore, tensions in the flat sheet vary from row to row when removing the flat sheet.

[0008] EP 2 414 065 B1 discloses the production of filter cigarettes from a nonwoven fabric, wherein the filter material comprises a fiber layer of cellulose fibers and is crimped.

[0009] Within the scope of the invention, a flat web of nonwoven fabric comprises, in particular, a fiber layer of cellulose fibers, which preferably has a further layer on at least one flat side, wherein the cellulose fibers of the fiber layer are preferably bonded to one another in certain regions by pressing and compacting the cellulose fibers in the bonded regions. The cellulose fibers are preferably bonded to one another in the nonwoven fabric.

[0010] The nonwoven fabric is preferably a nonwoven material. Within the scope of the invention, a nonwoven fabric is, in particular, not an acetate tow or filter tow. The nonwoven fabric preferably has two closed flat sides or is provided as a closed web. Within the scope of this invention, closed is understood to mean, in particular, without holes or perforations.

[0011] The filter material, referred to here as nonwoven fabric, contains as its essential ingredient a natural material, preferably cellulose or wood pulp, which is essentially in the form of irregularly arranged fibers. Cellulose fibers are preferably used, which are in the form of nonwoven fabrics, in particular as airlaid nonwovens. Nonwovens are a type of textile composite. They are flexible, porous sheet-like structures produced by interlacing and / or cohesive and / or adhesive bonding of the fibers. The nonwovens or nonwoven fabrics are loose materials made of fibers, the cohesion of which is generally provided by the fibers' own adhesion. The nonwovens can be consolidated if necessary, although mechanical consolidation without the use of binders is preferred for use in the present invention.

[0012] The fiber length of the fibers in the nonwoven fabric is preferably < 1 m, in particular < 10 cm, in particular < 2.5 cm.

[0013] The nonwoven materials are preferably biodegradable, meaning that the individual components are decomposed by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and salts of other elements present (mineralization), forming new biomass, or in the absence of oxygen into carbon dioxide, methane, mineral salts, and new biomass. The material preferably complies with the European standard EN 13432.

[0014] The object of the present invention is to achieve the highest possible filter quality in the production of filters from a flat web of nonwoven fabric and in particular to achieve the most uniform web tension possible during withdrawal and thus a uniform conveyance of the flat web for the production of a filter strand or rod-shaped filters.

[0015] This object is achieved by a method for producing a filter rod for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a filter material made of nonwoven fabric, wherein a flat web made of nonwoven fabric is drawn off from a nonwoven fabric bale by means of a flat web draw-off device and is introduced into a strand machine in the tobacco processing industry, in which the flat web is conveyed in a longitudinal axial conveying direction and is formed into a filter rod, which is further developed in that tension fluctuations in the flat web are reduced between the flat web draw-off device and the nonwoven fabric bale by means of a tension equalization device and / or in that a layer of the flat web draw-off device is pulled along or adapted to the flat web to be drawn off from the nonwoven fabric bale and / or in that the flat web is smoothed by means of a smoothing device.

[0016] The process according to the invention makes it possible to feed the flat web of nonwoven or nonwoven material to the rod machine of the tobacco processing industry with a relatively constant tension for producing the filter rod. Within the scope of the invention, a longitudinal axial conveying direction is relative to a longitudinal axis of the formed filter rod.

[0017] The nonwoven fabric can be, for example, a nonwoven fabric from McAirlaid's, such as SuperCore® T-060-S. The nonwoven fabric is preferably made of cellulose, particularly preferably 100% cellulose. The basis weight is, in particular, 60 g / m 2 . The tensile strength in the dry state is preferably 0.5 kN / m. The tensile strength in the wet state is preferably 0.12 kN / m. The dry expansion is 20%. The wet expansion is 11%. The density is 103 kg / m. 3and the strength 50 nm. Other nonwovens can also be used, such as Green Butts 30 gsm or 40 gsm or ST-047-DIA from SharpCell Oy or Wattens SP 3942. The nonwoven from Wattens SP 3942 or from Papierfabrik Wattens GmbH & Co. KG, for example, has a weight of 35 g / m 2 with a layer thickness of 92 μm, a tensile strength of at least 10 N / 15 mm, and an air permeability of 4,000 CU. A nonwoven fabric WAT 45 GSM HYDRO from Papierfabrik Wattens GmbH & Co. KG with a weight of 45 g / m can also be used. 2 , a layer thickness of 270 pm and a tensile density of 17N / 15mm as well as an air permeability of >35,000 CU.

[0018] The smoothing device serves, in particular, to smooth out wrinkles or irregularities arranged transversely in the flat web. The smoothing device may comprise or include a mangle roller, a pair of mangle rollers, a hot press, and / or hot steam.

[0019] Preferably, the flat strip is crimped in the longitudinal direction.

[0020] The voltage fluctuations are preferably reduced mechanically and / or pneumatically.

[0021] To mechanically reduce tension fluctuations, a pair of tension rollers or a pair of brake rollers can preferably be provided through which the flat web runs. A dancer can also be provided to compensate for tension fluctuations. The dancer comprises, for example, a roller, a roll, and / or a pair of rolls that are spring-loaded and over which the flat web runs. A dancer is known, for example, from WO 2019 / 211157 A1. The deflection roller from this document can be replaced by a pair of tension rollers or a pair of pressure rollers to provide a dancer in the present invention.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, a compressed air stream can be directed onto the flat web to reduce any fluctuations in tension when the flat web is pulled off the reel.

[0023] Two pairs of tension rollers can also be provided, which in particular generate different tensile stresses in the flat web. With the preferred use of at least one pair of tension rollers and / or at least one pair of brake rollers, a predeterminable tension can be efficiently generated in the flat web, thereby reducing tension fluctuations.

[0024] Preferably, an inlet head of the flat web take-off device is arranged above the fleece bale, wherein the relative lateral position of a flat web edge is kept constant when the flat web is pulled out of the fleece bale to the inlet head from one flat web row of the fleece bale to the next flat web row of the fleece bale. This ensures that, essentially regardless of the row from which the flat web is pulled off, an approximately equal force can be applied to pull the flat web from the flat web row. Preferably, the inlet head of the flat web take-off device is pivoted or shifted laterally. This ensures that the inlet head is always above the flat web row from which the flat web is pulled off, and if possible vertically directly above the flat web row.

[0025] Preferably, the nonwoven bale is shifted laterally. This ensures that, during the transition from one flat web row to the next, the nonwoven bale is shifted laterally such that the inlet head of the flat web take-off device continues to be positioned above the flat web row to be taken off, specifically vertically directly above the flat web row, i.e., with little or no lateral offset. This creates few additional transverse stresses, so that the flat web can be taken off with minimal tension fluctuations. In particular, this prevents any twist that could be generated by pivoting the inlet head in the flat web.

[0026] To prevent a flat web row from tipping over from the fleece bale, it is preferably provided that the fleece bale, particularly after a predefined number of flat web rows have been removed, is tilted transversely to the conveying direction about a, particularly horizontal, axis. The axis is preferably parallel to the conveying direction of the filter strand or parallel to a segment of the flat web in the respective flat web row of the fleece bale.

[0027] The object is further achieved by a flat web handling device of the tobacco processing industry with a flat web take-off device, by means of which a flat web can be or is taken off from a nonwoven bale, wherein the nonwoven bale has adjacently arranged rows of superimposed segments of a flat web, wherein the flat web has a longitudinal extension and two lateral edges, wherein the flat web take-off device has an inlet head arranged above the nonwoven bale, which is further developed in that a tension equalization device is provided between the inlet head and the nonwoven bale and / or that a device is provided by means of which the relative position of the inlet head to the lateral edges of the segment of the flat web from the flat web row of the nonwoven bale from which the flat web is taken off can be changed and / or adjusted and / or that a smoothing device is provided,which is designed and equipped to smooth the flat web after it has been removed from the fleece bale.

[0028] The flat web handling device according to the invention enables a flat web to be pulled from a nonwoven bale with uniform force and web tension, allowing it to be fed to a stranding machine with consistent tension. By conveying the flat web evenly to the stranding machine, very high-quality filters can be produced.

[0029] Preferably, the tension equalization device is configured and designed to mechanically and / or pneumatically reduce tension fluctuations in the flat web. To reduce tension fluctuations, a pair of tension rollers or a pair of brake rollers through which the flat web passes is preferably provided, and / or a device is provided that is configured and designed to direct a compressed air jet onto the flat web.

[0030] In order to transition from one flat web row of stacked layers of a flat web to the next flat web row of stacked layers of a flat web without significant tension fluctuations, the inlet head of the flat web take-off device is preferably pivoted or displaced laterally, or the inlet head of the flat web take-off device is laterally pivotable or displaceable. In this case, the inlet head above one flat web row is pivoted or displaced to the next flat web row. This allows the flat web to be removed with uniform web tension, preferably by adjusting the position of the flat web to be removed relative to the take-off device or the inlet head of the take-off device.

[0031] A direction adjustment to reach the strand machine is then only necessary over short twisting distances, for example if the inlet head of the flat web take-off device is pivoted.

[0032] Preferably, two rollers or bolts are provided, which are arranged substantially perpendicular to the flat web rows and above the fleece bale and below the inlet head, to enable pre-alignment of the flat web during removal. For this purpose, the flat web is preferably guided between the rollers or bolts.

[0033] Preferably, a transport device is provided that is designed and configured to shift or move the nonwoven bale laterally. This preferably occurs automatically. For example, the transport device can comprise a conveyor belt onto which the nonwoven bale is applied and by means of which the nonwoven bale can be shifted or moved transversely to the longitudinal extension of the flat web rows or the flat webs stacked on top of one another on the flat web rows.

[0034] In the context of the invention, a segment of a flat track is also referred to as a layer of a flat track.

[0035] Preferably, a sensor is provided which detects that a last segment or a last web or layer of a flat web from a series of flat webs or a flat web row is pulled off the nonwoven bale, whereby a control signal is generated for laterally pivoting or displacing the inlet head and / or for laterally displacing or moving the nonwoven bale.

[0036] To prevent flat web rows from tipping over, a tilting device is preferably provided by means of which the nonwoven bale can be or is tilted by a predeterminable angle. The tilting preferably occurs about a rotation axis arranged in the longitudinal direction of the flat webs or the flat web rows. The tilting device preferably comprises a nonwoven bale support device that is rotatably or tiltably mounted on a rotation axis. The rotation axis can be designed as a support element or several support elements that are arranged along the rotation axis below the nonwoven bale support device. For example, a rod can be arranged below the nonwoven bale support device.The rotation axis is preferably arranged asymmetrically in such a way that when the fleece bale is fully loaded, gravity causes the fleece bale support device to rest on the ground on one side, from which the flat web is initially pulled off, and when the flat web is further pulled off, i.e. when a predefined number of flat web rows have been pulled off, the fleece bale support device is pivoted to the other side and rests on the ground on the opposite side.

[0037] According to the invention, a filter manufacturing machine comprising a flat web handling device according to the invention is provided, wherein the filter manufacturing machine also comprises a rod machine of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the flat web handling device is arranged upstream of the rod machine.

[0038] To produce a nonwoven bale, it can be planned to remove or cut flat webs from a bobbin onto which a nonwoven material is wound and to convert these into a bale made of the nonwoven material. In this case, flat webs of nonwoven material can be laid down in flat web rows, with several rows then resulting in a nonwoven bale for further processing. In this case, a double bobbin unwinder and a buffer can be omitted during production in the manufacture of filter rods or filter strands in the tobacco processing industry. A bale made of nonwoven material or paper should, if possible, have no kinks at the deflection points of a web, since the kinks can appear as irregularities in the filter and thus result in increased values ​​for draw resistance or poorer ovality. When using nonwoven bales, there is no need to reduce the speed when changing bobbins.To provide a transition from one bale to the next bale, an operator has enough time to connect the end of one bale to the beginning of a new bale so that the filter rod production speed does not have to be reduced during the transition.

[0039] Preferably, a smoothing device is provided, which is arranged in the flat web handling device or upstream thereof. The smoothing device can comprise a moistening device and / or a heating device, and preferably a mechanical device that exerts pressure on the flat web during conveyance. Alternatively or additionally, any wrinkles or irregularities in the flat web can be smoothed with compressed air, for example warm air or heated compressed air. Preferably, the smoothing device is arranged directly downstream of a tension equalization device or is part of the tension equalization device. Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the invention can fulfill individual features or a combination of several features.

[0040] The invention is described below, without limiting the general inventive concept, using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, whereby express reference is made to the drawings for all details of the invention not explained in more detail in the text. They show:

[0041] Fig. 1 shows schematically a flat web handling device according to the invention, which is connected upstream of a rod machine in the tobacco processing industry,

[0042] Fig. 2 shows part of a flat web handling device in a schematic three-dimensional representation,

[0043] Fig. 3 shows schematically a part of the flat web handling device in a plan view,

[0044] Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a flat web handling device with a transport device for fleece bales,

[0045] Fig. 5 shows schematically in a plan view an embodiment of a storage of a fleece bale and

[0046] Fig. 6 shows a side view of the functionality of a fleece bale manipulation device in a schematic representation.

[0047] Within the scope of the invention, features marked with “in particular” or “preferably” are to be understood as optional features.

[0048] In the drawings, identical or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numbers, so that a repeated presentation is omitted.

[0049] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a flat web handling device 14, which is followed downstream by a stranding machine 10 in the conveying direction 37 of a flat web made of a nonwoven fabric that is being converted into a strand. A nonwoven bale 15 is arranged on a pallet 31, from which a flat web 20 made of nonwoven fabric is drawn off by means of a flat web draw-off device 16. The flat web draw-off device 16 has an arm 19, at the end of which an inlet head 17 is provided. The nonwoven bales 15 or nonwoven fabric bales 15 comprise several flat web rows 30 in which the flat webs 20 are stacked one above the other (this is shown in the following figures). The bottom layer of a flat web in one flat web row is connected to the top layer of the flat web in an adjacent flat web row.

[0050] The flat web in a fleece bale is thus continuously stacked in flat web rows. In this exemplary embodiment, a flat web row 30 is arranged in the conveying direction 37, although not shown in detail here.

[0051] The flat web 20 is stacked in the flat web rows 30 in Fig. 1 from left to right and is folded over by 180° at each end. This can result in tension fluctuations during withdrawal. To reduce these, a tension equalization device 18 is provided between the inlet head 17 and the fleece bale 15. The tension equalization device 18 can have a pair of tension rollers that can set a predeterminable tension via a tension adjustment device, usually also referred to as a dancer. This tension can be different from the tension adjustable by the flat web handling device, but can also be the same. A smoothing device can be provided instead of and in place of the tension equalization device 18 in Fig. 1 or integrated therein.

[0052] The flat web handling device 14 can also provide, for example, a crimping device, by means of which folds are crimped in the conveying direction 37 or in the longitudinal extension 39 of the flat web, in order to subsequently produce filter strands or filter rods in the strand machine 10 that have a defined tensile strength. The crimping device can also be connected downstream of the flat web handling device 14 in the conveying direction of the flat web 37.

[0053] The flat web handling device 14 is followed in the conveying direction by a material processing unit 13 and another material processing unit 12, followed in the conveying direction by the strand forming unit 11. The material processing units 12 and 13 can be material processing units referred to by the applicant as Flexport. A wide variety of processing steps can be performed here in a highly variable manner. For example, a crimping device can also be provided in the material processing unit 13, or a flavor can be introduced into the flat web, or, for example, a flavored thread. The flat web can also be filled with activated carbon, or something similar.

[0054] The production of filters in the tobacco processing industry takes place in a stranding process in the stranding machine 10 as usual. Reference is made to the relevant prior art, for example, to the above-mentioned European patent application.

[0055] Fig. 2 shows a schematic three-dimensional representation of part of the flat web handling device 10. A flat web 20 is drawn from a row of flat webs 30 and runs over or through a positioning device 24, which can comprise two rollers or two rods through which the flat web 20 is guided. The flat web 20 then reaches an inlet head 17, which has a deflection roller 21. Via an arm 19, the flat web 20 reaches a further deflection roller 22 and from there into the housing of the flat web handling device, shown in gray, in which, for example, a pair of pull rollers can be provided to convey the flat web 20 in the conveying direction. The arm 19 can be pivoted by a pivoting movement 23 in order to move the inlet head 17 laterally over the row of flat webs 30 of the fleece bale 15. This is shown somewhat better in Fig. 3.

[0056] There, in Fig. 3, a section of the flat web handling device 14 is shown in a schematic plan view. Here, the pivot arm is arranged at the top in the illustration in Fig. 3. This pulls a flat web 20 off the outermost flat web row 30 of the fleece bale 15. As soon as this row has been completely pulled off, the flat web 20 is pulled off the flat web row 30 further down in Fig. 3. At the moment this happens, the inlet head 17 with the deflection roller 21 is pivoted slightly further downwards in Fig. 3, with a pivoting movement 23, but only so far that the deflection roller 21 or the inlet head 17 is located above the next flat web row 30.

[0057] In a pivoting position, as shown in Fig. 3, a twist 25 occurs in the flat web 20 between the positioning device 24 and the deflection roller 21. In addition, a twist 26 occurs in the direction opposite to the twist 25 between the roller 21 and the inlet into the further conveying of the flat web take-off device 14.

[0058] In Fig. 3, a longitudinal extension 29 of the flat track 20 is shown.

[0059] To avoid twists 25 and 26, instead of pivoting the arm 19 of the flat web handling device 14, the nonwoven bale 15 can also be moved laterally to a longitudinal extension 29 of the flat web 20 on the nonwoven bale. This is shown in Fig. 4 in a schematic plan view. There, a complete nonwoven bale 15 is shown below an inlet head 17 of the flat web take-off device 14 and a transport direction 32.

[0060] The nonwoven bale 15 is arranged on a pallet 31 and is moved in the transport direction 32 on a transport device 36. The movement occurs in Fig. 4 from bottom to top and is thus transversely axial to the conveying direction of the flat web in the strand machine 10 adjoining the flat web handling device 14, namely horizontally transversely axially.

[0061] The fleece bale 15 is transported transversely axially until the inlet head 17 is positioned above the first flat web row 30. The flat web 20 is then completely pulled off this flat web row 30, after which the fleece bale 15 is transported or moved further by the width of one flat web row 30, in order to then completely pull off the flat web row 30 from there. This occurs five times in this exemplary embodiment, since five flat web rows 30 are schematically provided here as an example. The fleece bale 15 is then pulled off, and the pallet 31 is conveyed away in the transport direction 32. This avoids fluctuating path lengths and fluctuating web edges, thus enabling a largely uniform pull-off of the flat web.

[0062] The bale 15, shown below in Fig. 4, is shown in the loading position. The middle position is a working position, and the upper position, where the pallet 31 is shown, is the unloading position.

[0063] The nonwoven bale 15 is constructed in series. A sensor 40 (see Figure 5) is preferably provided, which detects when a flat web row 30 is empty and generates a signal that causes the control system to further move the nonwoven bale 15. This achieves a constant positioning of the flat web rows 30 relative to the inlet head 17 of the flat web handling device 14. This ensures continuous production.

[0064] Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a nonwoven bale 15 arranged on a nonwoven bale handling device 41. The nonwoven bale handling device 41 comprises a support onto which a pallet containing the nonwoven bales can be placed, and a rotation axis 33.

[0065] Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of the functionality of the nonwoven bale manipulation device 41. In this case, the nonwoven bale 15 has four flat web rows 30, which extend perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Fig. 6. The flat web rows 30 are formed by a flat web 20 placed or stacked on top of one another, which are to be removed as described above.

[0066] The rotation axis 33 represents a support for the fleece bale manipulation device 41 on the floor 34. The rotation axis can be formed by a rod with a round cross-section or as a pyramidal body arranged eccentrically in the direction of the flat web rows. The eccentricity arises relative to the transverse axis of the longitudinal extension 29 of the flat webs.

[0067] On the left side of Fig. 6, a fully loaded fleece bale 15 is shown. In this case, the weight on the left side of the rotation axis 33 is greater than on the right side. For this reason, the foot 35 and the rotation axis 33 rest on the ground 34. The foot 35 on the right side hovers in the air. As soon as the weight shift changes due to the flat web 20 being largely pulled out of the fleece bale 15, so that the weight force to the right of the rotation axis 33 is greater than on the other side, the fleece bale manipulation device 41 tilts to the right in Fig. 6. This is shown on the right side of Fig. 6. In this case, the rotation axis 33 and the right foot 35 rest on the ground. This prevents the flat web 20 from slipping out of the flat web rows during the slightly diagonal pull to the left.

[0068] 30, with only two flat track rows 30 or one flat track row 30 remaining, these flat track rows tip over, or this flat track row tips over. In addition, a wall 42 is provided that prevents at least one flat track row 30 from tipping to the right in Fig. 6.

[0069] Fig. 6 also schematically shows a sensor 40 which can detect when a row of flat webs has been completely removed.

[0070] All mentioned features, including those revealed solely in the drawings as well as individual features disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention, both individually and in combination. Embodiments of the invention may be fulfilled by individual features or a combination of several features.

[0071] List of reference symbols

[0072] 10 strand machine

[0073] 11 Strand forming unit

[0074] 12 Material processing unit

[0075] 13 Material processing unit

[0076] 14 Flat web handling device

[0077] 15 fleece bales

[0078] 16 Flat web take-off device

[0079] 17 Inlet head

[0080] 18 Train equalization device

[0081] 19 Arm

[0082] 20 flat track

[0083] 21 pulley

[0084] 22 pulley

[0085] 23 Pivoting movement

[0086] 24 Positioning device

[0087] 25 Twist

[0088] 26 Twist

[0089] 27 1st side edge

[0090] 28 2nd side edge

[0091] 29 Longitudinal extension

[0092] 30 flat track row

[0093] 31 pallets

[0094] 32 Transport direction

[0095] 33 axis of rotation

[0096] 34 Floor

[0097] 35 feet

[0098] 36 Transport device

[0099] 37 Conveying direction

[0100] 40 sensors

[0101] 41 fleece bale support device

[0102] 42 Wall

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for producing a filter rod for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a filter material made of nonwoven fabric, wherein a flat web (20) made of nonwoven fabric is drawn off from a nonwoven bale (15) by means of a flat web draw-off device (16) and is introduced into a strand machine (10) of the tobacco processing industry, in which the flat web (20) is conveyed in a longitudinal axial conveying direction and formed into a filter rod, characterized in that tension fluctuations in the flat web (20) are reduced between the flat web draw-off device (16) and the nonwoven bale (15) by means of a tension equalization device (18) and / or that a position of the flat web draw-off device (16) is adjusted or adapted to the flat web (20) to be drawn off from the nonwoven bale (15) and / or that the flat web (20) is smoothed by means of a smoothing device.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the voltage fluctuations are reduced mechanically and / or pneumatically.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that To reduce tension fluctuations, a pair of pulling rollers or a pair of braking rollers is provided through which the flat web (20) runs and / or a compressed air stream is directed onto the flat web (20).

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an inlet head (17) of the flat web take-off device (16) is arranged above the nonwoven bale (15), wherein the relative lateral position of a flat web edge (27, 28) is kept constant when the flat web (20) is taken off from the nonwoven bale (15) to the inlet head (17) from one flat web row (30) of the nonwoven bale (15) to a next flat web row (30) of the nonwoven bale (15).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the inlet head (17) of the flat web take-off device (16) is deflected or displaced laterally.

6. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the fleece bale (15) is displaced laterally.

7. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the nonwoven bale (15), in particular after removal of a predeterminable number of flat web rows (30), is tilted transversely to the conveying direction about an axis, in particular a horizontal axis (33).

8. Flat web handling device (14) of the tobacco processing industry with a flat web take-off device (16), by means of which a flat web (20) can be or is taken off from a nonwoven bale (15), wherein the nonwoven bale (15) has adjacently arranged rows (30) of superimposed segments of a flat web (20), wherein the flat web (20) has a longitudinal extension (29) and two lateral edges (27, 28), wherein the flat web take-off device (16) has an inlet head (17) which is arranged above the nonwoven bale (15), characterized in that a tension equalization device (18) is provided between the inlet head (17) and the nonwoven bale (15) and / or that a device (19, 36) is provided by means of which the relative position of the inlet head (17) to the lateral edges (27, 28) of the segment of the flat web (20) from the flat web row (30) of the nonwoven bale (15) from which the flat web (20) is taken off, can be changed and / or adjusted and / or that a smoothing device is provided which is designed and configured to smooth the flat web (20) after it has been taken off from the nonwoven bale (15).

9. Flat web handling device (14) according to claim 8, characterized in that the tension equalization device (18) is arranged and designed to mechanically and / or pneumatically reduce tension fluctuations in the flat web (20).

10. Flat web handling device (14) according to claim 9, characterized in that, in order to reduce the tension fluctuations, a pair of pulling rollers or a pair of braking rollers is provided through which the flat web (20) runs and / or a device is provided which is arranged and designed to direct a jet of compressed air onto the flat web (20).

11. Flat web handling device (14) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the inlet head (17) of the flat web take-off device (16) is laterally pivotable or displaceable or is pivoted or displaced.

12. Flat web handling device (14) according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that a transport device (36) is provided which is designed and configured to displace or move the nonwoven bale (15) laterally.

13. Flat web handling device (14) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a sensor (40) is provided which detects that a last segment of a flat web (20) from a row (30) of flat webs (20) has been pulled into the nonwoven bale (15), whereby a control signal for laterally pivoting or displacing the inlet head (17) and / or for laterally displacing or moving the nonwoven bale (15) is generated.

14. Flat web handling device (14) according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that a tilting device (33, 41) is provided, by means of which the nonwoven bale (15) can be or is tilted by a predeterminable angle.

15. A filter manufacturing machine comprising a flat web handling device according to any one of claims 8 to 14, and a rod making machine (10) of the tobacco processing industry, wherein the flat web handling device (14) is arranged upstream of the rod making machine (10).

16. Filter manufacturing machine according to claim 15, characterized in that the flat web handling device (14) comprises a smoothing device or a smoothing device is arranged upstream of the flat web handling device (14).

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