Conveying Drum Assembly for Precise Cutting of Fragile Rods
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tobacco processing machinery faces challenges in cutting fragile and/or short rod-shaped articles in a product-friendly manner, particularly in filter forming machines where precise longitudinal alignment and cutting of filter rods or filter cigarettes are crucial for subsequent processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A drum arrangement with a conveying drum having receiving recesses for rod-shaped articles, equipped with a cutting device and displacement devices that allow for longitudinal displacement and precise positioning of articles within a cutting area, enabling the cutting of multi-length articles into single-length segments without contact, using a piezoelectric actuator for alignment and negative pressure suction for transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional conveying drums with rigid receiving recesses are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but the ability to precisely position and cut fragile/short rod-shaped articles is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving recesses are designed with movable bottom portions that can be displaced axially to adjust the position of rod-shaped articles. This dynamic adjustment capability allows precise positioning of fragile and short articles for cutting operations, transforming a static structure into an adaptive one that responds to positioning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The receiving recesses are divided into distinct functional zones: a receiving area for initial article placement and a cutting area for precise cutting operations. This segmentation allows articles to be transferred between zones with different functional requirements, enabling both gentle handling and precise cutting in a single drum structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple conveying drums are used for transverse and longitudinal conveying, then conveying functionality is comprehensive, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conveying drum is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it conveys articles in the transverse direction through rotation, provides longitudinal positioning through movable bottom portions, and facilitates cutting operations through designated cutting areas. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate conveying drums for different directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse conveying function and longitudinal positioning function are merged into a single drum structure. The drum body handles transverse movement while the movable bottom portions of receiving recesses handle longitudinal positioning, combining what would traditionally require multiple drums into one integrated system.
3Reliability
If rod-shaped articles are cut in conventional drums, then cutting function is provided, but product damage occurs due to contact and lack of precise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The movable bottom portions of receiving recesses act as intermediaries between the article and the drum structure. These intermediaries can be displaced to precisely position articles in the cutting area and can be moved away to minimize contact during cutting, reducing damage to fragile articles while maintaining cutting precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Articles are preliminarily positioned in the receiving area before being transferred to the cutting area. The movable bottom portions are displaced in advance to prepare the cutting area, ensuring articles are correctly positioned before cutting begins, which improves both precision and reduces damage.
4Ease of operation
If receiving recesses are fixed, then structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility in article positioning and transfer is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom portions of receiving recesses are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be displaced axially for article transfer operations. This dynamic design enables flexible article positioning and transfer while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that builds upon the conventional fixed recess design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and precise cutting of rod-shaped articles into single-length segments, facilitating further processing by maintaining product integrity and reducing the need for multiple conveying drums.
Implementation Method 1
using a piezoelectric actuator for alignment
Implementation Method 2
negative pressure suction for transfer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates, among other things, to a drum arrangement (T) for the transverse axial conveying of rod-shaped articles (100) of the tobacco processing industry, comprising a conveying drum (10) of the tobacco processing industry with a drum body (12) rotatable or rotating about an axis of rotation (R), wherein the drum body (12) has receiving recesses (14) for rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction and aligned parallel to the axis of rotation (R) of the conveying drum (10), wherein a cutting device (30) for cutting the rod-shaped articles (100) into article rod pieces (111, 112) is provided on the drum body (12), wherein, with respect to the transverse axial conveying direction of the rod-shaped articles (100), upstream of the cutting device (30), the rod-shaped articles (100) arranged in the receiving recesses (14) are moved by means of a displacement device (20), in particular a position displacement device.in the longitudinal axial direction in the receiving recesses (14) into a cutting area (S) of the receiving recesses (14), wherein after the longitudinal axial displacement of the rod-shaped articles (100) into the cutting area (S) of the receiving recesses (14) the rod-shaped articles (100) are cut by means of the cutting device (30).