Segmented Suction Troughs for Reliable Filter Segment Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stranding machines in the tobacco processing industry face issues with uncontrolled handover of rod-shaped articles due to the absence of a rod-shaped item, leading to unsecured holding and potential extrusion breakage and machine downtime.
Innovation Solution
The stranding machine incorporates at least two separate suction air openings per trough, each with a bridge separating them, and a gondola with individually switchable valves to maintain precise control over suction air, ensuring secure holding and alignment of rod-shaped articles during transfer from a transverse to a longitudinal direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single suction air opening is used in the trough, then the structure is simple, but the suction air collapses when a rod-shaped article is missing, causing unsecured holding and potential extrusion breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The single suction air opening is divided into multiple separate suction air openings (first suction air opening and second suction air opening) that are separated from each other. This segmentation ensures that if one opening fails to hold a rod-shaped article, the other openings remain functional and maintain the negative pressure, preventing unsecured holding and potential extrusion breakage.
2Reliability
If suction air openings are completely separated by bridges, then each opening can function independently, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The suction air openings are completely separated by bridges, creating independent suction zones. Each suction air opening can be controlled independently through separate valves, allowing precise control over which openings are active. This independence ensures that failure or absence of a rod-shaped article in one zone does not affect the holding capability of other zones.
3Productivity
If gondolas rotate about an axis, then the insertion device can transfer articles, but the troughs may become misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The gondola is designed to pivot about an axis that is offset from its center of gravity, creating a self-aligning mechanism. As the gondola rotates to transfer rod-shaped articles from transverse to longitudinal direction, the offset axis causes the gondola to naturally maintain parallel alignment of the troughs with the strand direction, eliminating misalignment issues while preserving transfer capability.
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
This design minimizes the risk of extrusion breakage and machine downtime by maintaining secure holding of rod-shaped articles, even in the absence of one, through independent suction control and enhanced friction surfaces, ensuring precise placement into a strand.
Implementation Method 1
The recess has a suction air opening... rod-shaped articles... are held by suction
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an insertion device (10) which is designed to insert rod-shaped articles (11, 11') from the tobacco processing industry into a line (12) of the tobacco processing industry or to lay them against a line (12) of the tobacco processing industry at least one trough (13) for accommodating rod-shaped articles (11, 11') of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter segments, the at least one trough (13) having a longitudinal extension and the trough (13) having a suction air opening (14, 14 ', 14", 14'"), which is further developed in that at least two suction air openings (14-14'") are provided, which are separated from one another by a web (15, 15', 15").