Centering Device for Tobacco Rods Using Dynamic Pushers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing centering devices for rod-like articles on drum conveyors in the tobacco industry fail to accurately center articles of varying lengths, leading to uneven cutting and inconsistent positioning relative to cutting planes.
Innovation Solution
A centering apparatus with coupled pusher elements that make swinging movements with convergent contact surfaces, actuated by dynamic elements such as springs or pneumatics, ensures the geometric centers of rod-like articles or groups are positioned in a common plane, allowing for precise axial centering and uniform cutting regardless of length variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If fixed pusher elements are used to center rod-like articles, then centering is achieved for articles of maximum length, but articles of varying lengths cannot be centered accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher elements are made dynamically adjustable through a cam mechanism that allows their position to be varied along the flute. This enables the pusher elements to adapt to different article lengths while maintaining accurate centering, resolving the contradiction between fixed positioning and length variability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the pusher elements relative to the article. By allowing the pusher elements to be positioned at different locations along the flute based on article length, the system achieves accurate centering for articles of varying lengths rather than being fixed for maximum length only.
2Device complexity
If single pusher elements are used to shift article groups, then simple device structure is achieved, but uneven cutting results due to inability to center all article groups
Solution Approach 1:
The centering device is segmented into multiple pusher elements (at least two) that can independently act on different parts of the article group. This segmentation allows each pusher element to address specific positioning needs, achieving uniform centering and cutting across all article groups while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If pusher elements are positioned for maximum length articles, then correct centering is achieved for maximum length, but other lengths are not centered properly
Solution Approach 1:
The pusher elements incorporate dynamic positioning capability through the cam mechanism, allowing their position to be adjusted according to the actual article length. This dynamic adaptation maintains position repeatability while extending the range of article lengths that can be properly centered, rather than being fixed for maximum length only.
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
The solution enables effective centering and uniform cutting of rod-like articles, ensuring consistent positioning and reducing length discrepancies, thereby improving the accuracy and repeatability of cutting processes across different article lengths.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pusher element being connected with a dynamic element placing the pusher elements in a position enabling them to axially act on the rod-like articles
Implementation Method 2
dynamic elements such as springs or pneumatics
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and an apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) for axial centering of a rod-like article (3) or a group of rod-like articles wherein the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles is conveyed in a flute (4) situated on the circumference of a drum conveyor (5), moreover, the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles in the successive flutes (4) have the same or varying length, with the apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E) being provided with pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) of a shifting mechanism axially acting on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles so as to change the position of the rod-like article (3) or the groups of articles in the flute (4), characterized in that the coupled pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) make swinging movements having opposite senses, moreover, the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) have contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) adapted to axially act on the rod-like article (3) or the group of rod-like articles, the contact surfaces (10A, 13A, 20A, 23A, 30A, 33A, 40A, 43A) of the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being convergently positioned in the direction of movement (T) of the rod-like articles, at least one pusher element (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) being connected with a dynamic element (6, 26, 37, 47) placing the pusher elements (10, 13, 20, 23, 30, 33, 40, 43) in a position enabling them to axially act on the rod-like articles (3, 3L, 3R) or the groups of rod-like articles conveyed on the drum conveyor (5) so that the centers of the rod-like articles (3) or the groups of rod-like articles are positioned principally in a common plane (S, SL, SR).