Tobacco Rod Device with Pivotable Guide for Layer Changeover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices in the tobacco processing industry are inflexible when changing the layers of material, particularly when producing hollow strands, as they are designed to produce specific types of strands with the same sheathing material, making it difficult to vary the layers with minimal conversion measures.
Innovation Solution
A device that allows for different material flows in two operating modes, enabling efficient changeover between producing strands with varying layers by using pivotable guide devices and material cutting systems to manage the flat material effectively, allowing for the production of strands with different layer configurations using the same equipment with minimal structural changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices are designed to produce specific types of strands with the same sheathing material, then the production process is simple and stable, but the device becomes inflexible when changing the layers of material
Solution Approach 1:
The device is designed with multiple operating modes that allow the same equipment to produce different strand types (solid and hollow) with varying material layers. The material feed system can be reconfigured to draw from one or two bobbins, and the guide device can direct material through different material runs (first, second, third, or fourth) to the strand forming device, enabling universal production capability without requiring separate dedicated equipment for each strand type.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates dynamic reconfigurability through pivotable guide devices that can change the path of material flow. The guide device can pivot to redirect material between different material runs, and the operating mode can be dynamically changed by adjusting which bobbins are active and how material is routed. This dynamic adaptability allows the same physical equipment to produce different strand configurations without permanent structural modifications.
2Loss of time
If devices use fixed material flows for specific strand types, then the production process is stable, but the changeover time when varying layers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is pre-configured with multiple material runs and guide paths that are ready for different operating modes. The pivotable guide device and multi-bobbin setup are prepared in advance, allowing rapid switching between producing strands with different layer configurations. This preliminary preparation of multiple material flow paths eliminates the need for extensive reconfiguration when changing production requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The material feed system is segmented into multiple independent material runs (first, second, third, and fourth material runs) that can be activated or deactivated based on the desired strand type. This segmentation allows selective engagement of different material paths without affecting the entire system, enabling quick changeovers by simply activating the appropriate pre-configured material run rather than reconfiguring the whole system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different material feeds are used for different strands, then production flexibility is improved, but the equipment requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single guide device serves multiple functions by directing material through different material runs depending on the operating mode. The same physical guide device can route material from the first bobbin through the first material run, or from the second bobbin through the second material run, or through the third and fourth material runs. This universal guide device eliminates the need for separate dedicated guide devices for each material configuration, reducing overall equipment quantity while maintaining high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The device merges multiple material feed capabilities into a single integrated system. Both the first and second bobbins can feed material through the same guide device, and the same guide device can direct material through different material runs to produce different strand types. This merging of functions into shared equipment reduces the total number of components required compared to having separate dedicated systems for each strand type.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for producing a first and a second rod (20, 21) of the tobacco processing industry. Each of the rods (20, 21) has at least two layers of a wound flat material (1a, 1b, 8a, 8b), in particular a material drawn from at least one bobbin device (1, 8). In a first operating mode of the device, the flat material (1a, 1b) for the first rod (20) can be drawn from a first bobbin device (1) and can be conveyed to a first rod-shaping device (14) via a first material path, and the flat material (8a, 8b) for the second rod (21) can be drawn from a second bobbin device (8) and can be conveyed to a second rod-shaping device (7) via a second material path. In a second operating mode of the device, the flat material (1a, 8a) for the first rod (20) can be drawn from the first and the second bobbin device (1, 8) and can be conveyed to the first rod-shaping device (14) via a third material path, and the flat material (1a, 8b) for the second rod (21) can be drawn from the first and the second bobbin device (1, 8) and can be conveyed to the second rod-shaping device (7) via a fourth material path.