EP1534091B1 - Device for producing filter cigarettes - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves feeding compressed air into one end of the filter cigarette (10) and measuring the air discharged from the other end. The filter cigarette is divided longitudinally into multiple test sections (22,23), and air can be separately fed into each test section and/or discharge air can be extracted. An Independent claim is included for an apparatus for testing cigarettes.

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing filter cigarettes with openings in an outer filter mantle - toffing paper, which are mounted by a perforating member, in particular by a laser perforating member, wherein the cigarette by means of the cigarette passed through the flowing medium - test air - in size and Number of openings checked and the perforating member is adjustable in accordance with the measurement result in terms of the number and / or size of the openings to be attached to the filter casing.

Such a device is known by US 4,193,409 , The test of the air passage is measured on the basis of the total cigarette, the compressed air is supplied over both ends. The pressure of the test air is tested in the pressure line leading to the cigarettes by means of a measuring device which transmits a measuring signal to an integrating arrangement. After checking the measurement result, a mechanical perforator for the openings is optionally adjusted via an electric motor. Such a device is not suitable for cigarette production at high power. This also applies to a further embodiment of the cigarette test according to US 4,662,214 , In both versions, the cigarettes are transported through a test drum during the test.

1. a) ein Messorgan dient zur Messung von über die Öffnungen austretender Luft - Austrittsluft,
2. b) das Messorgan ist an einen Rechner angeschlossen,
3. c) das Perforationsorgan ist ebenfalls an den Rechner angeschlossen und durch diesen nach Maßgabe der Messergebnisse einstellbar,
4. d) die Austrittsluft im Bereich der Öffnungen ist ständig oder taktweise messbar,
5. e) die Messergebnisse sind in einen Regelkreis zur Einstellung des Perforationsorgans einführbar.

The invention has for its object to propose a system for the testing of filter cigarettes during the production thereof, which changes in the short term changes and adjustments to be made in the filter openings in accordance with the measurement results allows. To achieve this object, the device according to the invention is characterized by the following features:

1. a) a measuring element is used for measuring air emerging through the openings - outlet air,
2. b) the measuring device is connected to a computer,
3. c) the perforation member is also connected to the computer and adjustable by this in accordance with the measurement results,
4. d) the outlet air in the area of the openings can be measured continuously or intermittently,
5. e) the measurement results can be inserted into a control loop for adjusting the perforation element.

By testing or measuring the openings in the filter using a control loop is an almost delay-free adjustment of Perforationsorgans, in particular a laser Perforationsorgans, to the measurement results possible, the risk of rejects production is significantly reduced.

Preferably, test gas, namely compressed air, the free end of the filter is introduced into this. The filter is located with the openings in the area of a closed test chamber with a connection to a pressure gauge. This responds to the air emerging from the openings. In addition, the remaining part of the cigarette, namely the tobacco rod, may be arranged in a second chamber. These also include pressure gauges. All pressure gauges lead to the common computer which, in conjunction with the general machine control system, determines changes for the perforation element and transmits corresponding adjustments.

Furthermore, the invention relates to parts of the Prüfkammem, which are movable by separate conveyors in the test area to the test drum.

Fig. 1

einen Ausschnitt einer Zigaretten-Herstellmaschine mit schematischer Darstellung von Förder- und Fertigungsorganen in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

eine Einzelheit der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, nämlich einen Prüfförderer in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 2 in der Schnittebene III-III, bei vergrößertem Maßstab,

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt durch die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 3 in der Schnittebene IV-IV,

Fig. 5

einen Querschnitt durch die Einzelheit gemäß Fig. 3 in der Schnittebene V-V,

Fig. 6

eine schematische Darstellung der Prüfung von Zigaretten und der Auswertung von Prüfsignalen,

Fig. 7

ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Prüftrommel in schematischer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 8

einen Querschnitt durch einen Teilbereich der Prüftrommel in einer Schnittebene VIII-VIII der Fig. 7 in vergrößertem Maßstab.

Further details and features of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments of the invention. It shows:

Fig. 1

a detail of a cigarette-making machine with a schematic representation of conveying and manufacturing organs in side view,

Fig. 2

a detail of the device according to FIG. 1, namely a test conveyor in side view,

Fig. 3

a cross-section through the detail of FIG. 2 in the sectional plane III-III, on an enlarged scale,

Fig. 4

a cross section through the detail of FIG. 3 in the section plane IV-IV,

Fig. 5

a cross section through the detail of FIG. 3 in the sectional plane VV,

Fig. 6

a schematic representation of the examination of cigarettes and the evaluation of test signals,

Fig. 7

another embodiment of a test drum in a schematic side view,

Fig. 8

a cross section through a portion of the test drum in a sectional plane VIII-VIII of Fig. 7 on an enlarged scale.

It is about the production or testing of filter cigarettes 10. These consist of a tobacco rod 11 and a side attached to this filter 12th

Tobacco stick 11 and filter 12 are interconnected by an (outer) tipping paper. The latter has a circumferential row of openings 13 for the supply of outside air into the filter 12 during smoking (ventilation holes).

The filter cigarettes 10 are manufactured by a cigarette maker (maker). From this, a partial unit is shown in simplified form in FIG. 1, namely a filter tipper. This consists essentially of a main drum 14 with wells for receiving cigarettes or filters on the circumference. In the area of the main drum 14 (double-length) tobacco sticks are severed, connected to a (double-length) filter rod and then severed centrally, so that finished filter cigarettes 10 leave the main drum 14 via a pick-up drum 15. This transports the paired axially adjacent filter cigarettes 10 - in troughs - to an intermediate drum 16th

In this area, the filter cigarettes 10 are provided with the openings 13. For this purpose, a perforating element, in particular a laser perforating element 17, is positioned above the intermediate drum 16, which at the same time provides the respective facing (two) filters 12 of the two filter cigarettes 10 with openings 13 lying in a common recess. The filter cigarettes 10 are rotated.

The thus completed filter cigarettes 10 are transferred from the intermediate drum 16 to a test conveyor, namely a test drum 18. This has along the circumference arranged wells 19, each for receiving a (single) filter cigarette 10. In cooperation of intermediate drum 16, test drum 18 and a cigarette turner 20 known design ensures that the filter cigarettes 10 isolated, every other filter cigarette 10 turned and be passed to the test drum 18.

In the area of the test drum 18, the cigarettes are checked for correct formation by means of a test medium, namely in particular with the aid of (compressed) air. The filter cigarettes 10 are transported approximately along a lower peripheral half of the test drum 18. In this lower area, a test track or a test station is formed, which is offset in the conveying direction with respect to an (imaginary) vertical center plane of the test drum 18.

In the area of the test section, sealing members are moved up on the outside of the filter cigarettes 10 as part of a sealing conveyor 21. The test drum 18 is particularly designed in the region of the depressions 19, such that, in cooperation with the seal conveyor 21, which is likewise embodied in a special way, mutually delimited and sealed test sections are formed in the longitudinal direction of the filter cigarette 10. Test drum 18 or troughs 19 on the one hand and sealing conveyor 21 on the other hand are formed so that along the filter cigarette 10 test chambers 22, 23 are formed, which allow the independent testing of selected sections of the filter cigarette 10.

The test drum 18 and its troughs 19 are formed so that a part of the test chamber 22, 23 is created by a (cylindrical) extension or depression of the troughs 19, namely about a (cross-sectional) half. The wells of the wells 19 and the test chambers 22, 23 thus formed are delimited from each other, by radially directed webs 24. With test drum 18 and seal conveyor 21 further sealing or connecting organs act together. These are caps 25, 26 made of elastic material, in particular rubber. These are effective on both sides of the test cylinder 18 and connected thereto or in each case by a separate conveyor movable. The caps 25, 26 are moved up at least in the region of the test track to the two ends of the filter cigarettes 10 and placed on this, as shown in Fig. 3. The caps 25, 26 are provided with a channel or a bore 27 for the supply of compressed air or for the discharge of discharge air. To the caps 25, 26 supply lines 48 and discharges 47 are connected for compressed air or discharge air. The test drum 18 is provided at the ends of the wells 19 with a radially inwardly facing, semi-circular collar 28, 29, to which the caps 25, 26 sealingly connect during the test.

The caps 25, 26 fulfill another task. When transferring the cigarettes or filter cigarettes to the test drum 18 - in the lower region of the test drum 18 - the caps 25, 26 moved by axial displacement at the ends of the filter cigarettes 10 and placed on this. In the area of the test drum 18, the caps 25, 26 assume the function of supporting and centering the filter cigarettes 10 in the troughs 19 in this way.

The seal conveyor 21 is formed as an outer complement of the troughs 19 of the test drum 18. The seal conveyor 21 runs over three deflection rollers 30, 31, 32. Two deflection rollers 31, 32 are positioned adjacent to the circumference of the test drum 18 so that the sealing material consisting of elastic material 21 along a peripheral portion of the test drum 18 is pressed against this, namely with a Prüftrum 33. Alternatively, the seal conveyor 21 may also be mounted in the upper region of the test drum 18 or as a rectilinear sealing tape, which is tangentially brought to the periphery of the test drum 18. Another alternative is the formation of the seal conveyor as a seal drum. Finally, individual radially displaceable plungers can cooperate as sealing members with the test drum 18.

The seal conveyor 21 is formed with counter-recesses 34. These correspond with respect to the definition of the test chambers 22, 23 with the wells 19 of the test drum 18th

It is therefore an outer collar 35, 36 of the seal conveyor 21 in the test section, namely in the region of the Prüftrums 33, sealingly applied to the caps 25, 26. Opposite to the web 24, a counterpart web 37 is formed, which together with the web 24 forms a circumferential sealing ring and thus delimits the test chamber 22 from the test chamber 23. The counter-recesses 34 are formed corresponding to the wells 19, ie with recesses or extensions relative to the filter cigarette 10, so that the test chambers 22, 23 surrounding the filter cigarette 10 around and have a circular cross-section.

The sealing conveyor 21 is constructed in a special way, namely, consists of a resilient Zugtrum 38 and an applied thereto elastic sealing layer 39th

In the embodiment shown, two areas of the filter cigarette 10 are tested independently, namely the tobacco rod 11 on the one hand and the filter 12 on the other. The sealing members, namely web 24 and counterpart 37, are positioned in the region of a parting plane between tobacco rod 11 and filter 12. Test air or compressed air is introduced on the filter side via the cap 25 into the filter cigarette 10. Test air enters the test chamber 22 via the openings 13 from the filter 12. An exit bore 40 for the outlet air to be tested is connected to this. The outlet bore 40 is formed in the region of the test drum 18 as an arcuate channel, may alternatively be mounted in the region of the seal conveyor 21. The outlet bore 40 is connected to a measuring device, in particular a measuring probe for testing the discharge air.

The introduced into the filter cigarette 10 test air enters the area of the tobacco rod 11. In this area about occurring losses are checked by the recorded at the free end of the tobacco rod 11 outlet air, so the through the bore 27 in the cap 26 exiting test air. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 (solid lines in Fig. 3), the seal conveyor 21 extends only in the region of the filter 12. The tobacco rod 11 is exposed on the radially outer side.

As indicated in FIG. 3 by dashed lines, the sealing conveyor 21 may alternatively extend over the full width of the test drum 18 or the filter cigarette 10. In this case, laterally escaping air is possibly discharged in the region of the tobacco rod 11 via an outlet bore 41 and led to a test probe.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, the separate seal conveyor 21 is replaced by seal members connected to the test drum 18 associated with each tray 19 and moved during the rotation of the test drum 18, namely from a retracted home position to a sealing position to form the test chambers 22, 23. Flap-like sealing pieces 42 are pivotally mounted on the test drum 18. Each packer 42 is movable from a cross-axially directed home position (dashed lines in FIG. 8) to a sealing position engaging the test drum 18 and filter cigarette 10. In the retracted position, the packer 42 is positioned so that the filter cigarettes 10 are free freely approached in the radial direction to the circumference of the test drum 18 and inserted into the wells 19. Similarly, the tested cigarettes are removed from the test drum approximately in the same range (Figure 7, right).

The sealing pieces 42 are designed so that in cooperation with the test drum 18 test chambers 22, 23 are formed. In the embodiment shown, a sealing piece 42 is provided, which creates a test chamber 22 only in the region of the filter 12. The packer 42 forms for this purpose at the free edge a sealing lip 43, which the web 24 of Test drum 18 is opposite and surrounds the filter cigarette 10 and the filter 12 semicircular, so that in addition to the web 24 a circumferential, closed seal the filter-side test chamber 22 is provided. The packer 42 is thus designed so that on the filter cigarette 10 facing side in each case a semicircular in cross-section cavity is formed, which forms a supplement to the corresponding cavity of the wells 19. The movement of the test pieces 42 is analogous to the rotation of the test revolver 18, in particular by (fixed) cam tracks via the guide rollers 42, the seal piece from the initial position (transaxially) in the sealing position (paraxial) and move back. The individual packing pieces 42 are pivotable for this purpose about a pivot bearing or hinge joint 53, and from a starting position shown by dashed lines, transversely directed initial position in the sealing position under investment in filter cigarette 10 and web 24th

The construction of a special testing system for filter cigarettes 10 is shown schematically in FIG. The test drum 18 is associated with a computer 44, this test signals are supplied. In the example shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of test chambers 22, 23 are formed, namely two test chambers 22 in the region of the filter 12 and a further test chamber 23 in the region of the tobacco stick 11. Each test area or test chamber 22, 23 is connected via a line for the outlet air, namely an outlet line 45 connected to an associated pressure gauge 46 and a pressure probe.

In the drawing, dashed lines show organs which can optionally be used, namely the subdivision of the test area of the filter cigarettes 10 into two test chambers and the formation of a further test chamber 23 in the area of the tobacco rod 11.

At the free end of the tobacco rod 11, ie at the so-called fire end, an outlet line 47 connects, to the cap 26. This also leads to a pressure gauge 46 (pressure probe).

All pressure gauges 46 are connected to the computer 44 via signal lines, so that the data of the pressure gauges 46 can be fed to the common computer 44 and processed here. A test gas, in particular compressed air, is supplied via a feed line 48 of the filter cigarette 10, namely the free end of the filter 12. In the supply line 48, a control valve 49 is arranged to regulate the pressure of the test air in dependence on specifications of the computer 44. Expediently, the procedure is such that test air is already introduced into the cigarettes via the supply line 48 after the caps 25, 26 have been applied to the ends of the filter cigarette, so that any air pressure fluctuations at the test point are approximately the same as the sectional plane III-III in FIG. 2 - calmed down. The actual test air is therefore supplied only briefly, cyclically and precisely controlled by the control valve. Then the air supply is switched off.

Before the compressed air enters the area of the filter cigarette 10, a branch line is connected to the supply line 48. This branch line 50 leads to a further pressure gauge 46, which is also connected to the computer 44.

In the computer 44, the measured data and quantities are compared with setpoints. These can be automatically provided by a machine controller 51 via a line 52 to the computer 44.

The computer 44 in turn forwards the determined data, namely in particular deviations from desired values, to the machine controller 51 or alternatively directly to independently operating units, for example to the laser 12. On the basis of the determined control signals, the required changes in the production of the tobacco sticks 11 and / or the filter 12 are initiated, during production.

Data on the properties of the cigarettes or filter cigarettes 10 ascertained by the computer 44 can be evaluated in such a way that error tendencies are ascertained and changes are then made to the production units and other units. It is also possible to set up a permanent control circuit in such a way that the measured values lead constantly or from time to time to an adaptation of the production parameters. These in turn cause a change in the measured properties of the filter cigarettes 10, with the effect of changing the measured data. Accordingly, a closed control loop is created which, by continuously or cyclically checking the cigarettes, in particular the air emerging in the region of the openings 13 (discharge air), leads to an optionally required adjustment of the perforation element, in particular of the laser perforating element 17.

The perforation of the tipping paper, that is to say the attachment of the openings 13, can be carried out in the region of the device on a continuous material web 54 of the tipping paper, a laser perforating element 17 being arranged above a particularly horizontal conveying section of the material web 54 (FIG. 1, dashed lines) ). Also in this alternative, the perforating member, in particular the laser perforating member 17 is connected to the computer 44 and is adjustable in terms of the number and / or size of the openings to be produced. The material web 54 leads to an aggregate for producing the tipping paper by separating it from the material web 54 and attaching it to the cigarette or to a double cigarette. This roller unit 55 is of known design.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

filter cigarette

11

tobacco rod

12

filter

13

opening

14

main drum

15

off drum

16

intermediate drum

17

Laser perforation element

18

testing drum

19

trough

20

cigarette turner

21

sealing conveyor

22

test chamber

23

test chamber

24

web

25

cap

26

cap

27

drilling

28

Federation

29

Federation

30

idler pulley

31

idler pulley

32

idler pulley

33

Prüftrum

34

against depression

35

outer collar

36

outer collar

37

against Steg

38

drive span

39

sealing layer

40

outlet bore

41

outlet bore

42

packer

43

sealing lip

44

computer

45

exit line

46

pressure gauge

47

exit line

48

supply

49

control valve

50

branch line

51

machine control

52

management

53

hinge

54

web

55

roll unit

Claims (12)

1. A device for producing filter cigarettes (10) with openings (13) in an outer filter cover - cork paper - that are applied by a perforation element, in particular by a laser perforation element (17), the cigarettes being checked with respect to the size and number of openings (13) by means of a flowing medium - test air - being directed through the cigarette and it being possible to adjust the perforation element (17) as determined by the measured results with respect to the number and/or size of the openings (13) to be applied to the filter cover, characterized by the following features:

   a) a pressure meter (46) is used to measure the air - exit air - emerging via the openings (13),

   b) the pressure meter (46) is connected to a computer (44),

   c) the perforation element (17) is also connected to the computer (44) and can be adjusted by the latter in accordance with the measured results,

   d) the exit air in the region of the openings (13) can be measured continuously or cyclically,

   e) the measured results can be introduced into a control loop for adjusting the perforation element (17).
2. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the filter cover of the filter (12), consisting of cork paper, and for connecting said filter to the filter cigarette (10) is formed from a continuous material web (54) by dividing it off and can be joined to the filter (12) and the filter cigarette (10) in the region of a roll unit (55), the (laser) perforation unit (17) being fitted in the region of the material web (54) of the cork paper, above the latter, in order to produce openings (13) for a cork paper respectively assigned to a filter cigarette (10) in the region of the material web (54).
3. The device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the (laser) perforation element (17) for making openings (13) on finished filter cigarettes (10) provided with cork paper is arranged above an intermediate drum (16) for transporting the filter cigarettes (10).
4. The device according to Claim 1 or one of the further Claims, characterized by the following features:

   a) following the making of the openings (13), the filter cigarettes (10) provided with openings (13) can be supplied to a testing unit,

   b) the testing unit is configured as a testing drum (18) having hollows (19) for holding one filter cigarette (10) each,

   c) the hollows (19) of the testing drum (18) have at least one testing chamber (22) in the region of the filter (12) of the filter cigarette (10),

   d) compressed air can be supplied to the filter cigarettes (10) in the axial direction via a free end of the filter (12) and enter the testing chamber (22) via the openings (13),

   e) the testing chamber (22) is connected via an exit line (45) to a pressure meter (46) that passes on the measured pressures as a signal to the computer (44).
5. The device according to Claim 4 or one of the further Claims, characterized by the following features

   a) at least a first testing chamber (22) is formed in the region of the filter (12),

   b) a further testing chamber (23) is formed in the region of a tobacco stick (11) of the filter cigarette (10),

   c) each testing chamber (22, 23) is assigned a pressure meter (46) via an exit line (45, 47),

   d) the pressure meter (46) is connected to the common computer (44).
6. The device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the testing drum (18) is assigned separate sealing elements that, in the region of the testing of the filter cigarettes (10), can be placed on the latter in order to form a totally closed, sealed testing chamber (22) in the region of the filter (12).
7. The device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sealing elements for the free outer side of the filter cigarettes (10) to be tested are fitted to a sealing conveyor (21), which rests on the free outer circumference of the testing drum (18) at least during the testing of the filter cigarettes (10), and has partitioning or sealing elements for each filter cigarette (10) in order to form a testing chamber (22).
8. The device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the sealing conveyor (21) has hollows, namely matching hollows (34) which, during the testing of the filter cigarettes (10), together with the hollows (19) of the testing drum (18), form a hollow space which is closed, at least in the subregion, namely a testing chamber (22), with webs (24) of the hollows (19) of the testing drum (18) being assigned matching hollows (34) of the sealing conveyor (21).
9. The device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the sealing conveyor (21) consists overall of resilient material, namely a pulling run (38) which can be loaded and a sealing layer (39) which is fitted to the latter and has the matching hollows (34).
10. The device according to Claim 4 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that testing chambers (22, 23) are sealed off at the ends by elastic closure elements, in particular by caps (25, 26) of resilient material, which are placed in a sealing manner on ends of the filter cigarette (10), it being possible for the caps (25, 26) to be placed on the filter cigarettes (10) preferably as the filter cigarettes (10) are fed to the testing drum (18), and hold the filter cigarettes (10) on the circumference of the testing drum (18) and in the hollows (19).
11. The device according to Claim 4 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that sealing elements, in particular movable (pivotable) sealing pieces (42) are fitted indirectly or directly on the testing drum (18) and are assigned to each hollow (19), the sealing pieces (42) being formed such that, in an active testing position resting on the testing drum (18), sealed testing chambers (22, 23) are formed in interaction with the hollows (19) of the testing drum (18).
12. The device according to Claim 4 or one of the further Claims, characterized in that air lines and exit lines (45, 47) branching off from the testing chambers (22, 23) lead to sensors, in particular to pressure meters (46) assigned to each line, and in that the sensors or pressure meters (46) are connected to a central computer (44) in order to evaluate the measured data, the computer (44) generating signals for controlling machines, units and elements.

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