Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6681918
-
Patent Number
6,681,918
-
Date Filed
Monday, April 8, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, January 27, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Venable LLP
- Kinberg; Robert
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 198 389
- 198 390
- 198 400
- 198 406
- 198 412
- 198 417
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A device for removing rod-shaped objects from a production line includes a turning arrangement adapted for receiving the rod-shaped objects removed from the production line. The turning arrangement has at least one essentially fixed in place and rigid guide mechanism for swiveling the rod-shaped objects. A transporting mechanism receives the swiveled rod-shaped objects from the turning arrangement transports the swiveled rod-shaped objects to a remote location
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Priority is claimed with respect to German application No. 101 17 082.3 filed in Germany on Apr. 6, 2001, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a device for removing rod-shaped objects, in particular cigarette rods or cigarette filter rods, from a production line for processing, in particular for tobacco processing, and for conveying the previously removed, rod-shaped objects to a remote location, in particular for a periodic check. The device comprises a turning arrangement for turning the rod-shaped objects.
A device of this type is generally used for monitoring the production of cigarette filters by removing filters periodically and at predetermined intervals from the production line. The device is used for checking filter dimensions, material, quality and/or other relevant criteria, in particular in a remote testing station, to draw conclusions concerning the production quality. A turning arrangement is provided because the removed, individual cigarette filter rods are generally conveyed in a longitudinal direction while they are generally positioned at a different angle for the removal from the production line. Thus, the cigarette filter rods can be oriented accordingly and then transported off. To be sure, the cigarette filter rods are normally transported in the production line such that they are arranged side-by-side in a row and crosswise to their longitudinal extension. In particular, they are guided over a drum from which respectively one cigarette filter rod is periodically removed at specific time intervals. The rod-shaped objects are generally deflected by an angle of approximately 90°, but are not limited to that.
European patent application No. EP 0 409 443 B1, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,298, discloses a device of the aforementioned type that is used for removing cigarette filter rods and comprises a shuttle plate as a turning arrangement and a rotating device for rotating the shuttle plate. The rotating device rotates the shuttle plate between a first position in which a cigarette filter rod is picked up from the drum and a second position, in which the removed cigarette filter rod is pushed with compressed gas into a discharge pipe. In the second position, the cigarette filter rod is arranged orthogonal to the cigarette filter rods in the production line.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to modify a device of the aforementioned type so that the design of the turning arrangement is simplified.
The above and other objects are accomplished according to the invention by the provision of a device for removing rod-shaped objects from a production line, comprising: a turning arrangement adapted for receiving the rod-shaped objects removed from the production line and comprising at least one, essentially fixed in place and rigid guide means for swiveling the rod-shaped objects; and transporting means for receiving the swiveled rod-shaped objects from the turning arrangement and for transporting the swiveled rod-shaped objects to a remote location.
With the at least one essentially fixed and rigid guide means according to the invention, the rod-shaped objects are moved with restricted guidance and, in the process, are subjected to a swiveling movement. As compared to prior art, the invention has the advantage that all movable parts are omitted, which not only leads to lower production costs, but also simplifies the maintenance during the operation and thus lowers the repair and maintenance costs.
The guide means preferably forms a guide surface, which is somewhat partially twisted around an axis extending approximately in the movement direction of the rod-shaped objects and positioned in the guide surface. Owing to the fact that the removed, rod-shaped object moves along the guide surface and essentially makes contact with this guide surface, the object is correspondingly turned as a result of the twisting of the guide surface.
Alternatively, the guide means can form a guide surface with a partial helical shape, for which the turning axis extends approximately in the movement direction of the rod-shaped objects. With this alternative embodiment, the guide surface is shaped and thus has the effect of a screw or spiral, on which or along which the removed rod-shaped object moves.
For a secure guidance, at least two spaced-apart guide elements must be provided, between which the rod-shaped objects are guided.
At least one guide element is required to guide the rod-shaped objects accordingly, wherein the guide element can be designed, for example, as a (preferably trough-shaped) slide.
However, several guide elements can also be arranged at a distance to each other and side-by-side in a row, which has advantages with respect to production technology, wherein it is useful if the several guide elements are arranged in two spaced-apart rows. For this, the guide elements (respectively) arranged in a row can be arranged in an imaginary plane or surface, which is somewhat partially twisted around an axis extending approximately in a movement direction of the rod-shaped objects and positioned in the plane, or has a partial helical shape with the rotational axis extending approximately in the movement direction of the rod-shaped objects.
For production technological reasons, it is particularly useful if the guide means is comprised of rods or bars, preferably with an essentially round cross section, or as sheet-metal guides. The use of, in particular, several rod-shaped or bar-shaped guide elements has the advantage that the turning arrangement can be more easily cleaned. In addition, round rods can generally be aligned well in a stay. However, other cross sectional shapes are conceivable as well, such as a triangular, oval, and the like.
The guide means comprising rod-shaped or bar-shaped guide elements or designed as sheet-metal guides, advantageously has the required twisted form corresponding to the aforementioned surface configuration. However, at least one pair of spaced-apart rod-shaped or bar-shaped guide elements or sheet-metal guides, which essentially follow the outer surface spanned by the one shell of a hyperboloid, can also be provided to achieve the desired turning movement of the rod-shaped objects guided between the two guide elements of such a pair.
A conveying device is normally provided, in which the rod-shaped objects are conveyed at an angle, preferably crosswise to their longitudinal extension.
In addition or alternatively, a conveying device of this type can also be designed for moving the rod-shaped objects under the effect of gravity to the turning arrangement. In that case, the guide means according to the invention can also take over a braking function. If the guide means comprises a plurality of guide elements, at least one of the many guide elements can advantageously be designed to have a braking effect on the guided, rod-shaped objects.
The conveyor furthermore can have a chute extending at an angle relative to a horizontal line, which is designed for transporting the rod-shaped objects.
The turning arrangement is normally followed by a device for transporting the rod-shaped objects to a remote location, wherein the transporting device is provided with a receptacle having a first opening for accepting the rod-shaped objects and a second opening for removing the objects by transporting them away. According to the invention, a design of this type has a closing element, which can be arranged such that it can move between a first position where it opens the first opening and preferably closes the second opening, and a second position where it closes the first opening and opens the second opening. The closing element is advantageously positioned such that it can swivel.
A particularly compact design of the device according to the invention can be achieved by arranging the turning arrangement at the closing element.
The closing element can be designed as a rocker with the turning arrangement sitting on the top, particularly if the turning arrangement conveys the rod-shaped objects under the effect of gravity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in further detail in the following with the aid of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1
shows a diagram of a configuration of a device for removing filter rods according to the invention.
FIG. 2
is a cross section, showing a detail of the pneumatic conveyor illustrated in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
shows a diagram of another embodiment of a device for removing filter rods according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to
FIG. 1
, there is shown a drum
2
, which is referred to as a pusher drum, which rotates around a center axis and forms a part of a production line for producing cigarette filters. Along the circumference of drum
2
, axially extending grooves for holding filter rods are formed side-by-side, wherein respectively one groove holds one filter rod. For reasons of clarity, drum
2
in
FIG. 1
shows by way of example only one groove
4
along the circumference, which accommodates a filter rod
6
. Pneumatic channels inside the body of drum
2
lead to at least some of the grooves
4
.
FIG. 1
shows only one channel
8
leading to groove
4
, again for reasons of clarity. The pneumatic channels
8
are connected to a compressed air source, not shown herein, which is controlled by a control device that is also not shown herein.
Owing to the axial arrangement of grooves
4
, the filter rods
6
inside grooves
4
are transported crosswise to their longitudinal extension as a result of the rotation of drum
2
. It must be noted here that filter rods
6
moving across drum
2
are longer than the filter pieces attached later on to the tobacco ropes to form the filter cigarettes. Thus, a plurality of filter pieces are cut from each filter rod
6
in a subsequent station along the production line.
In order to remove individual filter rods
6
, a compressed-air source, not shown herein, is activated and compressed air is blown through those pneumatic channels
8
, which lead to the respective grooves
4
from which a filter rod
6
is to be removed. In the process, the compressed-air source is controlled so that compressed air is blown to a groove only at specific time intervals or angular intervals. To remove samples, a removal chute
10
is provided, into which the individual filter rods
6
are blown with air blowing from drum
2
. Attention must be paid to ensure that the corresponding groove
4
is correspondingly oriented and points toward the intake opening
12
of removal chute
10
for blowing out the filter rod
6
, as shown in FIG.
1
.
For the exemplary embodiment shown, the intake opening
12
of the removal chute
10
is arranged on the side of drum
2
and the filter rod
6
is essentially pushed in a horizontal direction from drum
2
. However, for the exemplary embodiment shown, a sheet-metal catch
13
that delimits the removal chute
10
and is curved toward the bottom ensures that the pushed-out filter rod
6
is deflected toward the bottom, as further indicated with an arrow in FIG.
1
. The largest part of the removal chute
10
consequently extends in a vertical direction. The filter rod drops under the effect of gravity through the chute and continues to move crosswise to its longitudinal extension. Adjacent to drum
2
, removal chute
10
is delimited by a first vertical wall
14
.
A V-shaped flap
16
is movably positioned below the curved sheet-metal catch
13
. In a first position shown in
FIG. 1
with dashed lines, this flap frees a first removal opening
18
on the side. The filter rod
6
can thus be guided under the effect of gravity to a drawer
20
, arranged beside the removal chute
10
, wherein the flap functions as a slide in this first position. In a second position, shown in
FIG. 1
with drawn-out lines, the flap
16
closes the first removal opening
18
on the side. In that case, the filter rod
6
that drops down does not leave through the first side opening
18
, but moves past this opening and further through the removal chute
10
. The V-shaped flap
16
, which is activated by a swiveling mechanism not shown in
FIG. 1
, therefore functions as a diverter.
Below the first removal opening
18
on the side, the removal chute
10
is delimited by a second wall
22
, which is arranged at a distance to the first wall
14
, wherein the two walls
14
,
22
jointly form a funnel-shaped arrangement.
If the filter rod
6
drops further downward through the removal chute
10
while the flap
16
closes off the first removal opening
18
on the side, it hits a flap
24
on the lower end of the removal chute
10
, which closes off a second, lower exit opening
26
of the removal chute
10
. Flap
24
is positioned for pivoting between a closed position shown in
FIG. 1
with drawn-out lines, in which it closes off the lower, second exit opening
26
of removal chute
10
, and an opened position shown with dashed lines, in which it releases the lower, second exit opening
26
of removal chute
10
. Flap
24
is activated by an operating device that is not shown herein. Once the filter rod
6
drops down through removal chute
10
, flap
24
is initially closed, so that the filter rod
6
drops onto the closed flap
24
. Once the filter rod
6
is positioned on the flap
24
, this flap is deflected to the side and releases the filter rod
6
, so that it drops from the lower, second exit opening
26
of removal chute
10
.
Once filter rod
6
leaves lower second exit opening
26
of removal chute
10
, it hits a downstream connected turning arrangement
30
, which turns filter rod
6
. Since filter rods
6
for the exemplary embodiment shown move through removal chute
10
and are guided by the effect of gravity, turning arrangement
30
is arranged directly below second exit opening
26
of removal chute
10
. Turning arrangement
30
turns filter rods
6
around a rotational axis that extends at an angle, preferably a right angle, to their longitudinal axes and advantageously intersects with these in the center. For the exemplary embodiment shown, filter rods
6
are deflected by approximately 90° by turning arrangement
30
, but the deflection is not restricted to this.
FIG. 1
shows that turning arrangement
30
for the exemplary embodiment consists of four rigid deflection and guide rods
32
, fixedly mounted at a distance and relative to each other. These rods are arranged relative to each other and are twisted such that they correspondingly guide a filter rod
6
by subjecting it to a swiveling movement. A first pair of guide rods
32
oriented toward the observer of
FIG. 1
, and a second, rearward pair of guide rods
32
, are respectively positioned to form an imaginary surface similar to the outer surface of one shell of a hyperboloid. This surface is somewhat partially twisted around an axis that extends approximately in the movement direction of the filter rods
6
, meaning vertical for the exemplary embodiment, and positioned in the imaginary surface. The two pairs of guide rods
32
are at such a distance to each other that they can accommodate filter rods
6
between them and guide them in the manner described. Two spaced-apart rows of guide rods
32
are thus formed, which hold and guide the filter rods
6
between them. For this, each row of guide rods
32
can also contain more than the two guide rods
32
shown in FIG.
1
.
The filter rods
6
are moved under the effect of gravity through the turning arrangement
30
, in the same way as for the removal chute
10
. In the process, they hit the upper ends of the guide rods
32
and are correspondingly turned because of their twisted arrangement. They continue to make contact with the guide rods
32
during their continued downward movement owing to gravity and thus slide along these guide rods.
Four guide rods
32
are provided for the exemplary embodiment shown. At least two of these guide rods
32
should definitely be arranged so that they can take on the previously mentioned guiding function while the remaining rods can be disposed or designed such that they can additionally or exclusively take over a braking function. In one preferred embodiment, six guide rods are provided, of which four can take on a guiding function and two a braking function.
Round guide rods
32
are selected for the exemplary embodiment shown because they can be oriented easily inside a stay (explained in further detail in the following). However, the use of other cross-sectional designs such as a triangular, oval, etc., which should have a round point in a downward direction, are conceivable as well.
The reason for selecting the arrangement of spaced-apart guide rods
32
for the exemplary embodiment shown is that it ensures an easy cleaning. In principle, even planar guide elements are conceivable, of which preferably at least two spaced-apart guide elements should be provided for holding and guiding the filter rods
6
between them, in the manner as described.
After the filter rod
6
has been correspondingly rotated inside the turning arrangement
30
, it is moved to a pneumatic transporting device
40
with a dispatch station
42
. Dispatch station
42
comprises a dispatch chamber section
44
, which contains a dispatch chamber
46
.
FIG. 2
in particular shows that dispatch chamber
46
is an elongated groove with a U-shaped cross section that is open on the top. The elongated, groove-shaped dispatch chamber
46
is connected with one end (the right end according to
FIG. 1
) to a compressed-air line
48
that is supplied with compressed air from a non-depicted compressed-air source. With the other end (the left end according to FIG.
1
), dispatch chamber
46
empties into a dispatch tube
50
, which leads to a remote filter testing station that is not shown in the drawings.
A vertical support
52
is respectively arranged on the front of dispatch chamber section
44
of the dispatch station
42
. Dispatch station
42
is furthermore provided with a swiveling trough
54
, which has a closing segment
56
that extends across the top of the dispatch chamber section
44
and thus is oriented approximately horizontal, as well as respectively one upright standing arm
58
at each end of the closing segment
56
. The swiveling trough
54
is positioned such that it can be swiveled with the upper ends of arms
58
via hinges that are not shown in the Figures. The hinges have a turning axis
60
extending in a horizontal direction. The swiveling trough
54
can thus be turned in the direction crosswise to the plane in FIG.
1
.
FIG. 2
furthermore shows that the closing segment
56
of swiveling trough
54
is provided with a slot
62
that extends from the top to the bottom, wherein the width of this slot corresponds at least to the diameter of the filter rods
6
. The slot
62
extends parallel to the groove-shaped dispatch chamber
46
and its length corresponds at least to the length of the filter rods
6
to be processed. The swiveling trough
54
can swivel between an opened position, shown in
FIG. 2
with drawn-out lines, in which the slot
62
is directly above the dispatch chamber
46
, and a closed position, shown in
FIG. 2
with dashed lines, in which the closing section
56
closes off the groove-shaped dispatch chamber
46
that is open on the top.
According to
FIG. 1
, turning arrangement
30
consisting of guide rods
32
is arranged on top of the horizontally extending closing section
56
of swiveling trough
54
. The lower ends of guide rods
32
are anchored inside bores in closing section
56
, which are not shown herein. For this, turning arrangement
30
and through slot
62
are arranged relative to each other so that filter rod
6
, which moves under the effect of gravity through turning arrangement
30
, drops directly into slot
62
.
Swiveling trough
54
should be in the open position while a filter rod
6
is guided through turning arrangement
30
, so that the filter rod
6
entering slot
62
drops into the dispatch chamber
46
below and is held there. The swiveling trough
54
is subsequently turned to the closed position, thereby causing the closing section
56
to close off groove-shaped dispatch chamber
46
that is open on the top. By blowing compressed air from a compressed-air line
48
against the filter rod
6
, the filter rod is blown from dispatch chamber
46
and into dispatch tube
50
and is transported in this tube to a remote filter testing station.
The swiveling trough
54
furthermore can be designed such that the connection between the dispatch chamber
46
and the dispatch tube
50
opens and closes selectively, that is to say counter to the opening and closing movement of the closing section
56
, relative to the dispatch chamber
46
. The advantage of this arrangement is that the dispatch tube
50
and, if necessary, the downstream installed additional pneumatic transporting devices can be put under pressure or kept under pressure and thus can remain pneumatically active, even if the dispatch chamber
46
is opened.
FIG. 3
shows another embodiment of the invention which is similar to
FIG. 1
except that the guide mechanism is in the form of sheet-metal guides
32
a.
The invention has been described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A device for removing rod-shaped objects from a production line, comprising:a turning arrangement adapted for receiving the rod-shaped objects remove from the production line and comprising at least one, essentially fixed in place and rigid guide means for swiveling the rod-shaped objects; and transporting means for receiving the swiveled rod-shaped objects from the turning arrangement and for transporting the swiveled rod-shaped objects to a remote location, wherein the guide elements are rod shaped or bar shaped.
- 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guide means defines a guide surface which is partially twisted around an axis extending approximately in a movement direction of the rod-shaped objects and positioned in the surface.
- 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the guide means defines a guide surface having a partial helical shape, the rotational axis of which extends approximately in a movement direction of the rod-shaped objects.
- 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the rod-shaped or bar-shaped guide elements have an essentially round cross section.
- 5. A device for removing rod-shaped objects from a production line, comprising:a turning arrangement adapted for receiving the rod-shaped objects remove from the production line and comprising at least one, essentially fixed in place and rigid guide means for swiveling the rod-shaped objects; and transporting means for receiving the swiveled rod-shaped objects from the turning arrangement and for transporting the swiveled rod-shaped objects to a remote location, wherein the guide means includes at least two spaced-apart guide elements between which the objects are guided, and wherein the guide elements are arranged to be spaced apart and side-by-side in at least one row.
- 6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the at least two guide elements arranged in two spaced-apart rows.
- 7. A device according to claim 5, wherein the guide elements arranged in the at least one row are positioned to define an imaginary surface which is partially twisted around an axis positioned in the surface and extending approximately in a movement direction of the rod-shaped objects.
- 8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the guide elements arranged in the rows are positioned to define an imaginary surface having a partial helical shape, for which the rotational axis extends approximately in a movement direction of the rod-shaped objects.
- 9. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a means for moving the rod-shaped objects at an angle to their longitudinal extension.
- 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the moving means includes a chute that extends at an angle relative to a horizontal line for moving the rod-shaped objects.
- 11. A device according claim 5, wherein the guide means comprise sheet-metal guides.
- 12. A device according to claim 5, further comprising a means for moving the rod-shaped objects under the effect of gravity to the turning arrangement.
- 13. A device for removing rod-shaped objects from a production line, comprising:a turning arrangement adapted for receiving the rod-shaped objects remove from the production line and comprising at least one, essentially fixed in place and rigid guide means for swiveling the rod-shaped objects; and transporting means for receiving the swiveled rod-shaped objects from the turning arrangement and for transporting the swiveled rod-shaped objects to a remote location, wherein the transporting means is arranged downstream of the turning arrangement for transporting the rod-shaped objects to the remote location, the transporting means comprising: a receptacle including a first opening for receiving the rod-shaped objects and a second opening for discharging the received rod-shaped objects; and a closing element moveable between a first position for opening the first opening and second position for closing the first opening.
- 14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the closing element in the first position closes the second opening and in the second position opens the second opening.
- 15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the closing element is arranged such that it can swivel.
- 16. A device according to claim 13, wherein the turning arrangement is arranged on the closing element.
- 17. A device according to claim 13, wherein the closing element comprises a rocker and the turning arrangement is fitted on top of the rocker.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
101 17 082 |
Apr 2001 |
DE |
|
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A |
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A |
5058725 |
Gamberini et al. |
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A |
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Bondanelli et al. |
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A |
5765675 |
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Sep 1965 |
CA |
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DE |
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Jan 1991 |
EP |
0409443 |
Jan 1991 |
EP |
622934 |
Apr 1961 |
IT |
WO 9707694 |
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WO |