Method and devices for obtaining the continuity of the uniformity of the structure and density of a stream of transported loose material, particularly organic plant material, and particularly tobacco material

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for obtaining the continuity of the uniformity of the structure and density of a stream of transported loose material, particularly organic plant material, and particularly tobacco material. According to the inventive method, a previously loosened material is compacted during transportation between conveyors, then, the compacted material is comminuted to a form suitable for further processing, and at least one intermediate element, preferably a bracket (5, 6), and thereby also the stream of the compacted material, is vibrated directly before the comminution process. A device according to the invention comprises at least one intermediate vibrating element, preferably this being at least one bracket (5, 6), located transversely to the direction of motion of the material.

Description

The invention will be now described with reference to a particular embodiment and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of one embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the vibrational motion of the brackets is generated in the plane X-Y;

FIG. 1A shows an enlarged detail E from FIG. 1;

FIG. 1B shows an enlarged detail F from FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of second embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the vibrational motion of the brackets is generated in the plane Y-Z;

FIG. 2A shows an enlarged detail G from FIG. 2;

FIG. 2B shows an enlarged detail H from FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the vibrational motion of the brackets is generated in the plane X-Y by means of magnetic reactions between magnets;

FIG. 3A shows an enlarged detail K from FIG. 3;

FIG. 3B shows an enlarged detail L from FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of yet another embodiment of a device according to the invention, in which the vibrational motion of the brackets is generated in the plane Y-Z by means of magnetic reactions between magnets;

FIG. 4A shows an enlarged detail M from FIG. 4;

FIG. 4B shows an enlarged detail N from FIG. 4.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining the continuity of the uniformity of the structure and density of a stream of transported loose material, such as organic plant material, particularly tobacco material, in which previously loosened material is subjected to compacting during transportation between conveyors, then the compacted material is comminuted to a form preferable for further processing, is characterized in that at least one intermediate element, and thereby also the stream of compacted material, is vibrated directly before the comminution process.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one intermediate element for the stream of the compacted organic plant material is vibrated in the plane X-Y and/or in the plane Y-Z.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one intermediate element for the stream of the compacted organic plant material is vibrated along the axis X and/or the axis Y and/or the axis Z.

4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one intermediate element, a bracket for the stream of the compacted organic plant material is vibrated with an amplitude in the range from 0 to 4 mm.

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one intermediate element, a bracket for the stream of the compacted organic plant material, is vibrated with an amplitude in the range from 0 to 2 mm.

6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequency of the vibrations is in the range from 20 Hz to 50 kHz.

7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the vibration parameters are set constant.

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that vibration parameters for each of a plurality of intermediate elements including a bracket are set and controlled independently.

9. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that each of a plurality of intermediate elements, including a bracket, has different vibration parameters.

10. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two intermediate elements, are brackets and they have the same vibration parameters.

11. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a force necessary for vibrating at least one intermediate element, a bracket, is measured and analyzed as a diagnostic signal indicating the correctness of the process.

12. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a moment of the driving force driving the rollers is measured and analyzed as a diagnostic signal for optimization of the vibration motion of at least one intermediate element, a bracket.

13. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a moment of the driving force driving the rollers is measured and analyzed as a diagnostic signal and a control signal for minimizing the force stretching the transporting elements which transport/compact the processed material.

14. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a moment of the driving force driving the rollers is measured and analyzed as a control signal for a device feeding the processed material to transporting elements.

15. A device for obtaining the continuity of the uniformity of the structure and density of a stream of transported loose material, such as organic plant material, and particularly tobacco material, comprising a set of conveyors, behind which brackets are located in a mouthpiece before a comminuting knife, characterized in that it comprises at least one vibrating intermediate element.

16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that the vibrating intermediate element includes at least one bracket located transversely to the direction of motion of the material.

17. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are mounted to a support via a movable assembly of eccentric elements comprising an eccentric roller or an assembly of rollers installed eccentrically in an opening/openings inside the brackets.

18. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are mounted to a support via a movable assembly of eccentric elements comprising an eccentric roller or an assembly of rollers installed eccentrically outside the brackets.

19. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are mounted to a support via a movable assembly of magnets with the same poles N-N or S-S interacting cyclically.

20. A device according to claim 19, characterized in that the magnets are permanent magnets.

21. A device according to claim 19, characterized in that the magnets are electromagnets.

22. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are connected to piezoelectric transducers, which generate the vibrational motion of the brackets.

23. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are connected to magnetostriction transducers, which generate the vibrational motion of the brackets.

24. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are connected with an assembly of hydraulic cylinders, which generate the vibrational motion of the brackets.

25. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the vibrating element includes brackets that are connected with an assembly of pneumatic cylinders, which generate the vibrational motion of the brackets.