EP1532870B1 - Device and method for cutting tobacco from a tobacco bale - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly to separate tobacco from a compressed tobacco cake has a housing frame (11) with a cutting unit (12) and a rotating cutting plate (13), fitted with a number of cutting blades and rotating around an axis (14). A grinder (21) sharpens the cutting plate with a common counter surface (15). The assembly has at least one sensor (26) near the grinder and/or the counter surface, which registers the sound of the cutting plate in contact with the counter surface as an acoustic body sensor working on the piezo principle, and is linked to the grinder.

Description

The invention relates to a device for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, comprising essentially a housing frame on which a rotationally driven about a rotation axis separating means having at least one separating element, a movable grinding element for grinding each separating element and a common counter-position for the or each separating element are. The invention further relates to a method for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, comprising the steps of: feeding the tobacco cake in the transport direction to a separating means having at least one separating element, separating the tobacco from the tobacco cake with each separating element, advancing each separating element against the transport direction onto one Opposite to, and grinding each separator with a grinding element.

Such devices and methods (see eg US-A-2829692) are used in particular in the tobacco processing industry for portioning tobacco from a tobacco cake. The tobacco cake compacted prior to the separation or portioning is separated in the apparatus by continuous feeding of the tobacco cake to the apparatus by the rotating separating elements thereof. The dividing elements become dirty over time. Furthermore, it comes to a wear, namely in particular blunting of the separating elements. In particular, for cleaning, but also for sharpening the separating elements they are advanced against the transport direction of the tobacco cake and brought into engagement with the grinding element. For this purpose, the grinding element is usually mounted in the transport direction of the tobacco cake behind the counter-layer. But as well as the counter wears, namely z. B. by sand located in the tobacco cake or the like, the gap between separating element and counter-surface increases. To avoid an uncontrolled collision between separating element and counter-position, the gap is relatively large. In other words the abrasive element is arranged clearly behind the counter-layer in the transport direction of the tobacco cake. The disadvantage, therefore, is the large gap width that results, which leads to an insufficient cutting quality, but also to a yield loss. Furthermore, the gap width is undefined by contamination and wear of the separating elements and the counter-layer.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a simple and easy to handle device, with a constant and minimum gap width between the separating element and the counter-surface is reached. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a simple and easy to carry out process that allows the setting of a constant and minimal gap between the separating element and the counter-surface.

This object is achieved by a device of the type mentioned above in that the device additionally comprises at least one sensor element which is designed and arranged such that a contact between the separating element and counter-surface is acoustically detectable, wherein the sensor element is in operative connection with the grinding element. As a result, a minimal and precisely defined distance between the or each separating element on the one hand and the counter-element on the other hand is achieved and maintained in a simple and particularly effective manner. By the sensor element, the exact position of the counter-position in relation to the separating element can be determined. Even a minimal contact between the separating element and counter-surface is recognizable or detectable, so that the movable grinding element is then movable through the operative connection to the sensor element due to the detected information in the transport direction of the tobacco cake until the separating elements are ground so far that they just touched with the Counter are. Thus, all separating elements have a defined constant distance to the counter-position. Also, the gap width is minimal, since knowing the exact position or position of the counter-position already a minimal change in the position of the grinding element in the transport direction cancels the contact.

Other advantages of the invention are that can be dispensed with aids for adjusting the position of the grinding element on the one hand and for adjusting the separating elements on the other hand, since the adjustment of the position of the grinding medium on Abrasive element and the position of the grinding element but also the setting of the separating elements deleted. Thus, the device is compact and simple. Due to the simple structure and the maintenance is significantly reduced.

Advantageously, the sensor element is arranged on a suitable for the transmission of structure-borne sound element of the device, preferably the housing frame or the like. This allows the most accurate detection of the first still slight contact between the separating element and the counter-layer, so that the setting of the optimum gap width is ensured close to zero.

In a preferred embodiment, the optimum position of the separating elements in relation to the counter-position by the sensor element and the resulting movement of the grinding element in or against the transport direction is adjustable. With simple means, the gap is thus particularly reliable adjustable.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor element or the piezoelectric crystal is connected to a control or regulation unit for controlling or regulating the grinding element. This enables on-line automated and exact adjustment and maintenance of the minimum and constant gap width.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method with the steps mentioned above in that a contact between the separating element and counter-surface is detected acoustically, and as soon as a contact is detected, the grinding element so far in the transport direction of the tobacco cake, namely in the direction of the separating elements moves is until just a non-contact state is reached. This allows in a surprisingly simple way an accurate adjustment of a minimum and constant gap between the separating element and the counter-surface.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit einem Schneidteller in Seitenansicht, und

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit einer Schneidtrommel in Seitenansicht.

Further preferred features and embodiments and method steps emerge from the subclaims and the description. A particularly preferred embodiment and the method will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a device according to the invention with a cutting plate in side view, and

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a device according to the invention with a cutting drum in side view.

The devices described below are used in particular for separating tobacco from a previously formed from a tobacco, ribs or the like and compacted tobacco cake. However, the invention is also applicable to the separation of other products.

The device 10 shown in Figure 1 is a tobacco cutter for separating tobacco from a (not shown) tobacco cake and has a housing frame 11, on which a release agent 12 is arranged with at least one separating element 13. In the embodiment shown according to FIG. 1, the separating means 12 is designed as a cutting plate. Alternatively, however, the separating means 12 may also be formed as a cutting drum (see Figure 2). The separating means 12 is rotatably driven about a rotational axis 14, wherein the direction of rotation is executed depending on the construction in the counterclockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction. The release agent 12 has in training as a cutting plate over one or more uniformly distributed around the pivot point 14 separating elements 13, which are formed as a cutting blade. The cutting blades are aligned radially with their cutting edges 30 and emerge from the cutting plate on the tobacco cake facing end face 31. In the case of the formation of the separating means 12 as a cutting drum, a plurality of separating elements, namely in particular knives, are distributed uniformly around the circumference. In this case, the knives push through the lateral surface.

The device 10 further comprises an abutment 15, which is arranged in the region of the feed of the tobacco cake in the device 10, that is in the region of an inlet 16. The counter-layer 15 is an outer frame of a so-called mouthpiece 17, which is formed as a continuation of a compressor 20 formed, for example, from two compression chains 18, 19. The counter-layer 15 is provided as a cutting counterpart for the cutting blade or knife and is therefore also used as a counter-knife, consisting of an upper blade, a lower blade and two side blades, respectively.

Furthermore, the device 10 has a grinding element 21, which is designed as a grinding roller. Preferably, the abrasive roll is single layer coated with a Schleifinedium, in particular with cubic boron nitride (CBN). However, other common abrasives are also usable. The grinding element 21 is designed to be movable, such that it can be moved at least in the direction of the separating means 12 or the separating elements 13 and away from them.

The separating elements 13, which are radially driven or driven on the cutting means 12, namely the cutting plate, describe a cutting plane 22 with their cutting edges 30. The cutting plane 22 runs parallel to a plane formed by the end face 31 of the separating means 12 and transversely to the cutting plane Transport direction (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake. The cutting plane 22 is variable with respect to the position, on the one hand such that the cutting plane 22 is changed by moving the position of the separating elements 13. In other words, the cutting plane 22 by an advance of the separating elements 13 in the direction of the tobacco cake, ie opposite to the transport direction according to arrow 23, displaced in the same direction, while a retraction of the separating elements 13 in the transport direction according to arrow 23 to a displacement of the cutting plane 22 also in Transport direction according to arrow 23 causes. On the other hand, the position of the cutting plane 22 is also changeable by changing the position of the grinding element 21. In the formation of the separating means 12 as a cutting drum, the separating elements define a cutting circle 22 analogously to the cutting plane 22. The principle of the change in position of the cutting circle 22 is analogous to that described above.

Another plane, namely a grinding plane 24, is formed by the grinding element 21. The looping plane 24 extends parallel to the cutting plane 22 and lies in the transporting direction according to arrow 23, in principle, in front of the cutting plane 22. The position of the grinding plane 24 can also be changed by changing the position of the grinding element 21, more precisely by moving the grinding roller in the direction of the separating means 12 or the separating elements 13 or away from them. By a Change in position of the grinding plane 24 in or against the tobacco cake feed direction or on the separating elements 13 to or away from these is thus a change in the position of the cutting plane 22 possible. Analogous to the grinding plane 24, the grinding element 21 on the cutting drum describes a grinding circle 24, which usually coincides with the cutting circle 22 or surrounds it. The position of the grinding circuit 24 can be changed analogously to the grinding plane 24.

The counter-surface 15, in particular the outer edges or surfaces of the mouthpiece 17 which face the separating means 12 and the separating elements 13, define a counter-knife plane 25. The counter-knife plane 25 is parallel to the cutting plane 22 and the grinding plane 24. The counter-knife plane 25 is usually stationary. It is just in the operation of the device 10, however, also conceivable that the counter blade plane 25 by adjusting the mouthpiece 17 and thus the counter-layer 15 forming upper blade and lower blade on the one hand or wear of the upper and lower blade on the other hand in the position is variable. In the transport direction of the tobacco cake according to arrow 23, the counter knife plane 25 is arranged in front of the grinding plane 24, so that the latter grinding plane 24 is sandwiched between the cutting plane 22 and the counter knife plane 25. The same applies to the counter-blade circle 25 in the embodiment of FIG 2. However, the grinding circuit 24 is disposed within the counter-blade circle 25. Within the grinding circuit 24, the cutting circuit 22 is arranged so that the grinding circuit 24 is sandwiched between the cutting circle 22 and the counter knife circle 25.

All levels, namely the cutting plane 22, the grinding plane 24 and the counter blade plane 25 parallel to each other and transverse to the transport direction of the tobacco cake according to arrow 23. The planes 22, 24 and 25 are also parallel to the plane which is spanned by the end face 31 of the cutting plate , All levels 22, 24, 25 are variable in their position and relative to the other of the other levels 22, 24, 25. In FIG. 1, the planes 22, 24, 25 are shown exploded relative to an operating position for better illustration. Cutting circle 22, grinding circle 24 and counter-circle 25 are analogous concentric to each other and are also shown exploded. Cutting circuit 22 and grinding circuit 24 may also lie one above the other.

The device 10 furthermore has a sensor element 26. The sensor element 26 is preferably arranged on the housing frame 11. Important is an attachment to a suitable for the transmission of structure-borne sound element of the device 10. For this, the housing frame 11 offers, on which the sensor element 26 can be placed almost arbitrarily. In the embodiments shown, the sensor element 26 is arranged in the region of the counter-layer 15. An attachment in the region of the grinding element 21 is particularly suitable. It is also possible to arrange a plurality of sensor elements 26 at different positions.

The sensor element 26 is embodied as a structure-borne sound sensor and preferably operates according to the piezoelectric principle. Other common sensor elements 26, which are particularly suitable for detecting acoustic signals, can also be used. The or each sensor element 26 is connected to a (not shown) control unit, which in turn is in operative connection with the grinding element 21. The grinding element 21 is movable on the basis of the data or information determined by the sensor element 26, preferably in the transport direction of the tobacco cake or against the transport direction or on the separating elements 13 to or away from them.

The relevant for the quality of the separation cut measure is the gap, which is defined by the gap width A between the separating elements 13 and the counter-layer 15. A minimum gap width of less than 0.1 mm is preferred. This is initially achieved by the fact that the grinding element 21 projects at quasi-continuous feed of the separating elements 13 against the transport direction according to arrow 23 by this amount in the transport direction according to arrow 23 on the counter-layer 15. In other words, in the first embodiment, the loop plane 24 is arranged behind the counter knife plane 25 in the transport direction according to arrow 23. In the second embodiment, the grinding circuit 24 is disposed within the counter-blade circle 25. An optimal position of the separating elements 13 with respect to the counter-layer 15 is achieved in that the information detected by the sensor element 26 for moving the grinding element 21 in the transport direction (arrow 23) or against the transport direction (arrow 23) or on the separating elements 13 or away from them are usable. In other words, the adjustment of the gap width A can be achieved by changing the loop plane 24 or the grinding circle 24.

• Im Betrieb der Vorrichtung 10 rotiert der Schneidteller bzw. die Schneidtrommel um die Drehachse 14. Gleichzeitig werden die Trennelemente 13, nämlich die Schneidmesser mit ihren Schneidkanten 30, gegen die Vorschubrichtung des Tabakkuchens, also entgegen Pfeil 23, quasikontinuierlich vorgeschoben. Das bedeutet, daß die Schneidmesser eigentlich kontinuierlich vorgeschoben werden, was jedoch durch den äußerst geringen Vorschubweg eher als schrittweiser Vorschub erfolgt bzw. wahrgenommen wird. Die Schneidmesser werden solange in die besagte Richtung vorgeschoben, bis die Schneidkanten 30, die die Schneidebene 22 bzw. den Schneidkreis 22 definieren, die Schleifebene 24 bzw. den Schleifkreis 24 erreichen. Mit Erreichen der Schleifebene 24 bzw. des Schleifkreises 24 werden die Schneidkanten 30 der Schneidmesser geschliffen und dadurch gereinigt und geschärft. Sobald die Schneidmesser durch das Schleifelement 21 geschliffen werden, liegen die Schneidebene 22 bzw. der Schleifkreis 22 und die Schleifebene 24 bzw. der Schleifkreis 24 übereinander.

In the following, the method principle, which applies to both a cutting drum and a cutting plate as separating means 12, is explained with reference to the figures:

• During operation of the device 10, the cutting plate or the cutting drum rotates about the axis of rotation 14. At the same time, the separating elements 13, namely the cutting blade with its cutting edges 30, against the feed direction of the tobacco cake, ie opposite arrow 23, fed quasi-continuously. This means that the cutting blades are actually advanced continuously, but this is due to the extremely small feed path rather than gradual feed occurs or is perceived. The cutting knives are advanced in the said direction until the cutting edges 30 defining the cutting plane 22 and the cutting circle 22 reach the grinding plane 24 and the grinding circuit 24, respectively. Upon reaching the grinding plane 24 and the grinding circuit 24, the cutting edges 30 of the cutting blades are ground and thereby cleaned and sharpened. As soon as the cutting knives are ground by the grinding element 21, the cutting plane 22 or the grinding circle 22 and the grinding plane 24 or the grinding circle 24 lie one above the other.

By slowly changing the position of the grinding plane 24 or the grinding circle 24 by moving the grinding element 21 in the transport direction (arrow 23) or against the transport device (arrow 23) or on the separating elements 13 to or from this, the position of the cutting plane 22nd or the cutting circuit 22 also changed. In order to achieve the smallest possible gap width A, the grinding element 21 is usually moved as far back as possible against the transport direction (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake or away from the separating elements 13. There is the possibility that the advanced cutting blades come into contact with the counter-surface 15, namely, when the grinding member 21 is moved back behind the counter-15 or the grinding member 21 is moved away from the separating elements 13 until the counter-blade 25 within the grinding circle 24th lies.

However, the sensor element 26 already detects the smallest contact of one or more separating elements 13 with the counter-layer 15. If such a contact is detected, the position of the cutting plane 22 or of the cutting circle 22 is changed by a change in the position of the grinding element 21 in the transport direction (arrow 23). or changed to the separating elements 13 too long until the contact between the separating element 13 and counter-surface 15 is no longer present. By this approach, the position of the counter-15 is easy to determine. All separating elements 13 have such an exact and defined distance, which forms the gap width A, to the counter-position 15. In other words, the cutting plane 22 and the cutting circle 22 starting from the distance zero as little as possible removed from the counter-15, namely only so far in that there is no contact between the separating elements 13 and the counter-layer 15.

The wear of the separating elements 13 is compensated by the feed of the separating elements 13. The position of the cutting plane 22 and the cutting circle 22 is thus determined only by the position of the grinding element 21, whose wear is negligible because of the coating. But since the counter-layer 15, namely the upper blade and the lower blade, wear, the grinding element 21 is slowly moved back against the transport direction according to arrow 23 and away from the separating elements 13 until again a slight touch of the separating elements 13 with the counter-15 determined can be. This process begins again. Due to the interplay, in particular the "pendulum motion" of the grinding element 21 about the counter blade plane 25 and the counter-measuring circle 25, the gap width A is always kept constant minimally and above all within a very narrow range. The accuracy of the gap dimension is thus determined exclusively by the homogeneity of the counter wear, the minimum step size of the positional adjustment of the grinding element 21 and by the sensitivity of the sensor element 26. The gap width A is thus always minimal.

Claims (30)

1. Apparatus for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, essentially including a housing frame (11) on which are arranged a separating means (12) rotatable about an axis of rotation (14) and having at least one separating element (13), a movable grinding element (21) for grinding each separating element (13), and a common counter-support (15) for the or each separating element (13), characterized in that the apparatus (10) additionally has at least one sensor element (26) which is constructed and arranged in such a way that contact between separating element (13) and counter-support (15) can be detected acoustically, wherein the sensor element (26) is functionally connected to the grinding element (21).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor element (26) is constructed as a structure-borne sound sensor.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the structure-borne sound sensor works on the piezo principle.
4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor element (26) is arranged on an element of the apparatus (10) suitable for the transmission of structure-borne sound, preferably the housing frame (11) or the like.
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the sensor element (26) is arranged in the region of the grinding element (21) and/or in the region of the counter-support (15).
6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the separating means (12) is a cutting plate with several cutting blades distributed round the axis of rotation (14), wherein the cutting blades define a cutting plane (22).
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the cutting blades or their cutting edges (30) are oriented radially.
8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the counter-support (15) consists at least of an upper blade and a lower blade, wherein the upper blade and lower blade define a counter-blade plane (25) which runs parallel to the cutting plane (22).
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the grinding element (21) defines a grinding plane (24), wherein the grinding plane (24) runs parallel to the cutting plane (22) and counter-blade plane (25).
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that all three planes (22, 24, 25) run transversely to the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the counter-blade plane (25) lies in front of the grinding plane (24) in the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake, which grinding plane (24) in turn lies in front of the cutting plane (22) in the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake.
12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an optimum position of the separating elements (13) in relation to the counter-support (15) is adjustable by the sensor element (26) and the resulting movement of the grinding element (21) in or opposite the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake.
13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the gap width A between the cutting plane (22) and the counter-blade plane (25) is adjustable by changing the grinding plane (24).
14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the sensor element (26) is connected to a control or regulating unit for controlling or regulating the grinding element (21).
15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the grinding element (21) is a CBN grinding roller which is coated in a single layer and which is movable in the direction of the separating element (13) or away from it.
16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 15, characterized in that the position of the cutting plane (22) is adjustable by changing the position of the grinding element (21).
17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the separating means (12) is a cutting drum rotatable about the axis of rotation (14) and having several blades arranged on the circumferential surface, wherein the blades pass through the peripheral surface and so define a cutting circle (22).
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterized in that the grinding element (21) abuts against the or each separating element (13) in such a way that the grinding circle (24) defined by the grinding element (21) coincides with the cutting circle (22) at least in the region of the grinding element (21).
19. Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the counter-support (15) consists of an upper blade, a lower blade and side blades, wherein the upper blade, lower blade and side blades define a counter-blade circle (25) which runs concentrically with the cutting circle (22).
20. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the grinding element (21) defines a grinding circle (24), wherein the grinding circle (24) runs concentrically with the cutting circle (22) and with the counter-blade circle (25).
21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that all three circles (22, 24, 25) at least in the region of the counter-support (15) run transversely to the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake.
22. Apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the cutting circle (22) lies within the grinding circle (24), which in turn lies within the counter-blade circle (25).
23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 22, characterized in that an optimum position of the separating elements (13) in relation to the counter-support (15) is adjustable by the sensor element (26) and the resulting movement of the grinding element (21) towards and away from the cutting drum.
24. Apparatus according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the gap width A between the cutting circle (22) and the counter-blade circle (25) is adjustable by changing the grinding circle (24).
25. Apparatus according to any one of claims 17 to 24, characterized in that the position of the cutting circle (22) is adjustable by changing the position of the grinding element (21).
26. Method for separating tobacco from a tobacco cake, including the steps of:

    - delivering the tobacco cake in the direction of transport (arrow 23) towards a separating means (12) having at least one separating element (13),

    - separating the tobacco from the tobacco cake with each separating element (13),

    - advancing each separating element (13) opposite the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake towards a counter-support (15), and

    - grinding each separating element (13) with a grinding element (21),

    characterized in that

    - contact between separating element (13) and counter-support (15) is detected acoustically,

    - and as soon as contact is detected, the grinding element (21) is moved in the direction of transport (arrow 23) of the tobacco cake, namely, in the direction of the separating elements (13), until a contactless state is achieved.
27. Method according to claim 26, characterized in that the gap width A between separating element (13) and counter-support (15) is adjusted by changing the position of the grinding element (21).
28. Method according to claim 26 or 27, characterized in that the separating elements (13) are advanced quasi-continuously.
29. Method according to any one of claims 26 to 28, characterized in that the wear on the separating elements (13) is compensated by advancing them.
30. Method according to any one of claims 26 to 29, characterized in that the position of the cutting plane (22) defined by the separating elements (13) or of the cutting circle (22) defined by the separating elements (13) is determined by the position of the grinding element (21).

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