EP1691633A1

EP1691633A1 - Arrangement for producing filter cigarettes

Info

Publication number: EP1691633A1
Application number: EP04790270A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Siegfried Schlisio; Joachim Meyer
Original assignee: Hauni Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Koerber Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2003-11-19
Filing date: 2004-10-12
Publication date: 2006-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-10-12
Also published as: ATE441334T1; WO2005048747A1; EP1691633B9; DE10354135B4; DE502004010013D1; DE10354135A1; JP2007511228A; CN1882258A; US20060201523A1; EP1691633B1

Abstract

Arrangement and process for producing filter cigarettes. The arrangement includes a rod formation device structured and arranged to form a tobacco rod, a filter tipping device structured and arranged to apply filter plugs to at least a portion of the tobacco rod, and an assembly device structured and arranged to assemble multi-segment filter plugs from at least three filter segments. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Description

Arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes

description

The invention relates to an arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes, wherein a strand forming device for forming a tobacco rod and a filter attachment device for attaching filter plugs to tobacco sticks cut from the tobacco rod are provided.

To manufacture filter cigarettes, cut tobacco is prepared in a distributor and processed into at least one tobacco rod and transferred to a rod unit, of which the at least one

Tobacco rod is wrapped in paper and cut into double-length tobacco sticks. The double-length tobacco sticks are then transferred from the strand unit to a filter applicator and cut into tobacco sticks of simple length, with double-length filter sticks attached to the tobacco sticks, wrapped in a covering paper and cut into filter cigarettes of simple use length. Applicant's cigarette rod machines are known under the name "PROTOS". Applicant's filter attachment machines have the name "MAX".

In addition, it is known that filter rods of multiple useful lengths, which are cut into double-length filter plugs, are sent from a filter rod transmitter to a receiving station in the filter attachment machine, so that filter rods are removed from a filter rod magazine and cut into filter plugs.

In addition, it is desirable in the tobacco processing industry to produce multi-segment filters which consist of different segments or filter pieces, for example of different materials. These materials are e.g. Cellulose acetate, paper, fleece, granules, sung elements, hollow cylinders or hollow chambers and capsules and the like. Such multi-segment filters, which in the context of this invention also include the term “multiple filters”, are formed after groups of

Filter segments, for example in a strand process, are encased with wrapping material, such as paper, for example, and then divided into filter rods two, four or six times long in order to be processed further.

From DE-OS 24 52 749 a strand forming device for filter rods is known, in which groups of filter segments or groups of filter rods are formed in a cross-forming group forming device and are then transferred to the strand forming device in such a way that the groups of filter rods are axially aligned be wrapped with wrapping material. The group-forming device is a device which is used for a Change of the filter segments or the order of the filter segments must be replaced completely.

A filter line forming device by the applicant is called KDF-2E. A typical applicant's group forming apparatus is

GC E designated. Both devices are known to the public and are marketed together as MULFI machines.

Furthermore, from WO-A-03/037113 a device for

Wrapping groups of filter segments with a wrapping material for producing multi-segment filters from the tobacco-processing industry and a multi-segment filter production device are known.

DE-T-695 28 549 (corresponds to US Pat. No. 5,984,851) also discloses a separating device for the production of filters for cigarettes, in which a filter plug feed device has two magazines from which multiple-length filter rods are removed and cut, so that After multiple cutting, staggering and sliding processes, the cut filter rods simultaneously produce double-length dual filters on the same conveyor drums, which are then inserted between pairs of tobacco rods that are spaced along the axis.

As a further prior art, a method and an apparatus for producing filter cigarettes with dual filters is known from EP-A-1 016 350. Here filter components of different lengths are inserted one after the other between the tobacco sticks. For this purpose, the filter rods are each removed from two magazines and cut into filter components, the conveying paths of the filter components being extracted from the two magazines. are separately formed.

Starting from this prior art, it is the object of the present invention to simplify the production of filter cigarettes, it being intended to be possible to produce and process filter cigarettes with multi-segment filters.

This object is achieved by an arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes, wherein a strand forming device for forming a tobacco rod and a filter attaching device for attaching filter plugs to tobacco rods cut from the tobacco rod are provided, which is further developed in that a device for compiling multi-segment filter is provided from at least three filter segment pieces.

In the context of the invention, a multi-segment filter is understood to mean in particular a filter made from at least three different filter segment pieces. The filter segment pieces consist of different materials or are manufactured in different ways. To form a multi-segment filter, the filter segment pieces are conveyed to a production stream for the multi-segment filter.

The invention is based on the idea of coupling a filter segment group assembly device, as is known, for example, from WO-A-03/037113, directly to a filter attachment machine. Here, by means of the device according to the invention, filter segment pieces are put together to form a multi-segment filter stopper, in particular twice the length of use, so that the filter stopper is attached to a tobacco rod with or without a covering. This will result in a higher processing speed the filter attachment machine is reached.

Only the multi-segment filter plugs that are formed on the device according to the invention and are made available to the filter attachment machine for further processing are processed on the filter attachment machine. This also eliminates longer transport routes for the filter plugs to be processed. Overall, gentle filter processing is made possible, since it is no longer necessary to form a mass flow of filter rods that have already been produced. In addition, the filter strand production machine known by the applicant under the name "KDF" is completely replaced by the device according to the invention for assembling multi-segment filter stoppers. The result is that the corresponding components of a filter cigarette, tobacco sticks and filter stoppers are produced simultaneously and side by side on a common arrangement improved logistics.

According to the invention, it is provided that a mass flow with double-length tobacco sticks and a mass flow with assembled, preferably double-length, multi-segment filter plugs are conveyed to the filter attachment machine and processed on this machine. It is not necessary to cover the assembled multi-segment filter plugs with a leaflet, so that non-covered multi-segment filter plugs, consisting of several filter segment pieces, are attached to the tobacco rods. Only in a further step are the multi-segment filter plugs and the tobacco sticks covered with a connecting sheet or topping paper and, after a separating cut, cut through the double-long filter plug into filter cigarettes.

Compared to the prior art according to DE-T-695 28 549 or EP-A-1 016 359, the device according to the invention is used Possibility created to produce multi-segment filter plugs with more than two filter segment pieces. Here, the filter segment pieces are individually fed to a production stream for the multi-segment filter plug. A production flow of a multi-segment filter plug is understood to mean the mass flow along which the production of a multi-segment filter plug is generated by adding further individual filter segment pieces. At the end of the production flow, a complete, in particular double-length, preferably symmetrically constructed, multi-segment filter stopper has been created, which in subsequent processing steps is connected to tobacco sticks and is assembled into individual filter cigarettes.

By means of the device according to the invention, the manufacturing steps of a multi-segment filter are carried out spatially separated from the other processing steps on a filter attachment device, so that the device for assembling a multi-segment filter and the filter attachment device can be arranged in modules and variably, the devices being easily accessible for the operating personnel.

In addition, according to a further development, it is provided that the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs has at least one covering device for the multi-segment filter plugs, so that the multi-segment filter plugs are supplied to the filter attachment machine as coated filter plugs.

In a preferred embodiment, the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs has at least one test element and / or a processing element for the multi-segment filter plugs. For example, individual filter segment pieces are processed or perforated by means of a laser, so that one Test device the perforation of the filter piece is checked. Contribution to the increase in quality or quality control is also made if a further processing device is provided after the test device, so that, for example, an insufficiently perforated filter segment piece is processed again.

It is particularly advantageous if the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs can be subdivided into independent functional units. The fact that the assembly device can be subdivided into a plurality of independent functional units means that there is great variability in the manufacture of multisegment filters. In order to produce different multi-segment filters, a quick and inexpensive adaptation is possible, in which the independent functional units may only have to be rearranged and adapted or only a few modules or functional units need to be added. In the context of this application, the term “functional unit” also includes the term “module”.

If a functional unit is provided for each filter segment piece, a particularly space-saving device can be implemented.

A filter segment group assembly device with individual functional units for filter segment pieces is known from WO-A-03/0371 13, reference being made expressly to the disclosure of this document in the context of this application.

A special embodiment of the arrangement is given when the strand forming device, the filter attachment device and the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs are arranged in a T-shape. In an alternative embodiment, the strand-forming device, the filter attachment device and the device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs are arranged in an L-shape.

In both embodiments, T-shaped or L-shaped, a compact design is achieved, with each independent unit of the arrangement being very easily accessible. Depending on the spatial or space conditions and production requirements, it is possible to choose between the L-shaped or T-shaped arrangement. As a result, a great variability of the arrangement is achieved. The choice of the arrangement of the various modules or independent units according to the invention itself has no influence on the quality of the filter cigarettes produced.

In particular, at least one covering device is provided for the multi-segment filter plug-tobacco rod groups, so that the attached filter plugs are connected to the tobacco rod.

In a preferred development, it is proposed that at least one test organ and / or a processing organ for multi-segment filter plug-tobacco rod groups are provided, so that permanent filter cigarettes are produced with a high constant quality when the filter plugs are processed and the filter cigarettes are tested.

The device for assembling multi-segment filter plugs is preferably integrated in the filter attachment device.

The invention is described below by way of example without limitation of the general inventive concept by means of exemplary embodiments and reference to the drawings, in which for all details according to the invention not explained in more detail in the text, reference is expressly made to the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a schematic diagram of an arrangement according to the invention for producing filter cigarettes;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of an arrangement according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in detail;

3 shows a further schematic side view of an arrangement according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in a detail;

4 shows a schematic basic illustration of a further arrangement according to the invention for producing filter cigarettes and

Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of an arrangement according to the invention according to Fig. 4 in detail.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that a renewed presentation is accordingly avoided.

1 shows an arrangement according to the invention for producing filter cigarettes in a basic illustration. In the

The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 is T-shaped, at least one tobacco rod being produced by a rod unit 300 and being cut into tobacco rods, which are transferred to a filter attachment unit 200. The strand unit 200 can also be operated using the double-strand method, so that two tobacco rods are produced. The strand unit 300 is preceded by a distributor unit VE, by means of which cut tobacco is processed and processed into a tobacco rod or two tobacco rods and transferred to the rod unit 300. The string unit 300 wraps the tobacco strands with paper and cuts them into double-length tobacco sticks.

In addition, a filter segment assembly device 100 according to the invention is arranged in a straight line continuation of the filter attachment unit 200, quasi as a continuation of the T-bar of the T-shaped arrangement, by means of which multi-segment filter plugs are assembled from filter segment pieces. The filter plugs put together preferably have a double use length or a multiple of twice the use length.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a drum arrangement of a filter segment assembly device 100 and a filter attachment unit 200, as are arranged in FIG. 1. The filter segment assembly device 100 and the filter attachment unit 200 are arranged in a straight line or plane. The cutting of the tobacco strands from the strand unit 300 (FIG.

1) received double-length tobacco sticks are taken over by a transfer drum 201 from the strand unit 300 and transported to a cutting knife 202, from which the double-length tobacco sticks are divided into tobacco sticks of simple length. The cut tobacco sticks of simple length are then pulled apart axially on a sliding drum 203.

Simultaneously with the takeover of the tobacco sticks, 100 filter segments from the independent functional units 110.1 to 110.4 are assembled into multi-segment filter plugs from several filter segments on the filter segment assembly device. For further details of the functional units 110.1 to 110.4, reference is made to the disclosure in WO-A-03/037113, in which a multi-segment filter manufacturing device with a plurality of functional units is described in detail.

After the individual filter segments have been assembled, the assembled multi-segment filter plugs of double length are transferred from a transfer drum 111.1 of the last functional unit 110.1 in the conveying direction of the filter segments to a wobble drum 150, on which the assembled multi-segment filter plugs are pushed together. The double-length multi-segment filter plugs are then conveyed via further conveyor drums to an insertion drum 160, which delivers the multi-segment filter plugs to an assembly drum 210. After the multisegment filter plugs have been transferred to the assembly drum 210, the single-length tobacco sticks which are spaced axially apart are discharged from the sliding drum 203 to the assembly drum 210, so that tobacco rod filter plugs and tobacco rod groups are arranged on the assembly drum 210 and then to a conveyor drum 211 is preferably designed as a sliding drum.

The assembled tobacco rod filter plug-tobacco rod groups are then transported to a covering device 220 with two covering devices 221, 222, so that the smoking article groups are provided with a covering paper sheet. Such a covering device is described in detail in the applicant's European patent application with the official file number 03 008 450.3, to which reference is expressly made with regard to the disclosure.

After connecting the tobacco rod filter plug tobacco rod Groups are cut the double long connected groups on a cutting drum 240 by means of a cutting knife 241 in filter cigarettes of simple use length. The resulting filter cigarettes of simple useful length are then transported to a packaging machine in the tobacco processing industry via further conveying elements.

According to the embodiment or arrangement shown in Fig. 2, unconnected i.e. Multi-segment filter plugs of double use length not provided with a connecting sheet, conveyed to the insertion drum 160.

An embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, in which the assembled multi-segment filter plugs are provided with a connecting sheet by means of a covering device 120, which has two covering devices 121, 122. Such a covering device is described in detail in the applicant's European patent application with the official file number 03 008 450.3.

After the multi-segment filter plugs have been encased, the filter plugs can additionally be processed by means of a laser unit 130 on their transport path to the insertion drum 160. The laser unit 130 is indicated by dashed lines, since the processing of the coated filter plugs can optionally be carried out.

Furthermore, a test unit for the filter plugs can be provided on the transport path of the filter plugs to the insertion drum 160. A further processing station can optionally be provided after the test unit for post-processing, so that high-quality multi-segment filter plugs are delivered from the insertion drum 160 to the assembly drum 210. 4 shows a further arrangement according to the invention for producing filter cigarettes, the arrangement being in the form of an L. The cut tobacco sticks are transferred to a transfer module 200.1 of a filter attachment device. The filter cigarettes are produced in a production module 200.2, in which tobacco rod multi-segment filter plugs and tobacco rod groups are connected to topping paper sheets by means of the topping device 220. Between the transfer module 200.1 and the manufacturing module 200.2 there is a filter segment assembly device 100 for producing multi-segment filter plugs.

After the double-long tobacco sticks have been picked up on the take-up drum 201, the tobacco sticks are cut by means of the cutting knife 202 and spaced longitudinally axially in a subsequent cut before the cut tobacco sticks spaced axially apart reach the filter segment assembly device 100 and from the conveyor drums of the functional units 110.1 up to 110.4 for production module 200.2.

At each functional unit 110.1 to 110.4, filter pieces are inserted between the tobacco sticks which are spaced along the longitudinal axis and transported to the next functional unit. The last filter segment piece is inserted on the functional unit 110.1, so that multi-segment filter plugs with a double useful length are present on the transfer drum 1 1 1.1 between the tobacco sticks which are spaced apart axially.

The tobacco rod filter plug-tobacco rod groups are then axially pushed together on the wobble drum 150. ben and the topping device 220 supplied, so that the tobacco rod filter plug-tobacco rod groups are connected and wrapped with a topping paper. Subsequently, the connected tobacco rod filter plug-tobacco rod groups on the cutting drum 240 are cut by means of the cutting knife 241 into filter cigarettes of simple use length.

In further steps, optional processing steps, e.g. by means of a laser unit, and the cigarette's own properties are checked by means of a test device.

By means of the arrangement according to the invention it is possible to achieve a direct coupling between a multi-segment assembly device and a filter attachment device, with multi-segment filter plugs being assembled in the filter segment assembly device.

After the multi-segment filter plugs have been put together, the filter plugs are transferred to the filter attachment unit, which at the same time takes over, cuts and spreads tobacco rods from a strand machine.

Optionally, the multi-segment filter plugs can be rolled over with wrapping paper before being put together with the tobacco sticks. LIST OF REFERENCES

100 filter segment assembler

110.1 to 110.4 functional unit 111.1 transfer drum 120 covering device 121 covering device 122 covering device 130 laser unit 150 wobble drum 160 insertion drum 200 filter attachment device 200.1 transfer module 200.2 manufacturing module 201 transfer drum 202 cutting knife 203 sliding drum 210 assembly drum 21 1 conveyor drum 220 covering device 221 covering device 222 belt unit cutting unit 300 cutting unit distribution unit 240 cutting device

Claims

Arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes

1. Arrangement for the production of filter cigarettes, a strand forming device (300) for forming a tobacco rod and a filter attachment device (200; 200.1, 200.2) for attaching filter plugs to tobacco rods cut from the tobacco rod are provided, characterized in that a device (100) is provided for assembling multi-segment filter plugs from at least three filter segment pieces.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (100) for producing multi-segment filter plugs has at least one covering device (120) for the multi-segment filter plugs.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (100) for producing multisegment fil- has at least one test element and / or a processing element (130) for the multi-segment filter plug.

4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device (100) for assembling multisegment filter plugs into independent functional units (1 10.1, 110.2, 110.3, 110.4) can be subdivided.

5. Arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that a functional unit (110.1, 1 10.2, 110.3, 110.4) is provided for each filter segment piece.

6. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strand-forming device (300), the filter attachment device (200; 200.1, 200.2) and the device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs are arranged in a T-shape.

7. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the strand-forming device (300), the filter attachment device (200; 200.1, 200.2) and the device (100) for assembling multi-segment filter plugs are arranged in an L-shape.

8. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one covering device (220) is provided for multi-segment filter plug-tobacco rod groups.

9. Arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one test element and / or a processing element for the multi-segment filter stop fen tobacco stick groups are provided.

10. The arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the device (100) for assembling multisegment filter plugs is integrated in the filter attachment device (200.1, 200.2).