JPS60210973A - Drilling apparatus of rod shaped article - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a device for drilling multiple holes in a rod-shaped object.

The invention is particularly suitable for producing smoking articles, in particular cigarettes, and although the following description refers to these cigarettes, this is by way of illustration only and without any limitation.

[Conventional technology]

In the cigarette manufacturing industry, so-called "ventilated" cigarettes, which have a large number of holes in the filter part,
Cigarettes that allow the smoker to inhale a certain amount of air along with the smoke in such a way as to reduce both the temperature and the content of harmful substances in the smoke known to produce.

It is known that said ventilation holes are formed by using a drilling device, which preferably includes a source of a pulsating laser and a path through which the cigarette is given this laser beam. and a light condensing device adapted to be directed onto the cigarette and preferably rotated about its axis as it travels along the cigarette.

In this known type of punching device, the light condensing device usually includes a reflective member arranged to direct the focused light beam onto the cigarettes in such a way that they follow the cigarettes as they move. It is assigned.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

One of the major drawbacks of punching devices of the type described above is that the large number of holes so formed are generally irregular in shape and unevenly distributed around the circumference of the cigarette. The main reason for this is that the laser source, the concentrator and the cooperating reflector are generally placed at some distance from the cigarette to be perforated, and are placed along the given path of the cigarette. This is due to the fact that the movement is determined by a conveying device supported remotely from each drilling device. This punching device is therefore unaffected by the vibrations normally exerted on the cigarettes by the conveying device, so that these cigarettes to be punched are unpredictable from what should be a given ideal path. It will be missed.

The object of the invention is to provide a laser aperture device which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Failure to solve the problem]

To this end, the present invention relates to a device for punching rod-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, which device comprises: a con-hair;
a plurality of moving recesses supported on the conhair or transversely to the direction of travel of the conhair and each adapted to receive the article; a laser source adapted to emit a pulsating laser beam; and a concentrator adapted to continuously focus a laser beam onto the moving article, the drilling device comprising a diffuser disposed between the laser source and the concentrator. , the light condensing device is arranged for each of the recesses in the -
1. A condensing lens that is integral with A and travels along a given path together with the conveyor, and a rotation device supported on the conveyor for rotating each of the recesses around the axis of the conveyor. It is characterized by the fact that

〔Example〕

A non-limiting device of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 designates a conditioning or supply roller for cigarettes 2, said roller 1 forming part of a filter assembly machine, indicated in its entirety at 3, which filter assembly is carried out by a machine roller. In addition to roller 1, the roller 1 is provided with a supply roller 4 and a take-out roller 5, which are arranged so as to be in contact with each other at two points around the roller 1 and rotate in the same direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the roller 1 constitutes a part of a perforating device, generally indicated at 6, which consists of a fixing device, generally indicated at 7, which rotatably supports the roller 1. a pulsating laser source adapted to emit a laser beam 8 along the axis of the central bore 9 of the tubular shaft 1o and a diffuser adapted to deflect the laser beam 8 radially outwards to form it as described in more detail below. vessel 11 and roller 1
a concentrator 12 rotating together and adapted to focus the laser beam 8 on the cigarettes to form a ring of holes on the cigarettes; and a roller rotating about the axis of the shaft 10. 1 and a rotating device 14 for rotating the cigarettes 2 about their respective axes when the cigarettes 2 are moved by the cigarette 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hole 9 is closed on the side opposite to the side facing the laser source 7 by a flanged cap 15, the central portion of which pierces through the inside of the hole 9 and defines a mirror 16. Its limits are defined by the 45° mirror surface it forms. This mirror forms part of a diffuser 11 and is adapted to deflect the laser beam 8 radially outwardly of the axis 10 through the line 1-17, which line 1-17 is arranged as shown in FIG. It extends around the axis 10 over an arc, the aperture of which corresponds to an arc equal to at least three times the space of the cigarettes 2 around the roller 1.

As shown in FIG. 3 and in particular in FIG.
and, in the particular example shown, a second lens 19 which is a wooden flat cylindrical lens with an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 10. This lens 1
Both lenses 8 and 19 are integral with the shaft 10, and are arranged such that the second lens is outside the first lens with respect to the axis of the shaft 10. Facing. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the concentrators 12 are arranged uniformly around the roller 1 and each formed axially around the roller to accommodate a respective cigarette 2. A plurality of condensing lenses 20 are provided, which cooperate with the recesses 21 formed in the form.

According to the particular arrangement shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shaft 10 projects from the side wall 22 of the machine 3 and has a first bearing 24 on its free end connected to the cap 15 and supporting the roller l.
Together with the inner ring of the cap, it forms an outer flange 23 which cooperates with the outer periphery of the cap. The roller 1 comprises an essentially cylindrical bell 25 coaxial with the axis 10 and fitted with its concave side facing the wall 22 on this axis. The bell 25 forms an end wall 26 having a central axial bore 27 for receiving the bearing 24 and an essentially cylindrical outer wall 28 having an annular groove 29 adjacent the end wall 26 .

Holes 30 are formed through the end wall of the annular groove 29, these holes 30 are evenly distributed around the axis of the shaft 10 and the recess 2
1, and each of them accommodates a respective condenser lens 20.

The side wall 28 of the bell 25 includes a small diameter portion 31 adjacent to the groove 29 and a large diameter portion 32 facing the bell 22 and joined to the small diameter portion 31 by an annular shoulder 33.

Two annular flanges 34 and 35 extend radially inward from the inner surface of the wall 28, a first flange near the shoulder 33 and a second flange near the free end of the wall 28 facing the wall 22; A hole 36 having a cylindrical diameter is defined on the shaft 10 coaxially with the shaft 10 and housing the second bearing 37 for supporting the roller l.

Adjacent to the flange 35, the side wall 28 has an outer ring gear 38.
This gear 38 is connected to a drive device (not shown) rotatably supported on the wall 22 and rotating the roller 1 about its axis at a constant speed applied in the opposite direction to the rollers 4 and 5. ) meshes with a gear 39 connected to the

Rotating device 1 shown by way of example in FIGS. 3 and 4
4 is divided into two groups of gear chains 40 and 41 cooperating with alternating pairs of recesses 21.

In other words, when one of the pairs of recesses 21 cooperates with, for example, one gear chain 40, two adjacent recesses 21
pair cooperates with a gear chain 41.

Each gear chain 40 includes a rocker arm 42 having a pivot pin 43 having an axis parallel to the axis of the bell 25. Each pin 43 has a flange 34
A tappet roller 46 rotatably engaged with each through hole 44 formed through the wall 26 , whose end facing the wall 26 is perpendicular to the pin 43 and whose free end moves along the cam 47 . It is integrally connected to a first arm 45 connected to.

The cam 47 is integral with the shaft 10 and has an active surface formed around the axis of the shaft 10 itself.

At its end facing the wall 22, each pin 43 is integrally connected to a second arm which extends in a plane perpendicular to the 1° axis and extends along the cam 5o. It consists of a moving tappet roller 49 and an integral sector gear 48. The cam 50 is integral with the shaft 10 and has an active surface formed around the axis of the shaft 10 itself. Each sector gear 48 has two
Each of these gears 51 is parallel to the axis IO and has one end passing through a hole 53 in the bell 25 adjacent to the shoulder 33 and the other end passing through a hole 54 in the flange 35 so that it can rotate freely. It is fitted onto each shaft 52 attached to.

The end of the shaft 52 facing the wall 26 passes through the name tag 53 and exits the bell 25, and has an axial groove extending outside the portion 31 of Ii 28 and defining each recess 21. It is integrally connected to an axial attachment 55. Each recess 21 has a discharge groove 56 running along it and communicating with a duct 57, which extends along each axis 52 and has a discharge source (not shown) on the side facing the wall 22. It communicates with the discharge groove 58 which communicates with the drain groove 58 .

The groove 58 is formed on the entire surface of the annular distribution plate 59, and the groove 58 is formed on the entire surface of the annular distribution plate 59.
and 5 extend around the axis of the shaft 10 over essentially the entire arc between the points of contact with the roller 1.

The distribution plate 59 is axially slidably mounted on a cylindrical bush 60 coaxial with the shaft 10 and integral with the wall 22.
It is held in flexible contact with the end of the shaft 52 by a large number of springs 61.

Each gear chain 41 includes a number of rocker arms 62,
Each of the rocker arms includes a pivot pin 63 that is rotatably mounted through each through hole 64 formed in the flange 35.

The rocker arms 62 are essentially identical to the rocker arms 42, and each of these rocker arms 62 has a first arm 65 which is the same as the arm 45 and has a tappet nodriller 66, and a first arm 65 which is the same as the arm 45 and has a tappet nodriller 66, and a first arm 65 which is the same as the sector gear 48 and has a tappet nodriller 66. roller 6
8.

Each roller 68 is mounted in contact with a working surface of the cam 50, whereas each roller 66 is mounted in contact with a working surface of the cam 50, whereas each roller 66 is mounted on another shaft integral with the shaft 10 and whose working surface is formed about the axis of the shaft 10 itself. It is attached in contact with two cams 69.

Each sector gear 67 meshes with two gears 51 and a pair of recesses 2 arranged between two pairs of adjacent recesses 21 controlled by each sector gear 48.
1 is mounted on each shaft 52 corresponding to 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cams 47 and 69 along which the rollers 46 and 66 respectively run are identical, each consisting of a lower portion 70, a higher portion 71 and two sloping merging portions. 72 to form a working surface consisting of 1. As each recess 21 runs over a drilling arc 73 whose opening essentially coincides with the opening of the slit 17, the roller 46
and 66 run continuously along the central portion of one of the inclined portions 72.

The cam 50, on the other hand, has alternating rollers 49 and 68 running along it and, like the cams 47 and 69, forms a low part 74, a high part 75 and two sloped joining parts 76. , the corresponding rollers 46 and 66 are connected to each cam 4.
7 or 69, rollers 49 and 68 run successively along the central part of one of the two inclined parts 76.

When bell 25 is rotated by drive gear 39, rollers 46 and 66 are displaced along the working surface of each cam 47 and 69, and rollers 49 and 68 are displaced along the working surface of cam 50.

One roller 46 extends from the lower part 70 on the cam 47^1
When the corresponding roller 49 starts rolling along one of the inclined portions 72, the corresponding lower portion 7 on the cam 50
4 and begin the transition along a corresponding sloped portion 76 on this cam.

As the rollers 46 and 49 are displaced along the corresponding inclined portions 72 and 76, the corresponding rocker arms 42 and therefore the corresponding sector gears 48 move the corresponding pins between two distinct end angles. 43, so that the two corresponding appendages 55 are rotated about these axes.

The drive ratio between each sector gear 48 and the corresponding gear 51 is usually:
The angular movement of the sector gear 48 between the two end angles is such that the appendage 55 is rotated through more than 360° about these axes. Obviously, said rollers 46 and 49
and are transferred along the other pair of corresponding angled portions 72 and 76, the appendages 55 are rotated in the opposite direction returning to their original positions.

In said device, three cams 47, 50 and 69
is often used for specific constructional requirements, for example, a single cam, 50, has two grooves on its opposite sides to allow positive two-way guidance for rollers 49 and 68. is sufficient to enable angle control of the sector gears 48 and 67, and therefore the cams 47 and 69
and rollers 4G and 66 can be omitted.

Furthermore, the reason why two gear chains 40 and 41 are provided is that it is necessary to maintain the diameter of roller 1 within a certain range. In fact, if the diameter of roller I and therefore the diameter of the cam were to become very large, all of the rocker arms 42 and 62 would be located on the same side of the cam 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, after passing through the slit 17 and being redirected radially outwardly by the mirror 16, the ray 8 impinges on a lens 18 which directs the ray along the axis 10. diffuse in a direction perpendicular to the axis of On the facing lens 19 said diffused light ray delimits a "spread" of light, the width of which is as constant as possible and at least equal to the diameter of the plurality of lenses 20, so that the beam is directed towards the axis 1.
It is further diffused parallel to the zero axis.

Furthermore, at least in the illustrated apparatus, the axis lO
The size of the widened light ray in a plane perpendicular to the axis of , and which coincides with the size of the drilling arc 73, is such that it passes through at least four consecutive lenses 20 simultaneously.

As the roller 1 rotates, a plurality of cigarettes 2 alternately run on the perforating arc 73 and at the same time the cam 47
, 50 and 69, the corresponding rollers 46 and 49 or 68 and 66 rolling along the inclined portions 72 and 76 rotate these cigarettes about their respective axes.

More specifically, before reaching the perforation arc 73, these cigarettes 2 begin to rotate about their own axis until it reaches an essentially constant rotational speed, which constant rotational speed The rotational speed of the cigarette 2 is maintained throughout the opening arc, and at the end of this arc the rotational speed of the cigarette 2 gradually decreases towards zero.

Furthermore, the losocar arm 42 by the inclined portions 72 and 76
The angular movement of and 62 is such that the cigarette 2 undergoes essentially a complete rotation about its axis while traveling on the perforating arc 73.

Finally, the pulsating frequency of the laser source 7 is determined by the drilling arc 73
The number of pulses emitted during the time spent by each cigarette traveling over it is equal to the number of holes 13 to be drilled in each cigarette.

Regarding the above description, because of the special rotating device 14, each cigarette 2 is rotated about its axis without undergoing any rotational distortions, and the drilled hole 13 is very clean and precise; It should be emphasized that this is due to the fact that there is essentially no relative movement between each cigarette 2 and each lens 20.

Regarding lenses 18 and 19, the elongated light spread created by these lenses and as described above can be obtained by using one or more lenses in a manner not different from said lenses 18 and 19. .

Regarding the length of said light spread, i.e. the length of the perforation arc 73, its length corresponding to the space occupied by at least four lenses is mainly due to intended construction reasons. , on the one hand it is possible to use as small a laser source 7 as possible, and on the other hand it is important to keep the rotational speed of the cigarette 2 about its axis within a certain range while it moves on the perforating arc 73. should be followed.

Finally, each sector gear 48 and 67 has two consecutive recesses 2
The fact that 1 is filled is also due to construction reasons, in that each recess 21 and one sector gear each are fitted or each sector gear has three or more recesses 21. One such rotating unit would be completely viable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view of the drilling device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an oblique view of the main part of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line mm in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a clear view. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part of FIG. 3 with a part removed to make it more visible. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Supply roller, 2... Cigarette, 3... Assembly machine, 4... Supply roller, 6... Punching device,
7... Laser source, 8... Laser beam, 11
. . . Diffuser, 12 . . . Condensing device, 14 . Rocker arm, 48.67... sector gear, 47, 50, 6
9...Cam, 51...Gear. Below margin

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A device for making holes (13) in stick-shaped articles, in particular cigarettes, the device comprising a conveyor (1) and a hole (13) transverse to the running direction of the conveyor (1). a number of moving recesses supported on said conveyor (1) and each adapted to receive said respective article; and a laser source (7) adapted to emit pulsating laser light* (8). )
and the laser beam (8) is continuously applied to the moving article (
2) A device comprising a light concentrating device (12) adapted to be concentrated on the source (7) and the light concentrating device (12).
2), said light condensing device (12) being integral with and together with said conveyor (1) for each said recess (21); a condensing lens (20) traveling along a given path and a rotating device (supported on the conveyor (1) for rotating each said recess (21) about its own axis;
14) A drilling device comprising: 2. The diffuser (11) includes fixed lens means (18, 19) configured to define a "spreading part" of light along the path along which the condensing lens (20) travels. , the length of the light spread measured along the path is greater than the diameter of the condenser lens (20), and its width measured transverse to the direction of travel is essentially the diameter 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equal to . 3. The length of the “spreading portion” of the light along the path is
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the length is such that it simultaneously encompasses at least three said condensing lenses (20). 4. The rotating device (14) is connected to the conveyor (
1) a number of gear chains (40, 4) supported on and each connected to at least one respective recess (21);
1) and said gear train 11 (
40, 41) and cam means (47, 50, 69) configured to selectively actuate the cams (40, 41). . 5. The con-hair consists of several rollers (1) rotatably arranged around its own axis, and the condensing lens (20) and the corresponding recess (21) are connected to the roller (1).
) A patented device characterized in that condensing lenses are arranged evenly around the inside of the corresponding recess. 6. Each said gear chain (40.41) is attached to said conhair (1) and at one end thereof said cam means (
Tapetrora (46.66) connected to
) and supporting at the other end a sector gear (48.67), each said recess (2l) being an integral part connected to each said sector gear (48.67). 6. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a gear (51). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each sector gear (48.67) is connected to at least two said gears (51).