A method and apparatus for moistening bundles of flexible material in particular bundles of tobacco leaves

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method of moistening bundles of flexible material, in particular bundles of tobacco leaves, by placing each bundle at the base thereof into a clamping means and passage the same through a space into which there is atomized a liquid, such as water.

[0002] Such a method is known from DE-A-2 147 224. According to said known method the bundles are placed in upright position into a clamping means and are passed through a space into which water is sprayed from above and from below onto the bundles. This treatment is effected because a certain moisture content is necessary in order to avoid pulverisation in particular during the subsequent working up thereof. Tobacco leaves may have a very different structure and accordingly it is of utmost importance that the proper amount of moisture is applied in such a manner that distribution thereof will be uniform and in the proper amount everywhere.

[0003] Tobacco leaves are supplied in bundles the stalk ends of which are tied together by means of a tobacco leave or rush. Previously it was known to remove this tie and to moisten the leaves separated from each other within a drum. This method is complicated and time consuming.

[0004] However, in the above described known method in which bundles are placed in upright position there is the drawback that the leaves fall down and remain in lying position. Upon falling down the leaves of the bundle will cover each other thus inhibiting a uniform moistening.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus not subject to said drawbacks.

[0006] This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that said bundles are passed through said space while being suspended from the base thereof and each bundle being rotated about the central vertical axis of its base.

[0007] Where the bundles hang downwards the rotation will force the leaves to move apart while the leave assume a more or less slanting fanning position according to the number of revolutions. Where leaves cannot fall flat said leaves will remain loose from each other and will moreover be subject to a mutual movement resembling a flitting motion due to the movement in the air during the rotation.

[0008] This effect may yet be enhanced if during the passage through the moistening space the direction of rotation is altered one or more times. Upon alteration of the direction of rotation the bundle of leaves will assume each time a limply drooping position before being fanned out again when the rotation in the opposite direction is restarted.

[0009] It is observed that from DE-C-646 155 it is known to suspend the bundles from the base and treat the leaves with a flow of moist air. The bundles of leaves are rotated as well but not about the vertical axis of their base so that due to centrifugal forces the leaves will not spread but on the contrary stick together.

[0010] Preferably the air within the moistening space is kept yet also in turbulent motion, it being preferred to impart this turbulent motion to the air by means of air jets for atomizing the liquid.

[0011] An optimum effect is attained when instead of a moistening by means of thin water jets there is utilized in accordance with the invention a fine atomization by atomizing the water by means of air jets whereby the current of air laden with fine water droplets may reach the rotating bundles of leaves from all sides while said current of air per se provides for moving the leaves apart from each other.

[0012] The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for moistening bundles of flexible material, in particular bundles of tobacco leaves, comprising an endless conveyor guide and an endless conveyor chain guided therein and provided with a plurality of mutually spaced clamping or hold means, each clamping or hold means being adapted for clamping or holding, respectively, one bundle to be treated, said chain passing consecutively through an insert station, a moistening space and a discharge station. Such an apparatus is known from DE-A-2 147 224 mentioned before. In said known apparatus the clamping or holding means hold the bundles in an upright position. The leaves of the bundle then will fall down in different directions and stick together in wet condition, because they are moved through the moisting space in a non changing condition with the leaves overlapping each other which inhibits uniform moistening. According to the invention this is improved in that each clamping or holding means is fastened to said chain in a downwardly hanging position and operable to be rotated about its vertical central axis. The rotary movement of the clamping or holding means may be brought about in several ways.

[0013] However according to the invention this may be realized in a simple manner by suspending said clamping means in a freely rotatable manner and providing the same with a cylindrically curved surface coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation and by providing an endless belt operative to be driven and extending parallel to the direction of conveyance in said moistening space, said belt being operable to engage said cylindrically curved surface. Hence upon entering the moistening space the holding or clamping means will immediately engage a driven belt, whereby said clamping or holding means are set in rotation causing the leaves to fan out. By utilizing several belts operable to impart an opposite direction of rotation to the holding or clamping means, the bundles may be rotated consecutively in the one direction and after a short interruption accompanied by a stand still of the leaves in the other direction.

[0014] For enhancing the feeding operation of the apparatus it is preferred to use clamping means of a type that automatically closes upon insertion of a bundle. In principle several constructions are conceivable for attaining such object. At the location of the discharge station there may then be provided means causing the release of the clamping means.

[0015] The atomizers may be provided in the bottom part and the top part of the moistening space, it being preferred in accordance with the invention to make provisions that the atomizers in the bottom part of the moistening space are adjustable in vertical sense in order to adapt the position there of to the size of the leaves.

[0016] Preferably the clamping or holding means are rotatably supported in sealing plates connected to each other to form a chain, said sealing plates being accommodated between the driving cylinder and the clamping means per se and being operative to be guided on the side walls of the guide slot present in the top part of said moistening space. In this way there is achieved not only a sealing of the conveying means and the guiding means with respect to the humid environment in the moistening space but also a guide providing for a stable conveyance through the moistening space in spite of the inavoidable unbalance during the rotation.

[0017] The invention will now be elucidated in further detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 diagrammatically shows a plan view of the apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line 11-11 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a cross section along the line III-III in Fig. 1.

[0018] In Fig. 1 the reference numeral 1 indicates the path of an endless conveyor guide in which there is accommodated a conveyor chain 2. This chain runs over reversing sprockets 3 and 4 which have been represented diagrammatically only and of which the sprocket 3 is connected to a drive mechanism 5.

[0019] This conveyor guide follows an elongated path having two straight parts one of which runs through a moistening space 7.

[0020] Clamping means 8 spaced apart with respect to each other are suspended from the chain. These clamping means are suspended from the chains in a freely rotatable manner and have been provided with a cylindrically curved driving surface 9. The clamping means are provided with operating means 10 by means of which the spring pressurized not shown clamping jaws may be opened.

[0021] With reference to Fig. 2 there is shown in the right hand part the insertion operation performed within the region 6 (Fig. 1).

[0022] In the moistening space 7 there are accommodated two driving belts 11 and 11' which run parallel to the direction of conveyance and which may come into frictional engagement with the cylindrically curved driving surface 9 of the clamping or holding means 8. The belt 11 will force the holding means to rotate to the right and the belt 11' to the left. At the location of the reversing wheels thereof said belts are both driven by a belt 12 running over rollers mounted on the shafts of the reversing wheels, a drive roller 13 on the shaft of a motor 14 and a tensioning roller 15.

[0023] With reference to Fig. 2 there is shown how a driving roller 16 drives the belt 11 by way of the shaft 17, said belt 11 engaging the cylindrical surface 9 of the clamping means 8, which clamping means is suspended from the chain 2 and is operative to be rotated by means of a not shown bearing present above the cylinder 9. By means of a not shown bearing each clamping means is furthermore rotatably mounted in a sealing plate 18; a chain being formed by said sealing plate 18 together with corresponding sealing plates 18'.

[0024] With reference to Figs. 2 and 3 it is shown that this chain is guided in a sealing manner through the guide slot 19 of the moistening space 7 made in the form of a box in which the sealing plates 18 are in contact with anti-friction plates 20 inserted in the side wall portion of the guide slot.

[0025] Thereby the moistening space 7 is closed moisture tight to the top thereof, while moreover a stabilization is achieved so that the clamping means will not be able to acquire an oscillating motion under the influence of the unbalance caused by the bundles of leaves. Furthermore the proper engagement with the driving belt will be assured thereby.

[0026] With reference to Fig. 2 it is shown that in the wall at the top of the space 7 there are provided compressed air operated atomizers 21 for atomizing water. Furthermore in the bottom part of the space there are provided atomizers 22 distributed, like shown in Fig. 1 in the longitudinal direction which atomizers 22 are mounted on a frame 23 which is adjustable in the direction of the height thereof. This adjustment is performed by means of screw spindles 24 and a drive mechanism 25. The adjustment is made between the lowermost position drawn in full lines and the uppermost position shown in interrupted lines.

[0027] The moistening space is joined to the discharge station 26 accommodated above a transverse conveyor 27. The driving belt 11' extends into this discharge station at which there are provided two guide bars 28 which will engage the operating means 10 projecting at both sides thereof whereby also due to the rotation the clamping means is opened so that the moistened bundle will drop down therefrom.

[0028] If the clamping means is of the type that is self locking in the open position to the insert station 6. If such is not the case, the opening of the clamping means at this insert station will have to be brought about in another way.

[0029] Furthermore the discharge station 26 is provided with an exhaust 29 for exhausting moisture emanating from the moistening space.

[0030] At the location of the entrance of the moistening space 7 a similar exhaustor 30 may be provided.

[0031] The entrance and exit of the moistening space may be adapted to the shape of the bundle like indicated by the line 31 in Fig. 2.

[0032] By utilizing the apparatus according to the invention it becomes feasible to adapt the throughput and the speed of rotation by adjustment of the number of revolutions of the drive motors independently to the degree of moistening which is desired to be achieved and which is dependent on the kind of tobacco to be treated. The atomized sprays emanating from the nozzles enhance the separation of the leaves so that the moisture may penetrate well and uniformly everywhere.

[0033] The moisture leaving the moistening space 7 may be collected in a filter box 32 arranged therebelow and, if desired, may be returned to the liquid supply vessel 33.

[0034] At 34 there are provided atomizers by means of which the part of the bundle inserted in the clamping means may be moistened.

Claims

1. A method of moistening bundles of flexible material, in particular bundles of tobacco leaves, by placing each bundle at the base thereof into a clamping means and passing the same through a space into which there is atomized a liquid, such as water, characterised in that said bundles are passed through said space while being suspended from the base thereof and each bundle being rotated about the central vertical axis of its base.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that during the passage through said moistening space the direction of rotation is altered.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a turbulent motion is imparted to the air within said moistening space.

.4. The method according to claim 3, characterised in that the turbulent motion is imparted to the air by means of air jets for atomizing the liquid.

5. An apparatus for moistening bundles of flexible material, in particular bundles of tobacco leaves, comprising an endless conveyor guide (1) and an endless conveyor chain (2) guided therein and provided with a plurality of mutually spaced clamping or holding means (8), each clamping or hold means (8) being adapted for clamping or holding, respectively, one bundle to be treated, said chain (2) passing consecutively through an insert station (6), a moistening space (7) and a discharge station (26), characterised in that each clamping or holding means (8) is fastened to said chain (2) in a downwardly hanging position and operable to be rotated about its vertical central axis.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that said clamping means (8) are suspended in a freely rotatable manner and are provided with a cylindrically curved surface (9) coaxially with respect to the axis of rotation and that in said moistening space (7) there is provided an endless belt (11, 11') operative to be driven and extending parallel to the direction of conveyance, said belt (11, 11') being operable to engage said cylindrically curved surface (9).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterised in that in said moistening space there are provided several endless belts (11, 11') arranged in succession in the direction of conveyance said belts (11, 11') being operable to drive the clamping or holding means (8) in opposite direction of rotation on said cylindrically curved surface (9).

8. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 5-7 inclusive, characterised in that said clamping means (8) are of the type that automatically closes upon insertion of a bundle.

9. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 5-8 inclusive, characterised in that said clamping or holding means (8) are rotatably supported in sealing plates (18) accommodated between said cylindrically curved surfaces (9) and said holding means (8), said sealing plates (18) being connected to each other to form a chain and being operative to fit slidingly in the moistening space between the side walls of the guide slot (19) present in the top part of said moistening space.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5-9 inclusive, characterised in that both in the bottom part and the top of the moistening space (7) there are provided compressed air operated liquid atomizers (21, 22).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, characterised in that the atomizers (22) provided in the bottom part of the moistening space are adjustable in vertical sense.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that in the top part of the moistening space (7) there are provided atomizers (34) at the level of the damping means said atomizers being directed to said clamping means.

Revendications

1. Procédé d'humidification de bottes de matière flexible, en particulier de bottes de feuilles de tabac, consistant à placer chaque botte, par sa base, dans un moyen de serrage, et à la faire passer dans un espace dans lequel est atomisé un liquide, tel que l'eau, caractérisé en ce qu'on fait passer lesdites bottes dans ledit espace tandis qu'elles sont suspendues par leur base et que chaque botte est entraînée en rotation autour de l'axe vertical central de sa base.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que, au cours du passage dans ledit espace d'humidification, le sens de rotation est modifié.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce qu'un mouvement turbulent est donné à l'air à l'intérieur dudit espace d'humidification.

4. Procédé selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le mouvement turbulent est donné à l'air au moyen de jets d'air permettant d'atomiser le liquide.

5. Appareil d'humidification de bottes de matière flexible, en particulier de bottes de feuilles de tabac, comprenant un guide de transporteur sans fin (1) et une chaîne de transporteur sans fin (2) qui est guidée à l'intérieur de celui-ci et qui est munie de plusieurs moyens de serrage ou de maintien mutuellement espacés (8), chaque moyen de serrage ou de maintien (8) étant conçu pour enserrer ou maintenir, respectivement, une botte à traiter, ladite chaîne (2) passant successivement par un poste d'insertion (6), un espace d'humidification (7) et un poste de décharge (26), caractérisé en ce que chaque moyen de serrage ou de maintien (8) est fixé à ladite chaîne (2) dans une position pendant vers le bas et peut être mis en rotation autour de son axe vertical central.

6. Appareil selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de serrage (8) sont suspendus de manière à pouvoir tourner librement et présentent une surface cylindriquement incurvée (9), coaxialement à l'axe de rotation, et en ce que, dans ledit espace d'humidification (7), il est prévu une courroie sans fin (11, 11') qui est conçue pour être entraînée et qui est dirigée parallèlement à la direction de transport, ladite courroie (11, 11') étant conçue pour s'engager sur ladite surface cylindriquement incurvée (9).

7. Appareil selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce qu'il est prévu dans ledit espace d'humidification plusieurs courroies sans fin (11, 11') qui sont disposées l'une à la suite de l'autre dans le sens du transport, lesdites courroies (11, 11') étant conçues pour entraîner les moyens de serrage ou de maintien (8) dans les sens de rotation opposés sur ladite surface cylindriquement incurvée (9).

8. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes 5 à 7 incluses, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de serrage (8) sont du type qui se ferme automatiquement lors de l'insertion d'une botte.

9. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes 5 à 8 incluses, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de serrage ou de maintien (8) sont montés de façon à pouvoir tourner dans des plaques d'étanchéité (18) logées entre lesdites surface cylindriquement incurvées (9) et lesdits moyens de maintien (8), lesdites plaques d'étanchéité (18) étant raccordées les unes aux autres de façon à former une chaîne et étant conçues pour s'adapter par glissement dans l'espace d'humidification entre les parois latérales de la fente de guidage (19) qui se trouvent dans la partie supérieure dudit espace d'humidification.

10. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 à 9 incluses, caractérisé en ce que, dans la partie inférieure et dans la partie supérieure de l'espace d'humidification (7), sont prévus des atomiseurs de liquide à air comprimé (21, 22).

11. Appareil selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que les atomiseurs (22) qui sont prévus dans la partie inférieure de l'espace d'humidification sont réglables dans le sens vertical.

12. Appareil selon la revendication 10 ou 11, caractérisé en ce que, dans la partie supérieure de l'espace d'humidification (7), sont prévus des atomiseurs (34) au niveau des moyens de serrage, lesdits atomiseurs étant dirigés vers lesdits moyens de serrage.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Befeuchten von Bündeln aus biegsamen Material, insbesondere von Tabakblätterbündeln, durch Einbringen jedes Bündels an seiner Basis in eine Einspannvorrichtung und Führen der Bündel durch einen Raum, in den eine Flüssigkeit, wie Wasser, zerstäubt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Bündel während des Führens durch den Raum von ihrer Basis herabhängen und jedes Bündel um die mittlere, vertikale Achse seiner Basis gedreht wird.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß während der Durchführung durch den Befeuchtungsraum die Drehrichtung geändert wird.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Luft innerhalb des Befeuchtungsraumes eine turbulente Bewegung verliehen wird.

4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die turbulente Bewegung der Luft mittels Luftdüsen zum Zerstäuben der Flüssigkeit verliehen wird.

5. Vorrichtung zum Befeuchten von Bündeln aus biegsamem Material, insbesondere von Tabakblätterbündeln, mit einer endlosen Fördererführung (1) und einer endlosen Transportkette (2), die darin geführt wird und mehrere, gegenseitig beabstandete Einspann- oder Haltevorrichtungen (8) aufweist, die jeweils ein zu behandelndes Bündel einspannen bzw. halten können, wobei die Kette (2) nacheinander durch eine Einführstation (6), einen Befeuchtungsraum (7) und eine Entladestation (26) geführt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß jede Einspann- oder Haltevorrichtung (8) in einer nach unten hängenden Stellung an der Kette (2) befestigt ist und derart betätigbar ist, daß sie sich um ihre senkrechte Mittellachse dreht.

6. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einspannvorrichtungen (8) frei drehbar aufgehängt sind und eine bezüglich der Drehachse koaxiale, zylindrisch gekrümmte Fläche (9) aufweisen, und daß im Befeuchtungsraum (7) ein endloser Riemen (11, 11') vorgesehen ist, der antreibbar ist und sich parallel zur Förderrichtung erstreckt, und der mit der zylindrisch gekrümmten Fläche (9) in Eingriff bringbar ist.

7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß im Befeuchtungsraum mehrere, in Förderrichtung nacheinander angeordnete endlose Riemen (11, 11') vorgesehen sind, die derart betätigbar sind, daß die Einspann-oder Haltevorrichtungen (8) in entgegengesetzter Drehrichtung auf der zylindrisch gekrümmten Fläche (9) angetrieben werden.

8. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einspannvorrichtungen (8) derart ausgebildet sind, daß sie sich nach Einführen eines Bündels automatisch schließen.

9. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Einspann-oder Haltevorrichtungen (8) in zwischen den zylindrisch gekrümmten Flächen (9) und den Haltevorrichtungen (8) angeordneten Dichtungsplatten (18) drehbar gelagert sind, wobei die Dichtungsplatten (18) zur Ausbildung einer Kette miteinander verbunden und derart betätigbar sind, daß sie gleitend in den Befeuchtungsraum zwischen die Seitenwände des im oberen Teil des Befeuchtungsraumes vorgesehenen Führungsschlitzes (19) passen.

10. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 5 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sowohl im unteren Teil als auch im oberen Teil des Befeuchtungsraumes (7) druckluftbetätigte Flüssigkeitszerstäuber (21, 22) vorgesehen sind.

11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die im unteren Teil des Befeuchtungsraumes angeordneten Zerstäuber (22) in Vertikalrichtung einstellbar sind.

12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10 oder 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß im oberen Teil des Befeuchtungsraumes (7) auf dem Niveau der Einspannvorrichtungen Zerstäuber (34) vorgesehen sind, die auf die Einspannvorrichtungen gerichtet sind.

Drawing