Improvements relating to sliced bale conditioning

Description

[0001] This invention relates to apparatus for slicing tobacco bales and feeding them to a processing device. One example of such an apparatus is shown in our European Patent No. 01 59 836, in which sliced portions of tobacco bales are mechanically transferred from a slicer blade to a conditioning station by means of a pusher device.

[0002] EP-A-00 95 866 also discloses apparatus for slicing tobacco from a bale held on a platform, and a conveyor for carrying away the cut slices.

[0003] In some practical applications of such conditioning systems, it is necessary to introduce additional materials together with the sliced product, before it enters the conditioning process. If the length of travel of the pusher between the slicer and the conditioner is increased in order to make space for the additional material, the apparatus then takes up more space and in addition the slicer cycle time is increased, reducing the throughput capacity.

[0004] Accordingly the present invention provides apparatus for processing tobacco bales, comprising slicer means for successively cutting slices from a bale; a pusher device for moving the cut slices away from the slicer blade; and a conveyor for receiving the slices from the pusher and delivering them to a further processing device; characterised by further delivery means above the conveyor for adding loose tobacco or other material between successive slices.

[0005] Preferably the bale is supported on a lift device which is raised in steps as slices are cut from the top, and the lift may be arranged to drop slightly in suitable synchronism with the movement of the cutting blade (as for example in EPO 01 59 836) in order to improve the cutting action. Alternatively, the slices may be cut vertically from the bale, the bale being turned on its side before cutting takes place.

[0006] The combination of the conveyor and the pusher device allows a predetermined and controllable loading space to be allocated for any additional loose tobacco, without requiring a long travel mechanism for actuating the pusher.

[0007] The invention also extends to a method of processing a bale of tobacco, comprising: successively cutting slices from the bale, loading each cut slice onto a conveyor, adding a controlled quantity of loose tobacco onto the conveyor and transporting the cut slice and the loose tobacco on the conveyor, into a conditioner. Preferably, the quantity of loose tobacco, the size of the slice, and the rate of delivery of slices are controlled by control means which also controls the speed of movement of the conveyor so that the relative flow rates of the relatively solid materials and the loose material can be adjusted to suit the conditioning process.

[0008] One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side elevation of a sliced bale conditioning system in accordance with the invention. A slicer blade 1 is arranged to cut a slice 3 from the top of a bale (not shown). A pusher 2 transfers the slice into a tunnel 4 the base of which is formed by a belt conveyor 6, so that the slice is loaded onto the end A of the conveyor.

[0009] A feed chute 7 is arranged in the top cover of the tunnel, through which loose tobacco is fed onto the conveyor, between successive slices, the loose material and the slice then being fed into the conditioner 5. As can be seen from the drawing, the inclusion of the conveyor has the additional advantage of avoiding the necessity to extend the travel of the pusher from the entry point A of the tunnel to the exit point B.

[0010] In use, the system is controlled so as to interleave the addition of loose tobacco through the chute 7, with the delivery of slices 3, and thus the ratio of loose tobacco to slices can be varied to suit the process in use. If required, the throughput of slices can also be increased compared to that of known systems, because the travel of the pusher can be kept short, and thus the time taken to retract it for the next slice is minimised.

Claims

1. Apparatus for processing tobacco bales, comprising slicer means (1) for successively cutting slices from a bale; a pusher device (2) for moving the cut slices away from the slicer blade; and a conveyor (6) for receiving the slices from the pusher and delivering them to a further processing device (5); characterised by further delivery means (7) above the conveyor for adding a controlled quantity of loose tobacco or other material between successive slices.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the slicer means includes a substantially horizontal blade and a lift device which is arranged to be raised progressively as slices are cut from the top, the lift being arranged to drop slightly in synchronism with the movement of the cutting blade to assist the cutting action.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the slicer means includes a substantially vertical blade so that slices are cut vertically from the bale.

4. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3 further comprising control means arranged to control the quantity of loose material, the size of the slice, the rate of delivery of slices, and/or the speed of movement of the conveyor, whereby the relative rates of flow of the different materials can be adjusted to suit the conditioning process.

5. A method of processing a bale of tobacco, comprising the steps of: successively cutting slices from the bale; loading each cut slice onto a conveyor; adding a controlled quantity of loose tobacco onto the conveyor; and transporting the cut slice and the loose tobacco on the conveyor, into a conditioner.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zur Verarbeitung von Tabakballen mit einer Schneideinrichtung (1) zum aufeinanderfolgenden Abschneiden von Scheiben von einem Ballen, einer Stoßvorrichtung (2) für die Wegbewegung der geschnittenen Scheiben von dem Schneidemesser, und einem Förderer (6) für die Aufnahme der Scheiben von der Stoßvorrichtung und ihre Lieferung an eine weitere Verarbeitungseinrichtung (5), gekennzeichnet durch
   weitere Liefereinrichtungen (7) über dem Förderer für die Zugabe einer gesteuerten Menge losen Tabaks oder anderen Materials zwischen den aufeinanderfolgenden Scheiben.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Schneideinrichtung eine im wesentlichen horizontale Klinge und ein Hebegerät umfaßt, das so ausgebildet ist, daß es fortschreitend hochfährt, wenn von der Oberseite Scheiben abgeschnitten werden und in Synchronisierung mit der Bewegung der Schneidklinge etwas absinkt, um den Schneidvorgang zu unterstützen.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der die Schneideinrichtung eine im wesentlichen vertikale Klinge hat, so daß die Scheiben von dem Ballen vertikal abgeschnitten werden.

4. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, ferner mit Steuereinrichtungen für die Steuerung der Menge des losen Materials, der Größe der Scheibe, der Liefergeschwindigkeit der Scheiben und/oder der Geschwindigkeit der Bewegung des Förderers, wodurch die relativen Fließgeschwindigkeiten der verschiedenen Materialien in Anpassung an das Konditionierverfahren eingestellt werden können.

5. Verfahren zur Verarbeitung eines Tabakballens, bei dem man von dem Ballen aufeinanderfolgend Scheiben abschneidet, jede abgeschnittene Scheibe auf einen Förderer ladet, eine gesteuerte Menge losen Tabak auf den Förderer hinzusetzt und die geschnittene Scheibe und den losen Tabak auf dem Förderer in einem Konditionierer transportiert.

Revendications

1. Appareil pour traiter des balles de tabac, comprenant des moyens formant couteau (1) pour sectionner successivement des tranches d'une balle ; un dispositif pousseur (2) pour éloigner les tranches sectionnées de la lame du couteau ; et un convoyeur (6) pour recevoir les tranches provenant du pousseur et les amener à un autre dispositif de traitement (5) ; caractérisé par
   d'autres moyens d'alimentation (7) au-dessus du convoyeur pour ajouter une quantité contrôlée de tabac en vrac, ou d'autre matériau, entre des tranches successives.

2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les moyens formant couteau comprennent une lame substantiellement horizontale et un dispositif élévateur qui est agencé pour être levé progressivement alors que les tranches sont sectionnées à partir du dessus, l'élévateur étant agencé pour descendre légèrement en synchronisation avec le mouvement de la lame de coupe pour aider l'action de coupe.

3. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les moyens formant couteau comprennent une lame substantiellement verticale de sorte que les tranches sont sectionnées verticalement de la balle.

4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3 comprenant de plus des moyens de contrôle agencés pour contrôler la quantité de matériau en vrac, la taille de la tranche, la vitesse de livraison des tranches, et/ou la vitesse du mouvement du convoyeur, par quoi les vitesses de circulation relatives des divers matériaux peuvent être réglées pour convenir à l'opération de conditionnement.

5. Procédé de conditionnement de balles de tabac, comprenant les étapes consistant à sectionner successivement des tranches de la balle ; charger chaque tranche sectionnée sur un convoyeur ; ajouter une quantité contrôlée de tabac en vrac sur le convoyeur ; et transporter la tranche sectionnée et le tabac en vrac sur le convoyeur, dans un conditionneur.

Drawing