A SPLITTABLE TRANSPORT CHANNEL USED IN THE TOBACCO-PROCESSING INDUSTRY

Abstract

 The object of the application is a channel (1) for transporting rod-like articles in the tobacco industry, arranged in layers and transversely to their direction of transport, transversely partitioned into two parts, a first immovable part (1a) and a second movable part (1b), with one of them being rotatable around the channel axis (X), whereas the second part is movably fastened relative to the first part. A channel (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the plane (2) of partition of the channel into two parts extends at an angle to the channel axis, and the movable connection allows the movement of the second part of the channel relative to the first part of the channel so that during the movement the bottom edges of the second part principally move with a motion component directed upwards.

Description

[0001] The object of the invention is a partitioned transport channel for the downward gravitational transport of rod-like articles in the tobacco industry.

[0002] In the production lines of rod-like articles of the tobacco industry such as cigarettes, filters or cigarettes with filters already attached , in the course of the production process the said articles cover a considerable distance after leaving the manufacturing machine before being placed into packages in the packaging machine or into the storages. They are usually conveyed in a multi-layered ordered stack, which eliminates the deformation, damage or destruction of the articles. There is a need of handling the stream of articles in order to deliver it to or from different devices used in the production line, among others in the downward direction. For this purpose, on the path of a horizontal conveyor transferring the articles, generally perpendicular channels connecting one horizontal conveyor with another horizontal conveyor or receiver are created. From time to time, there is a need to replace the receiver situated under the vertical transport channel, then it is necessary to disassemble, in whole or in part, the vertical transport channel connecting this receiver with the conveyor situated at a different level in order to put away one receiver and place another one.

[0003] The substance of the invention is a channel for the transport of rod-like articles in the tobacco industry, arranged in layers and transversely to their direction of transport, transversely partitioned into two parts, a first immovable part and a second movable part, with the second part being movably fastened relative to the first part. A channel according to the invention is characterized in that the plane of partition of the channel into two parts runs at an angle to axis of the channel, and the movable connection allows the movement of the second part of the channel relative to the first part of the channel so that during the movement the bottom edges of the second part move with a motion component directed principally upwards.

[0004] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that the plane crosses the channel at an angle of 0-90 degrees to the channel axis.

[0005] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that the plane crosses the channel at an angle of 30-60 degrees to the channel axis.

[0006] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that the plane crosses the channel principally at an angle of 45 degrees to the channel axis.

[0007] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that the second part of the channel is a rotatably fastened part, and the axis of the rotary connection is situated at a side wall of the channel.

[0008] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that the second part of the channel is a slidably fastened part relative to the first part.

[0009] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that the axis of rotation is situated outside of the contour of the transport channel.

[0010] Furthermore, a channel according to the invention is characterized in that axis of rotation is situated outside of the flow area of the transport channel.

[0011] Furthermore, the channel according to the invention is characterized in that the movable connection allows the movement of the second part of the channel relative to the first part of the channel so that during the movement the upper edges of the second part of the channel move in the partition plane.

[0012] Furthermore, the channel according to the invention is characterized in that the movable connection allows the movement of the second part of the channel relative to the first part of the channel so that during the movement all bottom edges of the second part principally move with a motion component directed upwards.

[0013] Due to the use of a partitioned transport channel in the mass flow of rod-like articles in the tobacco industry, we may more efficiently replace devices receiving the articles from the channel without the necessity of disassembling it. Due to the use of a rotatable hinge situated at the line of partition of the channel and outside of its cross-section contour, when we make a rotational movement of the bottom part towards us, around the hinge axis, we deflect it rotationally upwards clearing the space under the channel. Furthermore, it is not required to keep a large gap between the bottom edge of the bottom part and the upper edge of the inlet into the receiving device, which would adversely affect the flow of rod-like articles. It is required to keep a distance between the upper part and the bottom part of the channel if a pivoting hinge with the horizontal axis of rotation, parallel to the bottom edge of the channel is used. By making a rotational movement around the horizontal axis, the bottom part of the channel causes the crossing of the line on which the bottom edge of the channel is situated.

[0014] The object of the invention was presented in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:

Fig. 1

shows a partitioned transport channel in a front view before the assembly;

Fig. 2

shows the partitioned transport channel in an axonometric view with a plane partitioning the channel into two parts before the assembly;

Fig. 3

shows the partitioned transport channel in a side view before the assembly;

Fig. 4

shows the partitioned transport channel in a front view after the assembly;

Fig. 5

shows the partitioned transport channel in a side view with a visible partitioning plane after the assembly;

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a partitioned transport channel 1 for gravitational transport of rod-like articles from a higher level to a lower level in the tobacco industry in the front view before the assembly. The channel 1 has a shape of a cube with an internal flow surface in which filter or tobacco rods are transported. The channel 1 is partitioned into two parts 1a and 1b by a virtual plane 2 which partitions the channel 1 transversely at an angle α in the range of 0-90°, more preferably at an angle of 30-60 degrees to the channel axis, or at a preferred angle of 45° to its X axis which centrally crosses the middle of the channel and is principally vertical. Such a channel, transversely partitioned at an angle 45° to the channel axis X, takes the least space necessary for its assembly. Our rotational movement of the part 1b made towards us when facing the front plane of the channel around the axis of rotation Y causes its deflection upwards. The axis Y is situated at an angle β in the range of 80-100°, preferably 90°, to the virtual plane 2 and may be parallel to the channel axis X. The channel 1 is kept in the assembled position (Fig. 4) by the lock 7 situated at the hinge (Fig. 3). The hinge 4 is adjacent to one of the channel walls at the level of its partition and is partitioned by a virtual plane 2 into two parts 4a and 4b at the same angle α to the channel axis X at which the channel 1 is partitioned. Each part of the hinge 4a and 4b is permanently fastened to the channel's upper part 1a and bottom part 1b, respectively. A member connecting both parts in the hinge 4 is the pin 5 through which the axis of rotation Y passes. Such a movable connection of first and second parts allows for a movement of the second part of the channel relative to the first part of the channel so that during the movement the bottom edges of the second part move with a motion component directed principally upwards.

[0016] The presented embodiment shows a channel in which the second part is a rotatably fastened part, and the axis of the rotatable connection is situated at the side wall of the channel. However, it is possible to place the axis of the rotation outside of the contour of the transport channel.

[0017] As an alternative, the connection of the first and the second part relies on the replacement of the rotatable connection by a slidable connection in which the second part of the channel is slidably fastened relative to the first part.

[0018] Regardless of the character of the connection, that is both in case of a rotatable (rotation) and a slidable (translation) connection, favourable effects where observed in particular when the upper edges of the second part moved principally in the plane of the partition. Regardless of the character of the connection, it has to ensure a relative movement of bottom edges of the second part, in particular all bottom edges of the second part of the channel, with a motion component directed principally upwards. It is so important because the outlet of the transport channel, thus the bottom edges of the second part of the channel are situated very close to the device to which the rod-like articles are delivered. The clearance between the channel outlet and the receiving device is usually smaller than the diameter of a rod-like article, thus the movement of the second part of the channel should be principally free from the motion component directed downwards - which allows avoiding a collision between the second part of the transport channel and the receiving device.

[0019] Fig. 2 shows the partitioned transport channel 1 together with a partitioning virtual plane 2 in an axonometric view. The plane 2 transversely partitions the channel 1 into two parts, in this embodiment an upper immovable part 1a and a bottom movable part 1b. From the side of the inlet into the channel 1, a hatched surface of the flow 3 of rod-like articles through this channel is visible.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows the partitioned transport channel 1 in the side view. A hinge 4 is fastened to the rear wall 6 of the channel 1. The virtual plane 2 (not shown in the drawing) transversely partitioning the channel 1 into two parts 1a and 1b also partitions the hinge 4 into two parts 4a and 4b which are fastened to the rear wall 6 of the channel 1 to the parts 1a and 1b, respectively. A member connecting two parts of the channel 1a and 1b and two parts of the hinge 4a and 4b is a pin 5 situated in the hinge 4, passing through its two parts 4a and 4b perpendicular to the virtual partition plane 2 (not visible in the figure). The axis of rotation Y which may be parallel to the axis X passes centrally along the pin 5. The axis of rotation Y must be situated outside of the area of flow 3 of rod-like articles in the channel 1. It can overlap the rear wall 6 of the channel 1 or it may be situated outside of its contour.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows the front view of the channel 1 after the assembly in the final position. When me make a rotational movement relative to the axis Y through the bottom part of the channel 1b towards us when standing opposite to the channel, in the front view the rear wall 6b of the bottom part 1b which is situated outside of the working area of the upper part 1a (Fig. 5) becomes visible, whereas the side wall 9 of the bottom part 1b reaches the level of the bottom edge 8 of the part 1a. The bottom part of the hinge 4b, which is fastened to the bottom part of the channel 1b around the axis of rotation Y, moves along the same path.

[0022] Fig. 5 shows the partitioned transport channel 1 after the assembly with a visible displacement of the part 1a relative to the part 1. Due to the rotational movement in the partition plane the transport channel is broken, and the channel outlet moves with a motion component directed upwards.

[0023] The solution according to the invention was presented with reference to a channel with a principally cuboid shape, i.e. channels with a rectangular cross-section; however, it may be just as well used for oval or elliptic channels. The usefulness of the invention for all abovementioned channel shapes has been proven in carried out tests and simulations.

Claims

1. A channel for the transport of rod-like articles in the tobacco industry, arranged in layers and transversely to their direction of transport, transversely partitioned into two parts, first immovable part and second movable part, whereas
the second part is fastened movably relative to the first part
characterized in that
the plane (2) partitioning the channel into two parts (1a, 1b) runs at an angle to theaxis of the channel, and
the movable connection allows the movement of the second part (1b) of the channel relative to the first part (1a) of the channel so that during the movement the bottom edges of the second part (1b) move with a motion component directed principally upwards.

2. A channel as in claim 1 characterized in that the partition plane (2) crosses the channel at an angle of 0-90 degrees to the channel axis.

3. A channel as in claim 1 characterized in that the partition plane (2) crosses the channel at an angle of 30-60 degrees to the channel axis.

4. A channel as in claim 1-3 characterized in that the partition plane (2) crosses the channel principally at the angle of 45 degrees to the channel axis.

5. A channel as in any of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the second part (1b) of the channel is a rotatably fastened part, and the axis of the rotary connection is situated at a side wall of the channel.

6. A channel as in any of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the second part (1b) of the channel is fastened slidably relative to the first part.

7. A channel as in claim 5 characterized in that the axis of rotation (Y) is situated outside of the contour of the transport channel.

8. A channel as in any of the claims 5 or 7 characterized in that the axis of rotation (Y) is situated outside of the flow area of transport channel.

9. A channel as in any of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the movable connection allows the movement of the second part (1b) of the channel relative to the first part of the channel so that during the movement the upper edges of the second part of the channel move in the partition plane.

10. A channel as in any of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the movable connection allows the movement of the second part (1b) of the channel relative to the first part (1a) of the channel so that during the movement all bottom edges of the second part principally move with a motion component directed upwards.

Drawing