EP3430915B1 - Device for cutting rod-like articles and machine using such a device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device designed and set up for cutting rod-shaped articles of multiple useful lengths in the tobacco processing industry, comprising a cutting drum that can be driven to rotate about an axis of rotation I, the cutting drum having troughs on its peripheral surface for receiving and holding the bar-shaped article and the troughs being parallel are aligned to the axis of rotation I in such a way that the rod-shaped articles can be conveyed transversely axially to their central axis, as well as a cutting device, which is arranged in the area of the circumference of the cutting drum, such that the cutting device can be brought into engagement with the rod-shaped articles lying in the troughs .

The invention furthermore comprises a machine for the tobacco processing industry, in particular a filter attachment machine or filter assembly device, with a device for cutting rod-shaped articles.

Such devices are used in the tobacco processing industry. These devices serve to cut rod-shaped articles conveyed transversely axially, such as filter rods of multiple useful lengths, into individual filters of single useful lengths. Rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry include, in addition to filter rods, filters and filter segments, each with or without tobacco, also cigarettes, tobacco sticks and other articles. The document EP2666373 discloses a device for cutting filter rods.

The rod-shaped articles are either introduced directly into the troughs of the cutting drum or are usually transferred transversely axially (to their longitudinal extension) from drum to drum, and ultimately also to the cutting drum. The rod-shaped articles are received and held in the troughs of the cutting drum. For this purpose, the drums are usually designed as suction drums, so that the rod-shaped articles are held in the troughs by negative pressure. Through the Rotation of the cutting drum, the rod-shaped articles of multiple useful lengths are conveyed into the active area of the cutting device. At least one cutting knife of the cutting device comes into engagement with the rod-shaped articles. In other words, the cutting knife dips through the rod-shaped articles and divides or separates them into articles of simple usable length. In order to avoid a collision of the cutting knife with the cutting drum, grooves / gaps are provided in the area of the troughs, into which the cutting knife can dip. The grooves / gaps are formed across the troughs along the circumferential surface. Specifically, for example, a groove / gap separates two axially aligned hollows. Before cutting, for example, a filter rod of twice the useful length extends over two axially aligned troughs. The knife dips through the filter rod into the groove / gap in order to cut the filter rod completely. The cutting drum with the troughs virtually forms the counter-position for the cutting device.

In known devices for cutting the rod-shaped articles, rotatingly driven circular knives are used as cutting knives. The circular knives are self-rotating and cut the articles in the troughs. Although the circular knives are driven to rotate, they are arranged in a stationary manner when cutting, so that the articles run onto a "standing" blade. However, these circular knives are only suitable for precisely cutting simple and, above all, soft articles. The rod-shaped articles and in particular the filters and filter rods, however, are increasingly being supplied with additives of great hardness. In other words, the articles to be cut have increasingly hard particles, e.g. Charcoal or the like, which cannot be cut with conventional circular knives or only imprecisely. The same applies to articles that are intrinsically so hard or also contain plastic segments that they cannot be cut with conventional circular knives, or can only be cut imprecisely.

The invention is therefore based on the object of proposing a simple and powerful device for cutting rod-shaped articles, in particular also of great hardness. The task is still to propose a suitable machine.

This object is achieved by a device of the type mentioned at the outset in that the cutting device has at least one knife carrier that can be driven in rotation comprises a knife holder carrying a cutting knife. The embodiment according to the invention provides a cutting device by means of which cuts of higher energy can be generated. The rotating knife carrier with the at least one cutting knife can also achieve a higher cutting speed. As a result, articles that contain charcoal or other particles of great hardness can also be cut reliably and precisely. Because the or each cutting knife is arranged on the circumference of the knife carrier, the cutting knives strike the rod-shaped article with a high level of energy, equal to an impulse. By using a knife carrier, large diameters can be used compared to circular knives, which means that a high knife speed can be generated. This allows the advantages mentioned to be increased.

A particularly preferred embodiment is characterized in that two or more knife holders, each with a cutting knife, are arranged distributed uniformly over the circumference of the knife carrier. The cutting speed and thus the performance of the device can be increased by two or more cutting blades.

According to the invention, each cutting knife is arranged radially adjustable in the knife holder. Due to the radial adjustment of the cutting blades, long cutting blades can be used for a long service life.

A preferred development is characterized in that each cutting knife has a sickle-shaped cutting edge. With the sickle shape of the cutting edge, i.e. the area of the cutting knife that hits the article, so-called pulling cuts can be made, creating a precise cutting pattern.

Each knife holder is advantageously mounted so as to be movable relative to the knife carrier. This optional design is used to ensure that, on the one hand, the cutting knives can be optimally adjusted with regard to their position / alignment to the article to be cut and, on the other hand, the cutting knives hit optionally provided abrasives / grinding disks at a defined angle during their rotation in order to create a desired grinding pattern .

An expedient embodiment is characterized in that each knife holder is designed to be rotatable about an axis D which is aligned radially with the center point M of the knife carrier. This training promotes the advantages outlined above.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that each cutting knife is made from a stainless steel sheet. This selection of materials means that particularly long cutting blades with a long service life can be made available.

In another preferred embodiment, each cutting knife is made from a hard metal. With this choice of material, rod-shaped articles of great hardness in particular can be cut reliably.

A preferred development is characterized in that the or each cutting knife describes a running circle through the rotation of the knife carrier, a grinding device being arranged in the area of the running circle of the cutting knife, which can be brought into operative connection with the or each cutting knife. This means that the cutting knives can be kept in an optimal condition continuously, which has a direct effect on the quality of the cut.

The object is also achieved by a machine of the type mentioned at the outset in that the device for cutting is designed according to one or more of claims 1 to 9.

The advantages resulting therefrom have already been described in connection with the device for cutting, which is why reference is made to the corresponding passages to avoid repetition.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Schneiden stabförmiger Artikel,

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung einer Schneidtrommel in perspektivischer Ansicht,

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Messerträgers in perspektivischer Ansicht, und

Fig. 4

eine schematische Darstellung des Messerträgers in Vorderansicht.

Further useful and / or advantageous features and developments of the device for cutting the rod-shaped articles and of the machine emerge from the dependent claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the device and transfer device are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a device according to the invention for cutting rod-shaped articles,

Fig. 2

an enlarged representation of a cutting drum in a perspective view,

Fig. 3

an enlarged illustration of a knife carrier in a perspective view, and

Fig. 4

a schematic representation of the knife carrier in front view.

The device shown in the drawing is used to cut filter rods of twice the useful length into filters of a single useful length. In the same way, however, the invention also relates to devices for cutting other rod-shaped articles of different compositions, the articles being able to be cut into such simple usable lengths or only into individual segments.

The device 10 shown is designed and set up for cutting rod-shaped articles 11 of multiple usable lengths in the tobacco processing industry and comprises a cutting drum 12 that can be driven to rotate about an axis of rotation I, the cutting drum 12 having recesses 13 on its circumferential surface for receiving and holding the rod-shaped articles 11 . The troughs 13 are aligned parallel to the axis of rotation I in such a way that the rod-shaped articles 11 can be conveyed transversely axially to their central axis. Furthermore, the device 10 comprises a cutting device 14 which is arranged in the region of the circumference of the cutting drum 12 in such a way that the cutting device 14 can be brought into engagement with the rod-shaped articles 11 lying in the troughs 13.

This device 10 is distinguished according to the invention in that the cutting device 14 comprises a knife carrier 15 that can be driven in rotation and has at least one knife holder 17 carrying a cutting knife 16.

The features and developments described below represent preferred embodiments considered individually or in combination with one another. It is expressly pointed out that features that are summarized in the claims and / or the description and / or the drawing or in a common embodiment are described, can also functionally independently develop the device 10 described above.

Both the cutting drum 12 and the knife carrier 15 are assigned a drive, not explicitly shown, by means of which the cutting drum 12 and the knife carrier 15 can be driven in both directions of rotation. The axis of rotation II of the knife carrier 15 is preferably aligned parallel to the axis of rotation I of the cutting drum 12. The axes of rotation I and II can lie in a horizontal plane E. Optionally, the axes of rotation I and II can also be arranged offset to one another. The cutting drum 12 and / or the knife carrier 15 or the associated drives can optionally also be connected to a control and / or regulating device. Furthermore, the cutting drum 12 is preferably connected to a vacuum unit, which can also be connected to the control and / or regulating device. The cutting device 16 is designed to be movable towards the cutting drum 12 into a working position and away from the cutting drum 12 into a waiting / maintenance position.

Preferably, two or more knife holders 17, each with a cutting knife 16, are arranged evenly distributed over the circumference of the knife carrier 15. In the embodiment according to Figures 3 and 4 two knife holders 17 with a cutting knife 16 are provided, which are diametrically opposite one another. In the embodiment according to Figure 1 four knife holders 17 are provided with a cutting knife 16, which are evenly distributed over the circumference. In further embodiments, three or more than four knife holders 17 with a cutting knife 16 can also be distributed uniformly or irregularly over the circumference of the knife carrier 15.

According to the invention, each cutting knife 16 is arranged radially adjustable in the knife holder 17. The cutting knives 16 are arranged in the knife holder 17 so as to be adjustable outwards at least in the radial direction. Optionally, however, an adjustment radially inward to the center point M of the knife carrier 15 can also be provided. According to the adjustment, the cutting knife 16 protrudes with its cutting edge 18 from the knife holder 17 by an amount h, so that the cutting edges 18 have sufficient free space to cut into the article 11 and through the article 11. The cutting edges 18 can have a straight shape. Each cutting knife 16 preferably has a sickle-shaped cutting edge 18 (see e.g. Figure 1 ). In In other embodiments, the cutting edge 18 is convex (see e.g. Figure 4 ). However, other knife shapes can also be used.

In individual embodiments, the knife holders 17 are arranged in a stationary and adjustable manner on the knife carrier 15. In such embodiments, the knife holders 17 are aligned in such a way that the cutting knives 16 hit the rod-shaped article 11 perpendicularly with their cutting edge 18. In other embodiments, each knife holder 17 is mounted movably relative to the knife carrier 15. Preferably the knife holders 17 are e.g. gimbaled to the knife carrier15. But there is also the possibility of using the knife holder 17 with other adjusting means, e.g. Control cams or the like to be adjusted with respect to the knife carrier 15. Particularly preferably, each knife holder 17 is designed to be rotatable about an axis D that is radially aligned with the center point M of the knife carrier 15.

The choice of material for the cutting blades 16 depends in particular on the articles 11 to be cut and their composition and hardness. For standardized articles 11, e.g. simple filter rods or the like, the cutting blades 16 are preferably made from a stainless steel sheet. For cutting articles 11 provided with additives (such as charcoal), each cutting knife 16 is preferably made of a hard metal. Other materials, in particular also plastics, can also be used for the production of the cutting blades 16.

As already mentioned, each cutting knife 16 describes a running circle by the rotation of the knife carrier 15. The rod-shaped articles 11 to be cut lie in the or each running circle described by the cutting knives 16. In other words, the running circle of the cutting knives 16 crosses the articles 11 to be cut, so that the engagement of the cutting knives 16 with the bar-shaped articles 11 leads to the complete severing of the same . However, as a result of the cutting, the cutting knives 18 or their cutting edges 18 wear out. It is therefore preferred if the cutting edges 18 are continuously reground. A grinding device 19, which can be brought into operative connection with the or each cutting knife 16, is therefore optionally arranged in the area of the running circle of the cutting knife 16. The position of the grinding device 19 or a grinding wheel 20 of the same relative to the cutting knife 16 is adjustable.

In the device 10 shown, this comprises a single knife carrier 15. However, it is also possible for the device 10 to comprise several knife carriers 15 which are arranged independently next to one another. Alternatively, several knife carriers 15 can also be arranged on a common drive shaft or the like. The distance between two adjacently arranged knife carriers 15 is optionally adjustable. Such devices 10 comprising two or more knife carriers 15 with one or more knife holders 17 are e.g. Can be used for cutting multi-segment filters.

The device 10 according to the invention can be designed and used as a single module. However, the device 10 is preferably an integral part of machines and arrangements for the production of articles in the tobacco-processing industry. The device 10 can be used wherever articles 11 conveyed transversely axially on drums have to be cut. The device 10 is preferably part of a filter attachment machine or a filter assembly device, the device 10 being designed and set up in the manner described above.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus (10), formed and configured for cutting rod-shaped articles (11) of multiple use length of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising a cutting drum (12) which can be driven rotationally about an axis of rotation I, wherein the cutting drum (12) has, on its circumferential surface, troughs (13) for receiving and holding the rod-shaped articles (11) and the troughs (13) are oriented parallel to axis of rotation I such that the rod-shaped articles (11) can be conveyed in a transversely axial manner to their central axis, as well as a cutting device (14) which is arranged in the region of the circumference of the cutting drum (12) such that the cutting device (14) can be brought into engagement with the rod-shaped articles (11) which lie in the troughs (13), characterised in that the cutting device (14) comprises a rotationally drivable knife carrier (15) with at least one knife holder (17) which bears a cutting tool (16), wherein each cutting tool (16) is arranged radially adjustably in the knife holder (17).
2. Apparatus (10) according to Claim 1, characterised in that two or more knife holders (17) with in each case one cutting tool (16) are arranged distributed evenly over the circumference of the knife carrier (15).
3. Apparatus (10) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each cutting tool (16) has a sickle-shaped blade edge (18).
4. Apparatus (10) according to Claim 2 or 3, characterised in that each knife holder (17) is mounted movably relative to the knife carrier (15).
5. Apparatus (10) according to Claim 4, characterised in that each knife holder (17) is formed rotatably about an axis D oriented radially to centre point M of the knife carrier (15).
6. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each cutting tool (16) is produced from a stainless-steel sheet.
7. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each cutting tool (16) is produced from a hard metal.
8. Apparatus (10) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the or each cutting tool (16) as a result of the rotation of the knife carrier (15) describes a running circle, wherein a grinder unit (19) is arranged in the region of the running circle of the cutting tools (16) and can be brought into operative connection with the or each cutting tool (16).
9. Machine of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter assembly machine or filter composition device, with an apparatus (10) according to one or more of Claims 1 to 8.

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