EP2399465A1 - Removal of rod-shaped articles from the tobacco processing industry from a volume flow - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves continuously conveying an article volume flow (18) with rod-shaped articles along a horizontal conveying passage (FS). The articles are inserted into a removal chamber (E) as an article package in a passage section. The articles are removed from the package. The flow is conveyed on the passage during removal. The flow is horizontally conveyed between an article production machine e.g. filter production machine, and an article processing machine e.g. packing machine (16), or an article storage, or between the storage and the processing machine in a conveyor section. An independent claim is also included for a conveyor system for a tobacco processing industry.

Description

The invention relates to a method for removing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter cigarettes and filter rods, from a multi-part article mass flow with a removal device, wherein the article mass flow with the article mass flow longitudinally parallel to each other arranged rod-shaped article along a linear, preferably horizontal, conveyor line with a predetermined conveying speed, preferably continuously, is conveyed.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a conveyor system of the tobacco-processing industry with a linear, in particular horizontal, conveying path for a multi-part article mass flow with längsaxial mutually parallel rod-shaped articles and with a removal device for removing rod-shaped articles from the conveyed along the conveyor section mass flow. After the production of filter cigarettes, for example on a filter attachment machine, the finished filter cigarettes are conveyed in a multi-layer mass flow on a conveyor to a cigarette storage or to a further processing machine, eg a packing machine. In order to monitor the quality of the production of the cigarettes and to carry out a quality control, samples of individual cigarettes are taken from the mass flow or the production line at fixed and / or randomly generated intervals in order to separate them in a separate testing station with regard to the dimensions of the material and / or further relevant criteria. In this case, individual cigarettes are taken from the densely packed mass flow with cigarettes, wherein the cigarettes are stacked in layers over each other in a mass flow. The removal of test cigarettes from the mass flow can be performed manually by the operator.

In addition, is off DE 38 12 039 A1 a sampling device for withdrawing test cigarettes from the uppermost layer of an article mass flow known.

Besides, it is off DE 34 19 659 C1 a device for removing a single smokable article from the bottom layer of a stream of smokable articles continuously conveyed across a support surface.

Based on this prior art, the object of the invention is to remove rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry in a gentle manner from a mass flow of articles for testing purposes or for random sampling, where it should be possible, any rod-shaped article to be taken from an article mass flow.

This object is achieved by a method for removing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter cigarettes and filter rods, from a multi-ply article mass flow by means of a removal device, the article mass flow with the article mass flow longitudinally parallel to each other arranged rod-shaped articles along a linear, preferably horizontal Conveyor line with a predetermined conveying speed, preferably continuously, is conveyed, which is further developed in that a plurality of rod-shaped articles are introduced as article package in a removal space or in an article removal area on the conveyor line in a section of the conveyor line from the article mass flow and from the recorded in the extraction chamber Article package at least one or more rod-shaped articles are removed by means of the removal device, in particular during the removal of the or the stabför Article article mass flow continues to be promoted on the conveyor line.

The invention is based on the idea that a plurality of articles from the article mass flow are introduced into a removal chamber or into a removal region in a region of the conveying path on a linear conveying path along which an article mass flow is conveyed in multiple layers, whereby a receiving region or a rest region for the articles of the article package is created to subsequently remove rod-shaped articles from the article package, for example, using a removal device, eg a robot or the like, due to the introduction of articles from several or all layers of the multi-layer article stream rod-shaped articles from the article mass flow be carefully removed at any position in the sampling room.

In the context of the invention, an article mass flow is understood as meaning a mass flow of rod-shaped articles stacked one above the other and side by side in a substantially hexagonal shape, wherein the longitudinal axes of the rod-shaped articles are aligned parallel to one another in a tightly packed package of the article mass flow in a linear conveyor section. Preferably, the articles in the article mass flow in the cross-axial direction, i. perpendicular to its longitudinal orientation, on a conveyor, e.g. Belt conveyor or the like, conveyed linearly. Typically, the height of an article mass flow is a multiple of the diameter of a single rod-shaped article or filter cigarette.

If in the present context of the removal of individual rod-shaped articles or filter cigarettes is mentioned, it is to be understood in the context of the present invention also means that both rod-shaped articles isolated or removed in a stack, bundle or the like, the number of taken rod-shaped article is very small compared to the number of articles in the article mass flow.

Characterized in that an article package is provided with a plurality of rod-shaped articles in a removal space on the linear conveyor line, a bundle or a group of rod-shaped articles or individual articles are randomly introduced into the removal chamber, it being possible, the removal device asynchronously to the further subsidized To operate article mass flow along the conveyor line, since the removal device not with the flow rate or conveying speed of the article mass flow must be synchronized along the conveyor line or is. Compared with the continuously conveyed rod-shaped articles of the article mass flow, the rod-shaped articles are arranged and positioned substantially dormant in the removal chamber, so that after a branching of articles from the article mass flow to form an article package or a group of articles in the extraction chamber and after provision of the article package or the Article group in the sampling room at a well-defined location item samples can be removed, wherein during the removal of the rod-shaped article, the rod-shaped article of the article mass flow are not affected by the removal device or damaged.

The removal or sampling of rod-shaped articles from the article package in the removal chamber or removal area is thus independent or decoupled from the promotion of the article mass flow along the conveyor line. In addition, it is possible within the scope of the invention to take product samples at a predetermined location in the article package without hindering the article mass flow.

For this purpose, it is provided in a development of the method that during introduction of the rod-shaped article into the removal chamber, the introduced articles are deflected and braked with respect to the conveying direction of the article mass flow, preferably by using a deflection device, and / or after inserting the article packet with a plurality of rod-shaped articles Articles in the removal room, the rod-shaped article of the article package position neutral, preferably dormant, are arranged in the removal room or will.

A decoupling of the removal of rod-shaped articles from the Article package and the promotion of the article mass flow along the conveyor line is further achieved in that the rod-shaped article as article package in an above the article mass flow can be filled or filled Entnahmeraum or that the rod-shaped articles are introduced as an article package in a below the article mass flow filling or to be filled removal room, so that after filling the removal chamber, it is possible that the article mass flow is conveyed past the removal chamber, without further rod-shaped article from the article mass flow are supplied to the removal chamber. Within the scope of the invention, it is likewise possible for the rod-shaped articles to be introduced as an article package into a removal chamber arranged laterally next to the article mass flow.

Furthermore, preferably one or more articles are removed from the article package, which is preferably not moved in the removal chamber, by movement in the longitudinal axial direction using the removal device, so that filter cigarettes or rod-shaped articles are pulled or pushed longitudinally out of the article package arranged in the removal chamber.

In addition, a further development of the method is characterized in that, after the removal of at least one rod-shaped article from the article package, the article package reduced by the withdrawn rod-shaped articles is at least partially introduced from the removal chamber into the article mass flow.

Moreover, the removal chamber is formed on the conveyor line for a predetermined period of time for the removal of articles, preferably between two conveyor members of the conveyor line for the promotion of the article mass flow. For example, for a, below the conveyor line of the article mass flow intended removal a provided as a removal chamber lifting chamber formed on the conveying path, which is positioned at an unscheduled removal of the bottom of the lifting chamber in the conveying plane of the article mass flow and is lowered when forming a removal chamber relative to the conveyor belts or the conveying plane of the article mass flow.

In addition, in one embodiment, an extraction space or removal area above a conveyed article mass flow is formed on the conveyor line, whereby a rest area or removal area or a removal zone is formed, in which the position of the introduced rod-shaped article or cigarette in the removal chamber above the upper layer of the article mass flow hardly or not changed. In this case, it is possible that the upper-side removal chamber or removal region is also temporarily achieved, for example by forming a locally limited backflow. For example, a backlog of articles and the intake of the backlogged articles in an upper-side removal region can be achieved by providing two conveyor belts in the conveying direction of the article mass flow, which are operated at different delivery speeds in the region of the removal chamber to be formed, thereby using limiting devices for the article trainees extraction space the back-stowed rod-shaped articles are introduced into the removal chamber.

Moreover, a gentle removal of rod-shaped articles from an article package is achieved in that the removal device using at least one sensor device, in particular a distance sensor and / or a position sensor, arranged in the removal chamber article package to at least one end face of the rod-shaped article in the article package is approximated.

Furthermore, the removal of rod-shaped articles is improved by aligning and / or fixing the rod-shaped articles of the article package, preferably before and / or during the removal of at least one rod-shaped article from the article package, in the removal chamber. For this purpose, corresponding front and rear fixing and alignment devices or movable front walls and rear walls are provided laterally on the removal chamber.

Moreover, it is provided in a further advantageous embodiment of the method that the introduced in the removal chamber article package is taken with parallel aligned rod-shaped articles completely out of the removal chamber.

In order to test filter cigarettes produced, for example, it is also provided in a development of the method that the rod-shaped articles removed from the article package are conveyed to a testing device in order to determine the quality of the removed articles with regard to quality-relevant parameters, such as e.g. Diameter, weight, etc., to be checked.

Preferably, the article mass flow is conveyed between an article-making machine, in particular a filter-tying machine or filter-making machine, and an article-finishing machine, in particular a packing machine, or an article store. Or the article mass flow is conveyed horizontally between an article storage and an article processing machine, preferably in a conveyor section. As a result, a simple removal of test items or test cigarettes after the manufacturing process on a filter attachment machine or Filter produced, wherein the manufactured filter cigarettes or filter rods are conveyed in an article mass flow to a buffer or to a packing machine or to a Multifilterherstellungsmaschine or to a filter rod transmitting device.

Furthermore, the object is achieved by a conveyor system of the tobacco-processing industry with a linear, in particular horizontal, conveying path for a multi-part article mass flow with longitudinally parallel mutually arranged rod-shaped articles and with a removal device for removing rod-shaped articles from the conveyed along the conveyor section mass flow, thereby is further developed that in a conveyor section of the conveyor line, a removal chamber is formed or formed, wherein after introduction of several rod-shaped articles in the removal chamber or in the removal chamber to form an article package from the introduced into the removal unit article package one or more rod-shaped article by means of the removal device are removable.

In addition, further developments of the conveyor system are characterized in that the conveyor systems are operated or operable in accordance with the method described above for removing rod-shaped articles. To avoid repetition, reference is expressly made to the above statements.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the description of embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the accompanying drawings. Embodiments of the invention may satisfy individual features or a combination of several features.

Fig. 1a, 1b

schematisch jeweils einen Ausschnitt einer Förderstrecke einer Förderanlage der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie in einer Seitenansicht und in einer perspektivischen Darstellung (Fig. 1b);

Fig. 2a, 2b

schematisch jeweils eine Ansicht einer Förderstrecke mit einem Entnahmebereich (Fig. 2a) und ohne Entnahmebereich (Fig. 2b);

Fig. 3a, 3b

schematisch eine Ansicht bzw. eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Förderstrecke mit einem Entnahmebereich und einer Umlenkeinrichtung;

Fig. 4a, 4b

schematisch jeweils Förderstrecken mit verschiedenen Umlenkeinrichtungen im Bereich eines Entnahmebereichs an der Förderstrecke;

Fig. 5

schematisch eine Ansicht einer Förderstrecke mit einem Entnahmebereich;

Fig. 6a, 6b

schematisch eine Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer horizontalen Förderstrecke einer Förderanlage der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie mit einem oberhalb des Artikelmassenstroms ausbildbaren bzw. ausgebildeten Entnahmebereich (vgl. Fig. 6b);

Fig. 6c

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf die Förderstrecke gemäß Figur 6b;

Fig. 7

einen Querschnitt durch einen Entnahmebereich einer Förderstrecke mit einer Entnahmeeinrichtung;

Fig. 8

schematisch einen Querschnitt durch einen Entnahmebereich mit einer weiteren Entnahmeeinrichtung für stabförmige Artikel;

Fig. 9, 10

schematisch jeweils Querschnitte durch einen Entnahmebereich einer Förderstrecke einer Förderanlage der Tabak verarbeitenden Industrie mit verschiedenen Ausführungsformen einer Entnahmeeinrichtung für stabförmige Artikel aus dem Entnahmebereich.

The invention will be described below without limiting the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings, reference being expressly made to the drawings with respect to all in the text unspecified details of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1a, 1b

each schematically a section of a conveyor line of a conveyor system of the tobacco-processing industry in a side view and in a perspective view ( Fig. 1b );

Fig. 2a, 2b

each schematically a view of a conveyor line with a removal area ( Fig. 2a ) and without withdrawal area ( Fig. 2b );

Fig. 3a, 3b

schematically a view or a perspective view of a conveyor line with a removal area and a deflection device;

Fig. 4a, 4b

schematically each conveyor lines with different deflection in the region of a removal area on the conveyor line;

Fig. 5

schematically a view of a conveyor line with a removal area;

Fig. 6a, 6b

schematically a view of another embodiment of a horizontal conveyor line of a conveyor system of the tobacco-processing industry with an educated above the article mass flow or trained Removal area (cf. Fig. 6b );

Fig. 6c

schematically a plan view of the conveyor line according to FIG. 6b ;

Fig. 7

a cross section through a removal area of a conveyor line with a removal device;

Fig. 8

schematically a cross section through a removal area with a further removal device for rod-shaped articles;

Fig. 9, 10th

schematically each cross-sections through a removal area of a conveyor line of a conveyor system of the tobacco-processing industry with various embodiments of a removal device for rod-shaped article from the removal area.

In the drawings, the same or similar elements and / or parts are provided with the same reference numerals, so that apart from a new idea each.

FIGS. 1a, 1b show in each case schematic views of a horizontal conveyor line FS of a conveyor system of the tobacco-processing industry, wherein on the horizontal conveyor line FS a densely packed mass flow with filter cigarettes as rod-shaped article between a filter attachment machine 14 and a subsequent further processing machine 16, eg packing machine 16, is promoted.

In one alternative, the linear conveyor line FS is part of a so-called Rod Transfer System (RTS) between a filter attachment machine 14 and a downstream FIFO storage (first-in-first-out storage).

The conveyor line FS is preferably formed horizontally, so that on the conveyor line FS, a mass flow 18 is conveyed with filter cigarettes, wherein the filter cigarettes are stacked tightly stacked and juxtaposed and transported in transverse axial direction of the filter attachment machine 14 to the packing machine 16. For this purpose, in the multi-layer mass flow 18, the filter cigarettes are aligned longitudinally to each other, wherein in the mass flow 18 a plurality of layers of articles or filter cigarettes are arranged one above the other and form a hexagonal bond.

To promote the mass flow 18 in the conveying direction Z, a plurality of conveyor belts 22, 24 are arranged on the conveying path FS, which are designed as endless conveyor belts, the respective upper run of the conveyor belts 22, 24 transporting the mass flow 18 linearly and horizontally along the conveying path FS. The conveyor belts 22, 24, which are arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction Z of the mass flow 18, thus form horizontal conveying devices for the rod-shaped articles of the mass flow 18, wherein the conveyor belt 29 is arranged downstream of the conveyor belt 22.

The conveyor belt 22 is guided around on the side adjacent to the conveyor belt 24 around a deflection roller 21, which is designed as a revolving deflection roller or as a drive roller. If the deflection roller 21 is designed as a drive roller, this is connected to a (not shown) motor drive.

The conveyor belt 24 is deflected in the adjacent area to the preceding in the conveying direction conveyor belt 22 around a guide roller 23. The guide roller 23 may be formed in one embodiment as a follower role. Moreover, it is also possible that the guide roller 23 is connected to a motor drive, so that the guide roller 23 may be formed as a drive roller in a configuration.

Downstream of the conveyor belt 22 is formed as a guide means guide plate 32 with a horizontally oriented first portion 31, wherein the horizontal portion 31 is preferably arranged in the conveying plane of the upper run of the conveyor belt 22, so that the mass flow 18 is guided over this horizontal conveying section of the guide plate 32 , In addition, the guide plate 32 has a subsequent to the horizontal guide portion vertical wall portion, which forms the upstream side wall of a shaft.

Further, with reference to the conveying direction of the mass flow 18 in front of the guide roller 23, another guide plate 34 designed as a guide device is arranged, which has a horizontal guide section or section 33 which is arranged in the conveying plane of the upper run of the conveyor belt 24. In addition, the guide plate 34 also has a vertical wall portion, which is preferably arranged parallel to the vertical wall portion of the guide plate 32. In particular, the vertical wall sections of the guide plates 32, 34 are aligned parallel to one another and arranged opposite one another at a predetermined distance. Between the vertical wall portions of the guide plates 32, 34 a vertically movable or movable floor 36 is arranged, wherein the space above the movable floor 36 and between the vertical Sections of the guide plates is defined as a removal space.

Is the horizontally oriented bottom 36 in its upper position (see. Fig. 2b ), the mass flow 18 is continuously transported from the filter attachment machine 14 to the packing machine 16. Here, the bottom 36 is located with its upper side in the conveying plane of the horizontally extending upper run of the conveyor belts 22, 24th

If the bottom 36 by means of a lifting device, not shown, vertically downwards (according to the indicated direction G) moves (see. Fig. 1a ), the result is between the guide plates 32, 34 and between the conveyor belts 22, 24 of the removal chamber E, are fed into the rod-shaped article of the mass flow 18, thereby forming an article package with several layers of rod-shaped article above the bottom 36. If the bottom 36 moves below the upper run of the conveyor belts 22, 24, the removal space E is filled or emptied in accordance with the direction of movement of the floor 36, the mass flow 18 being continuously conveyed horizontally. By providing a removal space E or a rest area for rod-shaped articles from the mass flow 18, it is possible that one or more cigarettes, which are arranged in the removal region E, are removed from the article package located in the removal region E.

In Fig. 1b is a schematic perspective view of the conveyor section FS shown, wherein in the region of the removal space E a multi-axis articulated robot 40 is arranged, which has a gripper 42 for gripping rod-shaped articles, for example of cigarettes. The gripper 42 is in this case brought by means of a corresponding control and / or regulating device to the front side of the cigarettes in the removal area E, so in that, after detecting one or more filter cigarettes at the filter end, the gripped rod-shaped articles are pulled out of the article package located in the removal chamber E in the longitudinal axial direction.

Subsequently, the removed rod-shaped articles are transferred from the articulated-arm robot 40 to a testing device (not shown here). The remaining rod-shaped articles located in the removal chamber E are arranged in a kind of rest area or quiet zone in relation to the articles conveyed in the mass flow 18, so that the articles are not or only very slightly moved transversely in the removal area, in particular during a removal operation.

After removal of filter cigarettes for testing purposes, the bottom 36 is again moved upwards (according to the indicated direction G). This is in Fig. 2a shown schematically. Subsequently, the bottom 36 is in its upper rest position (see. Fig. 2b ).

In a further embodiment of the movable base 36, this can be designed as a belt conveyor, which is advantageous in particular during the passage and during the emptying of the removal chamber.

In the in the FIGS. 1a, 1b such as FIGS. 2a, 2b illustrated embodiments, a removal region or a removal chamber between the vertical sections of the guide plates 32, 34 and the movable bottom 36 is formed between the spaced conveyor belts 22, 24. Here, the floor 36 can be moved using pneumatically and / or electrically operated drives or motors. The vertical lifting movement The bottom 36 can be controlled using sensors or regulated by a corresponding control device with position sensors, so that the bottom 36 occupies a predetermined working position for forming a removal chamber E.

During the lowering of the bottom 36, the temporarily formed removal area or the removal space E fills between the vertical wall sections of the guide plates 32, 34 with articles. Upon reaching the lower end position or removal position of the bottom 36, the mass flow 18 continues to flow over the removal area or the removal area. As a result, it is possible to carry out random sampling of filter cigarettes or other rod-shaped articles from the removal chamber E laterally using a removal device.

The filling of the removal chamber E (see. Fig. 1a ) is carried out from the upper and lower or all layers of the mass flow 18. In a further embodiment of the invention is provided to regulate the lowering or lifting speed of the vertically movable bottom 36 depending on the conveying speed of the conveyor belts 22, 24 and / or control.

After removal of one or more rod-shaped articles from the in the removal space E, the bottom 36 is raised, wherein the lifted article from the removal area are taken from the incoming mass flow 18 when lifting the bottom 36. As a result, a (small) accumulation of rod-shaped articles, for example of cigarettes above the removal chamber E, forms above the removal space E when the base 36 is moved back or moved back into its initial position. This is schematic in the Fig. 2a and 2b shown.

Fig. 3a shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a horizontal conveyor line FS, wherein a V-shaped stationary deflection device or guide means is provided for the mass flow 18, whereby the rod-shaped article of the mass flow 18 forcibly from the substantially above the conveyor 22, 24 arranged deflecting 38th be deflected, whereby the rod-shaped articles are selectively introduced into the removal chamber E. Here, the deflecting device 38 is arranged above the bottom 36 at a predetermined distance, wherein the substantially V-shaped tip of the deflecting device 38 points downward in the direction of the bottom 36.

In Fig. 3b is a perspective view of in Fig. 3a For the purpose of sampling in the region of the removal space E, a multi-axis handling device or a gantry robot 50 designed as a handling device is provided, which has a gripper 52. In this case, the articles to be tested are removed by means of the gantry robot 50 and its gripper 52 facing the article package in the removal space E or pulled out longitudinally as a removal package.

In Fig. 4a is a schematic view of a conveyor line FS shown, wherein in the removal chamber E of the bottom 36 is connected via a connecting device 44, for example in the form of a linkage with the V-shaped deflecting means 38 arranged above. In this way, the deflection device 38 is mechanically coupled to the lifting movement of the bottom 36, whereby the deflection device 38 is introduced with its tip when lowering the bottom 36 and forming the removal region between the guide plates 32, 34 in the mass flow 18, whereby the layers the mass flow in the same time extraction chamber E or in the removal area E are introduced.

In the uppermost position of the movable floor 36, ie in the so-called continuous operation, the downwardly directed tip of the deflection device 38 is above the mass flow 18, with which the deflection device 38 has no contact with the upper layers of the mass flow 18.

Fig. 4b shows a further embodiment of a conveyor line FS with an educable removal chamber E for rod-shaped article between two spaced and successively arranged conveyor belts 22, 24, wherein in the region of the educable or trained Entnahmeraums E and the removal region E above the bottom 36 in a triangular cross-section deflection device 39 is arranged, with a tip of the triangle is directed downward. In order to reduce the influence of friction on the articles, the deflection device 39 has a circulating belt which can be controlled as a function of the speed of the conveyor belt 22 and / or of the conveyor belt 24.

In another embodiment, not shown, can be provided in the region above the removal space E as an active deflection device 39 and a roller or a drum. By the driven deflecting device 39, the upper layers of the mass flow 18 are selectively introduced into the removal chamber E, wherein subsequently the rod-shaped articles, for example filter cigarettes from the article package arranged therein can be removed from the removal chamber E in the longitudinal axial direction.

Moreover, it is possible within the scope of the invention that the in Fig. 4b shown deflection device 39 with the lifting device of the bottom 36 is connected or mechanically coupled, so that by a vertical lifting movement of the bottom 36, the deflecting device 39 is simultaneously moved vertically. Here, the deflection device 39 immersed in lowering the bottom 36 in the mass flow 18, whereby the upper layers of the mass flow 18 come into contact with the deflecting device 39 and thus the upper layers of the mass flow 18 are introduced into the formed removal chamber E. By adapted to the speed of the conveyor belt 22 and / or the conveyor belt 24 speed of the Umlenkkees the deflector 39 in the conveying direction of the mass flow 18 and the introduced in the removal chamber E article package is gently conveyed to rod-shaped articles while avoiding an article jam.

In the in the FIGS. 1a, 1b . 2a . 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b illustrated embodiments, the removal of introduced in the removal chamber E or in the removal area cigarettes or other rod-shaped article of the mass flow 18 from the quiescent article package in the longitudinal axial direction, ie perpendicular to the transverse axial promotion of the cigarettes of the mass flow 18th

According to the invention, an extraction space E or a removal area along the conveyor line FS of the mass flow 18 is for a predetermined period of time, i. temporarily, formed, wherein the removal area can be integrated into the conveyor line. In addition, the movement or the lowering or lifting movement of the bottom 36 takes place using pneumatic devices or electric drives or the like. In particular, the positioning of the floor 36 is effected by a corresponding control device or position control device.

In the context of the invention, it is conceivable that the removal of rod-shaped articles in the removal chamber E using a separating device, so that individual rod-shaped article of the article package are removed from the removal room E. In addition, it is also possible within the scope of the invention for several rod-shaped articles to be removed simultaneously from the removal chamber E.

In Fig. 5 a further embodiment for the removal of rod-shaped articles from a mass flow 18 along a conveyor line FS is shown. Here, along the horizontal conveyor line FS at a preferred position between two spaced conveyor belts 22, 24, a permanent removal chamber E is provided, wherein the removal chamber E is bounded by two vertical guide walls 32, wherein the lower portion of the downstream guide wall 34 as a pivotable or deflectable flap 35 and ejection flap is formed.

The bottom-side boundary of the removal chamber E forms a drivable conveyor belt 30 which is guided circumferentially between two deflection rollers 29, 37, wherein one of the deflection rollers 29, 37 is provided with a motor drive, so that the conveyor belt 30 is driven, wherein the circumferential direction of the removal Conveyor belt 30 is equal to the direction of rotation of the mass flow conveyor belts 22 and 24. By means of the lower-side conveyor belt 30 are after an opening of the flap 35, a predetermined amount of rod-shaped articles removed from the removal chamber E. After or at removal of rod-shaped articles from the removal chamber E corresponding articles are nachgefördert from the mass flow 18, so that the removal chamber E is always kept filled.

In Fig. 6a is a schematic view of a conveyor line FS between a filter attachment machine 14 and a packing machine 16, wherein between the horizontally conveying direction of the article mass flow 18 successively arranged conveyor belts 22, 24, a horizontal bridge element 54 is arranged so that the mass flow 18 is conveyed after delivery from the conveyor belt 22 to the bridge element 54, wherein In this conveyor section, the dispensed cigarettes are pushed by the cigarettes of the mass flow 18 transported on the conveyor belt 22.

The deflection rollers 21, 23 are each driven by a separate drive motor, whereby the conveying speeds of the conveyor belts 22, 24 can be adjusted individually. In accordance with Fig. 6a shown continuous operation of the mass flow 18, ie without removal of rod-shaped articles from the mass flow 18, the peripheral speeds or drive speeds of the pulleys 21, 23 equal (v1 = v2) and thus the conveying speeds of the conveyor belts 22, 24 are equal.

In order to form on the upper side, ie above the upper layers of the mass flow 18, a removal area or a removal space E between the conveyor belts 22, 24, the conveyor belt 22 is driven at a higher speed than the subsequent conveyor belt 24 (v1> v2). This is in Fig. 6b schematically shown in the view.

For the purpose of forming a removal zone or a removal region, the conveying speed (v2) of the downstream conveyor belt is lowered for a short time, thus forming the desired removal zone E in the transition from the conveyor belt 22 to the conveyor belt 24 above the horizontal conveyor plane 54.

As a result, in the sampling area a locally limited backwater formed above the mass flow 18 in the top-side removal chamber E. Above the mass flow, a chain cloth or a flexible band 56 or another limiting means 56 is provided, which is held upstream and downstream above the conveyor belts 22, 24. The overlying belt 56 prevents transverse or overlapping of rod-shaped articles in the removal chamber E or removal zone. In addition, a monitoring device 58 is provided in the extraction zone E to monitor the height of the extraction zone E. For example, the monitoring device 58 is realized by a light barrier with a light source 57 and a photosensor 59 above the mass flow 18.

Moreover, it is within the scope of the invention also possible that the monitoring device 58 is designed as an inductively operating, capacitive or optical proximity switch, wherein the amount of congestion in the extraction zone or in the removal chamber E is monitored. In addition, it is provided in a development that, using the monitoring device 58, a removal of the rod-shaped articles arranged in the removal region is also monitored and / or controlled as an article package.

In Fig. 6c is shown schematically a plan view of the conveyor line FS, wherein from Fig. 6c it can be seen that the rod-shaped articles of the multilayer mass flow 18 are conveyed in the transverse-axial direction. In the area of the formed removal chamber E, the rod-shaped articles are conveyed out or pulled laterally out of the removal space E formed above the mass flow 18, ie in the longitudinal axial direction out of the removal area E using a corresponding removal device.

According to the invention, a region is provided to form a removal zone or a removal space E along the conveying path FS of the mass flow 18, into which rod-shaped articles are introduced, which are subsequently introduced using a removal device, e.g. a robot or the like, are removed from the removal area targeted. Thus, an article package is formed in the removal region, wherein the position of the rod-shaped article of the article package in the removal region does not change or only insignificantly changes, whereby a gentle sampling of articles is possible.

After taking a desired number of, for example, cigarettes from the article package through a laterally arranged removal device from the removal space E, the speed of the conveyor belt 24 (cf. Fig. 6b ) is briefly increased until a mass flow with a substantially constant height is established. Subsequently, the two conveyor belts 22, 24 are operated synchronously again at the same speed.

In the FIGS. 7, 8 . 9 and 10 are schematically illustrated in cross-section different embodiments of removal devices for rod-shaped articles.

At the in Fig. 7 shown removal device 70 for removing filter cigarettes from the arranged in the removal chamber E article package, the removal device 70 has a shield plate 72 to which a suction line 74 is arranged, which terminates at the end with the shield plate 72. The shield plate 72 is positioned freely movable together with the suction line 74 in at least one axis (double arrows, C, T, V), the shield aperture 72 using a proximity sensor 76 and using a control device 78 for moving the shield cover 72 is arranged laterally preferably on the filter side in the removal region E.

The removal position of the removal device 70 is in Fig. 7 dashed lines. On the side facing away from the removal device 70 side or rear side, a rear wall 82 is arranged, so that upon pressing the shield plate 72 to the filter plug introduced in the removal chamber E filter cigarettes are pressed with their tobacco rod ends against the rear wall 82 so that when removing filter cigarettes the introduced in the removal area E filter cigarettes are fixed and aligned as an article association. Subsequently, negative pressure S is applied to the suction line 74, so that the aligned with the suction line 74 filter cigarette is sucked filter side and is transported away in the longitudinal axial direction of the removal chamber E.

At the in Fig. 8 illustrated embodiment for the removal of filter cigarettes from the arranged in the removal area E article package horizontally movable or movable walls 80, 81 (double arrow F) are arranged on the front and rear side, wherein for adjusting the horizontal distance between the vertical walls 81, 80th on the underside a motor 84 is arranged with a threaded rod 85, wherein the rotation of the threaded rod 85 by the motor 84, the horizontal distance between the front wall 81 and the rear wall 80 is adjusted or adjusted. The threaded rod 85 has a right-hand and left-hand thread, which is in engagement with a corresponding outer thread on the rear wall 80 and the front wall 81. This device also allows a particularly simple format setting in the event of a change in the article length.

In addition, the removal device 70 has corresponding drives for positioning the removal device 70, wherein the front wall 81 and the rear wall 80 in the vertical direction and in the vertical direction (double arrows V, T), i. perpendicular to the plane, freely positionable.

The removal device 70 has on the back 80 via a removal tray 86, wherein above and in alignment with the removal tray 86 on the rear wall 80, an opening or opening 87 is formed, which correspond in dimensions to the cross-sectional area of the rod-shaped products. On the front side of the extraction tray 86, the front wall 81 has a spool 88 which is horizontally moved using compressed air P in a pneumatic cylinder 89. By applying compressed air P, the slider 88 is moved horizontally (double arrow H), so that the slider 88 is introduced into the article package arranged in the removal chamber E and promotes filter cigarettes from the article package in the longitudinal axial direction through the opening 87 of the rear wall 80 to the removal tray 86 ,

Before and / or during the removal of a filter cigarette, the remaining filter cigarettes are fixed in the removal chamber E by the front wall 81 and the rear wall 80.

At the in Fig. 9 illustrated embodiment of the removal device 70, the rear wall 80 has a receiving pot 90, which has, for example, a hexagonal outer contour. The pot 90 has in the middle a, preferably rod-shaped, web 91, which is aligned with a head end of a cigarette. The front wall 81 has an opening 92 which is opposite to the position of the receiving pot 90 on the opposite Rear wall 80 corresponds.

Furthermore, the removal device 70 in Fig. 9 via an opening 92 deliverable gripping head 94, which also has a hexagonal outer contour. The hexagonal contour according to the in Fig. 9a drawn section lines AA of the gripping head 94 is in Fig. 9 shown in the lower right area.

The gripping head 94 has on the side facing away from the front wall 81 via a suction bore 93 which is acted upon by suction air S. When introducing the gripping head 94 in the opening 92 94 hexagonally arranged filter cigarettes are inserted into the receiving pot 90 on the one hand by the hexagonal outer contour of the gripping head, while the hexagonally arranged central cigarette is gripped by the gripping head 94 by applying suction air S and out of the removal chamber E (double arrow H) is pulled out.

In Fig. 10 is a further embodiment of a removal device 70 for the removal of rod-shaped articles from the removal chamber E shown schematically. Here, the rear wall 80 has a horizontally movable plunger 96 which is arranged collinear to the longitudinal axis of a rod-shaped article or a filter cigarette to be removed. The plunger 96 is moved linearly or horizontally by means of a pneumatic cylinder 95.

The plunger 96 opposite to an opening 92 is formed on the front wall 81 to which a gripper 97 is arranged for removal. The gripper 97 is designed for example as a finger gripper or three-shell pliers. In Fig. 10 is in the lower right of a cross section according to the in Fig. 10 drawn section line BB shown in cross section.

The gripper 97 will push out a cigarette through the opening 92 to the front after insertion of the plunger 96 into the removal area E, so that subsequently the pushed out cigarette is gripped by means of the gripper 97. Subsequently, the gripper 97 is withdrawn (double arrow H), so that subsequently βend the extracted cigarette can be transferred to a test device.

All mentioned features, including the drawings alone to be taken as well as individual features that are disclosed in combination with other features are considered alone and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments of the invention may be accomplished by individual features or a combination of several features.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

14

filter attachment

16

packing machine

18

mass flow

21

idler pulley

22

conveyor belt

23

idler pulley

24

conveyor belt

29

idler pulley

30

conveyor belt

31

section

33

section

34

guide plate

35

flap

36

ground

37

idler pulley

38

deflecting

39

deflecting

40

articulated robot

42

grab

44

connecting device

50

Portal robot, handling device

52

grab

54

conveying plane

56

tape

57

light source

58

monitoring device

59

photosensor

70

removal device

72

shield visor

74

suction

76

Proximity sensor

78

control device

80

rear wall

81

front wall

82

rear wall

84

engine

85

threaded rod

86

removal tray

87

opening

88

pusher

89

pneumatic cylinder

90

pot

91

web

92

opening

93

suction bore

94

gripping head

95

pneumatic cylinder

96

tappet

97

grab

FS

conveyor line

e

Withdrawal room, removal area, removal zone

S

suction

P

compressed air

Claims (13)

Method for removing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco-processing industry, in particular filter cigarettes and filter rods, from a multi-part article mass flow (18) by means of a removal device, wherein the article mass flow (18) with the rod-shaped articles arranged longitudinally parallel to each other in the article mass flow (18) along a linear, preferably horizontal, conveyor line (FS) with a predetermined conveying speed, preferably continuously, is conveyed, characterized in that in a section of the conveyor line (FS) from the article mass flow (18) several rod-shaped articles are introduced as article package in a removal space (E) and at least one or more rod-shaped articles are removed by means of the removal device (40, 50, 70) from the article package accommodated in the removal chamber (E), wherein in particular is conveyed during the removal of the rod or the article of the article mass flow (18) on the conveyor line (FS). A method according to claim 1, characterized in that when introducing the rod-shaped article in the removal chamber (E) the introduced articles in relation to conveying direction of the article mass flow (18), preferably deflected and decelerated using a deflection and / or that after introduction of the Article packages with several rod-shaped articles in the removal chamber (E) the rod-shaped articles of the article package position neutral, preferably dormant, in the removal space (E) are arranged or are. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles are introduced as an article package into an extraction chamber (E) which can be filled or filled above the article mass flow (18) or into an extraction chamber (E) which can be filled or filled below the article mass flow (18) become. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one or more articles are removed from the, preferably in the removal chamber (E) not moving, article package by a movement in the longitudinal axial direction using the removal device (40, 50, 70) , Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that after the removal of at least one rod-shaped article from the article package to the removed rod-shaped article reduced article package from the Removal chamber (E) in the article mass flow (18) is at least partially reintroduced. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the removal chamber (E) on the conveyor line (FS) for a predetermined period of time for the removal of articles, preferably between two conveying members of the conveyor line (FS) for the promotion of the article mass flow (18) , is trained. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the removal device (40, 50, 70) using at least one sensor device, in particular a distance sensor and / or a position sensor, in the removal chamber (E) arranged article package to at least one Front side of the rod-shaped article is approximated. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles of the article package, preferably before and / or during the removal of at least one rod-shaped article from the article package, aligned and / or fixed in the removal chamber (E). Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the removal chamber (E) introduced article package with parallel aligned rod-shaped articles is completely removed from the removal chamber (E). Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rod-shaped articles taken from the article package are conveyed on to a testing device. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the article mass flow (18) is conveyed between an article-making machine, in particular a filter attachment machine or a filter manufacturing machine, and an article processing machine or an article store, or the article mass flow (18) between an article store and an article processing machine, preferably in a conveyor section, is conveyed horizontally. Conveyor of the tobacco processing industry with a linear, in particular horizontal, conveyor line (FS) for a multilayer article mass flow (18) with longitudinally parallel mutually arranged rod-shaped articles and with a removal device (40, 50, 70) for removing rod-shaped articles from along the Conveying section (FS) funded article mass flow (18), characterized in that in a conveyor section of the conveyor line (FS) a removal space (E) is formed or formed, wherein after introduction of several rod-shaped articles in the removal chamber (E) for forming an article package one or more rod-shaped articles can be removed by means of the removal device (40, 50, 70) in the article package introduced into the removal chamber (E). Conveying system according to claim 12, characterized in that the conveyor system according to the method of one of claims 1 to 12 is operable.

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