EP0390732B1 - Automatic control device for the feeding of a flow of tobacco particles to a machine - Google Patents

Automatic control device for the feeding of a flow of tobacco particles to a machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0390732B1
EP0390732B1 EP90810178A EP90810178A EP0390732B1 EP 0390732 B1 EP0390732 B1 EP 0390732B1 EP 90810178 A EP90810178 A EP 90810178A EP 90810178 A EP90810178 A EP 90810178A EP 0390732 B1 EP0390732 B1 EP 0390732B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tobacco
segment
intake
opening
sleeve
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP90810178A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0390732A1 (en
Inventor
Bernard Tallier
Michael Lauenstein
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Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Fabriques de Tabac Reunies SA
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Publication of EP0390732A1 publication Critical patent/EP0390732A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/39—Tobacco feeding devices
    • A24C5/392—Tobacco feeding devices feeding pneumatically
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S131/00—Tobacco
    • Y10S131/909—Sensing condition in feed hopper for cigar or cigarette making

Definitions

  • Controlling the feeding of machines which process tobacco particles is an operation which we seek to automate to the greatest possible extent, but which must be capable of reacting to unforeseen or abnormal phenomena which it is often difficult to translate into measurable parameters.
  • Locks are devices in which the flow of tobacco particles carried by the flow of aspirated air is separated from the air.
  • the tobacco particles fall by gravity or under the effect of a centrifugal force under conditions such that they separate from the air flow and are collected in a hopper, from where they feed the machine.
  • the flow rate of the tobacco flow can be adjusted by means which are arranged at the entrance to each of the conduits, above the tobacco bed.
  • Patent application CH-4450/87 describes a simple device to achieve this goal.
  • the prior document GB-2 139 870 also describes a device for feeding a tobacco particle processing machine.
  • a sliding tubular segment is provided at the entrance to the duct which conveys the tobacco flow.
  • the tubular segment is moved by a control device between a position where the tobacco is sucked from the bed and a position in which it is not sucked.
  • the flow is also adjusted by shutters located in the air intake duct, beyond the separator, and in the machine inlet duct.
  • Another arrangement known from US Pat. No. 3,544,167 also comprises, at the entrance to each duct guiding the flow of tobacco, a mobile tubular segment, controlled as a function of the desired flow rate.
  • this tubular segment is controlled all-or-nothing, so that it does not make it possible to control a flow whose flow rate varies at will.
  • the present invention provides a very simple device capable of responding to a programmed command and this automatically. Not only does this device avoid, by its simplicity, the difficulties and drawbacks of the devices known up to now, but in addition it provides several functions which until now required the presence of separate means.
  • the object of the present invention is a device for controlling the flow rate of a flow of tobacco particles intended for feeding a machine, comprising a duct with a rigid and fixed wall, with, at a end, an inlet opening located opposite a tobacco bed, and suction means for circulating in the duct a flow of air capable of conveying the flow of tobacco particles from the inlet opening towards the machine, characterized in that the duct comprises an inlet segment with, at one of its ends, the said inlet opening and, at the other end a branch provided with a discharge opening and a shutter of this opening, and in that the shutter is controlled as a function of the values of one or more parameters represented by time and / or pressure in the input segment.
  • the tobacco particles come from a reservoir (not shown) and flow along a path represented schematically by 3, so as to arrive on a flat support 4, on which is placed a bed 5 animated by a vibratory movement whose amplitude and frequency can, if necessary, be modified at will.
  • bed 5 which is permanently covered with a layer of loose tobacco particles, open three rigid ducts with fixed walls, designated by 6, which lead to each of the locks 2.
  • each from these locks leave pipes 7 which meet in a suction duct 8 leading to the suction inlet of a blower 16.
  • each of the rigid conduits 6 has an initial vertical part which extends above the bed 5. This part is diagrammatically shown on a larger scale in FIG. 2.
  • This figure shows the lower part of a conduit 6 which has an inlet segment designated by 9.
  • This inlet segment extends from an inlet opening 10, provided with a flange 11 and arranged above the bed 5 upwards to a branch 12 from which a short discharge segment 13 leaves with a discharge opening 14 and a shutter 15 shown in a completely schematic manner in FIG. . 2.
  • This shutter can be controlled by a motor or by a cylinder. Normally, it is either in the open position or in the closed position. It is understood, however, that in certain variants of the device described, provision could be made for progressive control of this shutter.
  • the inlet opening 10 and the inlet segment 9 of the conduit 6 are also equipped with a sliding sleeve 23.
  • This sleeve comprises a tube segment 17 open at its two ends, the diameter of which is slightly less than that of the leads 6 to its base. It is carried by a tubular mount 22, rigidly fixed on it and provided with two diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 18. In these slots are engaged rods 19 integral with the wall of the conduit 6, a little above the opening of entry 10.
  • the sliding sleeve 23 rests under the effect of its weight on the rods 19 whose upper generatrix forms an upper stop on which the upper end of the slots 18 rests.
  • the sleeve 23 comprises in addition, at its base, a flange 20.
  • FIG. 6 shows how the automatic control device is designed from the point of view of electrical connections.
  • a motor M for controlling the shutter 15 a time sensor T, a pressure sensor P which is the sensor 21 of FIG. 2 as well as a motor S which represents the drive motor of the blower 16 sucking air through the duct 8.
  • the diagram of the device shown in fig. 6 in a completely simplified manner, comprises a memory Me and a processor Pr, the whole being arranged so as to allow the operation of the input units and the output units described according to a predetermined program, this program ensuring an optimization of the tobacco machine supply.
  • Figs. 3 to 5 illustrate the conditions that the program must meet.
  • Fig. 4 shows a typical curve giving the flow of tobacco Q which it is necessary to supply to the machines during a certain period of time. As can be seen, the flow rate can be quite highly variable.
  • Fig. 5 shows how, in a program case, the required bit rate will be obtained as a function of time.
  • the blower or the general compressor 16 which ensures the air flow in the conduits 6 will be kept in operation permanently at a stable speed and the supply of the various machines 1 will be ensured simply by operating the shutters 15 by means of the motors M.
  • Q1 a stable value
  • This value Q1 depends on the geometry of the installation and on the power of the blower 16. On the contrary, if the shutter 15 is open, the air is sucked in by the segment 13 and the discharge opening 14.
  • the pressure in segment 9 rises to a value very close to ambient pressure and the particles are no longer aspirated. It is therefore sufficient to program the successive supply and interruption times of the flow rate by operating the shutter 15. According to FIG. 5, the closure of the shutter occurs at time intervals t which are fixed and its opening, after periods which depend on the required flow rate.
  • the same device can be programmed to play a role and prevent blockage of entry openings. Installations of the kind shown in fig. 1 in fact present, to a greater or lesser degree, the risk that a plug of tobacco particles will form at the inlet opening of the conduit 6, which interrupts the feeding. If such a plug forms at the lower opening of the sleeve 23, the vacuum inside the inlet segment 9, measured by the pressure sensor P increases, as can be seen in the graph in FIG. 3 which represents the curve giving the ordinate the value of the depression and the time abscissa, this same graph also giving the volumetric flow rate of tobacco V, represented on the ordinate with the time on the abscissa.
  • the vacuum increases and the volumetric flow decreases.
  • This phenomenon is detected by the sensor P if it reaches a certain magnitude, that is to say if the depression increases up to a value ⁇ PC representing the critical depression but before, that is to say during the phase increase in depression, the entire sleeve 23 is sucked up, so that the lower stop represented by the lower end of the slots 18 abuts against the rods 19.
  • this shock has the effect of releasing the plug which has formed, so that the vacuum ⁇ P returns to its normal value without having reached the critical value ⁇ PC.
  • the plug is such that it does not disintegrate spontaneously when the sleeve 23 abuts, by its lower stop, against the stop rods 19. Then the detection of the critical vacuum ⁇ PC causes the opening immediate shutter 15. Under these conditions, the vacuum drops to an almost zero value and the sleeve 23 falls back into its lower position as shown in fig. 2. The upper end of the slots 18 then abuts on the rods 19 and this stop shock of the sleeve 23 undoubtedly disintegrates the plug which has formed.
  • the program of the control device can therefore ensure that at the end of a time ⁇ T of for example 2 to 3 seconds, after the opening of the shutter 15, this shutter is closed. Normal flow operation will therefore resume immediately.
  • the feeding device presents less risks for the deterioration of the tobacco particles, therefore a reduced dust production and the energy expended in operating the blowers is also reduced, while the efficiency of use tobacco is increasing.

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  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)

Description

La commande de l'alimentation des machines qui traitent les particules de tabac est une opération que l'on cherche à automatiser dans la plus grande mesure possible, mais qui doit être capable de réagir à des phénomènes imprévus ou anormaux qu'il est souvent difficile de traduire en paramètres mesurables.Controlling the feeding of machines which process tobacco particles is an operation which we seek to automate to the greatest possible extent, but which must be capable of reacting to unforeseen or abnormal phenomena which it is often difficult to translate into measurable parameters.

Si l'on considère par exemple le cas de l'alimentation des machines à fabriquer les cigarettes, il est fréquent de prévoir un écoulement par gravité des particules de tabac provenant des réservoirs de stockage et de faire déboucher cet écoulement dans un lit de tabac qui est souvent animé d'un vibreur. Au-dessus de ce lit, se trouvent des conduits rigides et séparés qui s'étendent jusqu'aux machines de fabrication. Chacun de ces conduits est raccordé à une écluse à son extrémité tournée vers la machine qu'il alimente, et les écluses sont elles-mêmes équipées de tubulures d'aspiration qui peuvent être raccordées à un même ventilateur.If we consider for example the case of the feeding of the machines to manufacture cigarettes, it is frequent to envisage a flow by gravity of the particles of tobacco coming from the storage tanks and to make lead this flow in a bed of tobacco which is often animated by a vibrator. Above this bed are rigid, separate conduits that extend to the manufacturing machines. Each of these conduits is connected to a lock at its end facing the machine which it supplies, and the locks are themselves equipped with suction pipes which can be connected to the same fan.

Les écluses sont des dispositifs dans lesquels le flux des particules de tabac véhiculé par le flux d'air aspiré, est séparé de l'air. En général, les particules de tabac tombent par gravité ou sous l'effet d'une force centrifuge dans des conditions telles qu'elles se séparent du flux d'air et sont recueillies dans une trémie, d'où elles alimentent la machine. On a déjà cherché à améliorer la construction des écluses.Locks are devices in which the flow of tobacco particles carried by the flow of aspirated air is separated from the air. In general, the tobacco particles fall by gravity or under the effect of a centrifugal force under conditions such that they separate from the air flow and are collected in a hopper, from where they feed the machine. We have already tried to improve the construction of the locks.

Le débit du flux de tabac peut être réglé grâce à des moyens qui sont disposés à l'entrée de chacun des conduits, au-dessus du lit de tabac. La demande de brevet CH-4450/87, par exemple, décrit un dispositif simple permettant d'atteindre ce but.The flow rate of the tobacco flow can be adjusted by means which are arranged at the entrance to each of the conduits, above the tobacco bed. Patent application CH-4450/87, for example, describes a simple device to achieve this goal.

Le document antérieur GB-2 139 870 décrit également un dispositif d'alimentation d'une machine de traitement en particules de tabac. Dans ce dispositif, un segment tubulaire coulissant est prévu à l'entrée du conduit qui véhicule le flux de tabac. Le segment tubulaire est déplacé par un appareil de commande entre une position où le tabac est aspiré du lit et une position dans laquelle il n'est pas aspiré. Le réglage du flux s'opère aussi par des obturateurs situés dans le conduit d'aspiration de l'air, au-delà du séparateur, et dans le conduit d'entrée de la machine.The prior document GB-2 139 870 also describes a device for feeding a tobacco particle processing machine. In this device, a sliding tubular segment is provided at the entrance to the duct which conveys the tobacco flow. The tubular segment is moved by a control device between a position where the tobacco is sucked from the bed and a position in which it is not sucked. The flow is also adjusted by shutters located in the air intake duct, beyond the separator, and in the machine inlet duct.

Un autre agencement, connu par le brevet US-3,544,167 comporte aussi, à l'entrée de chaque conduit guidant le flux du tabac, un segment tubulaire mobile, commandé en fonction du débit désiré. Toutefois, ce segment tubulaire est commandé en tout-ou-rien, de sorte qu'il ne permet pas de commander un flux dont le débit varie à volonté.Another arrangement, known from US Pat. No. 3,544,167 also comprises, at the entrance to each duct guiding the flow of tobacco, a mobile tubular segment, controlled as a function of the desired flow rate. However, this tubular segment is controlled all-or-nothing, so that it does not make it possible to control a flow whose flow rate varies at will.

La présente invention propose un dispositif très simple, susceptible de répondre à une commande programmée et cela de manière automatique. Non seulement ce dispositif évite, par sa simplicité, les difficultés et les inconvénients des dispositifs connus jusqu'ici, mais en outre il assure plusieurs fonctions qui jusqu'à maintenant exigeaient la présence de moyens distincts.The present invention provides a very simple device capable of responding to a programmed command and this automatically. Not only does this device avoid, by its simplicity, the difficulties and drawbacks of the devices known up to now, but in addition it provides several functions which until now required the presence of separate means.

Les avantages obtenus sont:

  • 1. Débourrage automatique de l'ouverture d'entrée au cas où un bouchon de tabac se forme dans cette ouverture
  • 2. Abaissement de la vitesse de circulation du flux d'air véhiculant les particules de tabac, ce qui diminue les dommages causés aux particules et, par conséquent, le taux de poussière et la consommation globale.
  • 3. Possibilité de réaliser une commande fiable susceptible d'être programmée de façon à fonctionner automatiquement pendant une longue période de temps.
  • 4. Simplicité du dispositif.
The advantages obtained are:
  • 1. Automatic cleaning of the inlet opening in case a tobacco plug forms in this opening
  • 2. Reduction in the speed of circulation of the air flow carrying the tobacco particles, which decreases the damage caused to the particles and, consequently, the rate of dust and consumption overall.
  • 3. Ability to perform a reliable command that can be programmed to operate automatically for a long period of time.
  • 4. Simplicity of the device.

Pour atteindre ces objectifs, l'objet de la présente invention est un dispositif de commande du débit d'un flux de particules de tabac destiné à l'alimentation d'une machine, comportant un conduit à paroi rigide et fixe, avec, à une extrémité, une ouverture d'entrée située en regard d'un lit de tabac, et des moyens d'aspiration pour faire circuler dans le conduit un flux d'air capable de véhiculer le flux des particules de tabac de l'ouverture d'entrée vers la machine, caractérisé en ce que le conduit comporte un segment d'entrée avec, à une de ses extrémités, la dite ouverture d'entrée et, à l'autre extrémité un embranchement pourvu d'une ouverture de décharge et d'un obturateur de cette ouverture, et en ce que l'obturateur est commandé en fonction des valeurs d'un ou plusieurs paramètres représentés par le temps et/ou la pression dans le segment d'entrée.To achieve these objectives, the object of the present invention is a device for controlling the flow rate of a flow of tobacco particles intended for feeding a machine, comprising a duct with a rigid and fixed wall, with, at a end, an inlet opening located opposite a tobacco bed, and suction means for circulating in the duct a flow of air capable of conveying the flow of tobacco particles from the inlet opening towards the machine, characterized in that the duct comprises an inlet segment with, at one of its ends, the said inlet opening and, at the other end a branch provided with a discharge opening and a shutter of this opening, and in that the shutter is controlled as a function of the values of one or more parameters represented by time and / or pressure in the input segment.

On va décrire ci-après, à titre d'exemple, une forme d'exécution de l'objet de l'invention en se référant au dessin annexé dont:

  • la fig. 1 est une vue schématique d'une installation d'alimentation de machines à cigarettes,
  • la fig. 2, une vue schématique à plus grande échelle d'une forme d'exécution du dispositif selon l'invention, seuls les éléments matériels étant représentés,
  • les fig. 3, 4 et 5, des graphiques illustrant le fonctionnement du dispositif représenté au dessin et
  • la fig. 6, un schéma-bloc électrique des divers éléments du dispositif.
An embodiment of the object of the invention will be described below, by way of example, with reference to the attached drawing, in which:
  • fig. 1 is a schematic view of an installation for feeding cigarette machines,
  • fig. 2, a diagrammatic view on a larger scale of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, only the material elements being represented,
  • fig. 3, 4 and 5, graphs illustrating the operation of the device shown in the drawing and
  • fig. 6, an electrical block diagram of the various elements of the device.

A la fig. 1, on voit schématiquement représentées trois machines de fabrication de cigarettes désignées par 1. Chacune de ces machines est alimentée à partir d'une écluse 2 dont la construction ne fait pas partie de l'invention et n'a donc pas besoin d'être décrite en détail.In fig. 1, we can see schematically represented three machines for manufacturing cigarettes designated by 1. Each of these machines is supplied from a lock 2, the construction of which is not part of the invention and therefore does not need to be described in detail.

Les particules de tabac proviennent d'un réservoir (non représenté) et s'écoulent selon un chemin représenté de façon schématique par 3, de manière à arriver sur un support plat 4, sur lequel est disposé un lit 5 animé d'un mouvement vibratoire dont l'amplitude et la fréquence peuvent, le cas échéant, être modifiées à volonté. Au-dessus du lit 5, qui est en permanence recouvert d'un couche de particules de tabac en vrac, débouchent trois conduits rigides à paroi fixe, désignés par 6, qui aboutissent à chacune des écluses 2. D'autre part, de chacune de ces écluses partent des canalisations 7 qui se réunissent en un conduit d'aspiration 8 aboutissant à l'entrée d'aspiration d'une soufflante 16.The tobacco particles come from a reservoir (not shown) and flow along a path represented schematically by 3, so as to arrive on a flat support 4, on which is placed a bed 5 animated by a vibratory movement whose amplitude and frequency can, if necessary, be modified at will. Above bed 5, which is permanently covered with a layer of loose tobacco particles, open three rigid ducts with fixed walls, designated by 6, which lead to each of the locks 2. On the other hand, each from these locks leave pipes 7 which meet in a suction duct 8 leading to the suction inlet of a blower 16.

On voit que chacun des conduits rigides 6 comporte une partie initiale verticale qui s'étend au-dessus du lit 5. Cette partie est schématiquement représentée à plus grande échelle à la fig. 2. On voit à cette figure la partie inférieure d'un conduit 6 qui comporte un segment d'entrée désigné par 9. Ce segment d'entrée s'étend à partir d'une ouverture d'entrée 10, munie d'une bride 11 et disposée au-dessus du lit 5 vers le haut jusqu'à un embranchement 12 d'où part un court segment de décharge 13 avec une ouverture de décharge 14 et un obturateur 15 représenté d'une façon tout à fait schématique à la fig. 2. Cet obturateur peut être commandé par un moteur ou par un vérin. Normalement, il se trouve soit en position ouverte, soit en position fermée. Il est bien entendu toutefois que, dans certaines variantes du dispositif décrit, on pourrait prévoir une commande progressive de cet obturateur.It can be seen that each of the rigid conduits 6 has an initial vertical part which extends above the bed 5. This part is diagrammatically shown on a larger scale in FIG. 2. This figure shows the lower part of a conduit 6 which has an inlet segment designated by 9. This inlet segment extends from an inlet opening 10, provided with a flange 11 and arranged above the bed 5 upwards to a branch 12 from which a short discharge segment 13 leaves with a discharge opening 14 and a shutter 15 shown in a completely schematic manner in FIG. . 2. This shutter can be controlled by a motor or by a cylinder. Normally, it is either in the open position or in the closed position. It is understood, however, that in certain variants of the device described, provision could be made for progressive control of this shutter.

L'ouverture d'entrée 10 et le segment d'entrée 9 du conduit 6 sont encore équipés d'un manchon coulissant 23. Ce manchon comporte un segment de tube 17 ouvert à ses deux extrémités, dont le diamètre est légèrement inférieur à celui du conduit 6 à sa base. Il est porté par une monture tubulaire 22, fixée rigidement sur lui et pourvue de deux fentes longitudinales diamètralement opposées 18. Dans ces fentes sont engagés des tiges 19 solidaires de la paroi du conduit 6, un peu au-dessus de l'ouverture d'entrée 10. Comme on le voit au dessin, normalement le manchon coulissant 23 repose sous l'effet de son poids sur les tiges 19 dont la génératrice supérieure forme une butée supérieure sur laquelle repose l'extrémité supérieure des fentes 18. Le manchon 23 comporte en outre, à sa base, une bride 20.The inlet opening 10 and the inlet segment 9 of the conduit 6 are also equipped with a sliding sleeve 23. This sleeve comprises a tube segment 17 open at its two ends, the diameter of which is slightly less than that of the leads 6 to its base. It is carried by a tubular mount 22, rigidly fixed on it and provided with two diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 18. In these slots are engaged rods 19 integral with the wall of the conduit 6, a little above the opening of entry 10. As can be seen in the drawing, normally the sliding sleeve 23 rests under the effect of its weight on the rods 19 whose upper generatrix forms an upper stop on which the upper end of the slots 18 rests. The sleeve 23 comprises in addition, at its base, a flange 20.

Alors que les moyens de commande de l'obturateur 15 ne sont pas représentés à la fig. 2, on a noté cependant, à cette figure, l'emplacement d'un capteur de pression 21 et la fig. 6 montre comment est conçu le dispositif de commande automatique du point de vue des connexions électriques. On voit à cette fig. 6 un moteur M de commande de l'obturateur 15, un capteur de temps T, un capteur de pression P qui est le capteur 21 de la fig. 2 ainsi qu'un moteur S qui représente le moteur d'entraînement de la soufflante 16 aspirant l'air par le conduit 8.While the shutter control means 15 are not shown in FIG. 2, however, in this figure, the location of a pressure sensor 21 and FIG. 6 shows how the automatic control device is designed from the point of view of electrical connections. We see in this fig. 6 a motor M for controlling the shutter 15, a time sensor T, a pressure sensor P which is the sensor 21 of FIG. 2 as well as a motor S which represents the drive motor of the blower 16 sucking air through the duct 8.

Le schéma du dispositif, représenté à la fig. 6 de façon tout à fait simplifiée, comporte une mémoire Me et un processeur Pr, le tout étant agencé de façon à permettre le fonctionnement des unités d'entrée et des unités de sortie décrites selon un programme prédéterminé, ce programme assurant une optimisation de l'alimentation des machines en tabac.The diagram of the device, shown in fig. 6 in a completely simplified manner, comprises a memory Me and a processor Pr, the whole being arranged so as to allow the operation of the input units and the output units described according to a predetermined program, this program ensuring an optimization of the tobacco machine supply.

Les fig. 3 à 5 illustrent les conditions auxquelles doit satisfaire le programme.Figs. 3 to 5 illustrate the conditions that the program must meet.

La fig. 4 montre une courbe typique donnant le débit de tabac Q qu'il est nécessaire de fournir aux machines durant une certaine période de temps. Comme on le voit, le débit peut être assez fortement variable.Fig. 4 shows a typical curve giving the flow of tobacco Q which it is necessary to supply to the machines during a certain period of time. As can be seen, the flow rate can be quite highly variable.

La fig. 5 montre comment, dans un cas de programme, le débit requis sera obtenu en fonction du temps. La soufflante ou le compresseur général 16 qui assure le flux d'air dans les conduits 6 sera maintenu en fonctionnement en permanence à un régime stable et l'alimentation des différentes machines 1 sera assurée simplement par manoeuvre des obturateurs 15 au moyen des moteurs M. On se rend compte que lorsqu'un obturateur 15 est fermé, le débit de particules de tabac dans le conduit 6 correspondant est, dans les conditions normales, permanent et a une valeur stable Q₁ (fig. 5). Cette valeur Q₁ dépend de la géométrie de l'installation et de la puissance de la soufflante 16. Au contraire, si l'obturateur 15 est ouvert, l'air est aspiré par le segment 13 et l'ouverture de décharge 14. La pression dans le segment 9 remonte à une valeur très proche de la pression ambiante et les particules ne sont plus aspirées. Il suffit donc de programmer les durées successives d'alimentation et d'interruption du débit par manoeuvre de l'obturateur 15. Selon la fig. 5, la fermeture de l'obturateur intervient à des intervalles de temps t qui sont fixes et son ouverture, après des périodes qui dépendent du débit requis.Fig. 5 shows how, in a program case, the required bit rate will be obtained as a function of time. The blower or the general compressor 16 which ensures the air flow in the conduits 6 will be kept in operation permanently at a stable speed and the supply of the various machines 1 will be ensured simply by operating the shutters 15 by means of the motors M. We realize that when a shutter 15 is closed, the flow of tobacco particles in the corresponding conduit 6 is, under normal conditions, permanent and has a stable value Q₁ (fig. 5). This value Q₁ depends on the geometry of the installation and on the power of the blower 16. On the contrary, if the shutter 15 is open, the air is sucked in by the segment 13 and the discharge opening 14. The pressure in segment 9 rises to a value very close to ambient pressure and the particles are no longer aspirated. It is therefore sufficient to program the successive supply and interruption times of the flow rate by operating the shutter 15. According to FIG. 5, the closure of the shutter occurs at time intervals t which are fixed and its opening, after periods which depend on the required flow rate.

De plus, comme le montre la fig. 3, le même dispositif peut être programmé de façon à jouer un rôle de sécurité et à prévenir le bouchage des ouvertures d'entrée. Les installations du genre représenté à la fig. 1 présentent en effet, à un plus ou moins haut degré, le risque qu'un bouchon de particules de tabac se forme à l'ouverture d'entrée du conduit 6, ce qui interrompt l'alimentation. Si un tel bouchon se forme à l'ouverture inférieure du manchon 23, la dépression à l'intérieur du segment d'entrée 9, mesurée par le capteur de pression P augmente, comme on le voit sur le graphique de la fig. 3 qui représente la courbe donnant en ordonnée la valeur de la dépression et en abscisse le temps, ce même graphique donnant également le débit volumétrique de tabac V, représenté en ordonnée avec le temps en abscisse. Au moment où un bouchon se forme, la dépression augmente et le débit volumétrique baisse. Ce phénomène est détecté par le capteur P s'il atteint une certaine ampleur, c'est-à-dire si la dépression augmente jusqu'à une valeur ΔPC représentant la dépression critique mais auparavant, c'est-à-dire durant la phase d'augmentation de la dépression, l'ensemble du manchon 23 est aspiré vers le haut, de sorte que la butée inférieure représentée par l'extrémité inférieure des fentes 18 vient buter contre les tiges 19. Dans la plupart des cas, ce choc a pour effet de dégager le bouchon qui s'est formé, de sorte que la dépression ΔP reprend sa valeur normale sans avoir atteint la valeur critique ΔPC.In addition, as shown in fig. 3, the same device can be programmed to play a role and prevent blockage of entry openings. Installations of the kind shown in fig. 1 in fact present, to a greater or lesser degree, the risk that a plug of tobacco particles will form at the inlet opening of the conduit 6, which interrupts the feeding. If such a plug forms at the lower opening of the sleeve 23, the vacuum inside the inlet segment 9, measured by the pressure sensor P increases, as can be seen in the graph in FIG. 3 which represents the curve giving the ordinate the value of the depression and the time abscissa, this same graph also giving the volumetric flow rate of tobacco V, represented on the ordinate with the time on the abscissa. As a plug forms, the vacuum increases and the volumetric flow decreases. This phenomenon is detected by the sensor P if it reaches a certain magnitude, that is to say if the depression increases up to a value ΔPC representing the critical depression but before, that is to say during the phase increase in depression, the entire sleeve 23 is sucked up, so that the lower stop represented by the lower end of the slots 18 abuts against the rods 19. In most cases, this shock has the effect of releasing the plug which has formed, so that the vacuum ΔP returns to its normal value without having reached the critical value ΔPC.

En revanche, il est possible que le bouchon soit tel qu'il ne se désagrège pas spontanément lorsque le manchon 23 bute, par sa butée inférieure, contre les tiges d'arrêt 19. Alors la détection de la dépression critique ΔPC provoque l'ouverture immédiate de l'obturateur 15. Dans ces conditions, la dépression redescend jusqu'à une valeur quasiment nulle et le manchon 23 retombe dans sa position inférieure telle qu'elle est représentée à la fig. 2. L'extrémité supérieure des fentes 18 vient alors buter sur les tiges 19 et ce choc d'arrêt du manchon 23 désagrège à coup sûr le bouchon qui s'est formé. Le programme du dispositif de commande peut donc faire en sorte qu'au bout d'un temps ΔT de par exemple 2 à 3 secondes, après l'ouverture de l'obturateur 15, cet obturateur est refermé. Le fonctionnement à débit normal reprendra donc immédiatement.On the other hand, it is possible that the plug is such that it does not disintegrate spontaneously when the sleeve 23 abuts, by its lower stop, against the stop rods 19. Then the detection of the critical vacuum ΔPC causes the opening immediate shutter 15. Under these conditions, the vacuum drops to an almost zero value and the sleeve 23 falls back into its lower position as shown in fig. 2. The upper end of the slots 18 then abuts on the rods 19 and this stop shock of the sleeve 23 undoubtedly disintegrates the plug which has formed. The program of the control device can therefore ensure that at the end of a time ΔT of for example 2 to 3 seconds, after the opening of the shutter 15, this shutter is closed. Normal flow operation will therefore resume immediately.

On a constaté qu'avec ce dispositif, il était possible d'obtenir un fonctionnement régulier et une alimentation de tabac correspondant au désir avec une vitesse de circulation de l'air à l'intérieur des conduits 6 qui était nettement inférieure à ce qui était nécessaire jusque-là. Ainsi, dans un cas typique, alors que jusqu'à maintenant la vitesse devait être de l'ordre de 28 m/sec, on a pu réduire cette valeur à des limites de 18 à 22 m/sec ou même, dans un cas semblable, à 16-22 m/sec.It was found that with this device, it was possible to obtain regular operation and a tobacco supply corresponding to the desire with a speed of circulation of the air inside the conduits 6 which was significantly lower than what was necessary until then. Thus, in a typical case, while up to now the speed had to be of the order of 28 m / sec, it has been possible to reduce this value to limits of 18 to 22 m / sec or even, in a similar case , at 16-22 m / sec.

Avec ces conditions de fonctionnement, le dispositif d'alimentation présente des risques moindres pour la détérioration des particules de tabac, donc une production de poussière diminuée et l'énergie dépensée à actionner les soufflantes est également réduite, alors que le rendement de l'utilisation du tabac augmente.With these operating conditions, the feeding device presents less risks for the deterioration of the tobacco particles, therefore a reduced dust production and the energy expended in operating the blowers is also reduced, while the efficiency of use tobacco is increasing.

Claims (7)

  1. Device for controlling the rate of flow of tobacco particles fed to a machine (1), comprising a fixed duct (6) including rigid walls as well as suction means (16) for circulating within the duct a flow of air capable of conveying the flow of tobacco from an intake section (9) of the said duct toward the machine (1), an end of the said intake section (9) having an intake opening (10) facing a bed of tobacco (5),
       characterized in that
    the other end of the said intake section (9) is equipped with a lateral branching of a segment of the discharge (13) opening into a discharge opening (14), the opening or closing of the said discharge opening (14) being caused by a gate (15) disposed in the said discharge segment (13), the said gate (15) being controlled as a function of one or more parameters comprised by time and/or pressure in the intake section (9).
  2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the intake section (9) is vertical, the intake opening being situated above the bed of tobacco (5).
  3. Control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the intake section (9) of the duct (6) is equipped with an unstopping means (2) actuated as a function of the amount of pressure within the intake section (9).
  4. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the unstopping means (23) is a rigid sleeve (17) open at its two ends mounted in the intake segment (9) in a manner to be able to slide in the interior of the segment between two predetermined positions, an upper position and a lower position.
  5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the said positions are determined respectively by an upper stop means (18, 19) and a lower stop means (18, 19) and in that the weight of the sleeve (17) is determined so that upon the obstruction of its base by a plug of tobacco, the amount of pressure in the intake segment diminishes to a value capable of causing the rapid sliding of the sleeve and the stopping thereof abruptly against the upper stop means.
  6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the said control means (Pr) of the gate (15) include a datum (P) causing the abrupt opening of the gate after a predetermined time lag greater than the time of raising of the sleeve (17) under the effect of the said depression in the case where the pressure in the intake segment (19) has not normalized after the upward sliding of the sleeve (17).
  7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the said control means (Pr) are programmed to cause the reclosing of the gate (15) after a second predetermined time lag, the second time being greater than the time taken by the sleeve (17) to fall back into its lower position after reopening of the gate (15).
EP90810178A 1989-03-22 1990-03-08 Automatic control device for the feeding of a flow of tobacco particles to a machine Expired - Lifetime EP0390732B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1068/89 1989-03-22
CH106889 1989-03-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0390732A1 EP0390732A1 (en) 1990-10-03
EP0390732B1 true EP0390732B1 (en) 1994-08-10

Family

ID=4201695

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP90810178A Expired - Lifetime EP0390732B1 (en) 1989-03-22 1990-03-08 Automatic control device for the feeding of a flow of tobacco particles to a machine

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US5000197A (en)
EP (1) EP0390732B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69011374T2 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108636949A (en) * 2018-04-10 2018-10-12 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 A kind of wind-force feed system plugging detection automatic dredging method

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5322074A (en) * 1992-07-01 1994-06-21 The Cardwell Machine Company Tobacco delivery system
DE19533412C2 (en) * 1995-09-09 2003-08-07 Bat Cigarettenfab Gmbh Extraction system for removing cut tobacco in a storage container
DE10238946A1 (en) * 2002-08-24 2004-03-04 Mann + Hummel Protec Gmbh Conveying device for pourable goods
CN104816948B (en) * 2015-04-30 2017-10-24 华北电力大学 A kind of optic probe anti-fouler measured for Geldart-D particle powder parameters

Family Cites Families (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB773835A (en) * 1954-06-04 1957-05-01 Kurt Koerber Method and device for facilitating control of the feed of tobacco to cigarette-making machines
IT1133550B (en) * 1980-11-21 1986-07-09 Cir Spa Divisione Sasib DEVICE TO PREVENT CLOGGING IN THE PNEUMATIC TRANSFER CONDUCT OF THE TRENCIATO FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR TO THE FORMATION LINE OF THE TOBACCO CORD IN THE CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES
IT1173800B (en) * 1983-05-19 1987-06-24 Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg DEVICE TO FEED MACHINES TO FORM A LODGE FOR TOBACCO PROCESSING
DE3642085A1 (en) * 1986-05-27 1987-12-03 Engelbrecht & Lemmerbrock Pneumatic conveyor for long agricultural materials

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN108636949A (en) * 2018-04-10 2018-10-12 红云红河烟草(集团)有限责任公司 A kind of wind-force feed system plugging detection automatic dredging method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69011374D1 (en) 1994-09-15
EP0390732A1 (en) 1990-10-03
US5000197A (en) 1991-03-19
DE69011374T2 (en) 1995-03-23

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