Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor section – Having means to enhance the friction or adherence between...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-31
2001-02-13
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor section
Having means to enhance the friction or adherence between...
C131S255000, C131S280000, C198S847000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186315
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for transporting streams or analogous accumulations of particulate materials. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus which can be utilized with advantage for the transport of streams of comminuted tobacco leaves (such as cut ribs and/or shredded tobacco leaf laminae) in so-called rod making machines.
A modern cigarette rod making machine comprises an upwardly extending duct serving to deliver an ascending shower of comminuted tobacco leaves, reconstituted tobacco and/or artificial tobacco into an elongated channel having a foraminous top wall constituted by the lower reach or stretch of a driven endless belt or band. The upper side of the lower stretch advances along the underside of a stationary suction chamber so that the underside of such lower stretch can attract tobacco particles which form a growing stream advancing first past a suitable surplus removing trimming or equalizing device and thereupon into a wrapping mechanism to be draped into a continuous web of cigarette paper or other suitable wrapping material. The thus obtained continuous cigarette rod is severed to yield a file of plain cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit length which are ready to be transported to storage, to a packing machine or to a so-called filter tipping machine serving to assemble plain cigarettes with suitable filter mouthpieces for tobacco smoke.
Transporting apparatus of the above outlined character are also known as suction belt or band conveyors. The suction chamber is relatively long because the lower stretch of the endless foraminous belt must advance tobacco particles through an elongated stream building zone, thereupon past the trimming device, and thereafter all the way to the running web of cigarette paper or another strip or web of wrapping material in the aforementioned wrapping mechanism. The lower stretch of the rapidly advancing belt (a modern cigarette rod making machine is designed to turn out well in excess of 10,000 cigarettes per minute) is subject to pronounced wear as a result of frictional rubbing contact with the adjacent stationary parts of the apparatus; and this also holds true for the guide (such as the perforated bottom wall of the suction chamber) which compels the lower stretch of the belt to advance along a predetermined path past the stream building and trimming stations and all the way to the wrapping station.
Apparatus of the above outlined character are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,344,526 and 4,805,641 as well as in British Patent No. 974,821. The disclosures of all patents referred to in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for transporting streams or flows of continuously advancing particulate materials, for example, particulate materials of the tobacco processing industry in cigarette rod making machines or the like.
Another object of the invention is to reduce wear upon the belt- or band-contacting parts of such apparatus.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved bottom wall for the suction chamber in the tobacco transporting apparatus of a cigarette rod making machine.
An additional object of the invention. is to provide a transporting apparatus wherein damage to a certain constituent or component part of a constituent does not necessitate replacement of the entire constituent.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved rod making machine, e.g., a cigarette, cigar or cigarillo making machine.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the above outlined character wherein the endless particle gathering and advancing belt or band can stand much longer periods of continuous or intermittent use than the belts or bands in presently known apparatus.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can be rapidly converted to any one of a plurality of different modes of operation, for example, to change the intensity of suction at different regions of the particle gathering and transporting stretch or reach of the foraminous belt or band.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved stream gathering channel or trough for use in the above outlined rod making apparatus.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of rapidly repairing or restoring a suction-operated transporting apparatus for particles of tobacco leaves and/or other particulate materials in a cigarette rod making or analogous machine.
A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved method of selecting and/or varying the intensity of suction at one side of an endless foraminous belt or band for the gathering and/or transport of streams of tobacco particles or the like.
An additional object of the invention is to provide novel and improved constituents of cigarette rod making machines which can be put to use in existing machines as superior (such as longer-lasting and more versatile) substitutes for heretofore utilized constituents.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is embodied in an apparatus which can be utilized with advantage to transport a stream of particulate material, especially cut and/or shredded tobacco leaves and/or other particulate materials of the tobacco processing industry. More particularly, the invention is embodied in an apparatus wherein an elongated stretch of a stream advancing band (particularly an endless belt or band) having first and second sides is confined in a predetermined portion (normally in the deepmost portion) of an elongated channel. The improvement resides in the provision of an elongated guide which can constitute the top wall of the channel and is adjacent the aforementioned predetermined portion of such channel, and of an elongated support including at least one file of discrete neighboring inserts provided in the guide. The at least one file of inserts extends longitudinally of the channel, and its discrete inserts are arranged to be contacted by one side of the stretch.
The elongated guide is preferably provided with at least one recess or groove which extends longitudinally of the channel and movably receives portions of the inserts. The inserts are or can be slidable relative to the guide longitudinally of the at least one groove.
The apparatus can further comprise means for releasably securing one or more inserts to the guide and/or to another stationary part of the apparatus. For example, such securing means can comprise one or more threaded fasteners in the form of elongated pins, studs, bolts or the like.
The elongated stretch has two elongated marginal portions (such marginal portions can constitute the selvages of a woven band), and the inserts can be provided with surfaces which are adjacent the one side and at least one marginal portion of the stretch. The one side can constitute (and normally constitutes) the upper side of the stretch, and the surfaces of each insert then include a bottom surface which is adjacent the upper side of the stretch.
The apparatus normally further comprises two elongated sidewalls which flank the channel. A first surface of each insert in such apparatus is adjacent the one side of the stretch, and a second surface of the insert faces away from the respective first surface. The channel is or can be open at the second surfaces of the inserts to permit introduction of particulate material, preferably from below.
In accordance with one presently preferred embodiment, the inserts have at least substantially plane surfaces adjacent the one side of the elongated stretch of the band.
Alternatively, each insert can have a first surface (e.g., an essentially plane surface) which is adjacent the one side of the stretch, and concave surfaces adjacent the marginal portions of the stretch.
In accordance with a third presently preferred embodiment, each insert has a concave surface (such as a part cylindr
Ellis Christopher P.
Hauni Maschinenbau AG
Kinberg Robert
Ridley Richard
Spencer George H.
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