Abstract:
The invention concerns an apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods, from an apparatus for transverse axial conveying of the articles to an apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying of the articles or vice versa, the directions of transport of the apparatuses running transversely to each other, including a rotatably driveable conveying means with at least one receptacle, each receptacle being designed for taking at least one article off the apparatus for transverse axial conveying of the articles and discharging the or each received article to the apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying or vice versa, which is characterised in that the running circle L formed by the or each receptacle is variable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of German Patent Application No. 10 2004 047 266.1 filed Sep. 24, 2004, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure of all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications mentioned below are also incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention concerns an apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles, in particular filter rods, from an apparatus for transverse axial conveying of the articles to an apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying of the articles or vice versa, the directions of transport of the apparatuses running transversely to each other, including a rotatably driveable conveying means with at least one receptacle, each receptacle being designed for taking at least one article off the apparatus for transverse axial conveying of the articles and discharging the or each received article to the apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying or vice versa.  
         [0003]     Apparatuses of this kind are used in particular in the tobacco-processing industry. The rod-shaped articles can be e.g. filters, filter segments or segment groups as well as cigarettes or the like. In the treatment or manufacture of such articles, on account of machines and apparatuses arranged at angles it is necessary to convert the articles from transverse axial conveying to longitudinal axial conveying or vice versa. This purpose is served by the generic apparatus.  
         [0004]     The apparatus mentioned must, however, be adapted to the respective length and/or the respective diameter of the articles to be transferred in order to obtain optimum productivity. This is explained below by the example of manufacturing filters. Each filter usually consists of one or more components, the so-called segments, which are surrounded with wrapping material. Depending on requirements and/or customer wishes, filters have a different length and/or different diameter. In the past, filters often consisted of a single component. Nowadays the filter is usually formed from several components. In this case different filter lengths arise, which as a rule are within a range from about 21 to 27 mm. Other lengths are, however, also standard. Furthermore there may also be variations in diameter. Filters or the filter material or the filter segments are prepared in a single or multiple working length or in segment groups of different length, and transported transversely axially in the direction of the generic apparatus. By means of the last-mentioned apparatus, the articles are transferred to the apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying, to the actual continuous rod-making machine. On the continuous rod-making machine, the individual filter segments or filter segments assembled in groups are surrounded with wrapping paper and cut into the final filters.  
         [0005]     A filter length or the length of the filter segments or segment groups is also referred to as the format. During manufacture it frequently happens that a change of format is necessary. That is, production must be switched from a first length to a second length which differs from the first length, in order to achieve optimum utilisation of productivity of the apparatus as well as of the apparatuses arranged upstream or downstream. However, this switch necessitates a variation in the diameter of the conveying means or a variation in the running circle described by the rotating receptacles, in order to optimally adapt the device to each desired cut length of the filters. With modern-day apparatuses, this requires exchange of the whole conveying means. For each format there is a separate conveying means which must be exchanged when the machine stops. The change of format leads to considerable expenditure on assembly, which, like stopping of the machine, leads to elevated costs.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which ensures a change of format with reduced expenditure.  
         [0007]     This object is achieved by an apparatus with the characteristics mentioned hereinbefore by the fact that the running circle L formed by the or each receptacle is variable. As a result, it is possible in a simple manner to adapt the conveying means to each format to be processed. Within a certain bandwidth, the device is suitable for the transfer of different formats. In other words, a single conveying means covers the common formats, so that a constant exchange of conveying means can be avoided. This saves expenditure on assembly and hence costs.  
         [0008]     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the or each receptacle is radially displaceable to alter the running circle L. As a result, adaptation of the diameter of the running circle L can be achieved in a particularly simple manner with a constant number of receptacles. Radially displaceable in this context means, in addition to the actual radially directed movement, pivoting, tilting, rocking or other movements as well, which result in radial displacement of the running circle L.  
         [0009]     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, several receptacles are evenly distributed over the circumference of the conveying means, all the receptacles being radially displaceable synchronously during operation of the apparatus. With this design, on-line adaptation of the conveying means to different formats is possible, preventing stopping of the machine. This leads to increased flexibility of the apparatus and a lowering of costs.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     Further preferred and advantageous characteristics and embodiments are apparent from the subsidiary claims and the description. Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention and the principle of the method are described in more detail below with the aid of the attached drawings. The drawings show:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1 a  side view of a first embodiment of the apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles in section,  
         [0012]      FIG. 2 a  front view of the apparatus according to  FIG. 1 ,  
         [0013]      FIG. 3 a  variant of the first embodiment according to  FIG. 1  in section,  
         [0014]      FIG. 4 a  side view of a further embodiment of the apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles in section,  
         [0015]      FIG. 5 a  front view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 4 ,  
         [0016]      FIG. 6 a  side view of a further embodiment of the apparatus for the transfer of rod-shaped articles in section, and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7 a  front view of the embodiment according to  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The shown apparatuses serve for the transfer of rod-shaped articles from an apparatus for transverse axial conveying of the articles to an apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying of the articles. The apparatuses may, however, be designed and used in the same way for transfer from an apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying to an apparatus for transverse axial conveying.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a first embodiment of an apparatus  10  for the transfer of rod-shaped articles. The apparatus  10  is usually arranged between an apparatus (not shown) for transverse axial conveying of the articles, for example, a device for assembling groups of filter segments for the manufacture of multi-segment filters, and an apparatus (also not shown) for longitudinal axial conveying of the articles, for example, a rod-forming apparatus. The apparatus  10  essentially includes a conveying means  11  which has at least one, but preferably more receptacles  12 . The receptacles  12  serve for taking at least one article off the apparatus for transverse axial conveying and discharging the or each received article to the apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying. For this, the conveying means  11  is rotatable about a shaft  13 . Several, preferably twelve receptacles  12  are evenly distributed over the circumference of the conveying means  11 , all the receptacles  12  being radially displaceable synchronously during operation of the apparatus  10 . Each receptacle  12  is arranged pivotably on the conveying means  11 , so that format holders  14  which are associated with each receptacle  12  run parallel to the articles, preferably in each position, but in particular at the moment of receiving the articles and discharging the articles. This is usually the horizontal position. The format holders  14  are adapted to each format to be transferred, in particular as far as the length and diameter of the articles are concerned. The format holder  14  can be designed for receiving a single article, but also for receiving several articles arranged parallel and adjacent to each other. To alter the diameter of the conveying means  11  or the running circle L formed or described by the receptacles  12  rotating with the conveying means  11 , the receptacles  12  are variable. Adjustment to different diameters can be made manually or automatically. In each embodiment, the or each receptacle  12  is radially displaceable to alter the running circle L. Radial displacement can be achieved by linear and/or circular or arcuate and/or pivoting, tilting or otherwise known and ordinary movement arrangements.  
         [0020]     The conveying means  11  has two discs  15  and  16  which are centrally positioned on the common shaft  13 . The shaft  13  which is preferably constructed in one piece is offset and parallel, i.e. it has two sections  13 . 1  and  13 . 2  which are offset from each other. The sections  13 . 1  and  13 . 2  or the axes of rotation  17  and  18  of the sections  13 . 1  and  13 . 2  run parallel to each other. The outer disc  15  which is arranged at the free end  23  of the shaft  13  or, to be more precise, of the section  13 . 1 , and so in the described embodiment faces towards the apparatus for longitudinal axial conveying, is arranged on the section  13 . 1  and rotates about the axis of rotation  17 . The inner disc  16  is arranged on the section  13 . 2  and rotates about the axis of rotation  18 . Correspondingly, the discs  15 ,  16  are arranged parallel to and axially offset from each other. The two discs  15 ,  16  are coupled and so functionally connected to each other by joint elements  19 , so as to rotate about the axes of rotation  17  at the same speed. The receptacles  12  are associated with the front disc  15 . To be more precise, the receptacles are arranged at free ends  20  of the joint elements  19  which protrude from the disc  15 .  
         [0021]     The discs  15 ,  16  in the shown embodiment have the same diameter. The diameters can, however, be different. Each disc  15 ,  16  has adjusting elements  21 . The adjusting elements  21  are arranged in the region of the circumference of the respective disc  15  or  16 . The number of adjusting elements  21  per disc  15 ,  16  preferably corresponds to the number of receptacles  12 . The adjusting elements  21  are segmented, i.e. each adjusting element  21  is separate from the adjacent adjusting element  21 . Each receptacle  12  is assigned to pair of adjusting elements. The pair of adjusting elements is composed of an adjusting element  21  of disc  15  and a corresponding adjusting element  21  of disc  16 . The adjusting elements  21  of a pair are arranged one behind the other in a front view. The connection between the discs  15 ,  16  or between the adjusting elements  21  of each pair is made by the joint elements  19  which, like the shaft  13 , are arranged parallel and offset or angled. The joint elements  19  are mounted in the adjusting elements  21 , so that, in spite of rotation of the discs  15 ,  16 , the receptacles  12  arranged on the joint elements  19  are always in the same position in relation to the orientation to the articles. The adjusting elements  21  are arranged in recesses  22  of the discs  15 ,  16 .  
         [0022]     The conveying means  11  or, to be more precise, the discs  15 ,  16  are rotatable by means of a drive  24 . The drive  24  is operatively connected to one of the discs  15 ,  16 , preferably the inner disc  16 , by a toothed belt  25  or other common transmission elements. By the joint elements  19 , rotation of the disc  16  can be transmitted to the disc  15 . The two discs  15 ,  16  rotate at the same speed. To alter the diameter of the conveying means  11  or of the running circle L described by the receptacles  12  arranged on the conveying means  11 , an additional movement can be superimposed on the rotational movement of the discs  15 ,  16 .  
         [0023]     All the shown embodiments according to FIGS.  3  to  7  are basically constructed on the same principle as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  described above, so that a repeated description is dispensed with. The same reference numerals are used for identical parts. The different embodiments differ, however, in the construction of the mechanism for adjustment of the running circle L formed by the receptacles  12 . In other words, various possible ways in which an additional adjusting movement can be superimposed on the actual rotational movement of the conveying means, namely the discs  15 ,  16 , are described below.  
         [0024]     According to the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , associated with the conveying means  11  for superimposing an additional movement is a gear mechanism, in particular an addition gear mechanism  26 . The addition gear mechanism  26  is functionally connected to an adjusting drive  27  and can be driven by the latter. The functional connection between the adjusting drive  27  and the addition gear mechanism  26  is made by a toothed belt  28  or other common transmission elements. The addition gear mechanism  26  essentially includes two planetary gear mechanisms  29 ,  30  which are connected in parallel with each other. The two planetary gear mechanisms  29 ,  30  have a hollow wheel  31 ,  32 , a set of planet wheels  33 ,  34  and a sun wheel  35 ,  36 . Each set of planet wheels  33 ,  34  includes several planet wheels, two planet wheels being provided in the shown embodiment. Here, one planet wheel each of set  33  is connected to one planet wheel of set  34  via a shaft  37 . The sun wheel  35  driven by the adjusting drive  27  is centrally positioned or mounted on the shaft  13 . The sun wheel  36  is non-rotatably arranged on the shaft  13 . The hollow wheel  31  associated with the set of planet wheels  33  is an integral part of the disc  16 . The hollow wheel  32  is simultaneously designed as an adjusting wheel  38 .  
         [0025]     Associated with the conveying means  11  is at least one adjusting wheel. Preferably, however, each disc  15 ,  16  has an adjusting wheel. The adjusting wheel  39  is associated with the disc  15 . The adjusting wheel  38  is associated with the disc  16 . The two adjusting wheels  38 ,  39  each have a face cam  40 ,  41 . The face cams  40 ,  41  run, starting from the shaft  13 , spirally outwards to the circumference of the discs  15 ,  16 . To make a functional connection between the adjusting wheels  38 ,  39  and the discs  15 ,  16  or the adjusting elements  21  associated with the discs  15 ,  16 , the adjusting elements  21  each have a journal  42  or the like. The journals  42  of all the adjusting elements  21  are guided in the face cams  40 ,  41 , which can also be referred to as control cams or adjusting cams. The journals  42  of the adjusting elements  21  which are associated with the disc  16  are associated with the face cam  40  of the adjusting wheel  38 . The journals  42  of the adjusting elements  21  which are associated with the disc  15  are associated with the face cam  41  of the adjusting wheel  39 . The adjusting wheels  38 ,  39  are coupled together by means of suitable coupling elements, preferably Schmidt couplings  43 , to perform a synchronous movement. Other known types of coupling, e.g. Oldham couplings or cardan shafts or other ordinary coupling elements, can be used too.  
         [0026]     The manner of operation of the embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 and 2  and also the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , which differs from the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  only in the height adjustment, which is described below, is as follows. The conveying means  11  or the discs  15 ,  16  rotate at the same speed and take off the article or articles from a first apparatus at a take-off point and discharge them at a discharge point to a second apparatus. As soon as another format is to be transferred, a further movement is superimposed on the rotation of the discs  15 ,  16  in order to adapt the conveying means  11  to the new format. The adjusting drive  27  is actuated for this. The rotation of the sun wheel  35  is transmitted via the sets of planet wheels  33 ,  34  to the annulus  32  or adjusting wheel  38  and by the coupling  43  to the adjusting wheel  39 . The rotation of the adjusting wheels  38 ,  39  then causes radial displacement of the adjusting elements  21 , because due to the rotating adjusting wheels  38 ,  39  and the face cams  40 ,  41  altering as a result, the positions of the journals  42  also change in relation to the shaft  13 . Depending on the direction of rotation of the adjusting drive  27 , the receptacles  12  arranged on the adjusting elements  21  move radially outwards or inwards, so that the running circle L is thus made larger or smaller.  
         [0027]     In the embodiment according to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , at least one adjusting wheel is also associated with the conveying means  11 . Preferably, however, one adjusting wheel  44 ,  45  is associated with each disc  15 ,  16 . The adjusting wheel  44  is associated with the disc  16 . The adjusting wheel  45  is associated with the disc  15 . The adjusting wheel  44  is an integral part of the annulus  32 . Further, a bevel gear wheel  46  is associated with the adjusting wheel  44 . The adjusting wheel  45  is connected to the adjusting wheel  44  via suitable couplings  47  which correspond to the couplings  43 . Also a bevel gear wheel  48  is associated with the adjusting wheel  45 .  
         [0028]     In this embodiment, each adjusting element  21  has a spindle  49 . Each of the spindles  49  is radially oriented to the shaft  13  and provided with a bevel gear  50  for making the functional connection to one of the two adjusting wheels  44 ,  45 . For this purpose the bevel gears  50  are engaged with the bevel gear wheels  46  or  48 . The spindles  49  run in threaded guides  51  which each adjusting element  21  comprises.  
         [0029]     The manner of operation of the embodiment according to  FIGS. 4 and 5  is as follows. To superimpose the adjusting movement, the adjusting drive  27  is actuated. Rotation of the sun wheel  35  is transmitted via the sets of planet wheels  33 ,  34  to the annulus  32  or the adjusting wheel  44  and by the coupling  47  to the adjusting wheel  45 . Rotation of the adjusting wheels  44 ,  45  then causes radial displacement of the adjusting elements  21 . By rotation of the spindles  49  which are driven via the pairs of bevel gear wheels  46 ,  50  or  48 ,  50 , the adjusting elements  21  with their threaded guides  51  run as it were up and down or radially outwards or inwards on the spindles  49  as a function of the direction of rotation of the adjusting wheels  44 ,  45 . Correspondingly, the receptacles  12  move in a radial direction to vary the diameter of the running circle L.  
         [0030]     The whole unit consisting of conveying means  11 , addition gear mechanism  26  and coupling(s)  43  or  47  is arranged on a frame  52  and guided on or in linear guides  53 . By an adjusting drive  54 , the whole unit is adjustable in height. The height adjustment serves to equalise the change of diameter of the conveying means  11  or to equalise the radial displacement of the receptacles  12 . In the embodiment according to  FIG. 1 , the adjusting drive  27  and the adjusting drive  54  are designed as a single adjusting drive. For height adjustment, the common adjusting drive is also functionally connected to a gear wheel assembly  55 . The same applies to the embodiment according to  FIG. 4 . In the embodiment according to  FIG. 3 , the adjusting drives  27  and  54  are separate from each other. In it, the adjusting drive  54  drives a spindle  56  which leads to adjustment of the height position of the unit along the linear guides  53 .  
         [0031]     Variation of the running circle L is achieved in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 6 and 7  by a pinion assembly. At least one adjusting wheel is associated with the conveying means  11 . Preferably, one adjusting wheel  57 ,  58  is associated with each disc  15 ,  16 , the adjusting wheel  57  being associated with the disc  16  and the adjusting wheel  58  with the disc  15 . The adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  comprise grooving  59  which has no pitch. The adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  are movable in the manner of operation of a gear rack accordingly and in the axial direction of the shaft  13 . In other words, the adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  replace twelve gear racks in the case of a number of twelve receptacles  12 . The adjusting wheel  57  is for this purpose connected to a carrier element  60  which is arranged on a sleeve  61 . The sleeve  61  is arranged on a spindle  62  which is arranged rotatably, in an axial direction but stationarily in the region of the shaft  13 , preferably in a recess  63  of the shaft  13  in its longitudinal extent. At the free end  64  of the spindle  62  is arranged a bevel gear wheel  65  which is engaged with a bevel gear wheel  66  of a further spindle  67 . The spindle  67  is rotatable by means of the adjusting drive  27 , which at the same time is also the adjusting drive  54  for height adjustment.  
         [0032]     The adjusting wheel  58  is functionally connected to the adjusting wheel  57  via a coupling  68 , which corresponds to the coupling  43  of the embodiment described above, so that the axial movement of the adjusting wheel  58  can be transmitted to the adjusting wheel  57 . Associated with each adjusting element  21  is a pinion  69  which comprises grooving  70  which corresponds to the grooving  59  of the adjusting wheels  57 ,  58 . Also, the adjusting elements  21  have grooving  71 . The pinions  69  thus serve to make a functional connection between the adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  on the one hand and the adjusting elements  21  on the other hand.  
         [0033]     The apparatus  10  according to  FIGS. 6 and 7  functions basically as follows. To superimpose the adjusting movement, the adjusting drive  27  is actuated. By rotation of the bevel gear wheel  66  and hence of the bevel gear wheel  65 , the sleeve  61  is displaced forwards or rearwards in an axial direction as a function of the direction of rotation. By means of the carrier element  60 , this axial movement is transmitted to the adjusting wheel  57 . The coupling  68  transmits the axial movement to the adjusting wheel  58 , so that the axial movements of the adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  run synchronously. The axial movement of the adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  is converted to a rotating movement of the pinions  69 , the rotating movement of the pinions  69  in turn being converted to an axial movement of the adjusting elements  21 . The axial movement of the adjusting elements  21  leads to alteration of the position of the receptacles  12  which describe the running circle L. In coordination with variation of the running circle L, the height of the unit consisting of conveying means  11 , adjusting wheels  57 ,  58  and coupling(s)  68  is adapted by the spindle  67 .  
         [0034]     Furthermore, a control system can be associated with the apparatus  10  in all the embodiments, in such a way that displacement of the apparatus  10 , that is, in particular radial displacement of the receptacles  12  and adaptation of the height of the whole unit can be carried out automatically in a coordinated fashion by “pushing a button”. For this purpose, the drive  24  and the adjusting drives  27  and  54  are connected to the control system.  
         [0035]     The invention has been described in detail with respect to exemplary embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit of the invention.