Channel hopper for rod-like articles, filler for loading a container with rod-like articles, and unloader for emptying of such container
The object of the application is a channel hopper (1, 1′) for rod-like articles (4) wherein the flow of the rod-like articles (4) through the channels (2) of the hopper takes place in the form of a mass flow under the influence of gravity, comprising: at least two channels (2) for storage of rod-like articles (4), the channel being provided with an inlet (2A) and an outlet (2B) for rod-like articles and with side walls (8, 9), whereas the channel (2) is situated between limiting regions (6), and the limiting region (6) comprises a limiting element (7, 11) having a lateral surface which limits the space of the channel (2), and movable supporting elements adapted to change their configuration from open configuration to closed configuration and vice versa, whereas in the open configuration the flow of rod-like articles (4) through the channels (2) is enabled.
The object of the invention is a channel hopper for rod-like articles, a filler for loading a container with rod-like articles, and an unloader for emptying of such container.
In the tobacco industry, apparatuses for transferring rod-like articles are commonly used, whereas the rod-like articles may be transferred in the form of a mass flow as well as in containers. Various conveyors, hoppers and channels are used in production lines. The invention concerns a channel hopper which may be used among others in fillers and unloaders of containers for rod-like articles, referred to as trays. The invention may also be used in other apparatuses in which the rod-like articles are temporarily stored and transferred to successive operating stations.
The tray fillers used in the tobacco industry work cyclically, whereas in one working cycle one tray is filled. Tray fillers for loading of single-chamber and multi-chamber trays are known. The known tray fillers are provided with hoppers for storage of rod-like articles and filling units which enable rod-like articles to flow from the hopper to a chamber in the case of a single-chamber tray or to multiple chambers of a tray in the case of a multi-chamber tray.
The patent EP1955604B1 has disclosed a tray filler adapted to filling multi-chamber trays, the filler being provided with a multi-channel hopper and a filling unit having sections for individual channels of the hopper. The partitions limiting the channels of the hopper have two walls. The filling unit is provided with two rows of rollers which may rotate and move relative to one another, moreover, they are arranged to make a reciprocating motion in the horizontal direction. The filling unit is adapted to alternate starting and blocking of the article flow through the channels of the hopper to the chambers of the tray, the filling unit being situated underneath the tray. After blocking the flow, the filling unit supports the rod-like articles in the channels of the hopper. The disclosed tray filler may also be used to fill a single-chamber tray.
The patent EP2744358B1 also presents a tray filler adapted to fill multi-chamber trays and is provided with a multi-channel hopper for rod-like articles and a filling unit situated underneath the hopper, the filling unit also having sections for individual channels of the hopper. The partitions limiting the channels of the hopper have two walls, whereas the channels of the hopper do not have a back wall.
The patent EP2645888B1 discloses a filler of a multi-segment tray, whereas a filling unit built in a similar way as in the above documents is additionally arranged to make a vertical movement along the chambers of the multi-chamber tray. The filling unit in its upper position is situated underneath the hopper. Similarly, the filling unit alternately starts and blocks the flow of rod-like articles and supports the articles after blocking the flow.
The document DE3103836A1 shows a tray filler for filling of a single-chamber tray. The tray filler is provided with a single-chamber hopper and a filling unit built in a similar way as described above. The filling unit is situated underneath the hopper.
The patent EP2079327B1 shows a method for emptying a channel hopper wherein individual channels are emptied successively one after another, channels are being emptied through slidable throat, which is situated underneath the hopper.
In known channel hoppers provided with filling units there is a risk that rod-like articles are gripped by the filling unit so that they partially project outside the filling unit and are damaged, moreover they may slip out in an uncontrolled manner and disturb the tray filling process.
SUMMARYThe object of the invention is a channel hopper for rod-like articles wherein the flow of the rod-like articles through the channels of the hopper takes place in the form of a mass flow under the influence of gravity, comprising: at least two channels for storage of rod-like articles, the channel being provided with an inlet and an outlet for rod-like articles and with side walls. The channel is situated between limiting regions, and a limiting region comprises a limiting element having a lateral surface which limits the space of the channel. The hopper comprises movable supporting elements adapted to change their configuration from open configuration to closed configuration and vice versa, whereas in the open configuration the flow of rod-like articles through the channels is enabled, and in the closed configuration the flow of rod-like articles through the channels is blocked. The hopper according to the invention is characterized in that at least one movable supporting element in the open configuration takes a position at least partially in the limiting region, and in the closed configuration takes a position at least partially inside the channel.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized by comprising two movable supporting elements which in the open configuration take a position at least partially in adjacent limiting regions, and in the closed configuration take a position at least partially in the channel between adjacent limiting regions.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the width of the limiting region is smaller than the width of the channel, in particular the width of the limiting region is in the range between 10% and 50% of the channel width.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element is situated inside the side walls.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element is situated in whole in the limiting region.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element has the form of a cylindrical surface sector.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element has a guiding roller.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element has the form of a bar.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element is adapted to make a swing movement.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element is adapted to make a linear movement.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element in the open configuration is situated at least partially inside a limiting element.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the movable supporting element in the open configuration is situated at least partially under the limiting element.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that a guiding element made of a fabric, a plastic material or a metal mesh is attached to the limiting element.
The hopper according to the invention is further characterized in that the channel has a constant volume.
The object of the invention is also a filler for loading a container with rod-like articles comprising a conveyor of empty containers, a unit for moving the container being filled, a conveyor of filled containers, a mass flow hopper for rod-like articles which is characterized by being provided with a channel hopper according to the invention.
The object of the invention is also an unloader for emptying a container of the rod-like articles comprising a conveyor of filled containers, a handling unit for turning of the filled container, a conveyor of empty containers characterized by being provided with a channel hopper according to the invention.
The channel hopper according to the invention ensures very effective tray filling where the risk of article damage and uncontrolled slipping out of the articles from the filling unit is eliminated.
The object of the invention is shown in detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:
For the sake of clarity it shall be indicated that the limiting region 6 refers to this part of the apparatus according to the invention where the limiting elements 7 are located. Limiting elements 7 may comprise one or two side walls and additional elements or parts of elements which are supposed to limit the flow of rod-like articles via the channels 2.
A channel hopper according to the invention is provided with supporting elements which fulfill the function of filling units known in the prior art, whereas they may take an open configuration in which the rod-like articles flow downwards along the channels of the hopper to the tray being filled, and a closed configuration in which the rod-like articles are blocked in the channels of the hopper.
In the embodiment shown in
The supporting elements 20, 21 may be provided with rollers 24 (
The channel 2 of the channel hopper may be further provided with directing elements 26 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
All embodiments of the hopper shown may be used for single-chamber trays as well as for multi-chamber trays. In the embodiments shown, the channels have the same volume, whereas it is possible to build a hopper provided with channels with different volumes. The channels in the hopper have a constant volume so that the flow of the rod-like articles through the channels may take place without disturbances. The operation of the supporting elements does not affect the channel volume, i.e. the channel volume is not changed during the change from closed to open configuration and vice versa.
An embodiment of a filler of multi-chamber trays is shown in
An embodiment of an unloader of single-chamber trays is shown in
Claims
1. A channel hopper (1, 1′) for rod-like articles (4) wherein the flow of the rod-like articles (4) through the channels (2) of the hopper takes place in the form of a mass flow under the influence of gravity, comprising:
- at least two channels (2) for storage of rod-like articles (4), the channel being provided with an inlet (2A) and an outlet (2B) for rod-like articles and with side walls (8, 9),
- whereas the channel (2) is situated between limiting regions (6), and the limiting region (6) comprises a limiting element (7, 11) having a lateral surface which limits the space of the channel (2), and
- movable supporting elements adapted to change their configuration from open configuration to closed configuration and vice versa, whereas in the open configuration the flow of rod-like articles (4) through the channels (2) is enabled, and in the closed configuration the flow of rod-like articles (4) through the channels (2) is blocked,
- characterized in that
- at least one movable supporting element in the open configuration takes a position at least partially in the limiting region (6), and in the closed configuration takes a position at least partially inside the channel (2).
2. The hopper of claim 1, characterized by comprising two movable supporting elements which in the open configuration take a position at least partially in adjacent limiting regions (6), and in the closed configuration take a position at least partially in the channel (2) between adjacent limiting regions (6).
3. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the width of the limiting region (d2) is smaller than the width (d1) of the channel (2), in particular the width of the limiting region is in the range between 10% and 50% of the channel width (2).
4. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the movable supporting element in the open configuration is situated inside the side wall (8, 9).
5. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the movable supporting element in the open configuration is situated in whole in the limiting region (6).
6. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the movable supporting element (20, 21, 29) has the form of a cylindrical surface sector.
7. The hopper of claim 6, characterized in that the movable supporting element (20, 21) has a guiding roller (25).
8. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the movable supporting element (31, 32, 38, 39) has the form of a bar.
9. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that movable supporting element (20, 21, 29, 31, 32) is arranged to make a swing movement.
10. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that movable supporting element (37, 38) is arranged to make a linear movement.
11. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that movable supporting element in the open configuration is situated at least partially inside a limiting element (7, 11).
12. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the movable supporting element (31, 32, 38, 39) in the open configuration is situated at least partially under the limiting element (7,11).
13. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that a guiding element (26) made of a fabric, a plastic material or a metal mesh is attached to the limiting element (7, 11).
14. The hopper of claim 1, characterized in that the channel (2) has a constant volume.
15. A filler for loading a container (3, 10) with rod-like articles (4) comprising a conveyor (51) of empty containers, a unit for moving the container being filled, a conveyor (52) of filled containers, and a mass flow hopper for rod-like articles, characterized by being provided with a channel hopper according to claim 1.
16. An unloader for emptying a container (3, 10) of rod-like articles (4) comprising a conveyor of filled containers, a handling unit for turning of the filled container, and a conveyor of empty containers, characterized by being provided with a channel hopper according to claim 1.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 28, 2019
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2020
Inventors: Krzysztof Sotowski (Radom), Robert Zadecki (Radom)
Application Number: 15/929,147