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Title:
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPRESSING TOBACCO MATERIAL
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2013/025113
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Method and apparatus for compressing tobacco material, in particular cut tobacco, by means of an apparatus (10) comprising a press operating in a vertical configuration, the method comprising placing a tubular intermediate element (11) on top of consecutive containers (14) for the compressed material, in which side walls of each consecutive container (14) and respective side walls of the displaceable intermediate element (11) having a defined height are positioned substantially coplanarly during the compression process, so that the upper edge (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) of the container (14) tightly and disengageably adjoins the lower edge (17) of the intermediate element (11).

Inventors:
CHOJNACKI WOJCIECH
Application Number:
PCT/PL2012/050028
Publication Date:
February 21, 2013
Filing Date:
August 14, 2012
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
INT TOBACCO MACHINERY POLAND (PL)
CHOJNACKI WOJCIECH
International Classes:
A24B1/10; B30B9/30
Domestic Patent References:
WO2005013732A12005-02-17
WO1984004286A11984-11-08
WO2005013732A12005-02-17
Foreign References:
US2499310A1950-02-28
EP2168760A12010-03-31
DE3209688A11983-09-29
EP0014923A11980-09-03
US3641734A1972-02-15
US3641734A1972-02-15
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KARCZ, Katarzyna (162 J Nowoursynowska Str, Warszawa, PL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Patent claims

1. Method of compressing tobacco material, in particular cut tobacco, by means of an apparatus (10) comprising a press operating in a vertical configuration, the method comprising placing a tubular intermediate element (11) on top of consecutive containers

(14) for the compressed material, characterized in that side walls of each consecutive container (14) and respective side walls of the displaceable intermediate element (11) having a defined height are positioned substantially coplanarly during the compression process, so that the upper edge (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) of the container (14) tightly and disengageably adjoins the lower edge (17) of the intermediate element (11).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of the intermediate element (11) is adjusted to the volume of the container (14).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross-section of the upper edge

(15) of the intermediate element (11) is adjusted to fit the cross-section of the lower edge

(16) of a chute channel (9), the cross-section of the lower edge (17) of the intermediate element (11) is adjusted to fit the cross-section of the upper edge (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) of the container (14).

4. Method according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the intermediate element (11) is located in the apparatus (10) automatically, semi-automatically or manually.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate element (11) is located on the container (14) via a peripheral contacting element(s) (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) provided on the lower edge (17) of the intermediate element (11).

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material is poured into the apparatus (10) and compressed within one and the same stand of the apparatus (10), the plunger of the press passing through the chute channel (9) first and then through the intermediate element (11) into the container (14).

7. Apparatus for compressing tobacco material, in particular cut tobacco, comprising a press operating in a vertical chute channel (9), in which a tubular intermediate element (11) is placed on top of each consecutive container (14) for the compressed material, characterized in that the intermediate element (11) is displaceable and is made of a material which is not susceptible to deformation during operation of the apparatus (10), the lower edge (17) of the intermediate element (11) tightly and disengageably adjoining the upper edge (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) of the container (14).

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the lower edge (17) of the intermediate element (11) is provided with a peripheral contacting element (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) forming a tight and disengageable connection with upper edge (18A, 18B, 18C, 18D) of the container (14).

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the cross-section of the contacting element (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) has a shape of an inverted "V" or half "V", preferably a rounded shape.

10. Apparatus according to any of claims 8-9, characterized in that the contacting element (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) is made of a flexible material.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 9-10, characterized in that the contacting element (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) is provided with a sealing element (13).

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the plunger (7) of the press passes through the chute channel (9) first and then through the intermediate element (11) into the container (14), the lower edge (16) of the chute channel (9) tightly and disengageably adjoining the upper edge (15) of the intermediate element (11).

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower edge (16) of the chute channel (9) is provided with a peripheral contacting element (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) forming a tight and disengageable connection with the upper edge (19A, 19B, 19C, 19D) of the intermediate element (11) .

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the contacting element (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D) is provided with a sealing element (13).

Description:
Method and an apparatus for compressing tobacco material

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for compressing tobacco material.

In the field of tobacco processing industry there exists a need for using storage and transport containers for cut tobacco. Such tobacco containers may have a form of rectangular wooden or cardboard boxes of e.g. the C48 or C96 type. The cut tobacco is stored in such containers in compressed state.

For compressing cut tobacco typically hydraulic presses are used which operate in vertical configuration, i.e. they are charged from above through an upper inlet and the compression goes is realized in a downwards direction. The containers to be filled with tobacco are placed directly under the press plunger.

In order to speed up the compression-filling cycle additional means may be used aiming to effectively remove air from the compressed tobacco volume. Such means may include perforated and/or double walls of the press chambers and additional positive or negative pressure sources.

Initially, the cut tobacco is a loose material, i.e. it has a low bulk density and contains air within it volume, therefore it may be compressed in order to be packed in a container. The compression may typically reach a rate from about 1,5:1 to 2:1.

The compression should be carried out so that the cut tobacco would have uniform final density throughout its entire volume and the portions thereof located e.g. at the bottom of the container would not run a risk of being excessively pressed and consequently damaged.

Apparatuses and methods for compressing cut tobacco are known and described in e.g. US 3641734 or WO 84/04286. Various problems related to the construction of such devices and the methods used for packing and compressing the tobacco have been discussed in these publications.

In the apparatuses described in the above mentioned documents each portion of cut tobacco is pressed by just one stroke of a plunger in order to avoid excessive damaging of the tobacco. As a consequence, the amount of tobacco that may be pressed and packed in one container is limited by the volume of a chute channel.

In WO 2005/013732 a device for compressing tobacco is described having an intermediate element located between a chute channel and a container to be filled.

Considering that the devices for compressing tobacco cooperate with other systems and processes, they are required to have a short-time operating cycle resulting in high efficiency and high weight repeatability of the packed containers.

Besides, certain amounts of small tobacco particles and dust may be released from the apparatus during its operation, mainly while the tobacco is being compressed and poured into the containers. In order to limit or eliminate this phenomenon the compression process should be performed in possibly tight conditions preventing the tobacco from escaping out of the apparatus. Also, eliminating the tobacco escape and hence sinkage of the packed tobacco improves weight repeatability of the packed containers.

Importantly, the cardboard boxes of e.g. the C48 or C96 type that are widely used for transport and storage may be provided as new or second-hand. Such boxes, in particular the latter, may have deformed or damaged e.g. edges which renders filling the boxes with the compressed tobacco more difficult. For example a deformed upper edge of a box may be a hindrance for the chute channel and therefore it disturbs the process of weighing the packed box.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for compressing tobacco material in which some disadvantages existing in similar prior art methods and apparatuses are eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus having a short-time operating cycle resulting in high efficiency and high weight repeatability of the packed containers. In this regard the influence of containers defects on the process of compression should be eliminated in order to improve the compressing and weighing process.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compression having a press chamber with adjustable operational volume.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus ensuring improved tightness of the compression process.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention a method is provided of compressing tobacco material, in particular cut tobacco, by means of an apparatus comprising a press operating in a vertical configuration, the method comprising placing a tubular intermediate element on top of consecutive containers for the compressed material, in which side walls of each consecutive container and respective side walls of the displaceable intermediate element, having a defined height, are positioned substantially coplanarly during the compression process, so that the upper edge of the container tightly and disengageably adjoins the lower edge of the intermediate element.

Preferably, the height of the intermediate element is adjusted to the volume of the container.

The cross-section of the upper edge of the intermediate element is preferably adjusted to fit the cross-section of the lower edge of a chute channel, the cross-section of the lower edge of the intermediate element is adjusted to fit the cross-section of the upper edge of the container.

The intermediate element may be located in the apparatus automatically, semi- automatically or manually.

Preferably, the intermediate element is located on the container via a peripheral contacting element(s) provided on the lower edge of the intermediate element.

The material is preferably poured into the apparatus and compressed within one and the same stand of the apparatus, the plunger of the press passing through the chute channel first and then through the intermediate element into the container.

According to the invention an apparatus is provided for compressing tobacco material, in particular cut tobacco, comprising a press operating in a vertical chute channel, in which a tubular intermediate element is placed on top of each consecutive container for the compressed material, in which the intermediate element is displaceable and is made of a material which is not susceptible to deformation during operation of the apparatus, the lower edge of the intermediate element tightly and disengageably adjoining the upper edge of the container. The lower edge of the intermediate element may be provided with a peripheral contacting element forming a tight and disengageable connection with upper edge of the container.

The cross-section of the contacting element preferably has a shape of an inverted "V" or half "V", most preferably a rounded shape.

The contacting element may be made of a flexible material.

The contacting element is preferably provided with a sealing element.

Preferably, the plunger of the press passes through the chute channel first and then through the intermediate element into the container, the lower edge of the chute channel tightly and disengageably adjoining the upper edge of the intermediate element.

The lower edge of the chute channel is preferably provided with a peripheral contacting element forming a tight and disengageable connection with the upper edge of the intermediate element, the contacting element may preferably be provided with a sealing element.

The method and the apparatus according to the invention present the following advantages:

• a press chamber with adjustable operational volume, specifically enlargement of the press chamber, hence increase of the portion of the tobacco that may be compressed by one plunger stroke. The use of the intermediate element being a removable extension of a defined height and rendering the container higher. As the container is used for storage and transport of the compressed tobacco, the amount of the tobacco pressed by one plunger stroke is not limited by the volume of the chute channel (press chamber);

• by using a few extensions of a simple and reliable construction and of various heights, the operational cycle of individual apparatuses may be accelerated and consequently the number of the apparatuses in the system may be lowered and its reliability improved;

• the extensions may be secured and removed automatically by a simple device, semi- automatically or manually;

• a minimum number of 3 or 4 extensions contained in the storage and transport system is enough in order to ensure a continuous cooperation of the press with a complete system for compression and packing and to reduce the cycle time;

• the use of the contacting element (a flexible flap) forming a disengageable connection of the extension with the container prevents the escape of the compressed material and ensures the tightness of the compressing and weighing process. Other leakages may be effectively eliminated by the use of an additional flap sealing centrally or laterally located on the periphery of the lower edge of the extension.

• the use of a stiff, non-deformable extension ensures that the chute channel cooperates with the edge of the extension without bearing thereon.

An embodiment of the invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure la shows a vertical section of the embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention for compressing tobacco material comprising an intermediate element and a chute channel in one stand; Figure lb shows a vertical section of the apparatus for compressing tobacco material comprising an intermediate element; Figures 2a-2d show vertical sections (in enlarged scale) of contacting elements connecting a container with an intermediate element; Figure 3 shows a vertical section (enlarged scale) of a contacting element provided with a sealing element; Figures 4a-4d show vertical sections (in enlarged scale) of contacting elements connecting an intermediate element with a container; Figure 5 shows a vertical section (in enlarged scale) of a contacting element provided with a sealing element; Fig. 6 shows a bottom view of an intermediate element with a sealing element.

Detailed description of the embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention and its operation

Tobacco material is delivered to the apparatus 10 for compressing tobacco material shown in fig. 1 from above by means of any suitable transporting system 8 through a chute channel 9. The material may move freely e.g. by gravity through an intermediate element 11, i.e. an extension located thereunder on a container for the tobacco material 14. The extension 11 may be made of any suitable material that would not deform during operation of the apparatus, e.g. of wood, plywood, plastic material, wood-like material etc. The flow of the material within the apparatus is schematically indicated by the letter "F". One dose of the delivered material may have e.g. a defined weight, the container filled with the material may be weighted during the filling. The volume of the delivered dose of the tobacco material may be adjusted by adapting the height of the intermediate element and may be bigger than the volume of the container 14 so that it also fills a part of the intermediate element 11. The delivered material is compressed by means of a plunger 7 of a press operating in a vertical configuration. In the case where the tobacco material is delivered and compressed in the same stand (figl. la) the press plunger passes through the chute channel 9 first and then through the intermediate element 11 into the container 14. In the case where the tobacco material is delivered in one stand and compressed in another stand (figl. lb) the press plunger enters directly the intermediate element 11 and then into the container 14 for the tobacco material. The transport including e.g. delivering empty containers 14 and collecting the filled containers away, is schematically indicated by the letter "T". The fitting of the intermediate element 11 before filling and compression as well as the removal thereof after the filling and compression of the tobacco material is schematically indicated by the letter "H" and it may be carried out in such a way that in the first step the intermediate element is fitted on an empty container 14 comprising non-compressed tobacco material, in the second step the container 14 with the intermediate element 11 on top is located under the chute channel 9 and/or the press plunger 7 so that the filling and compression may be performed, in the third step after the filling and compression have been completed, the container 14 with the compressed material and the intermediate element 11 on top is collected away from under the chute channel 9 and the press plunger 7, and in the fourth step the intermediate element is disengaged from the container 14 filled with the compressed tobacco material and the intermediate element may be re-used to be fitted on another empty container 14. The engagement and disengagement of the intermediate element 11 with the container 14 is realized by means of a peripheral contacting element 12 (circled on fig. la and lb) forming a tight and disengageable connection with the container being filled in. The contacting element 12 is provided on the lower edge of 17 of the intermediate element 11 and its examples of embodiments are shown in larger scale in fig. 2a-2d as 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D. In operation, the contacting elements 12A, 12B, 12C or 12D engage a respective upper edge 18A, 18B, 18C or 18D of the container 14. A flexible sealing element 13 (fig. 3) may be provided underneath any contacting element 12A, 12B, 12C or 12D in order to improve the tightness of the system, the sealing element 13 being pressed in operation to the respective upper edge 18A, 18B, 18C or 18D of the container 14. In the described example of embodiment the intermediate element 11 (extension) has a form of a length of a tube having a rectangular cross-section, the extension 11 being provided on its lower edge with the contacting element (a flexible flap). The flexible flap may have a form of a peripheral contacting element having a cross-section of an inversed "V" (or left/right side half of "V"), see fig. 3. The flexible flap may be made of a semi-stiff material or an elastic material and may have a form of e.g. a flange for engaging the edges of the extension 11 with the edges of the container 14 in a way enabling easy engagement and disengagement of both movable elements 11 and 14. In the case of connecting the upper edge 15 of the intermediate element 11 with the lower edge 16 of the chute channel 9, the contacting elements 12A, 12B, 12C or 12D may be a little spaced from the respective edge 19A, 19B, 19C or 19D of the intermediate element 11 so that the weight measurement of the filled container is not disturbed. The edges 15 and 16 may have a flexible sealing element 13 e.g. a flexible flap placed in between (fig. 5). The described connection is illustrated in detail in figs. 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d showing how the upper edges 19A, 19B, 19C or 19D may fit the lower edge of the chute channel 9 by means of the contacting elements 12A, 12B, 12C orl2D, the same as those shown in fig. 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d. Fig. 6 presents the bottom of the intermediate element 11 with the contacting element 12A stretching along the lower edge 17. The contacting element 12A is provided with the sealing element 13.