Device and method for separating non-tobacco related materials from a mass flow of small parts and use of the device

Abstract

A device and method for separating non-tobacco related materials from a mass flow. The device includes a feed device to convey the mass flow in a transport direction; a detection device detecting a non-tobacco related material in the mass flow and generating and transmitting a non-tobacco related material detection signal; a rejection device receiving the non-tobacco related material detection signal and removing the non-tobacco related material from the mass flow by deflecting the non-tobacco related material in a rejection direction; a discharge device receiving the mass flow from which the non-tobacco related material has been removed; and a non-tobacco related material receiving device to receive the removed non-tobacco related material. The non-tobacco related material receiving device can include a retaining device in a form of a chute with chute walls delimiting a retaining volume, and at least one deflecting member oriented at a downward angle from the chute walls.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A device for separating non-tobacco related materials from a mass flow of small parts, comprising:
 a feed device, arranged to guide a mass flow in a transport area, configured to convey the mass flow in a transport direction;   a detection device configured to detect a non-tobacco related material in the mass flow and to generate and transmit a non-tobacco related material detection signal;   a rejection device configured to receive the non-tobacco related material detection signal and to remove the non-tobacco related material from the mass flow by deflecting the non-tobacco related material in a rejection direction;   a discharge device configured to receive the mass flow from which the non-tobacco related material has been removed; and   a non-tobacco related material receiving device which is configured and arranged to receive the removed non-tobacco related material,   the non-tobacco related material receiving device comprising a retaining device in a form of a chute with chute walls delimiting a retaining volume, and at least one deflecting member,   wherein the at least one deflecting member is configured to be inclined by an angle lying in a rejection plane, in which the transport direction and the rejection direction lie, and to extend from a fastening position on one of the chute walls with a free end that extends into the retaining volume and is arranged downstream of the fastening position in the rejection direction.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the rejection device is further configured to pneumatically remove the non-tobacco related material from the mass flow by applying a pulse directed transversely to the transport direction of the mass flow in the rejection direction to the non-tobacco related material, whereby the non-tobacco related material is deflect from the transport direction to the rejection direction, and
 wherein the non-tobacco related material receiving device is arranged to receive the deflected non-tobacco related material.   
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining device is cuboid, the at least one deflecting member is plate-shaped and the fastening position is linear. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle, which is measured between a direction along a deflection plane of the deflecting member from the fastening position to the free end, and the rejection direction, is greater than or equal to 45°. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the angle is between 45° and 60°. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one deflecting member comprises multiple deflecting members, which are oriented at different angles, and
 wherein angles at which the deflecting members are oriented decrease as a distance from the rejection device increases.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle at which the at least one deflection member is oriented is variable and/or adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claims 1 , wherein the chute walls comprise air-permeable regions arranged in portions of the chute walls,
 wherein dimensions of the air-permeable regions are defined by a projection of the at least one deflecting member into an area of the chute wall, and   wherein the air-permeable regions comprise grids and/or sieves integrated into the chute walls in an air-permeable manner.   
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retaining device is cuboid with large flat sides of the cuboid opposite one another to form first and second chute walls,
 wherein the first and second chute walls extend in planes oriented transversely to the rejection plane and the rejection direction runs at least approximately parallel to the planes, and   wherein at least one deflecting member comprises at least one first deflecting member coupled to the first chute wall and at least one second deflecting member coupled to the second chute wall.   
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and second deflecting members are arranged at different distances from the rejection device. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one first deflection member coupled to the first chute wall comprises multiple first deflecting members and the at least one second deflection member coupled to the second chute wall comprises multiple second deflecting members, and
 wherein the multiple first deflecting members and the multiple second deflection members are alternatingly offset from one another in the rejection direction between the first and second chute walls.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the free ends of the multiple first deflecting members on the first wall chute and the multiple second deflection members on the second chute wall, viewed in a plane vertical to the rejection direction, are arranged to maintain a distance from one another, so that a channel extending in the rejection direction is defined between the free ends, and
 wherein the channel has a width, viewed in a plane transverse to the rejection direction and in a direction transverse to the chute walls, which is between 25% and 35% of a clear width between the chute walls.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflecting member is articulated to be pivotable at least in sections at the fastening position, whereby the angle of the deflecting member is changeable at least in sections, and further comprises a return member, which is configured to exert a restoring force directed in the direction of a rest position on the at least one deflecting member. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the articulated at least one deflecting member is plate-shaped and comprises articulated sections that are pivotable in an extension direction transversely to the rejection direction, the articulated sections comprise individual plate portions freely pivotable independently of one another, and
 wherein the individual plate portions are each provided with a return member.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one deflecting member is configured to be elastically deformable at least in sections or completely,
 wherein the at least one deflecting member has an elastically deformable portion, and   wherein the elastically deformable portion further comprises the free end of the at least one deflecting member.   
     
     
         16 . A method of separating non-tobacco related materials from a mass flow the device according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 conveying, via the feed device, the mass flow through the transport area in a transport direction;   detecting, with the detection device, a non-tobacco related material in the mass flow and generating and transmitting a non-tobacco related material detection signal;   when the non-tobacco related material detection signal is received by the rejection device, removing the non-tobacco related material from the mass flow by deflecting the non-tobacco related material in a rejection direction;   receiving in the discharge device the mass flow with the non-tobacco related material removed; and   receiving in the non-tobacco related material receiving device the removed non-tobacco related material.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the mass flow comprises at least one of a mass flow of the tobacco processing industry, a mass flow of tobacco material or a mass flow of small tobacco parts. 
     
     
         18 . A method for separating non-tobacco related materials from a mass flow with a device for separating non-tobacco related materials from a mass flow, comprising:
 conveying the mass flow through a transport area in a transport direction;   detecting the non-tobacco related material in the mass flow and generating and transmitting a non-tobacco related material detection signal;   upon receipt of the non-tobacco related material detection signal, removing the non-tobacco related material from the mass flow by deflecting the non-tobacco related material in a rejection direction;   receiving the mass flow with the non-tobacco related material removed moving in the transport direction; and   separately receiving the removed non-tobacco related material in the rejection direction.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the removing of the non-tobacco related material comprises pneumatically removing the non-tobacco related material from the mass flow by applying a pulse directed to the non-tobacco related material in the rejection direction, which is transverse to the transport direction of the mass flow, thereby deflecting the non-tobacco related material from the transport direction to the rejection direction. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the mass flow comprises at least one of a mass flow of the tobacco processing industry, a mass flow of tobacco material or a mass flow of small tobacco parts.