JP3212466B2 - Method and apparatus for knitting tobacco leaves - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for knitting tobacco leaves, and more particularly to a method for hanging a tobacco leaf of a native or burley variety on a string member such as a rope for drying. The present invention relates to a method of knitting a tobacco leaf used for a tobacco and a leaf knitting apparatus particularly effectively used for carrying out the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Tobacco leaves, such as native and burley,
After harvest, they are dried in a drying room. Conventionally, when drying, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the base of the tobacco leaf T is sandwiched between the eyes of a rope N with a string-like one so as not to fall off, and it is placed in a drying chamber. Hanging. The insertion of the tobacco leaf into the eye of the rope is performed manually by an operator, and the eyes of the rope are enlarged one by one with the fingertip of one hand, and the leaf of the tobacco leaf T is opened with the other hand to the spread cross. Insert the part. As shown in the figure, the toe of the tobacco leaf T is held by the rope N while projecting from the rope N by 3 cm to 5 cm. This method requires highly skilled technical skills.

[0003] The tobacco leaf sandwiched between the rope and the rope is suspended on both ends of a pipe serving as a hanging hand on both sides of the drying chamber, and dried. The state of the tobacco leaf is such that the tip of the leaf is vertically downward with respect to the rope stretched almost horizontally. Usually, the thickness of the rope used for leaf knitting is about 9 mm, the length is 4.5 m in total length, and the actual braided position is about 45 cm at both ends of the rope.
It is a part of about 3.6m in the center excluding.

[0004] There has been proposed a technique for causing a machine to perform an operation of enlarging a rope mesh by an operator.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-1377000 discloses a working machine for expanding the eyes of a rope into a rhombus. On the other hand, a large number of tobacco leaves are arranged and placed on a conveyor belt, a hanger is placed between the base of the tobacco leaf and the leaf meat portion, and a large number of tobacco leaves are further arranged thereon. There is also known a device in which the base is knitted by a sewing machine with a leaf (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-14160). The leaf-knitted tobacco leaves are hung on a hanger and suspended in a drying room in that position to be dried.

[0005]

In the case of the native and burley varieties, the operation of manually inserting the base of the tobacco leaf into the eye of the rope is performed from the thickness of the rope and the density of the eye to the expansion of the eye. In addition to the limitations, the curvature of the base of the leaf of the tobacco leaves has an effect, making insertion difficult. In addition, the number of braids on the rope is about 100 per rope, and considering that there is an average of 60,000 harvests per 10a, the labor burden on the worker is extremely large, and a large amount of work time is required. And

[0006] The device described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 52-137000 and the like mechanically expands the eyes of the rope,
Although labor saving can be achieved in this respect, the insertion of tobacco leaves into the eyes of the rope is still performed manually by the operator, and from the viewpoint of both reducing the work load and shortening the work time, it is sufficient. Not a thing. As described above, weaving tobacco leaves requires a large amount of work and time, and delays in harvesting before and after leaf knitting and hanging in the drying room after weaving, resulting in poor quality of tobacco leaves, etc. Is causing.

[0007] The apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-14160 and the like disposes a large number of tobacco leaves in close contact with each other, stitches the leaves thereof, and locks them on a hanger.
It can be effectively applied to yellow varieties, but it is difficult to apply to native varieties and burley varieties due to hanging rot during drying, which reduces yield and quality. In order to prevent the leaves from falling, it is necessary to lock a part of the suture cut by a spring provided at the end of the hanger, which complicates the operation. In addition, it is necessary to repeat the tobacco leaf arrangement and suturing operation for each hanger.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a method for knitting tobacco leaves which can be continuously woven in a string member in a short time and in a largely labor-saving state. Is to do. A second object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco leaf knitting apparatus which enables the method to be effectively performed.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first object of the present invention is to:
Instead of pinching the base of the tobacco leaf to the eye of the rope as in the prior art, instead of placing the tobacco leaf on a string member that is a hanging tool in a state where the base of the tobacco crosses the string member, This is achieved by directly suturing the string member and the base of the tobacco leaf with a thread.

[0010] A second object of the present invention is basically to provide:
A transport belt for transporting tobacco leaves, a string supplying means for supplying a string member for suturing tobacco leaves at a position where the vicinity of the base of the leaf of the tobacco leaf transported on the transport belt is provided, and the string member A string pulling means for pulling out the string member in the tobacco leaf transport direction downstream in a state where a predetermined tension is applied to,
The present invention is achieved by a leaf knitting apparatus for a tobacco leaf having a sewing machine mechanism for sewing a tobacco leaf conveyed on the conveyor belt and a string member to which the tension is applied by a thread.

A transport belt for transporting tobacco leaves is composed of a first endless belt and a second endless belt which are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and the tobacco leaf suturing is carried out within the interval of the transport belt. It is a particularly preferred embodiment of the tobacco leaf knitting apparatus of the present invention to provide a cord supply means so as to supply the cord member of the present invention.

[0012]

According to the leaf knitting method of the tobacco leaf of the present invention, the tobacco leaves are manually arranged on a string member as a hanger with the vicinity of the base of the leaf placed, and then stitched. The tobacco leaf and the string member are integrated. As a result, as in the conventional method, the work of enlarging the twisted portion of the rope and the operation of inserting the base of the tobacco leaf into the enlarged stitched portion when knitting the leaf are unnecessary, and a large labor saving is possible. Becomes

According to the tobacco leaf knitting apparatus of the present invention,
The harvested tobacco leaves are continuously fed manually from near the upstream end of the continuously rotating conveyor belt.
At this time, the tobacco leaves are oriented in the same direction, and are arranged on the string member for suturing the tobacco leaves supplied from the string supply means so that a position 3 cm to 5 cm from the base of the tobacco leaves is located. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt is disposed at a space formed between the first and second endless belts such that a position 3 cm to 5 cm from the leaf is located.

[0014] The string member supplied from the string supply means disposed below the conveyor belt passes along the conveyor belt or passes through an interval formed between the first and second endless belts. Then, it is gripped by the string pulling means located on the downstream side in the tobacco leaf transport direction and continuously pulled out. The string pulling means rotates at the same peripheral speed as the moving speed of the transport belt, and by appropriately adjusting the braking force of the braking device of the string supply means, the string member is transported in a state where a predetermined tension is applied. Moves downstream at the same speed as the belt.
Thereby, the tobacco leaf on the transport surface of the transport belt and the string member move downstream at substantially the same speed in a posture in which the upper part of the tobacco leaf crosses over the string member from the leaf base. .

During the movement, the string member and the tobacco leaf are stitched together by a sewing machine mechanism attached to the machine frame. The sewn tobacco leaf and the string member are further pulled rearward and are discharged outside the knitting device through the string pulling means. Outside the leaf knitting apparatus, the string member to which the tobacco leaf is sewn is adjusted to a predetermined length, carried into a drying chamber, where it is suspended and dried. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the tobacco leaf knitting apparatus according to the present invention, a worker can obtain a continuous string member by suturing tobacco leaves simply by placing harvested tobacco leaves in a predetermined posture on a conveyor belt of the apparatus. Can greatly reduce labor.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings based on several embodiments. First, a method for knitting a leaf of a tobacco leaf according to the present invention will be described. Figure 1,
FIG. 2 shows an example of this. As shown in the figure, a portion 3 cm to 5 cm from the base of the tobacco leaf T is preferably orthogonal to a string member N (preferably, a rope) as a hanger. Place on. Next, the portions that cross each other are sewn with a thread I. In the illustrated embodiment, the tobacco leaf T placed on the upper surface is sewn by piercing the middle rib or mesophyll of the tobacco leaf T and the string member N together with the thread I, but the suturing method is arbitrary, and the tobacco leaf T Only the thread I is penetrated, and the thread I is hung in a staggered manner on the left and right (or up and down) of the string member N without penetrating the string member N, and the thread I is crossed on the lower surface of the string member N. You may make it hold | maintain by the suturing method which ties the tobacco leaf T to N. Even in such a case, since the contact point between the tobacco leaf T and the string member N is narrowed by applying the required tension to the yarn I, the falling off of the tobacco leaf T from the string member N during drying is prevented. You.

As the cord member N, a rope usually used for leaf knitting can be used as it is, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it has such a flexibility that a needle can pass therethrough at the time of suturing or that the needle is not damaged. On the condition that a cloth or resin tape or string material can be used arbitrarily. Next, an embodiment of a leaf knitting apparatus which can suitably carry out the above-described method of knitting the tobacco leaf will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the entire apparatus. The apparatus basically includes a machine frame C, a transport belt 10 for transporting tobacco leaves attached to the machine frame C, and a transport belt 10 on the transport belt 10. And a string supplying means 20 for supplying a string member N for tobacco leaf suturing at a position where the vicinity of the base of the tobacco leaf T to be transported is to be located, and in a state where a predetermined tension is applied to the string member N. A string pulling means 30 for pulling the string member to the downstream side in the tobacco leaf conveyance direction, and a thread T for sewing the tobacco leaf T conveyed on the conveyance belt 10 and the string member N in the tensioned state. , A sewing machine mechanism M. Hereinafter, description will be made sequentially.

The machine casing C is composed of two parallel frames Ca and Cb.
A drive shaft 1 driven by an electric motor Ma via a timing belt V or the like is supported at one end (right end in FIGS. 5 and 6). 1
The predetermined distance S between the driving roller 2 and the second driving roller 3
It is fixed at Then, a string pulling means 30 is interposed between the first and second drive rollers 2 and 3 (see FIG. 7). Preferably, one drive roller (first drive roller 2 in the illustration) is as narrow as about 6 cm and the other drive roller (second drive roller 3) is wider and about 70 cm. It is said. In this embodiment, the distance S is approximately 5 cm, so that the distance between the two frames Ca and Cb is approximately 81 cm.
A driven roller 4 a is rotatably supported via a support shaft 4 on the other end (left end in the figure) of the two parallel frames Ca and Cb.

A transport belt 10 for transporting tobacco leaves is wound between the driving rollers 2 and 3 and the driven roller 4a. That is, a first endless belt 11 having substantially the same width as the first drive roller 2 is wound between the first drive roller 2 attached to the drive shaft 1 and the driven roller 4a. A second endless belt 12 having substantially the same width as the second driving roller 4 is wound between the driven roller 3 and the driven roller 4a. First endless belt 11 and second endless belt 12
Thus, the transport belt 10 is configured. Two endless belts 1
1, 12 are gaps S between the first and second drive rollers 2, 3
The drive shaft 1 is simultaneously rotated at the same peripheral speed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.

In the leaf knitting apparatus for tobacco leaves of this embodiment, legs 6 having casters 5 at the lower ends are attached to positions near both ends of the two frames Ca and Cb constituting the machine frame C, and are moved as a whole. It is free. Next, the string supply means 20 for supplying the string member N for tobacco leaf suturing will be described.
The string supply means 20 is located relatively upstream of the machine frame C, that is,
At a position close to the driven roller 4a, the first endless belt 11 is attached to the adjacent frame Ca so as to be located in a lower space of the transport belt 10. The string supply means 20 includes a winding drum 21 having an appropriate braking mechanism (not shown) and a tension roller 22 urged by a spring. At least the tension roller 22 has the first center in the width direction described above. The endless belt 11 and the second endless belt 12 are arranged so as to coincide with the center of the interval S between them. Thereby, the pulling out of the string member N is stabilized.

The take-up drum 21 is provided with a string member N such as a rope which is commonly used as a hanger when drying tobacco leaves.
It is preferable to use one having a size such that several tens of these can be wound. Normally, a string member N such as a rope forms a knot at both ends of a stranded piece of stranded wire having a specified length cut in accordance with the width of the drying chamber, and the knot of one stranded piece is tied to the knot of the other stranded piece. The one that is engaged and connected is wound around a take-up drum, and it is recommended that the take-up drum be large enough to wind up several tens of connected strands. Is done. In addition, separation of each stranded piece can be easily performed simply by removing the knot of one stranded piece from the knot of the other stranded piece.

Next, with particular reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, a cord drawer for pulling out the cord member N supplied from the cord supply means 20 to the downstream side in the tobacco leaf transport direction with a predetermined tension applied. The means 30 will be described. String withdrawal means 30
A first gripping member 32 attached to the first drive roller 2 so as to be relatively movable; and a first gripping member 32
The second drive roller 3 is fixed to the second drive roller 3 in a state of contact with the second drive roller 3.
And the gripping member 36 of FIG.

The first holding member 32 has a flange (not shown) having substantially the same diameter as the first driving roller 2 and having an inner diameter through which the driving shaft 1 can pass in the center, on the second driving roller 3 side. A support plate 33 extends, and the support plate 33 is slid in the axial direction with respect to the first drive roller 2 by a plurality of slide support rods 34a (only one is shown in the figure) arranged in the circumferential direction. It is movably mounted. A spring 34 is interposed between the back side of the support board 33 and the first drive roller 2 on the sliding support rod 34a, and the opposite face of the support board 33 has substantially the same width as the flange. And a plurality of projections 35 are formed radially from the center of the support plate 33 toward the outer periphery thereof at equal intervals.

The second gripping member 36 is connected to the second driving roller 3.
And a support plate 37 extending substantially toward the first drive roller 2 with a flange (not shown) having substantially the same diameter as the drive shaft 1 and capable of passing the drive shaft 1 at the center. It is fixed to the second drive roller 3 by a screw 37a,
On the opposite surface, as in the case of the support plate 33, a plurality of projections 39 are provided.
Are formed.

The first gripping member 32 and the second gripping member 36
Means that the first gripping member 32 is
Are biased toward the gripping member 36 of the first and second driving rollers in a state where the end faces of the flanges (or the end faces of the projections 35 and 39) are always in contact with each other. The first gripping member 32 can move relative to the drive shaft 1 in the axial direction in this state. As described later, in this embodiment, in order to facilitate insertion of the string member N into the abutting portion, the projecting pieces 35 formed on both the support boards 33 and 37 are provided.
Cutouts 32a and 36a are formed on the distal end side of 39 at a depth and width of about 1/4 of the thickness of the string member N to be used.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the projections 35, 39 are mounted so as to be alternately positioned. However, the projections 35, 39 are mounted so that the opposing projections 35, 39 are positioned on the same line. And the notch 32
a and 36a may be formed in a wedge shape. As shown in FIG. 7, the string member N running parallel to the endless belts 11 and 12 is located within the interval S between the first and second endless belts 11 and 12 somewhat upstream of the drive rollers 2 and 3. In order to prevent the lump formed at the connecting portion from being inserted into the cutouts 32a and 36a, the string member N guide has a shape that is always in contact with the string member N but has a downwardly curved front end portion. Rod member 40 is attached in a state where the other end is fixed to the frame Ca, whereby the massive portion of the connecting portion of the string member N is lifted upward so as to be rubbed from the lower surface by the curved surface. Lumps are formed in the notches 32a, 3
6a is prevented from being inserted.

In this embodiment, the string member N is withdrawn from the string supply means 20 with some braking applied, and the leading end of the string member N is provided with the first and second gripping members 32 of the string withdrawing means 30. 36. By the rotation of the drive shaft 1, the string pulling means 30 rotates, and pulls the gripped string member N to the downstream side of the machine frame C. By appropriately adjusting the number of rotations of the drive shaft 1, the string member N is always in a state where a predetermined tension is applied, and the transport belt 10 (endless belts 11, 12).
At the same speed as the tobacco leaf transport direction.

Next, a description will be given of a sewing machine mechanism M for sewing the tobacco leaf T conveyed on the conveyor belt 10 and the string member N to which the tension is applied with a thread I. The sewing machine mechanism M is provided on a plate-like support rail 9 extending between the upper portions of the support plate 7 and the support plate 8 standing upright from one side surface of the frame Ca at a substantially central position in the longitudinal direction of the one frame Ca. It is mounted so that it can slide.

As best shown in FIGS. 9 to 12, the sewing machine mechanism M is composed of an upper case 50, a lower case 70, and a middle case 60 for connecting the two cases, as shown in FIG. Thus, the overall shape is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the moving direction of the conveyor belt 10. An upper guide roller 6 horizontally positioned on the inner wall of the inner casing 61 at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction.
2, 62 and lower guide rollers 63, 63 are attached. On the other hand, in the plate-shaped support rail 9, the elongated holes 64, 64 are located at positions where the lower guide rollers 63, 63 are located with the upper guide rollers 62, 62 mounted on the upper end surface of the support rail 9. Are formed. Thus, the upper guide rollers 62, 62 are placed on the upper end surface of the support rail 9, the lower guide rollers 63, 63 are inserted into the elongated holes 64, 64, and the guide rollers 62, 63 are provided with flange members for preventing separation. Is attached, the sewing machine mechanism M is slidably mounted on the support rail 9.

A bolt support plate 51 is provided upright on a surface of the support rail 9 opposite to the side of the conveyor belt 10 and at a position downstream thereof, that is, on the drive shaft 1 side. The bolt support plate 5
A pressure adjusting bolt 53 having an abutment plate 52 at its tip is inserted through 1 in a state where the abutment plate 52 is positioned on the upstream side in the movement direction of the conveyor belt 10, and is inserted between the bolt support plate 51 and the abutment plate 52 Is provided with a spring 54. The length of the pressure adjusting bolt 53 and the length of the spring 54 are, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, when the sewing machine mechanism M is mounted on the support rail 9, to the side of the sewing machine mechanism M. The sewing machine mechanism M can be held at the most upstream position of the elongated hole 64 in a slightly pressed state by the action of the spring 54.

Thus, when the sewing machine mechanism M receives an external force during suturing or the like, the sewing machine mechanism M can easily slide downstream along the support rail 9 and the external force is released. At this point, it is possible to immediately return to the original position, stabilizing the suturing operation and avoiding damage to the sewing machine mechanism M. The sliding range is restricted by the movable distance of the roller 63 in the elongated hole 64, but usually, about 30 mm is sufficient.

A sewing machine needle H driving unit of the sewing machine mechanism is disposed in the upper casing 50 of the sewing machine mechanism M, and the sewing needle H reciprocates vertically in a position near the tip of the upper casing 50. In FIG. 6, Ia denotes a sewing thread holder. The sewing machine needle H is located near the tip of the lower box 70.
A conventionally known looper 72 is provided at the lower part in the direction of movement of. Then, the sewing machine mechanism M moves the support rail 9 so that the vertical movement locus of the sewing needle H is located in the space S formed by the first and second endless belts 11 and 12 of the transport belt 10. It is slidably mounted on.
Note that a conventionally known mechanism can be used as it is as the sewing machine itself, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The movement locus of the sewing machine needle H between the tip end of the sewing machine needle H and the looper 72 in the upward retracted state includes a string receiving plate 73, a string receiving guide 75, and a pressure roller above it. 77 is provided. FIG. 10 shows the string receiving plate 7
3 and details of the cord receiving guide 75 are shown. As shown in FIG. 12, the string receiving plate 73 has a flat plate shape, has a needle passage hole (not shown), and extends from the short side of the upper surface corresponding to the traveling direction side of the conveyor belt 10 to the short side of the lower surface thereof. A cut-off surface 74 is provided. The width of the string receiving plate 73 is the first
And the width is equal to or slightly smaller than the interval S between the endless belts 11 and 12, and the upper surface of the string receiving plate 73 is at a level substantially equal to the conveying surface of the endless belts 11 and 12. It is attached so as to be located within the interval S.

A pair of string receiving guides 75 having a substantially L-shaped cross section are further mounted on the upper surface of the string receiving plate 73. As in the case of the string receiving plate 73, diagonal cut surfaces 76 are provided at both ends on the downstream side of the upright side. Preferably, the width of the pair of string receiving guides 75 is
The width is set to be substantially equal to the width of the cord member N supplied from 0, and the sewing machine needle H is arranged to pass through the center position in the width direction.

A pressure roller 77 is disposed above the string receiving plate 73 and the string receiving guide 75. 9 and 11, the pressure roller 77 has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and a groove 78 is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. The rolling roller 77 is attached to a position where the tip of the sewing machine needle H can pass through the groove 78 and a material to be sewn (that is, the string member N and the tobacco leaf T) can be pressed at the time of suturing. Can be As a result, the sewing machine needle H vertically moves up and down the looper 72 through the needle passage hole of the string receiving plate 73 through the groove 78 in the pressure roller 77. Sewing needle H
The pressure roller 77 and the looper 72 through which the sewing machine mechanism M receives rotation power from a drive system (not shown) of the sewing machine mechanism M, and rotates together with the operation of the sewing machine needle H. The rotation speed is synchronized with the vertical movement cycle of the sewing machine needle H. The groove shape has a groove width that allows the sewing needle H to easily move up and down, and preferably has a depth of about １ ／ of the outer diameter of the pressure roller 77. In this embodiment, the dimensions of the pressure roller 77 are 50 mm in outer diameter, 50 mm in height, 5 mm in groove width, and 15 mm in groove depth.

On the conveying surface of the first endless belt 11 on the upstream side of the sewing machine mechanism M, a flat leaf receiving guide 15 supported by a frame Ca is erected. The leaf receiving guide 15 is for aligning the leaves of the tobacco leaves T placed on the first and second endless belts 11 and 12 in a line, and is endless on the first endless belt 11. The belt 11 is supported by the frame Ca so as to be able to advance and retreat in the width direction. The height of the leaf receiving guide 15 is arbitrary,
In consideration of the fact that the middle rib of the tobacco leaf T is curved upward on the endless belt 11, the length is preferably about 5 cm.

Further, the first and second endless belts 11, 1
At a position in front of the sewing machine mechanism portion M where the sewing machine needle H works at the interval S, a rod pushing-out rod member 90 having a substantially U-shaped tip is provided by a suitable actuator (not shown) such as a solenoid. The end portion is disposed at two positions, that is, a position below the first endless belt 11 and a position below the second endless belt 12 through the gap S so as to be freely changeable. The substantially U-shaped distal end portion 91 of the rod member 90 is located at a position immediately before the string member N supplied from the string winding drum 21 reaches the string receiving guide 75 of the sewing machine mechanism M during extrusion. The position is such that it can be engaged with the string member N.

The string winding drum 21 and the rod member 9
Between 0 and detection means such as an optical sensor (not shown)
Are arranged so as to be able to detect the presence of the string member N, and detect the presence of a deformed portion such as a block-shaped portion of the moving string member N. The detection signal is transmitted to the actuator of the rod member 90 via a control unit (not shown), and the rod member 90 is moved from the retracted position, which is the position below the first endless belt 11, to the second position.
Is moved to a forward position, which is a position below the endless belt 12. After holding the advance position for a predetermined time, the rod member 90 returns to the retracted position by the operation of the actuator.

Next, the operation of the leaf knitting apparatus of this embodiment will be described. First, many harvested tobacco leaves are placed near the upstream side of the leaf knitting device. The winding drum 21 wound around the string member N (preferably, a stranded rope piece formed by forming knots at both ends of the stranded rope piece cut to fit the width of the drying chamber and connecting several tens of stranded rope pieces). Attach in place. After hanging the string member N on the tension roller 22, the string member N is passed through the space S between the first and second endless belts 11 and 12 through the driven roller 4a, and furthermore, a pair of string receiving guides 75 provided on the sewing machine mechanism M. Between the first and second drive rollers 2 and 3 until the string pulling means 30 is interposed between the first and second drive rollers 2 and 3.
Pull out. The operator moves the first support plate 33 constituting the first gripping member 32 of the string pulling means 30 to the spring 34
The first gripping member 32 and the second gripping member 35 are separated from each other, and the string member N is inserted into the cutouts 32a and 36a formed on the outer peripheral edge of the first gripping member 32 and the second gripping member 35. Is released. Thereby, as well shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the string member N includes the first and second gripping members 32,
The projections 35 and 39 provided on the projection 35 are sandwiched between the distal ends.

Next, by operating a control mechanism (not shown) to drive the electric motor Ma to rotate the drive shaft 1,
Start the operation of the sewing machine mechanism. As a result, the transport belt 10 including the first endless belt 11 and the second endless belt 12 rotates in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
The string member N sandwiched between 5 and 39 is also pulled out at the same speed as the conveyor belt 10 in the same direction. Preferably, the tobacco leaf T is fed onto the upstream transport surface of the transport belt 10 from the position where the knot portion of the cord member N to be pulled out has passed about 45 cm. When the tobacco leaves are native or burley, it is recommended that leaf feeding be performed one by one at intervals of about 30 mm with the leaves approaching the leaf receiving guide 15.

The tobacco leaves T supplied on the endless belt 10
Is transported on the string member N and together with the string member N to the sewing machine mechanism M mounting position. When the tobacco leaf T is located immediately below the sewing machine needle H of the sewing machine mechanism M, the tobacco leaf T is sequentially sewn by the sewing machine needle H supporting the thread I (see FIG. 12). In this embodiment, the sewing machine needle H passes through the groove 78 of the pressure roller 77, then passes through the tobacco leaf T and the string member N, further passes through the string receiving plate 73, and the looper 72 loops the thread I. In the sewing state, the string member N and the tobacco leaf T are sewn. Even under a state where the sewing needle H penetrates the tobacco leaf T and the string member N, the string member N and the transport belt 10 are moving to the downstream side. For this purpose, a load is applied to the sewing machine needle H toward the downstream side, but the sewing machine mechanism M is slidably mounted on the machine frame (that is, the support rail 9) as described above, and the sewing machine needle H Is moved downstream together with the string member N, and returns to the original position by the action of the spring 54 at the moment when the penetration of the sewing machine needle H is released.

The string member N in which the tobacco leaves T are sequentially sewn is pulled further downstream by the string pulling means 30.
At the time when it has passed the string pulling means 30, its gripping member 32,
36 is released and released outside the machine. The worker may manually receive the string member N to which the tobacco leaf has been sewn, and may wind it up in a winding form or alternately fold it so that the string member N can be easily carried into the drying facility. Further, a conveyor (not shown) may be separately arranged below the string pulling-out means 30 and may be transported to another place.

The operator checks the connecting portion between the string member N being knitted and the string member N to be knitted next, and at about 45 cm before the end of the currently knitted string member N, the conveyor belt 1
It is recommended to stop feeding to zero. The reason is,
The portion of about 45 cm is used as a locking portion to a hanging tool or the like when the knitting leaf is suspended in the drying chamber. Further, in the apparatus of this embodiment, it is assumed that the sewing machine mechanism M is constantly operating while the conveyor belt 10 is moving.
For this reason, even when the leaves are not fed, the sewing machine needle H moves up and down to continuously penetrate the string member N, and the string member N itself is always sewn with the thread I.

As in the case of this embodiment, knots are formed at both ends of a stranded rope piece of a specified length cut in accordance with the width of the drying chamber, and several tens of stranded rope pieces are connected to the string member N. When used, the knot portion is usually a massive portion having a large diameter, which makes the penetration of the sewing machine needle H difficult or impossible. If the sewing machine needle H attempts to penetrate that portion, the sewing machine needle H will break or give an abnormality to the sewing machine mechanism.
In this embodiment, the string pushing rod member 90 and the detecting means are provided to avoid such inconvenience, and a detecting means such as an optical sensor detects such a massive portion present in the string member N. And the actuator is actuated to push the substantially U-shaped tip portion 91 of the string pushing rod member 90 forward. Due to the pushing, the substantially U-shaped distal end portion 91 engages with the string member N to shift the movement path of the string member N to the side, and the string member N is temporarily moved from the engagement with the string receiving guide 75. To leave. Thereby, the situation where the sewing needle H penetrates the lump is avoided.

After a lapse of a predetermined time, that is, at the time when the knot-shaped mass has moved a predetermined distance (about 20 cm downstream) from the sewing machine needle H, the control device issues a signal for returning the rod member 90 to the original position. The rod member 90 is returned to the original position. Since the string member N is always fed with a predetermined tension, the string member N immediately returns to the engagement state with the string receiving guide 75. In this embodiment, cutout surfaces 74 and 76 are formed on both the string receiving plate 73 and the pair of string receiving guides 75, and the return of the string member N is smoothly performed by the cutout slopes. Even when the string member N avoids the string receiving guide 75, the sewing machine mechanism is still operating, in which only the thread I forms a chain-like stitch by the action of the looper 72.

The operation of the sewing machine mechanism M is stopped when the string member N of the winding drum 21 is exhausted or when the tobacco leaves T to be fed are exhausted. Further, the string member N sewn to the tobacco leaf T is released outside the machine, the thread I is cut off at this portion, and the string member N is carried into the drying facility, where the sewn string member N is suspended and dried. It is processed.
When the tobacco leaf T is removed from the string member N after the drying is completed, the string member N and the tobacco leaf T can be easily separated by manually pulling the thread I on the suturing end side.

The above description is of several embodiments of the method and apparatus for knitting tobacco leaves according to the present invention, and there are many other variations. For example, the reason why the transport belt 10 is divided into the first endless belt 11 and the second endless belt 12 is to ensure that the leaf portion of the tobacco leaf T is fed more reliably. Instead, it is also possible to omit the first endless belt 11 and use one endless belt as the transport belt.

The string pulling means 30 is configured to engage with the string member N to pull out the string member N at substantially the same speed as the moving speed of the conveyor belt 10 and to easily detach the string member N. The protrusion sides 35, 3
9. The specific shapes of the spring 34 and the like are not limited to those shown. Further, it is not essential to provide the string pulling-out means 30 coaxially with the drive shaft 1, and although not particularly shown, it may be rotated by a separately arranged drive shaft.

In order to ensure that the string member N is clamped by the string pulling means 30, the string member N is placed above the abutting portions of the first and second grip members 32, 36 toward the grip members 32, 36. Means for pressing may be further provided, and a separating plate is provided in the vicinity of the string pull-out means 30 for the purpose of ensuring that the string member N grasped by the grasping members 32 and 36 is released from the grasping member. You can also.

FIG. 13 to FIG. 15 show one example thereof.
In this example, an auxiliary roller 100 is provided above an abutting portion of the first and second gripping members 32, 36 in the string pulling means 30 shown in FIGS. The auxiliary roller 100 has a cylindrical roller 101 as a whole, and the roller 101 is rotatably supported on a support shaft 103 which is parallel to the drive shaft 1 and has the same axial direction. The roller 101 is desirably made of an elastic material such as urethane so as not to damage the surface of the tobacco leaf.
In addition, it is desirable to form a concave groove portion 102 in a portion facing the abutting portion of the first and second gripping members 32 and 36. The distance between the roller 101 and the transport surface of the transport belt 100 is approximately the thickness of the middle rib of the tobacco leaf.

As a result, the string member N to which the tobacco leaf T is sewn can be softly touched from above with the first and second gripping members 3.
The cord member N is pushed down to the abutment portions 2 and 36, and the string member N is securely held between the projecting pieces 35 and 39 without damaging the tobacco leaf. In addition, the auxiliary roller 100 can be attached to the machine frame in a state where the center distance between the auxiliary roller 100 and the drive shaft 1 can be adjusted, thereby obtaining the center distance appropriately corresponding to the size and type of the tobacco leaf T. The work is more reliable, and the damage to the tobacco leaf can be kept to a minimum. In addition, the auxiliary roller 100 can be attached in a state where the auxiliary roller 100 is urged downward by a spring. The concave groove 102 is provided for facilitating the passage of a lump formed at the connecting portion of the string member N.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 15, the separating plate 110 for forcibly separating the string member N from being pinched between the projecting pieces 35 and 39 includes the first and second gripping members 32,
36, on the downstream side of the drive shaft 1 and slightly below the drive shaft 1, the projecting pieces 35, 39
Are mounted so as to be inserted between the notches 32a and 36a formed in the holes. Thereby, the detachment of the string member N to which the tobacco leaf is sewn from the string pulling means 30 is further ensured, and a stable leaf knitting operation can be performed. As another mode of the separation plate, a swash plate (not shown) is positioned downstream of the drive shaft 1 of the first and second gripping members 32 and 36 and slightly below the drive shaft 1. In the above, it may be arranged along the peripheral surface.

Further, the illustrated pressure roller 76 provided in the sewing machine mechanism M is also one embodiment, and is a plate-like member having a notch through which the sewing machine needle H penetrates as in a normal sewing machine mechanism. Even so, the purpose is achievable. In this embodiment, the string member N is formed by connecting a plurality of ropes. However, a single string member having substantially the same diameter can be used. In that case, it is desirable to attach a mark for indicating the cut site at predetermined intervals.
By cutting the string member after suturing at the mark position,
A predetermined length of leaf braid can be obtained, which is suspended in a drying facility. When the string members having substantially the same diameter are used as described above, the detection means such as the above-described optical sensor for detecting the knot of the string member and pushing the string member to the side and the rod member 90 for pushing the string member are not required. Will also be understood.

[0055]

According to the present invention, it is not necessary to insert the tobacco leaf into the skewer of the rope accompanying the knitting of the tobacco leaf, one of the leaf knitting steps is omitted, and the operation can be simplified. It is possible to prepare a homogeneous leaf braid in a short time, and it is possible to greatly reduce the working time. In addition, the current rope can be used as it is for weaving tobacco leaves, the hanging tool and the existing drying facility can be used as they are, and the economy is excellent.

Further, since the leaf feeding position is also on the conveyor which is in a horizontal state, the leaf feeding by hand and the mechanical leaf feeding can be easily performed. When the tobacco leaf is removed from the string member after the drying is completed, the string member and the tobacco leaf can be easily separated by manually pulling the thread on the suturing end side. There is no dropout due to the breaking of the middle rib, which also contributes to securing the yield.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state where a tobacco leaf and a rope are stitched with a thread.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a tobacco leaf and a rope are stitched with a thread.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which tobacco leaves are inserted into the eyes of a rope.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which tobacco leaves are sandwiched between eyes of a rope.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire tobacco leaf knitting machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a driving roller and a cord pull-out unit.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of a string pulling means.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the sewing machine mechanism and its supporting portion.

FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the sewing machine mechanism and its supporting portion.

FIG. 11 is a side view showing the sewing machine mechanism and its supporting portion.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view showing a rope guide guide.

FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view showing another embodiment of the string pulling means.

FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of the string pulling means shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the string pulling means.

[Explanation of Signs] C (Ca, Cb): machine frame (two frames), M: sewing machine mechanism, I: thread, N: rope (string member), T: tobacco leaf 2,
3 ... First and second drive rollers, 10 ... Conveyer belt, 1
Reference numerals 1, 12: first and second endless belts, 20: string supply means, 21: winding drum, 22: tension roller,
30 ... string pulling means, 32, 35 ... first and second gripping members

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-49-101598 (JP, A) JP-A-60-164895 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A24B 1/06

Claims (11)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of transporting tobacco leaves under a predetermined tension.
Tobacco leaves are arranged in a string member which is a hanging member pulled out downstream in the sending direction in a state where the base of the tobacco crosses the string member,
The string member is guided by a string member guiding means, and the string member and the tobacco
While pressing the leaf from above with the roller, the sewing machine
A leaf knitting method for a tobacco leaf, comprising suturing the string member and the vicinity of the base of the tobacco leaf with a thread using a frame. 2. A belt supplying means for supplying a transport belt for transporting tobacco leaves and a string member for suturing tobacco leaves at a position where the vicinity of the base of the tobacco leaf transported on the transport belt is located. And a string pulling-out means for pulling out the string member downstream in the tobacco leaf transport direction in a state where a predetermined tension is applied to the string member, and a state in which the tobacco leaf transported on the transport belt and the tension are applied. A sewing machine mechanism for sewing the string member with a thread , and the sewing machine mechanism includes
A machine with a notch below the vertical axis where the sewing needle moves up and down.
Pressure roller and a string member guide hand located below the pressure roller
And a string member guiding surface of the string member guiding means.
In a state where the level is almost the same as the transport surface of the transport belt
A tobacco leaf knitting device, which is mounted on a machine frame . 3. A transport belt for transporting tobacco leaves, comprising a first endless belt and a second endless belt, which are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and for suturing tobacco leaves within the interval between the transport belts. String supply means for supplying the string member, a string pulling means for pulling the string member downstream in the tobacco leaf conveyance direction with a predetermined tension applied to the string member, and a cigarette conveyed on the conveyance belt. A sewing machine mechanism for suturing the leaves and the string member in the tensioned state with a thread , wherein the sewing machine needle moves up and down in the sewing machine mechanism
A pressure roller having a notch below the vertical axis and the pressure roller;
And a string member guide means located below the
In this case, the sewing machine mechanism is provided with a string of the string member guiding means.
The member guide surface has the first endless belt and the second endless belt.
Between the transport surface of the transport belt and the
A tobacco leaf knitting device, wherein the tobacco leaf is knitted at the same level . 4. The transport belt has a drive shaft on the downstream side in the tobacco leaf transport direction, and the drive shaft is provided with a first drive roller and a second drive roller with a predetermined gap therebetween. The tobacco leaf according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the string pulling means is interposed in the gap between the first drive roller and the second drive roller. Knitting equipment. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the string pulling means includes a first gripping member attached to the first driving roller so as to be relatively movable, and a second gripping member in contact with the first gripping member.
The leaf knitting device for tobacco leaves according to claim 4, further comprising: a second gripping member fixed to the driving roller. 6. A leaf knitting apparatus for a tobacco leaf according to claim 5, wherein irregularities are formed on at least one of the surfaces of the first and second gripping members that abut against each other. . 7. The sewing machine mechanism is mounted on the machine frame so as to be movable in the traveling direction of the transport surface of the transport belt and to be automatically returned to its original position by the action of a spring after the movement. The leaf knitting device for tobacco leaves according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: 8. The machine frame at a position immediately upstream of the string pulling means has a gentle curved surface from the machine frame to immediately before the string pulling means, and the massive portion of the connecting portion of the string member faces upward, 5. A leaf knitting apparatus for a tobacco leaf according to claim 2, further comprising means for removing a connecting portion for preventing a lump portion from being inserted into the retracting means. 9. An extruding means for pushing a string member pulled out from the string supply means to a position deviated from a sewing position by the sewing machine mechanism is attached to the machine frame at a position immediately upstream of the sewing machine mechanism. The tobacco leaf knitting apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein: 10. The apparatus frame at a position immediately upstream of the string pulling means is provided with a press-contact means for pushing a string member pulled out from the string supply means into the string pulling means. A leaf knitting device for tobacco leaves according to any one of claims 2 to 8. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said pressing means is an elastic roller means.