System for manufacturing tobacco products and a procedure for transferring heat between two or more stations of such a system

Abstract

A system for manufacturing tobacco products, typically cigarettes, includes a primary processing station in which the tobacco is conditioned, and a station in which the cigarettes are made and packed. Both of the stations are served by a single heat exchange device using a fluid procured from a convenient source, which is circulated initially through the one station to cool the cigarette making and packing machinery, then directed into the other station so that the thermal energy recovered from the preceding exchange of heat can be exploited to maintain the temperature required for the primary processing treatments. The fluid is released ultimately from the primary processing station to a discharge station.

1 ) A system for manufacturing tobacco products, comprising: 
 at least one manufacturing station supplied with at least one forming material used to make the tobacco products, designed to fashion a plurality of marketable and saleable tobacco products composed at least in part of the forming material;    at least one heat exchange device actively associated with the manufacturing station in such a way as to cool the station by means of at least one heat exchange fluid circulated within a fluodynamic circuit extending at least in part through the selfsame manufacturing station, wherein the fluodynamic circuit of the heat exchange device is an open circuit comprising at least one feed pipeline connectable to a source from which the heat exchange fluid is supplied, at least one discharge station to which the heat exchange fluid is released ultimately from the circuit, also a first heat exchange pipeline connected to the feed pipeline and to the discharge pipeline and extending at least partly through the manufacturing station.    
     
     
         2 ) A system as in  claim 1 , of which the manufacturing station comprises a plurality of machines combining in operation one with another to turn out tobacco products, wherein the first heat exchange pipeline presents at least one branch engaging at least one heat-generating machine of the plurality.  
     
     
         3 ) A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the first heat exchange pipeline incorporates: a main flow line extending between the feed pipeline and the discharge pipeline; a plurality of branches each engaging a respective machine or other device of the manufacturing station liable to generate heat; a secondary flow line extending between the feed pipeline and the discharge pipeline, and connected to the end of each branch opposite to the end connected to the main flow line in such a way as to combine with this same line and with the branches in establishing a cooling network.  
     
     
         4 ) A system as in  claim 3 , wherein each branch of the first heat exchange pipeline comprises at least one heat exchanger such as can be associated with a respective machine or device in need of cooling.  
     
     
         5 ) A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the entire manufacturing station is housed internally of a structure isolated hermetically from the external environment and air-conditioned by a climate control device forming part of the system.  
     
     
         6 ) A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the source of heat exchange fluid is located externally of the manufacturing station.  
     
     
         7 ) A system as in  claim 1 , wherein the discharge station in receipt of heat exchange fluid leaving the circuit is located externally of the manufacturing station.  
     
     
         8 ) A system as in claims  6  and  7   claim 6 , wherein the source of fluid and the discharge station are artificial.  
     
     
         9 ) A system as in  claim 1 , further comprising a primary processing station, actively associated with the manufacturing station, by which the manufacturing station is supplied with forming material suitable for transformation into tobacco products, wherein the forming material is subjected while in the primary processing station to one or more treatments requiring a constant input of heat, and the heat exchange device interfaces with the primary processing station in such a way as to heat the selfsame station and maintain it at a predetermined temperature.  
     
     
         10 ) A system as in  claim 9 , wherein the heat exchange device comprises a second heat exchange pipeline extending at least in part through the primary processing station, connecting with the first heat exchange pipeline on the one hand and with the discharge pipeline on the other, in such a way that the heat exchange fluid heated by and leaving the manufacturing station can be used to heat the primary processing station.  
     
     
         11 ) A system as in  claim 9 , wherein the primary processing station is isolated hermetically from the surrounding environment.  
     
     
         12 ) A system as in  claim 10 , wherein the second heat exchange pipeline comprises at least one heat exchanger located internally of the primary processing station.  
     
     
         13 ) A procedure for transferring heat between two or more stations of a system for manufacturing tobacco products, comprising the steps of: 
 cooling a manufacturing station by circulating at least one heat exchange fluid procured from a source located externally of the station;    directing the heat exchange fluid from the cooled manufacturing station to a station for the primary processing of at least one raw forming material, in order to heat the primary processing station.    
     
     
         14 ) A procedure as in  claim 13 , wherein the step of cooling the manufacturing station includes the step of cooling a plurality of machines and/or devices operating internally of the station and generating heat.  
     
     
         15 ) A procedure as in  claim 14 , wherein the step of cooling the machines and/or devices in the manufacturing station involves cooling all the machines and/or devices simultaneously.  
     
     
         16 ) A procedure as in  claim 13 , wherein the step of heating the primary processing station is followed by a step of releasing the heat exchange fluid to an external discharge station.  
     
     
         17 ) A procedure as in  claim 13 , wherein the step of cooling the manufacturing station consists in a continuous process accomplished by circulating the heat exchange fluid drawn continuously from the source of supply.  
     
     
         18 ) A procedure as in  claim 13 , wherein the step of heating the primary processing station is brought about continuously by directing the heat exchange fluid into the selfsame station after being heated in the manufacturing station.  
     
     
         19 ) A system as in  claim 2 , wherein the entire manufacturing station is housed internally of a structure isolated hermetically from the external environment and air-conditioned by a climate control device forming part of the system.  
     
     
         20 ) A system as in  claim 3 , wherein the entire manufacturing station is housed internally of a structure isolated hermetically from the external environment and air-conditioned by a climate control device forming part of the system.