Retaining height regulation

Abstract

A method and regulating device for regulating the retaining height of tobacco in a retaining duct. The method includes determining the retaining height with at least one sensor, and controlling tobacco throughput of a conveyor organ connected to the retaining duct in the conveyor direction of the tobacco depending on the determined retaining height. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

1 . A method for regulating the retaining height of tobacco in a retaining duct, comprising: 
 determining the retaining height with at least one sensor; and    controlling tobacco throughput of a conveyor organ connected to the retaining duct in the conveyor direction of the tobacco depending on the determined retaining height.    
   
   
       2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises decreasing tobacco throughput when the determined retaining height falls below a predeterminable value.  
   
   
       3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises increasing tobacco throughput when the determined retaining height rises above a predeterminable value.  
   
   
       4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controlling of the tobacco throughput is varied in a range of 10% around a predeterminable standard throughput.  
   
   
       5 . The method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the tobacco throughput is varied in a range of 1% to 3% around a predeterminable standard throughput.  
   
   
       6 . The method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein an extent to which the tobacco throughput is varied corresponds to the determined retaining height.  
   
   
       7 . A method for assembling at least two tobacco rods from a single tobacco supply, comprising: 
 charging at least two retaining ducts with tobacco from the tobacco supply;    conveying the tobacco from the at least two retaining ducts in the direction of at least two suction rod conveyors, in which the retaining ducts are arranged crosswise to a conveyor direction of the suction rod conveyors; and    regulating the retaining height of the tobacco in accordance with  claim 1 .    
   
   
       8 . The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the tobacco from the at least two retaining ducts is conveyed onto at least one flow surface and subsequently fed to the at least two suction rod conveyors.  
   
   
       9 . The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the retaining height of the tobacco is regulated for each retaining duct.  
   
   
       10 . The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the retaining ducts are filled alternately.  
   
   
       11 . The method in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein at least one of a filling frequency and a filling duration of the retaining ducts is predetermined.  
   
   
       12 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined filling duration of a respective retaining duct is set depending on the throughput of the conveyor organs connected to the respective retaining ducts.  
   
   
       13 . The method in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the conveyor organs are removal rolls.  
   
   
       14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein rotational speeds of the removal rolls are compared in order to control the filling duration.  
   
   
       15 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined filling duration of a respective retaining duct is set depending on the retaining height in the respective retaining duct.  
   
   
       16 . A retaining height regulation device comprising: 
 a retaining duct;    a conveyor organ arranged downstream of, relative to a tobacco conveyor direction, and coupled to the retaining duct;    at least one sensor for determining a tobacco retaining height in the retaining duct; and    a control and/or regulating device structured and arranged to control a tobacco throughput of the conveyor organ.    
   
   
       17 . The retaining height regulating device in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein the conveyor organ is a removal roll.  
   
   
       18 . The retaining height regulating device in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein a rotational speed of the removal roll is controllable.  
   
   
       19 . An arrangement for assembling at least two tobacco rods in a cigarette rod maker, comprising: 
 at least one suction conveyor;    feed devices, composed of at least two retaining ducts, for conveying a product to the at least one suction rod conveyor; and    a retaining height regulating device in accordance with  claim 16 .    
   
   
       20 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the product comprises at least one of measured and sifted tobacco  
   
   
       21 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising at least two flow surfaces arranged to guide the tobacco to a respective one of the at least one suction rod conveyor.  
   
   
       22 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the retaining ducts are arranged one behind the other crosswise to the conveyor direction of the at least one suction rod conveyor.  
   
   
       23 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 19 , further comprising a charging device structured and arranged to alternately fill the at least two retaining ducts with tobacco.  
   
   
       24 . The arrangement in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein a respective duration for filling a respective retaining duct is controllable.