CA1119912A - Apparatus and method for perforating articles by laser - Google Patents
Apparatus and method for perforating articles by laserInfo
- Publication number
- CA1119912A CA1119912A CA000327074A CA327074A CA1119912A CA 1119912 A CA1119912 A CA 1119912A CA 000327074 A CA000327074 A CA 000327074A CA 327074 A CA327074 A CA 327074A CA 1119912 A CA1119912 A CA 1119912A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- light
- laser
- cigarette
- light energy
- elements
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
- B23K26/0823—Devices involving rotation of the workpiece
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/60—Final treatment of cigarettes, e.g. marking, printing, branding, decorating
- A24C5/606—Perforating cigarettes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
- B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
- B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
- B23K26/064—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
- B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
- B23K26/064—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms
- B23K26/0643—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms comprising mirrors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
- B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
- B23K26/0665—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing by beam condensation on the workpiece, e.g. for focusing
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/02—Positioning or observing the workpiece, e.g. with respect to the point of impact; Aligning, aiming or focusing the laser beam
- B23K26/06—Shaping the laser beam, e.g. by masks or multi-focusing
- B23K26/067—Dividing the beam into multiple beams, e.g. multifocusing
- B23K26/0676—Dividing the beam into multiple beams, e.g. multifocusing into dependently operating sub-beams, e.g. an array of spots with fixed spatial relationship or for performing simultaneously identical operations
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- B23K26/00—Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
- B23K26/08—Devices involving relative movement between laser beam and workpiece
Abstract
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING
ARTICLES BY LASER
ABSTRACT
Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.
ARTICLES BY LASER
ABSTRACT
Perforations are made at locations spaced about the periphery of a cigarette by conducting separate parts of a laser beam through respective separate light paths which intersect such spaced peripheral locations.
Description
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for perforation of the sur~ace of articles and pertains more particularly to the manufacture of cigarettes having dilu-tion characteristics attained by perforation of filter tipping paper using laser apparatus.
Practices examined heretofore in ~he cigarette in-dustry for perforation have included mechanical puncture, electrical arc striking and laser beam treatment. These practices typically have involved perforating a web of filter tipping paper with smoke dilution thereby being effected in the cigarette filter, upon wrapping the per-forated tipping paper on ~ilter plugs.
For operation on the assembled filter cigarette. i.e.
where pexforations are to be made in the tipping paper after wrapping thereof upon the plug and following joinder of the tobacco cylinder and plug, the laser approach is more expeditious than the other foregoing practices. One known system for this purpose continuously rota-tes an otherwise com-plete cigarette in relation to a pulsed point-focused laser beam. On each pulse, a single hole is made in the cigarette ilter. After completion of rotation, the cigarette bears a pluxality of circumferentially spaced holes at a common l~catiorl axially o~ t~e cylindrical plug. Since clgarettes are made back-to-~ack in ~uch known ~ystem and then mutually ~evered midway of the clual fil-ter plug, the laser beam is ~plit into two beams which are incident on mutually spaced axial locations on the dual plug~
Such known laser approach has advantage in not re-quiring perforation o~ tipping paper as a practic:e prepara-tory to cigarette making and further in providing possible selection of dilution characteristics optionally at the cigarette maker on otherwise comple-te cigarettes by adjust-ment of laser apparatus operation as contrasted with need for preselection of properly perforated tipping paper for each diverse-dilution cigarette. On the other hand, such known laser-perforation.system requires that each cigarette to be perforated ~e su~jected to a full revolution about its longitudinal axis while such axis is in spatially fixed disposition. In the known system, this relatively complex Z
16 task is practiced by capturing each cigarette separately be-tween first and second drums in a recess extending about the ' first drum surface and rotating the drums at identical lineal surface speed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide Z
improved methods and apparatus for laser perforation of arti- 1, cles of manufacture.
A more particular object of the invention is to enahle expeditious laser per~oration of the periphery o~ otherwise complete filter cigarettes~
In attaining the foregoing and other objectsJ the invention provides practice wherein a plurality of c~rcumfer-cntially spaced holes are made simultaneously, by laser treatmen-t o~ a cigarette, while the cigarette is .in essen-tially ~ingle angular disposltion with respect to its }ongi--tudinal axi~. The invention provi.des apparatus having corn--ponent~ .~or conducting liyht energy simultaneous1y to spaced circum~erential loca-tions on a cigarette in the course of transport thexe.of through a cigarette assembly unit. Appara-tus in accordance with the invention pre~erably includes a 3a pulsed laser and optical structure receiving the laser I~ .
output pulse and ~imultaneously conducting separate parts thereof in different light paths which intersect diverse locations spaced about a periphery of a cigarette. The sys-tem for transporting cigarettes includes a rotative drum which supports cîgarettes for perforation and provides for ~ynchronism between drum ro~atioII and la~er pulsing. By such practice and apparatus, the cigarette maker may operate with benefit of the invention without change in the produc-tion efficiency attained in conventional operation thereof, requiring at most the addition to the assembly unit of exit structuxe transferri~g cigarettes with filter portion~
thereof circumferentially exposed for laser perforation.
In accord~e with a broad a~t, the Lnvention relates to:
~ n ~ ~ethod for making f~lter cigarettes w~erein to~acco rod~ are formed an~ wrapp a and th~n ~oined to filter plugs bearing filter tippi~g wrap, ana circ~mferentially spaced.
perforations are maae ~mul~aneo~sly ~n said filter tipping wrap of each cigarette ~y exposure of the out~r surface of saia filter tipping wrap to light energy~ the improvement wherein such expo-20 ~;ure ~;tep i~ practiced by generating a pul~e of light and conduc-ting separate spatial parts thereo~ si~ultaneously to locations circumferentially ~paced on said outer surface.
:[n accordance with a further broad aspect, the inventic)n rela~es to:
Apparatus for providing per~orations extending throu~h and circumerentially ~paced about the outer pexipheral ~urfa~e oP a cigarette, c~mpxising light enexgy generator mean~ i~or generating a pulse o light and optlcal means for receiving such li~ht pulse and ~or simultaneously conducting ,separa~ spatial parts thereo~ in respective different light pAths interseçting respective dif~erent locations circ~nferentially ~paced about ~uch outer peripheral ~urf.ace.
_3_ z The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of preferred practices and embodiments thereof and from the drawing~ wherein like reference numerals identify like parts throughout. In the clrawinqs:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrati~g transport apparatus for filter cigarettes.
Fig. 2 i~ a ~ectional view as seen from plane II-II
of Fig. 1 and including a showing of additional components 10 of the system of the invention.
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the perforating op-~ics of Fig. 2 as seen rom plane III-III of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view a~ ~een along line IV~IV
of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the hub reflec-tor unit of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side eleva~ional view o~ the Fig. S unit.
Fig. 7iis a sectional view as seen along line VII-VII of Fig. 5.
-3a-Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a spherical reflector oE the Fig. 3 perforating optics.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view as seen along line IX~IX
of Fig. 8.
Re~erring to Figs. 1 and 2, main frame 10 of a cigarette maker supports e~ection drum :l2, perforation support drum 14 and transfer drum 160 The path P of cig-arettes issued ~y the maker and traversing the drums is indicated by the broken arrow line, perforated cigarettes being transferred from drum 16 to an output belt conveyor (not shown~. ' Drum 14 has spaced peripheral grooves 18 running axially thereof, cigarettes C shown in phantom in Fig. 2 being supported in the grooves with the filter tip portion extending outwardly of drum face 14a. Ducts 20 extendS in sets of three as shown, from the floor of grooves l& through drurn 14 and in registry with counterpart fluid passages 22, peripherally continuous over drum portion 14~ and extending to the interior of vacuurn shoe 24. Shoe Z4 is secured to manifold 26 and is in ~luid cor~munication therewith. By negative pressurization of manifold 26, suction capture of cigarettes C is e~fected in travel thereof over path P in Fig. 1.
Housing 28 suppor~s shoe ~ and maniEold 26 and sea~s baarings 30 and 32. Sha~t 3~ is thus suppox~ed for ro-tation of drum 1~ b~ driving uf gear 36. ~Iub 38 and timinq disc 40 are rotative with drum 14, disc 40 having a crenelated peri-phery, individual radial lugs thereof corresponding in nurl~er with the nurnber of grooves 18. Each lug activates Hall-effect switch 42 on passage through the field of sensitivity --4r--of the switch, providing an electrical pulse output online 44. Such pulses are coupled to laser 46 for short duration energization thereof. Huh 38 includes sectoral slots for receipt of screws 48 whereby timing disc 40 may be rotated into desired position for synchronizing operation of the laser with shaft 34 angular position.
Upwardly of drum 14, main frame 10 has secured thereto mounting 50. The mounting in turn supports perfor-ation optics assembly 52, the structural detail of which is discussed below. On each pulsing laser 46 issues its output beam 54 to assembly 52 which processes the beam to issue per-forating beams 56 onto the periphery of the cigarette dis-posed in position shown in Fig. 1. Perforation of the ciga-rette filter is thus achieved simultaneously as to aIl per forations while the cigarette is in essentially single angu- !
lar disposition with respect to its longitudinal axis. Since drum 14 perferably rotates continuously during operation of the system, the cigarette is transported in path P during perforation by some actual measure, despite that it is main-~O tained by vacuum in fixea position in the drum groove.Shortening of the duration of the laser pulse will, however, effectively "stop" the cigarette, i.e., there is no practi-cal measure o~ transport during perforation. On the other hand, the invention cont~mpla-tes variation o e dilu-tion char-aa~ris~ics by perm~tting a pxactical measure o~ tran~port during per~oration by lengkhening per~orations as ~he cig-aretke is moved in path P durin~ las~r pulsing. ~n alter-native dilution control measure is to modify beam energy.
In practice of the invention, laser 46 i5 preferably a TEA (transverse excited atmospheric~ CO2 Laser, ~uch as a Series TE-801A Line Tunable Multigas Laser, produced commerci-all~ by Lumonics Research Limited~ Ontario~ Canada. Such laser provides a large diameter beam of high intensity and short duration and is readily pulsed at rates corresponding to rotational transport speeds of drum 14.
In adapting laser apparatus to the perforation of cig-arettes in manner not requiring rotation of individual cigarettes about ~heir axes throughout perforation thereof, and permitt;ng operational speed consistent with customary cigarette making speeds, applicants preferably employ per foration optics 52 as shbwn in Figs. 3 and 4. Prin,ipal optical components of the perforation optics are reflective elements 58 and 60 which are supported successively between th4 laser ligh~-issuing loca~ion and the cigarette perfor- ' ating location. Such'eIements are operative in conjunction to separate received light energy into discrete parts and to focus each such discrete part for incidence thereof on a distinct one o a plurality of locations about the periphery of the cîgarette.
In Figs. 3'and 4, the perforation optics housing is compxised of support ring 62, back plate 64, front plate 66 and manifold 68. Support ring 62 includes keyway 62a and boxes 62b for ~ecuremen-t to parent support structure ~nounting 50) and ha~ ~urther bores ~herethrough Eor .receip-t o~ ln-teriorly threaded bolts 70, counterpart flat head ~asteners 7.l'~nd dowels 72, 73 with attendant secure,ment of the back plate, ~ront plate and mani~old to the support ring.
~anifold 68 and front plate 66 both ha~e central openings reyiskering wikh one another to define housing lighk admission port 74. Back plate 64 has secured centrally :
thereto, by flat head fasteners 76 and dowel 78, hub re-flector unit 80. Unit 80 is centered about optical axis 82 of admission port 74 a~d provides an angular succession ahout axis 82 of plane reflectors, shown in Fig. 5 as light-reflective elements 58. These elements are preferably integral with hub uni~ ao, comprising facets fo~med contigu-ously with one another. Sharp edges are maintained at intersections 86 of adjacent facets and the facets form angle 84 (Fig. 6) with axis ~2, desirably forty-five degrees 'held to plus/minus ten minutes of arc. As shown in Fig. 7 hub unit 8Q includes holes 80a and 80b extending partially therethrough for receipt of fas-teners 76 and ~8 (Fig. 4).
Support ring 62 defines circumferentially spaced lands 88 (Fig. 4~ which are inclined with respect to axis 82 at such angle as to provide for axial alignment and the focusing of en~rgy received by spherical reflector elements 60 onto cigarette C. Reflective elements 60 are pre~erably secured to lands 88 by a suitable cement 90, such as Eastman 910 cement. Dowels ~2 are tapped into front plate 66 immediately adjacent each reflec~ive element 60 to further secure the elements in focusing position. Reflective ele-ments,58 and 6Q are employed in counterpart pairs, i.e. each re~lective element 58 communicates with a single one of re-1ec~ive elements 60, the two communicating reflective ele-men-t~ compxising a successive pair o~ reflec-tors in a sin~le ligh-t path ex-tending to a dis-tinct one of the peripheral locations on cigaret-te C to be perEoxated. Pl'ane elements 58 ~erve to separate incoming l~ght energ~ :Ln-to ~eparate parts, each part being focused by its counterpart spherical 0 reflective element 60. While reflec-tive elements 6Q are -7~-mutually contiguous~ reflective elements 58 are disposedin angularly successive spaced disposition about axis 82.
In the illustrated example, fifteen facets of hub unit 80 are employed with fifteen spherical reflective elements, the latter elements being spaced from one another by twenty-four degrees of arc. Fifteen perforations are accordingly made about -the periphery of cigarette C at like twenty-four degree peripheral spacing.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, each spherical reflec-tive element 60 is prefera~ly formed, as in the case of hubunit 80, from a solid body of high purity OFHC (oxygen-free high thermal conductivity) copper. Element 60 exhibits a frontal surface 60a having a common spherical radius over its entirety with its depth of solid body extending beyond the base point 60B of the spherical radius being of dimen-sion controlled to effect proper focusing of received light energy. The reflective surfaces o~ both of elements 58 and 60 preferabIy have a protective coating applied thereto.
Shims 61 (Fig. 4) may be employed as needed for maximizing 2Q energy transfer to cigarette C, as by assisting focusing.
In rendering the apparatus thus far described more suitable for the industrial environment of cigarette perfor-ation, or in like perforation involving ~he ee~ective con version o~ paper to a particulake cloud9 pressuriz~d gas is introduced, during use of the perforating optics o~ Figs., 3 and 4, in-to alr inlet poxt 94. ~n annular channel 96 between manifold 68 and baffle 98 conducts pressurized air to interior ports 100 in respective gas communication with a second annular channel 102 of manifold 68 which, in turn, 3~ issues pressurized air through channels 104 formed in front -a- .
plate 66, each channel being adjacent to one of the spherical reflective elements 60. Pressurized gas is ther~by forcibly issued across the spherical reflective elements to effect cleaning thereof.
To provide for essentially uniform volume flow of pres-surized air from each of interior ports 100, the size of the ports is increased with increasing distance thereof from air inlet port 94.
Back plate 64 (Fig. 3) is a solid member except for window cutouts 106 formed therein at locations in registry with the light paths extending ~rom reflective elements 60 to cigarette C. By this pre~erred coniguration of back plate 64 a sufficient back pressure is applied by the back plate member on introduced pressuxized gas as to cause flow there-of also across the surfaces of reflective elements 58 with window 74 then serving as an exhaust port for such pressurized gas.
Unit 80 is shown with bore 8nc (Fig. 4~, enlax4-ed in diameter from bore 64a formed in the portion of plate 64 immediately supporting unit 80. By this arrangement, a set up and alignment pin (not shown) may be stepped in diameter to fit bore. 64a and to otherwise represent cigarette C and xeside in perEoration drum groove 18 (Fig~ 2). Following set up and ali~nment, the pln is removed and a ligh-t energy ab-sorber may be in9erted in bore 64a to protect against issu-ance ~ the laser output leftwardly of plate 64 in Fig. 4.
In the i.1lustra-ted pxact.ice di~cus~ed abov~, the place-ment of all reflective elements 58 and all reflect.ive ele-ments 60 in respective common orientations with respect to axi5 82 provides for common locatlon axially of the cigarette ~L$~
for all perforations, i.e. the fifteen perforations de-~ine a perforated circular band a~out the cigarette. The invention contemplates such changes in disposition of its optical elements as to arrange for other band configurations as may be desired, e.g. closed or open helical bands, etc.
Further, while the use of a pulsed laser has heen discussed, the Lnvention contemplates suitable shuttering of a continu-ous laser synchronously with movement of articles to perfora-tion position. The laser beam may also be shaped, as de-sired, by masking internally of the resonant cavity ~r ex-ternally thereof, e.g. to be square or rin~-shaped in cross-section. Modification of the preferred optics may of course be made to achieve like definition of separate light con-ducting paths, with conveyance of essentially focused energy to the article to be perforated, for example, ~y an arrange-ment of plural light sources and associated focusing elements in lieu of the preferred single light source described herein.
- In the illustrated arrangement, reflector elements 58 are plane and 60 are spherical or aspherical. The ele-ments may conversely be successively spherical (aspherical) and plane in the direction of light energy propagation. In another usabIe arrangement plane elements may be substituted Eor xe~lectors 60 in the illustrated emhod:iment with a ~ocusing lens in each d:Lstinct path~ either between successive re~lectors or between each ou-tput reE~ector and ~he cig-arette. While the exemplary article has been charaateri3ed as cy}indrical and peripherally pexEorated while in ~ingle angular disposition about its longitudinal axis, the invention is manifestly useful for such peripheral perforation of arti-cles of o-ther than cylindrical shape.
Practices examined heretofore in ~he cigarette in-dustry for perforation have included mechanical puncture, electrical arc striking and laser beam treatment. These practices typically have involved perforating a web of filter tipping paper with smoke dilution thereby being effected in the cigarette filter, upon wrapping the per-forated tipping paper on ~ilter plugs.
For operation on the assembled filter cigarette. i.e.
where pexforations are to be made in the tipping paper after wrapping thereof upon the plug and following joinder of the tobacco cylinder and plug, the laser approach is more expeditious than the other foregoing practices. One known system for this purpose continuously rota-tes an otherwise com-plete cigarette in relation to a pulsed point-focused laser beam. On each pulse, a single hole is made in the cigarette ilter. After completion of rotation, the cigarette bears a pluxality of circumferentially spaced holes at a common l~catiorl axially o~ t~e cylindrical plug. Since clgarettes are made back-to-~ack in ~uch known ~ystem and then mutually ~evered midway of the clual fil-ter plug, the laser beam is ~plit into two beams which are incident on mutually spaced axial locations on the dual plug~
Such known laser approach has advantage in not re-quiring perforation o~ tipping paper as a practic:e prepara-tory to cigarette making and further in providing possible selection of dilution characteristics optionally at the cigarette maker on otherwise comple-te cigarettes by adjust-ment of laser apparatus operation as contrasted with need for preselection of properly perforated tipping paper for each diverse-dilution cigarette. On the other hand, such known laser-perforation.system requires that each cigarette to be perforated ~e su~jected to a full revolution about its longitudinal axis while such axis is in spatially fixed disposition. In the known system, this relatively complex Z
16 task is practiced by capturing each cigarette separately be-tween first and second drums in a recess extending about the ' first drum surface and rotating the drums at identical lineal surface speed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide Z
improved methods and apparatus for laser perforation of arti- 1, cles of manufacture.
A more particular object of the invention is to enahle expeditious laser per~oration of the periphery o~ otherwise complete filter cigarettes~
In attaining the foregoing and other objectsJ the invention provides practice wherein a plurality of c~rcumfer-cntially spaced holes are made simultaneously, by laser treatmen-t o~ a cigarette, while the cigarette is .in essen-tially ~ingle angular disposltion with respect to its }ongi--tudinal axi~. The invention provi.des apparatus having corn--ponent~ .~or conducting liyht energy simultaneous1y to spaced circum~erential loca-tions on a cigarette in the course of transport thexe.of through a cigarette assembly unit. Appara-tus in accordance with the invention pre~erably includes a 3a pulsed laser and optical structure receiving the laser I~ .
output pulse and ~imultaneously conducting separate parts thereof in different light paths which intersect diverse locations spaced about a periphery of a cigarette. The sys-tem for transporting cigarettes includes a rotative drum which supports cîgarettes for perforation and provides for ~ynchronism between drum ro~atioII and la~er pulsing. By such practice and apparatus, the cigarette maker may operate with benefit of the invention without change in the produc-tion efficiency attained in conventional operation thereof, requiring at most the addition to the assembly unit of exit structuxe transferri~g cigarettes with filter portion~
thereof circumferentially exposed for laser perforation.
In accord~e with a broad a~t, the Lnvention relates to:
~ n ~ ~ethod for making f~lter cigarettes w~erein to~acco rod~ are formed an~ wrapp a and th~n ~oined to filter plugs bearing filter tippi~g wrap, ana circ~mferentially spaced.
perforations are maae ~mul~aneo~sly ~n said filter tipping wrap of each cigarette ~y exposure of the out~r surface of saia filter tipping wrap to light energy~ the improvement wherein such expo-20 ~;ure ~;tep i~ practiced by generating a pul~e of light and conduc-ting separate spatial parts thereo~ si~ultaneously to locations circumferentially ~paced on said outer surface.
:[n accordance with a further broad aspect, the inventic)n rela~es to:
Apparatus for providing per~orations extending throu~h and circumerentially ~paced about the outer pexipheral ~urfa~e oP a cigarette, c~mpxising light enexgy generator mean~ i~or generating a pulse o light and optlcal means for receiving such li~ht pulse and ~or simultaneously conducting ,separa~ spatial parts thereo~ in respective different light pAths interseçting respective dif~erent locations circ~nferentially ~paced about ~uch outer peripheral ~urf.ace.
_3_ z The foregoing and other objects and features of the invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of preferred practices and embodiments thereof and from the drawing~ wherein like reference numerals identify like parts throughout. In the clrawinqs:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation illustrati~g transport apparatus for filter cigarettes.
Fig. 2 i~ a ~ectional view as seen from plane II-II
of Fig. 1 and including a showing of additional components 10 of the system of the invention.
Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the perforating op-~ics of Fig. 2 as seen rom plane III-III of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view a~ ~een along line IV~IV
of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the hub reflec-tor unit of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a side eleva~ional view o~ the Fig. S unit.
Fig. 7iis a sectional view as seen along line VII-VII of Fig. 5.
-3a-Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of a spherical reflector oE the Fig. 3 perforating optics.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view as seen along line IX~IX
of Fig. 8.
Re~erring to Figs. 1 and 2, main frame 10 of a cigarette maker supports e~ection drum :l2, perforation support drum 14 and transfer drum 160 The path P of cig-arettes issued ~y the maker and traversing the drums is indicated by the broken arrow line, perforated cigarettes being transferred from drum 16 to an output belt conveyor (not shown~. ' Drum 14 has spaced peripheral grooves 18 running axially thereof, cigarettes C shown in phantom in Fig. 2 being supported in the grooves with the filter tip portion extending outwardly of drum face 14a. Ducts 20 extendS in sets of three as shown, from the floor of grooves l& through drurn 14 and in registry with counterpart fluid passages 22, peripherally continuous over drum portion 14~ and extending to the interior of vacuurn shoe 24. Shoe Z4 is secured to manifold 26 and is in ~luid cor~munication therewith. By negative pressurization of manifold 26, suction capture of cigarettes C is e~fected in travel thereof over path P in Fig. 1.
Housing 28 suppor~s shoe ~ and maniEold 26 and sea~s baarings 30 and 32. Sha~t 3~ is thus suppox~ed for ro-tation of drum 1~ b~ driving uf gear 36. ~Iub 38 and timinq disc 40 are rotative with drum 14, disc 40 having a crenelated peri-phery, individual radial lugs thereof corresponding in nurl~er with the nurnber of grooves 18. Each lug activates Hall-effect switch 42 on passage through the field of sensitivity --4r--of the switch, providing an electrical pulse output online 44. Such pulses are coupled to laser 46 for short duration energization thereof. Huh 38 includes sectoral slots for receipt of screws 48 whereby timing disc 40 may be rotated into desired position for synchronizing operation of the laser with shaft 34 angular position.
Upwardly of drum 14, main frame 10 has secured thereto mounting 50. The mounting in turn supports perfor-ation optics assembly 52, the structural detail of which is discussed below. On each pulsing laser 46 issues its output beam 54 to assembly 52 which processes the beam to issue per-forating beams 56 onto the periphery of the cigarette dis-posed in position shown in Fig. 1. Perforation of the ciga-rette filter is thus achieved simultaneously as to aIl per forations while the cigarette is in essentially single angu- !
lar disposition with respect to its longitudinal axis. Since drum 14 perferably rotates continuously during operation of the system, the cigarette is transported in path P during perforation by some actual measure, despite that it is main-~O tained by vacuum in fixea position in the drum groove.Shortening of the duration of the laser pulse will, however, effectively "stop" the cigarette, i.e., there is no practi-cal measure o~ transport during perforation. On the other hand, the invention cont~mpla-tes variation o e dilu-tion char-aa~ris~ics by perm~tting a pxactical measure o~ tran~port during per~oration by lengkhening per~orations as ~he cig-aretke is moved in path P durin~ las~r pulsing. ~n alter-native dilution control measure is to modify beam energy.
In practice of the invention, laser 46 i5 preferably a TEA (transverse excited atmospheric~ CO2 Laser, ~uch as a Series TE-801A Line Tunable Multigas Laser, produced commerci-all~ by Lumonics Research Limited~ Ontario~ Canada. Such laser provides a large diameter beam of high intensity and short duration and is readily pulsed at rates corresponding to rotational transport speeds of drum 14.
In adapting laser apparatus to the perforation of cig-arettes in manner not requiring rotation of individual cigarettes about ~heir axes throughout perforation thereof, and permitt;ng operational speed consistent with customary cigarette making speeds, applicants preferably employ per foration optics 52 as shbwn in Figs. 3 and 4. Prin,ipal optical components of the perforation optics are reflective elements 58 and 60 which are supported successively between th4 laser ligh~-issuing loca~ion and the cigarette perfor- ' ating location. Such'eIements are operative in conjunction to separate received light energy into discrete parts and to focus each such discrete part for incidence thereof on a distinct one o a plurality of locations about the periphery of the cîgarette.
In Figs. 3'and 4, the perforation optics housing is compxised of support ring 62, back plate 64, front plate 66 and manifold 68. Support ring 62 includes keyway 62a and boxes 62b for ~ecuremen-t to parent support structure ~nounting 50) and ha~ ~urther bores ~herethrough Eor .receip-t o~ ln-teriorly threaded bolts 70, counterpart flat head ~asteners 7.l'~nd dowels 72, 73 with attendant secure,ment of the back plate, ~ront plate and mani~old to the support ring.
~anifold 68 and front plate 66 both ha~e central openings reyiskering wikh one another to define housing lighk admission port 74. Back plate 64 has secured centrally :
thereto, by flat head fasteners 76 and dowel 78, hub re-flector unit 80. Unit 80 is centered about optical axis 82 of admission port 74 a~d provides an angular succession ahout axis 82 of plane reflectors, shown in Fig. 5 as light-reflective elements 58. These elements are preferably integral with hub uni~ ao, comprising facets fo~med contigu-ously with one another. Sharp edges are maintained at intersections 86 of adjacent facets and the facets form angle 84 (Fig. 6) with axis ~2, desirably forty-five degrees 'held to plus/minus ten minutes of arc. As shown in Fig. 7 hub unit 8Q includes holes 80a and 80b extending partially therethrough for receipt of fas-teners 76 and ~8 (Fig. 4).
Support ring 62 defines circumferentially spaced lands 88 (Fig. 4~ which are inclined with respect to axis 82 at such angle as to provide for axial alignment and the focusing of en~rgy received by spherical reflector elements 60 onto cigarette C. Reflective elements 60 are pre~erably secured to lands 88 by a suitable cement 90, such as Eastman 910 cement. Dowels ~2 are tapped into front plate 66 immediately adjacent each reflec~ive element 60 to further secure the elements in focusing position. Reflective ele-ments,58 and 6Q are employed in counterpart pairs, i.e. each re~lective element 58 communicates with a single one of re-1ec~ive elements 60, the two communicating reflective ele-men-t~ compxising a successive pair o~ reflec-tors in a sin~le ligh-t path ex-tending to a dis-tinct one of the peripheral locations on cigaret-te C to be perEoxated. Pl'ane elements 58 ~erve to separate incoming l~ght energ~ :Ln-to ~eparate parts, each part being focused by its counterpart spherical 0 reflective element 60. While reflec-tive elements 6Q are -7~-mutually contiguous~ reflective elements 58 are disposedin angularly successive spaced disposition about axis 82.
In the illustrated example, fifteen facets of hub unit 80 are employed with fifteen spherical reflective elements, the latter elements being spaced from one another by twenty-four degrees of arc. Fifteen perforations are accordingly made about -the periphery of cigarette C at like twenty-four degree peripheral spacing.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, each spherical reflec-tive element 60 is prefera~ly formed, as in the case of hubunit 80, from a solid body of high purity OFHC (oxygen-free high thermal conductivity) copper. Element 60 exhibits a frontal surface 60a having a common spherical radius over its entirety with its depth of solid body extending beyond the base point 60B of the spherical radius being of dimen-sion controlled to effect proper focusing of received light energy. The reflective surfaces o~ both of elements 58 and 60 preferabIy have a protective coating applied thereto.
Shims 61 (Fig. 4) may be employed as needed for maximizing 2Q energy transfer to cigarette C, as by assisting focusing.
In rendering the apparatus thus far described more suitable for the industrial environment of cigarette perfor-ation, or in like perforation involving ~he ee~ective con version o~ paper to a particulake cloud9 pressuriz~d gas is introduced, during use of the perforating optics o~ Figs., 3 and 4, in-to alr inlet poxt 94. ~n annular channel 96 between manifold 68 and baffle 98 conducts pressurized air to interior ports 100 in respective gas communication with a second annular channel 102 of manifold 68 which, in turn, 3~ issues pressurized air through channels 104 formed in front -a- .
plate 66, each channel being adjacent to one of the spherical reflective elements 60. Pressurized gas is ther~by forcibly issued across the spherical reflective elements to effect cleaning thereof.
To provide for essentially uniform volume flow of pres-surized air from each of interior ports 100, the size of the ports is increased with increasing distance thereof from air inlet port 94.
Back plate 64 (Fig. 3) is a solid member except for window cutouts 106 formed therein at locations in registry with the light paths extending ~rom reflective elements 60 to cigarette C. By this pre~erred coniguration of back plate 64 a sufficient back pressure is applied by the back plate member on introduced pressuxized gas as to cause flow there-of also across the surfaces of reflective elements 58 with window 74 then serving as an exhaust port for such pressurized gas.
Unit 80 is shown with bore 8nc (Fig. 4~, enlax4-ed in diameter from bore 64a formed in the portion of plate 64 immediately supporting unit 80. By this arrangement, a set up and alignment pin (not shown) may be stepped in diameter to fit bore. 64a and to otherwise represent cigarette C and xeside in perEoration drum groove 18 (Fig~ 2). Following set up and ali~nment, the pln is removed and a ligh-t energy ab-sorber may be in9erted in bore 64a to protect against issu-ance ~ the laser output leftwardly of plate 64 in Fig. 4.
In the i.1lustra-ted pxact.ice di~cus~ed abov~, the place-ment of all reflective elements 58 and all reflect.ive ele-ments 60 in respective common orientations with respect to axi5 82 provides for common locatlon axially of the cigarette ~L$~
for all perforations, i.e. the fifteen perforations de-~ine a perforated circular band a~out the cigarette. The invention contemplates such changes in disposition of its optical elements as to arrange for other band configurations as may be desired, e.g. closed or open helical bands, etc.
Further, while the use of a pulsed laser has heen discussed, the Lnvention contemplates suitable shuttering of a continu-ous laser synchronously with movement of articles to perfora-tion position. The laser beam may also be shaped, as de-sired, by masking internally of the resonant cavity ~r ex-ternally thereof, e.g. to be square or rin~-shaped in cross-section. Modification of the preferred optics may of course be made to achieve like definition of separate light con-ducting paths, with conveyance of essentially focused energy to the article to be perforated, for example, ~y an arrange-ment of plural light sources and associated focusing elements in lieu of the preferred single light source described herein.
- In the illustrated arrangement, reflector elements 58 are plane and 60 are spherical or aspherical. The ele-ments may conversely be successively spherical (aspherical) and plane in the direction of light energy propagation. In another usabIe arrangement plane elements may be substituted Eor xe~lectors 60 in the illustrated emhod:iment with a ~ocusing lens in each d:Lstinct path~ either between successive re~lectors or between each ou-tput reE~ector and ~he cig-arette. While the exemplary article has been charaateri3ed as cy}indrical and peripherally pexEorated while in ~ingle angular disposition about its longitudinal axis, the invention is manifestly useful for such peripheral perforation of arti-cles of o-ther than cylindrical shape.
Claims (21)
1. In a method for making filter cigarettes wherein tobacco rods are formed and wrapped and then joined to filter plugs bearing filter tipping wrap, and circumferentially space perforations are made simultaneously in said filter tipping wrap of each cigarette by exposure of the outer surface of said filter tipping wrap to light energy, the improvement wherein such expo-sure step is practiced by generating a pulse of light and conduc-ting separate spatial parts thereof simultaneously to locations circumferentially spaced on said outer surface.
2. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said circum-ferentially spaced perforations are made while each said cigarette is in preselected angular disposition with respect to the long tu-dinal axis thereof.
3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said perfora-tions are made at a common location axially of said plugs.
4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein light reflective surfaces are employed in such light energy conducting step and including the further step of issuing pressurized gas onto said light-reflective surfaces.
5. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said light energy is laser-generated light energy.
6. The method claimed in claim 5 wherein said light energy is transverse excited atmospheric laser-generated light energy.
7. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein the size of said perforations is controlled in part by preselecting the intensity of said light energy.
8. The method claimed in claim 2 wherein the size of said perforations is controlled in part by preselecting said angular disposition to provide a predetermined size for each said perforation.
9. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein the size of said perforations is controlled in further part by preselecting the intensity of said light energy.
10. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said sepa-rate parts of said beam are of equal intensity.
11. Apparatus for providing perforations extending through and circumferentially spaced about the outer peripheral surface of a cigarette, comprising light energy generator means for generating a pulse of light and optical means for receiving such light pulse and for simultaneously conducting separate spatial parts thereof in respective different light paths intersecting respective different locations circumferentially spaced about such outer peripheral surface.
12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein:
said apparatus further comprises rotative transport means for transporting said cigarette non-contiguously with respect to an extent thereof to be perforated; and said optical means conducts said separate spatial parts to said different locations at a preselected angular disposition of said transport means.
said apparatus further comprises rotative transport means for transporting said cigarette non-contiguously with respect to an extent thereof to be perforated; and said optical means conducts said separate spatial parts to said different locations at a preselected angular disposition of said transport means.
13. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein said separate parts of said beam are of substantially equal intensity.
14. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 or 12 wherein said optical means so defines said light paths as to provide common disposition axially of said article extent for said dif-ferent locations.
15. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 further including a housing having a light admission port and light issuance port means, said housing supporting a plurality of first light-reflective elements of said optical means in angularly successive disposition about an optical axis of said light admis-sion port and in confronting relation thereto and further sup-porting a like plurality of second light-reflective elements of said optical means in angularly successive disposition about said optical axis, each such second element being in confronting relation both to a distinct one of said first elements and said light issuance port means.
16. The apparatus claimed in claim 15 wherein said first elements are supported mutually contiguously about said optical axis and wherein said second elements are supported in mutually spaced relation about said optical axis.
17. The apparatus claimed in claim 16 wherein said light issuance port means comprises plate means defining a plura-lity of light issuance ports, each such issuance port being in registry with a distinct one of said second elements.
18. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 or 12 further including a housing having a light admission port, and a light issuance port in registry with each of said light paths, said housing supporting light-reflective elements of said optical means in said light paths, said housing including means for receiving pressurized gas and for applying such received gas onto surfaces of said reflective elements.
19. The apparatus claimed in claim 11 wherein said light energy generator means comprises a laser.
20. The apparatus claimed in claim 19 wherein said laser is a transverse excited atmospheric laser.
21. The apparatus claimed in claim 12 further including sensor means for generating an output signal on disposition of said transport means in said preselected angular disposition and means for applying said output signal to said light energy sene-rator means for controlling the generating of a pulse of light energy thereby.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US90852378A | 1978-05-22 | 1978-05-22 | |
| US05/908,522 US4224498A (en) | 1978-05-22 | 1978-05-22 | Apparatus for perforating articles by laser |
| US05/908,520 US4224497A (en) | 1978-05-22 | 1978-05-22 | Method for making filter cigarettes using light energy to make perforations in the filter tipping wrap |
| US908,520 | 1978-05-22 | ||
| US908,523 | 1978-05-22 | ||
| US908,522 | 1978-05-22 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1119912A true CA1119912A (en) | 1982-03-16 |
Family
ID=27420619
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000327074A Expired CA1119912A (en) | 1978-05-22 | 1979-05-07 | Apparatus and method for perforating articles by laser |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU526552B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1119912A (en) |
| CH (1) | CH640114A5 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2920264C2 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2022987B (en) |
Families Citing this family (17)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU532065B2 (en) * | 1979-06-08 | 1983-09-15 | Philip Morris Products Inc. | Optical perforating apparatus |
| SE434480B (en) * | 1982-02-18 | 1984-07-30 | Optik Innovation Ab Oiab | DEVICE FOR PROCESSING OF AN OUTDOOR FIELD OF AN ARTICLE MEDICAL RADIATION ENERGY, SPECIAL FOR OUTDOOR SEALING OF A RODFORM THERMOPLASTIC FILM BY A LASER RADIATION |
| IT1189258B (en) * | 1982-04-13 | 1988-02-04 | Gd Spa | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DRILLING PERFORATIONS IN BAR-SHAPED ITEMS |
| GB8306951D0 (en) * | 1983-03-14 | 1983-04-20 | Ici Plc | Energy beam focusing apparatus |
| IT1168682B (en) * | 1983-09-12 | 1987-05-20 | Gd Spa | PERFORATOR DEVICE FOR THE CREATION OF VENTILATION HOLES IN CIGARETTES OR SIMILAR SMOKING ITEMS |
| IT1168683B (en) * | 1983-09-12 | 1987-05-20 | Gd Spa | PERFORATOR DEVICE FOR THE CREATION OF VENTILATION HOLES IN CIGARETTES OR SIMILAR SMOKING ITEMS |
| GB8330178D0 (en) * | 1983-11-11 | 1983-12-21 | Molins Plc | Cigarette manufacture |
| US4649943A (en) * | 1985-02-11 | 1987-03-17 | Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation | Cigarette filter and method of making the same |
| GB8607689D0 (en) * | 1986-03-27 | 1986-04-30 | Wiggins Teape Group Ltd | Imaged microcapsule-coated paper |
| GB8700765D0 (en) * | 1987-01-14 | 1987-02-18 | Wiggins Teape Group Ltd | Laser apparatus |
| GB8803560D0 (en) * | 1988-02-16 | 1988-03-16 | Wiggins Teape Group Ltd | Laser apparatus for repetitively marking moving sheet |
| US5352495A (en) * | 1989-02-16 | 1994-10-04 | The Wiggins Teape Group Limited | Treatment of a surface by laser energy |
| GB2260254B (en) * | 1989-04-27 | 1993-07-21 | Molins Plc | Cigarette manufacture |
| BR9001957A (en) * | 1989-04-27 | 1991-07-30 | Molins Plc | PROCESS OF AND APPLIANCE TO PERFORM DRILLS IN CIGARETTES |
| GB2260255B (en) * | 1989-04-27 | 1993-07-21 | Molins Plc | Cigarette manufacture |
| GB2260256B (en) * | 1989-04-27 | 1993-07-21 | Molins Plc | Cigarette manufacture |
| DE102013211424A1 (en) * | 2013-06-18 | 2014-12-18 | Hauni Maschinenbau Ag | Machine of the tobacco processing industry, in particular filter attachment machine |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3524046A (en) * | 1968-04-26 | 1970-08-11 | Aluminum Co Of America | Apparatus and method for piercing holes in elastomeric articles |
| CH522464A (en) * | 1969-04-01 | 1972-06-30 | Omega Brandt & Freres Sa Louis | Laser machining device |
| US3943324A (en) * | 1970-12-14 | 1976-03-09 | Arthur D. Little, Inc. | Apparatus for forming refractory tubing |
| GB1549005A (en) * | 1976-07-10 | 1979-08-01 | Imp Group Ltd | Perforating device |
| US4090826A (en) * | 1976-10-26 | 1978-05-23 | Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. Kg | Method and apparatus for perforating the wrappers of rod-shaped smokers products |
| DE2754104A1 (en) * | 1977-12-05 | 1979-06-13 | Hauni Werke Koerber & Co Kg | DEVICE FOR CREATING A ZONE OF DESIRED AIR PERMEABILITY IN A SHELLING MATERIAL STRIP FOR ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES OF THE TOBACCO-PROCESSING INDUSTRY |
-
1979
- 1979-05-07 CA CA000327074A patent/CA1119912A/en not_active Expired
- 1979-05-14 GB GB7916620A patent/GB2022987B/en not_active Expired
- 1979-05-16 AU AU47107/79A patent/AU526552B2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-05-18 DE DE2920264A patent/DE2920264C2/en not_active Expired
- 1979-05-22 CH CH479679A patent/CH640114A5/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2022987A (en) | 1979-12-28 |
| DE2920264A1 (en) | 1979-11-29 |
| DE2920264C2 (en) | 1985-04-25 |
| CH640114A5 (en) | 1983-12-30 |
| AU526552B2 (en) | 1983-01-20 |
| AU4710779A (en) | 1979-11-29 |
| GB2022987B (en) | 1982-11-24 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |