EP0045559A1 - Machine and method for wrapping cigars - Google Patents

Machine and method for wrapping cigars Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0045559A1
EP0045559A1 EP81302600A EP81302600A EP0045559A1 EP 0045559 A1 EP0045559 A1 EP 0045559A1 EP 81302600 A EP81302600 A EP 81302600A EP 81302600 A EP81302600 A EP 81302600A EP 0045559 A1 EP0045559 A1 EP 0045559A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bunch
wrapping
wrappers
wrapper
machine
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP81302600A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Robert Jerome Baier
George Horst Reinemuth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gulf and Western Corp
Original Assignee
Gulf and Western Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gulf and Western Corp filed Critical Gulf and Western Corp
Publication of EP0045559A1 publication Critical patent/EP0045559A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C1/00—Elements of cigar manufacture
    • A24C1/26—Applying the wrapper
    • A24C1/30—Devices for applying the wrapper to the bunch

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the art of manu- facturing cigars and more particularly'to an apparatus and method of wrapping cigars.
  • the present invention is particularly applicable for wrapping a dual wrapper, or two separate wrappers held in juxtaposition, onto a cigar bunch which is ultimately cut into two separate cigars and it will be described with particular reference thereto; however, the invention has broader applications and may be used for wrapping a single wrapper onto a bunch to be used for a single cigar.
  • a spirally wrapped elongated sheet material is known as a wrapper and is often formed from a natural tobacco leaf.
  • synthetic sheet material having the appearance of a natural tobacco leaf is used as a cigar wrapper to be wrapped around a bunch to produce the desired outer appearance.
  • the bunches have been wrapped manually by loading a bunch into a nest in which it is rotated and then feeding a single wrapper to the rotating bunch at the wrapping angle to produce a final cigar. This procedure requires substantial manual manipulation of the cigar bunches and also requires a substantial cycle time for each wrapping operation. Because of the low speed and high labor content in these prior wrapping devices, substantial effort has been devoted to automatic wrapping machines wherein the wrappers and bunches are automatically handled and wrapped.
  • a preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a fully automatic cigar wrapping machine and method of operating the same which machine and method simplifies the machinery necessary for the wrapping operation and provides less demand on positional requirements of the components in the automatic machine.
  • an automatic cigar wrapping machine is provided which employs an intermittent action for both the bunch conveyor and wrapper conveyor so that the wrapper is wrapped about a cigar as it is rotated about a stationary axis. In this manner, the wrapper can be indexed toward the rotating bunch for the wrapping operation while the bunch is held stationary. This greatly simplifies the drive arrangement, synchronization and space criticality of a fully automatic cigar wrapping machine.
  • a machine for wrapping cigar wrappers with leading ends about cigar bunches each having a longitudinal axis.
  • the machine comprises means for indexing the bunches in succession along a preselected first path, means for indexing a plurality of successive wrappers along a preselected second path corresponding to the first path at a selected wrapping position, means for stopping an indexed bunch at the wrapping position, means for securing the leading end of one of the wrappers onto the stopped bunch at the wrapping position and means for rotating the stopped bunch about a fixed axis corresponding with its longitudinal axis while the one wrapper is being indexed toward the rotating, stopped bunch at least until one wrapper is wrapped around the stopped, rotating bunch.
  • a method of wrapping cigar wrappers with leading ends about cigar bunches comprises the steps of indexing the bunches in succession along a preselected first path, conveying a plurality of successive wrappers along a preselected second path corresponding with the first path at a selected wrapping position, stopping an indexed bunch at the wrapping position, securing the leading end of one of the wrappers onto the stopped bunch at the wrapping position, rotating the stopped bunch about a fixed axis corresponding with its longitudinal axis while the one wrapper is being indexed toward the rotating stopped bunch at least until the one wrapper is wrapped around the stopped, rotating bunch and, then, indexing the stopped bunch from the wrapping position while a successive bunch is indexed to the wrapping position.
  • This operation is repeated to wrap each bunch after it has.been indexed and stopped at the common wrapping position.
  • an arrangement for indexing the wrappers which arrangement also rotates the bunches at the wrapping position so that the rotational speed is correlated to the wrapper indexing speed.
  • the indexing speed for the wrapper can vary during the wrapping operation while the rotational speed of the bunch being wrapped also varies in the same manner to provide velocity profile coordination.
  • an improvement in an apparatus for depositing cigar wrappers at a wrapping angle onto an endless conveyor belt movable in a given longitudinal direction which apparatus includes a supply spool of parallel wrappers captured by a coiled web, means for unreeling the spool to expose a succession of wrappers on the web and means for transferring the wrappers individually from a web to an endless belt at the wrapping angle at a preselected transfer position.
  • the improvement in this device is the positioning of the wrappers in a direction transverse to the supporting web.
  • the unreeling means directs the supporting web over the conveyor belt at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the belt, which angle corresponds to the wrapping angle.
  • the transferring mechanism includes means for forcing the web and belt together with a wrapper therebetween at the transfer position and means for releasing the wrapper from the web at the transfer position.
  • This aspect of the preferred embodiment relates to a concept wherein the supporting web is directed at an angle to the conveyor belt so that the transversely disposed wrappers on the web can be directly deposited onto the belt to create a parallel array of wrappers on the belt. This belt is then indexed to a wrapping position where the wrappers will join with rotating bunches.
  • transferring action * can be accomplished by a relatively small transfer device having width only substantially greater than the width of an elongated wrapper. The wrapper is released along a direction transverse to the wrapper instead of a direction longitudinal to the wrapper. This provides a more smooth release of the wrapper from the supply or supporting web.
  • an arrangement for transferring wrappers to a conveyor belt wherein the web supporting the wrappers can be moved toward a transfer position while the conveyor belt is indexing and the web may be stopped when there is a wrapper available for the next transfer operation. In this manner, empty positions on the wrapper conveyor belt are not caused by gaps in the supply of wrappers from the web of a storage spool.
  • the primary object of the preferred embodiment is the provision of a machine and method for automatically wrapping elongated cigar wrappers around elongated rotating cigar bunches, which machine and method are fully automatic, require less complicated and less costly mechanisms than prior fully automatic arrangements and employ indexing conveyor systems for both the wrappers and the bunches.
  • Another object of the preferred embodiment is the provision of a machine and method as defined above, which machine and method are positive in operation, do not require manual intervention and position each bunch and wrapper in a wrapping position or station for individually controlled wrapping.
  • Still a further object of the preferred embodiment is the provision of a machine and method as defined above, which machine and method involve a single wrapping operation at any given time with other operations of the machine being performed at the same time.
  • FIGURE 1 shows a machine A for wrapping elongated cigar bunches B with wrappers W, two of which are directed to each bunch B.
  • bunch B is a dual bunch which is cut into two cigars after wrapping.
  • Bunches B are carried by one of several nests, four of which are shown as nests 10, 12, 14 and 16. Each nest captures a bunch at a common loading station I, rotates the bunch for wrapping at a common wrapping station II, holds the wrapped bunch for mouth piece knurling at station III and moves the wrapped, knurled bunch to a common unloading station IV.
  • Nests 10-16 are identical and are used to capture, index and rotate a bunch.
  • Bunches B are loaded onto a nest at station I by a bunch loading mechanism 20, best shown in FIGURES 1 and 8.
  • a wrapping mechanism 22 performs the wrapping function at common wrapping station II. This mechanism is shown in more detail in FIGURE 9.
  • a mechanism 24 for knurling each end of a bunch B is located at common station III and is shown in FIGURE 10. This mechanism smoothes the flag ends F of the two wrappers W which are wrapped around bunch B at station II.
  • an unloading mechanism 26 unloads a wrapped, knurled dual cigar for subsequent cutting and removal from machine A.
  • Individual bunch receiving nests 10-16 are supported onto a turret 30 which is indexable about axis a by an appropriate mechanism, such as the mechanism shown in FIGURE 3.
  • Turret 30 indexes each of the nests in succession between common stations I-IV for processing of a bunch.
  • an indexing conveyor 32 for wrappers W is provided.
  • This conveyor includes a perforated belt 34 entrained around driven drum 36 rotatable on axis b and idler drum 38.
  • Drum 36 is indexed by the mechanism schematically illustrated in FIGURE 3 in timed relationship with the index movement of turret 30 in a manner which will be described in more detail.
  • a vacuum box 39 on the inboard side of perforated belt 34 is used to capture and hold wrappers W onto the lower run of belt 34 as the belt is indexed from the left to right in FIGURE 1.
  • wrappers W each of which includes a standard tuck end T and flag end F as shown in FIGURE 5, are indexed to a position above adhesive applicator 41. At this position, the applicator applies an adhesive to ends F and T of both wrappers W being indexed together as shown in FIGURE 5.
  • the tuck ends are raised by a tuck lifting mechanism, which will be described later and is included generally in wrapping mechanism 22.
  • two wrapper supply spools 40, 42 which are used for transferring the wrappers directly to the lower surface of belt 34 in accordance with a novel concept which will be explained later in connection with FIGURES 5 and 6.
  • turret 30 After turret 30 has processed a bunch, it is released from one of the nests 10-16 and dropped onto a transfer wheel or spider 50 which is indexed about axis c by the indexing mechanism for turret 30 in a manner to be described later.
  • a cigar mechanism 52 is positioned with respect to transfer wheel 50 for cutting bunch B into two separate cigar halves as illustrated in FIGURE 11. Thereafter, two cigars are deposited by wheel 50 onto conveyor 54 where they are transferred from machine A for subsequent processing.
  • machine A incorporates indexing nests 10-16 which bring a bunch to the wrapping station where a companion wrapper indexing conveyor or carrier 32 indexes the wrapper to the wrapping station for the wrapping operation which is accomplished by rotating a bunch B about its longitudinal axis after the tuck end of a wrapper has been lowered and secured to the outer surface of the bunch.
  • indexing nests 10-16 which bring a bunch to the wrapping station
  • a companion wrapper indexing conveyor or carrier 32 indexes the wrapper to the wrapping station for the wrapping operation which is accomplished by rotating a bunch B about its longitudinal axis after the tuck end of a wrapper has been lowered and secured to the outer surface of the bunch.
  • a bunch B is indexed from loading station I to the wrapping station II where it is stopped.
  • the stopped bunch is then rotated after tuck end or leading end T of a wrapper is adhered to the outer surface of the stopped bunch.
  • the secured wrapper is advanced by belt 34 toward the rotating bunch.
  • the relative speed of the advancement of the wrapper and the rotation of the bunch determines the amount of tension applied to the wrapper during the wrapping operation.
  • two wrappers.W are supported on belt 34 in a generally chevron shape with tuck ends T extending in the direction of movement indicated by the arrow.
  • the chevron is formed by two of the wrappers W being disposed on belt 34 at a wrapping angle wa, which is determined by the desired spiral configuration of the wrappers on a bunch. Consequently, the rotating bunch peels the two adjacent wrappers from belt 34 as the belt is being indexed past wrapping station II. This operation occurs after each indexing of a loaded nest to the common wrapping station or location.
  • a drive system which, in the preferred embodiment, takes the form of the drive arrangement schematically illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3.
  • a two shaft indexing mechanism 60 in practice a Camco indexer, is provided with coordinated indexing shafts 62, 64, labeled N and C respectively.
  • Shaft 62 is indexed in 90° increments about axis a and shaft 64 is indexed approximately 90° about axis b.
  • an input drive shaft 66 is used to rotate indexing mechanisms 70, 72 in a manner that shafts N, C are indexed 90° successively in a manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.
  • a worm gear drive mechanism or transmission 80 is driven at a constant speed by D.C. motor 82.
  • the speed of motor 82 is controlled by silicon controlled rectifiers and has a rating of 1.5 horsepower.
  • Gear drive 80 rotates shaft 66 which indexes shafts 62, 64 during each 1.2 seconds as indicated in FIGURE 4.
  • Shaft 66 also rotates sprocket 84 to drive a chain 86 which rotates a counter-shaft 90 having a sprocket 92.
  • This sprocket continuously drives chain 94 around the path shown by a phantom line in FIGURE 2.
  • the speed ratio between shaft 66 and shaft 90 is selected so that shaft 90 rotates fifty revolutions per minute. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, machine A cycles fifty times per minute to produce one hundred cigars per minute. Consequently, shaft 90 can control the timing of various components on machine A to correspond with the indexing cycle of turret 30 and wrapper conveyor or carrier 32.
  • chain 94 coordinates various other devices to operate in sequence with the applicator; however, this coordination may or may not be required according to the particular characteristics of the various devices being . rotated. As shown in FIGURE 2, chain 94 rotates driving element 102 fixed at common wrapping station II, best shown in FIGURE 9. Thus, driving element 102 rotates at a speed per minute determined by the relationship of the diameters of sprocket 103 and sprocket 92.
  • chain 94 rotates sprocket 104 which is the main drive sprocket for exit conveyor 54 so that the speed of the conveyor is synchronized with the other rotating components of machine A.
  • Sprocket 106 is the main drive sprocket for loading mechanism 20 and is used to rotate wheel 107 at a ratio which will feed a single bunch into a nest at location I.
  • Idler sprocket 112 produces the desired wrapping arcs for chain 94 as it extends about various driven sprockets, as shown in FIGURE 2.
  • a timing belt 120 indexes transfer wheel 50 about axis c in unison with the indexing of turret 30.
  • This description illustrates the drive arrangement for various components on machine A.
  • the transfer mechanism for wrappers W may be driven by chain 94, by a connection, not shown. It will be apparent that the cigar cutting mechanism and wrapper supplying spools have independent drive mechanisms which will be described in connection with these particular components of mechanism A.
  • a cycle in the preferred embodiment, is 1.2 seconds.
  • Curve C is a velocity curve for conveyor 32.
  • the dashed curve N is the velocity curve for the indexing turret 30.
  • the turret is stopped with a bunch located at wrapping station II.
  • belt 34 has a constant velocity until approximately .6 seconds. This constant velocity is shown in the portion of curve C labeled WRAP in FIGURE 4.
  • belt 34 moves past the nest at a constant velocity for a time at least equal to the time to wrap a selected wrapper.
  • the bunch is being driven at a constant velocity by chain 94 as previously described.
  • a constant velocity of the wrapper being wrapped and a constant rotational velocity of the bunch being wrapped are obtained.
  • the differential between the two velocities determines the amount of stretch applied to the wrapper during the wrapping operation. In practice, this is approximately 3%.
  • the acceleration of the belt and its drive mechanism is quite high in order to bring the belt to a constant velocity and then back to a stopped position for each index movement of the belt, which movement occurs between zero and-.7 seconds in the cycle length.
  • the velocity of the belt during the wrapping operation may be varied if the rotational velocity of the bunch within the nest at the wrapping station is varied with a matching or coordinated velocity profile.
  • Curve N is the velocity curve for turret 30. As is shown in FIGURE 4, the turret is stationary during the WRAP portion of a cycle. After this, the turret immediately begins to accelerate until it reaches a constant velocity which is maintained until the end of the cycle. During the start of the next cycle turret 30 is stopped and belt 34 is started. Belt 34 increases in velocity while turret 30 decreases in velocity.
  • Bunch loading mechanism 20 in the preferred embodiment of the invention, includes hopper 130 having an angled chute 132.
  • Bunch agitator 110 is rotated as previously described, which aligns and feeds bunches B, in succession, through chute 132.
  • Below the chute there is provided a feed bar 134 which is reciprocated in an elongated slot 136 of housing 138. When the bar is retracted, a bunch B drops into slot 136 for feeding into nest 10 by forward movement of bar 134.
  • the timed movement of bar 134 is effected by link 140 connected to pin 142 of the constantly rotating wheel 107.
  • Pin 142 is eccentric and causes the reciprocated movement of link 140, which is pivotally mounted to bar 134 by pin 135.
  • bar 134 pushes a bunch toward nest 10.
  • Nest 10 is the same as nests 12-16 and has a somewhat standard design. Consequently, the nests are only schematically illustrated in the drawings as including bunch engaging, elongated, serrated rolls or rods 160, 162, 164 and 166 connected to appropriately meshed gears driven by pinion gear 170 which is the driven element for the nest. Rotation of gear 170 causes rotation of rolls 160-166 and thus rotation of a bunch B captured within the nest.
  • FIGURE 8 there is schematically illustrated intermediate gears 172, 174 for causing the elongated bunch engaging rolls or rods to rotate in the same direction. Also, gears 172, 174 allow outward pivoting movement of rolls 160, 162 for opening nest 10 to allow loading and unloading of a bunch.
  • rolls or rods 160, 162 have central gap 168 which provides clearance for the tuck lifter during the wrapping operation and for the cutting mechanism 52.
  • Push rods 180, 182 are interconnected with the support structure of rolls 160, 162 so that inward movement of the push rods opens rolls 160, 162.
  • loading station I and unloading station.IV each includes reciprocal rams 184, 186.
  • rams When these rams are moved toward a nest, they engage the push rods for opening rolls 160, 162. In some instances, only one of the rolls may be opened.
  • a cam at the loading and unloading position can be used to reciprocate push rods 180, 182.
  • a captured bunch B is rotated by rods 160-166 about a fixed axis corresponding to the longitudinal axis x of the bunch, as shown in FIGURE 9.
  • driven element 200 is secured onto gear 170 and moves with the nest.
  • a clutch 202 selectively engages rotatable driving element 102 with driven element 200 so that gear 170 is rotated by sprocket 103 driven by timing chain 94.
  • standard header blocks 204, 206 are selectively shifted inwardly into their operative position around the mouth ends of bunch B by an appropriate mechanism, schematically illustrated as solenoids 210, 212, respectively.
  • a camming arrangement or other arrangement could be used for shifting the blocks into their operative position after a nest has been indexed into the wrapping position at station II.
  • the blocks center bunch B and assist in forming the flag ends F around the ends of bunch B.
  • conical flag wheels 220, 222 are shifted into operative position with respect to bunch B by any mechanism, schematically illustrated as solenoids 224, 226, respectively.
  • solenoids 224, 226, respectively are shifted into operative position with respect to bunch B by any mechanism, schematically illustrated as solenoids 224, 226, respectively.
  • a nest is indexed into the position shown in FIGURE 9.
  • header blocks 204, 206 are moved inwardly into their operative position and clutch 202 engages elements 102,200. In this manner, bunch B is rotated at a constant velocity. It is necessary to connect tuck ends T of two wrappers onto bunch B.
  • belt 34 including a plurality of vacuum directing perforations 230, is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced clearance slots 232. Each set of slots 232 is spaced from the next set by the indexed distance of belt 34 which is indicated in FIGURE 5. These slots coincide with the tuck ends or leading ends T of the two wrappers W.
  • a tuck lifter 240 is provided at wrapping station II.
  • a variety of known structures could be used for lifting the tuck ends of the wrappers from belt 34 and forcing them against the outer surface of bunch B.
  • a rocker arm 242 includes an upper roller 244 operated by evenly spaced cam lobes 246.
  • a pivoted lifter 250 having two downwardly extending fingers or ribs which will extend through slots 232 is pivoted by rocker arm 242 at the start of the wrapping cycle so that tuck ends T are secured to the outer surface of bunch B near its mid-point.
  • applicator 41 places an adhesive onto the downwardly facing portion of the tuck ends to facilitate the bunch securing action.
  • bunch B continues to rotate while belt 34 indexes across the top of the nest.
  • the indexing speed is slightly less than the surface speed of the rotating bunch so that there is a slight amount of tension applied to the wrappers as they are wrapped spirally in opposite directions around the rotating bunch.
  • the header blocks form the flags about the ,two mouth ends of bunch B.
  • flag wheels 220, 222 are moved downwardly to change the direction of wrapping of the flag end to smooth out the wrapping operation in accordance with standard practice in automatic wrapping machines.
  • the indexing distance of belt 34 as shown in FIGURE 5 is greater than the distance required for the wrapping operation so that the belt can be driven at a constant velocity during the wrapping operation and stopped thereafter. Also, by providing a certain amount of over travel in the indexing distance, the length of the wrapper can be varied and complete wrapping is assured. It is possible to use a single wrapper instead of two wrappers as shown in the preferred embodiment.
  • a bunch having the desired length of a cigar could be used without requiring subsequent cutting. It is possible to use a synthetic wrapper wherein the two wrappers W are secured together in a continuous chevron shape having an outline corresponding to the two wrappers formed into a chevron in FIGURE 5. In some instances, it may be advisable to provide an elongated wrapper which is wrapped continuously around a long bunch having two spaced mouth ends. Thereafter, the bunch is separated into two cigars. In this instance, since a single wrapper is used, one cigar is wrapped tightly while the other is overwrapped. An adhesive is applied along at least a majority of the length of the wrapper being wrapped in an overwrapped fashion. This prevents unraveling of the cigar wrapped during smok - ing. Other wrapping elements could be fixed at station II.
  • knurling mechanism 24 includes spaced knurling heads 260, 262 supported on plates 264, 266, respectively. Motors 270, 272 secured also onto plates 264, 266 are used to rotate heads 260, 262 when they are in contact with the opposite mouth ends of bunch B. To move the heads inwardly, plates 264, 266 are supported on mounting brackets 274, 276 reciprocated by appropriate mechanisms, schematically illustrated as solenoids 280, 282. After indexing, rotating heads 260, 262 are moved inwardly into engagement with the mouth ends of bunch B to knurl the mouth ends.
  • guides 310, 312 direct a bunch dropped from wheel 50 onto exit conveyor 54.
  • bunch B is cut in its center to define two separate cigars.
  • cutting mechanism 52 includes circular knives 320, 322 rotatably mounted on shaft 324 and constantly driven by an electric motor 330 through a belt 332, as shown in FIGURE 1.
  • the conveyor is driven in a timed relationship by sprocket 104 attached to a drive drum 340.
  • Idler drum 342 guides the conveyor which includes outwardly extending shoulders 344. These shoulders are spaced on the conveyor behind a pair of cigars that are dropped from wheel 50.
  • the two cigars ride down the inclined conveyor until they are engaged by a shoulder 344 for conveying of the cigars from machine A.
  • a shoulder 344 for conveying of the cigars from machine A.
  • other exiting arrangements could be used for removing and cutting the cigars.
  • the cutting action could take place while the cigars are still in one of the nests 10-16 on turret 30.
  • wrappers Ware secured onto indexing belt 34 at spaced locations matching the indexing distance for the belt.
  • the wrappers are deposited onto the belt by angularly disposed spools 40, 42.
  • Each of these spools contains a series of parallel wrappers W trapped between convolutions in the supporting web material forming the spool, through which web material a vacuum can be transmitted to the wrappers.
  • Such supply spools are often used in cigar wrapping machines.
  • the wrappers are positioned transversely of the web which means that they are perpendicular to the directions m, n of movement of the webs during the unwinding and wrapper removing operations.
  • Webs 350, 352 of the spools 40, 42 are moved along directions m, n, which allows the wrappers W to be deposited directly onto the under surface of belt 34 at the wrapping angle.
  • the angular relationship between directions m, n is correlated with the wrapping angle wa and the alignment of the wrappers on support webs 350, 352.
  • Spools 40, 42 are generally the same and are indexed by a central shaft 354 of a take-up spool. Rotation of spools 40, 42 is about a support shaft 356 so that webs 350, 352 follow the pattern shown for web 350 in FIGURE 6.
  • Pinch rolls 355 can be used to give the web constant linear speed. This pattern allows a direct transfer from the webs onto the vacuum capturing surface of belt 34.
  • vacuum shoe 360 having a selectively controlled vacuum line 362 is pivoted by a link 364 supported by a pin 366 on a rotating wheel 368. This wheel is rotated by chain 94 in a manner not shown.
  • Shoe 360 has an upwardly facing transfer surface 400 which engages the under surface of belt 34 when shoe 360 is pivoted upwardly by link 364.
  • Vacuum box 39 has a constant vacuum and includes an outwardly facing belt support plate 401 having large vacuum communicating openings 402. After transfer surface 400 brings a wrapper W against the lower surface of belt 34,vacuum is removed from surface 400. Thus, the wrapper is transferred to and captured on belt 34.
  • the belt is indexed and shaft 354 indexes spool 40 to bring another wrapper W onto the downwardly pivoted transfer surface 400 for a subsequent transferring operation.
  • the spools 40, 42 in Figure 5 are schematic in nature and are used only to show the relative disposition of wrapper W on webs 350, 352 as they are transferred onto the under surface of belt 34.
  • the belt is indexed to bring tuck ends T to a position directly above a pad 410 of adhesive applicator 41. This pad is reciprocated by a rod 412 having a lower cam follower 414.
  • Container 416 contains a liquid adhesive having an upper layer 418. Rod 412 is first moved by the cam to a position with pad 410 above level 418.
  • Adhesive drains from pad 410 Thereafter, the high portion of cam 100 moves pad 410 upwardly into engagement with ends F and T of the wrappers above pad 410. This applies the desired amount of adhesive to the ends preparatory to subsequent winding at common winding station II. Other arrangements could be provided for dabbing or applying adhesive to ends F and T preparatory to such wrapping.
  • shoe 420 is stationary and includes a selectively controlled vacuum line 422.
  • a movable vacuum box 424 reciprocally mounted in guides 426 and having a vacuum line 428.
  • Cam 430 forces box 424 downwardly so that belt 34 engages a wrapper W supported on fixed transfer surface 423.
  • Cam 430 operates push rod 432 and is driven by an indexing motor or other drive arrangement 434 to provide the periodic reciprocation of box 424 to allow transfer of the angularly disposed wrappers onto belt 34 without reciprocation of the vacuum shoe.
  • Other arrangements could be provided for transferring wrappers to belt 34 in a direct fashion so that the angular disposition of spools 40, 42 dictates the ultimate angular relationship of wrappers W supported on the lower surface of perforated, indexable belt 34.
  • bunch B is rotated at a fixed velocity as a wrapper is indexed at a constant velocity for the wrapping operation at station II. As shown in FIGURE 4, this provides relatively high acceleration forces for indexing conveyor 32.
  • the drive arrangement for belt drum 36 is used to rotate a nest driving element schematically illustrated as dashed line 450 and stationary at station II. This element is driven directly through a transmission 452 having an input 454 driven by drum 36 or its drive mechanism, such as shaft 64 of FIGURE 3.
  • the ratio of transmission 420 is adjusted to select the desired amount of stretch by any arrangement schematically illustrated as box 456.
  • a clutch 460 engages the driving element 450 at station II with driven element 200 carried by an indexing nest.
  • Element 200 moves with the nest 12 and is used to rotate gear 170.
  • the velocity profile of gear 170 is matched with the velocity profile of drum 36.
  • curve C can have a variable speed during the wrapping cycle between .1 seconds and .6 seconds. Since belt 34 during its indexing operation need not have a constant velocity, the conveyor acceleration curve is somewhat flat as indicated in the lower portion of FIGURE 13.
  • the velocity profile of the rotating bunch B driven by clutch 460 matches curve C in FIGURE 13.
  • Curve N could also have a variable speed profile to reduce acceleration and deceleration of turret 30 during indexing.
  • Machine A incorporates a mechanism for sensing this condition and bringing the wrapper to transfer position shown in FIGURE 5 before the wrapper transfer operation is initiated. As shown in FIGURE 4, belt 34 is stopped for 0.5 seconds. This time is used to transfer the two wrappers W. As the belt is moving, spools 40, 42 are driven to bring the next wrapper to the transfer position.
  • a variety of structures could be used to make sure that the spools are driven until a wrapper is present, instead of being driven for only a selected distance which should present a wrapper to the transfer position.
  • vacuum sensors 500, 502 extending from a standard vacuum sensor control box 504 are positioned at the wrapper transfer positions or locations, as schematically illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 5.
  • sensor 500 senses the existence of a wrapper
  • spool 40 is stopped.
  • sensor 502 senses the existence of a wrapper
  • spool 42 is stopped.
  • the advancing operation of the spools takes place during the indexing of belt 34 so that the wrappers are in position for transfer when the belt ultimately stops at the end of an index movement in a cycle.
  • the indexing cycle is fixed; therefore, the spools are stopped when a transfer is to take place even if a wrapper is not in place. This should occur only infrequently.
  • FIGURE 14 shows a modification wherein the next index cycle is initiated after there is a wrapper at each of the two transfer positions.
  • lines 500a, 502a represent the activated outputs of sensors 500, 502, respectively. These outputs are directed to an AND gate 510 having an output when both sensors have been • actuated. This output toggles OR gate 512 to produce a logic 1 at the input of gate 520. If conveyor 32 is stopped, the other input to gate 520 is inverted to produce a logic 1.
  • circuit 522 indicates that machine A can be cycled in accordance with its normal fashion.
  • a reset timer 514 is reset after an index cycle of conveyor 32.
  • Timer 514 triggers gate 512 to allow cycling of the machine A. As shown in the lower graph, after belt 34 has been indexed, it awaits a signal from gate 512 to initiate or allow the next index movement. Using the modification illustrated in FIGURE 14, it is necessary to change the driving mechanisms of machine A so that timing of chain 94 is coordinated with the index.

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  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
EP81302600A 1980-07-28 1981-06-11 Machine and method for wrapping cigars Withdrawn EP0045559A1 (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US17319680A 1980-07-28 1980-07-28
US173196 1980-07-28

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EP0045559A1 true EP0045559A1 (en) 1982-02-10

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EP81302600A Withdrawn EP0045559A1 (en) 1980-07-28 1981-06-11 Machine and method for wrapping cigars

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DK (1) DK326381A (es)
ES (2) ES8204290A1 (es)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2272386A1 (en) * 2009-07-07 2011-01-12 Imperial Tobacco Limited Method of wrapping smoking article rods
NL2007779C2 (nl) * 2011-11-14 2013-05-16 Agio Sigarenfabrieken N V Inrichting en werkwijze voor het produceren van sigaren.

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB668667A (en) * 1949-03-15 1952-03-19 Ver Tabaksindustrieen Mignot Improvements in and relating to machines for making cigars cigarillos or bunches thereof
DE908836C (de) * 1952-02-06 1954-04-12 Ver Tabaksindustrieen Iamignot Zigarrenmaschine
US4103692A (en) * 1977-07-21 1978-08-01 Gulf & Western Corporation Cigar wrapping machine and method

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB668667A (en) * 1949-03-15 1952-03-19 Ver Tabaksindustrieen Mignot Improvements in and relating to machines for making cigars cigarillos or bunches thereof
DE908836C (de) * 1952-02-06 1954-04-12 Ver Tabaksindustrieen Iamignot Zigarrenmaschine
US4103692A (en) * 1977-07-21 1978-08-01 Gulf & Western Corporation Cigar wrapping machine and method

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2272386A1 (en) * 2009-07-07 2011-01-12 Imperial Tobacco Limited Method of wrapping smoking article rods
WO2011003525A1 (en) * 2009-07-07 2011-01-13 Imperial Tobacco Ltd. Method of wrapping smoking article rods
US9351521B2 (en) 2009-07-07 2016-05-31 Imperial Tobacco Ltd. Method of wrapping smoking article rods
NL2007779C2 (nl) * 2011-11-14 2013-05-16 Agio Sigarenfabrieken N V Inrichting en werkwijze voor het produceren van sigaren.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES8204289A1 (es) 1982-05-16
DK326381A (da) 1982-01-29
ES504064A0 (es) 1982-05-16
ES8204290A1 (es) 1982-05-16
ES504063A0 (es) 1982-05-16

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