EP2903461A1

EP2903461A1 - Apparatus and method for use in the production of a rod-shaped article

Info

Publication number: EP2903461A1
Application number: EP13771147.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alen Kadiric
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2012-10-02
Filing date: 2013-10-01
Publication date: 2015-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2033-10-01
Also published as: KR102201518B1; BR112015005949B1; BR112015005949A2; ES2672973T3; JP6331104B2; EP2903461B1; TR201807260T4; HUE037845T2; CN104869851A; PL2903461T3; RU2015113814A; CN104869851B; KR20150064734A; JP2015533495A; WO2014053475A1; RU2638520C2

Abstract

An apparatus for use in the production of a rod-shaped article comprises a supply unit for providing sheet material, and a cutting unit for cutting out a cut-out piece from the sheet material provided by the supply unit to produce a cut-out area in the sheet material. The apparatus further comprises a positioning unit for placing the sheet material in a cutting position, in which the cut-out piece is cut out from the sheet material and comprises a detector in operational connection with the positioning unit to determine the cutting position such as to allow to bring the rod-shaped article and the cut-out area into register. The apparatus also comprises a removal unit for removing the cut-out piece, and a wrapping unit for receiving the sheet material comprising the cut-out area and for wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area at least around a portion of the rod-shaped article.

Description

Apparatus and method for use in the production of a rod- shaped article

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in the production of rod-shaped articles. Rod-shaped articles may be, for example smoking articles.

It is known to decorate rod-shaped articles, such as smoking articles with for example print or embossings or other embellishments, for example to identify the brand or the source of the rod-shaped article. Also, it is known to create openings in a wrapper of cigarettes, for example tipping paper, to influence the fluid dynamics of the smoke. Further, it is known to create for example transparent sections that allow the interior of a filter to be viewed from the outside.

There is therefore a need to provide methods and apparatuses to allow high speed production of such rod-shaped articles .

According to one aspect of the invention an apparatus for use in the production of rod-shaped articles is provided. The apparatus comprises a supply unit for providing sheet material. The apparatus further comprises a cutting unit for cutting out a cut-out piece from the sheet material provided by the supply unit, to produce a corresponding cut-out area in the sheet material. Still further, the apparatus comprises a positioning unit for placing the sheet material in a cutting position, in which the cut-out piece is cut out from the sheet material. A detector in operational connection with the positioning unit is provided to determine the cutting position such as to allow to bring the rod-shaped article and the cut-out area into register. The apparatus further comprises a removal unit for removing the cut-out piece. Further, the apparatus comprises a wrapping unit for receiving the sheet material comprising the cut-out area and for wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area at least around a portion of the rod-shaped article.

The supply unit may, for example, comprise a bobbin on which the sheet material is stored and from which the sheet material can be unwound with the aid of a suitable drive. However, any other kind of supply unit may be used as well.

The cutting unit allows for an on-line production of the cut-out area in the sheet material in the manufacturing of rod-shaped articles. In the state of the art, where pre-cut sheet material is used on bobbins, damage may occur during winding and unwinding of the pre-cut sheet material from the bobbin or during the transport of such pre-cut material in the manufacturing apparatus, as the cut-out area in the sheet material may reduce the structural strength of the sheet material. According to the invention, advantageously the cut^¬ out areas are produced in-line. Thus, the risk of damaging the sheet material with the cut-out area during the production is significantly reduced.

The positioning unit allows the placing of the sheet material in a cutting position, in which the cut-out piece is cut out from the sheet material. The positioning unit thus enables an exact positioning of the sheet material in the cutting unit where the cut-out piece is cut out, so that the cut-out area is produced exactly at a desired position on the sheet material. Thus, according to the invention, advantageously an exact positioning of the cut-out area with respect to a required length of a filter wrapping paper or a tipping paper and with respect to a corresponding distance between subsequent cut-out areas is possible. The detector being in operational connection with the positioning unit allows to determine the cutting position and by this allows to bring the cut-out area and the rod-shaped article into register. An exact positioning of the cut-out area in the sheet material also allows to bring the cut-out area into registration with features or objects further downstream in the manufacturing line, such as the rod-shaped article .

By bringing the cut-out area and the rod-shaped article into register, an exact positioning of the cut-out area with respect to a length or possibly also rotational position of a rod-shaped article, for example an underlying filter segment or tobacco rod, a sensory effect may be created or influenced. For example, a cut-out area in the form of a logo may be made visible by superimposing the cut-out logo with the underlying rod-shaped article. For example, the cut-out area may also create a window to provide a view into a rod- shaped article, for example a filter. Such a window may be brought into registration with objects comprised in the rod- shaped article, for example in the filter. Such object may for example be a capsule or a carbon segment.

The terms "into register" or "into registration" as used herein generally define an alignment of two or more items, such as the cut-out area and the rod-shaped article or a pre-applied pattern (see below) . In this respect, the term "alignment" is to be understood as comprising an arrangement of the items in a well-defined positional relationship relative to each other, but also as comprising an alignment in the sense of a well-defined superimposing/overlying or an interference of the items with each other. The registration process may, for example, be implemented as part of a control loop for controlling the apparatus, or may alternatively or in addition be implemented upon the start-up of the apparatus .

Waste sheet material generated in the manufacturing process of rod-shaped articles, for example smoking articles, may seriously disturb the manufacturing process, if not properly handled. Typically, waste sheet material is not generated in processes that involve only printing, embossing or perforation of sheet material. Typically, in a perforation process the material around the perforations is deformed around the hold, usually downwards and sidewards out of the plane of the sheet material, without the creation of waste sheet material pieces that become separated from the sheet material .

In the apparatus according to the invention, however, there is such cut-out piece, and this cut-out piece resulting from the cutting out process is removed in the removal unit.

The removal unit is preferably arranged proximate to the location where the cut-out piece is generated, for example in the cutting unit itself.

By using a sheet material comprising a cut-out area it is possible to add features to or to enhance features of a rod-shaped article, such as, for example a smoking article.

Such features may be used for aesthetic reasons but may also be used to influence the sensory attributes of a smoking article. Sensory attributes are, for example, attributes related to optics, taste, touch or smell of the rod-shaped article .

The term "cut-out area" as used herein describes a portion of the sheet material where a pattern, logo, or any other shape is formed that corresponds to the cut-out piece cut-out from the sheet material. The cut-out area may comprise only one single hole, an array of holes, or a plurality of holes of various shapes, sizes and arrangements. In the following, for the sake of simplicity the term "pattern" is used, and this term is meant to encompassing all different arrangements or configurations of the cut-out area mentioned above.

Accordingly, the cut-out piece may be one single piece of sheet material only, or may be several pieces according to a pattern cut out from the sheet material in the cutting unit. Therefore, term "cut-out piece" in the singular is used to describe those one or more parts of the sheet material that are cut-out from the sheet material in the cutting unit.

Preferably, the sheet material is a cellulose based material, for example paper. Alternatively, the sheet material may be a foil made of a plastic material a metallic foil or layered structures such as laminates, comprising two or more layers selected from, for example, paper, cardboard, plastic or metal.

In one embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the wrapping unit is configured to assemble the rod-shaped article through joining of a first rod-shaped element to a second rod-shaped element by wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area at least partially around both the first and the second rod-shaped elements. By suitably wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area around the first and second rod-shaped elements, the cut-out area may either completely be placed on the first rod-shaped element, or on the second rod-shaped element, or the cut-out area may be placed on both the first and second rod-shaped elements.

In the production of filter cigarettes, a filter cigarette is produced through joining of a filter rod to a tobacco rod by wrapping a tipping paper around both the tobacco rod and the filter rod to form the filter cigarette. Thus, in the production of filter rods the tipping paper may be the sheet material comprising the cut-out area. The wrapping unit may also be configured to assemble a pair of smoking articles as will be described further below.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the detector is adapted for detecting a pre- applied pattern on the sheet material such as to bring the pre-applied pattern and the cut-out area into register. The detector for detecting the pre-applied pattern on the sheet material need not be identical with the detector for determining the cutting position. However, then the detector for determining the pre-applied pattern is also in operational connection with the positioning unit.

By the combination of the cut-out area with a pre- applied pattern already present on or also in the sheet material and by bringing them into register, further sensory effects may be created or influenced. For example, a cut-out area in the form of a logo may be made visible by superimposing the cut-out logo with a printed pattern in the form of the same logo or in the form of an outline of the same logo. A pattern pre-applied to the sheet material may for example comprise a printed pattern, an embossed pattern, a perforated pattern or combinations thereof. However, the pre-applied pattern may also comprise further patterns suitable, for providing for example, a sensory response. The term "pattern" is again used in a broad sense as already defined above in connection with the cut-out area.

The pre-applied pattern is already present in or on the sheet material at the time the sheet material is supplied to the apparatus (for example, it may have been applied to the sheet material prior to placing the bobbin with the reel of sheet material into the apparatus) . Alternatively, the pre- applied pattern may be produced in the apparatus itself in one or more sheet material treating steps before the sheet material is transported to the cutting unit. The detector detects the position of the pre-applied pattern. The detected position of the pre-applied pattern is then used by the positioning unit to position the sheet material in the cutting unit in a manner such that the cut-out area is in register with the pre-applied pattern.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the cutting unit is configured to cut-out the cut-out piece from a multi-layer sheet material as the sheet material. Preferably, the cut-out piece is cut out in a manner such that at least one layer of the multi-layer sheet material remains uncut. The use of a multi- layer sheet material with at least one uncut layer has the advantage that the rod-shaped article may be manufactured comprising the features of the cut-out area but with otherwise unchanged properties. Leaving at least one layer uncut may advantageously require no change in the other design parameters of the smoking article. Advantageously, an uncut layer may provide the same resistance to draw of a smoking article as would a simple single layer of sheet material, such as, for example, tipping paper, as used in common smoking articles. Also, the remaining layer of sheet material prevents the inadvertent loss of material, for example, tobacco, through the cut-out section.

The cutting of a multi-layer sheet material with leaving at least one layer uncut may be performed for example by providing stoppers for a cutting movement, by a positioning of two corresponding die cutters in an appropriate distanced position leaving space between the die cutters for the at least one layer or by any other suitable means known in the art .

In another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the wrapping unit is configured to join an uncut layer to one surface of the sheet material comprising the cut-out area. The joining of the uncut layer to the sheet material comprising the cut-out area is performed in a manner such that the uncut layer covers at least the cut-out area of the sheet material before the sheet material now joined with the uncut layer is wrapped at least around a portion of the rod-shaped article. This embodiment has the same advantages as the embodiment using a multilayer sheet material described above, especially since the uncut layer is joined to the sheet material comprising the cut-out area so as to cover at least the cut-out area. In addition, in joining an uncut layer to the sheet material comprising a cut-out area, a standard cutting unit configured for the cutting of a conventional single-layered sheet material may be used. This may simplify the removal of the cut-out piece. For example, joining the uncut layer to the sheet material comprising the cut-out area may be performed by gluing. Preferably, the uncut layer is a conventional sheet material used for the production of rod-shaped articles and is preferably provided having the same or smaller dimensions than those of the sheet material having the cut-out area. For example the uncut layer may be in the form of a band of sheet material.

When using a sheet material comprising multiple layers with the cut-out area being produced before or after the individual layers are joined, also layers made of a material which, when taken as a single layer material, are not suitable for the wrapping of a rod-shaped article such as a smoking article, can be used in a sheet material comprising multiple layers. Such unsuitable materials may be, for example, materials which are too thin or too porous to be used as a single layered sheet material.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the removal unit comprises a vacuum unit or an air jet nozzle for removing the cut-out piece from the cutting unit. A vacuum unit produces an underpressure for sucking away any cut-out pieces or dust produced during cutting of the sheet material. When using an air jet nozzle, for example pressurized air, cut-out pieces are blown away by the air jet. Both methods for removing cut-out pieces have the advantage of being very effective in the removal of light weight material. Both alternatives are free from any mechanical contact to the sheet material and can be arranged at a distance from the cutting position. The cut-out pieces removed by the vacuum unit or the air jet nozzle may be collected in a waste basket or recycle bin or may be transported to such collection device.

According to a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the removal unit comprises a detection unit for detecting a cut-out piece cut-out from the sheet material. The detection unit provides an information signal representative of the presence or absence of a cut-out piece. The detection unit detects whether a cut-out piece has indeed been cut-out from the sheet material and has been properly removed. The detection unit may be configured to send an alarm signal in case no cut-out piece has been produced or in case the cut-out piece has not been removed properly. The detection unit is thus suitable to indicate a malfunction of the apparatus at an early stage, especially before a rod-shaped article is assembled. The detection unit may for example be an optical detection unit. In yet a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, the wrapping unit is configured to assemble a pair of rod-shaped articles. Each of the rod-shaped articles comprises a tobacco rod and a filter rod. The assembling is performed by arranging the tobacco rods such that an end of one of the tobacco rods of the pair faces an end of the other one of the tobacco rods of the pair, and by placing a double-length filter rod between the two facing ends of the tobacco rods. The double-length filter rod is then joined to the two tobacco rods by at least partially wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area around the respective tobacco rod and the double-length filter rod. The apparatus further comprises a cutter for cutting the so wrapped double-length filter rod. The use of a double-length filter rod which is cut in the middle after having been joined to the two tobacco rods allows production of two filter cigarettes at a time.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for making a rod-shaped article. The method comprises the steps of providing a sheet material and cutting out a cut-out piece from the sheet material to produce a sheet material comprising a cut-out area. The method further comprises the steps of removing the cut-out piece, positioning of the sheet material provided with the cut-out area in registration with the rod-shaped article, as well as the step of wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut^¬ out area at least around a portion of the rod-shaped article.

In an embodiment of the method according to the invention the step of providing a sheet material comprises providing a multi-layer sheet material. In addition, the step of cutting out a cut-out piece comprises cutting out the sheet material in a manner such that at least one layer of the multi-layer remains uncut.

Another embodiment of the method according to the invention further comprises the step of joining a separate uncut layer to the sheet material comprising the cut-out area in a manner such that the separate uncut layer covers at least the cut-out area of the sheet material.

The advantages of the embodiments of the method according to the invention have already been discussed above in connection with the corresponding embodiments of the apparatus, so that they are not discussed again.

In variants of the above two last mentioned embodiments of the method according to the invention, the at least one uncut layer or the separate uncut layer is made of a material selected from the group of:

- a transparent material,

- a material comprising a sensory attribute different from a sensory attribute of one or more of the other layers in the case of using a multi-layer sheet material, or different from a sensory attribute of the sheet material in the case of using a separate uncut layer,

- a material with a permeability of less than 600 Coresta units .

The use of a transparent layer or semi-transparent layer allows the view into a rod-shaped article, for example onto the tobacco in a tobacco rod or on the filter material in a filter rod. For example, due to a different colour of tobacco and a wrapping sheet material a cut-out area is optically accentuated and the form of a cut-out area may be highlighted. In general, for the uncut layer but also for one or several further layers, a material with different properties, especially different sensory attributes, than the other (uncut) layer (s) or the sheet material, respectively, is used. Sensory attributes with respect to optics, taste, touch or smell may be used individually or may be combined. By the use of layers with different sensory attributes not only additional properties, such as for example a taste or smell, may be brought into a rod-shaped article. It is also possible to enhance certain properties, such as for example the shape of a logo by providing an underlying layer of a different colour than the layer (s) comprising the cut-out area. Since the uncut layer is generally the innermost layer when seen from the rod-shaped article, for an uncut layer preferably a material with a low permeability or even an air^¬ tight material is used. The permeability is preferably selected as not to change the resistance to draw of a smoking article.

In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the sheet material has a pre-applied pattern on the sheet material. Therein, the step of positioning the sheet material in a cutting position further comprises the positioning of the cut-out piece to be cut out in registration with the pre-applied pattern. In a further step the cut-out piece is cut out from the sheet material to produce a sheet material comprising a cut-out area, which is in registration with the pre-applied pattern. The advantages of this embodiment of the method according to the invention have already been discussed above in connection with the apparatus, so that they are not discussed again.

In another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the sheet material is a tipping paper, a tobacco wrapping paper or a filter plug wrapping paper. The apparatus and method according to the invention are advantageously applied to sheet material used for the manufacture of smoking articles, for example cigarettes, in order to provide the individual smoking articles with the effects of a sheet material comprising a cut-out area, such as esthetic or sensory effects compared to such articles wrapped with sheet material without a cut-out area.

While the invention is primarily directed to and suitable for smoking articles comprising filters, it may also be applied to for example, filterless smoking articles or cigarillos .

The invention is further described in more detail with regard to embodiments, which are illustrated by means of the drawings in which:

Fig.l shows an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention for use in the production of a smoking article;

Fig. 2 shows sections of a tipping paper at different stages of processing;

Fig. 3 shows different stages of a process of manufacturing filter cigarettes;

Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 for use in the production of a rod-shaped article, for example a smoking article like a filter cigarette. Apparatus 1 includes a holder 2, such as a bobbin holding a reel 3 of sheet material 20, for example tipping paper. Conveying rollers 4 are arranged to convey a web of tipping paper unwound from the reel 3 through the apparatus 1. Individual tipping paper segments 22, 23, 24 are cut from the web of tipping paper and each of the segments 22, 23, 24 is used to form a pair of filter cigarettes. Wrapping unit 14 uses the tipping paper segment 22, 23, 24 to attach a double-length filter rod 17 to a pair of tobacco rods 15, 16. Subsequently the double-length filter rod 17 is cut with a suitable cutter (not shown) , for example a knife or a blade, to form the filter cigarette pair.

The apparatus 1 includes a tensioning arm 6, which is arranged to adjustably fix the tipping paper tension at a required level. Apparatus 1 further comprises registration rollers 7, which may draw the tipping paper from the holder 2 and which may be driven by a motor (not shown) such as a servo motor.

The registration rollers 7 may retard or advance the tipping paper, and may be driven by a motor (not shown) . The registration rollers thus serve as a positioning unit to position the tipping paper in any desired position in a subsequent cutting unit, and may additionally serve as drive rollers, so that they may draw the web of tipping paper web from the reel 3.

Apparatus 1 further comprises a cutting unit that includes a pair of cutting rollers 8, which are arranged to cut-out a cut-out piece from the tipping paper to generate a sheet material 21, in this case the web of tipping paper, comprising a cut-out area 210 (see Fig. 2) . For that purpose, one or both cutting rollers 8 may be provided with cutting blades or cutting edges capable of forming the cut-out area 210 (or any other cut-out pattern) in the web of tipping paper as the web of tipping paper is passed between the cutting rollers 8. Cutting rollers 8 may also be replaced by any other suitable cutting means, for example a laser knife.

The cutting roller speed may be determined by the apparatus speed, registration roller speed, or drive roller speed. The cutting rollers 8 may for example be fitted in place of usual tipping paper pulling rollers of a conventional cigarette manufacturing machine. One of the cutting rollers 8 preferably has a peripheral region which does not cut. The region which does not cut is arranged such that it does not contact the tipping paper during rotation of the cutting rollers. Accordingly, when the rotational position of the cutting roller is within a predetermined range, the cutting roller does not make contact with the tipping paper. Thus, the registration rollers 7 can adjust the tipping paper position without the paper contacting the cutting roller. They may thereby adjust the tipping paper position independently of the rotation of the cutting roller. Thus, the registration rollers can position for example a pre-applied or pre-defined pattern, such as a print pattern 110, relative to the cut-out area 210 to be cut-out by the cutting roller 8, by advancing or retarding the print pattern when the cutting rollers are not cutting. The registration rollers may also position the tipping paper such that the cut-out area 210 to be cut out is or becomes in registration with a rod-shaped article that is to be wrapped with the tipping paper provided with the cut-out area (with or without a pre-applied pattern) . Although the region that does not cut has been described above as being disposed on one of the cutting rollers, each of the cutting rollers 8 may have a section which does not cut. Next to the cutting unit a removal unit 5 is arranged for the removal of cut-out pieces from the cutting unit. Since remaining cut-out pieces may severely disturb the manufacturing process, or may inadvertently affect the quality of the products, a reliable removal of cut-out pieces is important. A removal unit 5 may therefore comprise for example a waste drum including a suction device removing the cut-out pieces by sucking them into the waste drum with the aid of underpressure. Alternatively to or in combination with the underpressure, the removal unit 5 may comprise an air jet nozzle for the generation of an air jet, either constantly or as individual air blasts, to remove cut-out pieces by blowing them away, for example into the waste drum or into a recycle bin. Underpressure and air jet may also be combined in order to enhance the efficiency of the removal unit 5. With the aid of a detection unit (not shown) it may be detected whether a cut-out piece has indeed been cut out from the sheet material, or whether or not the cut-out piece has been properly removed by the waste removal unit. In case of a malfunction an alarm signal may be generated.

A controller (not shown) or any suitable other means may determine a cutting position for the tipping paper. This cutting position may be dependent from a detected location or position of a print or other pattern on the tipping paper. Once the cutting position is determined, the tipping paper is positioned with the aid of the positioning unit. This is preferably done such that the pre-applied pattern on the tipping paper and the cut-out area to be cut out from the tipping paper when in the cutting position are in register. However, this may also be done such that the cut-out area to be cut out from the tipping paper will be in registration with the rod-shaped article when being tipped with the tipping paper. For that purpose, the controller may control the motor driving the registration rollers 7.

The tipping paper may be pre-printed with a print pattern 110 or may be pre-embossed with an embossed pattern or may otherwise be provided with a pre-applied pattern (see Fig. 2) . For the sake of simplicity in the following the print pattern 110 is representative of all other kinds of pre-applied patterns or combinations of pre-applied patterns. The print pattern 110 on the tipping paper may for example include a plurality of logos associated with a particular brand of a cigarette. The apparatus 1 further includes an optical detector 9, such as, for example, a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for detecting the location or position of the print pattern 110 on the tipping paper representing the sheet material 20. If no print pattern is to be detected the optical detector 9 may be omitted.

As explained in more detail hereinafter, the individual segments 22, 23, 24 of tipping paper with cut-out areas 210 each may include a pair of logos for use in the assembly of a pair of filter cigarettes.

Fig. 2 illustrates sections of the tipping paper at different locations 100, 200 and 300 in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. At location 100 (sheet material 20 is not yet cut) the lower portion of the tipping paper 20 has a printed pattern 110 comprising a plurality of identical "V" logos which are regularly oriented and which are equally spaced along the tipping paper. An upper portion of the tipping paper has a printed pattern 110 which comprises the "V" logos of the lower portion, however, the "V" logos located at the upper portion are oriented upside down, so that they constitute a mirror image of the pattern printed on the lower portion .

At location 200 the tipping paper 21 has already been partially cut as regards the two logos located on the right and the outermost left "V" logo, which still contains the printed "V" logo shown at location 100. In addition, around the "V" logo shown at the outermost left position the cut-out piece to be cut out is indicated by dashed lines 211. As can be seen, the dashed lines 211 are in register with the "V" logo 110 printed on the tipping paper. After the cut-out piece 212 has been cut-out at the respective location of the tipping paper, the tipping paper contains cut-out areas 210 corresponding in shape to the cut-out piece 212. In the embodiment of the cutting process described the pre-applied print pattern 110 is completely cut out as well, so that the print pattern 110 only serves as an indication of the position where the cut-out piece is to be cut out. However, it is possible as well to produce a cut-out piece that leaves some tipping paper remaining between the cut-out piece and the print pattern 110. Many additional configurations of cut- out pieces are conceivable, as has been described already further above .

Returning again to Fig. 1, the apparatus 1 further includes gummer rollers 10 for applying glue to the tipping paper to prepare the tipping paper for attachment to the double-length filter rod and tobacco rods that are assembled into cigarettes in the wrapping unit 14, as is explained in more detail below.

The apparatus 1 also includes a cutter 11 for cutting the tipping paper into segments 22, 23, 24 for use in attaching filter rods to individual tobacco rods. The cutter 11 may comprise a knife drum 12 and a vacuum drum 13. In operation, the vacuum drum may rotate faster than the knife drum to ensure that cut tipping paper is taken away before the next segment is cut. A gearing mechanism, coupled to the knife drum and vacuum drum, may be employed to achieve the required difference in rotational speed. The cutting speed may be determined from the apparatus speed, registration roller speed or drive roller speed. Thus, the cutting speed and the cutting roller speed may be interdependent of each other. For example, encoder information may be sent to the controller in order to adjust transport speeds to ensure correct offset with the cutter. The controller may be configured to control the cutter 11 such that each cut segment 22, 23, 24 of tipping paper has a single cut-out sub- pattern. Fig. 2 illustrates such segments 22, 23, 24 of tipping paper at location 300 with the cut-out areas at the lower portion being regularly oriented while the cut-out areas at the upper portion being oriented upside down.

The logo and cut-out area 210 as described in Fig. 2 may be realized in different ways. For example, a plurality of individual small cuts as indicated by the dashed lines 211 can be formed in the tipping paper, so that the individual small cuts form the contours of a larger "V" around the printed "V" logo of print pattern 110 thus enhancing the "V" shape of the print pattern 110. Alternatively, as described in Fig. 2 larger "V" is completely cut-out including the print pattern 110. In the latter case, the cut-out sheet material may be a multi-layer sheet material, wherein at least the upper layer is cut-out in the cutting process. The printed "V" symbol remains visible on the one or more underlying layers, of which at least the lowermost layer is not cut.

The cutting-out of a larger area instead of producing only small individual cuts around the print pattern 110 is especially effective if a lower layer is made of a transparent material or of a colour different from the colour of the layer or layers having the large cut-out area. With the use of a transparent material, an underlying filter material or tobacco material may be made visible in the form of a special shape, logo or pattern. Through the use of different colours of the cut and uncut layers of a multi- layer tipping paper the visibility of a logo may significantly be enhanced compared to layers all having the same colour. Similar or different effects may also be achieved by using layers of different sensory attributes, such as different optic, haptic or other properties.

As an alternative to the above-described cutting of multi-layered sheet materials, a single layered sheet material can be used. In this alternative, before the cut-out sheet material is transported to the wrapping unit 14 a second uncut layer is attached to the sheet material 21 comprising the cut-out areas 210. The second uncut layer is attached in a manner to at least cover the cut-out areas 210. Thus, the tipping paper containing the cut-out area 210 and the applied uncut layer, at least in the cut-out area 210, forms two layered sheet material. As already mentioned above in connection with the other embodiments the second uncut layer is preferably of a different colour than the single layered sheet material or is made of a transparent material.

An embodiment of the manufacturing steps performed in the wrapping unit 14 of apparatus 1 is described with the aid of Fig. 3. The wrapping unit successively axially aligns a first paper-wrapped tobacco rod 15, a second paper-wrapped tobacco rod 16 and a double-length filter rod 17 in-between, in the manner shown in Fig. 3 (uppermost position) between drive rollers (not shown) . Subsequently, the one segment of the tipping paper, for example segment 24 shown in Fig. 2, to which glue has already been applied, is wrapped around the double-length filter rod 17 and partially around the first and second tobacco rods 15, 16 as well. In this manner, the double-length filter rod 17 is joined to both tobacco rods 15, 16 (central position in Fig. 3) . The wrapped double- length filter rod 17 is then cut in the middle, thereby forming a pair of assembled filter cigarettes 18 (lowermost position in Fig. 3) . The assembled filter cigarette 18 comprises a wrapped filter rod 19, a wrapped tobacco rod 15, and a generally cylindrically wrapped segment of tipping paper 25 extending partially around the tobacco rod 15 and entirely around the wrapped filter rod 19 of the filter cigarette. This applies similarly to the filter cigarette comprising the second tobacco rod 16. The wrapped segment of tipping paper 25 contains the cut-out area 210 having the enlarged "V" shape. Like wrapping units 14 that are capable of cutting a pair of attached filter cigarettes are known as such .

The apparatus 1 described has the advantage that the process of cutting the logo is carried out as the tipping paper is unwound from the bobbin 2, so that tipping paper is not distorted or crushed by the tension of the paper as this may be the case with paper that is pre-cut before being wound onto the bobbin.

In the following, the method will be further described during use. In a first step, a bobbin of tipping paper 20 comprising the print pattern 110 (pre-printed material) is loaded onto the holder 1. In the next step, the tension arm 6 adjusts a paper tension in the tipping paper to a required level. In the next step the optical detector 9, for example a CCD camera, detects the location of the print pattern 110 (printing) on the tipping paper. Then, the location information of the location of the print pattern 110 is passed to a servo control motor of the registration rollers 7. Then, the registration rollers 7 speed up or slow down in response to the location information so as to position each print pattern 110 on the tipping paper at a required cutting position relative to the cutting rollers 8 such that the print pattern 110 and the cut-out area to be produced are in registration. In the next step, the tipping paper is cut to provide cut-out area 210 in register with the print pattern 110. Next, the gummer rollers 10 apply glue to the tipping paper 21 comprising the cut-out areas 210. Then, the cutter 11 cuts the tipping paper into individual segments 22, 23, 24. Finally, a cut segment 22, 23, 24 of the tipping paper comprising the cut-out areas 210 is wrapped around the aligned double-length filter rod and tobacco rods 15, 16.

If no print pattern 110 is present on the tipping paper that has to be registered with a cut-out area 210, the step of detection of a print pattern 110 may be omitted. Also, in this case the optical detector 9 for detecting the print pattern 110 may in that case be omitted. In the step of registration the cutting position is then set in relation to the tipping paper.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus 1, an embossing unit may be arranged before or after the cutting unit 8. It is thus possible to combine a print pattern 110 or an embossed pattern with a cut-out area 210 in a sheet material 20 for use in making cigarettes and enhance the variety of special appearances of smoking articles. An embossing unit is preferably also combined with the registration rollers 7 or with separate registration means in order to bring an embossed pattern into registration with a cut-out area 210 and possibly also with a print pattern 110.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the production of a rod-shaped article, the apparatus comprising:

- a supply unit for providing a sheet material,

- a cutting unit for cutting out a cut-out piece from the sheet material provided by the supply unit, to produce a corresponding cut-out area in the sheet material,

- a positioning unit for placing the sheet material in a cutting position, in which the cut-out piece is cut out from the sheet material,

- a detector being in operational connection with the positioning unit to determine the cutting position such as to allow to bring the rod-shaped article and the cut-out area into register,

- a removal unit for removing the cut-out piece, and

- a wrapping unit for receiving the sheet material comprising the cut-out area and for wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area at least around a portion of the rod-shaped article.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the

wrapping unit is configured to assemble the rod- shaped article through joining of a first rod- shaped element to a second rod-shaped element by wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area at least partially about both the first and second rod-shaped elements.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detector is further adapted for detecting a pre-applied pattern on the sheet material, such as to bring the pre-applied pattern and the cut-out area into register.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting unit is configured to cut-out the cut-out piece from a multi-layer sheet material as the sheet material in a manner such that at least one layer of the multi-layer sheet material remains uncut.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapping unit is configured to join an uncut layer to one surface of the sheet material comprising the cut-out area in a manner such that the uncut layer covers at least the cut^¬ out area of the sheet material before the sheet material is wrapped at least around a portion of the rod-shaped article.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal unit comprises a vacuum unit or an air jet nozzle for removing the cut-out piece from the cutting unit.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the removal unit comprises a detection unit for detecting the cut-out piece cut^¬ out from the sheet material and for providing an information signal representative of the presence or absence of the cut-out piece.

Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wrapping unit is configured to assemble a pair of rod-shaped articles each

comprising a tobacco rod and a filter rod, by arranging the tobacco rods such that an end of one of the tobacco rods of the pair faces an end of the other one of the tobacco rods of the pair, by placing a double-length filter rod between the two facing ends of the tobacco rods, and by joining the double-length filter rod to the two tobacco rods by at least partially wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut-out area around the respective tobacco rod and the double-length filter rod, the apparatus further comprising a cutter for cutting the so wrapped double-length filter rod.

Method for making a rod-shaped article, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing a sheet material,

- positioning the sheet material in a cutting position,

- cutting out a cut-out piece from the sheet material to produce a sheet material comprising a cut-out area

- removing the cut-out piece,

- positioning of the sheet material provided with the cut-out area in registration with the rod- shaped article, and

- wrapping the sheet material comprising the cut^¬ out area at least around a portion of the rod- shaped article.

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the step of providing a sheet material comprises providing a multi-layer sheet material, and wherein the step of cutting out a cut-out piece comprises cutting the sheet material in a manner such that at least one layer of the multi-layer sheet material remains uncut .

11. Method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of joining a separate uncut layer to the sheet material comprising the cut-out area in a manner such that the separate uncut layer covers at least the cut-out area of the sheet material.

12. Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one uncut layer or the separate uncut layer is made of a material selected from the group of:

- a transparent material,

- a material comprising a sensory attribute

different from a sensory attribute of one or more of the other layers in the case of using a multi^¬ layer sheet material, or different from a sensory attribute of the sheet material in the case of using a separate uncut layer,

- a material with a permeability of less than six hundred Coresta units.

13. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 12,

wherein the sheet material has a pre-applied pattern on the sheet material, and wherein the step of positioning the sheet material in a cutting position further comprises the positioning of the cut-out piece to be cut out in registration with the pre-applied pattern, and wherein the step of cutting out the cut-out piece further comprises the cutting out the cut-out piece from the sheet material to produce a sheet material comprising the cut-out area which is in registration with the pre- applied pattern.

14. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 13,

wherein the sheet material is a tipping paper, a tobacco wrapping paper or a filter plug wrapping paper .

15. Use of the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and of the method according to any one of claims 9 to 14 in the manufacture of smoking articles .