EP3154380A1

EP3154380A1 - Method and apparatus for removing tobacco from cigarettes

Info

Publication number: EP3154380A1
Application number: EP15742066.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wojciech Chojnacki
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Current assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Priority date: 2014-06-12
Filing date: 2015-06-10
Publication date: 2017-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-10
Also published as: CN106455679A; PL230370B1; CN106455679B; WO2015189781A1; PL408513A1; EP3154380B1

Abstract

Method and apparatus for removing tobacco (T) from cigarettes (2) having filters (2a, 2b), the cigarettes (2) being transported on a conveyor (3) with their axes transversal to the direction of transport (R), the method including perforating each cigarette (2) on the circumference of its tobacco part by perforating means (6, 6', 6") enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette (2) in order to remove tobacco (T) therefrom. According to the invention each cigarette (2) is perforated in two distinct perforation points (N, N'), one of the perforation points (N, N') being located close to the filter (2a, 2b) of said cigarette (2), the pressurized gaseous medium being introduced into each cigarette (2) through at least one of the perforation points (N, N') during perforation, and the at least one of the perforation points (N, N') through which the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced is the one located close to the filter (2a, 2b) of said cigarette (2), and in that said filter (2a, 2b) is being blocked against falling out of said cigarette (2) during the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium.

Description

Method and apparatus for removing tobacco from cigarettes

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing tobacco from cigarettes.

The cigarettes produced in tobacco industry are equipped with filters made of one kind of a filtering material or multi-segment filters; the multi-segment filters may contain segments comprising carbon granulate in powdery form or distributed among acetate fibers. Both the one-material filters and the multi-segment filters may contain aroma capsules.

Cigarette producers aim to have a possibility to recover tobacco from the cigarettes rejected from production and those returned from the market. However, a risk exists that during the recovery of tobacco by means of traditional devices designed for this purpose in which the paper wrapper of a cigarette is cut open, shreds of paper, fragments of filters in the form of carbon granulate or aroma substances from the capsules may be introduced into the tobacco and cause its contamination.

Devices are known in which tobacco is blown out of the cigarettes rejected from the production by means of pressurized air .

EP 0475395 provides an apparatus in which cigarettes arranged in a predetermined position and oriented with their filters facing in the same direction, are transported on a drum and then placed in receiving bores where their filter parts are perforated by needles delivering pressurized air by means of which the tobacco is blown out of the cigarette paper wrapper. Using such an apparatus may damage aroma capsules contained in the cigarette filter or may blow the cigarette segments out of the cigarette; it is also necessary to pre-position the cigarettes with their filters facing in the same direction.

An apparatus according to US 3026880 is also known, in which the tobacco is blown out by means of pressurized air. The cigarettes transported on a conveyor drum with their filters arranged facing in the same direction; they are perforated perpendicularly to their longitudinal axes, on the filter side, by means of a needle mounted on a rotational drum located inside the conveyor drum. The need to pre-position the cigarette results in additional costs associated with the use of a positioning device and in reduction of effectiveness.

The same problem arises in the device for recovering tobacco described in EP 0192372. Pre-positioned cigarettes from which the tobacco is to be recovered are conveyed on a drum conveyor towards the nozzles delivering pressurized air. The conveyor is halted and the nozzles are pushed close to the cigarette filter in order to axially blow pressurized air into the cigarettes. The air blows the tobacco out of the paper wrapper. This solution involves a risk of blowing the filter or its segments out of the cigarette.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a more simple and effective method and apparatus for removing tobacco from cigarettes .

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus in which the transported cigarettes are positioned transversally to the direction of transport with their filters oriented randomly.

According to the invention a method is provided for removing tobacco from cigarettes having filters, the cigarettes being transported on a conveyor with their axes transversal to the direction of transport, the method including perforating each cigarette on the circumference of its tobacco part by perforating means enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette in order to remove tobacco therefrom.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that each cigarette is perforated in two distinct perforation points, one of the perforation points being located close to the filter of said cigarette, the pressurized gaseous medium being introduced during perforation into each cigarette through at least one of the perforation points, and the at least one of the perforation points through which the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced is the one located close to the filter of said cigarette, and in that the filter is being blocked against falling out of said cigarette during the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium. Preferably, each cigarette is perforated in two perforation points and the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced through both perforation points, the perforations being non-simultaneous.

Alternatively, each cigarette is perforated simultaneously in the two distinct perforation points and the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced into the cigarette through one of the perforation points, the perforation point through which the medium is introduced being selected depending on the position of the filter of each cigarette in relation to the conveyor.

Preferably, the position of the filter of each cigarette in relation to the conveyor is determined by filter detection means located upstream the perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette.

The conveyor may be halted during the perforation and the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarettes .

Preferably, the filter is blocked by acting on its front side.

Optionally, the filter is blocked by acting on its circumferential surface.

According to the invention an apparatus is provided for removing tobacco from cigarettes having filters, the apparatus comprising a conveyor enabling to transport the cigarettes with their axes transversal to the direction of transport, the apparatus further comprising means cooperating with the conveyor, for perforating each cigarette on the circumference of its tobacco part enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette in order to remove tobacco therefrom.

The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the perforation means are adapted to perforate each cigarette in two distinct perforation points and to introduce the pressurized gaseous medium through at least one of the perforation points, the at least one of the perforation points through which the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced being the one located close to the filter of the cigarette being perforated, and in that the apparatus is further provided with means for blocking said filter against falling out of said cigarette during the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium. Preferably, the perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are arranged in two locations on opposite sides of the conveyor and spaced apart in relation to the direction of transport, said means being adapted to perforate each cigarette once in each of said two locations.

The perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette may be constituted by hollow needles arranged on a circumference of two rotational drums supplied with the gaseous medium having their axes parallel to the axes of the transported cigarettes, so that during the rotation of the drums each consecutive needle perforates each consecutive cigarette, the pressurized gaseous medium being delivered only to the needle actually perforating a cigarette.

Preferably, the perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are adapted to simultaneously perforate each cigarette in two distinct perforation points and to introduce the pressurized gaseous medium through one of said perforation points, the apparatus being further provided with filter detection means located upstream the perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette, the filter detection means being adapted to determine on which side of the conveyor the filter of each cigarette is located and to generate a signal enabling to select the point of introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into each cigarette close to its filter, the detection means being further adapted to control the means for blocking the cigarette filter against falling out.

Preferably, the perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are constituted by two rows of hollow needles arranged on a surface of an endless movable belt supplied with the pressurized gaseous medium, extending along the conveyor, the hollow needles being arranged so that pairs of the needles are located mutually vis-a-vis to each other along the opposite sides of the conveyor as seen along the direction of transport (R) , and each successive pair of said needles perforates each successive cigarette and the pressurized gaseous medium is being delivered to one needle of each pair selected basing on the signal generated by filter detection means.

In another preferred embodiment the perforating means enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are constituted by two rows of hollow needles arranged on a surface of a plate supplied with the pressurized gaseous medium, the plate being movable between a first position and a second position, so that pairs of the needles are located mutually vis-a^¬ vis to each other along the opposite sides of the conveyor as seen along the direction of transport (R) ; in said first position each successive pair of the needles located vis-a-vis to each other perforates each successive cigarette and the pressurized gaseous medium is being delivered to one needle of each pair selected basing on the signal generated by filter detection means, while in said second position the needles do not perforate the cigarettes.

The means for blocking said filter against falling out of the cigarette may be constituted by discs that are selectively slid out to a blocking position, the discs being located on both sides of the conveyor and each of the discs, when in its blocking position, blocks the front side of the filter close to which the pressurized gaseous medium is being introduced into the cigarette.

In another preferred embodiment, the means for blocking said filter against falling out of the cigarette may be constituted by rollers located on both sides of the conveyor, the rollers having their axes of rotation parallel to the axes of the cigarettes and being provided on their periphery with immobilizing needles acting on the peripheral surface of each filter close to which the pressurized gaseous medium is being introduced into the cigarette.

The conveyor is preferably selected from a group comprising a conveyor belt and a rotational drum.

The method and the apparatus according to the invention are advantageous in that the cigarettes are perforated perpendicularly to their axes, on the periphery of their tobacco parts and close to their filters. Therefore, all the tobacco located in the wrapper may be blown out without a risk of damaging by the needles the aroma capsules that may be located in the filters. Additionally, as opposed to the known devices of this type, there is no need to pre-position the cigarettes with their filters facing in the same direction.

As there is no need to pre-position the cigarettes so that they face in the same direction, the performance of the apparatus is improved in relation to the state of the art. Particularly advantageous is the embodiment in which the filter is blocked against falling out of the cigarette by means of the rollers provided on their periphery with tiny needles that slightly prick the filter peripheral surface down to a depth of about 1-2 mm. Such a perforation depth ensures that the capsules inside the filter are not damaged and their contents do not contaminate the recovered tobacco.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a first embodiment of the apparatus for removing tobacco;

Fig. 2 schematically shows a top view of the apparatus for removing tobacco shown in fig. 1;

Fig. 3 schematically shows the perforating means of the first embodiment of the apparatus for removing tobacco;

Fig. 4 schematically shows a side view of a second embodiment of the apparatus for removing tobacco;

Fig. 5 schematically shows a top view of the apparatus for removing tobacco shown in fig. 4;

Fig. 6 schematically shows a side view of a third embodiment of the apparatus for removing tobacco;

Fig. 7 schematically shows a top view of the apparatus for removing tobacco shown in fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a view of cigarette perforation points.

The figures schematically show the apparatus according to the invention in which the method for removing tobacco from filter cigarettes according to the invention is performed.

The word "filter" used herein means a filter consisting of one or more segments, while the "filter falling out of the cigarette" should be understood as falling out of at least one segment of the filter . Figs. 1-3 show the first embodiment the apparatus 1 according to the invention for removing tobacco T from cigarettes 2. As may be seen in figs. 1 and 2 showing respectively a side view and a top view of the apparatus 1, it comprises a belt conveyor 3 provided on its surface with partitions 4. The cigarettes 2 supplied from a chute 5 arrive between the partitions 4, transversally to the direction of transport R. The belt conveyor 3 is operated by driving elements 15 that may be constituted by driving rollers. The cigarettes 2 are transported towards perforating means 6 enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarettes.

The gaseous medium may be e.g. air or carbon dioxide. In the shown embodiment the means 6 are constituted by needles 7, 7' arranged on the peripheries of two rotational drums 8, 8' the respective axes A and B of which are parallel to the axes of the transported cigarettes 2. The drums 8, 8' are arranged in two locations on opposite sides of the conveyor 3. As shown in fig. 1, two guiding rollers 21 are arranged on the path of the conveyor 3 between the driving elements 15. The function of the guiding rollers 21 is to deflect the direction of transport of the conveyor belt by angles a and a' respectively. The angles a and a' may be comprised in a range between 90-180 degrees. The angles a and a' are delimited between a part upstream the drum 8, 8' and a part downstream the drum 8, 8' .

The path of the belt conveyor 3 is planar between the rollers 21. In this embodiment the means 6 constituted by two rotational drums 8, 8' are located vis-a-vis the guiding rollers 21, i.e. in a zone where the direction of transport changes. This is advantageous because when the conveyor turns on the roller 21 the partitions 4 are driven more apart from each other facilitating introduction of the needles 7, 7' into the cigarettes 2. However, it is also possible to locate the means 6 constituted by two rotational drums 8, 8' by the flat lengths of the belt conveyor 3.

In the described embodiment the drums 8 and 8' are spaced apart along the direction of transport R. When the belt conveyor 3 proceeds along the direction R shown in fig. 1 (i.e. towards the right side of fig. 1), the drums 8 and 8' are rotated anticlockwise. The drums 8 and 8' are situated in such locations and in such a distance from the conveyor 3 that during their rotation, the successive needles 7, 7' are able to perforate each successive cigarette 2 transported on the conveyor 3 under the drum 8, 8' without damaging the cigarette wrapper.

Hence, each cigarette 2 is perforated successively (non- simultaneously) twice: first by one of the needles 7 of the drum 8 and then, when the conveyor takes it along to the drum 8' - by one of the needles 7' . The cigarettes are perforated always on the periphery of their tobacco parts; however, the location of the perforation performed by each needle in relation to the filter of a specific cigarette is a function of the location of its filter in relation to a lateral side of the conveyor, as seen along the direction of transport R.

The drums 8 and 8' are spaced apart along both opposite lateral sides of the conveyor such that individual needles perforate each cigarette in a point N close to the filter or in a distance of about 2-16 mm from the filter end (fig. 8) or in a point N' on the opposite side of the cigarette, in the same distance from the end of the cigarette, on the opposite side of the cigarette. Hence, each cigarette is perforated close to its filter by a needle 7 of the first drum 8 and close to its opposite end by a needle 7' of the other drum 8' or vice versa.

The means 6, in this embodiment constituted by the needles 7, 7' arranged on the drums 8 and 8' , are associated with any suitable means supplying pressurized gaseous medium (e.g. a conduit supplying pressurized air) . The means supplying the pressurized gaseous medium are adapted (by any suitable conventional means) to supply the gaseous medium exclusively to the specific needle 7, 7' that is actually perforating the cigarette in a certain moment .

The apparatus 1 is further equipped with the means for blocking the filter against falling out of the cigarette. As explained above, the "falling out" should be understood as referring to at least one filter segment. In the embodiment shown in figs. 1-3 the blocking means are constituted by the rollers 10, 10' shown in more detail in fig. 3, cooperating with each of the drums 8 , 8 ' .

While the cigarette 2 is perforated and the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced, the filter 2a, 2b is being blocked by means of the roller 10, 10' against axial relocation and against being blown out of the cigarette wrapper. The roller 10, 10' is provided on its cylindrical peripheral surface with short blocking needles 11 penetrating the filter up to the depth of about 1-2 mm. The substantially horizontal axis of rotation C of the blocking rollers 10 is parallel to the axes of the cigarettes 2 and to the axes A, B of the drums 8, 8' .

As it results from the above description and as shown in figs. 1 and 2, each cigarette undergoes the perforation and the tobacco blow out twice. If a needle 7 of the first drum 8 perforates in the point N which is close to the filter of a given cigarette 2, then the tobacco T is blown out and it falls into a receiving device 12 (fig. 2) located on the opposite side of the conveyor 3 in relation to the drum 8. The cigarette emptied of the tobacco is transported further on and perforated again by the second drum 8' in the point N' located by the other end of the cigarette and it finally falls down into a container 13.

If on the other hand, a needle 7 of the first drum 8 perforates in the point N' which is far away from the filter located on the opposite side of a given cigarette 2, then the tobacco T is only partially blown out into the receiving device 12 (fig. 2) and the conveyor 3 carries the cigarette 2 partially filled with the tobacco towards the second drum 8' . In this situation a needle 7' of the second drum 8' will perforate in the point N close to the filter and the total residue amount of the tobacco T within the cigarette will be definitely blown out and fall into a corresponding receiving device 12' located on the opposite side of the conveyor 3. The cigarette emptied of the tobacco will then fall into the container 13.

The drum 8, the blocking roller 10 and the receiving device 12 are shown enlarged in fig. 3. The arrangement associated with the drum 8' is analogous to that of the drum 8 and it is its mirror image on the opposite side of the conveyor 3. If the filter of a cigarette 2 arriving under one of the drums 8, 8' is oriented as shown in fig. 3, i.e. the filter is located under the roller 10, then the tobacco is blown out by the pressurized gaseous medium through the opposite end of the cigarette, towards the receiving device 12. The filter is blocked by the roller 10 against falling out. The pressure of the gaseous medium is adapted in such a way that if the filter is located on the opposite side (the right side in fig. 3), then only a small amount of the tobacco is blow out by the pressurized gaseous medium on the side of the drum, the remaining amount being blocked by the filter which does not fall out .

In the described embodiment the aim of the invention is obtained due to the use of the perforating means 6 enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium, the means 6 having a form of two separate drums 8, 8 'provided with the needles 7, 7' . By perforating each cigarette successively in two points, the needles 7, 7' enable to remove the whole tobacco from each cigarette 2 irrespectively of by which lateral side of the conveyor 3 the cigarette filter 2a, 2b is located.

In the described embodiment the belt conveyor 3 is used but it may also be replaced by e.g. a rotational drum conveyor.

In figs. 4 and 5 a second embodiment of the apparatus 1' is shown, fig. 4 showing a side view and fig. 5 a top view of the apparatus 1 ' .

The apparatus 1' according to the second embodiment is similar to that described in reference to figs. 1-3, but it differs in that a different kind of the perforating means 6' enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium is used. Additionally, the apparatus 1' comprises detection means 14. In this embodiment the means 6' are also provided with any suitable known device supplying the pressurized gaseous medium (analogous to that of the means 6) .

In the case of the second embodiment, similarly to the method realized by means of the device 1 according to the first embodiment, the cigarettes 2 are fed by a chute 5 in between the partitions 4 of the conveyor 3; the cigarettes, oriented transversally to the direction of transport R, are conveyed towards the means 6' .

However, in this embodiment, the filter detection means 14 are provided on the path of the cigarettes; the means 14 are located close to the conveyor 3 and upstream the means 6' . The means 14 are conventional means (e.g. color sensors, ultrasonic sensors, microwave sensors) for detecting the location of the filters, i.e. for determining on which side of the conveyor 3 the filter of each transported cigarette 2 is located. The detection means 14 are further conventionally adapted to generate a signal enabling selection of the point of introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into each cigarette. Typically it is an electronic signal transmitted to the means 6' for controlling their operation.

In this embodiment the perforating means 6' enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium are constituted by the needles 7, 7' arranged on the surface of a movable endless belt 17, in two mutually opposite rows by the opposite sides of the conveyor 3 as seen along the direction of transport R. The belt 17 with the needles 7, 7' is located along the conveyor 3 and symmetrically in relation to its longitudinal axis, above a determined length of the conveyor 3 constituting an operation zone of the means 6' .

The belt 17 forms a loop shown in a side view in fig. 4, the loop being moved with the same speed as the conveyor in a direction indicated by arrows, so that its lower part (facing the conveyor 3) is moved in the direction of transport R and its upper part is moved in a direction opposite thereto. Hence, during the movement of the belt 17 over the conveyor 3, each successive pair of the needles 7, 7' perforates each successive cigarette 2 transported by the conveyor 3 simultaneously in two points N and N' . Similarly to the first embodiment, the cigarettes are perforated in the points located on the circumference of their tobacco parts, one of the perforation points N lying close to the filter, preferably in a distance about 2-15 mm from the end of the filter, and the other perforation point N' lying in the same distance from the end of the cigarette on the side opposite to the filter (fig. 8) . However, the perforations are simultaneous. However, the cigarettes 2 pass through the operation zone of the filter detection means 14 situated upstream the belt 17 before they reach the operation zone of the belt 17 with the needles 7, 7' . Basing on the information concerning the location of the filter 2a, 2b of a given cigarette, the filter detection means 14 send a signal to the perforating means 6' enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium. The means 6' are adapted to deliver the gaseous medium to a needle 7 or a needle 7' of each pair basing on said information. Therefore, in the case of each cigarette perforated in a given moment, the pressurized gaseous medium is being delivered only to the needle situated on the filter side of the cigarette.

The signal from the filter detection means 14 is also used for controlling the filter blocking means. In the described embodiment, the blocking means are formed by blocking disc 18, 18' movable in the operation zone of the means 6' on both sides of the conveyor 3, the discs 18, 18' being selectively slid out. Each disc 18, 18' may adopt two positions - an upper position and a lower position. In its upper position, the disc 18, 18' blocks the front side of the filter of the cigarette nearby in a given moment against falling out. In its lower position, the disc 18, 18' is located below the front side of the filters of the cigarettes on the conveyor and is unable to block them in any way.

The discs 18, 18' are controlled basing on the signal generated by the filter detection means 14 as a function of the detected position of the filter of each successive cigarette 2, so that each filter is blocked on its front side when the pressurized gaseous medium is being delivered through the perforation point N close to said filter.

The perforating means 6' enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium may operate continuously without the need to halt the conveyor 3. The tobacco T blown out of the cigarettes goes to the receiving devices 12, 12' located on both sides of the conveyor 3 in the operating zone of the belt 17. The pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needle 7, 7' located on the filter side of the cigarette. Therefore, the cigarettes oriented with their filters 2a facing a first direction and detected by the filter detection means 14, activate the blocking discs 18 located on the side of the filters 2a of these cigarettes and the pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needles 7 perforating the cigarettes on their filter side.

In the case of the cigarettes oriented with their filters facing the opposite direction, the blocking discs 18' located on the side of the filters 2b of the cigarettes are activated and the pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needles 7' perforating the cigarettes on side of the filter 2b. Then, the cigarettes emptied of the tobacco fall into the container 13.

Figs. 6 and 7 present in a side view and a top view respectively the apparatus 1" for removing tobacco from the cigarettes 2 in a third embodiment. This embodiment is similar to the second embodiment described in reference to figs. 4 and 5. However, in this case the perforating means 6" enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium have a form of the needles 7, 7' arranged on a surface of a plate 19 in two mutually opposite rows by the opposite sides of the conveyor looking in the direction of transport R. In this embodiment, the means 6" are also provided with any suitable known device supplying the pressurized gaseous medium, e.g. a conduit 9.

The plate 19 with the needles 7, 7' is situated over a certain defined length of the conveyor 3, said length being the operating zone of the means 6". The plate 19 is oriented along the conveyor 3 and symmetrically in relation to its longitudinal axis. The plate 19 is reciprocated between two positions so that it is alternatingly driven towards and away from the conveyor 3. The extent of the reciprocation of the plate 19 is such that in its first position the needles 7, 7' are able to perforate the cigarettes 2 located on the conveyor 3 in the operating zone of the plate 19, while in its second position they are not able to perforate .

Similarly to the second embodiment, the cigarettes 2 pass the operating zone of the detection means 14 situated upstream the plate 19 before they reach the operating zone of the means 6". As in the second embodiment, basing on the information concerning the location of the filter 2a, 2b of a given cigarette, the detection means 14 send signal to the perforating means 6". The means 6" are adapted to deliver the gaseous medium to a needle 7 or a needle 7' basing on said signal, so that in the case of each cigarette perforated in a given moment, the pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needle situated on the filter side of the cigarette and only when the plate 19 is in the first position close to the conveyor 3.

The signal sent from the detection means 14 is also used to control the filter blocking means. Here, the blocking means are also formed by the blocking disc 18, 18' movable in the operation zone of the means 6" on both sides of the conveyor 3, the blocking disc 18, 18' being selectively slid out. The discs 18, 18' are controlled basing on the signal generated by the filter detection means 14 as a function of the detected position of the filter of each successive cigarette 2 and of the position of the plate 19, so that each filter is blocked on its front side when the pressurized gaseous medium is being delivered through the perforation point N close to said filter.

In this embodiment, the operation of the conveyor is intermittent i.e. not continuous, so that it is halted when the plate 19 is in its first position close to the conveyor 3 with the needles 7, 7' perforating the cigarettes, while the pressurized gaseous medium is being delivered. The conveyor 3 stars forward again to transport the cigarettes 2 in the direction R by a distance corresponding to the length of the plate 19 while said plate is in its second position with the needles 7, 7' not able to perforate the cigarettes (the plate 19 is distanced from the conveyor 3) and the medium is not being delivered. The needles 7, 7' simultaneously perforate the cigarettes 2 in the perforation points N and N' which are situated analogously to the second embodiment described in reference to figs. 4 and 5.

The tobacco T blown out of the cigarettes goes to the receiving devices 12 located on both sides of the conveyor 3 in the operating zone of the means 6". The pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needle 7, 7' located on the filter side 2a or 2b of the cigarette. Therefore, the cigarettes oriented with their filters 2a facing a first direction and detected by the filter detection means 14, activate the blocking discs 18 located on the side of the filters 2a of these cigarettes and the pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needles 7 perforating the cigarettes on their filter side 2a. In the case of the cigarettes oriented with their filters 2b facing the opposite direction, the blocking discs 18' located on the side of the filters 2b of these cigarettes are activate and the pressurized gaseous medium is delivered only to the needles 7' perforating the cigarettes on their filter side 2b. Then, the cigarettes emptied of the tobacco fall into the container 13.

As it results from the above description, in the second and third embodiments of the apparatus 1, 1' according to the invention, the object of the invention is achieved due to the use of the perforating means 6' or 6" enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium, the means 6' , 6" having a form of the belt 17 or the plate 19 respectively, provided with the needles 7, 7' simultaneously perforating each cigarette in two points. The point of introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium and the side on which the cigarette is being blocked depends on the position of the filter of each perforated cigarette, and it is selected according to the signal generated by the detection means 14. Thereby, irrespectively of the side of the conveyor 3 by which the filter 2a, 2b is located, the whole tobacco is blown out of each cigarette 2.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A method for removing tobacco from cigarettes (2) having filters, the cigarettes being transported on a conveyor (3) with their axes transversal to the direction of transport

(R) , the method including perforating each cigarette (2) on the circumference of its tobacco part by perforating means

(6, 6', 6") enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette in order to remove tobacco therefrom, characterized in that each cigarette is perforated in two distinct perforation points (N, N' ) , one of the perforation points being located close to the filter (2a, 2b) of said cigarette, the pressurized gaseous medium being introduced into each cigarette through at least one of the perforation points (N, N' ) during perforation, and the at least one of the perforation points through which the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced is the one located close to the filter (2a, 2b) of said cigarette, and in that said filter is being blocked against falling out of said cigarette during the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each cigarette is perforated in two perforation points and the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced through both perforation points, the perforations being non-simultaneous.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that each cigarette is perforated simultaneously in the two distinct perforation points (N, N' ) and the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced into the cigarette (2) through one of the perforation points (N, N' ) , the perforation point through which the medium is introduced being selected depending on the position of the filter of each cigarette in relation to the conveyor (3) .

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the position of the filter (2a, 2b) of each cigarette (2) in relation to the conveyor is determined by filter detection means (14) located upstream the perforating means (6', 6") enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette.

5. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that the conveyor (3) is halted during the perforation and the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarettes .

6. The method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the filter (2a, 2b) is blocked by acting on its front side.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that e the filter (2a, 2b) is blocked by acting on its circumferential surface.

8. An apparatus (1, 1', 1") for removing tobacco from cigarettes (2) having filters, the apparatus comprising a conveyor (3) enabling to transport the cigarettes (2) with their axes transversal to the direction of transport (R) , the apparatus further comprising means (6, 6', 6") cooperating with the conveyor (3) , for perforating each cigarette on the circumference of its tobacco part enabling introduction of a pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette in order to remove tobacco therefrom, characterized in that the perforation means (6, 6', 6") are adapted to perforate each cigarette (2) in two distinct perforation points (N, N' ) and to introduce the pressurized gaseous medium through at least one of said perforation points, the at least one of the perforation points through which the pressurized gaseous medium is introduced being the one located close to the filter (2a, 2b) of the cigarette being perforated, and in that the apparatus (1, 1', 1") is further provided with a blocking means (10, 18) for blocking said filter (2a, 2b) against falling out of said cigarette (2) during the introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the perforating means (6) enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are arranged in two locations on opposite sides of the conveyor (3) and spaced apart in relation to the direction of transport (R) , said means (6) being adapted to perforate each cigarette once in each of said two locations.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the perforating means (6) enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are constituted by hollow needles (7,7') arranged on a circumference of two rotational drums (8, 8') supplied with the gaseous medium, the drums having their axes (A, B) parallel to the axes of the transported cigarettes (2), so that during the rotation of the drums each consecutive needle perforates each consecutive cigarette, the pressurized gaseous medium being delivered only to the needle actually perforating a cigarette .

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the perforating means (6', 6") enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are adapted to simultaneously perforate each cigarette in two distinct perforation points and to introduce the pressurized gaseous medium through one of said perforation points (N, N' ) , the apparatus (1, 1', 1") being further provided with filter detection means (14) located upstream the perforating means (6', 6") enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette, the filter detection means (14) being adapted to determine on which side of the conveyor (3) the filter (2a, 2b) of each cigarette is located and to generate a signal enabling to select the point of introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into each cigarette (2) close to its filter (2a, 2b), the detection means (14) being further adapted to control the means for blocking (10, 18) the cigarette filter (2a, 2b) against falling out.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that, the perforating means (6') enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are constituted by two rows of hollow needles (7,7') arranged on a surface of an endless movable belt (17) supplied with the pressurized gaseous medium, extending along the conveyor (3), the hollow needles (7,7') being arranged so that pairs of the needles are located mutually vis-a-vis to each other along opposite sides of the conveyor (3) as seen along the direction of transport (R) , and each successive pair of said needles (7,7') perforating each successive cigarette (2) and the pressurized gaseous medium being delivered to one needle of each pair selected basing on the signal generated by filter detection means (14) .

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the perforating means (6") enabling introduction of the pressurized gaseous medium into the cigarette are constituted by two rows of hollow needles (7, 7') arranged on a surface of a plate (19) supplied with the gaseous medium, the plate (19) being movable between a first position and a second position; pairs of the needles being located mutually vis-a^¬ vis to each other along the opposite sides of the conveyor as seen along the direction of transport (R) ; in said first position each successive pair of the needles located vis-a^¬ vis to each other perforates each successive cigarette (2) and the pressurized gaseous medium is delivered to one needle of each pair selected basing on the signal generated by filter detection means (14), while in said second position the needles do not perforate the cigarettes .

14. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 or 11, characterized in that means for blocking said filter (2a, 2b) against falling out of the cigarette are constituted by discs (18, 18' ) that are selectively slid out to a blocking position, the discs (18, 18') being located on both sides of the conveyor (3) and each of said discs, when in its blocking position, blocks the front side of the filter (2a, 2b) close to which the pressurized gaseous medium is being introduced into the cigarette.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 or 11, characterized in that, the means for blocking said filter (2a, 2b) against falling out of the cigarette are constituted by rollers (10) located on both sides of the conveyor, the rollers (10) having their axes of rotation parallel to the axes of the cigarettes (2) and being provided on their periphery with immobilizing needles (11) acting on the peripheral surface of each filter (2a, 2b) close to which the pressurized gaseous medium is being introduced into the cigarette.

The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 or 11, characterized in that the conveyor (3) is selected from a group comprising a conveyor belt and a rotational drum.