EP4393325A1 - Machine pour introduire des composants discrets dans un noyau continu de l'industrie du tabac - Google Patents

Machine pour introduire des composants discrets dans un noyau continu de l'industrie du tabac Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4393325A1
EP4393325A1 EP23214412.1A EP23214412A EP4393325A1 EP 4393325 A1 EP4393325 A1 EP 4393325A1 EP 23214412 A EP23214412 A EP 23214412A EP 4393325 A1 EP4393325 A1 EP 4393325A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
continuous core
forming element
guide channel
discrete components
feed direction
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP23214412.1A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Sergio Magnani
Fabio PAMINI
Lorenzo SELMI
Alberto DI FRANCO
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.)
GD SpA
Original Assignee
GD SpA
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 GD SpA filed Critical GD SpA
Publication of EP4393325A1 publication Critical patent/EP4393325A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/0204—Preliminary operations before the filter rod forming process, e.g. crimping, blooming
    • A24D3/0212—Applying additives to filter materials
    • A24D3/0216—Applying additives to filter materials the additive being in the form of capsules, beads or the like

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a machine for inserting discrete components into a continuous core of the tobacco industry.
  • discrete components may be used, for example, to denote capsules of a flavouring substance.
  • the continuous core is reclosed around the discrete components just placed in it. That way, the discrete components occupy a central position in the continuous core and are completely enclosed with it.
  • a device of this kind is known, for example, from application EP2888957 .
  • the prior art devices have some inherent drawbacks, however.
  • the spreading element may be unable to deform the continuous core well enough to enable the discrete components to be positioned properly inside it.
  • the groove made by the spreading element is not deep enough to receive the discrete components correctly.
  • the radial positioning of the discrete components may in some cases be such that the discrete components are not centred. The result is a tendency to produce a large number of non-conforming products which have to be rejected.
  • the technical purpose of this invention is therefore to provide a device for inserting discrete components into a continuous core of the tobacco industry and capable of overcoming the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.
  • This invention therefore has for an aim to provide a device for inserting discrete components into a continuous core of the tobacco industry to allow obtaining continuous cores provided with discrete components which are correctly placed so that precise, high-quality products can be obtained in subsequent processes.
  • a device for inserting discrete components into a continuous core of the tobacco industry comprising a forming conveyor extending along a feed direction and defining a guide channel in which the continuous core is made to advance.
  • the device also comprises a spreader which is inserted at least partly in the guide channel so as to be disposed above the continuous core.
  • the spreader is configured to impart a main deformation to an upper region of the continuous core, thereby making a longitudinal groove for accommodating the discrete components.
  • the device also comprises an inserting wheel, disposed downstream of the spreader along the feed direction and rotating about an axis of rotation transverse to the feed direction.
  • the inserting wheel is configured to hold a succession of discrete components and to place the discrete components in the groove in the continuous core.
  • the device also comprises a pre-forming element disposed upstream of the spreader along the feed direction and inserted in the guide channel and configured to impart to an upper region of the continuous core, a pre-deformation suitable for overlapping with the main deformation. That way, the spreader operates in a region of the continuous core that is already pre-deformed and the groove can thus be formed in an easier and more reliable manner, without the risk of being formed in a way that makes it unsuitable for its intended purpose.
  • the numeral 100 denotes a device for inserting discrete components, for example, capsules (beads) of flavouring material, into a continuous core, for example, a filter core, of the tobacco industry.
  • discrete components for example, capsules (beads) of flavouring material
  • the capsules of flavouring material are spherical elements containing a flavouring substance, usually in the liquid state.
  • the flavouring capsules are placed in the filter core at regular intervals and when the filter core is cut into sections, single filters are formed, each containing a capsule.
  • the user squeezes the filter in order to break the capsule so that the flavouring liquid is diffused in the filter.
  • the device 100 comprises a forming conveyor 10, in particular made from metallic material, extending along a feed direction A and at least partly defining a guide channel 11 in which the continuous core is made to advance.
  • the continuous core comes from specific forming means, for example, a unit for picking up a strip of tow from specific bales and treating it and then gathering it up to form a core which, for example, has a substantially circular cross section.
  • specific forming means for example, a unit for picking up a strip of tow from specific bales and treating it and then gathering it up to form a core which, for example, has a substantially circular cross section.
  • a unit like this is described, for example, in application WO2012/156911 in the name of the present applicant.
  • the guide channel 11 is convergent along the feed direction A, that is to say, the cross section of the guide channel 11 becomes progressively narrower.
  • the device 100 also comprises a spreader 20 which is at least partly inside the guide channel 11 so as to be disposed above the continuous core.
  • the spreader 20 has a substantially plate-shaped structure extending from a first, upper end on the outside of the guide channel 11, to a second, lower end, inside the guide channel 11 to define a sort of "fin" in the guide channel 11 itself, as shown in Figures 2 and 3B .
  • the spreader 20 is configured to impart a main deformation to an upper region of the continuous core, thereby making a longitudinal groove for accommodating the discrete components.
  • the spreader 20 acts as an obstacle to the sliding movement of the continuous core in the guide channel 11 so as to force the continuous core to adopt a predetermined cross-sectional shape, and in particular, a shape substantially like that of a U, where the spreader 20 has flattened the upper region of the continuous core.
  • the inserting wheel 30 rotates about an axis of rotation X transverse to the feed direction A.
  • the axis of rotation X of the inserting wheel 30 is perpendicular to the feed direction A and, in particular, is horizontal.
  • the inserting wheel 30 is configured to hold a succession of discrete components and to place the discrete components in the groove in the continuous core at predetermined regular spacing intervals.
  • the inserting wheel 30 (of known type) has a plurality of seats 31, distributed on a peripheral surface of the inserting wheel 30 itself.
  • each seat 31 is provided with a suction system capable of retaining a discrete component and releasing the discrete component when the inserting wheel 30, during its rotation, positions the respective seat 31 inside the groove of the continuous core.
  • the inserting wheel 30 at least partly interpenetrates the forming conveyor 10 so that once the continuous core has been spread open by the spreader 20, the inserting wheel 30 can place the discrete component precisely inside the groove just made.
  • the inserting wheel 30 is provided with a hub which is rotatable about the axis X and is supported by means not illustrated, and a disc-like portion 32 integral therewith and larger in diameter.
  • the disc-like portion 32 is inserted into a specific opening made in the forming conveyor 10 so as to penetrate the guide channel 11. In this situation, when the continuous core is deformed by the spreader 20, the groove created may be large enough to receive the disc-like portion 32 of the inserting wheel 30 so that the discrete components can be placed in the groove.
  • the continuous core In use, therefore, as the continuous core is made to advance in the guide channel 11, it is progressively deformed by the spreader 20 which gives it a shape substantially like that of a U. Next, the continuous core thus deformed advances in proximity to the inserting wheel 30 so that one or more discrete components can be placed inside the groove just formed by the spreader 20.
  • the device of this disclosure also comprises a pre-forming element 40 disposed upstream of the spreader 20 along the feed direction A.
  • the pre-forming element 40 is configured to impart a pre-deformation to the upper region of the continuous core.
  • the pre-deformation is designed to overlap with the main deformation subsequently imparted by the spreader 20.
  • the pre-forming element 40 is thus inserted in the guide channel 11 in such a way as to be disposed above the continuous core ( Figure 2 ).
  • the pre-forming element 40 is configured to deform the upper region of the continuous core at the inlet to the guide channel 11, where the spreader 20 subsequently imparts its main deformation action creating the groove for accommodating the discrete components.
  • the pre-forming element 40 allows obtaining a continuous core of better quality.
  • the presence of the pre-forming element 40 promotes the stability of the subsequent main deformation, making it conformant with an ideal groove profile and preventing the risk of forming grooves of non-conformant or unstable shape.
  • the presence of the pre-forming element 40 not only ensures that the groove, made after the pre-deformation and the main deformation, is deep enough to accommodate the discrete components and to enclose them in the continuous core but it also ensures that the main deformation following it is made in a "pre-deformed" region with greater control of the deformation stability.
  • the pre-forming element 40 is fully inserted in the guide channel 11.
  • the pre-forming element 40 has a leading end section that is disposed substantially flush with the inlet section of the guide channel 11. In different embodiments, however, the pre-forming element 40 may be recessed relative to the inlet section of the guide channel 11 or it may protrude partly therefrom.
  • the pre-forming element 40 also comprises an active surface 40b extending radially from the coupling surface 40a towards the inside of the guide channel 11 in order to make the pre-deformation on the continuous core.
  • the side walls 41 are flat.
  • the pre-forming element 40 also comprises a bottom wall 41c defining a contact surface 40c adapted, in use, to shape the upper region of the continuous core and configured to join the pair of side walls 41b to each other.
  • the bottom wall 41c is arcuate in shape.
  • the bottom wall 41c imparts a flattening action to the upper region of the continuous core, forcing it to adopt an open U shape, that is to say, a shape where the curvature of the U is still not well defined but is useful as a "guide” or "trace” for the spreader 20.
  • the pre-forming element 40 has a tapered shape along a longitudinal direction of extension L which, in use, defines the feed direction A of the continuous core.
  • the transverse cross section of the pre-forming element 40 becomes narrower along the feed direction A.
  • the pre-forming element 40 has a cross sectional angular size which remains substantially constant along the feed direction A.
  • the pre-forming element 40 follows the convergent shape of the guide channel 11, progressively decreasing its transverse cross section along the feed direction A but keeping its angular size constant.
  • the pre-forming element 40 decreases the size of its cross section proportionally to that of the guide channel 11.
  • the angular size is defined by the aforesaid angle between the side walls 41b.
  • the continuous core is made to advance into the guide channel 11 and its upper region impacts the pre-forming element 40.
  • the continuous core to be able to proceed into the guide channel 11, is pre-deformed and, in particular, its upper region is at least partly flattened towards the centre of the continuous core.
  • the core reaches the spreader 20 so that the latter can operate on its upper region which has just been deformed.
  • the spreader 20 in transverse cross section, preferably has a thinner shape than the pre-forming element 40, preferably a shape with substantially parallel side walls which, if necessary, are joined at the bottom by an arcuate portion.
  • a shape of this kind has an efficacious deforming action suitable for forming the aforementioned groove which, immediately after being formed, receives the succession of discrete components from the wheel 10.
  • the pre-forming element 40 is between 25 and 40 mm in length along the feed direction A.

Landscapes

  • Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
  • Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
  • Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
EP23214412.1A 2022-12-13 2023-12-05 Machine pour introduire des composants discrets dans un noyau continu de l'industrie du tabac Pending EP4393325A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202200025431 2022-12-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4393325A1 true EP4393325A1 (fr) 2024-07-03

Family

ID=85285130

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23214412.1A Pending EP4393325A1 (fr) 2022-12-13 2023-12-05 Machine pour introduire des composants discrets dans un noyau continu de l'industrie du tabac

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4393325A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2024084730A (fr)
KR (1) KR20240088604A (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20120245007A1 (en) * 2011-03-25 2012-09-27 Shawn Henley High speed object inserter and related methods
WO2012156911A1 (fr) 2011-05-16 2012-11-22 G.D S.P.A. Dispositif de traitement de matériau filtrant pour produits de tabac
US20140243178A1 (en) * 2013-02-28 2014-08-28 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Apparatus, method and machine for producing an endless filter rod of the tobacco processing industry
EP2888957A1 (fr) 2009-08-28 2015-07-01 Tobacco Research And Development Institute (Proprietary) Limited Fabrication de tige de filtre

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2888957A1 (fr) 2009-08-28 2015-07-01 Tobacco Research And Development Institute (Proprietary) Limited Fabrication de tige de filtre
US20120245007A1 (en) * 2011-03-25 2012-09-27 Shawn Henley High speed object inserter and related methods
WO2012156911A1 (fr) 2011-05-16 2012-11-22 G.D S.P.A. Dispositif de traitement de matériau filtrant pour produits de tabac
US20140243178A1 (en) * 2013-02-28 2014-08-28 Hauni Maschinenbau Ag Apparatus, method and machine for producing an endless filter rod of the tobacco processing industry

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
KR20240088604A (ko) 2024-06-20
JP2024084730A (ja) 2024-06-25

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