Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H19/00—Changing the web roll
  • B65H19/10—Changing the web roll in unwinding mechanisms or in connection with unwinding operations
  • B65H19/18—Attaching, e.g. pasting, the replacement web to the expiring web
  • B65H19/1842—Attaching, e.g. pasting, the replacement web to the expiring web standing splicing, i.e. the expiring web being stationary during splicing contact
  • B65H19/1852—Attaching, e.g. pasting, the replacement web to the expiring web standing splicing, i.e. the expiring web being stationary during splicing contact taking place at a distance from the replacement roll
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H35/00—Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers
  • B65H35/10—Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers from or with devices for breaking partially-cut or perforated webs, e.g. bursters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/46—Splicing
  • B65H2301/461—Processing webs in splicing process
  • B65H2301/4615—Processing webs in splicing process after splicing
  • B65H2301/4617—Processing webs in splicing process after splicing cutting webs in splicing process
  • B65H2301/46174—Processing webs in splicing process after splicing cutting webs in splicing process cutting both spliced webs separately
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/46—Splicing
  • B65H2301/464—Splicing effecting splice
  • B65H2301/46412—Splicing effecting splice by element moving in a direction perpendicular to the running direction of the web
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
  • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
  • B65H2301/514—Modifying physical properties
  • B65H2301/5143—Warming
  • B65H2301/51432—Applying heat and pressure
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
  • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
  • B65H2301/515—Cutting handled material
  • B65H2301/5152—Cutting partially, e.g. perforating
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2801/00—Application field
  • B65H2801/54—Cigarette making

Definitions

• a splicing device comprising a punch plate and a counter plate, wherein the punch plate and the counter plate are relatively movable versus each other for splicing two sheets of material arrangeable in between the punch plate and the counter plate.
• the punch plate comprises an array of splicing protrusions and the oppositely arranged counter plate comprises an array of splicing holes.
• the punch plate comprises all splicing protrusions and the counter plate comprises all splicing holes.
• splicing protrusions and splicing holes may also be provided on both, the punch plate and the counter plate.
• both the punch plate and the counterplate comprise an array of splicing protrusions and an array of splicing holes.
• the positions of each of the splicing protrusions of the punch plate correspond with the positions of a splicing hole in the counter plate and vice versa.
• splicing protrusions and splicing holes are provided on the punch plate and on the counter plate, preferably, splicing protrusions and splicing holes are arranged in an alternating manner on each of the punch plate and the counter plate.
• splicing protrusions and splicing holes are arranged along a straight line corresponding to a linear direction of movement of the punch plate and counter plate versus and away from each other.
• punch plate and counter plate have same dimensions in length and width.
• a width of a plate may correspond to a transport direction of a sheet material, while a length of a plate may then correspond to a direction perpendicular to the transport direction in a plane of the sheet material.
• Same dimensions in length and width provide the advantage of a symmetric set-up of the splicing device.
• the splicing device is preferably arranged parallel or perpendicular to a transport direction of the sheets of material. Accordingly, a length or width of a punch plate is arranged parallel or perpendicular to a transport direction of the sheets of material. This may keep a spliced portion as small as possible. However, a splicing device may also be arranged at an angle to the transport direction of the sheets of material.
• the splicing protrusions may have any form that allows to deform and preferably penetrate and perforate at least one of the sheets of material arranged above each other for splicing.
• the splicing protrusions have a shape and size that allows to deform and preferably penetrate and perforate both of the sheets of material arranged above each other for splicing.
• the splicing protrusions have an elongate shape.
• the splicing protrusions have a tip end arranged most distantly from the punch plate, when the splicing protrusion is provided at the punch plate.
• the splicing protrusions have a tip end arranged most distantly from the counter plate, when the splicing protrusion is provided at the counter plate.
• the splicing protrusions are splicing pins.
• the splicing protrusions have a pointed tip, a rounded tip or a tip provided with cutting edges. Pointed and rounded tips are reliable means in splicing processes of a wide range of sheets of material.
• the use of splicing protrusions, in particular splicing pins, provided with cutting edges, is advantageous for strong materials, such as for example metal sheets, or for elastic materials, such as for example plastic sheets.
• sheet describes a laminar element having a width and length substantially greater than the thickness thereof.
• the splicing protrusions may, for example, have a round, circular, triangular, polygonal, square or star-shaped cross-section.
• the cross sections of the splicing protrusions may be the same over a length of a splicing protrusion or may vary over a length of a splicing protrusion.
• the length of a splicing protrusion corresponds to the extension of the splicing protrusion from the surface of the plate the splicing protrusion is provided.
• Corresponding splicing holes may have a same or a different size than a splicing protrusion.
• a splicing hole may have a same cross section than a corresponding splicing protrusion.
• a cross section and depth of a splicing hole is at least as large as a corresponding splicing protrusion in order for a splicing protrusion to fit into the splicing hole.
• a cross section of a splicing hole does not have to be the same as the cross section of a splicing protrusion.
• a splicing hole may be a circular hole receiving various forms of splicing protrusions.
• splicing holes are drill holes.
• a cross section area, for example a diameter, of a splicing protrusion may, for example, be in a range between 0.5 millimeter and 20 millimeter.
• a cross section area, in particular a diameter, of a splicing protrusion is in a range between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeter. More preferably, a cross section area in particular a diameter, of a splicing protrusion is in a range between 2 millimeter and 5 millimeter, for example 3 millimeter.
• a cross section area, in particular a diameter, of a splicing hole may, for example, be in a range between 0.5 millimeter and 20 millimeter.
• all splicing holes have a same shape.
• the aerosol-generating film may be a substantially tobacco-free aerosol-generating film.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise an acid.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise one or more organic acids.
• the aerosol-generating film may comprise one or more carboxylic acids.
• the acid may, for example, be lactic acid, benzoic acid, fumaric acid or levulinic acid.
• the aerosol-generating film comprises between 0.25 percent and 3.5 percent by weight of an acid, or between 0.5 percent and 3 percent by weight of an acid, or between 1 percent and 2.5 percent by weight of an acid, on a dry weight basis.
• the method according to the invention may further comprise applying a liquid to at least one of the first and the second sheet of material before splicing the sheets of material.
• the liquid may be a natural liquid.
• the liquid may, for example, be water, egg white or fish glue.
• a tackiness of cast leaf may be improved by the application of water to the area of the sheet of cast leaf to be spliced.
• the method may further comprise detaching the spliced portion of the two sheets of material from the array of splicing protrusions by lifting the spliced portion off the splicing protrusions.
• the method comprises providing a detacher plate with an array of through holes, the array of through holes corresponding to an array of splicing protrusions.
• the method comprises detaching the spliced portion by means of springs.
• Example Ex1 A splicing device comprising a punch plate and a counter plate, wherein the punch plate and the counter plate are relatively movable versus each other for splicing two sheets of material arrangeable in between the punch plate and the counter plate, wherein the punch plate comprises an array of splicing protrusions and the oppositely arranged counter plate comprises an array of splicing holes, wherein the array of splicing holes comprises a number of splicing holes and the array of splicing protrusions comprises a number of splicing protrusions, wherein the number of splicing holes is at least the same as the number of splicing protrusions, and wherein a position of the splicing protrusions in the array of splicing protrusions corresponds to a position of the splicing holes in the array of splicing holes.
• Example Ex2 The splicing device according to example Ex1 , wherein both the punch plate and the counter plate comprise an array of s
• Example Ex3 The splicing device according to example Ex2, wherein splicing protrusions and splicing holes are arranged in an alternating manner on each of the punch plate and the counter plate.
• Example Ex4 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the punch plate and the counter plate are arranged parallel to each other.
• Example Ex5 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the punch plate and the counter plate have same dimensions in length and width.
• Example Ex6 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the splicing protrusions are splicing pins.
• Example Ex7 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the splicing protrusions have a pointed tip, a rounded tip or a tip provided with cutting edges.
• Example Ex8 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the splicing protrusions have a round, circular, triangular, polygonal, square or starshaped cross-section.
• Example Ex9 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the splicing holes have a circular, polygonal or triangular or square cross section.
• Example Ex10 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the splicing holes are drill holes.
• Example Ex11 The splicing device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein a length of a splicing protrusion is in a range between 1 millimeter and 50 millimeter.
• Example Ex46 The method according to any one of examples Ex42 to Ex45, therein keeping the sheets of materials stationary for splicing.
• Example Ex47 The method according to any one of examples Ex42 to Ex46, wherein the first or the second sheet of material is any one of a cellulose containing sheet material, a tobacco material containing sheet, an aerosol-generating sheet material, a polylactic acid sheet or a metal sheet.
• Example Ex48 The method according to example Ex47, wherein the first or the second sheet of material is any one of a paper sheet, a laminated paper sheet, a tobacco material containing cast leaf or a metal sheet.
• Example Ex50 The method according to example Ex49, wherein the liquid is a natural liquid.
• Example Ex51 The method according to examples Ex49 or Ex50, wherein the liquid is water, egg white or fish glue.
• Example Ex52 The method according to examples Ex49 or Ex51 , therein applying an amount of liquid up to 25 milliliter per squarecentimeter (ml/cm ⁇ 2>).
• Example Ex53 The method according to any one of examples Ex42 to Ex52, therein heating a punch plate or a counter plate.
• Example Ex54 The method according to example Ex53, therein heating the punch plate or the counter plate to a temperature of up to 300 degree Celsius.
• Example Ex55 The method according to any one of examples Ex53 to Ex54, therein heating the punch plate or the counter plate to a temperature between 50 degree Celsius and 200 degree Celsius.
• Example Ex56 The method according to any one of examples Ex42 to Ex55, therein detaching the spliced portion from the array of splicing protrusions by lifting the spliced portion off the splicing protrusions.
• Example Ex57 The method according to any one of examples Ex42 to Ex56, comprising arranging a detacher plate parallel to a punch plate and moving the detacher plate away from the punch plate parallel to a longitudinal extension of the splicing protrusions.
• Example Ex60 The method according to any one of examples Ex56 to Ex59, therein detaching the spliced portion by means of springs.
• Figure 2 shows a lateral view of a detail of an embodiment of the system of Fig. 1 ;
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a counter plate
• Figure 8 shows a top view of the counter plate of Fig. 6;
• Figure 10 shows a perspective view of a detacher plate
• Figure 13 shows another embodiment of splicing device with detacher
• an exemplary system to splice a first sheet and a second sheet of material is globally indicated with reference sign 1.
• the system 1 is described specifically adapted for the splicing of sheet material being tobacco material containing sheets, in particular homogenized tobacco material containing sheets such as cast leaf but also adapted for splicing fibrous paper sheets.
• the system 1 further comprises a splicing device 2, schematically indicated with a rectangle in Fig. 1.
• the first sheet 4, which in Fig. 1 is the sheet in use, is supplied to the splicing device 2.
• the unwinding of the first sheet 4 from the first bobbin 40 and its supply to the splicing device 2 takes place via guide pulley 22.
• the first sheet 4 is transported towards the splicing device 2 and in the further processing stages along a transport direction which is indicated by the arrow 50.
• the system 1 comprise an acceleration unit, for example in the form of two acceleration rollers (not shown in Fig. 1).
• the first sheet and second sheet being passed through the splicing device 2 may be accelerated or slowed down by the acceleration unit.
• the system 1 Downstream of such an acceleration unit, the system 1 comprises a buffer system 6.
• the buffer system 6 comprises a plurality of rollers 7, such as a series of idler pulleys, where the first sheet 4 or the second sheet 3 is guided around and forms loops.
• Some of the idler pulleys 7 are arranged in a movable manner such as to enlarge or shorten a sheet loop in order to be able to further provide sheet material in a downstream direction, even when a supply from the splicing device 2 or from the first bobbin 40 or second bobbin 30 is interrupted or reduced.
• the sensor 9 is located in the system 1.
• Sensor 9 is schematically depicted as a rectangle in Fig. 1.
• the sensor 9 may be a thickness sensor.
• the sensor 9 may be a width sensor.
• the sensor 9 may be a moisture sensor.
• the sensor 9 may be stickiness sensor.
• the sensor 9 may be a detector for the presence or absence of holes or tears in the first sheet 4.
• a second sheet sensor 10 is located in the system 1 , schematically depicted as a rectangle in Fig. 1.
• the sensor 10 may be a thickness sensor.
• the sensor 10 may be a width sensor.
• the sensor 10 may be a moisture sensor.
• the sensor 10 may be stickiness sensor.
• the sensor 10 may be a detector for the presence or absence of holes or tears in the second sheet 3.
• First sheet sensor 9 and second sheet sensor 10 may be the same type of sensor. First sheet sensor 9 and second sheet sensor 10 may measure the same integrity parameter of the first sheet 4 and second sheet 3, respectively.
• the first tobacco sheet 4, unwound from the first bobbin 40, is in use and is passing in a substantially straight direction through the splicing device 2. No processing takes place in the splicing device.
• the first sheet 4 is then buffered for a given length in the buffer system 6 and it is further transported to sheet processing units arranged further downstream (not shown).
• sheet processing units may for example be a crimping unit or a rod forming unit.
• the sensor 9 While travelling towards the splicing device 2, the sensor 9 evaluates one or more integrity parameters of the first sheet 4, at a given frequency, checking the surface of the first sheet while the first sheet 4 travels along the transport direction 50. Signals representative of the integrity parameters are sent to the control unit 100 where they are elaborated, for example compared to a threshold.
• the splicing device 2 is a thickness sensor.
• the sensor 9 measures the thickness of the first sheet 4 at a given frequency. The thickness is then compared by the control unit 100 with a threshold. For example, it is found that the results are not within the acceptable range. This is considered to be a non-acceptable defect of the first sheet 4 and the control unit 100 commands the splicing device 2 to start the splicing.
• the control unit 100 receives a signal from a diameter sensor (not shown) signalling that the first bobbin is going to be depleted soon in order to start the splicing process.
• the second sheet 3 from the second bobbin 30 is guided via guide pulley 22 and supplied to the splicing device 2 (in Fig. 2, the second sheet 3 is supplied from below first sheet 4 in use).
• Both sheets 3,4 are arranged on top of each other and aligned on a support surface 21 of the splicing device 2. They are then cut by cutting knife 20.
• the first sheet 4 and second sheet 3 travelling along the transport direction 50 are cut along a same or at different cut lines. Cut lines may be congruent when the first sheet and second sheet are overlapping. By the cut lines, a clearly defined end portion of the first sheet 4, a waste portion of the first sheet and a clearly defined waste portion of the second sheet 3 and a head portion of the second sheet 3 are defined.
• Waste portions may be removed after cutting the sheets 3,4. While the cutting does not necessarily have to be performed with aligned sheets, the splicing process does.
• the sheets 4, 3 that have been cut are positioned such that the end portion of the first sheet 4 and the head portion of the second sheet 3 overlie each other and form an overlapping portion. In the overlapping portions, two surfaces belonging to the first sheet and second sheet, respectively, are in contact with each other.
• Water is dispensed onto the lower lying sheet 3, preferably in the overlapping portion only by the dispensing unit 23.
• a thin water layer applied to one sheet only, such as the second sheet 3 the water may soften the material of the sheets 3,4 at least in the overlapping portion to support a splicing of the sheets 3,4.
• the amount of water is small enough to not disintegrate the sheets.
• a liquid adhesive in particular a liquid natural glue may be applied to one or both sheets.
• a heating unit 25 is provided that heats the spliced sheets. By the heat, the connection is quickly dried such that the spliced tobacco sheet may continue to be provided to further downstream arranged processing units.
• the first sheet 4 buffered in the buffer system 6 is used in the further processing steps. During the splicing therefore, the first sheet 4 in the buffer system 6 is used and the rollers 7 get closer to each other reaching a minimum distance, as depicted in Fig. 1.
• a new bobbin is provided and prepared for the tobacco sheet on the new bobbin to being spliced with the tobacco sheet in use, while the tobacco sheet is continuously provided to the tobacco processing line.
• All pins 70 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to 5 have a same shape and a same size, in particular all pins 70 on the punch plate 240 have a same diameter 76 and same height 71.
• Exemplary values of a punch plate 240 are: length 52: 255mm, width 53: 20mm and thickness 54: 10mm; diameter of through holes 75: 6 mm;
• Exemplary values for splicing pins 70 are: height 71 : 5 mm, diameter (or extension of cross section) 3 mm;
• Exemplary value of a distance 73 between neighbouring pins 70 in a row 10 mm;
• Exemplary values of a counter plate 241 are: length 52: 255mm, width 53: 20mm and thickness 54: 10mm; diameter (or extension of cross sectional) of splicing holes 3 mm;
• Exemplary value of a distance 83 between neighbouring splicing holes 80 in a row 10 mm;
• the punch plate 240 and counter plate 241 have a same length 52,62, width 53,63 and thickness 54,64. These dimensions may also be different, as long as the array of splicing pins 70 in the punch plate 240 have a correspondingly arranged array of splicing holes 80 in the counter plate 241.
• Splicing holes 80 are only provided in the counter plate 241. Splicing pins 70 are only provided in the punch plate 240.
• All detacher holes 95 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 to 12 have a same shape and a same size, in particular all detacher holes 95 in the detacher plate 90 are circular holes and have a same diameter 97.
• Exemplary value of a distance 96 between neighbouring detacher holes 95 in a row 10 mm;
• Exemplary value of a diameter of a spring 91 6 mm; height 99 of a spring 98 in a released position 10 mm.
• a punch plate 240 and a counter plate 241 are both embodied as male and female part at the same time.
• punch plate 240 and counter plate 241 are both provided with splicing pins 70 and splicing holes 80.
• Each of the splicing pins 70 of the counter plate 241 has a corresponding splicing hole 80 in the punch plate 240 and vice versa.
• slicing pins 70 and splicing holes 80 are arranged in alternating manner in rows along the length 52,62 of the punch plate 240 and counter plate 241 , respectively.
• a detacher plate 90 is assigned to each of the counter plate 241 and the punch plate 240.
• the detacher plates 90 are provided each with an array of detacher holes 95 corresponding to the combination of the splicing holes 80 in the counter plate 241 and the splicing holes 80 punch plate 240, or rather detacher holes 80 correposnding to the array of splicing pins 70 in of the punch plate 240 as well as of the counter plate 241.
• a spring 91 each is arranged between the longitudinal ends of the counter plate 241 and corresponding detacher plate 90.
• FIG. 13 Indicated in Fig. 13 with arrows 55 is a longitudinal movement of counter plate 240 and punch plate 240 in opposite directions in the length directions of counter plate 240 and punch plate 240. Such a slight transverse movement relative to the (vertical) splicing direction may reinforce the splicing.
• a pin shape and pin size may be chosen.

Landscapes

• Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
• Laminated Bodies (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Replacement Of Web Rolls (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=83228825

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2023
  • 2023-09-04 WO PCT/EP2023/074200 patent/WO2024052298A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2023-09-04 KR KR1020257009939A patent/KR20250065352A/ko active Pending
  • 2023-09-04 JP JP2025508904A patent/JP2025527538A/ja active Pending
  • 2023-09-04 US US19/107,998 patent/US20250376346A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-09-04 CN CN202380057849.XA patent/CN119654286A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-09-04 EP EP23764658.3A patent/EP4580975A1/de active Pending

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