EP4606233A1 - Production machine and production method for hollow rod used in flavor inhalation article - Google Patents

Production machine and production method for hollow rod used in flavor inhalation article

Info

Publication number
EP4606233A1
EP4606233A1 EP22962736.9A EP22962736A EP4606233A1 EP 4606233 A1 EP4606233 A1 EP 4606233A1 EP 22962736 A EP22962736 A EP 22962736A EP 4606233 A1 EP4606233 A1 EP 4606233A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
shaping
additive
hollow
manufacturing
end portion
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
EP22962736.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Junichiro Ikeda
Yuji Narita
Manabu YASHIRO
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.)
Japan Tobacco Inc
Original Assignee
Japan Tobacco Inc
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 Japan Tobacco Inc filed Critical Japan Tobacco Inc
Publication of EP4606233A1 publication Critical patent/EP4606233A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/0229—Filter rod forming processes
    • A24D3/0233—Filter rod forming processes by means of a garniture
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/0275—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter tips or filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces of 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
    • A24D3/022—Applying additives to filter materials with liquid additives, e.g. application of plasticisers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a machine and a method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article.
  • a machine for manufacturing a hollow rod constitutes a machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article and comprises: a supply section for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway; a shaping section for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and a cutting section for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping section into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods, wherein the shaping section comprises: a shaping unit having a shaping path through which the rod material passes; a mandrel which is disposed in the shaping path and collaborates with the shaping path to form a hollow portion penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body; and an adding unit which is mounted at an upstream end portion of the mandrel located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway, and supplies an additive to a circumferential surface of the hollow portion in the shaping path, and the mandrel comprises:
  • the manufacturing machine 2 comprises a supply section 6 for supplying the filter material 4, a shaping section 8, and a cutting section 10.
  • the supply section 6 continuously feeds out the filter material 4 for supply to a conveyance pathway 12 (S1: supply step).
  • a first adding unit 14 for adding an additive to the filter material 4 is disposed on the conveyance pathway 12 between the supply section 6 and the shaping section 8.
  • Fig. 3 shows a view in transverse section of the shaping section 8
  • fig. 4 shows a view in longitudinal section of the continuous body 28 of the hollow filter 1.
  • the transport jet 18 is cylindrical and an air introduction path 30 opens on an outer circumferential portion thereof.
  • Drawn air associated with air pressure is introduced into the cylinder of the transport jet 18 from the air introduction path 30, and, as this happens, the filter material 4 is gathered while being drawn in by means of the drawn air.
  • the trumpet guide 20 is cylindrical and an air release path 32 opens on an outer circumferential portion thereof.
  • the continuous body 28 of the hollow filter 1 with a hollow portion 34 is formed as a result of the filter material 4 passing through the shaping path 22a in which the mandrel 24 (to be described later) is disposed (P4: shaping process).
  • the mandrel 24 collaborates with the shaping path 22a to form the hollow portion 34 penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body 28.
  • a heater 36 for thermoforming the continuous body 28 is furthermore provided in the shaping unit 22. The heater 36 thermoforms the continuous body 28 by blowing steam (indicated by the broken lines) from thermoforming pipes 38 incorporated into the shaping unit 22.
  • a cooler 40 for cooling the continuous body 28 following thermoforming by the heater 36 is furthermore provided in the shaping unit 22.
  • the cooler 40 cools the thermoformed continuous body 28 by blowing compressed air (indicated by the single-dot chain lines) from cooling pipes 42 incorporated into the shaping unit 22.
  • the non-wrapped continuous body 28 which is not wrapped with a wrapping paper, and consequently a non-wrapped hollow filter 1, are formed by this means.
  • the second adding unit 26 is mounted at an upstream end portion 24a of the mandrel 24 located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12.
  • the second adding unit 26 is a spray gun for atomizing and supplying an additive, for example.
  • the mandrel 24 is formed by connecting a tubular member 44, a first member 46 and a second member 48 in an axial direction thereof in succession from the side of the upstream end portion 24a.
  • An additive flow path 50 (to be described later) is formed inside each of the tubular member 44 and the first member 46.
  • the additive which has been supplied from the second adding unit 26 and has flowed through the additive flow path 50 is blown onto the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34, as shown by the solid line arrows in fig. 3 , at the connection point of the first member 46 and the second member 48 positioned in the shaping path 22a.
  • the second adding unit 26 supplies the additive to the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34 in the shaping path 22a via the additive flow path 50 (P5: second adding process (adding process)).
  • P5 second adding process (adding process)
  • the additive is sprayed from a spray hole 54 (to be described later) in a state in which the filter material 4 is not in contact with the spray hole 54.
  • Fig. 5 shows a view in transverse section of each of the first member 46 and the second member 48 according to a first embodiment.
  • Fig. 6 shows a view in transverse section of the first member 46 and the second member 48 connected in the shaping unit 22 according to the first embodiment.
  • the first member 46 comprises the additive flow path 50, a circumferential wall 52, the spray hole 54, and a cover 56.
  • the additive flow path 50 is formed along the axial direction inside the mandrel 24, i.e., inside the first member 46, and allows a flow of the additive supplied from the second adding unit 26.
  • the circumferential wall 52 forms the additive flow path 50.
  • the spray hole 54 penetrates the circumferential wall 52 and sprays the additive flowing through the additive flow path 50.
  • a plurality of spray holes 54 are provided along the circumferential direction of the circumferential wall 52.
  • the cover 56 is cylindrical and covers the spray holes 54 while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray holes 54.
  • An upstream end portion 58 located on the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12 is formed in the second member 48, and a downstream end portion 60 located on the downstream side of the conveyance pathway 12 is formed on the first member 46.
  • the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is detachably connected to the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46.
  • the cover 56 has a connecting portion 64 connected along the circumferential direction of the circumferential wall 52.
  • the connecting portion 64 has an outer circumferential surface (first outer circumferential surface) 64a reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12.
  • the connecting portion 64 is formed by means of welding in this embodiment.
  • a channel 66 through which the additive flows is further formed between the cover 56 and the spray holes 54.
  • the channel 66 has an opening portion 68 on the downstream side of the conveyance pathway 12.
  • the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 has an outer circumferential surface (second outer circumferential surface) 58a which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12, until smaller in diameter than an inner circumferential surface 56a of the cover 56. Furthermore, the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 and the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 are detachably connected by means of a screw connection. In this embodiment, the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 has a male screw portion 58b on an outer circumference on a tip end side thereof.
  • the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 has a female screw portion 60a into which the male screw portion 58b can be screwed, on an inner circumferential surface linked to the additive flow path 50.
  • the first member 46 and the second member 48 are detachably connected by screwing the male screw portion 58b into the female screw portion 60a.
  • the tubular member 44 and the first member 46 are detachably connected by means of a screw connection the same as the connection between the first member 46 and the second member 48.
  • Fig. 7 shows a view in longitudinal section of the shaping unit 22 seen from the direction A-A in fig. 6 .
  • the additive supplied in an atomized state from the second adding unit 26 via the additive flow path 50 is blown radially and evenly from the spray holes 54 covered by the cover 56, onto the circumferential surface 34a of the continuous body 28 via the opening portion 68 of the channel 66.
  • the additive is added without the spray holes 54 being blocked by the filter material 4 and without conveyance of the filter material 4 through the shaping path 22a being obstructed.
  • the machine 2 for manufacturing the hollow filter 1 of this embodiment comprises the mandrel 24 which is provided with the cover 56 for covering the spray holes 54.
  • the method for manufacturing the hollow filter 1 of this embodiment comprises the supply step S1, the shaping step S2, and the cutting step S3; as described above, the shaping step S2 comprises the shaping process P4 and the second adding process P5; and, in the second adding process P5, the additive is sprayed from the spray holes 54 in a state in which the filter material 4 is not in contact with the spray holes 54.
  • the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54 in the shaping unit 22, and the spray holes 54 are prevented from being blocked by the filter material 4.
  • the additive can therefore be suitably sprayed from the spray holes 54, and a desired amount of the additive can be evenly added to the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34, making it possible to stably maintain the quality of the hollow filter 1.
  • the cover 56 comprises the connecting portion 64, and the connecting portion 64 comprises the outer circumferential surface 64a which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12.
  • the cover 56 makes it possible to efficiently suppress obstruction to the flow of the filter material 4 through the shaping path 22a, so even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can be envisaged.
  • the connecting portion 64 is formed by means of welding, thereby enabling a boundary between the outer circumferential surface 64a of the connecting portion 64 and the circumferential wall 52 to be formed by a smooth welded surface. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the cover 56 can be minimized because the connecting portion 64 does not have a mechanical connecting structure. Accordingly, the cover 56 makes it possible to even more efficiently suppress obstruction to the flow of the filter material 4 through the shaping path 22a, so even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can be envisaged.
  • the channel 66 through which the additive flows is formed between the cover 56 and the spray holes 54, the channel 66 having the opening portion 68 on the downstream side of the conveyance pathway 12.
  • the additive sprayed from the spray holes 54 is guided to the opening portion 68 of the channel 66 and is evenly blown onto the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34 toward the downstream side, which is the same direction as a flow direction of the filter material 4. Even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can therefore be envisaged.
  • the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 has the outer circumferential surface 58a which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12, until smaller in diameter than the inner circumferential surface 56a of the cover 56.
  • the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is capable of suppressing obstruction to the flow of the additive which is blown onto the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34 from the opening portion 68 of the channel 66, and to the flow of the filter material 4 in the shaping path 22a. Even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can therefore be envisaged.
  • downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 and the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 are detachably connected by means of a screw connection.
  • the first member 46 and the second member 48 are easily detachable.
  • the male screw portion 58b is formed on the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48
  • the female screw portion 60a into which the male screw portion 58b can be screwed is formed on the inner circumferential surface, which is linked to the additive flow path 50, of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46.
  • the first member 46 and the second member 48 are detachably connected by screwing the male screw portion 58b into the female screw portion 60a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 is open, with the male screw portion 58b being formed on the inner circumferential surface linked to the additive flow path 50. As a result, while the second member 48 is detached from the first member 46, the interior of the first member 46 can be easily accessed from the opening in the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46. This makes it possible to easily clean the additive that has adhered to or built up at the periphery of the spray holes 54, which therefore improves the ease of maintenance of the mandrel 24, and consequently of the manufacturing machine 2.
  • the second adding unit 26 is a spray gun, and the additive is atomized beforehand by means of the spray gun, and supplied to the additive flow path 50.
  • the additive is atomized beforehand by means of the spray gun, and supplied to the additive flow path 50.
  • both a portion of the mandrel 24 and the garniture belt 21 are positioned overlapping in the shaping path 22a.
  • the hollow portion 34 is formed by the mandrel 24 at the same time as the outer shape of the continuous body 28 is shaped by means of the garniture belt 21, in the shaping path 22a. Accordingly, the size of the manufacturing machine 2 can be reduced, and it is possible in particular to shorten a length dimension of the manufacturing machine 2 along the conveyance pathway 12, as compared to a case in which formation of the hollow portion 34 and shaping of the outer shape of the continuous body 28 are performed in different locations.
  • the additive flow path 50 is blocked by means of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46, and a male screw portion 60b is formed on the outer circumference at the tip end side of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46. Meanwhile, a recess is formed at the tip end of the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48, and a female screw portion 58c into which the male screw portion 60b can be screwed is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the recess.
  • the first member 46 and the second member 48 are detachably connected by screwing the male screw portion 60b into the female screw portion 58c.
  • the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54 because the cover 56 is formed in the same way as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the spray holes 54 are prevented from being blocked by the filter material 4, making it possible to stably maintain quality of the hollow filter 1.
  • Other features of this embodiment in common with the first embodiment enable the same advantageous effects to be achieved as in the first embodiment.
  • the first member 46 and the second member 48 are connected by way of a cylindrical cover member 70. Furthermore, a portion of the additive flow path 50 is perforated at the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48, and the spray holes 54 are formed penetrating a circumferential wall 72 of the upstream end portion 58 where the additive flow path 50 is formed.
  • the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is inserted into a downstream end portion 74 of the cover member 70.
  • a circumferential wall of the downstream end portion 74 functions as the cover 56 that covers the spray holes 54.
  • a female screw portion 76a is formed on an inner circumferential surface of an upstream end portion 76 of the cover member 70, and a sealing member 78 is set into a step on a downstream side of the female screw portion 76a on this inner circumferential surface.
  • the sealing member 78 ensures airtightness between the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 and the cover member 70 when the upstream end portion 58 has been inserted into the cover member 70, while also having a function for preventing withdrawal of the upstream end portion 58 from the cover member 70.
  • the male screw portion 60b formed on the outer circumference on the tip end side of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 can be screwed into the female screw portion 76a of the cover member 70.
  • the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is inserted into the cover member 70 and locked by the sealing member 78, and the male screw portion 60b is further screwed into the female screw portion 76a, whereby the second member 48, the cover member 70 and the first member 46 are detachably connected.
  • the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54 because the cover 56 is formed in the same way as in the first and second embodiments. Accordingly, the spray holes 54 are prevented from being blocked by the filter material 4, making it possible to stably maintain the quality of the hollow filter 1.
  • Other features of this embodiment in common with the first embodiment and/or the second embodiment enable the same advantageous effects to be achieved as in the first embodiment and/or the second embodiment.
  • the cover 56 is cylindrical in the embodiments above, but the cover 56 could conceivably have various shapes other than cylindrical, provided that the cover 56 covers the spray holes 54 while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray holes 54, and that the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54.
  • the second adding unit 26 may equally supply an additive other than a plasticizer, e.g., a flavoring, and the additive which is supplied is not limited to a liquid, and may equally be solid particles. The same also applies to the additive supplied by the first adding unit 14. Furthermore, the additive supplied by the second adding unit 26 may be the same as or different from the additive supplied by the first adding unit 14.
  • the filter material 4 of the hollow filter 1 is not limited to an acetate tow fiber bundle, and materials of various shapes and types may be used.
  • the manufacturing machine 2 and manufacturing method described above may also be applied to hollow rods other than the hollow filter 1 which are used as a component of flavor inhalation articles.
  • the manufacturing machine 2 and manufacturing method described above may also be applied to the manufacture of a flavor rod in which a flavoring material (which may or may not include a tobacco material) serving as a rod material is gathered, diameter-reduced and shaped to form the hollow portion 34.
  • a machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article comprising:
  • a method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article comprising:

Landscapes

  • Extrusion Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
  • Nozzles (AREA)

Abstract

A machine (2) for manufacturing a hollow rod (1) comprises: a supply section (6) for supplying a rod material (4); a shaping section (8) for forming a continuous body (28) of the hollow rod (1); and a cutting section (10) for cutting the continuous body (28) into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods (1), wherein the shaping section (8) comprises: a shaping unit (22) having a shaping path (22a); a mandrel (24) for forming a hollow portion (34) penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body (28); and an adding unit (26) which supplies an additive to a circumferential surface (34a) of the hollow portion (34) in the shaping path (22a), and the mandrel (24) comprises: an additive flow path (50) which allows a flow of the additive; a spray hole (54) which penetrates a circumferential wall (52) of the additive flow path (50) and sprays the additive; and a cover (56) for covering the spray hole (54) while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray hole (54).

Description

    [Technical Field]
  • The present invention relates to a machine and a method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article.
    • [Background Art]
  • PTL 1 describes a filter element used in an aerosol-generating article. This filter element comprises a hollow portion, and a flavorant is added directly to a circumferential surface of the hollow portion. Furthermore, a manufacturing machine for manufacturing a filter rod constituting a continuous body of the filter element comprises: a tubular element with an inlet for introducing a filter material and an outlet for outputting a filter rod; and a rod-shaped element with a nozzle for discharging the flavorant. The flavorant can be added directly to the circumferential surface of the hollow portion by arranging the nozzle at an outer surface of the rod-shaped element.
    • [Citation List] [Patent Literature]
  • [PTL 1] JP 2020-508075 A
    • [Summary of Invention] [Technical Problem]
  • The abovementioned filter rod manufacturing machine supplies the flavorant (an additive in other words) to the circumferential surface of the hollow portion from a spray hole constituting an opening portion of the nozzle, in the tubular element (a shaping unit in other words) through which the filter material (a rod material in other words) passes. The state in the shaping unit is therefore such that the rod material may contact the spray hole, so the spray hole is blocked for a time by the rod material, and there is a risk that the additive will not be suitably sprayed from the spray hole. In that case, a desired amount of the additive may not be evenly added to the circumferential surface of the hollow portion, and it may not be possible to stably maintain the quality of the hollow rod.
  • The present invention takes account of such a problem, and the objective thereof lies in providing a machine and a method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article, which enable manufacture of a hollow rod with stable quality.
    • [Solution to Problem]
  • In order to achieve this objective, a machine for manufacturing a hollow rod according to an embodiment constitutes a machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article and comprises: a supply section for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway; a shaping section for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and a cutting section for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping section into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods, wherein the shaping section comprises: a shaping unit having a shaping path through which the rod material passes; a mandrel which is disposed in the shaping path and collaborates with the shaping path to form a hollow portion penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body; and an adding unit which is mounted at an upstream end portion of the mandrel located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway, and supplies an additive to a circumferential surface of the hollow portion in the shaping path, and the mandrel comprises: an additive flow path which is formed along the axial direction inside the mandrel and allows a flow of the additive supplied from the adding unit; a circumferential wall forming the additive flow path; a spray hole which penetrates the circumferential wall and sprays the additive flowing through the additive flow path; and a cover for covering the spray hole while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray hole.
  • A method for manufacturing a hollow rod according to an embodiment constitutes a method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article and comprises: a supply step for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway; a shaping step for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and a cutting step for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping step into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods, wherein the shaping step includes: a shaping process for forming the continuous body with a hollow portion as a result of the rod material passing through a shaping path in which a mandrel is disposed; and an adding process for spraying an additive from a spray hole formed in the mandrel onto a circumferential surface of the hollow portion, and in the adding process, the additive is sprayed from the spray hole in a state in which the rod material is not in contact with the spray hole.
    • [Advantageous Effects of Invention]
  • The quality of a hollow rod manufactured by the abovementioned manufacturing machine and manufacturing method can be stably maintained because a desired amount of an additive can be evenly added to a circumferential surface of a hollow portion thereof.
    • [Brief Description of Drawings]
    • [Fig. 1] is a schematic diagram of machine for manufacturing a hollow filter.
    • [Fig. 2] is a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing a hollow filter.
    • [Fig. 3] is a view in transverse section of a shaping section.
    • [Fig. 4] is a view in longitudinal section of a continuous body of the hollow filter.
    • [Fig. 5] is a view in transverse section of each of a first member and a second member according to a first embodiment.
    • [Fig. 6] is a view in transverse section of the first member and the second member connected in a shaping unit according to the first embodiment.
    • [Fig. 7] is a view in longitudinal section of the shaping unit seen from the direction A-A in fig. 6.
    • [Fig. 8] is a view in transverse section of each of a first member and a second member according to a second embodiment.
    • [Fig. 9] is a view in transverse section of the first member and the second member connected in a shaping unit according to the second embodiment.
    • [Fig. 10] is a view in transverse section of each of a first member, a cover member and a second member according to a third embodiment.
    • [Fig. 11] is a view in transverse section of the first member, the cover member and the second member connected in a shaping unit according to the third embodiment.
    [Description of Embodiments]
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a machine 2 for manufacturing a hollow filter 1 which is an example of a hollow rod, and fig. 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a method for manufacturing the hollow filter 1. The manufacturing machine 2 and the method for manufacturing the hollow filter 1 employing the manufacturing machine 2 will be described below with reference to fig. 1 and 2. The hollow filter 1 is used as a component of a combustion-type or non-combustion-type flavor inhalation article.
  • The hollow filter 1 of this embodiment is what is known as a non-wrapped filter obtained by thermoforming a filter material (rod material) 4 without wrapping with a wrapping paper, the hollow filter 1 functioning as a filter component of the flavor inhalation article. The filter material 4 is a fiber bundle of acetate tow comprising cellulose acetate, for example.
  • The manufacturing machine 2 comprises a supply section 6 for supplying the filter material 4, a shaping section 8, and a cutting section 10. When manufacture of the hollow filter 1 is started, the supply section 6 continuously feeds out the filter material 4 for supply to a conveyance pathway 12 (S1: supply step). A first adding unit 14 for adding an additive to the filter material 4 is disposed on the conveyance pathway 12 between the supply section 6 and the shaping section 8.
  • The additive is a plasticizer such as triacetin, for example, and the first adding unit 14 thoroughly adds the additive to the filter material 4 before gathering (P1: first adding process). It should be noted that the first adding unit 14 may be arranged in the supply section 6. The filter material 4 supplied to the conveyance pathway 12 is conveyed to the shaping section 8 via a conveyance roller 16, etc.
  • The shaping section 8 comprises: a transport jet 18, a trumpet guide 20, a shaping unit 22, a mandrel 24, and a second adding unit (adding unit) 26. By means of these components, the shaping section 8 gathers, diameter-reduces and shapes the filter material 4 to form a continuous body 28 of the hollow filter 1 during the process of conveyance of the filter material 4 on the conveyance pathway 12 (S2: shaping step).
  • Fig. 3 shows a view in transverse section of the shaping section 8, and fig. 4 shows a view in longitudinal section of the continuous body 28 of the hollow filter 1. The transport jet 18 is cylindrical and an air introduction path 30 opens on an outer circumferential portion thereof. Drawn air associated with air pressure is introduced into the cylinder of the transport jet 18 from the air introduction path 30, and, as this happens, the filter material 4 is gathered while being drawn in by means of the drawn air. The trumpet guide 20 is cylindrical and an air release path 32 opens on an outer circumferential portion thereof.
  • Released air associated with air pressure is released from inside the cylinder of the trumpet guide 20 via the air release path 32, and, as this happens, the filter material 4 which has passed through the transport jet 18 is reduced in diameter while being fibrillated by means of the released air (P3: diameter reduction process). A shaping path 22a, through which the filter material 4 diameter-reduced in the trumpet guide 20 passes, is formed in the shaping unit 22. The continuous body 28 of the hollow filter 1 with a hollow portion 34 is formed as a result of the filter material 4 passing through the shaping path 22a in which the mandrel 24 (to be described later) is disposed (P4: shaping process).
  • An endless garniture belt 21 which travels together with the filter material 4 in the conveyance path 22a is arranged in the shaping unit 22. The garniture belt 21 is arranged in such a way as to be capable of traveling in the shaping path 22a via a conveyance roller 23. Furthermore, the mandrel 24 is arranged within the cylinders of the transport jet 18 and trumpet guide 20, and in the shaping path 22a of the shaping unit 22, substantially in the center in a radial direction thereof.
  • As also shown in fig. 4, the mandrel 24 collaborates with the shaping path 22a to form the hollow portion 34 penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body 28. A heater 36 for thermoforming the continuous body 28 is furthermore provided in the shaping unit 22. The heater 36 thermoforms the continuous body 28 by blowing steam (indicated by the broken lines) from thermoforming pipes 38 incorporated into the shaping unit 22.
  • A cooler 40 for cooling the continuous body 28 following thermoforming by the heater 36 is furthermore provided in the shaping unit 22. The cooler 40 cools the thermoformed continuous body 28 by blowing compressed air (indicated by the single-dot chain lines) from cooling pipes 42 incorporated into the shaping unit 22. The non-wrapped continuous body 28 which is not wrapped with a wrapping paper, and consequently a non-wrapped hollow filter 1, are formed by this means.
  • The second adding unit 26 is mounted at an upstream end portion 24a of the mandrel 24 located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12. The second adding unit 26 is a spray gun for atomizing and supplying an additive, for example. Furthermore, the mandrel 24 is formed by connecting a tubular member 44, a first member 46 and a second member 48 in an axial direction thereof in succession from the side of the upstream end portion 24a. An additive flow path 50 (to be described later) is formed inside each of the tubular member 44 and the first member 46.
  • The additive which has been supplied from the second adding unit 26 and has flowed through the additive flow path 50 is blown onto the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34, as shown by the solid line arrows in fig. 3, at the connection point of the first member 46 and the second member 48 positioned in the shaping path 22a. In the shaping step S2 shown in fig. 2, the second adding unit 26 supplies the additive to the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34 in the shaping path 22a via the additive flow path 50 (P5: second adding process (adding process)). In the second adding process P5, the additive is sprayed from a spray hole 54 (to be described later) in a state in which the filter material 4 is not in contact with the spray hole 54.
  • Furthermore, as shown in fig. 3, the shaping unit 22 comprises the garniture belt 21 where a portion of the first member 46 and the second member 48 are positioned in the shaping path 22a, the garniture belt 21 traveling along the shaping path 22a while covering the filter material 4. That is to say, both a portion of the mandrel 24 and the garniture belt 21 are positioned overlapping in the shaping path 22a. The cutting section 10 cuts the continuous body 28 formed by the shaping section 8 into predetermined lengths to form hollow filters 1 (S3: cutting step), and manufacture of the hollow filter 1 is completed.
    • <First Embodiment>
  • Fig. 5 shows a view in transverse section of each of the first member 46 and the second member 48 according to a first embodiment. Fig. 6 shows a view in transverse section of the first member 46 and the second member 48 connected in the shaping unit 22 according to the first embodiment. The first member 46 comprises the additive flow path 50, a circumferential wall 52, the spray hole 54, and a cover 56.
  • The additive flow path 50 is formed along the axial direction inside the mandrel 24, i.e., inside the first member 46, and allows a flow of the additive supplied from the second adding unit 26. The circumferential wall 52 forms the additive flow path 50. The spray hole 54 penetrates the circumferential wall 52 and sprays the additive flowing through the additive flow path 50.
  • A plurality of spray holes 54 are provided along the circumferential direction of the circumferential wall 52. The cover 56 is cylindrical and covers the spray holes 54 while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray holes 54. An upstream end portion 58 located on the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12 is formed in the second member 48, and a downstream end portion 60 located on the downstream side of the conveyance pathway 12 is formed on the first member 46. The upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is detachably connected to the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46.
  • The cover 56 has a connecting portion 64 connected along the circumferential direction of the circumferential wall 52. The connecting portion 64 has an outer circumferential surface (first outer circumferential surface) 64a reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12. The connecting portion 64 is formed by means of welding in this embodiment. A channel 66 through which the additive flows is further formed between the cover 56 and the spray holes 54. The channel 66 has an opening portion 68 on the downstream side of the conveyance pathway 12.
  • The upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 has an outer circumferential surface (second outer circumferential surface) 58a which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12, until smaller in diameter than an inner circumferential surface 56a of the cover 56. Furthermore, the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 and the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 are detachably connected by means of a screw connection. In this embodiment, the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 has a male screw portion 58b on an outer circumference on a tip end side thereof.
  • Meanwhile, the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 has a female screw portion 60a into which the male screw portion 58b can be screwed, on an inner circumferential surface linked to the additive flow path 50. The first member 46 and the second member 48 are detachably connected by screwing the male screw portion 58b into the female screw portion 60a. Moreover, the tubular member 44 and the first member 46 are detachably connected by means of a screw connection the same as the connection between the first member 46 and the second member 48.
  • Fig. 7 shows a view in longitudinal section of the shaping unit 22 seen from the direction A-A in fig. 6. The additive supplied in an atomized state from the second adding unit 26 via the additive flow path 50 is blown radially and evenly from the spray holes 54 covered by the cover 56, onto the circumferential surface 34a of the continuous body 28 via the opening portion 68 of the channel 66. The additive is added without the spray holes 54 being blocked by the filter material 4 and without conveyance of the filter material 4 through the shaping path 22a being obstructed.
  • As described above, the machine 2 for manufacturing the hollow filter 1 of this embodiment comprises the mandrel 24 which is provided with the cover 56 for covering the spray holes 54. Furthermore, as described above, the method for manufacturing the hollow filter 1 of this embodiment comprises the supply step S1, the shaping step S2, and the cutting step S3; as described above, the shaping step S2 comprises the shaping process P4 and the second adding process P5; and, in the second adding process P5, the additive is sprayed from the spray holes 54 in a state in which the filter material 4 is not in contact with the spray holes 54.
  • As a result, the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54 in the shaping unit 22, and the spray holes 54 are prevented from being blocked by the filter material 4. The additive can therefore be suitably sprayed from the spray holes 54, and a desired amount of the additive can be evenly added to the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34, making it possible to stably maintain the quality of the hollow filter 1.
  • Furthermore, the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is detachably connected to the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46. Here, the main function of the first member 46 is to supply the additive from the second adding unit 26 to the shaping path 22a via the additive flow path 50. Meanwhile, the function of the second member 48 is to shape the hollow portion 34 in the continuous body 28, and consequently the hollow filter 1, to the desired diameter and cross-sectional shape. By making the first member 46 and the second member 48 detachable from each other, the second member 48 can be easily replaced with a member having a different diameter or a different shape in longitudinal section. Accordingly, the manufacturing machine 2 according to this embodiment is capable of manufacturing a variety of hollow filters 1 having hollow portions 34 with various shapes and sizes.
  • Furthermore, the cover 56 comprises the connecting portion 64, and the connecting portion 64 comprises the outer circumferential surface 64a which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12. As a result, the cover 56 makes it possible to efficiently suppress obstruction to the flow of the filter material 4 through the shaping path 22a, so even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can be envisaged.
  • Furthermore, the connecting portion 64 is formed by means of welding, thereby enabling a boundary between the outer circumferential surface 64a of the connecting portion 64 and the circumferential wall 52 to be formed by a smooth welded surface. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the cover 56 can be minimized because the connecting portion 64 does not have a mechanical connecting structure. Accordingly, the cover 56 makes it possible to even more efficiently suppress obstruction to the flow of the filter material 4 through the shaping path 22a, so even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can be envisaged.
  • Furthermore, the channel 66 through which the additive flows is formed between the cover 56 and the spray holes 54, the channel 66 having the opening portion 68 on the downstream side of the conveyance pathway 12. As a result, the additive sprayed from the spray holes 54 is guided to the opening portion 68 of the channel 66 and is evenly blown onto the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34 toward the downstream side, which is the same direction as a flow direction of the filter material 4. Even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can therefore be envisaged.
  • Furthermore, the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 has the outer circumferential surface 58a which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway 12, until smaller in diameter than the inner circumferential surface 56a of the cover 56. As a result, the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is capable of suppressing obstruction to the flow of the additive which is blown onto the circumferential surface 34a of the hollow portion 34 from the opening portion 68 of the channel 66, and to the flow of the filter material 4 in the shaping path 22a. Even greater stability of quality of the hollow filter 1 can therefore be envisaged.
  • Furthermore, the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 and the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 are detachably connected by means of a screw connection. As a result, the first member 46 and the second member 48 are easily detachable. Specifically, the male screw portion 58b is formed on the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48, and the female screw portion 60a into which the male screw portion 58b can be screwed is formed on the inner circumferential surface, which is linked to the additive flow path 50, of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46.
  • The first member 46 and the second member 48 are detachably connected by screwing the male screw portion 58b into the female screw portion 60a. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 is open, with the male screw portion 58b being formed on the inner circumferential surface linked to the additive flow path 50. As a result, while the second member 48 is detached from the first member 46, the interior of the first member 46 can be easily accessed from the opening in the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46. This makes it possible to easily clean the additive that has adhered to or built up at the periphery of the spray holes 54, which therefore improves the ease of maintenance of the mandrel 24, and consequently of the manufacturing machine 2.
  • Furthermore, the second adding unit 26 is a spray gun, and the additive is atomized beforehand by means of the spray gun, and supplied to the additive flow path 50. As a result, it is possible to suppress a rise in pressure in the additive flow path 50 as compared to a case in which a liquid additive is supplied from the second adding unit 26 and sprayed from the spray holes 54 after being pressurized by a pressurizing means in the additive flow path 50. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage to the mandrel 24 caused by high pressure in the additive flow path 50, and leakage of the additive from the additive flow path 50, enabling improved reliability of the manufacturing machine 2.
  • Furthermore, both a portion of the mandrel 24 and the garniture belt 21 are positioned overlapping in the shaping path 22a. As a result, the hollow portion 34 is formed by the mandrel 24 at the same time as the outer shape of the continuous body 28 is shaped by means of the garniture belt 21, in the shaping path 22a. Accordingly, the size of the manufacturing machine 2 can be reduced, and it is possible in particular to shorten a length dimension of the manufacturing machine 2 along the conveyance pathway 12, as compared to a case in which formation of the hollow portion 34 and shaping of the outer shape of the continuous body 28 are performed in different locations.
    • <Second Embodiment>
  • Fig. 8 shows a view in transverse section of each of the first member 46 and the second member 48 according to a second embodiment. Fig. 9 shows a view in transverse section of the first member 46 and the second member 48 connected in the shaping unit 22 according to the second embodiment. It should be noted that the description of this embodiment will mainly illustrate features which are different from those of the first embodiment, and features which are the same as those of the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference signs in the drawings and may not be described.
  • In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the additive flow path 50 is blocked by means of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46, and a male screw portion 60b is formed on the outer circumference at the tip end side of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46. Meanwhile, a recess is formed at the tip end of the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48, and a female screw portion 58c into which the male screw portion 60b can be screwed is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the recess. The first member 46 and the second member 48 are detachably connected by screwing the male screw portion 60b into the female screw portion 58c.
  • In this embodiment also, the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54 because the cover 56 is formed in the same way as in the first embodiment. Accordingly, the spray holes 54 are prevented from being blocked by the filter material 4, making it possible to stably maintain quality of the hollow filter 1. Other features of this embodiment in common with the first embodiment enable the same advantageous effects to be achieved as in the first embodiment.
    • <Third Embodiment>
  • Fig. 10 shows a view in transverse section of each of the first member 46, a cover member 70 and the second member 48 according to a third embodiment. Fig. 11 shows a view in transverse section of the first member 46, the cover member 70 and the second member 48 connected in the shaping unit 22 according to the third embodiment. It should be noted that the description of this embodiment will mainly illustrate features which are different from those of the first and second embodiments, and features which are the same as those of the first and second embodiments will be assigned the same reference signs in the drawings and may not be described.
  • In this embodiment, the first member 46 and the second member 48 are connected by way of a cylindrical cover member 70. Furthermore, a portion of the additive flow path 50 is perforated at the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48, and the spray holes 54 are formed penetrating a circumferential wall 72 of the upstream end portion 58 where the additive flow path 50 is formed. The upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is inserted into a downstream end portion 74 of the cover member 70. As a result, a circumferential wall of the downstream end portion 74 functions as the cover 56 that covers the spray holes 54.
  • A female screw portion 76a is formed on an inner circumferential surface of an upstream end portion 76 of the cover member 70, and a sealing member 78 is set into a step on a downstream side of the female screw portion 76a on this inner circumferential surface. The sealing member 78 ensures airtightness between the upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 and the cover member 70 when the upstream end portion 58 has been inserted into the cover member 70, while also having a function for preventing withdrawal of the upstream end portion 58 from the cover member 70.
  • The male screw portion 60b formed on the outer circumference on the tip end side of the downstream end portion 60 of the first member 46 can be screwed into the female screw portion 76a of the cover member 70. The upstream end portion 58 of the second member 48 is inserted into the cover member 70 and locked by the sealing member 78, and the male screw portion 60b is further screwed into the female screw portion 76a, whereby the second member 48, the cover member 70 and the first member 46 are detachably connected.
  • In this embodiment also, the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54 because the cover 56 is formed in the same way as in the first and second embodiments. Accordingly, the spray holes 54 are prevented from being blocked by the filter material 4, making it possible to stably maintain the quality of the hollow filter 1. Other features of this embodiment in common with the first embodiment and/or the second embodiment enable the same advantageous effects to be achieved as in the first embodiment and/or the second embodiment.
  • This concludes the description of embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be modified in various ways within a scope that does not depart from the essential point of the present invention. For example, the cover 56 is cylindrical in the embodiments above, but the cover 56 could conceivably have various shapes other than cylindrical, provided that the cover 56 covers the spray holes 54 while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray holes 54, and that the filter material 4 does not come into contact with the spray holes 54.
  • Furthermore, the second adding unit 26 may equally supply an additive other than a plasticizer, e.g., a flavoring, and the additive which is supplied is not limited to a liquid, and may equally be solid particles. The same also applies to the additive supplied by the first adding unit 14. Furthermore, the additive supplied by the second adding unit 26 may be the same as or different from the additive supplied by the first adding unit 14.
  • Furthermore, the filter material 4 of the hollow filter 1 is not limited to an acetate tow fiber bundle, and materials of various shapes and types may be used. Furthermore, the manufacturing machine 2 and manufacturing method described above may also be applied to hollow rods other than the hollow filter 1 which are used as a component of flavor inhalation articles. For example, the manufacturing machine 2 and manufacturing method described above may also be applied to the manufacture of a flavor rod in which a flavoring material (which may or may not include a tobacco material) serving as a rod material is gathered, diameter-reduced and shaped to form the hollow portion 34.
  • In addition, the embodiments described above may be expressed, in part or in full, by the disclosure of the aspects given below.
    • (Aspect 1)
  • A machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article, the manufacturing machine comprising:
    • a supply section for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway;
    • a shaping section for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and
    • a cutting section for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping section into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods,
      wherein
    • the shaping section comprises:
      • a shaping unit having a shaping path through which the rod material passes;
      • a mandrel which is disposed in the shaping path and collaborates with the shaping path to form a hollow portion penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body; and
      • an adding unit which is mounted at an upstream end portion of the mandrel located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway, and supplies an additive to a circumferential surface of the hollow portion in the shaping path,
        and
      • the mandrel comprises:
        • an additive flow path which is formed along the axial direction inside the mandrel and allows a flow of the additive supplied from the adding unit;
        • a circumferential wall forming the additive flow path;
        • a spray hole which penetrates the circumferential wall and sprays the additive flowing through the additive flow path; and
        • a cover for covering the spray hole while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray hole.
    (Aspect 2)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 1, wherein the mandrel includes:
    • a first member which comprises the additive flow path, the spray hole and the cover, and which is formed with a downstream end portion located on a downstream side of the conveyance pathway; and
    • a second member which is formed with an upstream end portion located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway,
      and
    • the upstream end portion of the second member is detachably connected to the downstream end portion of the first member.
    (Aspect 3)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 2, wherein the cover comprises a connecting portion connected along a circumferential direction of the circumferential wall, and
    the connecting portion has a first outer circumferential surface reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway.
    • (Aspect 4)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 3, wherein the connecting portion is formed by means of welding.
    • (Aspect 5)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 4, wherein a channel through which the additive flows is formed between the cover and the spray hole, and
    the channel has an opening portion on a downstream side of the conveyance pathway.
    • (Aspect 6)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 5, wherein the upstream end portion of the second member has a second outer circumferential surface which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway, until smaller in diameter than an inner circumferential surface of the cover.
    • (Aspect 7)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 6, wherein the downstream end portion of the first member and the upstream end portion of the second member are detachably connected by means of a screw connection.
    • (Aspect 8)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 7, wherein the upstream end portion of the second member has a male screw portion on an outer circumference on a tip end side thereof, and
    the downstream end portion of the first member has a female screw portion into which the male screw portion can be screwed, on an inner circumferential surface linked to the additive flow path.
    • (Aspect 9)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 1, wherein the adding unit is a spray gun for atomizing and supplying the additive.
    • (Aspect 10)
  • The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as described in Aspect 2, wherein the shaping unit has a garniture belt where a portion of the first member and the second member are positioned in the shaping path, the garniture belt traveling along the shaping path while covering the rod material.
    • (Aspect 11)
  • A method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article, the manufacturing method comprising:
    • a supply step for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway;
    • a shaping step for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and
    • a cutting step for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping step into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods,
      wherein
    • the shaping step includes:
      • a shaping process for forming the continuous body with a hollow portion as a result of the rod material passing through a shaping path in which a mandrel is disposed; and
      • an adding process for spraying an additive from a spray hole formed in the mandrel onto a circumferential surface of the hollow portion,
        and
      • in the adding process, the additive is sprayed from the spray hole in a state in which the rod material is not in contact with the spray hole.
    [Reference Signs List]
    • 1
    Hollow filter (hollow rod)
    2
    Manufacturing machine
    4
    Filter material (rod material)
    6
    Supply section
    8
    Shaping section
    10
    Cutting section
    12
    Conveyance pathway
    21
    Garniture belt
    22
    Shaping unit
    22a
    Shaping path
    24
    Mandrel
    24a
    Upstream end portion of mandrel
    26
    Second adding unit (adding unit, spray gun)
    28
    Continuous body
    34
    Hollow portion
    34a
    Circumferential surface
    46
    First member
    48
    Second member
    50
    Additive flow path
    52
    Circumferential wall
    54
    Spray hole
    56
    Cover
    58
    Upstream end portion of second member
    58a
    Outer circumferential surface of upstream end portion of second member (second outer circumferential surface)
    58b
    Male screw portion on upstream end portion of second member
    60
    Downstream end portion of first member
    60a
    Female screw portion on downstream end portion of first member
    64
    Connecting portion of cover
    64a
    Outer circumferential surface of connecting portion of cover (first outer circumferential surface)
    66
    Channel
    68
    Opening portion
    S1
    Supply step
    S2
    Shaping step
    S3
    Cutting step
    P4
    Shaping process
    P5
    Second adding process (adding process)

Claims (11)

  1. A machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article, the manufacturing machine comprising:
    a supply section for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway;
    a shaping section for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and
    a cutting section for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping section into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods,
    wherein
    the shaping section comprises:
    a shaping unit having a shaping path through which the rod material passes;
    a mandrel which is disposed in the shaping path and collaborates with the shaping path to form a hollow portion penetrating in an axial direction of the continuous body; and
    an adding unit which is mounted at an upstream end portion of the mandrel located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway, and supplies an additive to a circumferential surface of the hollow portion in the shaping path, and
    the mandrel comprises:
    an additive flow path which is formed along the axial direction inside the mandrel and allows a flow of the additive supplied from the adding unit;
    a circumferential wall forming the additive flow path;
    a spray hole which penetrates the circumferential wall and sprays the additive flowing through the additive flow path; and
    a cover for covering the spray hole while allowing the additive to be sprayed from the spray hole.
  2. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mandrel includes:
    a first member which comprises the additive flow path, the spray hole and the cover, and which is formed with a downstream end portion located on a downstream side of the conveyance pathway; and
    a second member which is formed with an upstream end portion located on an upstream side of the conveyance pathway, and
    the upstream end portion of the second member is detachably connected to the downstream end portion of the first member.
  3. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover comprises a connecting portion connected along a circumferential direction of the circumferential wall, and
    the connecting portion has a first outer circumferential surface reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway.
  4. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 3, wherein the connecting portion is formed by means of welding.
  5. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 4, wherein a channel through which the additive flows is formed between the cover and the spray hole, and
    the channel has an opening portion on a downstream side of the conveyance pathway.
  6. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the upstream end portion of the second member has a second outer circumferential surface which is reduced in diameter to a tapered shape toward the upstream side of the conveyance pathway, until smaller in diameter than an inner circumferential surface of the cover.
  7. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the downstream end portion of the first member and the upstream end portion of the second member are detachably connected by means of a screw connection.
  8. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upstream end portion of the second member has a male screw portion on an outer circumference on a tip end side thereof, and
    the downstream end portion of the first member has a female screw portion into which the male screw portion can be screwed, on an inner circumferential surface linked to the additive flow path.
  9. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the adding unit is a spray gun for atomizing and supplying the additive.
  10. The machine for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shaping unit has a garniture belt where a portion of the first member and the second member are positioned in the shaping path, the garniture belt traveling along the shaping path while covering the rod material.
  11. A method for manufacturing a hollow rod used in a flavor inhalation article, the manufacturing method comprising:
    a supply step for continuously feeding out a rod material for supply to a conveyance pathway;
    a shaping step for gathering, diameter-reducing and shaping the rod material to form a continuous body of the hollow rod, during the process of conveyance of the rod material on the conveyance pathway; and
    a cutting step for cutting the continuous body formed by the shaping step into predetermined lengths to form hollow rods,
    wherein
    the shaping step includes:
    a shaping process for forming the continuous body with a hollow portion as a result of the rod material passing through a shaping path in which a mandrel is disposed; and
    an adding process for spraying an additive from a spray hole in the mandrel onto a circumferential surface of the hollow portion, and
    in the adding process, the additive is sprayed from the spray hole in a state in which the rod material is not in contact with the spray hole.
EP22962736.9A 2022-10-19 2022-10-19 Production machine and production method for hollow rod used in flavor inhalation article Pending EP4606233A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2022/038946 WO2024084627A1 (en) 2022-10-19 2022-10-19 Production machine and production method for hollow rod used in flavor inhalation article

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4606233A1 true EP4606233A1 (en) 2025-08-27

Family

ID=90737171

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22962736.9A Pending EP4606233A1 (en) 2022-10-19 2022-10-19 Production machine and production method for hollow rod used in flavor inhalation article

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4606233A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2024084627A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4549875A (en) * 1983-06-02 1985-10-29 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
EP2548625B1 (en) * 2010-03-16 2018-06-06 Japan Tobacco, Inc. Filter manufacturing machine
GB201420733D0 (en) * 2014-11-21 2015-01-07 British American Tobacco Co Apparatus and method for filter manufacture
PL3585188T3 (en) 2017-02-27 2024-11-18 Philip Morris Products S.A. Filter element and method for manufacturing thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
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