EP4665176A1

EP4665176A1 - A compacting apparatus for forming continuous rod of tobacco industry from continuous strand of filling material and apparatus for producing rods of tobacco industry

Info

Publication number: EP4665176A1
Application number: EP24711937.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bartosz Cieslikowski; Radoslaw Figarski
Original assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Current assignee: International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp zoo
Priority date: 2023-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-15
Publication date: 2025-12-24
Also published as: HUE071807T2; JP2026505482A; WO2024170466A1; EP4417068A1; PL447781A1; KR20250148582A; EP4417068B1; PL4417068T3; WO2024171101A1

Abstract

A compacting apparatus (4) for forming a continuous rod (CR) of tobacco industry from a continuous strand of filling material (3), comprising: an inlet opening (13) and an outlet opening (14) situated on the opposite side, the outlet opening (14) having a diameter smaller than the inlet opening (13), a funnel-shaped forming wall (21) with a longitudinal axis (X), connecting the inlet opening (13) to the outlet opening (14). The apparatus is characterised in that the funnel-shaped forming wall (21) has a longitudinal slot (8) arranged to insert the continuous strand of filling material (3) into the compacting apparatus (4).

Description

A COMPACTING APPARATUS FOR FORMING CONTINUOUS ROD OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY FROM CONTINUOUS STRAND OF FILLING MATERIAL AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING RODS OF TOBACCO INDUSTRY

The object of the invention is a compacting apparatus for forming continuous rod of tobacco industry from continuous strand of filling material and apparatus for producing rods of tobacco industry.

The invention is applicable in the tobacco industry for production of rods used for the manufacture of smoking products.

In the tobacco industry, a commonly used method of manufacturing cigarette filters is to form a continuous rod filled with a filtering material and to cut such continuous rod into individual rods from which either individual mouthpieces or individual segments are eventually cut off to produce multi-segment filters. The filling material used to make the continuous rod is usually a fibrous material or a continuous web material of, for example, plant origin. For many years, paper and acetate fibres have been commonly used, with the filling material usually in the form of a continuous strand. Before commencing the production and starting the production machine, such strand of material must be fed into the continuous rod forming units so that when the machine is started, the continuous strand of material is automatically pulled by the machine from the feeding unit. The continuous rod formed in such a process is then cut into finished rods.

A problem faced by the manufacturers of the aforementioned rods is to develop an apparatus for compacting a continuous strand of filling material that enables easy and fast inserting of a new or broken strand of filling material into the forming path and, in particular, threading the continuous strand of filling material through the compacting apparatus. Previously known solutions require the time-consuming pushing of a strand of filling material through the compacting apparatus, which usually has the form of a funnel, using a long and thin pushing element, for example a cleaning rod.

In the state of the art, there are known apparatuses for folding a paper web before it is compacted in the production of a continuous rod. Such a solution is presented in the application WO 2022074190 which discloses an apparatus for manufacturing a tobacco industry continuous rod formed of two strands of filling material between which a heating element in the form of a strip of ferromagnetic material is placed.

Also known is a compacting apparatus maintaining separation between single webs of corrugated paper web such as in EP3918929. The body of the compacting apparatus has a funnel-like shape inside of which separating elements are arranged in a converging channel, with at least one separating element designed to separate at least two strands over the length of the compacting apparatus. The upper separating element runs from the inlet to the outlet inside the compacting apparatus and has the shape of an elongated plate with converging edges. The lower separating elements are similar in shape to the upper separating element, i.e. they are elongated and have converging edges.

In the solutions known from the state of the art, compacting apparatuses usually have the form of a funnel through which a continuous strand of filling material is inserted longitudinally axially from the side of the larger opening and pulled out from the side of the smaller opening. This is often done by means of a long element in the form of a cleaning rod which supports the pulling of the material. Such insertion of a continuous strand of filling material requires that the operator is skilled in order not to damage the material strand while pulling it through the compacting apparatus and requires sufficient time to perform this process. In the case of machine stoppages occurring due to strand breakage, the time required for this operation can significantly affect the overall production efficiency of the machine.

The purpose of the present invention is to develop an apparatus for compacting a continuous strand of filling material used in the tobacco industry, which will enable easy and at the same time fast preparation of the machine for production by facilitating the access to the insertion of the continuous strand of filling material into the compacting apparatus, without the risk of damaging or breaking it.

The object of the invention is a compacting apparatus for forming a continuous rod of tobacco industry from a continuous strand of filling material, comprising: an inlet opening and an outlet opening situated on the opposite side, the outlet opening having a diameter smaller than the inlet opening, a funnel-shaped forming wall with a longitudinal axis, connecting the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the funnel-shaped forming wall has a longitudinal slot arranged to insert the continuous strand of filling material into the compacting apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the slot is situated in its upper part of the forming wall.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the slot is situated above the longitudinal axis of the compacting apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by having an internal shaping element.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by having an internal shaping element having, on its outer surface, ribs arranged radially around the axis of the internal shaping element, arranged to fold the continuous strand of filling material.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by having on its forming wall, on the inner side, ribs arranged radially around the longitudinal axis, arranged to fold the continuous strand of filling material.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by having a closing element arranged to cover the slot.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the width of the slot is in the range between 10 and 150 mm, preferably between 20 and 100 mm.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the slot extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised by being arranged to vary its position along the longitudinal axis.

The object of the invention is also an apparatus for producing rods of tobacco industry from a continuous strand of filling material, comprising: a feeding unit arranged to feed the continuous material strand, a compacting apparatus arranged to compact the continuous strand of filter material, a forming unit arranged to form a continuous rod of tobacco industry, a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into tobacco industry rods of a predetermined length. The apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the compacting apparatus is provided with a funnel-shaped forming wall a longitudinal axis in which there is a longitudinal slot arranged to insert the continuous strand of filling material into the compacting apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the compacting apparatus is situated between the feeding unit for feeding the continuous strand of filling material and the inserting element.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the compacting apparatus is situated between the feeding unit for feeding the continuous strand of filling material and the forming unit.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the compacting apparatus has a common longitudinal axis common and situated lengthwise with the internal shaping element.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention is characterised in that the compacting apparatus has a longitudinal axis common and situated lengthwise with the internal inserting element.

The apparatus has the advantage of significantly simplifying the operation of loading a new or broken strand of filling material in the production process of the tobacco industry continuous rod. The simplification of the operation leads to a significant reduction of time taken by the operation of loading a new or broken strand of filling material.

The object of the invention is illustrated in more detail in a preferred embodiment in a drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a production apparatus for manufacture of rods from a continuous strand of filling material;

Fig. 2 shows a compacting apparatus for manufacture of a continuous rod from a continuous strand of filling material with tubular objects;

Fig. 3 shows the compacting apparatus for manufacture of a continuous rod from a continuous strand of filling material in a view from the inlet to the compacting apparatus;

Fig. 4 shows the compacting apparatus for manufacture of a continuous rod from a continuous strand of filling material with tubular objects in the second embodiment;

Fig. 5 shows the compacting apparatus for producing the continuous rod from the continuous strand of filling material in a view from the inlet side of the compacting apparatus in the second embodiment;

Fig. 6 shows the compacting apparatus for producing the continuous rod in the second embodiment during the insertion of the continuous strand of filling material;

Fig. 7 shows the compacting apparatus for producing the continuous rod in the second embodiment during the insertion of the continuous strand of filling material in a view from the inlet side of the compacting apparatus; Fig. 8 shows the compacting apparatus for producing the continuous rod from the continuous strand of filling material with capsules in another embodiment;

Fig. 9 shows the compacting apparatus for producing the continuous rod from the continuous strand of filling material in another embodiment;

Fig. 10 shows the compacting apparatus for producing the continuous rod from the continuous strand of filling material in a view from the inlet side of the compacting apparatus in another embodiment.

In the tobacco industry, machines for manufacture of rods from various types of filling materials are used. The filling material can be acetate, crimped paper, CLT, PLA film, cellulose fibres, plant material fibres, processed tobacco in the form of a strand, or other materials approved for production in the tobacco industry. Before starting the production, such material must first be placed in individual units of the rod making machine so that, after starting, the machine can automatically receive it from the feeding unit. When forming a continuous rod from a continuous strand of material, it must be pre-compacted in a compacting apparatus which is usually in the form of a funnel through which the material passes. Individual objects can then be inserted into this pre-compacted and formed material strand, for example: capsules, tubes, filter segments, elements directing the flow of cigarette smoke, heating elements, aromatic elements, or a uniform continuous rod, such as a continuous filter rod, can be manufactured.

Fig. 1 shows a tobacco industry apparatus 1 for manufacture of rods R of tobacco industry. In this embodiment, the filling material 3 is a web of continuous paper strand which is fed to a creping unit 12 by means of a feeding unit 2. From the creping unit 12, the strand is transferred to a compacting apparatus 4 where it is compacted and at the same time pre-formed, for example by pleating or creasing. The continuous strand of filling material 3 thus formed passes from the compacting apparatus 4 to the forming unit 5. The forming unit 5 comprises, among others, an inserting element 6 and a format bar 7 whose task is to form a continuous rod CR from the continuous strand of filling material 3. However, also possible is a solution wherein the continuous rod CR is formed in the format bar 7 itself and the inserting element 6 only inserts the continuous strand of material 3 into the format bar 7. The inserting element 6 may further have, on its circumferential surface, openings for evacuating excess air contained therein, which greatly facilitates the compression of the continuous strand of material 3 and the initial formation of the continuous rod CR. The inserting element 6 may also have a slot in its upper surface through which a unit placing objects, for example capsules or tubes, will be inserted into the inserting element 6. After the adhesive path has been applied to the edges of the wrapping paper 10, the wrapping paper 10 is wrapped around the pre-formed continuous rod CR in the forming unit 5. The thus formed continuous rod CR is cut by the cutting head 11 into rods R of a predetermined length.

Fig. 2 shows a compacting apparatus 4 in the first embodiment for compacting continuous strand of filling material 3 which can be, for example, crimped paper, a continuous web of processed tobacco film, PLA or another material used in the tobacco industry in the form of a continuous sheet. In this embodiment, the compacting apparatus 4 is in the form of a funnel with a larger inlet opening 13 and a smaller outlet opening 14. From the inlet opening 13 to the outlet opening 14, there extends a longitudinal slot 8 facilitating the operator to insert the strand of filling material 3 into the compacting apparatus 4. Moreover, the strand of filling material 3 is inserted into it over the entire length of the slot 8, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X before the first start or when the production machine is stopped, after which it is necessary to insert the strand of filling material 3. The compacting apparatus 4 has a funnel-shaped forming wall 21 with a longitudinal axis X connecting the inlet opening 13 to the outlet opening 14. In the funnel-shaped forming wall 21 , there is arranged the longitudinal slot 8 extending over the entire length of the compacting apparatus 4 from the inlet opening 13 to the outlet opening 14, arranged to insert the continuous strand of filling material 3 into the compacting apparatus 4. Preferably, the slot width S is in the range between 10 mm and 150 mm, and most preferably between 20 and 100 mm.

On the inner surface of the forming wall 21 of the compacting apparatus 4, there may be ribs 15 which force creasing and/or pleating of the material strand 3. Furthermore, inside the compacting apparatus 4, there may be an internal shaping element 17 in the form of a cone with ribs 16 situated on its outer surface which also force creasing and/or pleating of the material strand 3.

The continuous strand of material 3, after being inserted into the compacting apparatus 4, is pre-folded with the ribs 15, 16 and, as it moves towards the outlet opening 14, is compacted to the dimension of the diameter of the outlet opening 14 of the compacting apparatus 4. The continuous strand of filling material 3 is then conveyed to the inserting element 6 wherein various types of objects, for example capsules or paper tubes, may be inserted into the formed continuous rod CR. In this embodiment, paper tubes T are inserted into the formed continuous rod CR by means of a disc 9 which delivers the tubes T into the inserting element 6. The thus formed continuous rod CR is wrapped in the wrapping paper 10 and cut into the rods R by means of the cutting head 11 .

Fig. 3 shows the compacting apparatus 4 in a view from the inlet opening 13 with the continuous strand of filling material 3 already inserted into it. The visible pre-folding of the strand of filling material 3 was forced by the ribs 15 of the compacting apparatus 4 and the ribs 16 of the shaping element 17.

In the production of the tobacco industry rods R, it is also possible to use the compacting apparatus 4 according to another embodiment shown in Fig. 4. The compacting apparatus 4 has in its upper part 19, on the forming wall 21 , a longitudinal slot 8 extending from the inlet opening 13 to the outlet opening 14. The slot 8 is formed by cutting off a part of the compacting apparatus 4 situated above the longitudinal axis X by a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X and substantially parallel to the surface Y separating the upper part 19 from the lower part 20. The upper part 19 is to be understood as the area situated above the longitudinal axis X, as marked by the separating plane Y. The lower part 20 is to be understood as the area situated below the longitudinal axis X, as marked by the separating plane Y.

Such an embodiment of the slot 8 allows the continuous strand of filling material 3 to be easily and quickly inserted into the compacting apparatus 4. Before inserting the continuous strand of filling material 3, it is possible to extend the shaping element 17 from inside of the compacting apparatus 4 and to move the compacting apparatus 4 away from the inserting element 6, along the longitudinal axis X. After being inserted into the compacting apparatus 4, the continuous strand of filling material 3 is wound by the operator in the direction indicated by an arrow F, towards the inserting element 6. Then, the apparatus 1 for producing the rods R is operated at slow speed, thus causing the continuous strand of filling material 3 to be pulled by the format belt 23 and the continuous strand of material 3 to be inserted into the inserting element 6 through the slot 18 arranged on its lower surface, on the side of the format belt 23. The slot 18 extends over the entire length of the inserting element 6 so that the continuous strand of filling material 3 can be inserted into the inserting element 6, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig.7. Once the continuous strand of filling material 3 is inserted into the inserting element 6, it is moved towards subsequent units forming the continuous rod CR. At the same time, the operator pushes the compacting apparatus 4 along the longitudinal axis X against the inserting element 6 and inserts the forming unit 17 into it. During the movement, the continuous strand of filling material 3 starts to be wound between the ribs 15 and 16, over the entire lower part 20 of the compacting apparatus 4, as shown in Fig.5.

In spite of the open upper part 19 of the compacting apparatus 4, the continuous strand of filling material 3 remains with its substantially larger surface area in its lower part 20. Due to the shaping element 17 arranged inside and the ribs 15, 16, the continuous strand of filling material is held so that it does not go outside the compacting apparatus 4 through the slot 8.

It is also possible to use a compacting apparatus 4 to manufacture the rods R from the continuous strand of filling material 3 which may be acetate. An embodiment of such apparatus is shown in Fig. 8. In the tobacco industry, acetate fibres, which are supplied to the rod making apparatus 1 in the form of a continuous strand, are commonly used for the manufacture of filter rods. Such a strand has to be fed into the compacting apparatus 4 each time before starting the apparatus 1 and then threaded through the openings, first through the inlet opening 13, then through the outlet opening 14, and through the openings of the forming element 6. In order to facilitate this process, it is possible to use the compacting apparatus 4 according to the invention in another embodiment which is shown in Fig. 6. The compacting apparatus 4 in this embodiment is without the internal shaping element and the ribbing on the inner surface of the forming wall 21 . The inner surface of the forming wall 21 of the compacting apparatus 4 is smooth, since the acetate filling material does not need to be folded during the process of compacting and forming the continuous rod CR. In the upper part 19 of the compacting apparatus 4, there is situated the slot 8 with a width S ranging between 10 and 150 mm, preferably between 20 and 100 mm. The slot 8 in this embodiment is narrower than the slot used in the compacting apparatus 4 for compacting the paper strand.

The pre-compacted strand of filling material 3 then passes from the compacting apparatus 4 to the forming element 6 where the capsules C can be inserted into it. The continuous rod CR thus formed is then cut into the rods R of a predetermined length.

Fig. 9 and Fig.10 show the apparatus for compacting 4 the continuous strand of filling material in another embodiment. The compacting apparatus 4 has, in its upper part 19, a slot 8 which is covered by a closing element 22 after the filling material 3 is inserted into such compacting apparatus 4. The closing element 22 can be fixed to the compacting apparatus 4 by means of hinges or slidably mounted. At the time of insertion of the continuous strand of filling material 3 into of the compacting apparatus 4, the closing element is deflected or extended from the area of the slot 8. After the filling material 3 is inserted inside it, the slot 8 is covered by the closing element 22.

List of designations

1 . Tobacco industry apparatus for manufacture of rods

2. Feeding unit for a continuous strand of filling material

3. Continuous strand of filling material

4. Compacting apparatus

5. Forming unit

6. Inserting element

7. Format bar

8. Slot

9. Disc

10. Wrapping paper

11 . Cutting head

12. Creping unit

13. Inlet opening

14. Outlet opening

15. Ribs of compacting apparatus

16. Ribs of forming element

17. Internal shaping element

18. Slot of inserting element

19. Upper part

20. Lower part

21 . Forming wall of compacting apparatus

22. Closing element

23. Format belt

R - rod

CR- continuous rod

X - longitudinal axis

Y - separating plane

E - direction of winding continuous strand of filling material

Claims

Patent claims

1 . A compacting apparatus (4) for forming a continuous rod (CR) of tobacco industry from a continuous strand of filling material (3), comprising: an inlet opening (13) and an outlet opening (14) situated on the opposite side, the outlet opening (14) having a smaller diameter than the inlet opening (13), a funnel-shaped forming wall (21) with a longitudinal axis (X), connecting the inlet opening (13) to the outlet opening (14), characterised in that the funnel-shaped forming wall (21) has a longitudinal slot (8) arranged to insert the continuous strand of filling material (3) into the compacting apparatus (4).

2. The apparatus (4) as in claim 1, characterised in that the slot (8) is situated in its upper part (19) of the forming wall (21).

3. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the slot (8) is situated above the longitudinal axis (X) of the compacting apparatus (4).

4. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised by having an internal shaping element (17).

5. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 4, characterised by having an internal shaping element (17) having, on its outer surface, ribs (16) arranged radially around the axis (k) of the internal shaping element (17) arranged to fold the continuous strand of filling material (3).

6. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised by having on its forming wall (21), on the inner side, ribs (15) arranged radially around the longitudinal axis (X), arranged to fold the continuous strand of filling material (3).

7. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 6, characterised by having a closing element (22) arranged to cover the slot (8).

8. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the width of the slot (8) is in the range between 10 and 150 mm, preferably between 20 and 100 mm.

9. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the slot (8) extends from the inlet opening (13) to the outlet opening (14).

10. The apparatus (4) as in any of the claims 1 to 9, characterised by being arranged to vary its position along the longitudinal axis (X).

11. An apparatus (1) for producing rods of tobacco industry from a continuous strand of filling material (3) comprising: a feeding unit (2) arranged to feed the continuous strand of material (3), a compacting apparatus (4) arranged to compact the continuous strand of filtering material (3), a forming unit (5) arranged to form a continuous rod (CR) of tobacco industry, a cutting head (11) for cutting the continuous rod (CR) into tobacco industry rods (R) of a predetermined length. characterised in that the compacting apparatus (4) is provided with a funnel-shaped forming wall (21) with a longitudinal axis (X) in which there is situated a longitudinal slot (8) arranged to insert the continuous strand of filling material (3) into the compacting apparatus (4).

12. The apparatus (1) as in claim 11 , characterised in that the compacting apparatus (4) is situated between the feeding unit (2) for feeding the continuous strand of filling material (3) and the inserting element (6).

13. The apparatus (1) as in claim 11 , characterised in that the compacting apparatus (4) is situated between the feeding unit (2) for feeding the continuous strand of filling material (3) and the forming unit (5).

14. The apparatus (1) as in claim 11 , characterised in that the compacting apparatus (4) has a longitudinal axis (X) common and situated lengthwise with the internal shaping element (17).

15. The apparatus (1) as in claim 11 , characterised in that the compacting apparatus (4) has a longitudinal axis X common and situated lengthwise with the internal inserting element (6).