GB1340201A - Cigarette making machines - Google Patents

Abstract

1340201 Cigarette making machines MOLINS Ltd 20 Oct 1971 [20 Oct 1970 28 July 1971] 49843/70 and 35513/71 Heading A2C In a cigarette making machine in which a filler stream is carried by a suction conveyer towards a rod forming device, a cover extending along the conveyer defines a space adjacent the outer surface of the filler stream, and means are provided for producing an air flow through the cover space to entrain particles of filler that become separated from the stream. In one embodiment, tobacco is showered upwardly through a channel 10, Fig. 1, to form a filler stream on a porous band 12 which is backed by a suction chamber 16 and delivers the stream to a rod-forming device in which the stream is enclosed in a continuous paper web 18. The upward flow of tobacco. in the channel 10 is assisted by a fan 22 which withdraws air through a louvred port 26 in the side of the channel. The fan also withdraws air through a pipe 36 connected to a cover 30 which has air inlet holes or slots (not shown), and the suction pressures in the channel 10 and cover 30 are such that a flow of air 44 passes from the channel to the cover. Tobacco detached from the stream by a trimmer 20 is entrained with the air withdrawn from the cover 30 and separated in a cyclone 38 from which it may be returned to the tobacco being supplied to the channel 10. In a modification, the filler stream, formed on a suction band 54, Fig. 3, is conveyed round a pulley 60 and along the top run of the band to a pulley 64 where it is transferred by a suction wheel 66 to a web 58. The filler stream is confined between rails 68, 70, Fig. 5, which is a section on the line V-V in Fig. 3, and the rails are spanned by a cover 76 between which and the rails are formed air admission slots 84. Excess tobacco may be discharged through a pipe 80 or carried by the air flow in the cover to a box 82 where it is discharged, together with tobacco removed by a trimmer 62, through a pipe 83. Fig. 8 shows a modification in which cover portions formed with air inlets and carrying adjustably mounted rails for confining the sides of the filler stream are mounted so that they may be hinged away from the band for maintenance. The curved cover portions 120, 169 are hinged at 136, 173, and the straight portion 144 is hinged on pins 158. Rails 172 (170) at the top of the channel 90 are also mounted on hinges 188 to allow access to the band. These rails have grooves to direct an inflow of atmospheric air upwardly and towards the cover portion 120. Additional inlets are also provided to admit a flow of air for removing any particles between the band and the pulley or rails.