GB2267021A

GB2267021A - Filter cigarette machine

Info

Publication number: GB2267021A
Application number: GB9310158A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Alec Clarke
Original assignee: Molins Ltd
Current assignee: Mpac Group PLC
Priority date: 1992-05-19
Filing date: 1993-05-18
Publication date: 1993-11-24
Also published as: GB9310158D0; GB9210681D0

Abstract

Filter cigarettes with composite mouthpieces are produced by separately delivering different filter sections (B, W) to positions adjacent the ends of tobacco sections and wrapping and sealing them together to form a filter cigarette while they are moving in directions transverse to their lengths. The production process can be carried out on a modified plug assembler, thereby removing the need for any separate composite plug maker. <IMAGE>

Description

Filter Cigarette Manufacture This invention relates to manufacture of filter cigarettes and in particular to manufacture of such cigarettes having composite mouthpieces.

As used herein the term "composite mouthpiece" includes any mouthpiece having at least two different rod-like sections. For convenience, reference hereinafter will be made to "filter sections" but it should be understood that the sections need not have any demonstrable filtering effect, e.g. they could be open tubes. Similarly, each filter cigarette will be referred to as including a tobacco section and filter portion. Thus the filter portions with which the present invention is concerned comprise at least two filter sections. Unless the context necessarily requires otherwise reference herein to a filter cigarette, tobacco section, filter portion or filter section should be interpreted as including a reference to such cigarette, section or portion having a length which is either equal to or a multiple of that occurring in an individual filter cigarette.

It is known to produce composite mouthpieces by assembling component filter sections in a predetermined order in axial alignment and wrapping and sealing the assembly in a uniting band. Usually the assemblies so produced are of multiple length, e.g. four or six times the length of an individual filter portion. In one known form of machine for producing composite filter rod the component filter sections are assembled on a series of drums while moving in a direction transverse to their lengths prior to being wrapped and sealed while moving in an axial direction. In another known form of machine the component filter sections are assembled and wrapped and sealed while moving in an axial direction. In both cases multiple length component filter rods are subsequently transported to filter cigarette assembling machines for joining to tobacco sections to form filter cigarettes.

According to the present invention a cigarette assembling machine adapted to assemble filter cigarettes having composite mouthpieces comprises means for delivering tobacco sections in a direction transverse to their lengths, means for assembling first and second filter sections in alignment with each tobacco section, and means for wrapping and sealing said sections while they are moving transverse to their lengths to produce a filter cigarette.

The machine preferably includes separate sources of multiple length first and second filter sections and means for severing and realigning said filter sections prior to bringing them into alignment with the tobacco section. Preferably the machine includes at least one conveyor on which an axially aligned assembly comprising axiallyspaced tobacco sections and interposed first and second filter sections is conveyed in a direction transverse to its length. Preferably said assembly comprises first filter sections immediately adjacent the inner ends of the tobacco sections and a double length filter section (or two single length filter sections) between the first filter sections.

The machine preferably includes a catcher drum or the like for receiving the tobacco sections and may include a conventional cork drum and rolling plate and conventional delivery system. Thus the apparatus may comprise a conventional filter cigarette assembling machine modified so as to assemble composite filter portions from separate sources of the component filter sections.

As compared with conventional apparatus for producing filter cigarettes having composite mouthpieces, in which a filter cigarette assembling machine is fed with composite filter rod produced on a separate composite rod making machine, the present apparatus has several advantages. There is no requirement for such a separate composite rod maker, nor for tray or other handling equipment for transporting the composite mouthpiece rod to a filter cigarette assembling machine. There are consequent potential savings in labour, floor space (including storage space for composite mouthpiece rods), and power consumption. Moreover there is a materials saving in that the filter cigarette has only a single wrapper (the uniting band) surrounding the filter sections: the need for a separate wrapper joining the filter sections together is eliminated.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a filter cigarette assembling machine, Figure 2 is a developed view of certain conveying drums of the machine of Figure 1, showing the positions of filter sections on the drums, and Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing the positions of filter sections on further conveying drums of the machine of Figure 1.

The machine shown in Figure 1 is arranged to produce a filter cigarette having a tobacco section attached to a filter portion, the filter portion comprising two adjacent sections of different filter materials.

The machine receives successive tobacco sections from a continuous rod cigarette making machine on a catcher drum in a conventional manner; and also joins the filter portion to each tobacco section in a conventional manner, by rolling a uniting band around the filter portion and adjacent end of the tobacco section. The manner in which this is achieved is, for example, in the Molins PA1ON filter cigarette assembling machine. The machine shown in Figure 1 differs from conventional machines in that each filter portion comprises two different filter sections assembled on the machine.

In the machine of Figure 1 double length tobacco sections are received from the making machine (not shown) on a fluted catcher drum 10 and are subsequently severed at their mid-points and axially separated on a series of further drums 12-16. A series of axially separated single length tobacco sections is thus transferred to a drum 18, downstream of the drum 16. The passage of the tobacco sections between the drums 10 and 18 is substantially identical to that in said Molins PAl ON machine.

The drum 18 receives filter portions in axial alignment with each tobacco section, as described below. Each filter portion comprises first and second filter sections of different materials. Each filter section is derived from a multiple length filter section delivered to the machine and subsequently cut into individual sections. For convenience the different filter sections will be hereinafter referred to as black sections and white sections; the terms "black" and "white" have no reference to the colours of the sections.

The machine has separate hoppers 20, 22 for the black and white filter sections respectively. The sections received in each hopper 20, 22 are each eight times the length of an individual section contained in each filter portion. Each of the hoppers 20, 22 is adapted to receive filter sections from a respective tray 24, 26 placed above the hopper.

Referring also to Figure 2, the black sections B are removed from the hopper 20 by a fluted drum 28. While being conveyed by the drum 28, they are cut at their mid-points by a knife 30 and then ploughed axially apart by guides 32. The drum 28 transfers the axially-spaced black sections B to a drum 34 which also serves to remove the white sections W from the hopper 22, the white sections being received between the axially spaced black sections. While being conveyed by the drum 34, each black and white section is severed at its mid-point by a knife 36 (i.e. there are three such knives). The resultant assembly of six sections is transferred to a drum 38 having a rolling plate 40 which causes the first, third and fifth sections to be rolled back as indicated in Figure 2 so as to produce separate assemblages each having three similar components (black, white, black).These assemblages are transferred from the drum 38 to a drum 42 on which they are ploughed together and into axial alignment by guides 44. The aligned sections are transferred from the drum 42 to a drum 46 which cooperates with knives 48 to sever each of the sections again at its mid-point.

Referring now also to Figure 3, the assemblages of six component sections produced on the drum 46 are transferred to a drum 50 having a rolling plate 52 which causes the first, third and fifth component sections to be rolled back, in a manner similar to that which occurs on the drum 38, so as to produce two assemblages each of three similar components. These assemblages are transferred from the drum 50 to a drum 54 on which they are ploughed together and into axial alignment by guides 56. From the drum 54 the assemblages are transferred to a drum 58 on which the central white section W is severed at its mid-point by a knife 60. This produces an assemblage of four sections (black, white, white, black) each of individual length.A guide 62 causes the assemblage to be separated at its mid-point so as to produce two pairs of sections each of which comprises the components required for a filter portion (i.e. a black section and a white section). The pairs of sections are transferred from the drum 58 to the drum 18 in alignment with tobacco sections T, as shown in Figure 3.

From the drum 18 the tobacco and filter assemblies are transferred via an alignment drum 64, to a cork drum 66 and rolling plate 68, at which a uniting band is wrapped and sealed around each tobacco section and filter portion to produce individual filter cigarettes.

Downstream of the cork drum 68 the cigarettes are delivered by way of drums 70,72 and further drums (not shown) which form no part of this invention.

In an alternative arrangement the cutting and separating operation provided on the drum 58 is omitted and a double length cigarette is produced at the cork drum 66 and rolling plate 68 (using a double width uniting band), the double length cigarette being subsequently severed to yield individual length filter cigarettes on one of the drums upstream of the final transfer drum 70.

Further details of apparatus for cutting and realigning filter sections while conveying them in fluted drums, including rolling back filter sections and subsequently shifting them axially, are contained in British patent specification No. 1179683, to which reference is directed for details.

Where there is a requirement to move sections axially or close them up or align them the movement may be achieved by mechanical displacement means or pneumatically or by a combination of both. One advantageous way of shifting sections (or assemblages), which avoids contacting their ends with mechanical means or exposing them to high pressure air, is to use suction. Thus, a stop against which it is required to move one end of a section (or assemblage) may have associated suction means for drawing that end towards that stop.

Claims

1 A filter cigarette assembling machine adapted to assemble filter cigarettes having composite mouthpieces, comprising means for delivering tobacco sections in a direction transverse to their lengths, means for assembling first and second filter sections in alignment with each tobacco section, and means for wrapping and sealing said sections while they are moving transverse to their lengths to produce a filter cigarette.

2. A filter cigarette assembling machine, substantially as herein described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings.