GB2340374A

GB2340374A - Manufacture of tobacco products

Info

Publication number: GB2340374A
Application number: GB9817218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Springthorpe; Andrew Blake Springthorpe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-08
Filing date: 1998-08-08
Publication date: 2000-02-23
Also published as: GB9817218D0

Abstract

Apparatus for use in manufacturing tobacco products includes a making machine (10) for making tobacco products from tobacco and a return pipe (20) for establishing communication between the making machine and a recovery apparatus such that waste products from the making machine (10) may be supplied to the recovery apparatus (14). A tobacco feed pipe (18) is provided for establishing communication between the recovery apparatus (14) and the making machine (10) such that tobacco from the recovery apparatus (14) may be supplied to the making machine (10). Preferably the apparatus includes a plurality of making machines (10) each communicating with the recovery apparatus (14) in the manner defined.

Description

2340374 Manufacture of Tobacco Products The invention relates to an

apparatus and method for manufacturing tobacco products, particularly but not exclusively cigarettes.

During the making of cigarettes and other tobacco products from loose tobacco, there is inevitably a certain level of wastage. Some cigarettes may be crushed or misshapen during the manufacturing process and wrongly sized cigarette sections may be produced when individual cigarettes are cut from a long roll. Further, some loose tobacco is generally lost during the process.

This waste material may be collected and transported to a tobacco recovery apparatus. Such an apparatus is able to recover tobacco from the waste products of the making process, and from reject packets of cigarettes returned by customers.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for use in manufacturing tobacco products, the apparatus including: a making machine for making tobacco products from tobacco; first means for establishing communication between the making machine and a recovery apparatus such that waste products from the making machine may be supplied to the recovery apparatus; and second means for establishing communication between a recovery apparatus and the making machine such that tobacco from the recovery apparatus may be supplied to the making machine.

The tobacco products are preferably cigarettes.

Preferably, the apparatus according to the invention includes a recovery apparatus for recovering tobacco from waste products. Preferably a single recovery apparatus is supplied with the waste products and supplies the tobacco.

2 Preferably, the making machine includes a reject receptacle for receiving the waste products.

Preferably, the first communication means comprises a tobacco feed pipe extending between the recovery apparatus and a tobacco inlet of the making machine. Preferably, the second communication means comprises a return pipe extending between the reject receptacle and the recovery apparatus.

The apparatus preferably includes means for conveying tobacco between the recovery apparatus and the tobacco inlet of the making machine. These means may include low pressure means for providing a suction force along the tobacco feed pipe.

Means may be provided for bringing the tobacco feed pipe into fluid communication with the return pipe. The return pipe may include a main portion and a branched portion, a first branch extending substantially to the tobacco inlet. Means may be provided for creating a suction force within the return pipe thereby to provide a suction force within the tobacco feed pipe. These means may include low pressure means located at the recovery apparatus end of the return pipe. Means are preferably provided for preventing tobacco from entering the return pipe.

Means may be provided for selectively opening and closing the first branch of the return pipe, thereby to bring the tobacco feed pipe into and out of fluid communication with the main portion of the return pipe. These means may include a first valve located in the first branch of the return pipe.

The apparatus preferably includes means for conveying waste products between the reject receptacle and the recovery apparatus. These means may include low pressure means for providing a suction force within the return pipe. The low pressure means are preferably located at the recovery apparatus end of the return pipe. By'low pressure', it is meant pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

3 Preferably a second branch of the return pipe extends from the main portion of the return pipe to the reject receptacle. Means may be provided for selectively opening and closing the second branch thereby to bring the reject receptacle into and out of fluid communication with the main portion of the return pipe. These means may include a second valve located in the second branch.

Preferably means are provided for selectively bringing the main portion of the return pipe into communication with the tobacco feed pipe and the reject receptacle. These means may be arranged such that the main portion of the return pipe may communicate with one or other of the tobacco feed pipe and the reject receptacle but not simultaneously with both. These means preferably include the first and second valves.

Preferably the first and second valves enable suction to be selectively provided to the first and second branches of the return pipe, thereby selectively to feed tobacco to the making machine and to feed waste products to the recovery apparatus.

Preferably the apparatus includes a plurality of making machines, and means for establishing communication between each making machine and the recovery apparatus, as previously defined. The apparatus may include a main return pipe which may include a plurality of first branches, each first branch extending to the inlet of a making machine. The main return pipe may also include a plurality of second branches, each second branch extending to the reject receptacle of a making machine. A plurality of tobacco feed pipes may be provided. A tobacco feed pipe may be provided for each making machine. Preferably the tobacco feed pipe associated with each making machine is selectively in fluid communication with its respective first branch.

Preferably means are provided for independently controlling the valves associated with the respective making machines.

4 According to the invention there is also provided a method for use in manufacturing tobacco products, the method including the steps of: making tobacco products from tobacco in a making machine; feeding waste products from the making machine to a recovery apparatus; and feeding tobacco from the recovery apparatus to the making machine.

Preferably the tobacco products are cigarettes.

Preferably the steps of feeding the waste products from the making machine to the recovery apparatus and of feeding tobacco from the recovery apparatus to the making machine are carried out sequentially.

Preferably the above steps are carried out as part of a continuous process, with the two feeding steps being carried out in turn.

The tobacco may be fed along a tobacco feed pipe. The waste products may be fed along a return pipe. The waste products may be fed from a reject receptacle provided in the making machine.

The products may be fed along the pipes by suction. The suction may be caused by a low air pressure provided in the return pipe.

The method may include the step of opening a first valve to allow communication of the low pressure return pipe with the tobacco feed pipe, thereby to draw tobacco along the tobacco feed pipe.

The method may also include the step of closing the first valve and opening a second valve to allow communication of the low pressure return pipe with the reject receptacle.

The first valve may be closed as the second valve is opened and vice versa.

The method preferably includes the step of feeding tobacco from the recovery apparatus to a plurality of making machines. The method preferably also includes the step of feeding waste products from a plurality of making machines to the recovery apparatus. Preferably tobacco may be fed independently to the respective machines. Preferably waste products may be fed independently from the respective machines.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described for the purposes of illustration only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:Fig. 1 is a detail of a making machine according to the invention, showing the inputs and outputs to the machine; and Fig. 2 is a side view of an apparatus according to the invention, comprising four making machines and a recovery apparatus.

Referring to Fig. 1, a cigarette making machine 10 makes up cigarettes from blended loose tobacco, papers and filter elements. Firstly, long cylinders of tobacco enclosed in paper are manufactured and these cylinders are subsequently cut into cigarettes of the desired length. Filters are incorporated into the ends of the cigarettes.

The cigarette making process results in some unavoidable wastage. Some cigarettes are misshapen or crushed and are therefore rejected, some tobacco is lost from the ends of the cylinders, etc. This waste material, comprising cigarettes, part cigarettes, tobacco, filters and papers, is collected in a reject receptacle 12.

Referring to Fig. 2, apparatus according to the invention includes a recovery apparatus 14 in communication with each of four making machines 10. The recovery apparatus 14, utilising known technology, is able to recover tobacco at least from reject cigarettes collected in the reject receptacles 6 12 of the making machines 10. The tobacco recovered by the recovery apparatus 14 is delivered to a tobacco receptacle 16, where it may join other tobacco to be fed to the making machines 10. The tobacco receptacle 16 includes a rotary table for distributing tobacco for the various making machines 10.

A tobacco feed pipe 18 extends between a tobacco inlet 19 of each making machine 10 and the tobacco receptacle 16 of the recovery apparatus 14. A separate tobacco feed pipe is provided for each making machine 10. Each tobacco feed pipe 18 is selectively in fluid communication with a return pipe 20, which extends between the making machine 10 and the recovery apparatus 14, as described in more detail hereinafter. The pipes are approximately 250 mm in diameter.

A low pressure apparatus (not illustrated) is associated with the recovery apparatus 14. The low pressure apparatus communicates with the return pipe 20 and is able to generate a low pressure in the return pipe 20, for example by the use of fans rotating at between 1600 and 1800 rpm. The pressure in the return pipe may be between 100 and 150 mm/Hg. When the return pipe 20 is in communication with any of the tobacco feed pipes 18, the low pressure draws air down the return pipe 20 and draws tobacco along the tobacco feed pipe 18. The speed of travel is about IS to 2 5 m/s. Tobacco is thus conveyed from the receptacle 16 to the tobacco inlet 19 of the particular making machine 10. Tobacco is directed into the making machine 10 while air flows along the return pipe 20.

The return pipe 20 includes a main portion 21 and a number of branch pipes. Four first branch pipes 23 extend from the main portion 21 of the return pipe to the tobacco inlets 19 of the four making machines 10. Referring to Fig. 2, each branch pipe 23 includes a valve 22 located in the branch pipe 23 just downstream of the tobacco inlet 19. The valve 22 may be operated to selectively open and close the pipe 23. When the valve 22 is open, the main portion 21 of the low pressure return pipe 20 is in fluid communication with 7 the tobacco feed pipe 18 via the branch pipe 23. Tobacco is thus drawn along the tobacco feed pipe 18 from the receptacle 16 to the inlet 19 of the making machine 10. When the valve 22 is closed, tobacco is not so drawn.

Four second branch pipes 24 branch off the main portion 21 of the return pipe 20 and extend to the reject receptacles 12 of the four making machines 10. Each pipe 24 includes a valve 26 which may selectively open and close the pipe 24. When the valve 26 is open, the main portion 21 of the low pressure return pipe 20 is brought into communication with the reject receptacle 12 and reject cigarette matter is thus drawn along the branch pipe 24 and the return pipe 20 to the recovery apparatus 14. When the valve 26 is closed, reject cigarette matter is not so drawn.

The apparatus works for a particular making machine 10 as follows. Firstly the valve 22 is opened and the low pressure means are activated such that tobacco is fed along the tobacco feed pipe 18 to the making machine 10. The making machine 10 uses this tobacco to make cigarettes, feeding any waste products into the reject cigarette container 12. When the valve 22 is closed, the valve 26 is opened. This brings the main portion 21 of the low pressure return pipe 20 into communication with the reject cigarette container 12 and draws reject cigarette matter along the return pipe to the recovery apparatus 14. The recovery apparatus 14 operates to recover tobacco from the reject cigarette matter and collects the recovered tobacco in the tobacco receptacle 16. Subsequently, the valve 26 is closed and the valve 22 opened to draw tobacco from the tobacco receptacle 14, along the tobacco feed pipe 16 to the making machine. The valves are operated by a control means such that the process operates continuously. The valve 22 may be opened for about 6 seconds and the valve 26 opened for about 3 seconds before the valve 22 is opened again. The process may be carried out for a number of making machines 10, with each machine being independently controllable.

There is thus provided an apparatus and method for manufacturing cigarettes, in which the waste products are recovered as part of a continuous 8 process. Because the waste products of a particular making machine or set of making machines are returned to those particular machines, the blend of tobacco is maintained. In contrast, according to the prior art, waste products from a number of different tobacco products may be mixed together. Further, the moisture content of the tobacco is largely maintained because the tobacco travels around a closed loop.

Various modifications may be made to the above apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention. A single making machine may be used with the a single recovery apparatus, or any number of making machines may be used with a single recovery apparatus. More than one recovery apparatus may be used if necessary. Different means for conveying the tobacco products and the waste products may be used, for example conveyor belts rather than suction through pipes. Any apparatus capable of recovering tobacco from reject making machine products is suitable.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

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Claims

Claims

I. Apparatus for use in manufacturing tobacco products, the apparatus including: a making machine for making tobacco products from tobacco; first means for establishing communication between the making machine and a recovery apparatus such that waste products from the making machine may be supplied to the recovery apparatus; and second means for establishing communication between a recovery apparatus and the making machine such that tobacco from the recovery apparatus may be supplied to the making machine.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tobacco products are cigarettes.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the apparatus includes a recovery apparatus for recovering tobacco from waste products.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein a single recovery apparatus is supplied with the waste products and supplies the tobacco.
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the making machine includes a reject receptacle for receiving the waste products.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the first communication means comprises a return pipe extending between the reject receptacle and the recovery apparatus and the second communication means comprises a tobacco feed pipe extending between the recovery apparatus and a tobacco inlet of the making machine.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the apparatus includes means for conveying tobacco between the recovery apparatus and the tobacco inlet of the making machine, the conveying means including low pressure means for providing a suction force along the tobacco feed pipe.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein means are provided for bringing the tobacco feed pipe into fluid communication with the return pipe.
9. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 8 wherein the return pipe includes a main portion and a branched portion, a first branch extending substantially to the tobacco inlet.
10. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 9 wherein means are provided for creating a suction force within the return pipe thereby to provide a suction force within the tobacco feed pipe, the suction means including low pressure means located at the recovery apparatus end of the return pipe.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 which means are provided for preventing tobacco from entering the return pipe.
12. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 11 wherein means are provided for selectively opening and closing the first branch of the return pipe, thereby to bring the tobacco feed pipe into and out of fluid communication with the main portion of the return pipe.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the means for opening and closing the first branch of the return pipe include a first valve located in the first branch of the return pipe.
14. Apparatus according to claim 5 or any of claims 6 to 13 when appended to claim 5, wherein the apparatus includes means for conveying waste products between the reject receptacle and the recovery apparatus, these means including low pressure means for providing a suction force within the return pipe and being located at the recovery apparatus end of the return pipe.

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15. Apparatus according to claim 9 or any of claims 10 to 14 when appended to claim 9, wherein a second branch of the return pipe extends from the main portion of the return pipe to the reject receptacle and means are provided for selectively opening and closing the second branch thereby to bring the reject receptacle into and out of fluid communication with the main portion of the return pipe.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the means for opening and closing the second branch of the return pipe include a second valve located in the second branch.
17. Apparatus according to claim 9 when appended to claim 5, wherein means are provided for selectively bringing the main portion of the return pipe into communication with the tobacco feed pipe and the reject receptacle, these means being arranged such that the main portion of the return pipe may communicate with one or other of the tobacco feed pipe and the reject receptacle but not simultaneously with both.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein first and second valves are provided to enable suction to be selectively provided to the first and second branches of the return pipe, thereby selectively to feed tobacco to the making machine and to feed waste products to the recovery apparatus.
19. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of making machines, and means for establishing communication between each making machine and the recovery apparatus, as previously defined.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the apparatus includes a main return pipe which includes a plurality of first branches, each first branch extending to the inlet of a making machine.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the main return pipe also 12 includes a plurality of second branches, each second branch extending to the reject receptacle of a making machine.
22. Apparatus according to claim 21 wherein a tobacco feed pipe is provided for each making machine, the tobacco feed pipe associated with each making machine being selectively in fluid communication with its respective first branch.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein means are provided for independently controlling the valves associated with the respective making machines.
24. A method for use in manufacturing tobacco products, the method including the steps of:

making tobacco products from tobacco in a making machine; feeding waste products from the making machine to a recovery apparatus; and feeding tobacco from the recovery apparatus to the making machine.
25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the tobacco products are cigarettes.
26. A method according to claim 24 or claim 25 wherein the steps of feeding the waste products from the making machine to the recovery apparatus and of feeding tobacco from the recovery apparatus to the making machine are carried out sequentially.
27. A method according to claim 26 wherein the steps are carried out as part of a continuous process, with the two feeding steps being carried out in turn.
28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the tobacco is fed along a tobacco feed pipe and the waste products are fed along a return pipe, from a reject receptacle provided in the making machine.

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29. A method according to claim 28 wherein the products are fed along the pipes by suction, the suction being caused by a low air pressure provided in the return pipe.
30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the method includes the step of opening a first valve to allow communication of the low pressure return pipe with the tobacco feed pipe, thereby to draw tobacco along the tobacco feed pipe.
31. A method according to claim 30 wherein the method also includes the step of closing the first valve and opening a second valve to allow communication of the low pressure return pipe with the reject receptacle, the first valve being closed as the second valve is opened and vice versa.
32. A method according to any of claims 24 to 31 wherein the method includes the steps of feeding tobacco from the recovery apparatus to a plurality of making machines and feeding waste products from a plurality of making machines to the recovery apparatus.
33. A method according to claim 32 wherein tobacco may be fed independently to the respective machines and waste products may be fed independently from the respective machines.
34. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
35. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.
36. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.