GB978685A - Method and apparatus for producing a cigarette rod - Google Patents

Abstract

978,685. Cigarette-making machines. K. KÍRBER. May 26, 1961 [July 4, 1960; July 7, 1960], No. 19072/61. Heading A2C. [Also in Division G3] A tobacco rod forming machine is automatically controlled in dependence on the rate of supply of tobacco trimmed off from a tobacco stream so that the rate of supply of tobacco trimmed off is maintained substantially constant. In Fig, 1 tobacco is supplied from a distributer 1 on to a belt 2 which presses it into a groove 5 in a rotating wheel 4 where it is held by suction. The uneven upper portion of the tobacco in groove 5 is removed by a trimmer 8 and carried away by a spiked wheel 6 from which it is removed by a beater wheel 26 and added to the tobacco on belt 2. The trimmed stream of substantially constant cross-section meets a cigarette paper strip and is transported by a belt 9 through a rod-forming member 10. Variations from a desired value of the depth of tobacco on spiked wheel 6 are detected by a spring loaded feeler 16 which operates one or other of two switches to run a motor 24 in the appropriate direction to correct the depth of tobacco by adjustment of the rate of supply of tobacco from distributer 1. The plane of trimming is also adjustable by a motor 29 under the control of a device 27 measuring the amount of tobacco in the tobacco rod or, alternatively, in another arrangement, the amount of tobacco in the untrimmed stream. Feeler 16 makes contact with the tobacco over a substantial length. Various arrangements of spring and dashpot to damp the operation of feeler 16 are described. A temporary tobacco storage compartment may be introduced between trimmer 8 and spiked wheel 6. Automatic control of the plane of trimming and/or the speed of wheel 6 instead of, or in addition to, control of distribution, is referred to.