JP2840302B2 - Cigarette making machine and method for producing cigarette - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cigarette maker.

B. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cigarette making machines typically control the flow of cigarette fillers or fillers by pouring tobacco in a shower through the shower channel to a suction zone that travels across the downstream end of the shower channel. Form. The tobacco collects on the suction band and is secured on the suction band by the suction action transmitted through the suction band. While being compressed by suction, the filler stream is usually trimmed or trimmed to remove excess tobacco and then by garlic tape passing through a garniture (rod former). The wrapper web is placed on a continuous rod wrapper or wrapper web to be carried, and in the garniture, with the aid of garniture tape, the wrapper web is sealed around the flow of the filler. While passing through the garniture, the filler stream is compressed and its cross-sectional shape changes from rectangular to circular of the finished cigarette.

One example of a machine that implements the principles commonly employed to date is disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. A more recent proposal is set forth in Applicant's UK Patent No. 2179840 and corresponding US Patent No. 4,742,834. They propose to pour the cigarettes into the suction band in a direction that has a substantial component ("forward component") in the direction of movement of the suction band, and gather in the area of the suction band 2
Includes a proposal for pouring tobacco in a shower through an independent channel in the book.

C. According to the present invention, there is provided a cigarette maker comprising a shower channel through which tobacco is poured into two suction zones in a shower-like manner. Having a channel, these two suction bands are configured to weight toward each other from the showered tobacco to form two partial tobacco streams, and the suction bands are closest to each other. The zones are configured to coalesce the partial tobacco streams with one another.

Preferably, the suction bands incline each suction band with respect to the direction in which the tobacco is poured in the shower in the area where these suction bands receive the tobacco poured in the shape of a shower, thereby forming a shower. The poured cigarettes approach each other so as to reach each suction band as they move in a direction having a component in the direction of movement of the suction band (ie, the "forward component"). Also, the point where the two partial tobacco streams meet (ie, the "junction point") is preferably located centrally with respect to the shower channel, such that a substantially equal amount of tobacco is poured into each suction zone.

A tobacco shower with a "forward component" for each suction band, although only established for a single suction band,
It is beneficial for reasons previously recognized by the present applicants. The use of two concentrated suction strips according to the invention is particularly advantageous since the cigarette filling stream formed by the confluence of the two partial tobacco streams conveyed by the two suction strips is symmetrical in tobacco density. Is even more advantageous. In contrast, in conventional machines, tobacco density is highest on the side closest to one side (suction band). The present invention allows the tobacco density to be kept substantially uniform, at least on both sides of the packed leaf stream, and perhaps along substantially the entire perimeter of the packed leaf stream.

Also, the aforementioned suction band is configured to move along a substantially parallel path beyond the point where the two partial tobacco streams meet, and a series of along the suction band path and / or the aforementioned generally parallel path. Preferably, the cross section of the suction band at the point is such that it gradually compresses the combined tobacco stream. Preferably, the cross-sectional shape of the suction band is forced to gradually change to a generally semicircular shape. Preferably, the semicircular shape of the suction band at the end of the generally parallel passage section is a radius that is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the radius of the finished cigarette rod, respectively. Preferably, the shower channel lies in a generally horizontal plane, whereby the two partial tobacco streams form the sides of the coalesced cigarette filling leaf stream. In this case, the manufacturing machine includes means for transporting the continuous wrapping paper on which the combined flow is placed below the combined flow, and winding and sealing the continuous wrapped paper around the combined flow to form a continuous cigarette rod. It is preferable to have a means for performing this.

The machine described above may include means for trimming each of the partial tobacco streams or the combined tobacco stream. The machine may also have means for supplying additional tobacco or other material between the two partial tobacco streams at the junction. The supply means may be adapted to supply additional tobacco intermittently with the cigarette end portion of the tobacco stream to form a cigarette with a dense end portion. Tobacco poured into a shower is conveyed through the shower channel by an air stream, and at least a portion of the air stream passing through the shower channel is induced by suction provided through one or more louvers provided in the wall of the shower channel. Is preferably performed.

In a preferred embodiment, the two suction bands (or at least their respective edges) continue to terminate shortly after the junction. This subsequent consolidation serves to compress and preferably shape the combined tobacco stream. In order to shape the tobacco stream, the two suction bands are preferably formed from a fibrous fabric so as to have transverse flexibility, and in order to gradually shape and compress the merged tobacco stream, at least at the merge point The downstream section is configured to have a slightly concave cross section. Thus, the sides of the merged tobacco stream adjacent to the two suction bands begin to be shaped to approximate the final cross-sectional shape of the finished cigarette. Final shaping will be performed in a garniture (decorator) with the assistance of garniture tape and tongues, basically according to existing technical practices.

Further, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a cigarette includes the steps of: forming a tobacco on the two concentrating suction zones such that a substantially uniform partial tobacco flow is formed on the two suction zones. Being showered and the two partial tobacco streams coalescing to form one cigarette-filled leaf stream, this cigarette-filled leaf stream may possibly be either a partial tobacco stream or a combined tobacco stream. After setting, it is characterized by being enclosed within a continuous wrapper to form a continuous cigarette rod that is cut at regular intervals to form individual tobacco rods.

An embodiment of a cigarette making machine according to the present invention is schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

D. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows two showers of tobacco streams from tobacco pouring into a suction channel 11, 12 which are configured to form two tobacco streams, which are merged at a junction 15; A cigarette making machine in which tobacco is poured in a shower through 10 is shown. The suction bands 11, 12 pass around a plurality of pulleys 16 and their passages extend around the circumference of the suction chamber 17. Suction force is from suction chamber 17 to suction band 1
Supplied to 1 and 12, the tobacco is secured in the suction zones 11 and 12.
Some of the air used to convey tobacco through the shower channel 10 is drawn through a supercharger lever 18 provided on one of the walls of the shower channel 10.

While being conveyed from the junction 15 to the rod-forming area generally designated 19, the merged tobacco stream has a flat cross-section with a plurality of guides (not shown). As a result of being forced to change to a generally semi-circular cross-section (and more preferably, the cross-section is tapered). The tobacco flow cross-section in two positions is shown schematically by cross-sectional illustrations 21,22.

It should be noted that the area of the suction band 11 on which the showered tobacco rides from the shower channel 10 is inclined at an angle A to the direction of tobacco movement. As shown in the drawing, the angle A is approximately 40 degrees. Therefore, if the speed of the cigarette is V, the cigarette
Arrives at the suction zone with a motion component for the suction zone equal to VcosA. This component is increased by increasing the angle A.

As an example of the manner in which the coalesced tobacco stream is processed after leaving the suction zones 11, 12, FIG. 1 is understood as a plan view and the rod wrapper or wrapper web is
It is conveyed by ganchy tape along the path extending below 1, 12 so that the tobacco emerging from the suction strips 11, 12 is arranged on the wrapper web and continues in substantially the same direction. Final shaping and compression of the tobacco stream is achieved by tongues in a conventional manner. The tongue is located above the tobacco stream and defines a tapered cross-section for the tobacco stream to compress the tobacco stream during molding to the final cross-section of the cigarette. Alternatively, the cross section of the tobacco stream can be made to have a substantially finished cigarette cross section when the stream emerges from the suction zones 11,12.

The tobacco can be expelled into the shower channel 10 by any known type of hopper. Instead of the tobacco being deflected from horizontal movement to vertical movement and rising through a vertical channel (the so-called "chimney"), the tobacco continues to move substantially horizontally and the shower channel 10 shown in FIG. Can enter.

It has been found that the forward component of the tobacco shower with respect to the movement of the suction zones 11, 12 results in a more uniform tobacco flow on the suction zones 11, 12 as well as a more random orientation of the tobacco. A more even tobacco flow improves the stiffness of the final cigarette at a given density. Tobacco flow
By improving the uniformity of 13,14, normal trimming can be omitted. However, trimming can be performed, for example, according to the scheme shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 shows a mechanism similar to that of FIG. 1 but with a pinned roller 30 mounted on a shaft 31 and above a part of the tobacco streams 13, 14 reaching the junction 15 shown in FIG. A mechanism is shown that is provided with a plurality of pins that move in a downward or upward direction. Roller 30 is located in shaft
It is controlled in a direction transverse to the axis of 31 (horizontal direction), thereby controlling the amount of tobacco transferred by the roller 30. This control can be performed manually or automatically in response to a nuclear or other type of device for monitoring the mass or density of the finished cigarette rod. A V-shaped cowl 32 surrounds the roller 30 and deflects and directs the tobacco otherwise reaching the roller 30 onto the suction bands 11,12.

Alternatively, each of the tobacco streams 13, 14 on the suction strips 11, 12 can be individually trimmed, for example by means of a plurality of pairs of disks, in a conventional manner, in which case two pairs of disks are used. They are inclined so as to be located close to the junction 15 without interfering with each other.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cigarette maker as viewed in the direction of arrow (III) in FIG. 1 and shows one possible way when the device according to the invention is incorporated into a cigarette maker. In this embodiment, the cigarette maker has a conveyor band 40 configured to transport the carpeted tobacco into the compartment 41, and the compartment
Heavy particles from 41 fall through a duct 42 extending downward. The relatively light particles of tobacco pass upwardly along the suction roller 43 and into a shower channel having a vertical portion 44, a curved portion and a downwardly inclined portion 46. The downwardly inclined portion 46 is the first
It has the device shown in the figure. The cigarette filler or filler stream emerging from the downstream end of the downwardly inclined portion 46 of the shower channel is further conveyed on a rodted cigarette or wrapper web 46 with the aid of a garniture tape 48 and by the garniture tape 48. The wrapper web 47 is bent over the periphery of the coalesced filler stream 49 and sealed.

Alternatively, other types of trimmers or trimmers may be used.
For example, the position of the roller 30 or the tobacco flow
A tiller or trimmer located at a location that can remove excess tobacco from the tobacco stream after emergence from 11, 12 can be used.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another machine having a hopper 50 and a rod forming section 51. FIG. The latter is illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6. The hopper 50 has a space 53 from which cigarettes are sent upward by a spiked elevator 54 and fed onto a concave plate 55. On the concave plate 55, the tobacco is accumulated in a roll shape. A guard drum 56 feeds the measured amount of tobacco upward from the tobacco roll. Feed uniformity is improved by the spike rejection roller 57.

As shown in FIG. 5, tobacco is transferred from card roller 56 by pick rollers 58 and accelerated by rollers 60 to form a part of the rod forming section shown generally in FIG. Supplied to channel 59. On the way to the shower channel 59, heavy particles of tobacco (such as petioles) are left to escape through the duct 61.

The rod type section is similar to that shown in FIGS. It should be noted, however, that in this embodiment, two "supercharger" louvers 62, 63 are provided in parallel to the ganging bands 66, 67, respectively. Further, a mechanism for introducing additional tobacco through the duct 64 to the junction is shown. This is partially explained in detail in the enlarged view 5A. Enlarged views 5B-5F show the change in tobacco flow cross-section at a series of locations along the rod-forming section, indicated by leader lines extending therefrom.

As shown in FIG. 5 and especially the enlarged view 5A, the duct
64 enters a hollow four-body surface 73 having a discharge port 65 on one side surface. The tobacco may supply the tobacco through an outlet 65 onto an adjacent band 66. Tobacco may be continuously fed through duct 64 in variable amounts to maintain a substantially constant weight in the finished rod. The actual amount is determined depending on the weight monitoring device, which can be of the conventional type. Alternatively or additionally, tobacco may be fed into duct 64 intermittently to coincide with the end portion of the finished rod, thus producing a higher density end portion.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of FIG. 5 in the direction of arrow VI. This figure illustrates in more detail the strips 66, 67 returning by pulleys 68, 69 times, respectively. The axis of these pulleys allows the pulleys 68, 69 themselves to be separated from the garniture head 70 along which the garniture tape 71 runs along with the wrapper web 72 arranged to enclose the tobacco stream in a conventional manner. It should be noted that they tilt upwardly toward each other so that

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII--VII of FIG. 6 and shows the formed (generally circular) cigarette filler stream at the point when the stream 66 is about to be released directly onto the wrapper web 72. , 67 and a slightly modified pulley 68, 69 (each having an axis inclined at a 20 degree angle to the vertical).

As an alternative, the wrapper web may be initially engaged with the combined tobacco filler stream earlier, for example at or near the junction.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative means for feeding tobacco into the shower channel of a cigarette maker as shown in FIGS. 1-6. In this embodiment, the hopper regulates the tobacco, preferably with the aid of a discharge roller 122, onto a high-speed suction zone 120 which feeds the tobacco into the shower channel 121. Heavy particles such as petiole pieces are separated
3 and falls onto roller 124,
124 lowers such particles at a controlled rate into a floating chamber 125 in which air is pulled upwards and, along with it, a relatively lighter air entrained by relatively heavier tobacco particles. The fact that it carries at least a portion of the tobacco particles that are suitable for use as cigarettes has a secondary sorting effect. Floating chamber 12
The air rising through 5 enters the shower channel 121 through the inclined passage 126. Separation plate 123 is adjustable with respect to its effective length and / or its tilt angle to adjust the proportion of tobacco thereby separated. Most of the airflow through the shower channel 121 is generated by a supercharger fan 127 coupled to one or two louvers 128 as previously described. Supercharger Juan 127
The air flow supplied from the is preferably adjustable
Via 129, the nozzle 130 and the tobacco from the suction zone 120 are supplied to the plurality of air passages of the bridge member 131 which are discharged therethrough. Air passing upward from the bridge member 131 tends to lift the tobacco, while air from the nozzle 130 tends to propel the tobacco horizontally toward and into the shower channel 121.

The pressure in the shower channel 121 is lower than the atmospheric pressure.
Air is drawn in from the atmosphere by a plurality of inclined air inlets 121A provided on the lower wall of the shower channel 121,
The air thus introduced tends to lift the tobacco from the lower wall of the shower channel 121.

In the different cigarette making machines shown in FIG. 9, the shower channel 75 extends upward in the horizontal direction towards the two suction zones 76,77. After passing along the pulley 83, the suction bands move along substantially parallel paths, and along these paths the suction bands 76, 77 gradually change from a flat cross section to a concave cross section. Thus, a tobacco stream constituted by the partial tobacco streams 78, 79 is formed. As shown in FIG. 10, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 9, the suction band 76 is narrow and substantially the same width as the partial tobacco stream 78 molded thereon. . on the other hand,
The suction band 77 is wider and the upper part is the tobacco flow
79 merges with partial tobacco stream 78 to form a combined tobacco filler stream. The coalesced tobacco filler stream is transported further by the suction strip 77, which is
A position is reached on the wrapper web 80 which is carried by 81.

The suction band 76 circulates along the pulleys 82, 83, 84, while
The suction band 77 circulates along pulleys 85, 86, 87 and is further guided by pulleys 83. As shown in FIG. 10, the pulley 83 has flanges 83A and 83B. These flanges support the edges of the suction band 77 while the suction band 77 passes along the pulley 83. The partial tobacco streams 78, 79 close while leaving a small gap between the flanges so that they retain the liquid secured in the suction band 77 by the suction action while the suction band 77 advances towards the wrapper web. It is put.

Other details of the machine shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 include, for example, trimming and high-density edge finishing.
It can be the same as the details already described.

FIG. 11, similar to that of FIG. 9, has a vertically extending shower channel 90 and the coalesced tobacco filler stream is passed vertically past the junction through a garniture 91 and further through a rod forming and cutting device 92. 2 shows a production machine to be transported. A series of tobacco rods 93 emerge from the lottering and cutting device 92. The rods 93, which move sequentially vertically, are then received by grooved catch drums similar to those used in conventional filter combiners, and then with respect to their vertical axis. It is placed on a suitable means which is transported horizontally and pivots them to a position where their axes are horizontal. Such a pivoting means may for example comprise a conical grooved drum or a series of conical drums.

FIG. 11 further shows the installation of two trimmers or trimmers 94 for the partial tobacco filler flow over the two suction zones.
Each trimmer 94 has a circular disk with a conical peripheral surface carrying a plurality of pins and is arranged at an angle to the plane of the shower channel, and thus, the tobacco in a plane parallel to the corresponding suction band. In order to trim, only a small portion of the disk needs to protrude into the shower channel.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are a plan view and a front view, respectively, of different cigarette making machines. In this machine,
The 0 forms a stream of tobacco particles, the stream being treated in any desired manner, for example by sieving, sorting, and recombining particles selected from tobacco separated by sieving. The tobacco is transported vertically upward through the channel 101 and then fed horizontally into the shower channel 102. The shower channel 102 terminates in suction bands 103, 104 that merge according to the present invention.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are a plan view and a front view, respectively, of different cigarette making machines. In this machine, tobacco is fed from a hopper 110 to form a regulated stream of tobacco, which passes through a horizontally extending duct 111, and then through another duct 112, before being passed to the present invention. Shower channel 113 including suction belts 114, 115 that assemble together
To enter. The upper suction band 114 projects forward from the lower suction band 115, thereby transporting the combined tobacco stream by suction to a position where it places the stream on the wrapper web 116.

Generally, weight control of the finished rod is achieved, in part or in whole, by controlling the delivery of tobacco into the shower channel. Alternatively or additionally, each shower stream may be connected, for example, by a plurality of pairs of disks cooperating in a well-known manner, or
Means for trimming may be provided in the manner shown. Another example, as already mentioned, relates to introducing tobacco at a junction with a controlled rate suitable to maintain a controlled density of rods in the finished cigarette. Such tobacco is low quality tobacco or short tobacco particles extracted at any location from the main tobacco stream.

In addition to all tobacco being showered through one common shower channel, there are two independent shower channels to which tobacco is sent from the two separate parts of the tobacco hopper, thereby providing two suctions. It is possible to feed the tobacco individually down to the strip.
The gap between the two Shima channels makes it possible to accommodate one or more trimmers or to provide a means for feeding the weight adjusting cigarette at the junction.

In each embodiment, the two suction bands for tobacco can be driven at exactly the same speed or at slightly different speeds. For example, the two suction bands can be 4% higher and 4% lower in speed, respectively, compared to the wrapper web. In this way, it is expected that some degree of compensation for short term fluctuations in tobacco flow can be obtained. In other words, variations in tobacco flow that are directly reflected in the rods of the finished cigarette in other schemes are offset because the high points on one suction band are offset from the corresponding high points on the other suction band. It will be done.

One or both of the suction zones may be curved (concave) in cross-section upstream or downstream of the junction.

The intermittent bulking of tobacco fed to the junction for "high density edge finishing" is described, for example, in British Patent No.
This can be accomplished by collecting the tobacco on a wheel having a serrated perimeter as described with reference to FIG. 9 of 693.

The next variant consists of the device shown in FIG.
Instead of being located in a vertical plane, the shower channel is located in a generally horizontal plane. The pulley is omitted, so that the suction band 72 circulates directly along the pulleys 82, 83, and the combined tobacco stream is conveyed entirely by the suction band 77 by suction. In this case, the part of the longer suction band 77
As it moves from the junction, it twists 90 °, thereby placing the combined tobacco stream on a wrapper web positioned in a conventional orientation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a plan view of one type of cigarette making machine, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a modified cigarette making machine similar to the machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an arrow in FIG. Drawing viewed in the direction of III, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another type of cigarette making machine,
5 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the machine shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is another enlarged perspective view of a part of the machine shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 particularly relating to the means for feeding the tobacco into the shower channel and the means for separating the tobacco; 9 shows a possible modification of the machine to be installed, FIG. 9 shows a front elevator of another type of cigarette making machine, and FIG. 10 shows a line AA in FIG.
11 to 15 are schematic views showing other different configurations of the cigarette maker according to the present invention. On the drawing, 10 …… Shawa channel, 11, 12 …… Suction band, 13, 14… Tobacco flow, 15 …… Confluence point, 16 …… Pulley, 17 …… Suction chamber, 18 …… Supercharger louver, 19 ... Rod-shaped section.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor John Dowson SeaVuy 47 Izzet, United Kingdom, Coventry, University of Worry Science Park, Unit 1 (56) References US Patent 4,742,834 (US, A) (58) Fields studied ( Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A24C 5/39 A24C 5/18

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cigarette making machine, comprising: a shower channel (10; 46; 59; 75; 90; 102; 113; 121) through which tobacco is showered toward two suction bands. Having a shower channel adapted to be poured into the suction zone (11, 12; 66, 67; 76, 77; 103, 104; 11).
4,115) are configured to move toward each other to form two partial tobacco streams (13,14; 78,79) from showered tobacco, and the suction bands are closest to each other. A cigarette maker configured to combine the partial tobacco streams with one another in section (15). 2. A method of manufacturing a cigarette, wherein tobacco is showered over two converging suction strips so as to form a substantially uniform partial tobacco flow over the two suction strips. To be poured and the two partial tobacco streams are combined to form one cigarette-filled stream, the cigarette-filled stream possibly being tweaked after either the partial or combined tobacco stream. A method of making a cigarette, wherein the cigarette is enclosed in a continuous wrapper to form a continuous cigarette rod that is cut at regular intervals to form individual tobacco rods.