JP6048846B2 - Method for producing cigarette with filter and filter mounting machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing a cigarette with a filter and a filter mounting machine.

  For example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 6,053,099, a filtered cigarette is manufactured with a filter attachment machine that defines a path therein and along which the elongated tobacco article is conveyed in the width direction. The filter mounting machine continuously feeds two lengths of tobacco part at its inlet, the two lengths of tobacco part moving in the width direction through the cutting station along the path. It is then cut into two coaxial single tobacco parts each. A single tobacco portion obtained from each two length tobacco portion is then axially separated and fed by a separate supply line onto a two length tobacco portion conveyor line. The two length filters are separated by inserting two adjacent filter tobaccos together with two single tobacco parts. . At the rotating station, the components of each assembly are connected together by a glued band, whose central part covers a filter of two lengths and whose end faces two single tobacco parts Cover the edges.

  As known to those skilled in the art, the rotational operation is a very critical step, the speed of which depends directly on the production capacity of the filter mounting machine, and when a predetermined maximum speed is exceeded, a single tobacco part The cigarette falls from the open end of the cigarette.

  In order to increase the output of the filter mounting machine at a given rotational speed (ie without increasing the rotational speed in order to maintain the integrity of the open end of a single tobacco part), the assembly is transported to the rotating station It has been proposed to narrow the interval. For example, Patent Document 2 proposes that the interval for each group be narrowed to a minimum value that is slightly longer than the length of the band used immediately before the rotation (below this minimum value, 1 One assembly band interferes with the adjacent assembly).

  Even minimizing the interval at which the assembly is transported to the rotating station, for now, only increases the output of the filter mounting machine without increasing the rotational speed (still the open end of a single cigarette part. Jeopardize the integrity of).

British Patent Application No. 2241866 US Pat. No. 5,474,091

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and filter attachment machine for producing a filter cigarette that is configured to overcome the above disadvantages and at the same time is inexpensive and easy to implement.

  According to the present invention there is provided a method and a filter mounting machine for producing a filtered cigarette as claimed in the appended claims.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the production of two filtered cigarettes according to the invention. FIG. 2 schematically shows the production of two filtered cigarettes according to the invention. FIG. 2 schematically shows the production of two filtered cigarettes according to the invention. 1 is a schematic front view of a first portion of a filter mounter of the present invention with parts removed for clarity. FIG. It is an expansion schematic front view of the separation drum of the filter attachment machine of FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of an intermediate portion of the filter mounter of FIG. 4 with parts removed for clarity. FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a longitudinal band cutting station of the filter mounter of FIG. 4 with parts removed for clarity. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the separation drum of the longitudinal cutting station of FIG. It is an expansion schematic front view of the band cutting station of the width direction of the filter mounting machine of FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a tension adjusting device of the width direction cutting station of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a tension adjusting device of the width direction cutting station of FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view of two cutting drums of the widthwise cutting station of FIG. 9. FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a variation of the first portion of the filter mounter with parts removed for clarity.

  1, 2 and 3 schematically show the production of two filtered cigarettes 1 (FIG. 3) each comprising a single tobacco part 2 and a filter 3 joined by a glued band 4. .

  As shown in FIG. 1, a four-length tobacco portion 5 (ie, four times the length of a single tobacco portion 2 of a filtered tobacco 1) is firstly centered by a blade 6, Cut into two adjacent two-length tobacco portions 7 (ie, each twice as long as a single tobacco portion 2 of the filtered tobacco 1). Next, the two two-length tobacco parts 7 are first shifted in the width direction (by moving one of the two lengths of tobacco parts 7 transversely). Placed a predetermined distance apart and then axially centered and aligned with each other (by moving both two lengths of tobacco portion 7 simultaneously in the axial direction).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the filter 8 having two lengths (that is, twice the length of the filter 3 of the filter cigarette 1) is firstly divided into two adjacent filters at the center by the blade 9. Cut to 3. The two filters 3 are then separated axially (by moving both) and are substantially equal to (but not less than) the length of the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7. They are arranged a predetermined distance apart. The two lengths of tobacco part 7 are then inserted between two separate filters 3 and the assembly 10 comprises two filters 3 separated by two lengths of tobacco part 7. Form. And finally, in order to connect the end of the two-length tobacco part 7 to the filter 3, two bands 4 are provided at the end of the filter 3 and the two-length tobacco part 7. It is pasted at the same time.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the two bands 4 are applied, the assembly 10 is rotated to wrap the bands 4 around the filter 3 and the two lengths of tobacco portion 7 simultaneously. Next, the blade 11 places the assembly 10 in the center, that is, in the middle of the two lengths of the tobacco section 7, two adjacent filtered cigarettes 1 (i.e. arranged coaxially, with their opposite ends in contact. ). And finally, one cigarette with filter 1 is “tip-turned” and oriented in the same direction as the other cigarette with filter 1 and is continuous with two adjacent cigarettes with filter 1 in succession. Convert to an object (it is clear that it is half the distance between two consecutive neighbors).

  Reference numeral 12 in FIG. 4 indicates as a whole the first part of the filter mounting machine 13 for producing the filtered cigarette 1 described above and shown in FIGS.

  The filter mounting machine 13 receives a cigarette part 5 of four lengths from a known cigarette maker 14 with an output beam 15, along which a series of tobacco rods (not shown) are provided. It is conveyed and cut into four continuous tobacco sections 5 by a known cutting head (not shown). And the conveying device 16 (known as “spider”) of the filter mounting machine 13 is connected to an input drum having an outer peripheral suction seat for the tobacco part 5 of four lengths from the output beam 15 of the cigarette maker 14. The cigarette part 5 having a length of 4 is transferred to 17.

  The four-length tobacco part 5 is transferred from the input drum 17 to the cutting drum 18, which has a peripheral suction seat for the four-length tobacco part 5. In conjunction with the blade 6, the four-length tobacco portion 5 is cut in the width direction into the two-length tobacco portion 7 as described above.

  In the modification of FIG. 13, the cigarette maker 14 is a machine for two tobacco rods, so the four lengths of the tobacco portion 5 are removed in pairs from its output beam 15, and the input drum 17 is transferred. The input drum 17 has two sets of suction seats arranged along two side-by-side eccentric circles, the two sets of suction seats being a four-part tobacco part of the pair. 5 is received from the conveying device 16 and the four lengths of tobacco part 5 are discharged to the cutting drum 18.

  As shown in FIG. 4, two lengths of tobacco portion 7 are transferred from a cutting drum 18 to a separation drum 19, by which each of the two (coaxial) first aligned (coaxial) parts. The two lengths of tobacco portion 7 are moved in the width direction to a position separated by a predetermined distance in the width direction (by moving one two length tobacco portion 7 in the width direction). It is shifted. As more clearly shown in FIG. 5, the separation drum 19 takes two lengths of tobacco portion 7 from the input station 20 of the cutting drum 18 and transports them to the output station 21 of the subsequent transfer drum 22. The separation drum 19 has two groups 23 of suction seats 24 for the two-length tobacco part 7, which groups 23 are two side-by-side eccentric circles having the same radius (ie , The paths P 1 and P 2 of the group 23 of the two suction seats 24 are at two points that coincide with the input station 20 and the output station 21. Overlap.

  As clearly shown in FIG. 5, the seat 24 of the first group 23a is moved to transfer the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7 from the input station 20 to the output station 21 along the path P1. The angular distance of the second group 23b from the input station 20 to the output station 21 to move the tobacco portion 7 of two lengths along the path P2 is greater than the angular distance that the seat 24 of the second group 23b moves. Also short. Since the groups 23 of the two seats 24 are conveyed to the same separation drum 19, they are integral with respect to each other in terms of angle and move at the same angular velocity. In addition, the difference in the angular distance described above is the length of the two portions in the seat of the second group 23b with respect to the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7 in the seat of the first group 23a. Therefore, the tobacco portion 7 having two lengths is shifted in the width direction.

  In other words, in order to shift the two two-length tobacco portions 7 respectively, the first two-length tobacco portions 7 are moved from the input station 20 to the output station 21 along the path P1. The second two-length tobacco portion 7 being conveyed is at the same speed as the first two-length tobacco portion 7 from the input station 20 along path P2, which is longer than path P1. It is conveyed to the output station 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7 shifted in the width direction by the separation drum 19 are transferred to the transfer drum 22 at the output station 21. The outer peripheral suction seat for the length of the tobacco portion 7 is provided, and the outer suction suction seat for the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7 is used, and the length of the two is shifted in the width direction. The tobacco part 7 is transferred to the centering drum 25. In order to center the two lengths of the tobacco part 7 in the axial direction (by moving both of the two lengths of the tobacco part 7 simultaneously in the axial direction) The seat can be moved axially (i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation of the centering drum 25) by a cam actuation system. In other words, the two tobacco portions 7 having a length of two are transported onto the centering drum 25 in a state of being displaced in the axial direction, and are taken out from the centering drum 25 in a state of being aligned in the axial direction. As an example, the centering drum 25 is of the type described in US Pat. No. 4,531,629 or US Pat. No. 4,200,179.

  A large number of the two filter lengths 8 are accommodated in a hopper 26 having a bottom discharge port connected to the pickup drum 27, and the pickup drum 27 is used for the two filter lengths 8. It has an outer periphery suction seat, and in conjunction with the blade 9, the filter 8 having two lengths is cut in the width direction into the filter 3 as described above.

  The filter 3 is transferred from the pickup drum 27 to a transfer drum 28 having an outer peripheral suction seat for the filter 3.

  The filter 3 is transferred from the transfer drum 28 to a separation drum 29 having an outer periphery suction seat for the filter 3.

  The outer peripheral suction seat of the separation drum 29 is axially (ie rotated by the separation drum 29) by the cam actuating system to separate the filter 3 axially (by simultaneously moving both filters 3 axially). Parallel to the axis). In other words, the filter 3 is conveyed onto the separation drum 29 in a state of being adjacent to each other in the axial direction, and is discharged from the separation drum 29 in a state of being separated in the axial direction. As an example, the separation drum 29 is of the type described in US Pat. No. 4,531,629 or US Pat. No. 4,200,179.

  In known variants not described in detail herein, there is no camming system, the seat is fixed, and the filter 3 is separated along the seat by a pneumatic separation system.

  At the input station 31, the axially separated filter 3 is transferred from the separation drum 29 to a coupling drum 30 comprising an outer peripheral suction seat for the filter 3 and two lengths of the tobacco part 7. Then, at another input station 32 downstream of the input station 31, the centering drum 25 conveys the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7 to a seat on the coupling drum 30 containing the filter 3, and the assembly 10. Form.

  The code | symbol 33 of FIG. 6 shows the intermediate part of the filter attachment machine 13 as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the assembly 10 is transferred from the coupling drum 30 to a connecting drum 34 that includes a peripheral suction seat for the assembly 10. Further, at the transfer station 35, the two glued bands 4 supplied by the transfer unit 36 are attached to the assembly 10 of each seat on the connection drum 34. As described, each band 4 integrally connects the filter 3 to a corresponding two length tobacco section 7 and each band 4 is slightly longer than the circumference of the assembly 10.

  The assembly 10 with the band 4 is transferred from the coupling drum 30 to the rotating drum 37, and the band 4 is completely wound around the assembly 10 on the rotating drum 37. The rotating drum 37 is, for example, U.S. Pat. , 349, 968 specification.

  The filter mounting machine 13 also comprises a known end (not shown) with a cutting drum, on which the blade 11 (FIG. 3) is in the middle of a two-length tobacco section 7. Each assembly 10 is cut in half into two adjacent filtered cigarettes 1 (i.e., arranged coaxially, with their opposite ends in contact). The end part of the filter mounting machine 13 also has a “tip-turning” drum on which two successive pieces of adjacent tobacco 1 with a filter (one two pieces) It is obvious that one of the continuums of the cigarette 1 with the filter will be “reoriented” to convert it into half the space of the adjacent continuum). As an example, the drum that changes the orientation of the tip is of the type described in US Pat. No. 4,090,602. The end portion of the filter mounting machine 13 is also provided with an output conveyor for transporting the cigarette 1 with filter out of the filter mounting machine 13.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the transport unit 36 includes a feeding station 38 in which a strip 39 having two widths (that is, twice the width of the band 4) is fed from a reel 40, and a width of two. A longitudinal cutting station 41 where the strip 39 is cut longitudinally into two single width strips 42 (ie the same width as the width of the band 4), and two single widths The strip 42 is provided with a transverse cutting station 43 which is cut in the width direction into a band 4 which is later attached to the assembly 10 on the connecting drum 34.

  Longitudinal cutting station 41 includes a centering drum 44 for placing strips 39 of two widths in order to ensure accurate longitudinal cutting, and strips 39 of two widths in the longitudinal direction. And a cutting drum 45 that interlocks with the rotating blades 46 arranged side by side. The preferred embodiment comprises two pressure drums 47, which are more than rotating blades 46 to accurately place the two width strips 39 while the two width strips 39 are cut. On the outer peripheral surface of the upstream cutting drum 45, a strip 39 having a width of two is pressed. Two pressure drums 47 are mounted next to each other on a support 48 which elastically pushes the pressure drum 47 against the cutting drum 45 and forms a strip 39 of two widths into the cutting drum 45. In order to hold it firmly on the outer peripheral surface, it is pushed against the cutting drum 45 by an elastic member 49 (usually a spring).

  Immediately downstream of the cutting station 41, the rotary separating device 50 separates the two single width strips 42 in the width direction so that they are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. That is, the two single-width strips 42 are wound around the rotary separation device 50 and gradually separated in the width direction by the rotary separation device 50.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the separating device 50 includes a fixed common central support 51 that is integral with the frame of the filter mounting machine 13, and two rotating shafts that are equally inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Two adjacent side drums 52 attached to the support 51 are provided so as to rotate around 53 respectively. In the preferred embodiment, each side drum 52 has a shoulder 56 that supports the position in the width direction of the corresponding single width strip 42 and defines a support surface for defining the position in the width direction. . Because the angles are equally inclined to opposite sides, the two side drums 52 can move in the two single widths as the two single width strips 42 wrap around the side drums 52. The strips 42 are deflected in the width direction and consequently separated in the width direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the gluing device 57 between the longitudinal cutting station 41 and the width cutting station 43 is a single width conveyed through the gluing device 57 parallel to each other and a predetermined distance apart. Adhesive film is applied to the upper surface of both of the strips 42.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the width direction cutting station 43 comprises a cutting device 58, which, in order to separate the two bands 4 applied to the same assembly 10 on the connecting drum 34, every period Both single width strips 42 are scissored. The cutting device 58 comprises a cutting drum 59, which comprises a number of outer peripheral suction seats 60 each having a counter blade 61 designed to hold two adjacent bands 4 by suction. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 9, each counter blade 61 is defined by a contoured cavity formed on the outer periphery of the cutting drum 59 (ie, the counter blade 61 does not protrude from the cutting drum 59). Not “dug”). The cutting device 58 is also mounted so as to rotate together with the cutting drum 59, and also includes a cutting drum 62 that supports a number of blades 63. The blades 63 protrude from the outer periphery of the cutting drum 62, and In conjunction with the corresponding counter blade 61, the two bands 4 are cut into a single width strip 42, one at a time.

  In one embodiment, each of the blade 63 and the counter blade 61 includes two separate bodies that are spaced apart at two single width strips 42. In an alternative embodiment, each of the blade 63 and the counter blade 61 comprises a single elongate body that covers both single width strips 42. Each blade 63 and corresponding counter blade 61 are slightly inclined relative to each other (ie, “skewed”) to scissor cut a single width strip 42 therebetween. ).

  The width direction cutting station 43 also includes a tension adjustment device 64 having a diverting member 65, which deflects the path of each single width strip 42 and restores it to its original state. Periodically adjust the tension of the single width strip 42 between the relaxed state. In order to ensure high quality scissor cutting, in particular to prevent the lateral band 4 from being separated from the single width strip 42 by tearing rather than by scissor cutting, a tensioning device 64 is essential. It is.

  As shown more clearly in FIGS. 10 and 11, for each single width strip 42, the diverting member 64 includes a cam 66 that acts directly on the single width strip 42, and A common pin 67 is attached to rotate about the axis 68. As the common pin (supporting both cams 66) rotates about the axis 68, each cam 66 is in the position with the maximum tension (ie, taut) and the position with the minimum tension (ie, loosened). Rotate back and forth periodically. As an example, the cutting device 58 is of the type described in US Pat. No. 4,943,341 and European Patent No. 1097894.

  As described above, the blade 63 and the counter blade 61 perform scissor cutting, which means that scissor cutting does not instantaneously cut across the entire width, but gradually proceeds across each single width strip 42. Cutting. The two single width strips 42 are positioned a predetermined distance apart, one being cut with a clearly constant delay relative to the other. This delay is equal to the distance between two single width strips 42 separated at the rate at which the scissor cut is made. In order to allow a delay in scissor cutting (ie, time difference) between the two single width strips 42, each cam 66 is angularly offset relative to the other cam so that each The change in tension caused by the cam 66 is always perfectly synchronized with the scissor cut of the corresponding single width strip 42.

  The described filter mounter 13 has numerous advantages.

  In particular, when rotated on the rotating drum 37 of the filter attachment machine 13, the ends of the two lengths of the tobacco portion 7 face outward (ie, exposed, as in a conventional filter attachment machine). Since it is “plugged” by the filter 3 instead of having the risk of chopping tobacco falling, it eliminates all the possibility of chopping tobacco falling from the edge. In the filter mounting machine 13 described, it is therefore possible to rotate in order to achieve a very high production rate without the risk of chopping tobacco falling from the end of the two-length tobacco part 7. The speed can be greatly increased.

  Furthermore, the filter mounter 13 described is very similar in design and components to a conventional filter mounter and is different in the use of specific components and is therefore cheap and easy to manufacture.

Claims (12)

A method for producing a filter cigarette (1), comprising:
A process of carrying the filter (8) of two lengths;
Cutting the two lengths of the filter (8) at its center into two adjacent filters (3);
Separating the two filters (3) in the axial direction by a distance approximately equal to the length of the two tobacco parts (7);
In order to form an assembly (10) comprising said two filters (3) separated by said two lengths of tobacco portion (7), said two parts between said two filters (3) Inserting a length of tobacco part (7);
In order to connect the filter (3) to the end of the two-length tobacco part (7), the end of the filter (3) and the two-length tobacco part (7) Winding two separate bands (4) around simultaneously,
Cutting the assembly (10) in half in the middle of the two lengths of tobacco portion (7) to form two separate filtered tobaccos (1) ;
A process of carrying the cigarette part (5) of four lengths;
Cutting the four-length tobacco portion (5) in half to form two adjacent two-length tobacco portions (7);
Displacing the two tobacco portions (7) of the two lengths so as to be spaced apart by a predetermined width direction; and
Centering the two tobacco portions (7) of the two lengths axially and aligning with each other;
Furthermore, the method of Ru with a. Displacing the two tobacco portions (7) of the two lengths,
Conveying a first two lengths of tobacco portion (7) along a first path (P1) from a first station (20) to a second station (21);
The first two lengths from the first station (20) to the second station (21) along a second path (P2) that is longer than the first path (P1) the method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transporting the second length tobacco portion of the two minute (7) at the same speed as the tobacco portion (7). Two of said paths (P1, P2) The method of claim 2, wherein the eccentric arcuate shape with the same radius. Two said two length tobacco parts (7) are transported from the first station (20) to the second station (21) by the same separation drum (19), and the separation drum ( 19) has two groups (23) of suction seats (24) for the two lengths of the tobacco part (7), the two groups (23) being in two aligned eccentric circles 4. A method according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the methods are arranged along. Unwinding two strips of width (39) from the reel;
Longitudinally cutting the two width strips (39) into two adjacent single width strips (42);
Separating the two single width strips (42) in the width direction such that the two single width strips (42) are spaced apart by a predetermined distance;
Cutting the two single-width strips (42) in the width direction to form two separate bands (4) that are simultaneously wrapped around the assembly (10). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . The two single-width strips (42) are separated in the width direction using a rotary separator (50), and the two single-width strips (on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary separator (50) ( 42) are partly wound, and the separating device (50) is mounted on two adjacent sides which are mounted to rotate around respective first rotation axes (53) inclined relative to each other. 6. A method according to claim 5, comprising a side drum (52). The method according to claim 6, wherein the rotary separating device (50) comprises a common central support (51) which supports both side drums (52) for rotation. Each side drums (52), supporting the position in the width direction of the strip (42) of said single width, or claim 6 comprising a shoulder (56) defining a support surface for defining the position 7. The method according to 7 . Conveying two separate single width strips (42) through a transverse cutting station (43);
Cutting the two single width strips (42) in the width direction to form the two separate bands (4) wound simultaneously around the assembly (10); The method of any one of Claims 1-8 provided. Cutting the two single width strips (42) in the width direction using corresponding blades (61, 63) to scissor each single width strip (42);
Using a tension adjustment device (64) with two rotating cams (66) attached to a common pin (67), each acting on a corresponding single width strip (42), the blade (61, the method of claim 9 further comprising the step of periodically adjusting the tension of the upstream two said single strip width (42) of 63). To compensate for the time difference between the scissor cut of one single width strip (42) and the scissor cut of the other single width strip (42), one cam (66) The method of claim 10 , wherein the method is angularly offset relative to the cam (66). A filter mounting machine (13) for producing a cigarette (1) with a filter,
A pick-up drum (27) carrying the filter (8) of two lengths forward;
A first blade (9) for cutting the two lengths of the filter (8) at its center into two adjacent filters (3);
A first separation drum (29) that axially separates the two filters (3) by approximately the same distance as the length of the two tobacco portions (7);
To form the assembly (10) comprising the two filters thus being spaced the two partial lengths tobacco portion (7) (3), two between said two filters (3) A coupling drum (30) for inserting a length of tobacco part (7);
In order to connect the filter (3) to the end of the two-length tobacco part (7), the end of the filter (3) and the two-length tobacco part (7) Winding means for simultaneously winding two separate bands (4) around
A second blade (11) that cuts the assembly (10) in half in the middle of the two lengths of tobacco part (7) to form two separate filtered cigarettes (1) and,
A cutting drum (18) that advances the transport of four lengths of tobacco part (5);
A third blade (6) for cutting the four lengths of tobacco portion (5) in half to form two adjacent two lengths of tobacco portion (7);
A second separation drum (19) for shifting the two tobacco parts (7) of the two lengths so as to be spaced apart by a predetermined width direction;
A filter mounting machine (13) comprising a centering drum (25) for axially centering the two said two tobacco sections (7) and aligning them relative to each other .

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