KR20170094132A - Apparatus and method for manufacturing a wrapped endless rod of substantially flat continuous material - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for making a packed infinite rod of substantially flat continuous material includes providing a substantially flat continuous material, treating the substantially flat continuous material with a corona discharge, and applying a corona treated substantially flat continuous material to an infinite load As shown in Fig. The additional steps include providing the wrapper, applying the adhesive to the wrapper, and packaging the infinite rod with the wrapper. Wherein applying the adhesive to the wrapper includes applying the adhesive over the width of the wrapper and to the central longitudinal portion of the wrapper.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a packaged endless rod of a substantially flat continuous material,

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a packed infinite rod of a substantially flat continuous material. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for use in the manufacture of aerosol-generating articles or smoking articles or components thereof.

Aerosol generating articles or components thereof, such as filter plugs, for example, may generally be made at least partially from a substantially flat continuous material such as paper, tobacco or a plastic web. The flat continuous material is then formed into an infinite rod. The infinite load is wrapped in a wrapper. The wrapper is provided with a glue for sealing the wrapper and securing the wrapper to the infinite rod. Because of the special material used for the production of the plug, especially the plastic material, and the high production rate at which these plugs are made, the plug may tend to displace or fall from its wrapper. This is particularly remarkable when the rod-like product or the semi-finished product has a sudden change in the direction of conveyance, for example, from the movement in the direction of the longitudinal extension to the movement in the lateral direction in this direction. The non-fixed segment may be released due to inertia in the first moving direction. This may lead to a failure of the production line. It may also set limits on production speed or may negatively affect the operation of the final rod shaped product.

Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and method for manufacturing a packed infinite rod of substantially flat continuous material for use in the production of aerosol-generating articles, such as smoking articles. In particular, there is a need for an apparatus and method for making packed infinite rods of substantially flat, continuous material, wherein the rod material is secured to its wrapper.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing a packed infinite rod of a substantially flat continuous material. The apparatus includes a rod forming unit for forming a substantially flat continuous material into an infinite rod. The apparatus also includes a packaging device for providing a wrapper and packaging the infinite load with the wrapper. An adhesive applicator is provided to apply the adhesive to the wrapper before packaging the infinite rod. The apparatus further comprises a corona module arranged upstream of the rod forming unit for corona treatment of a substantially flat continuous material.

In the corona module, the substantially flat continuous material is corona treated. By the corona treatment, the wetting property of at least one side of the continuous material is improved. Thus, the adhesive applied later or further downstream in the device respectively better wet the continuous material and diffuse over the extension of the continuous material as compared to the same material that has not been corona treated. When packing the wrapper around the continuous material in the form of a rod, the adhesive then contacts the material of the rod not only at a small limited point, but also in the extended area of the adhesive. This improves the anchoring of the rod material to its wrapper. Thus, the risk of longitudinal and rotational displacement of the rod material in the wrapper may be reduced or prevented. Thus, inadvertent displacement or loss of the rod material in or out of its wrapper may be prevented, or its occurrence may be reduced. This is particularly advantageous at high production rates and when using materials with low relative adhesive forces, such as, for example, paper and plastic materials.

1 shows a schematic overview of an embodiment of a filter manufacturing apparatus comprising a corona module;
FIG. 2 shows poor semi-finished products;
Figure 3 shows a corona module;
Figures 4a and 4b show different adhesive patterns;
5 is a measurement setup for fixation measurements;
Figure 6 shows the test results of the fixation measurements.

The adhesive applicator may be arranged to apply the adhesive to a particular pattern and location on the wrapper, preferably in the middle of the wrapper as described in more detail below with respect to the method. Preferably, the device is then programmed to perform this method.

In addition, the corona treatment has little or no permanent effect on product characteristics, since its effect disappears after a few days in general. Also, mechanical deformation of the treated material during corona treatment rarely occurs. Since no chemicals are required for the corona treatment, unintended residues of the chemical remain in or on the product containing the material to be treated by the corona field.

Depending on the material used for the wrapper, the corona treatment may also improve the adhesion of the wrapper material to itself, particularly when the wrapper material is also corona treated. Thus, the creation of reliable joints of the wrapper may also be supported by corona treatment.

Since the adhesive is generally required in the manufacturing process, but not necessarily required or desirable in the final product, the amount of adhesive should be kept to a minimum. Through better adhesion and diffusion of the adhesive after corona treatment of the rod material, the amount of adhesive may be as limited as possible and still improve adhesion in a packed infinite rod of substantially flat continuous material that is produced without further corona treatment.

Corona treatment is such a known electrochemical process for the surface modification of plastic materials, especially polyethylene-, polypropylene-, and polyester foils. The corona treatment is performed, for example, to improve the wettability of the surface for printing a liquid. The base material, which is the material to be treated by the corona treatment, is exposed to a high voltage discharge occurring between the electrode and the counter-electrode, and the latter is usually at the ground potential. Through corona treatment, the surface tension of the treated material changes through the ionization of the fluid surrounding the base material. When the base material is adjacent to the counter electrode, only the surface of the base material facing the electrode at the high voltage is processed. Generally, the electrodes are powered by a high frequency generator having an AC voltage between 10 and 20 kV and a frequency between 10 and 60 kHz.

According to an aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the shape of the electrode or counter electrode of the corona module corresponds to the surface of the guiding element which guides the substantially flat continuous material along the corona module. In this embodiment, the continuous material is guided over the guiding element or across the guiding element while passing through the corona module. The guiding element may function as a direct electrode or a counter electrode. Preferably, the guiding element is a counter electrode. Preferably, the counter electrode is electrically isolated. Preferably, the counter electrode is held at the ground potential. When the substantially flat continuous material is in direct contact with the guide element, for example the guide drum, the surface of the continuous material in contact with the guide element is not corona treated. In this setup, only the surface of the continuous material facing the electrode is corona treated.

The use of the guiding element may further simplify handling and conversion of the base material during or during production run. However, corona modules may be suitable for different materials with unchanged geometric conditions. Preferably, the continuous basis material is guided continuously, and preferably at a constant rate, through the corona material while the corona module is active, i.e., while the continuous material is corona treated. However, the base material may also be transported into the corona module, disposed between the electrode and counter electrode, and corona treated in a stationary state. Preferably, the subsequent continuous transport of the base material is carried out using a speed ramp to prevent rapid pulling of the continuous material.

The corresponding shape of the electrode and the counter electrode allows a defined, preferably constant, distance between the electrode and the counter electrode.

The distance between the electrode and the counter electrode may range between 0.1 mm and 25 mm. The distance between the electrode and the counter electrode may preferably be in the range between 1 mm and about 10 mm, for example 8 mm.

In some preferred embodiments, the electrodes of the corona module have a lateral dimension corresponding to the width of the substantially flat continuous material to be corona treated. The size of the electrodes may be suitable for the size or area of the continuous material to be corona treated. If the continuous material is corona treated over the entire width of the material, the wetting properties of the entire surface of the continuous material may be improved. Thus, the adhesive on the wrapper, which is preferably brought into contact with the continuous material being corona treated, is substantially independent of the position at which the continuous material and the wrapper contact each other. Thus, the stickiness of the continuous material to the wrapper may be more reliable, and more flexibility in adhesive application may be achieved. For example, the location on the wrapper to which the adhesive is applied is substantially independent of the arrangement of the substantially flat continuous material when wrinkled into a rod shape.

According to another aspect of the apparatus according to the present invention, the corona module includes a first module portion and a second module portion, wherein the first module portion and the second module portion each include an electrode-counter electrode pair. The electrode-counter electrode pair of the first module portion is arranged and powered to corona-process one side of the substantially flat continuous material. The electrode-counter electrode pairs of the second module portion are arranged and powered to corona the other side of the substantially flat continuous material.

The base material is guided through the two corona module sections so that both sides of the base material can be corona treated, where the base material is corona treated. Each module portion has an electrode-counter electrode pair. Corona treatment of both sides of a foil or flat material is also possible in a corona module which basically has only one electrode-counter electrode pair, but preferably the two-side treatment is performed with two consecutively arranged electrode-counter electrode pairs. One pair may then be optimized for treatment of one surface such that both surfaces are reliably corona treated in the corona module after the base material leaves the corona module. When both sides of the base material are corona treated, the position of the contact area between the rod material and the wrapper (and thus the position of the adhesive on the wrapper) is completely independent of the position of the adhesive on the wrapper and the folding of the continuous material into the rod . For example, a seam line or adhesive may be located anywhere on the circumference of the rod, and the flat material may be corrugated in a well defined manner or in a completely irregularly rod shape: the adhesive on the wrapper may be corona Will always be in contact with (the face of) the treated rod material.

According to another aspect of the apparatus according to the invention, the corona module comprises a high frequency generator for providing a frequency in the range between 10 kHz and 60 kHz and an alternating voltage between 15 kV and 40 kV.

These frequency and voltage ranges have been found to provide good adhesive wetting for materials used in the manufacture of smoking articles, aerosol-generating articles, or plugs for their components. In addition, the operating range of such frequencies and voltages has provided good results without damaging materials, especially plastic materials such as, for example, polylactic acid webs.

The substantially flat continuous material may be formed from a group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), cellulose acetate (CA), aluminum foil or any combination thereof It may be the selected continuous material. Preferably, the substantially flat continuous material used in the method according to the present invention has a width between about 150 mm and about 270 mm. In some preferred embodiments, the substantially flat continuous material is a plastic material, such as polylactic acid (PLA). The polylactic acid sheet may have a thickness between about 10 μm and about 250 μm, preferably about 50 μm ± 5 μm.

The wrapper may be a continuous web of paper, plastic or metal, as can be used in the manufacture of smoking articles or aerosol-generating articles. Preferably, the wrapper is a paper wrapper. The wrapper may have a thickness between 20 and 250 mu m, preferably between 40 and 180 mu m.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a method for manufacturing a packed infinite rod of a substantially flat continuous material. The method includes providing a substantially flat continuous material and treating the substantially flat continuous material with a corona discharge. The method further comprises molding the corona treated substantially flat continuous material into an infinite rod, providing the wrapper, applying the adhesive to the wrapper, and packaging the infinite rod with the wrapper provided with the adhesive . Preferably, applying the adhesive to the wrapper includes applying the adhesive over the width of the wrapper and to the central longitudinal portion of the wrapper. As used herein, the central longitudinal portion includes a central longitudinal axis of the wrapper and is understood to include about +/- 50% of the overall width of the wrapper.

The adhesive is applied to the central longitudinal portion according to a rule or irregular pattern. Preferably, the adhesive is not applied over the entire central longitudinal portion, but is applied over one or several confined regions in the central longitudinal portion.

The adhesive applied to the central longitudinal portion is provided to contact the rod material, i. E., A wrinkled or ground corona treated flattened material. The adhesive is also applied to the seam area to attach the wrapper to itself and to form the seam. The joint region typically occupies only a few percent of the width of the wrapper. The application of the adhesive in the central longitudinal portion and in the seam region can be combined in one application step. For example, the adhesive pattern may extend from the central longitudinal portion to the seam region. The adhesive application in the central longitudinal portion and in the seam region may be provided in a separate adhesive application step, for example by a separate applicator movement or by a separate applicator or by a separate applicator separate from the transfer .

According to an aspect of the method according to the present invention, the method includes directing a substantially flat continuous material between the electrode of the corona module and the counter electrode.

The corona treatment of the substantially flat continuous material may be carried out for a treatment time in the range between 0.001 and 2 seconds, preferably between 0.02 and 0.5 seconds. This corona treatment time has been shown to increase the adhesion between the corona treated material and the wrapper bonded to a particularly corona treated material in particular. Preferably, the processing times mentioned are applied to corona modules having a frequency and voltage range as described above.

Preferably, during the treatment time, the substantially flat material is carried continuously between the electrodes and the counter electrode. If both sides of a substantially flat continuous material are to be treated in two consecutive corona module sections, the corona treatment may be performed in each module section for the above treatment time.

In some preferred embodiments of the method according to the present invention, the method comprises corona treating one side of a substantially flat continuous material followed by corona treatment of the other side of the substantially flat continuous material.

Advantages and other aspects of the method according to the present invention have been described with respect to the apparatus according to the present invention and therefore will not be repeated.

According to another aspect of the method according to the present invention, applying the adhesive to the wrapper includes applying the adhesive over the length or width of the wrapper or over the length and width of the wrapper. In particular, applying the adhesive to the wrapper includes applying the adhesive to one or several strips over the length or width of the wrapper or over the length and width of the wrapper. For example, one longitudinal strip may be applied to the central longitudinal portion of the wrapper, and one longitudinal strip of adhesive may be applied to the seam region.

Generally, the adhesive is applied longitudinally along the wrapper so that a strip of adhesive, e.g. glue, is applied and arranged along one side of the wrapper. After packaging, the portion of the wrapper provided with the strip of adhesive forms a joint extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the infinite rod. The width of the strip is selected so that the adhesive is provided to the wrapper within the joint region and to some extent to the portion of the wrapper adjacent to the joint region and facing the rod material. The adhesive in the seam region is provided to seal the wrapper, but an adhesive facing the rod material is provided for securing the rod material within the wrapper. The longitudinally arranged strips make it possible to produce a continuously sealed wrapper along the longitudinal axis of the infinite rod. Typically, two longitudinal strips are arranged along the length of the wrapper, one strip being arranged on one side for the joint, and one second strip being arranged essentially along the longitudinal center axis of the wrapper for fixation do.

The amount of adhesive arranged in the longitudinal direction may be applied, for example, in the form of a spiral. This spiral adhesive application in the joint region is described, for example, in EP 1 161 887 B. The application of a helical form of adhesive has the advantage that the width of the helix can easily be adapted to more or less adhesive in order to bring it into contact with the rod material. In addition, the adhesive applied longitudinally in the form of a spiral also provides a reference for a continuously sealed wrapper along the longitudinal axis.

Here, adhesive spirals are described as having the advantage that fewer adhesives are required to achieve a continuously sealed wrapper along the longitudinal axis of the seam region of the wrapper.

The term "over-width" adhesive extends over at least 20% of the width of the wrapper, more preferably over at least 30% of the width, for example over 50% of the width of the wrapper . Here, the adhesive may be a single adhesive area, for example a single strip, or it may be the sum of several adhesive areas, for example the sum of several strips arranged in parallel.

The adhesive may also be applied to extend over at least a portion of the circumference of the rod or around its circumference, in order to further secure the rod material against rotational displacement within the wrapper, for improved fixation of the rod material and the wrapper. Adhesion of the rod material in the wrapper is further improved by the application of the adhesive over at least a portion of the width of the wrapper, preferably over at least half of its width. This may further reduce the risk of longitudinal and rotational displacement of the rod in the wrapper, or prevent its displacement, even at high production speeds and when using materials with low adhesion between the rod and the wrapper material. The adhesive may be applied, for example, in the form of a strip that extends across the wrapper, i. E. Across the width of the wrapper. Preferably, the transverse strips are provided as regular patterns by strips arranged far away. Preferably, the transverse strips are applied to the wrapper in a regular order. The transverse strips may be arranged at regular intervals, for example on a wrapper. For example, the transverse strips may be applied to locations where an infinite load will later be cut into individual segments or plugs. As such, the wrapper will be secured to the rod material at the end of the segment or in the end region, preferably along the entire circumference of the rod.

The transverse strip may extend over a portion of the width of the wrapper or over the entire width of the wrapper. In the latter case, the adhesive is applied over the entire circumference of the rod between the wrapper and the rod material.

The adhesive may also be applied across the width and length of the wrapper, to provide circumferential adhesion of the wrapper to the rod material as well as to the longitudinal joint. Preferably, the adhesive applied over the width and length in the central longitudinal portion of the wrapper is supplemented by the adhesive applied in the joint region.

The method may include applying one type of adhesive to the center longitudinal portion of the wrapper and applying another type of adhesive to the joint portion of the wrapper. Different adhesives may, for example, have different settling times or different applications. If the wrapper is a paper wrapper, a paper glue may be used for the joint. If the rod material is a plastic material, for example, a particular plastic adhesive may be used for bonding the wrapper to such a plastic rod material.

Preferably, prior to any further treatment of the material, such as compression, embossing, rolling, electrostatic discharge, cooling, flavoring, gathering and rod formation, Treatment is performed on the base material. However, the corona treatment may also be applied after the treatment step, for example after at least one of the abovementioned processing steps, such as the pressing of a continuous material.

Subsequent treatments may affect the effectiveness of the corona treatment. However, the effect of the corona treatment has been found to last from several hours to several days, depending on the material treated and the treatment time. The typical time in the apparatus according to the invention, which elapses between the corona treatment of the base material and the packing of the infinite rod formed of the corona treated base material, is in the range between 1 second to several minutes. Thus, this time is well below the time that the effect normally disappears.

According to the invention, there is also provided a consumer article, for example an aerosol-generating article or a smoking article. The consumable contains a segment of packed infinite rod, for example a plug, and the packed infinite rod is manufactured according to the method according to the invention and as described herein. Preferably, the plug is a PLA plug for use, for example, as an aerosol cooling segment in a consumer product. Preferably, the consumable material comprises an adhesive between the wrapper and the rod material, wherein the adhesive is provided in the central portion of the wrapper, i.e. spaced from the joint of the wrapper.

In consumer goods, the adhesive may be provided circumferentially between the wrapper and the rod material.

Additional processing may be used with corona treatment to improve adhesion and distribution of the adhesive on the wrapper so as to improve adhesion of the rod material to its wrapper. Such a process may, for example, be a modification of the adhesive, for example a different adhesive (PVA adhesive, polar adhesive); For example, alternative wrapper materials having different wetting properties or having different porosities; But are not limited to, different adhesive patterns, such as the patterns explicitly described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is further illustrated in connection with the embodiments illustrated by the following figures.

In the filter manufacturing apparatus shown schematically in Figure 1 , a substantially flat continuous material, such as a web 1 of material, is provided on the bobbin 10. When released from the bobbin 10, the web 1 is corona treated, grounded, and packaged in the apparatus. In this embodiment, the web 1, for example a PLA film, passes through the corona module 2 immediately after being unwound from the bobbin 10. In the corona module 2, both sides of the web 1 are continuously corona treated in the two corona module sections 21, 22. The corona module 2 will now be described in more detail with reference to Fig. After the corona treatment in the corona module 2, the web 1 passes through a set of pressing devices 4, for example two pressing rollers. The crimping device 4 provides a crimping structure, for example substantially parallel corrugations, to the web 1, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the web, i.e. in the direction in which the web 1 travels . Then, the web 1 passes through a molding apparatus. The forming apparatus includes a forming roller 50 which preferably provides a crimping web 1 with a wavy macrostructure that advances in a longitudinal direction overlying the crimping microstructure. Putting a covering macro structure on the web 1 causes the web 1 to be pressed together in the lateral direction of the web. Also, for example, the wrinkling treatment of the web 1 in the form of a rod is supported by a longitudinal wavy structure and may be carried out in a more controlled manner. The molding apparatus also includes a funneling device 51 arranged downstream of the forming roller 50. [ In the funneling device 51, the web 1 is also molded into a rod shape, for example by wrinkling or pressing together. Preferably, when leaving the funneling device 51, the web 1 has not yet achieved its final form, or is not completely corrugated, respectively. This facilitates the introduction of objects such as capsules or flavored threads 71 into an infinite load of web material. A flavor application system 7 comprising an infinite chamber 71 and a flavor reservoir 72 is arranged downstream of the molding apparatus. The yarn 71 is mounted on the bobbin 70. Preferably, the flavor reservoir 72 contains menthol. The yarn 71 is unwound from the bobbin 70 and is carried along with the flavoring agent before being conveyed to the corrugated web 1. The flavor application system 7 may be provided with at least one of a flow meter, a valve, a temperature control and a pump for controlling and providing a defined amount of flavor to be applied to the chamber 71. The flavor application system 7 is arranged above the web 1 so that gravity can assist in the introduction of the yarn into the web. The gravity may also support the flow of flavor liquid along the thread 71. Alternatively, or additionally, the flavoring agent may be added separately from the thread 71, or may be omitted altogether. In that case, the presence of the yarn may have an aesthetic contribution primarily to the aerosol-generated article.

Infinite wrap material 6, for example paper, is provided on the bobbin 60 and fed from below the infinite rod, so that an infinite load of web material lies on the wrap material 6. [ The wrap material 6 travels parallel to the infinite rod when engaged with the rod. Before the wrap material 6 and the infinite rod are joined, the wrap material is provided with an adhesive. The adhesive reservoir 62 is in fluid communication with the fixation nozzle 63 as well as the joint nozzle 64. Adhesive from the adhesive reservoir 62 is conveyed through the adhesive conduit, for example a tube, to the fixation nozzle and the seam nozzle. By means of the fixing nozzle 63, a fixing adhesive is applied in the lap material, preferably in the more central region of the lap material 6. [ Preferably, a fixative adhesive is applied to the wrap material 6 in the transverse direction. Lines or anchoring adhesives are each provided for contacting the web material so that the wrapper is securely bonded to the web material so that the rod material is secured within the wrapper. By means of the coupling nozzle 64, a bonding adhesive is applied to the wrap material 6, preferably along the side of the wrap material 6. Preferably, the adhesive joint is applied in one longitudinal line, preferably one continuous line. The longitudinal lines are provided to bond the wrap material to itself after the wrap material has been completely wrapped around the infinite rod of web material. Thus, the wrap material forms a secure and preferably continuous joint.

Preferably, the adhesive reservoir 62 contains a liquid adhesive that may be used for both bonding and seaming of the wrap material. However, if different adhesives are to be used, respective reservoirs for fixation and joint formation may be provided. Different adhesives may be advantageous if, for example, the wrap material is a paper wrapper and a paper glue is to be used for the joint and, for example, a particular plastic glue is to be used to adhere the wrap to a plastic web material of an infinite rod have. Further, the adhesives may vary depending on the fixing time of the adhesive. For example, polyurethane adhesives and hot-melt adhesives may be used for different purposes.

This packaged infinite load of web material may be guided into a rod shaped bed 52 passing through a heating device 53 for heating the packed infinite rod. Heating facilitates distribution of the adhesive and rapid drying. After the infinite load is formed, the infinite rod is cut into a rod segment of a predefined length, for example a single or double length segment (having a length or a double length of the end product) at the cutting device 8. The load segment may be conveyed to a tray or storage 91. The load segment may be conveyed directly to the coupler 92 for coupling with additional elements, e. G., Additional filter elements or segments of the aerosol generating article.

An on-line control unit 90 is provided after the infinite load is cut into segments for quality control of the manufactured segment. In the position of the tray 91, an off-line control unit 93 may be provided. The on-line control unit 90 and the off-line control unit 93 are used to control the length of the semi-finished or finished product, the diameter control, the weight control, the ovality control, the suction resistance (RTD) Quality aspects. The off-line control unit 93 may be provided with a measuring device, for example, for menthol content or other materials in the load segment. In the tray 91, the segments may be marked, for example, with a batch number, production date or production code, for example for tracking of the product.

Preferably, a tension roller 30 and a drive roller 31 are provided in the apparatus for controlled, continuous transport of the web 1 of material and continuous, preferably constant tensioning of the web. For example, at the position of the on-line control unit 90, a synchronization means may be provided between the conveying means such as the pressing device 4 and the continuous belt. By means of the synchronization means, the linear velocity of the substantially unfolded substantially flat continuous material fed into the infinite rod and compression device 4 may be synchronized.

Instead of having a device in which the corona treatment is performed in-line, the base material may also be pre-corona treated and then fed to the filter manufacturing apparatus.

Fig. 2 schematically shows a semi-finished product produced from a rod segment, for example, produced in the same apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, but without a corona module and without corona treatment of the PLA foil. The two rod segments including the plugs of the PLA foil 1 packaged in paper wrappers 6 are aligned with their longitudinal axes with additional rod shaped segments 11 arranged between the PLA plugs. The additional rod shape segment 11 may be an additional filter element, or it may be a plug of an aerosol-forming substrate, for example a cigarette plug. The additional rod shape segment 11 is a double segment and is joined by the additional wrapper 13 to the two rod segments. During the bonding step, the weak adhesion between the PLA plug 1 and the paper wrapper 6 causes the plug to be shifted by the transition distance 12 from the wrapper 6. This transition distance may be up to several millimeters. If the transition distance 12 exceeds a predefined distance, the product will normally be regarded as defective and will be removed.

In Fig. 3 , the PLA film 1 is guided through a corona module 2 comprising two corona module sections 21, 22. The PLA film may be guided in and out of the corona module 2 through the guide roller 200. The setup of the two corona module sections 21, 22 is substantially the same. The two corona module sections 21 and 22 are arranged such that one side of the PLA film is corona treated in the first module section 21 by guiding the PLA film through the module sections 21 and 22 in s-shape. The other side of the PLA film is corona treated in the second module portion 22 arranged in series downstream of the first module portion 21. The corona module sections 21 and 22 include transfer drums 20 and 23 as counter electrodes. Preferably, the transport drums 20 and 23 are at the ground potential. The PLA foil 1 performs a substantially U-turn and lies closely against the transfer drums 22, 23 when guided around the transfer drums 20, 23. The corona module portion also includes electrodes 212, 222 connected to power generator units 211, 221 that provide the power and frequency of the voltage applied to the electrodes 212, 222. The electrodes 212 and 222 and the power generators 211 and 221 are arranged in the housings 210 and 220. The housings 210, 220 are movably mounted to move away from and towards the conveying drums 20, 23 for mounting and maintenance purposes. Preferably, the distance between the electrodes 212, 222 and the counter electrodes 20, 23 may be set by the movable housings 210, 220. The retracted position of the housing is indicated by dashed lines 2100 and 2200. The electrodes 212 and 222 include concave shapes corresponding to the circumferences of the conveying drums 20 and 23. The PLA foil 1 may be corona treated on the face of the PLA foil that is guided between the electrodes 212 and 222 and the counter electrodes 20 and 23 and thus faces each electrode.

In Figures 4a and 4b , portions of the infinite wrap material 6 are shown. Individual strips 630 of adhesive are applied along the width 602 of the wrap material 6. The strip 630 is intended to adhere the wrap material 6 to the web material 1. The strips 630 do not extend completely to the lateral edges of the wrap material, for example, so as to not cover the joint areas of the joints or the joint areas of the joint areas for the wrapper joints, respectively. However, when wrapped around the rod shaped PLA plug, the strip preferably extends along the entire circumference of the PLA plug.

When the anchoring strip 630 is also used for the joining of the wrap material 6, the strip may extend to the lateral edges of the wrap material.

Strips 630 are applied and distributed along the length of the wrap material. Preferably, they are arranged equidistantly over the length of the wrap material 6. The individual wrapper segments 601 are indicated by the cutting lines 80 and 81. The cutting lines 80 and 81 correspond to the positions at which the infinite rod is later cut into the rod segments. Preferably, the strip pattern has a predetermined value of, for example, the distance between the strips, the number of strips and the width of the strip. Preferably, the predetermined value is selected according to the length 603 of the individual wrapper segment 601.

In Figure 4a, two strips 630 are provided per wrapper segment 601, while the wrap material 6 is cut between the strips. In Figure 4b, only one strip 630 is provided at half the length of the wrap material 6 per segment.

The width 602 of the wrap material 6 may be between 23 mm and 30 mm, for example 28 mm. The length 603 of the individual wrapper segments may be between 8 mm and 20 mm, for example 12 mm. The width between the strips 630 provided with one strip per wrapper segment is preferably the same as the wrapper segment length 603. However, both of these values may be suitable for the cross-section and length of the rod segment to be cut from the infinite load of the web material and packed into the wrapper segment 601.

Fig. 5 shows a measurement setup for measuring the fastening of the PLA rod 1 in its plug wrapper 6. Fig. For this measurement, the packaged PLA plug is pierced on a pin 18 provided with an extended base. And the adhesive tape 18 is attached to the wrapper 6. Preferably, the adhesive force between the adhesive tape 18 and the wrapper 6 is stronger than the adhesive force between the wrapper 6 and the PLA plug 1. The pin 1 and the adhesive tape 18 are fixedly held within the force measuring device 16, e.g., the dynamometer grip cell, respectively. The two dynamometers pull in opposite directions as indicated by the arrows (17) on the tape and plug.

In Fig. 6 , the results of the PLA anchoring measurements performed with the setup as shown in Fig. 5 are shown. Figure 6 shows that when comparing samples of PLA foil 15 that were not corona treated and PLA foil 65 that was corona treated, the adhesion strength could be improved by corona treatment. Generally, double or triple adhesion strength may be achieved by corona treatment of the PLA foil. Additional effects are evident between the different adhesive patterns 631 provided on the paper wrapper 6. Random spiral dual longitudinal strips and square or transverse strips show improved adhesion compared to a single, generally used, longitudinal strip 170. When corona treatment is combined with a dedicated adhesive pattern, the adhesion strength may be significantly improved and the number of defective products may be significantly reduced.

(As shown in FIG. 2) that includes a non-corona treated polylactic acid foil adhered to a paper wrapper provided with one longitudinal adhesive line along the central axis of the wrapper, The adhesive strips were compared to the amount of poor semi-finished products comprising corona-treated polylactic acid foil adhered to the paper wrapper provided. The products were identified as defective when the transition distance 12 between the PLA plug 1 and the wrapper 6 exceeded 1 mm. The comparison showed that the number of defective products could be reduced by about 120 times (29 bad semi-finished products per one tray 91 were compared to one poor semi-finished product per four trays 91).

1: web of material, PLA plug, pin
2: Module
4:
6: wrap material, wrapper
7: Flavoring system
8: Cutting device
10: Bobbin
11: rod shape segment
12: Transit distance
15,65: PLA foil
16: Force measuring device
17: Arrow
18: Adhesive tape
20, 23: Carrying drum
21, 22: Module
30: tension roller
31: drive roller
50: forming roller
51: Funneling device
52: rod shape bed
53: Heating device
60: Bobbin
62: Adhesive storage part
63: Fixing nozzle
64: Joint nozzle
70: Bobbin
71: Room
72:
80,81: Cutting line
90: control unit
91: Storage, Tray
92: Coupler
93: offline control unit
170: strip
200: guide roller
210, 220: housing
211,221: Power generator
212, 222:
601: Segment
602: Width
603: Length
630: strip
631: Pattern
2100,2200: Dotted line

Claims (18)

CLAIMS 1. A method for producing a packed infinite rod of a substantially flat continuous material,
Providing a substantially flat continuous material;
Treating the substantially flat continuous material with a corona discharge;
Molding the corona treated substantially flat continuous material into an infinite rod;
Providing a wrapper;
Applying an adhesive to the wrapper, and
And packaging the infinite rod with the wrapper, wherein applying the adhesive to the wrapper comprises applying an adhesive over a width of the wrapper and in a mid-longitudinal portion of the wrapper. The method of claim 1, comprising directing the substantially flat continuous material between an electrode of the corona module and a counter electrode. 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said substantially flat continuous material is corona treated for a treatment time in the range of between 0.001 and 2 seconds. 4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising corona treating one side of said substantially flat continuous material followed by corona treatment of the other side of said substantially flat continuous material. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the adhesive is applied to one or several strips over the length of the wrapper or across the width or over the length and width. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein a strip of adhesive is applied along the longitudinal center axis of the wrapper. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein a strip of adhesive is applied across the width of the wrapper. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the strip extends over the entire width of the wrapper. 9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the substantially flat continuous material is a plastic material, for example polylactic acid. 10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one type of adhesive and another type of adhesive are applied to the joint portion of the wrapper in the central longitudinal portion of the wrapper. A consumer article comprising a segment of a packaged infinite load made according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 10. 12. Consumable article according to claim 11, wherein the adhesive is provided circumferentially between the wrapper and the packaged material. An apparatus for manufacturing a packaged infinite rod of a substantially flat continuous material, said apparatus being programmed to carry out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A rod-forming unit for forming a substantially flat continuous material into an infinite rod;
A packaging device for providing a wrapper and packaging the infinite load with the wrapper;
An adhesive applicator for applying an adhesive to a wrapper, wherein the adhesive applicator is arranged to apply an adhesive to a central portion of the wrapper;
And a corona module arranged upstream of the rod forming unit for corona treating the substantially flat continuous material. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the electrodes of the corona module have a lateral dimension corresponding to a width of the substantially flat continuous material to be corona treated. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 or 14, wherein the distance between the electrode and the counter electrode is in the range between 0.1 mm and about 25 mm. 16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the corona module comprises a first module part and a second module part, wherein the first module part and the second module part each comprise an electrode- Wherein the electrode-counter electrode pair of the first module portion is arranged and powered to corona-process one surface of the substantially flat continuous material, and the electrode-counter electrode pair of the second module portion is substantially And arranged to be able to corona the other side of the flat continuous material. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least one of the modules comprises two electrodes arranged next to each other in a direction of transport of the substantially flat continuous material. 18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein the corona module comprises a high frequency generator for providing a frequency in the range between 10 kHz and 60 kHz and an alternating voltage between 15 kV and 40 kV.

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