KR20190002580A - Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a drum (18) for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus. The drum 18 includes a seat 23, which during use is adapted to convey components of the tobacco industry products, with the shaft 19 - the drum rotating about its axis. The sheet 23 is movable in the direction toward the shaft 19 of the drum 18 in response to the components being pressed against the sheet during use.

Description

Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus for manufacturing a tobacco industry product comprising a drum and a drum for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus.

An apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a series of drums that convey components along a production path as the drums rotate. The components are transferred from one drum to the next at points where the circumferential surfaces of the drums are closest to each other. When the components are transported along a path, the components may be subjected to several processes, such as cutting, sliding, joining with other components, bonding, and rolling or wrapping by a paper patch It goes through. Cigarette components typically include filters, filter components, and packed tobacco rods.

According to some embodiments described herein, a drum for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus is provided, the drum including: during use, the drum rotating about its axis - about the axis - and conveying components of the tobacco industry products wherein the sheet is movable during use in a direction toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the sheet.

The sheet may include a plate adapted to be deflected inwardly toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the plate during use.

In some examples, the plate is pivotally mounted to the pivot such that the plate can be deflected about the pivot in a direction toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the plate during use.

In other examples, the plate may be slidably mounted such that during use the plate slides in a direction toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the plate.

The drum may further comprise a biasing member arranged to bias the plate away from the axis of the drum.

The biasing member may be a spring.

In other examples, the sheet is resiliently deformable so that the sheet deforms, in use, in response to the components being pressed against the sheet.

The drum may include a circumferential surface, and the sheet may be arranged on the circumferential surface of the drum.

The sheet may extend only partially across the circumferential surface of the drum in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum such that the components of the tobacco industry products on the drum are at least partially over the sheet during use.

The sheet may extend across the circumferential surface of the drum in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum such that the entire length of each component is carried on the sheet.

The drum may include a second sheet that is axially aligned with the sheet on the circumferential surface of the drum.

The sheet and the second sheet may be spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum.

The sheet includes a surface having suction holes and a surface having suction holes may be adapted to retain the components on the surface when the suction is applied to the at least one suction hole during use.

The suction holes can be arranged to hold the paper patch.

The sheet may include a flute adapted to accommodate elongate components of the tobacco industry products.

The flute includes at least one suction hole, and at least one suction hole can be adapted to retain the elongate components when the suction is applied to the at least one suction hole during use.

The peripheral surface of the sheet can be substantially horizontal with the circumferential surface of the drum when the components are not pressed against the sheet.

In one example, the drum is a transfer drum adapted to receive a paper patch at a first location and transfer the paper patch at a second location to an additional drum during use, wherein the additional drum , During use, is adapted to carry a collation of components and to receive a paper patch from a delivery drum.

In another example, the drum includes a rolling mechanism for receiving the collations and paper patches of components comprising the elongated components, and rolling the paper patch about the elongate components to form the tobacco industry products during use To deliver the tobacco industry products to the additional drum, and during use, to deliver the tobacco industry products to the additional drum.

In another example, the drum is a delivery drum adapted to receive components of the tobacco industry products during use and to deliver the components to an additional drum.

In yet another example, the drum is a delivery drum adapted to receive collision and paper patches of cylindrical components during use, and to deliver the components and paper patches to an additional drum.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry products, the apparatus comprising a drum as described above.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 shows a schematic view of a part of a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus;
Figure 2 shows an example of a tobacco industry product made by the device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows the delivery drum of the tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a schematic cross-section of the sheet of the transfer drum of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-section of an alternative sheet of the transfer drum of Figure 3;
Figure 6 shows a schematic cross-section of an alternative sheet of the transfer drum of Figure 3;
Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show plan views of alternative transfer drums of the tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 8 shows a schematic cross-section of two drums at the point where the components are transferred from one drum to the other;
Figure 9 shows a schematic cross-section of two drums at the point where the components are transferred from one drum to the other;
Figure 10 shows a schematic cross-section of the drum and roll hand at points where the roll hand interacts with the components on the drum; And
Figure 11 shows a schematic cross-section of a tipping paper suction drum and a tipping drum of the apparatus of Figure 1;

Figure 1 shows a part of a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus 1 comprising a tobacco rod feed drum 2 and a filter component feed drum 3. The tobacco rod transfer drum 2 receives the packaged tobacco rods 5 moving in a direction transverse (i.e., laterally) in the flutes formed in the circumferential surface of the tobacco rod transfer drum 2 . The filter component transfer drum 3 receives the filter components 6 from the hopper 4 in the flutes formed on the peripheral surface of the filter component transfer drum 3. The filter component transfer drum 3 and the tobacco rod transfer drum 2 transfer the filter components 6 and the cigarette rods 5 respectively onto the coupling drum 45 so that the filter component 6 and the cigarette rods 5, (5) are axially aligned within the flutes on the circumferential surface of the binding drum (45) and are ready to be packaged to form an assembled smoking article.

1, the tobacco rods 5 and the filter components 6 are transferred onto a tipping drum 7 from a coupling drum 45 where the tobacco rods 5, And filter components 6 are provided with tipping around the tobacco rods 5 and filter components 6 to form two assembled tobacco industry products in a back-to- A tipping paper patch is provided before being transferred to a rolling unit 9 that rolls a tipping paper patch. The tipping paper patch is supplied to the tipping drum 7 by the tipping paper suction drum 10.

A tipping paper web 13 passes through an adhesive applicator 11 which applies an adhesive to one side of the tipping paper web 13. The tipping paper web 13 is then received on the tipping paper suction drum 10 utilizing suction to hold the tipping paper web 13 against the circumferential surface of the tipping paper suction drum 10. The cutting unit 12 cuts the tipping paper web 13 into patches on the tipping paper suction drum 10 and then the patches are placed on the tipping drum 7 with the tobacco rods 5 and the filter components 6 ).

In one example, the cutting unit 12 includes a crush cutter. In this case, the cutting unit 12 comprises a rotary blade, and the tipping paper suction drum 10 is moved in the transverse direction (i.e., in the direction of the web 10) in order to form the patches of the tipping paper, Lt; / RTI > as an anvil which is cut by a rotary blade (across the blade 13).

In an alternative embodiment, the cutting unit 12 uses a shear cutter to cut the web 13. In this case, the tipping paper suction drum 10 includes edges that cooperate with the blades of the cutting unit 12 to shear the tipping paper web 13.

The cutting unit 12 is configured to move the blades in a direction in which the blades are continuously engaged with the tipping paper suction drum 10 (i.e., in the direction of the tipping paper suction drum 10 and the cutting unit 12) May have several rotatable blades protruding from the shaft in the radial direction to cut the web 13 (in the axial direction).

The severed patches of the tipping paper on the tipping paper suction drum 10 are coated with adhesive on the already outwardly facing surface so that the tipping paper suction drum 10 is positioned at a position that is closest to the tipping drum 7 The suction acting on the tipping paper patches is released and the patches are transferred from the tipping paper suction drum 10 to the tipping drum 7 and in particular onto the tobacco rods 5 and the filter components 6 . The adhesive bonds the tipping paper patches to the cigarette rods 5 and the filter components 6.

The tipping drum 7 then passes the tobacco rods 5 and the filter components 6 and the tipping paper patch around the tobacco rods 5 and the filter components 6 to form tobacco industry products And transfers the tipping paper patch to the rolling unit 9 for rolling. The rolling unit 9 is arranged so that the tobacco rods 5 and the filter components 6 are rolled between the rolling drum and the roll hand so that tobacco rods 5 and filter components 6 Pushing the cigarette loads 5 and the filter components 6 and the tipping paper patch out of the flutes in the rolling drum so as to wrap the tipping paper patch around the rods 5 and the filter components 6, ) And tobacco loads and filter components (6) rolling the tobacco rods (5) and filter components (6) and a tipping paper patch on the surface of the rolling drum, and a roll hand And a rolling drum for conveying the sheet.

Thereafter, the rolled tobacco industry products are carried by additional drums for packaging.

2, by arranging two tobacco rods 5 at either end of the double-length filter component 6 on the binding drum 45 (see FIG. 1) As described, are manufactured at the same time. The cigarette loads 5 and the filter component 6 are used to pack the tipping paper patch 8 around the tobacco loads 5 and the filter component 6 and then to separate the two tobacco industry products Are merged together by cutting through filter component 6 along line 14. [

As described above, filter components 6, cigarette loads 5, tipping paper patches 8 and packaged tobacco industry products, collectively referred to as " components " As it travels through the device (1) in order to be able to move the drum. The components 5,6,8 are conveyed from one drum to the next drum at the points at which the peripheral surfaces of the drums are closest to each other and at these transfer points the components 5,6, And contacts the flutes.

The drums are arranged to be applied on the components (5, 6, 8) to ensure smooth and reliable delivery of the compression pressure at each delivery point. That is, the components 5, 6, and 8 may be configured so that the suction applied to the flute may be applied to the downstream drum (not shown) so that the upstream drum may be effected on the components 5, 6, ). ≪ / RTI > During delivery, the suction operates on the components 5, 6, 8 from either the upstream drum, the downstream drum, or both the upstream and downstream drums for a short time.

In addition, when the tipping paper patches 8 are applied to the filter components 6 and the tobacco load components 5 on the tipping drum 7, the tipping paper patches 8 are applied to the filter components 6, The tipping paper suction drum 10 and the tipping drum 7 are brought into contact with the filter components 6 on the tipping drum 7 and the cigarette packs 6 on the tipping drum 7, Are pressed against the rods (5). During this transfer, the pressure may be applied to the components 5, 6, 8 on the tipping drum 7.

In various examples, each filter component 6 may include one or more filter segments. For example, the filter rod 6 may be made of a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate segments, plasticised cellulose acetate segments, paper segments, non-packaged cellulose acetate segments, plastic components, ceramic components, As shown in FIG. These filter segments are generally cylindrical and / or tubular and may have a cylindrical outer surface that can be rolled by the rolling drum 9 to produce a packaged tobacco industry product that is fitted within the flutes of the drums. The filter segments may each have a wrapper typically referred to as a plug wrap, which grips the material of the filter segment in a desired shape before the filter segment is provided to the apparatus of FIG.

In this example, the tobacco industry product includes a packaged tobacco rod 5, including a packaged tobacco material packaged, for example, in a paper wrapper. The tobacco industry product also includes a filter component (6). In this example, the filter component 6 comprises a first filter segment 15 consisting of plasticized cellulose acetate, which allows smoke or vapor to pass through and removes constituents from the smoke or vapor. The second segment 16 of the filter component 6 comprises a tubular member made of plastic and the plastic tubular member has passages through a plastic tubular member to allow smoke or vapor to pass through the filter section. The third filter segment 17 comprises a tubular member made of paper.

As is evident from Fig. 2, each filter component 6 supplied to the device of Fig. 1 is symmetrical so that after the filter component 6 is cut along the line 14, there are two identical tobacco industrial products.

It will be appreciated that the different filter sections have different combinations of components and that the use of drums to accommodate, move, and position the components in the same flute such that the components can be packaged to incorporate components into tobacco industry products It is possible to arrange these components in a number of ways.

The filter component 6 is attached to the end of the tobacco rod 5 by a tipping paper patch 8 which circumscribes the merging part between the filter component 6 and the tobacco rod 5. The tipping paper patch 8 is secured to the outer surface of the filter component 6 and the tobacco rod 5. The tipping paper patch 8 may extend over the tobacco rod 5 over and throughout the filter component 6. Alternatively, the tipping paper patch 8 may extend partially onto the filter component 6 and partially onto the tobacco rod 5.

As described above, the tobacco industry products produced by the device 1 of FIG. 1 may include components or segments having high hardness, for example, components made of plastic, ceramic or metal have. In this case, during delivery of the components between the drums, these components may be placed under pressure to damage the components or the drum, or the transfer may not be successful or reliable.

Similarly, when the components are delicate, fragile, or fragile, the components can be damaged, broken, or deformed by the pressure applied to the components as they are delivered between the drums. For example, a tubular component made of paper, once deformed, may be split and damaged and / or may not return to its circular shape. Similarly, plastic components may be cracked or broken by pressure.

Similarly, the pressure is applied to the components on the tipping drum 45 when the tipping paper patches 8 are transferred from the tipping paper suction drum 10 onto the tipping drum 45. The pressure is also applied to the components on the tipping drum 7 to ensure that the tipping paper patches 8 are properly secured to the filter components 6 and the cigarette loads 6.

The drum 18 shown in Fig. 3 can be used in the tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus shown in Fig. Alternatively, the drum 18 may be used in other parts of the device 1 for manufacturing the tobacco industry products described with reference to Fig.

Specifically, the drum 18 shown in FIG. 3 is adapted to supply any one or more of the tobacco industry products, such as cigarette loads, filter rods, filter segments, tipping paper patches . Alternatively, the drum 18 may be a building drum, for example a tipping drum 7, where the components are collated thereon. Alternatively, the drum 18 may be a processing drum on which the components are processed, for example, a rolling drum 9.

The drum 18 is adapted to rotate about an axis 19. The drum 18 has a circumferential surface 20 comprising a series of flutes 21 sized to receive and hold cigarettes and / or filter components as the drum 18 rotates.

Each of the flutes 21 includes at least one suction hole 22 for gripping the components in the flute 21 when the suction is provided in the suction hole 22. In this example, each flute 21 includes several suction holes 22, so that a number of components can be retained in the flute 21. However, the plurality of suction holes 22 may be provided to hold a single elongate component. Turning off the suction applied to the suction holes 22 will allow the components to leave the flute 21.

A suction manifold (not shown) is provided to provide suction to the suction holes 22 during predefined portions of the rotation of the drum 18 and to provide suction to other predefined conditions of rotation of the drum 18 And to switch off the suction to the suction holes 22 in the exposed portions.

As shown in Figure 3, the drum 18 includes at least one sheet 23 on which the components are conveyed, during use. The at least one sheet 23 is movable in the direction toward the shaft 19 of the drum 18 in response to the pressure applied to the at least one sheet 23 during use. That is, when the components are pressed against the seat 23 during use, the seat 23 moves toward the center of the drum 18. [

The term "the sheet is movable in the direction toward the axis" means that at least a part of the sheet moves in the direction toward the axis. As will become clear below, it can be achieved through a movement in a straight line towards the axis, a rotation about the axis, or a deformation which causes a part of the sheet to move towards the axis. The term is not limited to linear movement towards the axis.

For example, when the components are transferred onto the drum 18, when the components are transferred away from the drum 18, or when the process, for example, the rolling operation described with reference to Figure 1, When performed on the drum 18, the components can be pressed against the seat 23. The drum 18 can receive components from the upstream drum, in which case the pressure is generated by the interaction of the drum 18, the upstream drum and the components therebetween. Alternatively or additionally, the components can be transferred from the drum 18 to the downstream drum, in which case the pressure is generated by the interaction of the drum 18, the downstream drum and the components therebetween.

The sheet 23 moves in response to pressure so that the components can be more reliably transferred from one drum to the other without being damaged or the process can be carried out on the components conveyed by the drum 18 without damaging the components .

Alternatively or additionally, the movable sheet 23 can prevent irreversible deformation of certain types of components while at the same time ensuring that sufficient pressure is provided to reliably deliver or process the components. In addition, the movable sheet 23 can prevent jamming of the device 1, especially when rigid components are used.

As previously described, the suction holes 22 are provided in each flute 21. In this example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the suction holes 22 are provided in the flute 21 in the seat 23 and in the flute 21 outside the seat 23. It will also be appreciated that the suction holes 22 may alternatively or additionally be provided on the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18 or on the circumferential surface of the sheet 23. [

4 shows a partial cross-section of a first example of the drum of Fig. 3 in the region of the sheet 23. Fig. 4, the sheet 23 includes a plate 24 that can be deflected in a direction toward the shaft 19 of the drum 18. As shown in Fig.

The plate 24 is positioned such that when the pressure is applied to the component 26 and the plate 24 in the direction of the arrow 30 the plate 24 is deflected toward the axis 19 of the drum 18, The pivot 25 is pivoted to the drum 18 such that the pivot 24 is deflected inward.

In this particular example, a recess or aperture 27 is formed in the peripheral surface 20 of the drum 18, and the plate 24 is formed in one of the recesses or apertures 27 To the drum 18 at a pivot 25 located on the side of the drum 18.

In this example, the compression spring 28 is provided between the plate 24 and a portion 29 of the drum 18. The biasing means, in this example, The compression spring 28 forces the plate 24 away from the shaft 19 of the drum 18.

The plate 24 has a seating position in which the plate 24 is disposed when pressure is not applied to the plate 24 by the components 26. In this seating position, the plate 24 is horizontal with the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18.

The biasing means, for example, the compression spring 28, defines the pressure required for the plate 24 to deflect and the distance the plate 24 deflects against a given pressure. The biasing means 28 can therefore be selected so that the components receive the appropriate compressive force during use of the drum 18 in the device 1. [ The magnitude of the appropriate compressive force will depend on the types of components being processed, particularly how sensitive the components are to damage, or how uncompressible the types of components are.

3 and 4, the drum 18 has a flute 21 which is adapted to hold the components 26. As shown in FIG. The flute 21 includes a groove extending across the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, including through the area defined by the sheet 23.

As previously described with reference to FIG. 3, the flute 21 may include one or more suction holes 22 for retaining the components 26. The suction holes 22 may be located on the sheet 23 or on a part of the flute 21 outside the sheet 23. [ Alternatively or additionally, the suction holes 22 may be formed on the outer surface of the drum 18 outside the flute 21, for example, to maintain a cut patch of paper on the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18. [ May be located on the circumferential surface 20.

Figure 5 shows a partial cross-section of a further example of the drum 18 of Figure 3, in the region of the sheet 23. As shown in FIG. 5, the sheet 23 includes a plate 24 that can be deflected in a direction toward the shaft 19 of the drum 18.

In this example, when pressure is applied to the plate 24 in the direction of the arrow 30 during delivery and / or processing of the components 26, the plate 24 slides toward the axis 19 of the drum 18 The plate 24 is slidably mounted on the drum 18 so that the plate 24 can be rotated. The biasing member, in this example, the compression spring 28 is biased between the plate 24 and the portion 29 of the drum 18 such that the plate 24 is biased away from the axis 19 of the drum 18. [ Lt; / RTI >

In this particular example, a recess or aperture 27 is formed in the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18 and the plate 24 is slidably supported by the plate 24 such that the plate 24 slides toward the axis 19 of the drum 18. [ To the drum (18). In one example, the rails 31 are grooves, and the plate 24 includes projections that fit within the grooves to permit sliding movement. In other examples, the rails may include linear bearings, or low friction liners. In some instances, the rail may be a shaft, and the plate 24 may include a sliding bushing to receive the shaft.

The plate 24 has a seating position in which the plate 24 is disposed when pressure is not applied to the plate 24 by the components 26. In this seating position, the plate 24 is horizontal with the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18.

The biasing means, for example the compression spring 28, defines the amount of pressure required for the plate 24 to deflect, and the amount that the plate 24 deflects against a given pressure in the direction of arrow 30. The biasing means 28 can therefore be selected such that the components 26 receive the appropriate compressive force during use of the drum 18 in the apparatus 1. [ The magnitude of the appropriate compressive force will depend on the characteristics of the components 26. [

3 and 5, the drum 18 has a flute 21 which is adapted to hold the components 26. As shown in Fig. The flute 21 includes a groove extending across the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, including through the sheet 23.

As previously described with reference to FIG. 3, the flute 21 may include one or more suction holes 22 for retaining the components 26. The suction holes 22 may be located on the sheet 23 or on a part of the flute 21 outside the sheet 23. [ Alternatively or additionally, the suction holes 22 may be formed on the outer surface of the drum 18 outside the flute 21, for example, to maintain a cut patch of paper on the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18. [ May be located on the circumferential surface 20.

Figure 6 shows a partial cross-section of a further example of the drum 18 of Figure 3 in the region of the sheet 23. 6, sheet 23 includes a plug 31 comprising an elastically deformable material received in a recess 27 formed in a circumferential surface 20 of drum 18, .

In this way, the plug 31 is deformed when pressure is applied to the plug through the components 26, in the direction of the arrow 30. This pressure causes the portion of the plug 31 that grips the components 26 to be deflected towards the shaft 19 of the drum 18. The elastically deformable material of the plug 31 means that some pressure will be held on the components 26 and the plug 31 will return to its normal shape after the pressure has been removed.

The elastically deformable material of the plug 31 may be rubber or other resilient polymeric material. The plug 31 may be retained in the recess 27 at the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, for example, by an adhesive, a fastener, or a chemical bond.

The recess 27 at the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18 receiving the plug 31 may be larger than the plug 31 in its uncompressed state. In this way the plug 31 can be deformed in the recess 27 when the pressure is applied to the plug 31 in the direction of the arrow 30 so that the outer surface of the plug 31 is pressed against the drum 18 To the axis 19 of the base plate 20.

3 and 6, the drum 18 has a flute 21 that is adapted to hold the components 26. As shown in Fig. The flute 21 includes a groove extending across the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, including through the plug 23, in this example through the plug 23.

As previously described with reference to FIG. 3, the flute 21 may include one or more suction holes 22 for retaining the components 26. The suction holes 22 may be located on the sheet 23 or on a part of the flute 21 outside the sheet 23. [ Alternatively or additionally, the suction holes 22 may be formed in the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18 outside the flute 21 to retain the cut patch of paper on the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18. For example, Can be located on the surface 20.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the sheets 23 may have a width that extends partially across the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18. In particular, the sheets 23 may be provided only at the locations where the related components are located during use. For example, when assembling a two-up tobacco industrial product such as that shown in FIG. 2, the delicate or non-compressible components are centered on the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, , It is this position that the sheets 23 are positioned such that the associated components are aligned with the sheet 23 during use of the drum 18. [

7B, the sheets 23 can extend across the circumferential surface of the drum 18 such that the entirety of each tobacco industry product is aligned with the sheet 23 on the drum 18. In this example, do. This may be appropriate if all of the components of the tobacco industry product are delicate or incompressible.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, a plurality of sheets 23 may be provided for each flute 21. This may be provided, for example, when the tobacco industry product includes a number of spaced components that need to be aligned with the sheet 23 during delicate or non-compressible use of the drum 18 have.

In the examples of Figures 7A, 7B and 7C, the sheets 23 may be deflectable plates 24 as described with reference to Figures 4 or 5, May be deformable plugs 31 as described with reference to FIG.

As shown in Figure 8, in some examples, the continuous drums 18a, 18b of the tobacco product manufacturing apparatus 1 may be provided with movable sheets 23, as described above. In particular, in the illustrated example, both the upstream drum 18a initially conveying the components 26 and the downstream drum 18b carrying the components 26 after delivery are described with reference to Figures 4 through 7c Any of the described sheets 23 may be provided. In this way, during the transfer from the upstream drum 18a to the downstream drum 18b, one or both of the sheets 23 are moved in the direction of the arrows 32 to the axes of their respective drums 18a, The components 26 are not subjected to the same pressure.

Fig. 9 shows an arrangement similar to the arrangement of Fig. 8, but only movable ones of the drums 18a of the drums are provided. In this example, the upstream drum 18a is provided with movable sheets 23, and the downstream drum 18b includes flutes 21. However, it will be appreciated that the downstream drum 18b may alternatively be provided with movable sheets 23.

Figure 10 shows a rolling drum 18c provided to convey components 26 to the roll hand 33 where the components 26 are positioned on the circumferential surface of the roll hand 33 and the rolling drum 18c (20). In this example, the pressure applied to the components 26 between the roll hand 33 and the drum 18c causes the sheet 23 to move in the direction of the arrow 32 The rolling drum 18c has the movable sheet 23 so as to move it toward the shaft 19 of the rolling drum 18c.

Figure 11 shows a tipping paper suction drum 18d which is adapted to carry cutting patches of the tipping paper 8 and to transfer cutting patches of the tipping paper 8 to the tipping drum 18e. In this example, the tipping paper suction drum 18d is provided with the shaft 19 of the tipping paper suction drum 18d when the tipping paper patches 8 are pressed onto the components 26 on the tipping drum 18e At least one movable sheet (23) is provided.

However, in the example of Fig. 11, it will be appreciated that the tipping drum 18e may additionally or alternatively comprise moveable sheets 23.

It will be appreciated that Figures 8,9, and 11 are schematic illustrations, and that the interaction between the two drums is slightly extended for reasons of clarity. In application, as the drums are closer to each other than these examples, when components pass from one drum to another, the components will be slightly compressed.

In other instances, the drum 18 may be provided to transport the formed tobacco industry products. For example, the drum 18 may be provided to convey assembled and packaged cigarettes or other tobacco industry products at a location downstream of the rolling drum 9 (see FIG. 1).

In each of the above examples, the drum 18 may have flutes 21 of the type previously described, in which the components 26 are carried. The circumferential surface 20 of the flutes 21 and / or the drum 18 may include suction holes 22 for retaining the components 26. In other instances, the drum 18 may not include the flutes 21. For example, if the shape of the components 26 is not cylindrical, recesses of another shape may be provided at the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, or there may be no flutes 21 or recesses at all . For example, in order to convey paper components, it may be appropriate to carry flat paper components against the circumferential surface 20 of the drum 18, in which case the flutes 21 are not required.

The sheet 23 of any of the examples described herein may be removable from the drum 18 such that the sheets 23 may be removed from the drum 18 for example to maintain or modify the machine It will be appreciated that the present invention may be readily adapted to carry out the invention.

In the examples described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, the sheet 23 includes a plate 24. As described and illustrated, the plate 24 is not planar, but rather is curved along the circumference of the drum 18. However, it will be appreciated that the plate 24 may take any shape and is not limited to a planar, straight or curved shape.

The examples described above, particularly those described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11, are intended to include movable sheets 23 that can be employed in the tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus 1 of Fig. 1 Are specific examples of drums 18. However, it will be appreciated that such drums 18 may be utilized in any of the applications of the tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus in which the components are transferred from one drum to another.

As used herein, the term "tobacco industry product" refers to cigarettes, cigarillos (whether based on cigarettes, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, tobacco substitutes, or other smokable materials) E-cigarettes, tobacco heating products such as tobacco for cigars, rolls, cigars, pipes or roll-your-own cigarettes, Heating devices that emit compounds from substrate materials, hybrid systems for generating aerosols from a combination of substrate materials, hybrid systems including, for example, liquid or gel or solid substrates, field; And non-aerosol-free nicotine delivery articles such as smoking articles such as lozenges, gums, patches, articles containing breathable powders, and smokeless tobacco products such as snus and snuff Tobacco products containing smoking articles.

In one example, the drum for the previously described tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus is used to produce a tobacco industry product which is a smoking article for combustion, selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars.

In another example, the drum is used to produce a tobacco industry product that is a non-combustible smoking article.

In another example, the drum is used to produce a tobacco industry product which is a heating device that releases the compounds by heating but not burning the substrate material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products which may or may not have nicotine. In one embodiment, the heating device is a tobacco heating device. The drum may alternatively be used to produce a consumable for the heating device.

In another embodiment, the drum is used to produce a tobacco industry product, which is a hybrid system for generating aerosols by heating but not burning a combination of substrate materials. The substrate materials may include, for example, solids, liquids or gels, which may or may not have nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, for example, which may or may not have nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel base and a cigarette.

The various embodiments described herein are presented merely to aid in understanding and teaching claimed features. These embodiments are representative samples of embodiments only, and are not intended to be exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein may be embodied as a limitation on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, It should be understood that other embodiments may be used and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, or alternatively consist of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., in addition to those specifically described herein Or they may be included as a mandatory configuration. In addition, this disclosure includes other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims (24)

A drum for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus,
The drum comprising a seat adapted to, during use, an axis - the drum rotates about the axis - and carry components of the tobacco industry products,
Wherein the sheet is movable during use in a direction toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the seat,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sheet comprises a plate adapted to be deflected inwardly toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the plate during use,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the plate is pivotally mounted to a pivot such that the plate is biased about the pivot in a direction toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the plate during use,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the plate is slidably mounted so that during use the plate slides in a direction toward the axis of the drum in response to the components being pressed against the plate,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4,
Wherein the drum further comprises a biasing member arranged to bias the plate away from the axis of the drum.
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 6. The method of claim 5,
The biasing member may be a spring-
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. The method according to claim 1,
Such that the sheet is deformed in response to the components being pressed against the sheet during use, the sheet being elastically deformable,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
Said drum comprising a circumferential surface, said sheet being arranged on said circumferential surface of said drum,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 9. The method of claim 8,
The sheet is only partially extended across the circumferential surface of the drum in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum so that the components of the tobacco industry products on the drum are at least partially over the sheet during use ,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 9. The method of claim 8,
The sheet extending across the circumferential surface of the drum in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum such that the entire length of each component is carried on the sheet,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10,
Said drum comprising a second sheet aligned with said sheet in said axial direction on said circumferential surface of said drum,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the first sheet and the second sheet are spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the axis of the drum,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 13. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
The seat includes a surface having suction holes and wherein the surface having the suction holes is adapted to retain the components on the surface when the suction is applied to the at least one suction hole during use,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the suction holes are arranged to hold a paper patch,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 15. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
Said sheet comprising a flute adapted to receive elongate components of tobacco industry products,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the flute includes at least one suction hole and wherein the at least one suction hole is adapted to retain the elongate components when the suction is applied to the at least one suction hole during use,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
Wherein the peripheral surface of the sheet is substantially parallel to the circumferential surface of the drum when the components are not pressed against the sheet,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
Wherein the drum is a transfer drum adapted to receive a paper patch at a first location during use and to deliver the paper patch at an additional location to a further drum during use, A collation of the components and adapted to receive a paper patch from the delivery drum,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
Wherein the drum is adapted to receive, during use, a collision and a paper patch of components comprising elongated components, and a roller mechanism for rolling the paper patch about the elongate components to form tobacco industry products, A roll drum adapted to carry a collection of components and to deliver the tobacco industry products to an additional drum during use,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
Wherein the drum is a delivery drum adapted to receive components of the tobacco industry products during use and to deliver the components to an additional drum during use,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 18. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
Wherein the drum is a transfer drum adapted to receive collision and paper patches of cylindrical components during use and to deliver the components and paper patches to an additional drum,
Drum for tobacco industry product manufacturing equipment. 21. An apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry products, comprising the drum of any one of claims 1 to 21. Drum for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry products, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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