RU2783703C2 - Method for manufacture of smoking product - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of the manufacture of a smoking product. A method for the manufacture of a smoking product containing a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment includes (A) preparation of a pair of tobacco segments, each of which includes a tobacco rod and a cooling segment contacting the end of the tobacco rod, wherein a diameter of the tobacco rod exceeds a diameter of the cooling segment, and arrangement of tobacco segments through a gap with alignment of longitudinal axes of tobacco segments; (B) preparation of a filter segment of a double length, having a double length of the filter segment, and arrangement of the filter segment in the gap so that both ends of the filter segment of a double length come into contact with the end of any of tobacco segments, thus preparing a composite segment; (C) combination of the composite segment by wrapping with one rim paper to obtain a smoking product of a double length; and (D) cutting of the smoking product of a double length in a central part set in a longitudinal direction.

EFFECT: prevention of deformation of a tobacco rod under action of an adjacent cooling segment, which increases reliability and a service life of a product, as well as expands the range of materials, which can be used for the manufacture of its elements, as the cooling segment may have higher rigidity.

12 cl, 9 dwg

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a smoking article.

Background of the invention

[0002] A smoking article, such as a cigarette, that includes a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment is typically made using a plurality of tipping papers. For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a manufacturing method, including: the step of 1 placing a cooling portion at each end of a tobacco rod and joining by wrapping a first rim paper; step 2 cutting the central part of the tobacco rod in the longitudinal direction with the formation of a pair of segments tobacco rod/cooling part; step 3 placing the segments through the gap and placing the filter segment in the gap; and step 4 connecting the tobacco rod/cooler segments placed at both ends of the filter segment by wrapping the second rim paper.

LIST OF LINKS

Patent Literature

[0003] PTL 1: Publication of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2015-536678 (translation of the PCT application).

The essence of the invention

Technical problem

[0004] Since many rim paper bonding steps are included, the method described in PTL is more likely to result in rod damage. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for the efficient manufacture of a smoking article.

SOLUTION

[0005] The inventors have solved the aforementioned problem by performing the tipping paper bonding step once. In other words, the above problem is solved by the present invention described below.

[Embodiment 1] A method for manufacturing a smoking article having a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment, including

(A) preparing a pair of tobacco segments each including a tobacco rod and a cooling segment contacting the end of the tobacco rod, and placing the tobacco segments through a gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments;

(B) preparing a double length filter segment having twice the length of the filter segment, and placing the double length filter segment in the gap so that both ends of the double length filter segment come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco segments, thereby obtaining a composite segment;

(C) combining the composite segment by wrapping with one rim paper to form a double length smoking article; and

(D) Cutting a double length smoking article in the central portion in the longitudinal direction.

[Embodiment 2] The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein step A includes

(A1) placing a pair of tobacco rods through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods;

(A2) preparing a double length cooling segment having twice the length of the cooling segment and placing the double length cooling segment in the gap so that both ends of the double length cooling segment come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco rods; and

(A3) cutting the double length cooling segment at the center in the longitudinal direction and separating, thereby placing a pair of tobacco segments through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments.

[Embodiment 3] The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein Step A includes

(A1) placing a pair of tobacco rods through a gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods;

(A2') preparing a detachable double length cooling segment having twice the length of the cooling segment and cutting at the center portion in the longitudinal direction, and placing the double length cooling segment in the gap so that both ends of the double length cooling segment come into contact with the end of either tobacco rods; and

(A3') splitting the double length cooling segment at the center, thereby placing a pair of tobacco segments through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments.

[Embodiment 4] The method according to Embodiment 1, wherein Step A includes

(A1) placing a pair of tobacco rods through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods; and

(A2'') preparing a pair of cooling segments and placing the cooling segments so that both ends of the respective cooling segments come into contact with the ends of the tobacco rods and the other ends are separated from each other, thereby placing the pair of tobacco segments through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of tobacco segments.

[Embodiment 5] The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the filter segment includes an acetate filter and a center hole filter.

[Embodiment 6] The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the smoking article includes a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment in that order in a downstream direction.

[Embodiment 7] The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter larger than that of an adjacent member.

[Embodiment 8] The method according to Embodiment 7, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter 0.05 to 0.15 mm larger than an adjacent member.

[Embodiment 9] The method according to Embodiment 7, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter of 0.5-2.5% larger than the adjacent member.

[Embodiment 10] The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 9, wherein the element adjacent to the tobacco rod has a higher rigidity than the tobacco rod.

[Embodiment 11] The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the cooling segment includes a paper tube having a plurality of holes in the circumferential direction.

[Embodiment 12] The method according to Embodiment 11, wherein the cooling segment includes a paper tube; and the method further includes forming a plurality of holes in the circumferential direction of the paper tube by laser processing.

[Embodiment 13] The method according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 12, wherein

step C is a step performed by preparing a blank in which a portion of the rim paper is attached to a peripheral surface of the composite segment, placing the blank between the rolling drum and a rolling hand facing the peripheral surface of the rolling drum, and rotating the blank on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum; and

the rolling drum or rolling arm has, in a portion facing the tobacco rod section, a recess to form a gap from the tobacco rod section.

[Embodiment 14] A smoking article including a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter larger than that of an adjacent member.

[Embodiment 15] The smoking article according to Embodiment 14, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter 0.05 to 0.15 mm larger than an adjacent member.

[Embodiment 16] The smoking article according to Embodiment 14, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter of 0.5% to 2.5% larger than an adjacent member.

[Embodiment 17] The smoking article according to any one of Embodiments 14 to 16, wherein the segment adjacent to the tobacco rod has a higher rigidity than the tobacco rod.

ADVANTAGEABLE EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to the present invention, a method for the efficient manufacture of a smoking article can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates smoking articles.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of step A in the manufacturing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of step A of the manufacturing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of step A of the manufacturing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a stiffness measurement method.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for carrying out a manufacturing method according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of step C.

FIG. 9 shows options for performing step C.

Description of Embodiments[0008]

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a smoking article that includes a tobacco rod, a cooling segment and a filter segment. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. In the present invention, the expression "from X to Y" includes the lower and upper limits of X and Y.

[0009] 1. Smoking article

A smoking article according to the present invention includes a tobacco rod, a cooling segment and a filter segment. In FIG. 1(i) shows an embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention. In the drawing, 100 is a smoking article, 1 is a tobacco rod, 3 is a cooling segment, 5 is a filter segment and 7 is rim paper.

[0010] (1) Tobacco rod

The tobacco rod is an almost cylindrical element for generating the smoking flavor components contained in the tobacco raw material and includes a tobacco filler and a paper wrapper wrapped around it. The tobacco filler is not limited, and it can be used, for example, tobacco pieces or tobacco sheets. In particular, tobacco pieces obtained by cutting dry tobacco leaves to a width of 0.8 to 1.2 mm can be packaged in a paper wrapper. Alternatively, those obtained by uniformly grinding dry tobacco leaves to an average particle size of about 20 to 200 microns, forming sheets, and cutting the sheets to a width of 0.8 to 1.2 mm may be packaged in a paper wrapper. Moreover, such sheets can be collected, folded or spiralized without cutting and packaged in a paper wrapper. In addition, such sheets may be cut into strips and packaged within a paper wrapper concentrically or with the longitudinal direction of the strips aligned parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod.

The tobacco rod 1 can form an aerosol when heated. To promote aerosol formation, it is preferable to add an aerosol source such as glycerol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, or other polyols to the tobacco filler. The amount of aerosol source added is preferably 5 to 50% by weight, and more preferably 10 to 30% by weight, based on the dry weight of the tobacco filler. In addition, the tobacco rod may contain a flavoring such as menthol. The length of the tobacco rod 1 is not limited, but is preferably 15 to 25 mm. The diameter is also not limited, but is preferably 6.5 to 7.5 mm. Meanwhile, when the neighboring element has a higher rigidity than the tobacco rod, the tobacco rod preferably has a diameter larger than the neighboring element. As a result, deformation of the tobacco rod can be suppressed. From this point of view, the diameter of the tobacco rod is preferably 0.5-2.5% larger, and more preferably 1.0-2.0% larger than the diameter of the neighboring element. The actual dimensions of the tobacco rod preferably have a diameter of about 0.05-0.15 mm larger than the diameter of the neighboring element. Exemplary adjacent elements include a cooling segment and a filter segment.

[0012] The term "rigidity" in the present invention means the resistance of an element to deformation as described in paragraphs [0010] to [0014] of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-523565 (translation of the PCT application). Rigidity can be obtained from the change in diameter before and after applying a load F to the side surface of the tobacco rod. When the diameter of the tobacco rod before the application of the load F is denoted by Ds and the diameter after the application of the load is denoted by Dd, as in FIG. 6, the pressure value is d=Ds-Dd, and the hardness is determined as follows by the formula. The same is true for other elements.

Hardness (%)=Dd/Ds×100

[0013] (2) Cooling segment

The cooling segment is an element for cooling the aerosol and smoke flavor components formed in the tobacco rod 1. The cooling segment 3 may be a hollow paper tube. The paper tube is preferably made from cardboard having a higher rigidity than paper wrappers and mouthpiece. The paper tube may have holes (ventilation holes). The plurality of holes is preferably provided around the circumference of the paper tube. From the point of view of the efficiency of operations, such holes are preferably formed by laser processing of the finished smoking article. In addition, in order to improve the heat exchange efficiency, the assembled sheets may be packed inside the cooling segment 3. Although the dimensions of the cooling segment 3 are not limited, the length is preferably 15 to 25 mm and the diameter is preferably 5.5 to 7.5 mm. Meanwhile, when the member adjacent to the cooling segment 3 has a stiffness lower than that of the cooling segment 3, the cooling segment 3 has a diameter of preferably 0.5-2.5% smaller and preferably 1.0-2. 0% less than adjacent element. When the cooling segment 3 includes a cardboard paper tube, this segment generally has a higher rigidity than a tobacco rod.

[0014] (3) Filter segment

A filter segment is an element that includes a filter. As a filter, a well-known filter element such as an acetate filter or a paper filter can be used. The paper filter is a paper-filled filter obtained by folding paper by processing with a creping roller or the like, and by rolling the paper using a cork wrapper. An acetate filter is a filter filled with cellulose acetate fibers. As shown in FIG. 1(ii), the filter segment 5 preferably consists of a plurality of elements and more preferably includes a filter 51 and a filter 53 with a central hole. The center hole filter may be a space available, for example, in the central portion of an acetate filter. The length of the filter segment 5 is not limited, but is preferably 10 to 20 mm. When both the center hole filter and the acetate filter are arranged as a filter segment, the order is not limited. Moreover, the individual elements can be wrapped in the inner wrapper of each filter and connected by the outer wrapper of the filter. The diameter of the filter segment is not limited, but it is preferred that it be almost the same as the other segments except for the tobacco rod. As a result, wrinkling and tearing of the tip paper can be prevented.

[0015] (4) Edge paper

The term "rim paper" refers to the paper used to connect two or more tobacco rods, a cooling segment and a filter segment. Meanwhile, the term "paper wrapper" refers to paper for wrapping the individual elements that make up the tobacco rod, the cooling segment or the filter segment. For example, when the filter segment includes a center hole filter and an acetate filter as above, each of the center hole filter packaging paper and the acetate filter packaging paper is a wrapping paper.

Exemplary base papers for tipping papers and paper wrappers include, but are not limited to, papers using cellulosic fibers. Such cellulosic fibers may either be derived from plants or chemically synthesized, or may be mixtures thereof. Examples of fibers of plant origin include, for example, pulp from flax fibers, wood fibers or seed fibers. Such pulp may be dyed unbleached pulp. However, from the point of view of obtaining a white clean appearance, it is preferable to use bleached pulp, which is obtained using a bleaching agent such as an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent.

[0017] For a typical paper cigarette wrapper, an alkali metal salt of citric acid, and the like. used as a common combustible chemical (such as a combustion agent) that can affect the auto-ignition rate of paper wrap. In the present invention, a heating type smoking article is preferred, but not a smoking article. In this case, since it is not necessary to burn the paper wrapper, the paper wrapper does not need to contain flammable chemicals.

The lower limit of the density of the paper wrap is preferably 30 g/m² or more, more preferably 35 g/m² or more and more more preferably 40 g/m² or more^.The upper limit is preferably 65 g/m²or less and more preferably 50 g/m² or less. Meanwhile, the lower limit of the basis weight of the tipping paper is preferably 20 g/m² or more, more preferably, 25 g/m² or more and more more preferably 30 g/m² or more. Upper the limit is preferably 50 g/m² or less, more preferably 45 g/m² or less, and more preferably 40 g/m² or less. The basis weight can be measured by the method specified in JIS P 8124.

[0019] 2. Manufacturing method

The scheme of the present process is illustrated in Fig. 2. In the drawing, "w" means "double length". For example, 5w is a double length filter segment.

(1) Stage A

This step prepares a pair of tobacco segments 10, each including a tobacco rod 1 and a cooling segment 3 in contact with the end of the tobacco rod, and is placed through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments. The distance between the tobacco segments is preferably equal to the segment length 5w of the double length filter used in the next step. Step A is performed in any suitable manner, but is preferably pre-executed with the following steps (FIG. 3);

(A1) the step of placing a pair of tobacco rods 1 through a gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods;

(A2) the step of preparing a double length cooling segment 3w having a double length of the cooling segment 3, and placing the double length cooling segment 3w into the gap so that both ends of the double length cooling segment 3w are in contact with the end of either of the tobacco rods 1; and

(A3) the step of cutting the cooling segment 3w into a double length at the center in the longitudinal direction and separating, thereby placing the pair of tobacco segments 10 through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments.

[0020] The manufacturing method of the present invention may be carried out using any suitable device, but is preferably carried out using, for example, a device that includes a plurality of drums and that feeds each element from above, as shown in FIG. 7. One drum preferably performs one function rather than multiple functions in order to suppress the formation of defects in high-speed production. For example, step A1 may be performed in the first block 81 in FIG. 7, where 81f is the tobacco rod feeder 1, 81p is the pickup drum, and 81s is the separating drum. A pair of tobacco rods 1 supplied from the supply device 81f extends into a holding section provided on the peripheral surface of the pickup drum 81p. Then, the pair of tobacco rods 1 passes to the separating drum 81s and is separated in the holding section while moving. In each block, one or more drums can perform the function of feeding, receiving, transmitting or dividing.

[0021] Step A2 may be performed in the second block 82 in FIG. 7, where 82f is the feeder for the double length cooling segment 3w, 82t is the transfer drum, 82p is the pickup drum, and 82a is the take-up drum. A pair of tobacco rods 1 placed through the gap passes in this state to the transfer drum 82t. Meanwhile, the double-length cooling segment 3w supplied from the supply device 82f passes into the holding section provided on the peripheral surface of the pick-up drum 82p, and then passes into the take-up drum 82a. In this case, the double length cooling segment 3w is placed in the gap between the pair of separately placed tobacco rods 1 so that both ends of the double length cooling segment 3w come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco rods. one.

[0022] Step A3 may be performed in the third block 83 in FIG. 7 where 83c is the cutting drum, 83c' is the cutter and 83s is the separating drum. The segment containing the pair of tobacco rods 1 at both ends of the double length cooling segment 3w extends to the cutting drum 83c and is cut by the cutter 83c' at the longitudinal center portion of the double length cooling segment 3w. The segment then passes to the separating drum 83s and is placed through the gap.

[0023] In addition, step A is preferably performed through the following steps (FIG. 4);

(A1) the step of placing a pair of tobacco rods 1 through a gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods;

(A2') of preparing a double-length detachable cooling segment 3w' having a double-length cooling segment 3 and cutting at the center portion in the longitudinal direction, and placing the double-length cooling segment 3w' in the gap so that both ends of the double-length cooling segment 3w' came into contact with the end of any of the tobacco rods 1; and

(A3') of the step of dividing the double-length cooling segment 3w' at the center, thereby placing the pair of tobacco segments 10 through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments.

Since this method uses a double-length pre-cut cooling segment 3w' in step A2', there is an advantage that cutting failure can be avoided even if the cooling segment is formed from a hard-to-cut material. In addition, by cutting the double length segments in advance, there is also the advantage that the entire length of the machine can be shortened to carry out this method.

[0024] In addition, step A is preferably performed through the following steps (FIG. 5);

(A1) the step of placing a pair of tobacco rods 1 through a gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods; and

(A2'') of the step of preparing a pair of cooling segments 3 and placing the cooling segments so that both ends of the respective cooling segments come into contact with the ends of the tobacco rods 1 and the other ends are separated from each other, thereby placing the pair of tobacco segments 10 through a gap for aligning the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments.

Since the distance between the tobacco rods is large in step A1, the number of movements of the tobacco rods in this method can be reduced. Therefore, there is an advantage that damage to tobacco rods during high-speed production and the like can be avoided.

[0025] Step A has the advantage, in addition to the above, that the height of the device body can be reduced in the device for carrying out this method, since cutting is performed after each element has been placed. For example, when cutting is performed prior to placing the element in the apparatus described above, it is necessary to provide a drum for cutting the element over the drum for moving the element. As a result, the body of the device becomes high because the cutting drum needs to be added in the height direction of the device. Meanwhile, since cutting is performed after each element is placed, it is possible to reduce the height of the body of the device in step A.

[0026] (2) Stage B

In this step, the double length filter segment 5w, having twice the length of the filter segment 5, is prepared and placed in the gap so that both ends of the double length filter segment 5w come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco segments 1, thereby obtaining a composite segment.

[0027] This step may be performed in the fourth block 84 in FIG. 7. In the drawing, 84f is the feeder for the double length filter segment 5w, 84p is the pick-up drum, and 84a is the take-up drum. The segments prepared in the third block 83 pass into the take-up drum 84a. Meanwhile, the double-length filter segment 5w supplied from the feeder 84f passes into the holding section provided on the peripheral surface of the pick-up drum 84p, and then passes into the take-up drum 84a. In this case, the double length filter segment 5w is placed in the gap between a pair of separately placed tobacco segments 10 such that both ends of the double length filter segment 5w come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco segments 10, forming a composite segment 90.

[0028] (3) Step C

In this step, the composite segment is combined by wrapping with one rim paper 7 to form a double length smoking article 100w. As the tipping paper, any paper common in the art can be used. The rim paper may be coated with a generally known adhesive. As a result, the composite segment in the separate state is integrated into the inseparable state. In this case, the tipping paper 7 does not need to cover the entire range of the tobacco rods 1. When the length of the tobacco rod 1 is indicated by X, the area covered by the tipping paper 7 is preferably the area extending from the connecting surface between the tobacco rod 1 and the cooling segment 3 to the position 0.2X to 0.4X in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 1. When the area covered by the rim paper 7 falls within this range, there is an advantage that the thermal conductivity can be increased if the tobacco rod 1 is heated from the outside.

[0029] In traditional methods, each time a certain segment is prepared by combining a plurality of elements, the segment is wrapped in rim paper. Therefore, conventional methods require a plurality of rim papers. In contrast, in the present invention, the composite segment is wrapped with a single rim paper. Accordingly, steps generated on the product due to the use of a plurality of tipping papers can be avoided, thereby reducing the occurrence of defects in production.

[0030] This step may be performed in the fifth block 85 in FIG. 7. In the drawing, 85f is the tip paper feeder 7, 85t is the transfer drum, 85r is the rolling drum, and 85h is the rolling arm. A rolling drum is a drum having a holding section that is designed to hold an element on a peripheral surface and rotates a segment or other element on its central axis in the longitudinal direction. The rolling arm is a means which is located opposite the peripheral surface of the rolling drum and is intended to form a gap at a constant distance from the peripheral surface. The composite segment 90 passes to the transfer drum 85t and then passes to the rolling drum 85r. Meanwhile, a portion of the tipping paper 7 supplied from the feeder 85f is attached to the peripheral surface of the segment on the rolling drum 85r, thereby forming the blank 92 (see FIG. 8). Blank 92 includes tipping paper 7 attached like a flag to composite segment 90. In other words, a portion of tipping paper 7 is attached to the peripheral surface of composite segment 90, while the remainder is left free. The workpiece 92 is attached to the holding section on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum 85r by suction or the like, and is transferred to the gap formed between the rolling drum 85r and the rolling arm 85h. As it passes through this gap, the entire peripheral surface of the blank 92 is wrapped with tip paper 7 to form a double length smoking article 100w (see FIG. 8).

[0031] As shown above, the tobacco rod 1 preferably has a larger diameter than the adjacent cooling segment 3 according to the present invention. In this case, if the surfaces of the rolling drum 85r and the rolling arm 85h are flat, excessive contact occurs between these surfaces and the tobacco rod 1 (FIG. 9(1)). This leads to the problem of the packing falling from the front end under the impact of the tobacco rod 1. In addition, the difference in circumference causes twisting, resulting in defects such as wrinkles on the product. For these reasons, in the present invention, it is preferable to form a gap from the tobacco rod 1 by creating a recess on the rolling drum 85r or on the surface of the rolling arm 85h that faces the tobacco rod 1, as shown in FIG. 9(2) and (3). Although FIG. 9(2) and (3) illustrate embodiments where the recess is provided on the rolling drum 85h, the recess may be provided on the rolling drum 85r or both the rolling drum and the rolling arm. The depth of the recess (T in FIGS. 9(2) and (3)) is suitably adjusted and is preferably 0.05 to 0.15 mm. Such a recess is not required on the entire surface facing the tobacco rod 1. As shown in FIG. 9, a depression may be provided in the area of the surface facing the tobacco rod 1. Meanwhile, in order to securely attach the tobacco rod to the other member with the rim paper, it is preferable that there is no depression at the boundary between the two members.

[0032] (4) Stage D

In this step, the double-length smoking article 100w is cut at the center portion in the longitudinal direction. In this step, a pair of smoking articles 100 may be made. This step may further include aligning the two smoking articles 100 in the same direction by flipping either of the smoking articles 100.

[0033] This step may be performed in the sixth block 86 in FIG. 7. In the drawing, 86c is the cutting drum, 86c' is the cutter and 86a is the take-up drum. The double length smoking article 100w extends to the cutting drum 86c and is cut in the central portion in the longitudinal direction to form smoking articles 100. The smoking articles 100 pass into the take-up drum 86a, are separated and separated as articles.

[0034] In the present invention, even when an element having a smaller diameter than the tobacco rod is placed adjacent to the tobacco rod, failure such as being stuck during rolling can be avoided, and hence satisfactory rolling can be performed. In addition, the present invention is also advantageous in terms of cost because one tip paper is used. In addition, conventional methods that use a plurality of rim papers require a number of stages on the drums, for example, because the stages are formed on smoking articles. On the contrary, the manufacturing method of the present invention does not require such a measure.

EXAMPLES

[0035] [Example 1]

The following elements have been prepared.

Tobacco rod 7.0 mm in diameter and 20.0 mm long (from Japan Tobacco Inc.)

Double length paper tube with a diameter of 6.9 mm and a length of 40.0 mm as a cooling segment

6.9 mm dia. double length filter segment consisting of 8.0 mm center hole filter / 14.0 mm double length acetate filter / 8.0 mm center hole filter

Edge paper 24.0 mm × 80.0 mm

A pair of tobacco rods was placed through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods (step A1). A double length paper tube was inserted into the gap (step A2). In this case, both ends of the double length cooling segment were in contact with the end of either of the tobacco rods. The double length cooling segment was cut at the center in the longitudinal direction and separated, thereby placing a pair of tobacco segments through the gap to align the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments (step A3). A filter segment of double length was inserted into the gap. In this case, both ends of the double length filter segment were in contact with the end of either paper tube (step B). The composite segment thus obtained was combined by wrapping with one rim paper to obtain a double length smoking article (step C). The double length smoking article was cut in the central part in the longitudinal direction to obtain two smoking articles (step D).

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0037] 1 tobacco rod

3 cooling segment

3w double length cooling segment

3w’ double length detachable cooling segment

5 segment filter

5w double length filter segment

51 acetate filters

53 center hole filter

7 rim paper

10 tobacco segment

80 production device

81 first block

81f feeder

81s separating drum

82 second block

82f feeder

82t transfer drum

82p exciting drum

82a take-up drum

83 third block

83c cutting drum

83c’ cutter

84 fourth block

84f feeder

84p exciting drum

84a take-up drum

85 fifth block

85f tipping paper feeder

85t transfer drum

85r rolling drum

85h rolling arm

86 Sixth block

86c cutting drum

86c’ cutter

86a take-up drum

90 composite segment

92 blank

100 smoking article

100w double length smoking article

Claims (26)

1. A method of manufacturing a smoking article containing a tobacco rod, a cooling segment and a filter segment, including (A) preparing a pair of tobacco segments, each of which includes a tobacco rod and a cooling segment in contact with the end of the tobacco rod, and the diameter of the tobacco rod is greater than the diameter of the cooling segment, and placing the tobacco segments through the gap with the alignment of the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments; (B) preparing a double length filter segment having twice the length of the filter segment, and placing the double length filter segment in the gap so that both ends of the double length filter segment come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco segments, thereby preparing a composite segment; (C) combining the composite segment by wrapping with one rim paper to form a double length smoking article; and (D) cutting a double length smoking article at a central portion defined in the longitudinal direction. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein step A includes (A1) placing a pair of tobacco rods through the gap with the alignment of the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods; (A2) preparing a double length cooling segment having twice the length of the cooling segment, and placing the double length cooling segment in the gap so that both ends of the double length cooling segment come into contact with the end of either of the tobacco rods; and (A3) cutting a double-length cooling segment at a longitudinally defined central portion and separating, thereby placing a pair of tobacco segments through the gap, aligning the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein step A includes (A1) placing a pair of tobacco rods through the gap with the alignment of the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods; (A2') preparing a separable double-length cooling segment having a double-length cooling segment and cut at a central portion defined in the longitudinal direction, and placing the double-length cooling segment in the gap so that both ends of the double-length cooling segment come into contact with the end any of the tobacco rods; and (A3') splitting a double length cooling segment at the center, thereby placing a pair of tobacco segments across the gap with the longitudinal axes of the tobacco segments aligned. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein step A includes (A1) placing a pair of tobacco rods through the gap with the alignment of the longitudinal axes of the tobacco rods; and (A2'') preparing a pair of cooling segments and placing the cooling segments so that both ends of the respective cooling segments come into contact with the ends of the tobacco rods, and the other ends are separated from each other, thereby placing the pair of tobacco segments through the gap with the alignment of the longitudinal axes of tobacco segments. 5. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, wherein the filter segment includes an acetate filter and a center hole filter. 6. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-5, wherein the smoking article includes a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment in that order in the downstream direction. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter 0.05-0.15 mm larger than the cooling segment. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the tobacco rod has a diameter 0.5-2.5% larger than the cooling segment. 9. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-8, in which the cooling segment has a higher rigidity than the tobacco rod. 10. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, wherein the cooling segment includes a paper tube having a plurality of holes in the circumferential direction. 11. The method according to p. 10, in which the cooling segment includes a paper tube; and the method further includes the step of forming a plurality of holes in the circumferential direction of the paper tube by laser processing. 12. The method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-11, in which step C is a step performed by preparing a blank in which a portion of the rim paper is attached to a peripheral surface of the composite segment, placing the blank between the rolling drum and a rolling hand facing the peripheral surface of the rolling drum, and rolling the blank on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum; and the rolling drum or rolling arm has, in a portion facing the tobacco rod section, a recess to form a gap from the tobacco rod section.

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