US1999469A

US1999469A - Apparatus for drying or conditioning cigarettes

Info

Publication number: US1999469A
Application number: US692327A
Authority: US
Inventors: Molins Walter Everett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-10-14
Filing date: 1933-10-05
Publication date: 1935-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1952-04-30
Also published as: GB408681A; DE605889C

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENI'OI? W. E. MOLHNS APPARATUS FOR DRYING 0R CONDITIONING CIGARETTES Filed Oct 5, 19:55

Fri 39, 1935;,

APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR CONDITIONING CIGARETTES 'w. E. MOLINS Filed 001;. 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 hr wr atented Apr. 30,

rric

APPARATUS FOR DRYING OR CONDITION- ENG CKGARETTES Walter Everett ll feline, Deptford, London, England Application Uctober E,

1933, Serial No. 692,327

in Great Britain October 14, 1932 '9 Claims.

The present invention consists in improved means for conditioning cigarettes or drying them, and is particularly, though not exclusively, ap-

plicable to the cigarettes as they emerge from the forced air draught endwise through the cigarettes, and such air may have been previously wari .ed or chemically dried (for instancaby calcium chloride) and it may be simultaneously blown in from one end and sucked out from the other.

In order to more evenly effect the drying of the cigarettes, the air may be blown in from one end of a cigarette for half of the available time,

and from the other end for the remainder of the time and/ or may also be sucked alternately from opposite ends.

It is well known that tobacco must be worked through the cigarette making machine with a sumciently high moisture content to prevent undue breakage of the tobacco in the process of distributing and showering the same to cigarette rod.

The moisture content necessary for feeding the tobacco is generally considered too high for the satisfactory packing of the cigarettes into the usual packages, and'it is desirable to reduce the moisture content both venting the cigarettes fr for the purpose of preom going mouldy, and for improving their smoking quality.

According to the present invention, apparatus for conditioning cigarettes (e. g. passing dry and/or warm air therethrough in an axial direction) comprises in combination a movable carrier for cigarettes, and

one or more pairs of air ducts having outlet ports wherein the ports of each pair of ducts are alignment with and at arranged to hem axial opposite ends of a cigarette to be received between them on the carrier, and are also movable with the cigarette carrier.

The word air used herein and in the appended claims is intended to include any gas used to reduce the moisture content of the tobacco when passed through the latter.

One form of apparatus for conditioning cigarettes according to the p resent invention, bypassing air through them, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in

which:- Figure 1 is a side elev ation of the apparatus.

form the Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the peripheries of the cigarette carrying drums.

Figure 4 is an elevation looking along the line t-t of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figures 5 and S are details of the hollow shaft partitions.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, cigarettes to be. conditioned are brought along a conveyor it, which maybe the delivery band of a cigarette machine. Successive cigarettes fail ofi the band it into grooves or flutes in pairs of discs I i which rotate in a clockwise direction. The cigarettes are prevented from inadvertently leaving the discs i i by circumferential shields E2. The two pairs of discs are mounted in the space between three hollow concentric discs or drums it, it, it, see Figure 2. These three hollow drums are mounted on a hollow rotatable shaft it to which they are keyed. The shaft is divided longitudi-- nally into three segments by internal partitions it which extend from-one end of the shaft to the other. The drums l3 and i5 communicate with the segment 58 of the hollow shaft through arouate slots 19. The middle, drum M communicates with the

segments

29 and 25 of the hollow shaft.

A casing 22 is clamped over one end of the hollow rotating shaft It and acts as an intake for air.

Another set of hollow rotating drums 23, 2s

and 25 (see Figure 3) keyed to a hollow rotating shaft Mill, is provided at the same level as the t drums 83, i i and i5, and the casing 22 forms a duct which communicates with the. hollow shafts of both sets of hollow drums. As seen in Figure 1, a second casing 28, similar to the casing 22 is mounted on the other side of the hollow shafts it and 566. The hollow drums 53, i l and i5, and 23, 2 i and 25, are provided with air ducts or

nozzles

27 and 28, the outlet ports of which are in axial alignment and between which the cigarettes are mounted so that when the cigarettes are in position, a current of air may pass through the tobacco in the cigarette.

The cigarettes are transferred from the pairs of discs H to the drums it and it, or it and (5 respectively, and are held in position on the drums r in grooves or flutes 29 provided on rings 39 clamped concentrically to the discs. The-cigarettes fall by gravity at the transfer point where the shield I2 terminates.

In order that the ends of the cigarettes may be as close as possible to the ports or nozzles 2'2 and 23, the latter, which are on the lower pressure side, and are of larger area,'are movable towards and away from the opposite ducts 2?. The ducts or nozzles 23 are spring urged to move inwardly, as seen more clearly in Figure 3, and are controlled by cams ill for the first set of drums l3, it and i5, and by cams 3'? for the second set of drums 23, 2t and 25.

The cams are so arranged that the nozzles 28 are pressed back until a cigarette is dropped into position in the grooves 23 oi the first set of drums from the pairs of discs 9 l. After this, the nozzles 28 move inwardly and press against the ends of the cigarettes so that the end faces of each cigarette are in axial alignment with and abut against a pair of

nozzles

21 and 28. When this occurs, a current or air can be passed through the tobacco in the cigarette from the nozzles 27 and. out from the nozzles The hollow shaft 56 for the discs i3, I l and i5 is closed at one end by a plate which allows the air stream to enter only the segments 2E; and 25. 1 1

At the other end of the shaft it, there is provided a sealing plate 33, as seen in Figure 6, which seals up the segments 29- and El, and allows the air to pass out only through the segment 58. I1 this way the air is constrained to pass from the casing 22 to the segments 23 and 2 i, then through the nozzles 22? and the cigarette tube, and out through the nozzles 28 and the segment {8 into the outlet casing 26. In the drums i3, is and E5 the outlet ports or nozzles 28 are mounted on the two outer drums l3 and 55, whereas in the second set of drums 23, 24 and 25 the outlet ports or nozzles 28 are mounted on the center disc Ed. The reason for this will be given later.

As the cigarettes, therefore, are delivered from the pairs of discs I l a current of air passes through each individual cigarette and the latter are carried with the hollow drums as they rotate in an anti-clockwise direction.

Thedruins which are keyed to the shaft leare driven through a toothed wheel 53! mounted on the drum l3.

Shields 34 formed concentrically with these hollow drums is, i l and 55 are provided toretain cigarettes against outward movement. The cigarettes are brought up to the leading edge 35 of the cams 3i, and these cams are-arranged in the path of pins 236 rigidly connected to the nozzles 23 so that the latter are pushed away from the opposite nozzles 2'5 at a time when the cigarettes are to be transferred into slots in pairs of discs 36. These discs 36 are rotated in a clockwise direction, and shields 3H concentric with the discs 36 and commencing at the transfer point act as strippers and cause the cigarettes to be removed from the grooves in the drums l3, l5 and i5 and carried round in the grooves in the discs 38.

The cigarettes are then carried to the periphery of the pairs of hollow drums 23 and 25, and 2 iand 25, respectively. The cigarettes, when the are opposite the cams 3? are dropped into the grooves 29; in the pairs of

hollow drums

23 and 26, and 2d and 25 respectively, and after this has taken place, the nozzles 28 are released by the cams 3'! to allow the nozzles to press against the cigarettes. I I

The operation is the same as in the case of the drums it, Hi and i5. In the case of the

drums

23, 26 and 25, however, the outlet nozzlesfiii are on the middle drum 24. I

In the second set of drums 23, Hand. 25 the drums 23 and 25 communicate with the segment we of the hollow shaft 559, and the drum 24- communicates with the segments 2% and 2163. In this case a plate such as 33 shown in Figure 6 is placed on the intake end or" the shaft Hi3, that is, under the casing 22 while a plate such as 32 is placed on the other end of the shaft.

In this way, as the cigarettes are carried in the the cigarettes in one direction, and when they are on the second set of drums the air passes through the cigarettes in the opposite direction. The cigarettes are carried round by the drums E3 and 2 or 2& and 25 as in the case of the drums i3 and M, and Hi and i5. Circumferential shields 38 prevent the cigarettes from moving outwardly. The cigarettes are picked ofithe drums and 24 and 2-! and 25 respectively by pairs of discs 39 in a similar'manner to that in which the cigarettes were removed from thedrums l3, M and E5 by the discs 36 and cam 3i.

first set of drums, the air passes through i The cigarettes may bedelivered from the discs as on to a conveyor, not shown, in any well known manner. r I

. The drums in which the drying takes-place are adjustable axially in order to accommodate various lengths or" cigarette, and the current of air passing through the cigarettes maybe caused Where it is desired to heat the air it is preferable to provide the heating unit within the drying apparatus and this is most conveniently eiiected by fitting electric heaters within the drums l3 and 55 as shown at fi Figure 2, and within the drum 2% as shown at 69 Figure 3. The heaters consist of resistance wire wound on insulating formers and the connection for the current is made by slip rings and brushes (not shown) the rings being mounted on either of the drums or the ring.

It will also be understood that any desired 'flavouring may be imparted to the draught of air which will readily be absorbed by the tobacco, owing to th well known property of tobacco of quickly absorbing such flavours.

, The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable in cases where cigarettes are being packed immediately they come from the cigarette making machine where the drying discs above described may readily located between the points where the cigarettes emerge from the cigarette machine, and the point where they are delivered direct to the packing machine.

What I claim as my invention and desire to;

secure as Letters Patent is:-- V

1. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a movable carrier for the cigarettes, a pair of oppositely directed and" the cigarettes, at least one pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles, said nozzles being movable with the carrier and relatively movable towards and away from one another, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles to engage opposite ends of the cigarettes, and means connected with the inlet of one of a pair of nozzles whereby fluid may be passed through a cigarette held between the nozzles.

3. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a movable carrier for the cigarettes, said carrier comprising a pair of rotatable members, spaced apart and having their axes of rotation in alignment, at least one pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles, for each cigarette, each nozzle of a pair being mounted on one of the said rotatable members, said nozzles being movable with the carrier and relatively movable towards and away from one another, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles, and means connected with the inlet of one of a pair of nozzles :hereby fluid may be passed through a cigarette held between the'nozzles.

4. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a movable carrier for the cigarettes, said carrier comprising a pair of rotatable members spaced apart andhaving their axes of rotation in alignment, at least one pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles, for each cigarette, each nozzle of a pair being mounted on one of the said rotatable members, said nozzles being movable with the carrier and relatively movable towards and away from one another to engage opposite ends of the cigarettes, and means connected with the inlet of one of a pair of nozzles whereby fluid may be passed through a cigarette held between the nozzles.

5. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a rotatable carrier for the cigarettes, said carrier comprising in combination two axially aligned rotatable hollow drums, at least one pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles mounted on said drums, said nozzles being relatively movable towards and away from one another and each nozzle communicating with the interior of the drum on which it is mounted, a hollow shaft for supporting the drums, said hollow shaft being divided into separate compartments, each of which is provided with an aperture which communicates with the interior of one drum only of a pair of drums, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles, and means connected with said hollow shaft whereby a fluid may be passed through a cigarette held between a pair of nozzles.

6. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a rotatable carrier for the cigarettes, said carrier comprising in com-' from one another and each nozzle communicating with the interior of the drum on which it is mounted, a hollow shaft for supporting the drums, said hollow shaft being divided into separate compartments, each of which is provided with an aperture which communicates with the interior of one drum'only of a pair of drums to engage opposite ends of the cigarettes, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles, and means connected with said hollow shaft whereby a fluid may be passed through a-cigal'ette held between a pair of nozzles,

'7. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a movable carrier for the cigarettes, a pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles for each cigarette, said nozzles being movable with the carrier and relatively movable towards and away from one another to engage opposite ends of the cigarettes, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles whereby the cigarettes may be engaged and released at the proper time, and means connected with one of said nozzles whereby a fluid may be passed through a cigarette, held between the nozzles.

8. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, com prising in combination a movable carrier for the cigarettes, a pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles for each cigarette, said nozzles being movable with the carrier and relatively movable towards and away from one another, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles, means for delivering one cigarette at a time between each pair of nozzles, said means comprising in combination at least one rotatable member having peripheral pockets for the cigarettes, means for feeding the. cigarettes one at a time into the pockets with their axes parallel to the axis of rotation of. said rotatable member, and means connected with one of said nozzles whereby a fluid may be passed through a cigarette held between the nozzles.

9. Apparatus for conditioning cigarettes, comprising in combination a movable carrier for the cigarettes, at least one pair of oppositely directed and aligned nozzles, said nozzles being movable with the carrier and relatively movable towards and away from one another, means for controlling the relative movement of the nozzles to engage opposite ends of the cigarettes, means for delivering'one cigarette at a time between each'pai'r of nozzles, said means comprising in combination at least one rotatable member having peripheral pockets for the cigarettes, means for feeding the cigarettes one at a time into the pockets with their axes parallel to the axes of rotation of said rotatable member, and means connected with one of a pair of nozzles whereby a fluid may be passed through a cigarette held between the nozzles.

WALTER EVERETT MOLINS.