US2002886A

US2002886A - Apparatus for the production of cigarettes

Info

Publication number: US2002886A
Application number: US750904A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwards William Frede Maitland; May Rowland Frank
Original assignee: FILTER TIPS Ltd
Current assignee: FILTER TIPS Ltd
Priority date: 1933-07-14
Filing date: 1934-10-31
Publication date: 1935-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1952-05-28
Also published as: BE406078A; DE627153C; FR783326A; NL39880C; GB424491A

Description

May28, 1935.- w. F. M. EDWARDS E1' AL APPATUS'FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARETTES Filed oct.A 31, 1934 3 Sheds-Sheet 1 ,May 281,. 1935.- w. F. M. EDWARDS ET AL 2,002,886

`APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF lCIGARETTES Filed Oct. 31, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 2 8, 1935- w. F. M. EDWARDS ET AL 2,002,886

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CIGARETTS Filed oct. 51, 19:54 5 sheetssheet 3 Patented May 28, ,i935 i t t UNITEDSTATES eATENT OFFICE;

APPARATUS Foa 'me PRODUCTION or CIGARE'r'rEs a William Frederick Maitland Edwards, London,V and Rowland Frank May, Middlesex, England, assignors to Filter Tips Limited, London, England, aBritish company Application October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,904 In Great Britain July 14, 1933 This invention relates to the production of groups of rollers, which spaces also accommodate cigarettes provided with lter tips or stub porthe double length filter tips or stub portions. tions at the mouthpiece end, and has for its When the chambers or the like for the recep-y primary object to provide improved means for Vtion of the cigarettes are rotatable in relation to 5 the production of such cigarettes by uniting the drum or carrier, the lter tips or stub por- 5 cigarettes, which may be of shorter length than tions and the adjacent parts of the cigarettes normal, with filter tips or stub portions by the may be located in bores in non-rotatable memapplication of encircling bands secured by adbers slotted for the entry of the uniting bands hesive. thereinto, the wrapping of the uniting bands be- According to the present invention, the iming eiected by the rotation of the cigarettes dur`- l0 proved apparatus comprises a drum or other ing the periods of non-rotation of the drum or suitable intermittently movable carrier having carrier. chambers, bores or the equivalent for the re- `The rotation of the wrapping means during the ception of the cigarettes and lter tips or stub periods when the `drum or carrier is stationary a portions to be united, and means operative While may be eiected by means such as a segmental the drum or carrier is stationary to effect the driving gear.

Wrapping of the uniting bands. The chambers When double length cigarettes have filter tips or the like for the reception of the cigarettes may or stub portions united therewith or double be non-rotatable in relation to the drum or carlength lter tips or stub portions are united to 2o rier, in which case the application of the uniting pairs of .cigarettes as described, the united eiga- 20 bands is eiected byvrelatively rotatable means. rettes and filter tips or stub portions may be de- Alternatively, ythe chambers or the like for the livered from the drum or carrier into a receiver reception of the cigarettes may be rotatable in in which they are held for bi-section by means of relation to the drum or carrier so that the apa suitable cutter, such receiver convenientlyconplication of the uniting bands may be effected by sisting of a drum or the like having receiving rotation of the cigarettes during the periods grooves or channels, andthe three elementsto when the drum or carrier is stationary. be united by thefencircling band or bands may The drum or carrier may be adapted to ire# be introduced successively into each chamber or ceive double length iilter tips or stub portions thelike inthe drum or carrier from one end atan intermediate position and cigarettes abutthereof and during successive periods of non- 30 ting opposite ends of said iilter tips or stub porrotation of the said drum `or carrier. Alternations, or may be adapted to receive double length tiVelY, the dOnble length filter tip 01 Stub Portion cigarettes at an intermediate position and iilter Ol the double length Cigarette may be ISt intips or s tub portions abutting the opposite ends trOduCed inte the ehafnber- OI the like in the of such cigarettes. In a` modicatlon, the drum drum or carrier and the two outer elements to 35 or carrier may be adapted to receive cigarettes be united illleeWith may be applied from ODDO- from the opposite ends so that pairs of cigarettes site @ud y abut one another and lter tips or stub portions TheCigaeiteS may be held in the Chambers abutting the outer ends of the pairs of cigarettes, 0r the like in the drum. or carrier by spring, or or may be adapted to receive cigarettes and lter Other equivalent gripping means. i 40 tips or stub portions respectively from opposite The apparatus may be adapted t0 IeeeiVe Cigetn ends of the drum or carrierl rettes from a continuous rod cigarette-making The wrapping of the uniting bands may be machine so that the seam of the uniting band r effected wholly or in part by the action of rollers Will be in alignment With 01 be in definite Iela- 45 4l or groups ofl rollers adapted to be revolved about tien t0 the Seem 0f the Cigarette.

the axes of the 'aligned cigarettes and filter tips The invention is hereinafter described by Way or stub portions or by a slotted ferrule or equiva- 'of example with reference to the accompanying lent rotating device, For instance, the rotatable diagrammatic drawings, in Which!- 0 wrapping means may comprise groups of rollers Figure 1 is a sectional plan View illustrating 50 carried between pairs of rotatable members havone embodiment of apparatus according to the ing central bores and non-rotatable chambers for invention; the cigarettes associated with the said central Figure 2 is a section on the line II-II; Figure 1; bores so that the cigarettes are held with their Figure 3 is a part longitudinal section illus- Yends projecting into the spaces enclosed by the trating a modication; 55

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-lV, Figure lFigure is a part longitudinal section illustrating a further modification; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI, Figure In carrying the invention into effect according to one embodiment and with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, a carrier such asia drum I is provided, which drum isintermittently rotated step by step by any suitable driving mechanism and is constructed so as to provide a'series of longitudinally extending. bores Ia interrupted by a peripheral channel Ib at the intermediate portion of the drum I. Flanged ferrules or like members 2 are rotatably mounted in thesaid bores Ia and are connected bypins 2c carrying rollers 2a. Theouter portions of the bores Ia are provided with fixed sleeves 3 for the reception of cigarettes 4, 4a which may be gripped in the sleeves asby' means of springs Ic. The central bores in the members 2 are slightly larger than the diameter of the cigarettes 'so that when rotated, as by the engagement of a segmental gear 5 with gear teeth 2b formed on the periphery of one of the members 2, there will be no twisting actiony on the cigarettes. y

As shown more particularly in Figure 2, the

.cigarette 4 is fed in at the position A, the double length filter tip or stub portion B at the position B, and the cigarette 4a atthe position C, the introductionbeing facilitated by the provision of flared inlet tubes a, b, c respectively (Figure 1). The position of the assembled cigarettes and double length filter tip or stub portion may be determined by means of a stop plate Id.`

A, strip 1 of cork or other suitable material, which is out off and pasted by any suitable means (not shown), is fed as by means of rollers 8fthrough a guide 9v so as to pass between two of the adjacent rollers 2a, as shown in Figure 2, into contact with the double length filter tip or stub portion 6 and the adjacent end portions of the cigarettes 4, 4a. On rotation of the respective members 2 by the segmental gear 5, the strip 'I will be wrapped, by the action of the rollers 2a, around Ythe assembled cigarettes and double length iilter tip or stub portion so asto unite the same together. After the wrapping opera- -tion the drum I is moved through one step for the application of a further strip of cork or the like to the next assembly of cigarettes and double length filter tip or stub portion. The united cigarettes and lter tips or stub portions are ejected, for instance, at the position D (Figure 2) by means of an ejecting pllmger d (Figure 1) and may be `inserted into a receiver inv which they are heldior bi-section. For example, such receiver may be constituted by adrum III mounted co-axially and moving with-the drum I, such drum I0 being provided with channels or grooves Ilia in which the cigarettesare held, for instance, by wire or like members I0b. The bi-section is effected rby means of a rotary or other cutter II and the cigarettes are nally discharged on to a suitable conveyor, the wire or like members I0b terminating at a suitable position for this pur,-

pose.

In a modication, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the cigarettes 4, 4a are disposed in sleeves I2 rotatable in the bores Ia of the .drum .I, the cigarettes being gripped therein as by the pro-n vision of springs I2b. The sleeves are provided at their outer ends with gears I2a and are retained at their inner ends by the provision of collars I2c. Intermediate the sleeves I2 a nonrotatable meniber I3 is provided havinga bore I3a co-faxial with the bores of the sleeves I2 'and having a slot I3b through which a strip 1 of cork y portion 6 is located in the bore I3a of the member I3 with the adjacent end portions of the cigarettes also extending into the bore I3a and abutting the illter tipl or stub portion 6. While the drum. I is stationary, a strip 1 of cork or the like is'fed into position so as to contact with the assembled cigarettes and filter tip or stub portion and the sleeves I2 are rotated as by the provision of segmental gears 5 so as' to cause the strip 1 to be wrapped around the assembled cigarettesand filter tip or stub portion. The united cigarettes and filter tips or stubportions may be ejected into a drum III, as'shown inFigure 1 for bi-section. If desired, the cigarettes may be Iedinto the sleeves I2 from opposite ends of the drum I. According to a further modification, as' illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, a single sleeve extends `through each pair of aligned bores Ia of the drum I and is rotatable therein as by the provision of a centrally disposed gear I4a co-operating with a segmental gear 5, the sleeve I4 preferably being slotted at an intermediate position to accommodate a spring I4b or other gripper for engaging fthe double length cigarette, or pair of cigarettes 4, 4a, inserted into the sleeve I4. The cigarettes held in the sleeves I4 project 'beyond the outer ends thereof into non-rotatable ferrules I5 which also accommodate the ltr tips or stub portions Iia, 6b. At the wrapping 'position a roller I5 is mounted, such roher I6 being in'contact with or in close proximity to the periphery'of the assembled cigarette and lter tip or stub portion and being driven, for instance, by means of a-pulley Isa. The ferrules I5 are cut away toaccommo date the-rollers I6 and to permit the step-by-step movement of the drum whereby successive Ier-J rules I5 are brought into operative relation with the rollers I6: As shown in Figure 6 a strip 1 of cork or the like is fed as by means of rollers l and a guide 9 so as to enter between the roller I6 -at each end of therdrum and the respective lter tip or stub portion 6a or 6b so thatlon rotation of the cigarettes by the engagement' of the gear 5 with the gear I4a, which occurs during the period of non-rotation of the drum I, the wrapping of the strips 1 is effected. When double length cigarettes are' employed, the product may be ejected into a receiver, such as the drum I0 shown in Figure 1, for bi-section. The apparatus shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be utilized for. uniting single cigarettes with lter tips or stub portions, in which case the drum I is provided w'ith only one series of bores Ia and the cigarettes and .filter tips or stub' portions are fed into the receiving chambers in thedrum `I from opposite ends thereof.

In all vcases the apparatus may be arranged in conjunction with one or more continuous rod cigarette-making machines so that the cigarettes are fedintothedrumsothattheirseamsarein alignment with or in deiinite relation to the seams of the uniting bands. Y

nIn a further-modiilcation,the encircling band tively narrow and may serve solely for Joining thefor uniting the cigarette and iilter tip or stub portion may be applied by rotation of the cigarette while the intermittently movable drum or carrier is at rest combined with the action of a rotatable ferrule or roller or rollers such as before described.

It will be understood: that the invention is not limited to the particular details hereinbefore described. For example, in the construction in which the cigarettes are rotated for the application of the uniting band, they may be held in any suitable construction of rotatable carrier and,

instead of an intermittently rotatable drum, an

intermittently movable endless chain or other similar conveyor may be utilized. Furthermore, although the 'uniting band preferably consists of cork and is adapted to provide an external mouthpiece, the invention is applicable for the production of cigarettes with filter tips or stub portions at the mouthpiece ends thereof wherein the filter tips or stub portions are previously wrapped, in which, case the uniting band may be comparacigarettes and theillter tips or stub portions together.

1. An apparatus for the'production of cigarettes provided with a stub portion at the mouthpiece end, comprising iin-intermittently movable carrier-,means on the carrier for supporting a cigarette withan aligned stub porti means for wrapping a uniting band aboutthe aligned cigarette and stub portion, means for supplyingtheu'niting bandtothewrapping means, and means operablebetween the inter-4 mittent movements oi'l the carrier -for actuating the wrapping means.

2. An apparatus forthe production of cigarestes provided with e stub portion et themouth- Apiece end, comprising an intermittently movable carrier, means on the carrier for supporting a. cigarette with an aligned stub portion'in a stationary position, means 'adapted to rotate about the aligned cigarette and stub portion for wrapping a uniting band thereabout, means Vfor supplying the uniting band to the wrapping means, and means operable between the inter-v mittent movements of the carrier for actuating the wrapping means.

. 3. An apparatus for the production of cigarettes provided with a stubportion at the mouthpiece end, comprising an intermittently movable carrier, means on the carrierfor supporting al cigarette with an aligned stub portion, means for Supplying a uniting band to the cigarette and stub portion, and means operable between the intermittent Vmovements of the carrier for rotating the supporting means to effect wrapping of the uniting band about the aligned cigarette and stub portion, a stationary devicef forl feeding a uniting bend strip to said rouen .when into register therewith by said carapparatus rier, and mounted on alstationary portion of the apparatus for rotating the planetary rollers about the axis ci' the cigarette between movements of the carrier and while the rollers are in register withthe feeding device.

5. An apparatus for the' production of cigarettes provided with a stub portion `at the mouthpiece end, comprising an intermittently movable carrier, a supporting member on said carrier having a bore extending therethrough for supporting a stub portion and a cigarette to be united in alignment, said supporting member having aslot providing access to said bore, a device mounted on a. stationary portion of the apparatus for feeding a strip of uniting baud material into the slot of said supporting member when the carrier is in e position placing said slot m register with said feed device, means onsaid carrier for rotatingy said cigarette, and means mounted on the nstationary portion of the apparatus operative between movements of said' carrier .for actuating the cigarette rotating means when the slot of the member supporting the cigarette is in a position to receive the banding/strip. Y

6. An Y ,apparatus for the production of cigarettes provided with a stub portion at the mouth- -piecec end, comprising anintermittently movable carrier, a supporting m'ember on said carrierhaving a bore extending vtherethrough for supporting'a stub portion and'a cigarette to be united in alignment,Vv said supporting member having a slot providing access to said bore, a

device mounted on 'a stationary portion ofv the for feeding a strip of uniting band material into the slot of said supporting member when, the carrier is in a position placing said slot in' register with said feeddevice, means on said carrier for rotating said cigarettes, and a segmentlgear molmted on the stationary porion of the apparatus operative between movements of said carrier for actuating the lcigarette v'rotating means when the slot of the member lsupporting the'cigaretteisinaposltiontore-d ceive the banding strip. 1

'1. An apparatus for the Aintjlductlon of cigarettes provided with astub portion at the mouthpiece end, comprising an intermittently movable carrier, me'ans on the carrier for supporting a cigarette, a lpairoi! spaced annular members rotatably mounted in alignment with said supporting means, a plurality of rollers positioned between said annular members with their axes paralleltotheaxisofsaidmembers'andspaced thereabout to .deilne a chamber in t with said supporting means, said chamber being adapted to surround oneend of the cigarette and l support a stub portion in alignment therewith.v

'a'uniting bandstrip feeding device mounted on a stationary portion of the apparatus for feed- -ing astripofbandingmaterialtothestub portion and cigarette surrounded by said rollers 'when brought ,into registering position by the carrier, and means on the stationary portion of the apparatus for rotating vsaid annular members and rollers between intermittent l rovements of said carrier toiwrap theband about the cisarette andstub portion. i

ROWLAND HAY.