US2118783A

US2118783A - Cigarette

Info

Publication number: US2118783A
Application number: US123515A
Authority: US
Inventors: May Rowland Frank
Original assignee: FILTER TIPS Ltd
Current assignee: FILTER TIPS Ltd
Priority date: 1936-01-24
Filing date: 1937-02-01
Publication date: 1938-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1955-05-24
Also published as: BE419622A; FR816754A; GB469415A; DE667782C

Description

R. F. MAY

CIGARETTE Filed Feb. 1, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l orneyo" R. F. MAY

CIGARETTE Filed Feb. 1, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. I T/May ggwm w May 24, 1938.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 1, 1937 Iwyen To/nr Patented ay 24, 1938 U N i 'i' CIGARETTE land Application February 1, 1937, Serial No. 123,515 in Great Britain January 24, 1936 13 Claims.

This invention relates to cigarettes and is particularly concerned with an improved method and apparatus for the production of filter tip and like composite cigarettes by uniting axially aligned 5 cigarettes or lengths of cigarette rod and filter tips or mouthpiece portions by means of uniting bands or wrappers.

The invention has for its primary object to provide an improved method of and means for applying the uniting bands or wrappers around the assembled lengths whereby the uniting operation may be effected without any rolling or other movement of the cigarettes, and whereby the wrapping pressure may be maintained to ensure l5 proper adhesion while the assemblages are being fed axially.

The present invention furthermore renders it possible, in a method involving the wrapping of uniting bands around assembled lengths fed ax- 20 ially to and from wrapping means, to effect the initial application of the uniting bands to the assemblages while the same are stationary and positioned in registration with the means for applying the uniting bands or wrappers.

According to the present invention, the lengths to be united, assembled in line and after uniting bands or wrappers have been brought into contact therewith, are fed axially and intermittently, and the wrapping of the uniting bands or wrap- 30 pers around the lengths to be united is effected by the action of means moving lengthwise of the assemblage in a direction opposite to the feed movement thereof, the wrapping operation taking place during a period or periods when the :13 assemblage is stationary. The wrapping operation is efiected by means reciprocated in the lengthwise direction of the assemblage, the wrapping movement in a direction opposite to the direction of feed taking place when the assemblage #:H is stationary and the return movement coinciding more or less with the forward movement of the assemblage.

Owing to the fact that during the forward movement of the assemblage the wrapping device 4-? moves substantially therewith, the wrapping pressure on each uniting band is maintained throughout the feed movement with the result that efiective adhesion is ensured.

The invention is hereinafter described by way to of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 1a taken together show a side elevation partly in section illustrating one embodiment of apparatus adapted for carrying out 55 the invention;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line II--II of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines III-III and IV--IV respectively of Figure 1a; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V-V of Figure 1.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one embodiment, pairs of cigarettes I, la and interposed double length filter tips 2 or mouthpiece portions are fed respectively from hoppers 3, 3a and i into grooves in a drum 5 which is moved intermittently, for instance by means of a helical cam la engaging a gear 5a on the drum spindle and mounted on a shaft lb driven through bevel gears is, to from the main shaft 6. Each assemblage comprising two cigarettes I, la and an interposed double length filter tip 2, is discharged in turn on to a belt 9 carried on rollers 53a and by which the assemblage is movecl axially. Preferably the belt 9 moves continuously and the lengths constituting the assemblage are simultaneously deposited on the belt 9 by means of fingers 8 carried by levers 8a pivoted on brackets I ia projecting from the bed M of the machine and operated, for instance, by eccentrics 6b the straps 8b of which are connected to the lower end of the levers 8a. Cams 50 on the shaft 6 co-operate with levers 80 which through links 801 raise the fingers 8, the downward movement thereof being effected by springs 8e (Figure 3). In operation the fingers 8 are projected into circumferential slots 5b in the drum 5 so as to lie above the leading assemblage and as the fingers 8 again move outwardly they are caused to drop so as to engage the assemblage and roll the same on to the belt 9.

The assemblage deposited on the belt 9 is positioned by means of a guide 91) and is conveyed axially by the belt 9 into an inverted c-shaped guide 90 and up to a stop Hi. The stop I is pivoted at lilo and is operated by means of a cam llld mounted on a shaft Hie driven through bevel gears up, 612 from the main shaft 6. The cam llld operates the stop it through a push rod Nib provided with a return spring l 530. By means of the stop 58 the assemblage is positioned in the inverted C- haped guide 90 with its lower part exposed and in correct registration with means for applying a uniting band I I.

As shown'in Fig. 4, the uniting bands 1 l are fed into position on an intermittently moving belt l2 having perforations lZa and passing over a suction box 53 having suction holes 130. and a flexible suction pipe i311. The suction box I3 is pivoted about the axis of a roller I30 on a spindle I3d and is adapted to be raised and lowered by means of a cam 8e on the main shaft 6 operating on a lever I6 connected, by means of a link Ilia,

to the spindle I3g of a roller I3e around which the. perforated belt I2 passes, a return. spring Iiib being provided. The belt I2 is led on to the suction box I3 over a stationary suction box I5.

Thus, after an assemblage is positioned as shown in Figure 1, the operation of the cam 6e raises the suction box I3 and thus presses the leading uniting band I I into contact with the assemblage.- The cam Be is arranged to maintain the suction box I3 in the raised position while the stop ID is released and the assemblage is discharged axially by the feed movement of the next following assemblage on the belt 9 and in order to maintain the uniting band II in contact with the assemblage during this movement, the suction box I3 may be provided with an extension plate I31 as shown in Figure 1.

The axially movingassemblage with the uniting band attached is engaged by rollers I1, I'Ia, V the lower roller I'Ia being cylindrical and the upper roller I! being grooved and preferably being driven,- for instance, through gears I11), I 89 so as to have a slight accelerating action on the assemblage which is thereby delivered through an extension 9d of the inverted C-shaped guide a on to a conveyor belt I8. The conveyor belt I8 passes around rollers I8a, I81), I80, a large diameter driving roller Mid and a guide roller I86, the usual tensioning 'roller I8) being provided. The driving roller I8d is driven intermittently by the engagement of a gear segment I9 .with a gear I8h on the drum spindle, the driving roller I8d being positively held during periods of non-rotation by the -co-operation of a stop disc I8i-with a corresponding part on or attached to :the gear segment I9. The gear segment is mounted on a shaft I9a driven from the shaft 6 1 through helical gears I91), 61. The diameter of the driving roller I8d preferably is such thateach movement which, asshown in the drawings, may correspond to a quarter of a revolution of the roller, is equal to the length of one assemblage.

A wrapping device 20 reciprocable lengthwise 1n.relation"to the assemblage is provided and such wrapping device 28 vconveniently is in the V form .of a travelling garniture slidable along guides 44b and co-operating with'the belt I8. The, device 20 maybe driven from a crank disc 2!. onthe shaft IIle before referred to through a link 2hr, lever 2Ib and link 2Ic. The drive to, the. roller- IM and to the wrapping device 20 -is timed so that during the forward movement of the belt I8 the device 28 movessubstantially therewith and so that backward movement of the device 2D, .during which the wrapping of the uniting bands is effected, takes place during penods-when the belt I8 is stationary. Preferably, as in thearrangement shown, the device 20 effectsthe wrapping of each uniting band around the respective assemblage in two stages and after each stage the wrapping'pressure is maintained during the period of forward movement of the belt I8 and the device 28.

On the completion ofthe wrapping movement ofthe device 20 the foremost assemblagawith the uniting bandcompletely wrapped there-' around, is left-free on the belt I8 and on the next forward movement of the belt I8 the assemblage is moved into engagement with accelerating rollers- 22, 22a which may be driven through gears 22b; I872and-whereby the united assemblage is delivered intoa flute in a drum 23, and up to a1,

stop plate 24. By the drum 23 the assemblages are carried past a rotary cutter 26 by which the assemblages are bisected to produce individual cigarettes. During the cutting operation the assemblages are positioned between the stop plate 24 and a corresponding side plate 24a and are maintained in the grooves in the drum 23 by means of curved guides 28. The drum 23 may be driven intermittently by means of a helical cam 25 mounted on a shaft 25a driven through gears 25b, 69 from the main shaft 6.

The cigarettes are finally discharged down inclined guides 21 on to conveying means such as a belt 29 passing over a roller 29a.

In Figure 1 the driving roller I8d is shown as having just completed a quarter of a revolution and the wrapping device 20 is about to move in the direction opposite to the direction of feed. It will be seen that during this movement of the device 28 the uniting band Ila, which had been partially wrapped around the assemblage during the previous wrapping movement, will be completed, while the uniting band II- applied to the succeeding assemblage will be partially wrapped therearound, but at the same time the leading assemblage on the belt I8 around which there! spective uniting band II will be completely wrapped will be left free on the belt for discharge by the

rollers

22, 22a on the next forward l movement of thebelt. I8. In the position shown" in Figure 1 also an assemblage has just been accelerated into a flute in the drum 23-:by the operationof the rollers 22a and the stop 10-:

has just moved to the engaging position to

arrest

5 and 23 are moved so that on the next forward movement of the belt l8 the, drum 23 presents an 1401; the movement of the wrapping device the drums.

open flute for the reception of the leading united assemblage While the; drum v5 brings an assemblage-into-position for transfer on to the belt 9 1 after the stop ID has'been released.

Although the wrapping device 20 preferably movessubstantiallywith the belt I8 on its for.--

wardstroke, a certain amount of relative move ment between-the wrapping device 20 and the,

belt I8 is permissible and-would have no effect on the operation.

Furthermore, it will be understood-that :the, invention is applicable to theproduction of com-- posite cigarettes containing two difierent kinds,

of tobacco and is also applicable to the produce,

tion-of cigarettes in which a tubular reinforcee; ment or filter Wad is provideduat an 'intermee diate position in its length.-

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the productionof composite' cigarettes, comprising an endless conveyor by which. assembled. lengths of cigarette rod and filter tipsto be united, with uniting bands'at tached thereto, are fed axially, means for driving the conveyor intermittently, wrapping means-reciprocable lengthwise of the conveyor;- and' mechanism operating the 'saidwrapping means so that its wrapping movement in a direction op-- posite to the feed movement of the-conveyortakes placewhilei theconveyor is stationary and so that. its return movement coincides substantially with the forward'movement of the,:con'- veyor.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless conveyor constitutes a wrapping belt, and wherein the wrapping means is in the form of a travelling garniture co-operating with the belt.

3. Apparatus for the production of composite cigarettes, lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions in alignment to form assemblages, means for applying a uniting band to the assemblages, conveying means for conveying the assemblages successively and axially to said means for applying a uniting band thereto, means for registering an assemblage axially in relation to the uniting band-applying means, an endless conveyor belt, means for feeding an assemblage, with a uniting band attached thereto, on to the endless conveyor belt, an axially reciprocable wrapping device associated with said conveyor belt, means for reciprocating said wrapping device and for driving the conveyor belt intermittently so that the periods of rest of the belt coincide with rearward movement of the wrapping device and so that the forward movements of the belt coincide substantially with the forward movements of the wrapping device, cutting means for bisecting the assemblages to produce individual cigarettes, and means for conveying the assemblages to said cutting means.

4. A method for the production of composite cigarettes by uniting axially aligned lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions by means of uniting bands, comprising assembling the lengths to be united in axial aligmnent to form an assemblage, bringing a uniting band in contact therewith, feeding the assemblage with said uniting band in contact therewith axially and intermittently, and displacing a wrapping device lengthwise of said assemblage in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the assemblage, between intermittent feed movements of said assemblage and while the latter is stationary, to efiect wrapping of the uniting band about said assemblage.

5. A method for the production of composite cigarettes by uniting axially aligned lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions by means of uniting bands, comprising assembling the lengths to be united in axial alignment to form an assemblage, bringing a uniting band in contact therewith, feeding the assemblage with said uniting band in contact therewith axially and intermittently, displacing a wrapping device lengthwise of said assemblage in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the assemblage, between intermittent feed movements of said assemblage and while the latter is stationary, to efiect wrapping of the uniting band about said assemblage, and displacing the wrapping device in the opposite direction substantially coincidentally with the intermittent feed movement of the assemblage.

6. A method for the production of composite cigarettes by uniting axially aligned lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions by means of uniting bands, comprising assembling the lengths to be united in axial alignment to form an assemblage, bringing a uniting band in contact therewith, feeding the assemblage with said uniting band in contact therewith axially and intermittently, displacing a wrapping device lengthwise of said assemblage in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the assemblage, between intermittent feed movements of said assemblage and while the latter is stationary, to

comprising means for assembling effect a first stage of wrapping of the uniting band about said assemblage, displacing said wrapping device, while in engagement with said assemblage and before completion of the wrapping operation, in the opposite direction substantially coincidentally with the intermittent feeding movement of the assemblage, and again displacing said wrapping device in the direction opposite to the direc-- tion of feed of the assemblage between intermittent feed movements and while said assemblage is stationary to complete the wrapping of said uniting band or wrapper about said assemblage.

'7. A method for the production of composite cigarettes by uniting axially aligned lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions by means of uniting bands, comprising assembling pairs of single cigarettes with double-length mouthpiece portions interposed between them to form an assemblage, feeding the assemblage axially and intermittently, applying a uniting band to the assemblage while stationary, further feeding the assemblage with said uniting band in contact therewith axially and intermittently, and displacing a wrapping device lengthwise of said assemblage in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the assemblage, between intermittent feed movements of said assemblage and while the latter is stationary, to effect wrapping of the uniting band about said assemblage.

8. A method for the production of composite cigarettes consisting in assembling lengths of cigarette rod and mouthpiece portions in axial alignment to form an assemblage, feeding each assemblage axially, stopping the feeding movement of the assemblage, applying a uniting band to said assemblage while stationary, displacing the assemblage, with the uniting band attached thereto, axially on to a conveyor belt, subsequently arresting the forward movement of the conveyor belt, displacing a wrapping device, while the conveyor belt and assemblage are stationary, lengthwise along the assemblage in a direction opposite to the feed movement to wrap the uniting band around the assemblage, discharging the assemblage axially by subsequent feed movements, and subsequently bisecting the united assemblages to produce individual cigarettes.

9. An apparatus for the production of filter tip cigarettes, comprising means for intermittently displacing assemblages of lengths of axially aligned cigarettes and filter tip portions in a lengthwise direction, means for applying a uniting band to each assemblage, positioning means for stopping an assemblage, between intermittent displacements, in register with the band applying means, means for actuating said positioning means to interpose it in the path of displacement of said assemblages and remove the same therefrom, an endless conveyor by which an assemblage of lengths of cigarette rod and filter tips to be united, with uniting bands attached thereto, are fed axially, means for driving the conveyor intermittently, wrapping means reciprocable lengthwise of the conveyor, and mechanism operating the said wrapping means so that its wrapping movement in a direction opposite to the feed movement of the conveyor takes place while the conveyor is stationary and so that its return movement coincides substantially with the forward movement of the conveyor.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, means for supporting an assemblage of axially aligned cigarettes and filter tip lengths to be united, with one side of said assemblage exposed, an intermittently moving conveyor for feeding a uniting band to a supported assemblage, and means for shifting said conveyor toward the assemblage to apply a band on said conveyor to the assemblage.

11. An apparatus for the production of filter tip cigarettes, comprising means for intermittently displacing assembled lengths of axially aligned cigarettes and filter tip portions in a lengthwise direction, a slotted tube for supporting an assemblage of said lengths, an intermittently movable conveyor for conveying uniting bands to a position beneath said slotted tube, and means for raising said conveyor to apply a uniting band carried thereby to the assemblage supported in said tube.

12. An apparatus for the production of filter tip cigarettes, comprising means for intermittently displacing assembled lengths of axially aligned cigarettes and filter tip portions in a lengthwise direction, a slotted tube for supporting an assemblage of said lengths, an intermittently movable conveyor for conveying uniting bands to a position beneath said slotted tube, means for raising said conveyor to apply a uniting band carried thereby to the assemblage supported in said tube, an endless conveyor by which assembled lengths of cigarettes and filter tips to be united, with uniting bands attached thereto, are fed axially, means for driving the conveyor intermittently, wrapping means reciprocable lengthwise of the conveyor, and mechanism operating the said wrapping means so that its wrapping movement in a direction opposite to the feed movement of the conveyor takes place while the conveyor is stationary and so that its return movement coincides substantially with the for ward movement of the conveyor.

13. An apparatus for the production of filter tip cigarettes, comprising means for intermittently displacing assembled lengths of axially aligned cigarettes and filter tip portions in a lengthwise direction, a slotted tube for supporting an assemblage of said lengths, an intermittently movable conveyor for conveying uniting bands to a position beneath said slotted tube, a suction box beneath said slotted tube and over which the uniting band conveyor travels, means for raising said suction box to bring a uniting band supported thereon into engagement with the assemblage supported in said tube, an endless conveyor by which assembled lengths of cigarettes andfilter tips to be united, with uniting bands attached thereto, are fed axially, means for driving the conveyor intermittently, wrapping means reciprocable lengthwise of the conveyor, mechanism operating the said wrapping means so thatits wrapping movement in a direction opposite to the feed movement of the conveyor takes place while the conveyor is stationary and so that its return movement coincides substantially with the forward movement of the conveyor, and an extension carried by said suction box for supporting the uniting band applied to the assemblage during movement thereof to the endless conveyor.

ROWLAND FRANK MAY.