WO2020070872A1

WO2020070872A1 - Production method for smoking article

Info

Publication number: WO2020070872A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/037336
Authority: WO
Inventors: 法生山本; 哲也奥山; 井上　洋; 佐藤　大輔; 誠岸
Original assignee: 日本たばこ産業株式会社
Priority date: 2018-10-05
Filing date: 2018-10-05
Publication date: 2020-04-09
Also published as: JP2023071945A; EP3861868B1; EP4183271A1; JPWO2020070872A1; EP4183272A1; EP3861868A4; EP3861868A1; CN112804891B; JP2022163146A; CN112804891A; JP2023071946A

Abstract

Provided is a production method that is for a smoking article comprising a functional segment, a cigarette rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment, and that comprises (A) a step for preparing a segment A including a double-length functional segment having a length which is twice as great as the length of the functional segment, and the cigarette rod on either end of the double-length functional segment, (C) preparing and disposing a pair of the cooling segments so that the cooling segments are in contact with the opposite ends of the segment A, to produce a segment C, (D) a step for cutting the segment C at the middle in the longitudinal direction thereof to produce a pair of segments D, and reversing and disposing the segments D so that the segments D have a common longitudinal axis, and the cooling segments are disposed opposite each other with a space therebetween, (E) a step for preparing a double-length filter segment having a length which is twice as great as the length of the filter segment, and disposing the double-length filter segment in the space so that the opposite ends of the double-length filter segment are in contact with the ends of the cigarette segments D closer to the cooling segments, to produce a segment E, (F) a step for wrapping and integrating the segment E in a single sheet of chip paper to produce a double-length smoking article having a length which is twice as great as the length of the smoking article, and (G) a step for cutting the double-length smoking article at the middle in the longitudinal direction thereof to obtain smoking articles.

Description

Manufacturing method of smoking articles

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

喫煙 A smoking article such as a tobacco provided with a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment has a so-called falling edge problem in which tobacco cuts and the like fall off from the end opposite to the smoking end. To prevent this, it has been proposed to arrange an adhesive inside the wrapping paper near the leading end (Patent Document 1).

Patent No. 3222221

フィルター Generally, filters for preventing falling are shorter than tobacco rods, so their handling in the manufacturing process is not easy. In view of such circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently manufacturing a smoking article having a functional segment that imparts a function to an end opposite to a smoking end of a tobacco rod.

The inventors have solved the above-mentioned problem by arranging the functional segment in the center and separating and inverting the functional segment later. That is, the above problem is solved by the present invention described below.
[Aspect 1] A method for manufacturing a smoking article including a functional segment, a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment,
(A) preparing a double-length functional segment having a length twice as long as the functional segment, and a segment A including the tobacco rod at both ends thereof;
(C) preparing a pair of the cooling segments, arranging the cooling segments in contact with both ends of the segment A, and preparing a segment C;
(D) The segment C is cut at the center in the longitudinal direction and separated to prepare a pair of segments D, and these are inverted, so that both longitudinal axes are the same and the cooling segments are Arranging them so as to face each other,
(E) A double-length filter segment having a length twice as long as the filter segment is prepared, and the segment E is arranged at the separated portion such that both ends thereof are in contact with an end of the segment D on the cooling segment side. The process of preparing,
(F) wrapping the segment E with one piece of chip paper and integrating them to produce a double-length smoking article having a length twice as long as the smoking article; and (G) producing the double-length smoking article. Cutting at a central portion in the longitudinal direction into a smoking article.
[Aspect 2] The production method according to Aspect 1, wherein the functional segment is constituted by a filter member.
[Aspect 3] The production method according to

Aspect

1 or 2, wherein the functional segment contains a fragrance.
[Aspect 4] The step (A) is performed
(A1) preparing a pair of the tobacco rods and arranging them so that their longitudinal axes are the same;
(A2) A double-length functional tobacco segment is prepared by preparing a double-length functional segment having a length twice as long as the functional segment, and arranging the double-sided functional segment at the separated portion so that both ends thereof are in contact with the tobacco rod. 4. The production method according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein
[Aspect 5] The step (A) includes:
(A1 ′) A double-length tobacco rod having a length twice as long as the tobacco rod is prepared, and the double-length tobacco rod is cut off at a central portion in the longitudinal direction and separated, and both longitudinal axes are the same. A process of arranging them so as to be separated from each other,
(A2 ′) A double-length functional tobacco segment having a length twice as long as the functional segment is prepared, and the double-length functional tobacco segment is disposed at the separated portion so that both ends thereof are in contact with the tobacco rod. The production method according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, which is a step of preparing.
[Aspect 6] Between the steps (A) and (C),
The manufacturing method according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, further comprising: (B) a step of wrapping and integrating the segment A with one piece of second chip paper.
[Aspect 7] The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the filter segment comprises an acetate filter and a center hole filter.
[Aspect 8] The manufacturing method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein the smoking article includes a functional segment, a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment in this order in a downstream direction.
[Aspect 9] The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 8, wherein a diameter of the tobacco rod is larger than a diameter of an adjacent member.
[Aspect 10] The manufacturing method according to Aspect 9, wherein the diameter of the tobacco rod is 0.05 to 0.15 mm larger than the diameter of the adjacent member.
[Embodiment 11] The production method according to Embodiment 9, wherein the diameter of the tobacco rod is larger by 0.5 to 2.5% than the diameter of the adjacent member.
[Aspect 12] The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11, wherein the rigidity of a member adjacent to the tobacco rod is greater than the rigidity of the tobacco rod.
[Aspect 13] The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 12, wherein the cooling segment includes a paper tube having a plurality of openings in a circumferential direction.
[Aspect 14] The manufacturing method according to Aspect 13, wherein the cooling segment includes a paper tube, and further includes a step of providing a plurality of openings by laser processing in a circumferential direction of the paper tube.
[Aspect 15] In the step (F), a precursor in which a part of the chip paper is adhered to the circumferential surface of the segment E is prepared, and the precursor is provided to face the rolling drum and the circumferential surface. Placed between the rolling hands that have been performed, is a step performed by rotating the precursor on the circumferential surface of the rolling drum,
15. The manufacturing method according to any one of aspects 1 to 14, wherein a portion of the rolling drum or the rolling hand facing the tobacco rod portion includes a concave portion for forming a gap between the tobacco rod portion.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for efficiently manufacturing a smoking article having a functional segment for imparting a function to an end opposite to a mouth end of a tobacco rod.

It is a figure showing the outline of a smoking article. It is a figure showing one mode of the manufacturing method of the present invention. It is a figure which shows one aspect of the process (A) of the manufacturing method of this invention. It is a figure explaining a measuring method of rigidity. It is a figure showing one mode of an apparatus which performs a manufacturing method of the present invention. It is a figure showing an aspect of a process (D). It is a figure showing one mode of step (F). It is a figure showing one mode of step (F).

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a smoking article including a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail. In the present invention, X to Y include the end values X and Y.

1. Smoking Article The smoking article of the present invention comprises a functional segment, a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment. FIG. 1 (i) shows one embodiment of the smoking article of the present invention. In the figure, 100 is a smoking article, 1 is a tobacco rod, 3 is a cooling segment, 5 is a filter segment, 7 is tip paper, and 9 is a functional segment.

(1) Tobacco rod A tobacco rod is a substantially columnar member for generating a flavor component contained in tobacco raw material, and includes a tobacco filler and a wrapping paper wound around the tobacco filler. The tobacco filler is not limited, and for example, tobacco cuts, tobacco sheets and the like can be used. Specifically, the tobacco cut obtained by cutting the dried tobacco leaves to a width of 0.8 to 1.2 mm may be filled in the wrapping paper. Also, dried tobacco leaves are ground and homogenized to an average particle size of about 20 to 200 μm, processed into a sheet, cut into 0.8 to 1.2 mm width, and filled into wrapping paper. May be. The sheet may be gathered, folded, or swirled without being cut, and then filled into the wrapping paper. The sheets may be cut into strips, and these may be filled into the wrapping paper concentrically or so that the longitudinal direction of the strips is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod.

ロッド The tobacco rod 1 may generate an aerosol with heating. It is preferable to add an aerosol source such as a polyol such as glycerin, propylene glycol or 1,3-butanediol to the tobacco filler in order to promote the generation of aerosol. The added amount of the aerosol source is preferably 5 to 50% by weight, more preferably 10 to 30% by weight, based on the dry weight of the tobacco filler. In addition, the tobacco rod may include a fragrance such as menthol. The length of the tobacco rod 1 is not limited, but is preferably 15 to 25 mm. The diameter is not limited, but is preferably 6.5 to 7.5 mm. However, when the rigidity of the adjacent member is higher than the rigidity of the tobacco rod, the diameter of the tobacco rod is preferably larger than the diameter of the adjacent member. This is because the deformation of the tobacco rod can be reduced. From this viewpoint, the diameter of the tobacco rod is preferably 0.5 to 2.5% larger than the diameter of the adjacent member, and more preferably 1.0 to 2.0% larger. In actual dimensions, the diameter of the tobacco rod is preferably about 0.05 to 0.15 mm larger than the diameter of the adjacent member. Adjacent members include cooling segments and filter segments.

“Stiffness” in the present invention means resistance when a member is deformed as disclosed in JP-T-2016-523565, paragraphs 0010 to 0014. The rigidity can be obtained from the change in diameter before and after applying the load F to the side surface of the tobacco rod. In FIG. 4, when the diameter of the tobacco rod before the load F is applied is Ds and the diameter after the load is Dd, the amount of depression is d = Ds-Dd, and the rigidity is defined by the following equation. . The same applies to other members.
Rigidity (%) = Dd / Ds × 100

(2) Cooling segment The cooling segment is a member for cooling the flavor component and aerosol generated in the tobacco rod 1. The cooling segment 3 may be a hollow paper tube. The paper tube is preferably made of a cardboard having higher rigidity than the wrapping paper or the chip paper. The paper tube may be provided with an opening (ventilation). Preferably, a plurality of openings are provided along the circumference of the paper tube. From the viewpoint of working efficiency, it is preferable that the aperture is provided by subjecting the finished smoking article to laser processing. Further, the cooling segment 3 may be filled with a gathered sheet in order to increase the heat exchange efficiency. Although the size of the cooling segment 3 is not limited, the length is preferably 15 to 25 mm, and the diameter is preferably 5.5 to 7.5 mm. However, when the rigidity of the member adjacent to the cooling segment 3 is lower than the rigidity of the cooling segment 3, the diameter of the cooling segment 3 is preferably 0.5 to 2.5% smaller than the diameter of the adjacent member. , 1.0 to 2.0%. Generally, when the cooling segment 3 includes a paper tube formed of a cardboard, the rigidity of the segment is higher than the rigidity of the tobacco rod.

(3) Filter segment The filter segment is a member provided with a filter. As the filter, a known filter member such as an acetate filter or a paper filter can be used. The paper filter is a filter filled with paper, which is prepared by processing paper with a crepe roller or the like, wrinkling the paper and winding it with a plug winding paper. The acetate filter is a filter filled with cellulose acetate fibers. As shown in FIG. 1 (ii), the filter segment 5 is preferably composed of a plurality of members, and more preferably includes a filter 51 and a center hole 53. As the center hole, for example, one in which a space is provided in the center of an acetate filter can be used. The length of the filter segment 5 is not limited, but is preferably 10 to 20 mm. When both a center hole and an acetate filter are arranged as filter segments, the order is not limited. Further, individual members may be wound by a filter wrapping paper (filter inner wrapper), and they may be connected by a filter molded paper (filter outer wrapper). Although the diameter of the filter segment is not limited, it is preferable that the filter segment has substantially the same diameter as the other segments other than the tobacco rod. This is because breakage and wrinkling of the chip paper can be suppressed.

(4) Functional segment The functional segment is a segment for giving a function to the smoking article 100. For example, the functional segment 9 has a function of preventing a tobacco cut or the like from falling from the tip of the tobacco rod 1 or a function of carrying a fragrance or the like and imparting a unique flavor. In the former case, it is preferable that the functional segment 9 is constituted by a filter such as an acetate filter. Preferably, the latter, the functional segment 9, is a paper tube or filter in which a perfume capsule is embedded. The length of the functional segment 9 is not limited, but is preferably 5 to 10 mm.

(5) Chip paper Chip paper refers to paper used to connect two or more of a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment. On the other hand, wrapping paper refers to paper for wrapping individual members constituting a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, or a filter segment. For example, as described above, when the filter segment includes the center hole and the acetate filter, the paper around the center hole and the paper around the acetate filter are each a paper roll.

原 The base paper used for the chip paper and the wrapping paper is not limited, and examples thereof include those using cellulose fibers. As such a cellulose fiber, any of a plant-derived fiber and a chemically synthesized fiber may be used, or a mixture thereof may be used. Examples of plant-derived fibers include pulp such as flax fiber, wood fiber, and seed fiber, and may be unbleached colored unbleached pulp, but in order to obtain a white and clean appearance, an oxidizing agent, Use of bleached pulp bleached with a bleaching agent such as a reducing agent is preferred.

巻 In the case of ordinary cigarette wrapping paper, an alkali metal citrate or the like is used as a normal combustion regulator (combustion aid or the like) that can affect the natural burning speed of the wrapping paper. In the present invention, it is preferable to use a heating type smoking article instead of a combustion type. In this case, it is not necessary to burn the wrapping paper, so that the wrapping paper may not contain a combustion regulator.

The lower limit of the basis weight of the wrapping paper is preferably 30 g / m ² or more, more preferably 35 g / m ² or more, and further preferably 40 g / m ² or more. The upper limit is preferably 65 g / m ² or less, more preferably 50 g / m ² or less. The lower limit of the basis weight of the chip paper is preferably 20 g / m ² or more, more preferably 25 g / m ² or more, and further preferably 30 g / m ² or more. The upper limit is preferably 50 g / m ² or less, more preferably 45 g / m ² or less, and even more preferably 40 g / m ² or less. The grammage can be measured by a method specified in JIS P8124.

2. Manufacturing Method FIG. 2 shows an outline of this step. In the figure, “w” indicates double length. For example, 5w indicates a double-length filter segment.
(1) Step A
In this step, a double-length functional segment 9w having a length twice as long as the functional segment 9 and a segment A including the tobacco rod 1 at both ends thereof are prepared. The double-length functional segment 9w and the tobacco rod 1 need only be in contact with each other, and need not be bonded.

Step A may include the following steps as shown in FIG.
(A1) a step of preparing a pair of tobacco rods 1 and arranging them so that their longitudinal axes are the same;
(A2) A step of preparing a double-length functional segment 9w and arranging the double-sided functional segment 9w at the separated portion such that both ends thereof are in contact with the tobacco rod 1.

Step A may include the following steps.
(A1 ′) A double-length tobacco rod 1w having a length twice as long as the tobacco rod 1 is prepared, and the double-length tobacco rod 1w is cut off at its central portion in the longitudinal direction and then separated. A process of arranging them so that they are the same,
(A2 ') A double-length functional tobacco segment is prepared by preparing a double-length functional segment 9w having a length twice as long as the functional segment 9, and arranging it at the separated portion so that both ends thereof are in contact with the tobacco rod 1. A step of preparing

機能 By this step, a function can be easily provided upstream of the smoking article. For example, when the functional segment 9 is a filter, dropping can be prevented.

製造 The manufacturing method of the present invention can be carried out by using any device, but it is preferable to use a device provided with a plurality of drums as shown in FIG. 5 and supplying each member from above, for example. It is preferable that one drum does not have a plurality of functions but has one function. This is because occurrence of defects can be reduced in high-speed manufacturing. For example, the step (A) can be performed in the first unit 81 of FIG. 81f is a supply device of the

tobacco rod

1, 81p is a take-out drum, and 81s is a separation drum. The pair of tobacco rods 1 supplied from the supply device 81f is transferred to a holding portion provided on the circumferential surface of the take-out drum 81p. Next, the pair of tobacco rods 1 is delivered to the separation drum 81s, transported, and separated at the holding unit. Further, the pair of tobacco rods 1 is delivered to the take-up drum 81a while being separated by the transfer drum 81t.

'81'f is a supply device for the double-length functional segment 9w, and 81'p is a take-out drum. The double-length functional segment 9w supplied from the supply device 81'f is transferred to a holding portion provided on the circumferential surface of the take-out drum 81'p. On the other hand, the pair of tobacco rods 1 are spaced apart from each other on the take-up drum 81a, and the double-length functional segment 9w is arranged at the separated portion so as to contact the tobacco rod 1. The number of drums having a supply, reception, transfer, or separation function may be one or plural in each unit.

(2) Step B
The manufacturing method of the present invention preferably includes a step B between steps A and C for wrapping and integrating the segment A with one piece of second chip paper 71. For convenience, the integrated segment A is also referred to as a segment B. As the second chip paper 71, paper commonly used in this field can be used. The second chip paper 71 may be coated with a known adhesive, whereby the separable functional segment and the tobacco rod are integrated and become inseparable.

喫煙 By adjusting the length of the second chip paper used in this step, a function can be given to the smoking article. For example, if the length of the second chip paper is set to a length capable of covering the entire tobacco rod 1, even if the tobacco rod 1 is stained, the stain can be concealed, so that the appearance can be kept good. Alternatively, when the length of the tobacco rod 1 is defined as X, the area covered by the second chip paper 71 is 0.1X to 0.1X in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 1 with the joining surface of the tobacco rod 1 and the functional segment 9 as a starting point. An area having the position of 0.3X as the end point may be used. By setting the region to be wrapped in such a range, it is possible to avoid a decrease in thermal conductivity when heating the tobacco rod 1.

This step can be performed in the second unit 82 of FIG. 82f is a supply device for the

second chip paper

71, 82t is a transfer drum, 82r is a rolling drum, and 82h is a rolling hand. Since this step is the same as step F, the details will be described in step F.

(3) Step C
In this step, a pair of cooling segments 3 is prepared, arranged in contact with both ends of the segment B, and a segment C is prepared.

This step can be performed in the third unit 83 of FIG. 83f is a supply device of the cooling segment 3, 83ps is a take-out separation drum, and 83a is a take-up drum. The pair of cooling segments 3 supplied from the supply device 83f are transferred to and separated from a holding portion provided on the circumferential surface of the take-out separation drum 83ps. On the other hand, the segment B prepared in the previous step is delivered to the take-up drum 83a via the transfer drum 83t. The pair of cooling segments 3 are delivered to the take-up drum 83a, and are arranged at both ends of the segment B so as to be in contact with the end surface of the tobacco rod 1.

(4) Step D
In this step, the segment C is cut and separated at the center in the longitudinal direction to prepare a pair of segments D. Thereafter, these are reversed and arranged so that the cooling segments 3 have the same longitudinal axis and are opposed to each other.

This step can be performed in the fourth unit 84 in FIG. 84c is a cutter drum, and 84c 'is a cutter. The segment B is transferred to the cutter drum 84c, and cut by the cutter 84c 'at the center in the longitudinal direction. Thereafter, the segment is transferred to the two reversing drums 84i and reversed. The reversing mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. The guide G on the reversing drum 84i is a holding unit for holding the segment C divided into two, that is, the segment D, and is installed to be rotatable on the drum about one corner. The segment D held by the guide G indicated by the dotted line moves to the position indicated by the solid line by rotating the guide G while rotating the reversing drum 84i. Next, the segment D is transferred to a guide G 'indicated by a dotted line of the reversing drum 84i'. The guide G 'slides on the reversing drum 84i' and moves to a position indicated by a solid line at which the distance between the pair of segments D becomes a desired value. Thus, the pair of divided segments C is inverted.

(5) Step E
In this step, a double-length filter segment 5w having a length twice as long as the filter segment 5 is prepared, and arranged at the separated portion such that both ends thereof are in contact with the end of the segment D on the cooling segment side. Prepare E.

This step can be performed in the fifth unit 85 of FIG. 85f is a supply device for the double-

length filter segment

5w, 85p is a take-out drum, and 85a is a take-up drum. The double-length filter segment 5w supplied from the supply device 85f is transferred to a holding unit provided on the circumferential surface of the take-out drum 85p. On the other hand, since the pair of segments D is delivered while being separated to the take-up drum 85a, the double-length filter segment 5w is disposed at the space between the pair of segments D on the take-up drum 85a from the take-out drum 85p. .

(6) Step F
In this step, the segment E is wrapped and integrated with one piece of chip paper 7 to prepare a double-length smoking article 100w having a length twice as long as the smoking article 100. As the tip paper 7, the same one as the second tip paper 71 may be used. As a result, the segments E, which were in a separable state, are integrated and become inseparable. At this time, the tip paper 7 does not need to cover the entire area of the tobacco rod 1. Assuming that the length of the tobacco rod 1 is X, the area covered by the tip paper 7 is 0.2X to 0.4X in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 1 starting from the joining surface of the tobacco rod 1 and the cooling segment 3. It is preferable that the region is a region ending at the position. By setting the region to be wrapped in such a range, it is possible to avoid a decrease in thermal conductivity when heating the tobacco rod 1.

This step can be performed in the sixth unit 86 of FIG. 86f is a supply device for the

chip paper

7, 86t is a transfer drum, 86r is a rolling drum, and 86h is a rolling hand. The rolling drum is a holding unit that holds a member on a circumferential surface, and is a drum including a holding unit that allows a member such as a segment to rotate around a central axis in the longitudinal direction. The rolling hand is means for forming a gap having a certain distance between the rolling hand and the circumferential surface of the rolling drum. The segment E is delivered to the transfer drum 86t and then to the rolling drum 86r. On the other hand, a part of the chip paper 7 supplied from the supply device 86f is adhered to the circumferential surface of the segment E on the rolling drum 86r to form the precursor 92 (see FIG. 7). The precursor 92 includes the chip paper 7 adhered to a segment E represented by 90 like a flag. That is, a part of the chip paper 7 is adhered to the circumferential surface of the segment E, but the other part is free. The precursor 92 is fixed to a holding portion on the circumferential surface of the rolling drum 86r by suction or the like, and is transferred to a gap formed between the rolling drum 86r and the rolling hand 86h. When passing through the gap, the entire circumferential surface of the precursor 92 is wrapped with the tip paper 7 to form a double-length smoking article 100w (see FIG. 7).

As described above, in the present invention, the diameter of the tobacco rod 1 is preferably larger than the diameter of the cooling segment 3 adjacent thereto. In this case, if the surfaces of the rolling drum 86r and the rolling hand 86h are flat, the surfaces and the tobacco rod 1 are excessively in contact with each other (FIG. 8 (1)). This causes a problem of so-called dropping of the packing material. Further, twisting due to the circumferential difference occurs, and defects such as wrinkling of the product occur. Therefore, in the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 8 (2) and 8 (3), a concave portion is provided on a surface of the rolling drum 86r or the rolling hand 86h facing the tobacco rod 1, and a gap is formed between the rolling drum 86r and the tobacco rod 1. Preferably, it is formed. FIGS. 8 (2) and 8 (3) show a mode in which a concave portion is provided in the rolling hand 86h. However, the concave portion may be provided in the rolling drum 86r or both. The depth of the recess (T in FIGS. 8 (2) and (3)) is appropriately adjusted, but is preferably 0.05 to 0.15 mm. The recess need not be provided on the entire surface facing the tobacco rod 1. As shown in FIG. 8, the concave portion may be provided on a part of the surface facing the tobacco rod 1. However, in order to securely bond the tobacco rod and another member with the tip paper, it is preferable that there is no recess near the boundary between the two members.

In the present invention, since the segment E is wrapped with one piece of chip paper in the final stage, a step on a product caused by using a large number of chip papers can be avoided, and the occurrence of defective products in manufacturing can be reduced.

(7) Step G
In this step, the double-length smoking article 100w is cut at the center in the longitudinal direction to obtain the smoking article 100. This step may further include a step of inverting one smoking article 100 and aligning the directions of the two smoking articles 100.

This step can be performed in the seventh unit 87 in FIG. 87c is a cutter drum, 87c 'is a cutter, and 87a is a take-up drum. The cutting is performed as described in Step D.

In the present invention, the double-length functional segment 9w is arranged at the center, and then cut and separated at the center to be inverted. Therefore, when giving a function to the tip part of a smoking article, work can be performed efficiently.

[Example 1]
The following members were prepared.
A tobacco rod with a diameter of 7.0 mm and a length of 20.0 mm (manufactured by Japan Tobacco Inc.)
Acetate filter with diameter 6.9 mm and length 16 mm as double-length functional segment Paper tube with diameter 6.9 mm and length 20.0 mm as cooling segment Center hole (8.0 mm) / double-length acetate filter with diameter 6.9 mm (14.0 mm) / double-length filter segment consisting of center hole (8.0 mm) Second chip paper of 24 mm × 26 mm First chip paper of 24.0 mm × 80.0 mm

A double-length tobacco rod was prepared, cut at the center in the longitudinal direction and then separated, and arranged so as to be separated so that the longitudinal axes of the rods were the same. Next, a double-length functional segment was arranged at the separated portion, and a segment A including the double-length functional segment and the tobacco rod at both ends thereof was prepared (Step A).

Segment A was wrapped and integrated with one piece of second chip paper to prepare segment B (step B). A pair of paper tubes was prepared, placed in contact with both ends of segment B, and segment C was prepared (step C). The segment C is cut and separated at the center in the longitudinal direction to prepare a pair of segments D, which are inverted so that the longitudinal axes of the two are the same and the paper tubes face each other. (Step D). A segment E was prepared by preparing a double-length filter segment having a length twice as long as that of the filter segment, and arranging the two ends of the filter segment in the separated portion so as to abut the end on the paper tube side of the segment D (step E). Segment E was wrapped and integrated with one piece of chip paper to produce a double-length smoking article having twice the length of the smoking article (Step F). The double-length smoking article was cut at the center in the longitudinal direction to produce a smoking article (Step G).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Tobacco rod 1w Double-length tobacco rod 3 Cooling segment 5 Filter segment 5w Double-length filter segment 51 Acetate filter 53 Center hole 7 Tip paper 71 2nd tip paper 9 Function segment 9w Double-length function segment 10 Tobacco segment

80 Manufacturing equipment

81 1st unit 81f, 81'f Supply device 81p, 81'p Take-out drum

81s Separation drum

81t Transfer drum 81a Take-up drum

82 second unit 82f chip paper supply device 82t transfer drum 82h rolling hand 82r rolling drum

83 Third unit 83f Supply device 83ps Extraction separation drum 83t Transfer drum 83a Pickup drum

84 fourth unit 84c cutter drum 84C 'cutter 84i reversing drum 84'i reversing drum

85 fifth unit 85f supply device 85p take-out drum 85a take-up drum

86 6th unit 86f Chip paper supply device 86t Transfer drum 86r Rolling drum 86h Rolling hand

87 7th unit 87c Cutter drum 87c 'Cutter 87a Take-up drum

90 segment E
92 precursor

100 smoking articles 100w double-length smoking articles

Claims

A method for producing a smoking article comprising a functional segment, a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment,
(A) preparing a double-length functional segment having a length twice as long as the functional segment, and a segment A including the tobacco rod at both ends thereof;
(C) preparing a pair of the cooling segments, arranging the cooling segments in contact with both ends of the segment A, and preparing a segment C;
(D) The segment C is cut at the center in the longitudinal direction and separated to prepare a pair of segments D, and these are inverted, so that both longitudinal axes are the same and the cooling segments are Arranging them so as to face each other,
(E) A double-length filter segment having a length twice as long as the filter segment is prepared, and the segment E is arranged at the separated portion such that both ends thereof are in contact with an end of the segment D on the cooling segment side. The process of preparing,
(F) wrapping the segment E with one piece of chip paper and integrating them to produce a double-length smoking article having a length twice as long as the smoking article; and (G) producing the double-length smoking article. Cutting at a central portion in the longitudinal direction into a smoking article.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the functional segment comprises a filter member.
The manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the functional segment includes a fragrance.
The step (A) comprises:
(A1) preparing a pair of the tobacco rods and arranging them so that their longitudinal axes are the same;
(A2) A double-length functional tobacco segment is prepared by preparing a double-length functional segment having a length twice as long as the functional segment, and arranging the double-sided functional segment at the separated portion so that both ends thereof are in contact with the tobacco rod. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is a step of carrying out.
The step (A) comprises:
(A1 ′) A double-length tobacco rod having a length twice as long as the tobacco rod is prepared, and the double-length tobacco rod is cut off at a central portion in the longitudinal direction and separated, and both longitudinal axes are the same. A process of arranging them so as to be separated from each other,
(A2 ′) A double-length functional tobacco segment having a length twice as long as the functional segment is prepared, and the double-length functional tobacco segment is disposed at the separated portion so that both ends thereof are in contact with the tobacco rod. The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is a step of preparing.
Between the steps (A) and (C),
The production method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: (B) a step of wrapping and integrating the segment A with one piece of second chip paper.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the filter segment includes an acetate filter and a center hole filter.
The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the smoking article includes a functional segment, a tobacco rod, a cooling segment, and a filter segment in this order in the downstream direction.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the diameter of the tobacco rod is larger than the diameter of an adjacent member.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the diameter of the tobacco rod is 0.05 to 0.15 mm larger than the diameter of the adjacent member.
The method according to claim 9, wherein the diameter of the tobacco rod is 0.5 to 2.5% larger than the diameter of the adjacent member.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the rigidity of the member adjacent to the tobacco rod is greater than the rigidity of the tobacco rod.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the cooling segment comprises a paper tube having a plurality of openings in a circumferential direction.
The manufacturing method according to claim 13, wherein the cooling segment includes a paper tube, and further comprising a step of providing a plurality of openings by laser processing in a circumferential direction of the paper tube.
In the step (F), a precursor in which a part of the chip paper is adhered to the circumferential surface of the segment E is prepared, and the precursor is provided with a rolling drum and a rolling hand provided to face the circumferential surface. A step performed by rotating the precursor on the circumferential surface of the rolling drum,
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a portion of the rolling drum or the rolling hand facing the tobacco rod portion includes a concave portion for forming a gap between the tobacco rod portion.