The present disclosure relates to method and apparatus for applying a predetermined pattern of add-on material to a base web, preferably in the form of stripes having varying thickness or multiple, parallel stripes in groups spaced along the base web. More particularly, the disclosure concerns a method and apparatus for producing cigarettes papers having banded regions of such add-on or additional material.
Techniques have been developed for printing or coating paper webs with patterns of additional material. These prior techniques have included printing with gravure presses, blade coating, roller coating, silkscreening and stenciling.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,534 to Bogardy describes a stenciling apparatus wherein a continuous stencil comes into intimate contact with a paper web during application of an ink or the like. The apparatus includes an arrangement which draws air through the stencil prior to the application of the ink. The mechanical arrangement is such that to change the pattern, the stencil must be changed. Additionally, such apparatus are unworkable at the wet-end of paper-making machines.
In the related, commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,114, an embodiment of a moving orifice applicator is disclosed which includes an elongate “cavity block” or chamber and a perforated endless belt whose lower traverse passes along the bottom portion of the chamber. The chamber is positioned obliquely across a web-forming device (such as a Fourdrinier wire). In operation, a slurry of additional material is continuously supplied to the chamber as the endless belt is looped through the bottom portion of the chamber such that plural streams of material are generated from beneath the chamber to impinge the web passing beneath the chamber. As a result, bands of additional material are applied repetitively to the web. The orientation, width, thickness and spacing of the bands are all determinable by the relative speed and orientation of the endless belt to the moving web.
Preferably, the pattern of additional material is applied as uniformly as possible so as to render consistent product across the entire span of the web. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,691 discloses a slurry applicator which can be used with Fourdrinier machines having a width of 10 to 20 feet or more.
In the cigarette papermaking art, it is conventional to convey the sheet of paper on a Fourdrinier papermaking machine at speeds of 1200 to 1400 feet/minute. In contrast, in making sheet paper such as wrapping paper, writing paper and the like, the machine is run at speeds of about 2500 feet/minute. Specialty paper is run at slower speeds. Banded paper such as that described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,417,228; 5,474,095; and 5,534,114 (see also commonly owned European Pat. Publication Nos. 486213 A1, 532193 A1 and 559453 A1), the disclosures of which including characteristics of the banded paper and papermaking techniques are hereby incorporated by reference, has been produced at speeds of 400 to 600 feet/minute. In practice, banded cigarette paper having 5 to 6 mm wide bands of add-on slurry material has been produced on a Fourdrinier machine at speeds of about 500 feet/minute using a moving orifice device wherein the belt has 3/32 inch diameter round holes. It has been discovered that when the speed of the paper sheet is increased, the band widths increase due to the high speed and higher stock flow of the material used to create the bands. It has also been discovered that reduction in stock flow for purposes of reducing band width results in lowered add-on weight of the banded regions. In order to increase production output, it would be desirable to provide a moving orifice applicator which achieves a desired band width and add-on weight at high production speeds.
These and other objects are achieved with the present disclosure whose aspects include a method and apparatus for the production of a web having banded regions of add-on material, more particularly a cigarette paper having stripes of additional cellulosic material added thereto. A preferred method includes the steps of establishing a first slurry, and preparing a base web by laying the first slurry into a sheet form while moving the base web sheet along a first path. The method further comprises the steps of preparing a second slurry and repetitively discharging the second slurry so as to establish stripes upon the base web. The last step itself includes the steps of establishing a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, moving a belt having orifice groups along an endless path, which path includes an endless path portion along the reservoir where the orifices are communicated with the reservoir, and discharging the second slurry from the reservoir through the orifices onto the laid first slurry. Moreover, the last step includes using a novel band having orifices configured to discharge the second slurry such that (i) groups of parallel stripes are formed on the first slurry, or (ii) the thickness of a single stripes formed on the first slurry exhibit a relative minimum value between the outer edges of the single stripe.
By introducing a base plate having transverse bars located between the moving orifice band and the moving web, the method can generate stripes having periodically spaced breaks, gaps, or slits which are distributed in the transverse direction of the web. By arranging the base plate so that it too moves relative to the underlying moving web as well as the moving orifices, the method provides breaks, gaps, or slits in locations transversely on the moving web that are displaced from the breaks, gaps, or slits of adjacent strips. Further, the generally parallel breaks, gaps, or slits can be configured as desired by selecting the shape of the orifice, the speed of the base plate, and the shape of openings in the base plate. That shape selection can generate, for example and without limitation, edges aligned with the longitudinal direction of the moving web, edges inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the moving web, edges with symmetric points directed transversely of the moving web, edges with asymmetric points directed transversely of the moving web, or edges with generally parallel curved shapes.
The process and apparatus may be used to construct wrapper paper that may be used in manufacture of smoking devices having desired ignition propensity characteristics, and in which banded regions are fabricated from the same material as the base web or paper.
Many objects and advantages of this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art when this specification is read in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals are applied to like elements and wherein:
Referring to
The head box 4 can be one typically utilized in the paper making industry for laying down cellulosic pulp upon the Fourdrinier wire 6. In the usual context, the head box 4 is communicated to the run tank 8 through a plurality of conduits 14. Preferably, the feed stock from the run tank 8 is a refined cellulosic pulp such as a refined flax or wood pulp as is the common practice in the cigarette paper making industry.
The Fourdrinier wire 6 carries the laid slurry pulp from the head box 4 along a path in the general direction of arrow 16 in
Downstream of the dry line 20, the base web 22 separates from the Fourdrinier wire 6 at a couch roll 24. From there, the Fourdrinier wire 6 continues on the return loop of its endless path. Beyond the couch roll 24, the base web 22 continues on through the remainder of the paper making system which further dries and presses the base web 22 and surface conditions it to a desired final moisture content and texture. Such drying apparatus are well known in the art of paper making and may include drying felts 26 and the like.
Referring now to both
As each orifice group 44 (
For a particular orifice 44, after it exits from the chamber box 30, the adjacent portions of the belt 32 about the orifice 44 are cleansed of entrained add-on slurry at the cleaning station 42 and the orifice then proceeds along the circuit of the endless belt 32 to reenter the chamber box 30 to repeat an application of a stripe upon the base web 22.
Referring particularly to
Preferably, a vacuum box 19 is located coextensively beneath the chamber box 30 of the moving orifice applicator 10 so as to provide local support for the Fourdrinier wire 6 and facilitate the bonding/integration of the add-on slurry with the base web 20. The vacuum box 19 is constructed in accordance with designs commonly utilized in the paper making industry (such as those of the vacuum boxes 18) The vacuum box 19 is operated at a relatively modest vacuum level, preferably at approximately 60 inches of water or less. Optionally, additional vacuum boxes 18′ may be located downstream of the moving orifice applicator 10 to remove the additional quantum of water that the add-on slurry may contribute. It has been found that much of the removal of water from the add-on material occurs at the couch roll 24 where a vacuum is applied of approximately 22-25 inches mercury.
The moving orifice applicator 10 is supported in its position over the Fourdrinier wire 6 preferably by a framework including vertical members 48, 48′ which include a stop so that the moving orifice applicator 10 may be lowered consistently to a desired location above the Fourdrinier wire 6, preferably such that the bottom of the chamber box 30 clears the base web 22 on the Fourdrinier wire 6 by approximately one to two inches, preferably less than 1.5 inch.
Preferably, the chamber box 30 is of a length such that the opposite end portions 50, 50′ of the chamber box 30 extend beyond the edges of the base web 22. The over-extension of the chamber box 30 assures that any fluid discontinuities existing arising at the end portions of the chamber box 30 do not affect the discharge streams 40 as the streams 40 deposit add-on material across the base web 22. By such arrangement, any errant spray emanating from the ends of the chamber box 30 occurs over edge portions of the base web 22 that are trimmed away at or about the couch roll 24.
Either or both of the vertical members 48, 48′ of the support framework for the moving orifice applicator 10 may be pivotal about the other so as to adjust angulation of the applicator 10 relative to the Fourdrinier wire 6. However, the vertical members 48, 48′ of the support framework can be fixed in place and the speed of endless belt 32 can be adjusted in response to changes in operating conditions of the paper making machine 2.
The chamber box 30 receives add-on slurry from the day tank 12 at spaced locations along the chamber box 30. Uniform pressure can be maintained along the length of the chamber box 30 by the interaction of a flow distribution system 60, a pressure monitoring system 62 and a programmable logic controller 64 such that the pumping action of the belt 22 and other flow disturbances along the length of the chamber box 30 are compensated locally and continuously to achieve the desired uniformity of pressure throughout the chamber box 30. A main circulation pulp 15 delivers slurry from the day tank 12 to the flow distribution system 60. Details regarding how the controller initiates and maintains uniform pressure along the chamber box 30 can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,691, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Referring now to
The drive wheel 34 is advantageously positioned upstream of the chamber box 30 along the pathway of the belt 32 so that the belt 32 is pulled through the chamber box 30. A significant degree of the directional stability is achieved by the close fit of the belt 32 throughout the length of the elongate chamber box 30. However, precise control of the tracking of the belt 32 about its pathway circuit can be effected by placement of an infrared proximity sensor 54 at a location adjacent the guide wheel 36. The infrared proximity sensor 54 can comprise an emitter 56 and a sensor 58 which are mutually aligned relative to one of the edges of the belt 32 such that if the belt strays laterally from its intended course, a signal from the sensor is affected by a relative increase or decrease in the interference of the edge with the emitter beam. A controller 59 in communication with the sensor 58 can be used to interpret the changes in the signal from the sensor 58 to adjust the yaw of the guide wheel 36 about a vertical axis so as to return the edge of the belt 32 to its proper, predetermined position relative to the beam of the emitter 56.
Suitable devices for the proximity sensor 54 include a Model SE-11 Sensor which is obtainable from the Fife Corporation of Oklahoma City, Okla.
Referring now also to
Preferably, the actuator 61 and the pivotal connection 57 are affixed upon a plate 39a which is vertically displaceable along fixed vertical guides 39b and 39c. Preferably, releasable, vertical bias is applied to the plate 39a so as to urge the guide wheel 36 into its operative position and to impart tension in the endless belt 32.
Along the return path of the endless belt 32, from the drive wheel 34 over the guide wheel 36 and back to the follower wheel 38, the belt 32 is enclosed by a plurality of housings, including outer housings 68, 68′ and a central housing 70 which also encloses the infrared proximity sensor 54 and the controller 59 of the tracking system 55. The housing 68, 68′ and the housing 70 prevent the flash of errant slurry upon the base web 22 as the belt 32 traverses the return portion of its circuit.
Referring particularly to
Referring again to
Referring now to
The central slot 84 in the base plate 78 terminates within the confines of the chamber box 30 adjacent to the end portions 50, 50′ of the chamber box 30. Preferably, each terminus of the central slot 84 is scalloped so as to avoid the accumulation of slurry solids at those locations. The width of the central slot 84 is minimized so as to minimize exposure of the fluid within the chamber box 30 to the pumping action of the belt 32. In the preferred embodiment, the slot 84 is approximately ⅜ inch wide, whereas the width of each of the orifices 44 in the endless belt 32 is preferably approximately 2/32 inch.
Each of the wear strips 79, 80 extends along opposite sides of the bottom portion 76 of the slurry box 30, co-extensively with the base plate 78. An elongate shim 86 and a plurality of spaced apart fasteners 88 (preferably bolts) affix the wear strips 79,80 to the adjacent, superposing portion of the base plate 78.
The tolerances between the respective edge portions of the belt 32 and the slots 81, 82 are to be minimized so as to promote sealing of the bottom portion 76 of the chamber box 30. However, the fit between the belt 32 and the slots 81,82 should not be so tight as to foment binding of the endless belt 32 in the slots 81, 82. In the preferred embodiment, these countervailing considerations are met when the slots 81, 82 are configured to present a 1/16 inch total clearance tolerance in a width-wise direction across the endless belt 32. In the direction normal to the plane of the belt, the belt has preferably a thickness 0.020 inch, whereas the slots 81, 82 are 0.023 inch deep. These relationships achieve the desired balance of proper sealing and the need for facile passage of the belt 32 through the bottom portion 76 of the chamber box 30.
Preferably, the wear strips 79, 80 are constructed from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or Dalron.
Included within the confines of the chamber box 30 are beveled inserts 89, 90 which extend along and fill the corners defined between the base plate 78 and each of the vertical walls 91, 92 of the chamber box 30. The inserts preferably present a 45 degree incline from the vertical walls 91, 92 toward the central slot 84 of the base plate 78. This arrangement avoids stagnation of fluid in the confines of the chamber box 30, which would otherwise tend to accumulate the solid content of the slurry and possibly clog the chamber box 30 and the orifices 44 of the endless belt 32.
Near the bottom portion 76 of the chamber box 30, a plurality of spaced-apart pressure ports 94 communicate the pressure monitoring system 62 with the interior of the slurry box 30. A detailed discussion of the pressure monitoring system 62 can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,691, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Along the upper portion of the chamber box 30, a plurality of spaced-apart feed ports 96 are located along the vertical wall 91. The feed ports 96 communicate the flow distribution system 60 with the interior of the slurry box 30. Preferably, the feed ports 96 are located close to the lid plate 31 of the chamber box 30. A detailed discussion of the flow distribution system 60 can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,691, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The feed ports 96 are spaced vertically by a distance (h) above where the endless belt 32 traverses through the bottom portion 76 of the chamber box 30. The feed ports 96 introduce slurry into the chamber box 30 in a substantially horizontal direction. The vertical placement and the horizontal orientation of the ports 96 dampens vertical velocities in the fluid at or about the region of endless belt 32 at the bottom portion 76 of the chamber box 30. The arrangement also decouples the discharge flows 40 through the orifices 44 from the inlet flows at the feed ports 96.
The height (h) in the preferred embodiment is approximately 8 inches or more; however, the vertical distance (h) between the feed ports 96 and the endless belt 32 may be as little as 6 inches. With greater distances (h), there is lesser disturbance and interaction between the fluid adjacent the endless belt 32 and the fluid conditions at the feed ports 96.
In order to obtain uniform pressure on the slurry across the slurry box 30, the number of feed ports 96 can be adjusted accordingly. In the embodiment described above, the number of feed ports 96 amounted to twelve (12), but the invention is workable with as fewer or more inlet feed ports 96. The number of feed ports 96 depends upon the width of the paper making machine in any particular application. While a preferred spacing between the feed ports 96 is approximately 12 inches, larger or smaller spacings can be used, e.g., 8 to 24 inches.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Each retractable armature 100, 101 is pivotally mounted upon one or a pair of vertical flanges 106, which preferably provides support for an actuator mechanism 107 for moving the retractable armature 100, 101 from an operative, engaging position where the wear strips 79′, 80′ are urged against base plate 78′ to a retracted position where the wear strips 79′, 80′ are spaced away from the base plate 78′ and the endless belt 32′. The actuator mechanism 107 is preferably an air cylinder 108 which is operatively connected to the pivot arms 109, 110 of the armatures 100 and 101, respectively. Other mechanical expediencies could be selected for pivoting the retractable armatures 100 and 101, as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure.
An elastomeric seal 104 is provided between the lower portions of the chamber box walls 91′, 92′ and the base plate 78′ so as to create a fluid-proof seal about the entire periphery of the base plate 78′.
In operation, all of the armatures 100, 101 along both sides of the chamber box 30′ are pivoted simultaneously so that the wear strips 79′, 80′ are moved as units to and from their operative and engaged positions. The retractable armatures 100, 101 facilitate quick and speedy maintenance, repair and/or replacement of the endless belt 32′, the wear strips 79′, 80′ and the base plate 78′.
Referring now to
The preparation of the slurry for the production of the cigarette paper using the moving orifice applicator 10 can include cooking of flax straw feed stock, preferably using the standard Kraft process that prevails in the paper making industry. The cooking step is followed by a bleaching step and a primary refining step. The preferred process includes a secondary refining step before the majority of the refined slurry is directed to the run tank 8 of the headbox 4. Preferably, both refining steps are configured to achieve a weighted average fiber length in the flax slurry of approximately 0.8 to 1.2 mm, preferably approximately 1 mm. Preferably, a chalk tank can be communicated with the run tank 8 so as to establish a desired chalk level in the slurry supplied to the headbox.
Preferably, a portion of the slurry from the second refining step is routed to a separate operation for the preparation of an add-on slurry for application by the moving orifice applicator 10. This operation begins with the collection of refined slurry in a recirculation chest wherefrom it is recirculated about a pathway including a multi-disc refining step and a heat exchanging step before returning to the circulation chest. Preferably, in the course repeating the refining step and the heat exchanging step, heat is removed from the slurry at a rate sufficient to prevent a runaway escalation of temperature in the slurry, and more preferably, to maintain the slurry at a temperature that is optimal for the refining step, in the range of approximately 135 to 1450° F., most preferably approximately 1400° F. for a flax slurry. The add-on slurry is recirculated along this pathway of steps until such time that the add-on slurry achieves a Freeness value of a predetermined value in the range of approximately −300 to −900 milliliter °Schoppler-Riegler (ml °SR). The upper end of the range is preferable (near-750 ml °SR).
An explanation of negative freeness values can be found in “Pulp Technology and Treatment for Paper”, Second Edition, James d'A. Clark, Miller Freeman Publications, San Francisco, Calif. (1985), at page 595.
Upon completion of the recirculation operation, the extremely refined add-on slurry is ready for delivery to the day tank 12 associated with the moving orifice applicator 10, wherefrom it is distributed along the length of the chamber box 30 of the moving orifice applicator as previously described. However, it is usually preferred to undertake a further recirculation step wherein the add-on slurry is recirculated from the second chest again through the heat exchanger with little or no further refining so as to achieve a desired final operational temperature in the add-on slurry (preferably, approximately 95° F.) prior to delivery to the day tank 12 and the applicator 10. Accordingly, the heat exchanger is preferably configured to serve at least dual purposes, to maintain an optimal temperatures in the add-on slurry as it is recirculated through the refiners and to remove excess heat in the add-on slurry at the conclusion of refining steps in anticipation of delivery to the applicator 10.
The second slurry chest also accommodates a semi-continuous production of slurry.
Preferably, the multi-disc refining of the recirculation pathway is performed using refiners such as Beloit double multi-disc types or Beloit double D refiners. The heat exchangers used in the recirculation pathway avoid the build-up of heat in the slurry which might otherwise result from the extreme refining executed by the multi-disc refiners. Preferably, the heat exchanger is a counter-flow arrangement such as a Model 24B6-156 (Type AEL) from Diversified Heat Transfer Inc. For the preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger is configured to have a BTU rating of 1.494 mM BTU per hour.
Fines levels in the add-on slurry range from approximately 40-70% preferably about 60%. Percentiles of fines indicate the proportion of fibers of less than 0.1 mm length.
Preferably, the slurry that is supplied to the head box 4 (the “base sheet slurry”) is approximately 0.5% by weight solids (more preferably approximately 0.65%); whereas the slurry that is supplied to the moving orifice applicator 10 (the “add-on slurry”) is preferably at approximately a 2 to 3% by weight solids consistency. For flax pulp, the Freeness value of fibers in the base sheet slurry at the head box 4 is preferably in the range of approximately 150 to 300 ml °SR, whereas the add-on slurry at the chamber box 30 is preferably at a Freeness value in the range of approximately −300 to −900 ml °SR, more preferably at approximately −750° SR. Preferably, the solids fraction of the base sheet slurry is approximately 50% chalk and 50% fiber, whereas in the add-on slurry, the relationship is 0 to 10% chalk and 90% or more fiber. Optionally, the add-on slurry may include a 5 to 20% chalk content, preferably a Multiflex that is obtainable from Speciality Minerals, Inc. or the add-on material can be chalk-free.
As previously described in reference to
The operation of the cigarette paper making machine and method of the preferred embodiment has been described with respect to flax feedstock. The apparatus and associated methodologies are readily workable with other feedstocks such as hardwood and softwood pulps, eucalyptus pulps and other types of pulps used in the paper making industry. The alternate pulps may have different characteristics from flax, such as differences in average fiber length, which may necessitate adjustment of the degree of refining in the preparation of the base sheet slurry with some pulps. With an alternative pulp, it may be acceptable to skip one or both of the refining steps, particularly if the pulp exhibits a very short average fiber length in comparison to flax. However, in order for the preparation of the add-on slurry to progress satisfactorily, the slurry which is to be diverted to the recirculation chest should exhibit an initial weighted average fiber length approximating that previously described for the refined flax base sheet slurry, that is, having a weighted fiber length of approximately 0.7 mm to 1.5 mm and more preferably approximately 0.8 mm to 1.2 mm. With these alternative pulps, the add-on slurry is recirculated through the refining step and the heat exchanging step until a comparable desired Freeness value is obtained (in the range of −300 to −900 ml °SR, preferably approximately −750 ml °SR). As with flax, the extreme degree of refining of the add-on slurry avoids fiber build-up at or about the orifices 44 of the belt, which in turn avoids jet deflections at the orifices 44.
Because the flow of the fluid stream 40 emanating from each orifice 44 as the orifice 44 passes along the bottom portion of the chamber box 30 is proportional to the pressure differential across the orifice 44, it is desirable that fluid pressure be established and then held as uniformly as possible along the entire journey of each orifice 44 along the bottom portion 76 of the chamber box 30. Details of suitable flow controls of the slurry add-on material can be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,997,691, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a orifice group device for use in applying banded regions to a sheet of material such as a sheet of cigarette paper during high speed production of the sheet. The orifice group device can be used with large-capacity (e.g., widths of 8 feet and greater) papermaking machines which tend to operate at high machine speeds (e.g., over 800 feet/minute).
In a preferred embodiment, the orifice group device includes a hopper supplying a slurry to a slotted belt. The slotted belt travels around the sheet and slurry from the hopper and is deposited as spaced apart bands across a sheet of cigarette paper with the bands extending perpendicularly to the travel direction of the paper. The slotted belt includes slots which are spaced apart and parallel to each other. For example, the slots can be inclined relative to a direction of travel of the belt, e.g., the slots can be elongated in directions forming an angle of 15 to 750, preferably 25 to 65° with the travel direction of the belt. The slots preferably have the same size and are preferably at the same angle with respect to the direction of belt travel. The slot dimensions may be tailored to execute various applications by selecting total area of an orifice sufficient to achieve a desired flow rate at desired operational pressure and by selecting an orifice width that provides a desired band width at the same desired flow rate and desired operational pressure.
In general, the slots can be identical in size and parallel to each other. A preferred slot length is approximately 1/16 to 3/16 inch and a preferred slot width is approximately 1/16 to 3/32 inch. As an example, to make 3 to 10 mm wide bands such as 5 to 6 mm wide bands on a base web of a paper sheet traveling at speeds of 800 feet/minute and higher on a Fourdrinier wire, the slots can have dimensions of 2/32 inch by 4/32 inch. Further, in order to provide bands perpendicular to the travel direction of the base web, the orifice group device is preferably oriented at an angle to the travel direction of the base web such that the slotted belt travels in a direction which deposits the bands perpendicular to the travel direction of the base web.
As noted, the orifice belt 202 is arranged to be an endless loop in use. A plurality of orifice groups 210 may be uniformly spaced along the longitudinal axis of the orifice belt 202. For example, about 200 to about 300 orifice groups 210 may be used. The orifice groups 210 may be spaced from one another by a distance in the range of about 1.8 to about 2.7 inches, and more preferably about 2.15 inches.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the spacing between orifice groups corresponds to spacing between the corresponding stripes deposited on the moving web. Conversely, the desired spacing between groups of stripes on the moving web will determine the appropriate spacing between corresponding adjacent orifice groups on the orifice band 202. While the spacing between groups of stripes on the moving web are likely to be uniform or regular, wrapper designs may be developed in which non-uniform or irregular. Accordingly, the spacing between orifice groups on the orifice band 202 may be uniform, regular, non-uniform, or irregular. Of course, if single orifices are used, the single orifices may also be uniformly, regularly, non-uniformly, or irregularly spaced from one another.
Each orifice group preferably includes a first generally circular orifice 212 spaced from a second generally circular orifice 214. Typically, each orifice 212, 214 may have a diameter in the range of 0.050 to 0.075 inches, preferably about 0.063 inches. Moreover, each orifice 212, 214 may be countersunk so as to facilitate movement of fluid therethrough. The spacing between the orifices 212, 214 of each group 210 may be selected such that an imaginary line in the transverse direction of the web or perpendicular to the direction of base web movement (i.e., the arrow 208) is tangent to one or both orifices 212, 214, but the imaginary line preferably does not intersect either orifice 212, 214. Preferably, the centers of the orifices 212, 214 are spaced from one another by a distance of about 0.138 inches. With the foregoing arrangement, stripes of add-on material deposited through the orifices 212, 214, will either be adjacent to one another or will be spaced from one another in the direction of the arrow 208.
More particularly, as the orifice belt 202 moves across the moving based web 206, the first orifice 212 will deposit a corresponding stripe 216 of add-on material on the base web 206. Similarly, the second orifice 214 will deposit a corresponding stripe 218 of add-on material on the base web 206. When the imaginary line discussed above is only tangent to one orifice and does not touch the other orifice, a space 220 will be defined between the stripes 216, 218 of add-on material (see
In another embodiment, the orifice group 230 (see
With the orifices 231, 233 arranged as described, each orifice group 230 will deposit a corresponding stripe 232 of add-on material on the base web 206 as the orifice belt 202 moves relative to the moving base web 206. But, unlike a simple circular or elongated orifice, the orifice group 230 will deposit a stripe 232 having a controlled, variable thickness. More specifically (see
From the foregoing discussion, it will be apparent that by adjusting the spacing between orifices of the orifice group, paper can be formed having stripes that are closely adjacent to one another in groups. Furthermore, the spacing can be adjusted such that a single stripe results with material having a relative minimum about half way between the leading and trailing edges of the stripe. Moreover, those skilled in the art will also understand that each orifice group may include three or more orifice elements (see
While the foregoing discussion has described the preferred embodiment of the individual orifices as being generally circular, those skilled in the art will also appreciate and understand that non-circular orifice may also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, generally quadrilateral orifices, generally rectangular orifices, generally square orifices, generally elliptical orifices, generally polygonal orifices, and irregularly shaped orifices are all within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. In addition, the orifices of each group need not be equal in size.
While the discussion above principally deals with continuous transverse stripes, the apparatus can be modified to generate a web having a plurality of transverse stripes that are piecewise continuous, i.e., each stripe may have a plurality of breaks, gaps, openings, or spaces which occur at substantially uniform, predetermined intervals in the transverse direction of the web. As will be described with more particularity below, the shape of those breaks, gaps, openings, or spaces can be designed to have nearly any desired shape. For convenience, references to “gap space” below are intended to include a break, a gap, an opening, a space, or any other adjective that might be used to describe the discontinuity between adjacent, substantially aligned portions of a stripe.
Turning now to
A template 280 is positioned below the moving orifice belt 202, in cooperative relationship to the orifice belt 202, and above the moving web 206. The template 280 may, for example, be a modified base plate or a moving template belt. The template belt or member 280 includes a plurality of substantially uniform windows 282 spaced along the longitudinal direction of the belt 202. The shape of the windows 282 in combination with the shape of the orifices 270 of the moving belt, the speed of the orifice belt 202 relative to the web 206, and the speed of the template belt or member 280 relative to the web 206 cooperate to define the characteristics the discontinuous stripe 290 deposited on the web 206.
More particularly, where the window 282 has the shape of a parallelogram with parallel sides of the parallelogram aligned with the longitudinal direction of the web 206, the speed of the belt 202 correlated to the speed of the web 206 as described, and with the template belt or member 280 being stationary, the transverse stripes or bands 290 on the web 206 includes a plurality of gap spaces 292 positioned at predetermined intervals along the transverse direction of the web 206. In this embodiment, the gap spaces 292 are defined by substantially parallel edge 294, 296 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the web 206.
The width of these gap spaces 292 and the length of the stripe portions, both measured in the transverse or cross-web direction, is dictated by the characteristics of the windows 282 of the template belt or member 280. Adjacent windows 282 of the template belt or member 280 in this embodiment define cross members 284 having a width w measured in the cross-web direction. Adjacent cross members 284 are spaced from one another by a distance I, also measured in the cross-web direction. The width w defines the width (i.e., transverse dimension) of the gap opening, while the distance I defines the transverse length of the stripe portions deposited on the web 206 by orifices 270 of the moving belt. In this embodiment the member 280 may serve as the equivalent to the base plate 78 previously described, but modified with the additional template features and functions of the member 280 as just described.
Another configuration of the gap spaces 292 can be obtained by modification of the apparatus (see
Actual configuration of the edges 302, 304 can be determined in a number of ways. However, one graphical method can be used for this embodiment as well as other embodiments discussed herein. The edge configurations are determined by relative motion of the web 206, the belt 202, and the template belt or member 280, along with the shape of the orifices 270, and the shape of the windows 282. From the perspective of the moving web, the cross pieces 284 of the template belt or member 280 move longitudinally along the web 206 at the speed of the web, and may have a trigonometrically determined transverse speed if the template belt or member 280 is moving. From the perspective of the moving web 206, the orifices 270 of the belt 202 move in the cross-web direction at a constant velocity determined by the speed of the web 206 and angle between the belt 202 and a longitudinal edge of the web 206. Starting with the condition where the contour of the orifice 270 first touches the contour of the cross-piece 284, and looking at the relative movements of the orifice contour and the cross piece contour at consecutive incremental time intervals, points on the actual edges 302, 304 are determined. When those points are joined, the actual contour of the edges 302, 304 on the moving web 206 are established.
For an embodiment where the base plate or template belt 280 moves, an exemplary support and driving structure (see
In all embodiments, the member 280 serves as a template for interrupting flows emanating from the moving orifices of the orifice belt 202.
A myriad of other embodiments for the apparatus are within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. For example, the windows 320 (see
The shape of the window 330 may also be a parallelogram in which the parallel sides of the window 330 are arranged to be substantially cross-web with respect to the web 206 (see
In short, the transverse stripes may have a variety of different gap openings having configurations including sharp edges generally aligned with the longitudinal direction of the web (see
Proportions of the window may also be adjusted such that the web 206 has a plurality of add-on material groups 382, 384, 386 (see
Other configurations for the template belt or member 280 are also envisioned where, for example, the base plate defines a longitudinal slot 400 (see
Base plates having the configurations of
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that an orifice belt 202 having orifice groups 210 (see, e.g.,
It should be recognized that the slurry being deposited by the moving orifice structure has a significant fibrous component. Accordingly, when the slurry is deposited by this system on a moving web, edges of the deposited stripes may not have precise form that would be designed into apparatus. Accordingly, it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that precise prediction of the gap opening configurations is complicated by, for example, dynamics of the moving stream emanating from orifices of the moving orifice belt 202, interaction between that moving stream and the cross-pieces of the support bracket, and fluid conditions of the moving stream including without limitation pressure, temperature, viscosity, and composition. Thus, some empirical testing of a desired gap opening configuration may be warranted to fine tune the orifice contour, support member window shape, and operating conditions.
The resulting wrapper paper can be useful in manufacturing cigarettes having controlled, desirable ignition propensity and self-extinction characteristics. For example, the wrapper paper may be designed to provide cigarettes with an ignition propensity of 25% or less as tested in accordance with the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E2187-04, “Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes”, approved Jul. 1, 2004, and published August 2004. That standard provides a measure of the capability of a lit banded-paper cigarette, positioned on a combustible substrate, to continue to smolder. Examples of smoking articles, of cigarettes, which may be fashioned using wrapper paper fabricated in the manner and methods described above, may be found in co-pending, commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/153,783, of Ping Li et al., entitled “Banded Papers, Smoking Articles and Methods”, filed May 23, 2008 (published as U.S. Pat. App. Publ. No. 2008-0295854-A1 on Dec. 4, 2008), which is incorporated herein by this reference thereto. Wrapper papers having bands with gaps in the circumferential direction (i.e., the transverse direction of the base web during manufacture of the base web) may be useful to allow additional combustion air during free burn of the smoking article, and to be occluded by a substrate when an ignited smoking article is placed on such a substrate thereby reducing combustion-supporting air and increasing the likelihood that the smoking article will self-extinguish.
In accord with the teachings of this disclosure, smoking articles may be produced using the resulting wrapping paper where the banded regions have a variety of configurations. An advantage of each of the potential configurations results from the fact that the banded regions have the same composition as the underlying base web or base paper. Moreover, the resulting wrapper paper results from the process and does not require a separate printing step to provide the banded regions. Furthermore, the resulting wrapper paper may be fabricated at the linear speed at which the associated paper making machine operates.
A few of the many possible configurations are illustrated for a smoking article manufactured using the wrapper paper described above. For example, a smoking article 500, may include a conventional filter 512 at one end, and a tobacco rod having a quantity of tobacco surrounded by a wrapper 514. Where the orifice band has orifice groups with pairs of spaced orifices, the smoking article 500 manufactured from the resulting wrapper 514 may have one or more banded regions exhibiting a pair of circumferentially extending bands 516 spaced from one another by a circumferentially extending space or gap 518 (see
Where a template belt or member is used between the orifice band and the underlying web (see
When the word “generally” is used in this specification in conjunction with a geometric descriptor, it is intended that the geometric descriptor includes not only the precise geometric characteristic but also similar geometric characteristics that would function as an equivalent thereto.
When the word “about” is used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that that numerical value have a tolerance of +/−10% of the numerical value stated.
While the invention has been described in detail with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,200 entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SLIT-BANDED WRAPPER USING MOVING ORIFICES, filed Dec. 31, 2007, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61006200 | Dec 2007 | US |