Method for combining smoking article components

Abstract

A method combines smoking article components. Cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of a first group are supplied to a first tipping apparatus. Cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of a second group are supplied to a second tipping apparatus. Each the articles of the first group and the second group are provided with a uniting band at the respective tipping apparatus. The articles of the first group and the second group are transported to a joint rolling apparatus. Each of the articles of the first group and the second group are wrapped with the respective uniting band at the joint rolling apparatus.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority of European Application No. 03 008 450.3, filed on Apr. 11, 2003, the disclosure of which, together with the disclosure of each U.S. and foreign patent and patent application mentioned below is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to a method and a machine, in particular a filter-attachment machine, for combining smoking article components of the tobacco-processing industry. The invention furthermore relates to a multifunctional drum and a conveying drum for articles in the tobacco-processing industry.

[0003] German patent document DE-C-39 18 137, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,346, describes a tipping paper apparatus for a filter-attachment machine. Glue-coated tipping paper is supplied as endless tipping paper web and is cut into individual sections and/or uniting bands with a cutting device. Following the cutting, the uniting bands are separated and their speed adjusted to the conveying speed for the transported batches of cigarette-filter-cigarette groups.

[0004] The endless tipping paper web is transported with a constant paper movement speed in the region upstream of a glue apparatus, up to the point where the glue is applied. In the region between the glue-application point and a suction roller for the cut uniting bands, the paper-movement length fluctuates with the production cycle. Following cutting and separating, the tipping paper sections are held in place by the suction roller and are transported with a uniform speed, which is higher than the movement speed of the endless tipping paper web. The circumferential speed of the suction roller matches the speed of the cigarette-filter plug-cigarette groups transported in batches.

[0005] The paper movement length in the region between glue application and cutting on the suction roller is continuously shortened during the knife intervention to result in a slack portion developing in the paper movement in front of the suction roller. Even though the conveying speed of the endless tipping paper web is lower than the withdrawing speed of the suction roller, a sufficient paper length is always available such that the paper is not moved relative to the roller during the knife intervention and a clean cut is possible. Following the cut, the paper is pulled back relative to the roller by lengthening the paper path between glue application point and suction roller, thus resulting in an average paper-movement speed that matches the cigarette production speed that is lower than the circumferential speed of the suction roller. The paper movement speed therefore fluctuates constantly around an average value. The amplitude of these speed fluctuations is directly proportional to the length of an individual band and the spacing between the tobacco articles conveyed in batches.

[0006] Since the paper movement length between gluing apparatus and suction roller is varied periodically to generate the fluctuations in the paper movement speed, traction force fluctuations develop in the paper movement that effect the glue application. Above a specific amplitude, this method for matching the paper movement to the tobacco article movement by adapting the paper movement speed reaches a limit that is predetermined by the traction resistance of the tipping paper and the quality of the glue application.

[0007] German Patent Document DE-A-196 26 679 discloses a dual-path filter-attachment machine for a cigarette production machine which comprises two different conveying paths for the tobacco articles, one for attaching and one for rolling-over the tipping section.

[0008] European Patent Document EP-A-1 108 369 discloses that the cigarette-filter-cigarette groups are provided with a filler section in which only each first group of a series of cigarette-filter-cigarette groups on a first drum is provided with a tipping band from a first tipping apparatus and each second group is conveyed out of the conveying path of the first group and is provided on a second drum with a tipping paper from a second apparatus. The wrapping of the two separate groups with the tipping bands also occurs in separate rolling apparatuses. The groups are subsequently combined to form alternating series of groups, but only after the respective roll-over operation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the present invention to ensure a high product quality for smoking articles, even with higher production capacities on a filter-attachment machine, wherein the design and construction costs should be kept at a minimum.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present invention, respectively one filter plug and/or one mouthpiece is inserted in a filter-attachment machine between cut tobacco rods that are spaced apart in a longitudinal axial direction, wherein a glue-coated uniting band is subsequently attached to a cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group. A suction roller supplies the glue-coated uniting band to a tipping apparatus with a defined spacing of the cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group, wherein a defined spacing in this case refers in particular to a spacing determined by the length of the uniting-band sections.

[0011] The present invention includes a method for combining smoking article components. Cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of a first group are supplied to a first tipping apparatus. Cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of a second group are supplied to a second tipping apparatus. Each of the articles of the first group and the second group are provided with a uniting band at the respective tipping apparatus. The articles of the first group and the articles of the second group are transported to a joint rolling apparatus. Each of the articles of the first group and the second group are wrapped with the respective uniting band at the joint rolling apparatus.

[0012] The present invention further includes an arrangement for a filter-attachment machine of the tobacco-processing industry. A first tipping apparatus applies respective uniting bands to articles of a first cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group, and a second tipping apparatus applies respective uniting bands to articles of a second cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group. A joint rolling apparatus wraps each of the articles of the first group and the second group with the respective uniting bands.

[0013] The above-mentioned method and machine in particular are used for the manufacture of filter cigarettes, which are conveyed cross-axially on a so-called filter-attachment machine, The output of this machine over time has increased again and again by leaps and bounds with respect to the number of articles produced per time unit and/or had to be adapted to the increased capacity of the upstream continuous cigarette rod machine.

[0014] The method according to the present invention thus permits operation of a single-track filter-attachment machine at a high production speed since the tipping paper feed to the articles has a dual design, so that one half of the articles (a first group) is provided with uniting bands by one tipping apparatus and the other half (a second group) is provided with uniting bands by another tipping apparatus. As a result of the subsequent, single-track wrapping of the articles, it is furthermore possible to use a simpler configuration than is known from the prior art while simultaneously having a compact design. Using only a single rolling apparatus also lowers costs.

[0015] The articles of the first and second group are initially supplied to a first tipping apparatus at which the articles of the first group are provided with a uniting band by the first tipping apparatus. Subsequently, the articles of the first and second group are supplied on different conveying paths to the joint rolling apparatus, at which the articles of the second group are supplied along their conveying path to a second tipping apparatus where they are respectively provided with a uniting band.

[0016] The conveying speed of the first and/or second group in particular is varied before and/or after the transfer of the respective uniting band. The speed of the transported articles relative to the tipping-paper supply can thus be adapted through deliberately controlling the tobacco article speed. The speed can be adapted before, during and after the uniting bands are glued on, independent of the speed for the remaining production flow and the paper-movement speed in the filter-attachment machine. During the speed change, the tobacco articles are moved individually, in pairs or in any optional multiple arrangement, wherein not only the speed changes, but also the spacing between the tobacco articles.

[0017] According to one modification, the articles from the first and/or second group are slowed down prior to the transfer of the uniting band.

[0018] The articles of the first and/or second group can be accelerated again following the transfer of the uniting band.

[0019] The speed change can either refer to a reduction or an increase in the speed of the transported tobacco articles relative to their starting speed and/or the average transport speed. The functional separation of the speed change in the paper movement speed from transporting speed and the distance between the tobacco articles to which the tipping-paper band is glued can be critical. Viewed locally and with respect to time, having the same transport speed for paper and tobacco articles is required only for the gluing operation of the tipping paper sections to the articles of the first and/or second group. The tipping paper supply speeds are thusly adapted to the transport speeds of the tobacco articles to which the tipping paper sections are glued.

[0020] As a result of the speed variations, the spacing between the tobacco articles to be transported can also be reduced during the gluing operation to stabilize the production process. At the same time, the required spacing for separating the tipping paper sections is minimized, and the speed changes in the paper movement that are caused by the paper pullback (through the oscillator of the tipping apparatus) are reduced. As a result, fewer traction force fluctuations occur in the paper movement between the glue-application location and the location where the tipping paper sections are cut. On the whole, this results in an improved glue application, a more precise glue picture, less soiling, a lower probability of paper tearing and an improved cut. The invention therefore ensures a secure and stable production with simultaneously lower sensitivity of the method to fluctuations in the characteristics of the production material.

[0021] A further improvement is achieved through partially attaching the uniting bands after they are transferred to the articles of the first and/or second group. European Patent Application No. 020 235 24.8, the content of which is incorporated fully into the present patent application, discloses joining an exposed end of the uniting band to a cigarette-filter plug-cigarette group. A folding star or a so-called rolling star is provided for joining a free end of a uniting band to a tobacco article.

[0022] According to one modification, the articles of the second group are taken from the joint conveying drum . For this, in the exemplary embodiment, the articles of the first and second group are supplied to the tipping apparatus for the first group before the articles of the second group are removed.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment, the articles of the first and second group are arranged in an alternating pattern on a conveying drum before the uniting bands are transferred to the first group.

[0024] The articles of the first and second group furthermore are advantageously arranged in an alternating pattern on a conveying drum when the article groups are combined, so that the articles are supplied to the joint rolling apparatus.

[0025] The uniting bands are transferred with a constant speed to the articles of the first and/or second group.

[0026] The above and other objects are furthermore solved with a machine, in particular a filter-attachment machine, in the tobacco-processing industry, which is provided with respectively one tipping apparatus and a joint rolling apparatus provided for the articles of a first and second group of cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette groups.

[0027] To match the speeds of the tipping apparatuses and the conveying drums, at least one conveying drum for which the spacing between the articles of the first and/or second group can be changed is provided for tipping the articles with a uniting band.

[0028] To change the spacing between the articles, conveying drum can be advantageously designed with small arms, brackets, levers or the like for which the spacing in conveying direction can be varied, such that the transported articles are accelerated or decelerated relative to the conveying speed of a conveying drum.

[0029] According to an alternative modification, the conveying drum is provided with pivoting lever segments, such that the lever segments can be arranged so as to pivot on a drum body. The transported articles can be accelerated or decelerated relative to the rotational speed of the conveying drum as a result of the pivoting of the lever segments during the conveying drum rotation.

[0030] It is furthermore advantageous if at least one feeder element is provided for fitting at least one exposed end of a tipping paper section to the articles of the first and/or second group. This results in a reduction of the spacing on a conveying drum of the partially joined components such that the tipping paper section adheres better to the article groups during the subsequent wrapping.

[0031] According to one exemplary embodiment, a multifunctional drum is provided for processing the articles of the first and second group.

[0032] The multifunctional drum can be designed such that at least one exposed end of a tipping paper section is joined to an article group and that another article group is removed from a conveying drum. In that case, the multifunctional conveying drum combines the function of a feeder element and a removal drum. The production sequences at the machine are shortened by exercising both functions, which can be carried out simultaneously. In addition, costs are saved because only one operating process is required in place of two.

[0033] A conveying drum can include a pivoting lever. The spacing between the articles and/or article groups can be changed with these lever segments, such that the articles on a conveying drum are accelerated or decelerated.

[0034] The lever segments furthermore are provided with recesses or grooves, designed for a careful transport of the articles to a filter-attachment machine.

[0035] It is furthermore advantageous if the distance between two recesses on a lever segment is longer than the free end of a tipping paper section between the articles.

[0036] At least one spacer is preferably provided on the lever segment for holding the free end of the tipping paper section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention is described in the following with the aid of exemplary embodiments and without restricting the general inventive idea by referring to the drawings, to which reference is made for all details of the invention not explicitly explained in the text.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a front schematic view of a filter attachment machine with two tipping paper units in accordance with the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a drum arrangement for use in the filter attachment machine of FIG. 1.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows an alternative drum arrangement in accordance with the present invention.

[0041] FIGS. 4 a and 4b show front and cross sectional views, respectively, of a lever segment in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In the Figures described herein, the same reference numbers are used for identical or similar elements and/or parts, so that these do not need to be introduced again.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, a filter-attachment machine is provided with double-length tobacco rods via a drum arrangement T that supplies the tobacco rods from a continuous rod machine (not shown), Along the conveying path to a combining drum 21, the continuous rods are cut into spaced apart, individual rods. On the combining drum 21, double-length filter sections, supplied via an additional drum arrangement M, are respectively inserted between the two tobacco rods spaced apart in a longitudinal axial direction. As a result and as best shown in FIG. 2, a first group of cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles 50 and a second group of cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles 60 are sequentially formed laterally in a circumferential direction on the combining drum 21.

[0044] The combined articles 50, 60 on the combining drum 21 are then transferred to a conveying drum 22 and transported to a tipping apparatus 10.1 which operates to apply a uniting band, for example, tipping paper, for the articles 50 of the first group. A detailed description of such a tipping apparatus can be found in German patent document DE-C-39 18 137.

[0045] The tipping apparatus 10.1 includes a suction roller 12.1 and a knife drum 13.1 with cutting blades that cut the conveyed tipping-paper web, to which glue has been applied, into tipping paper sections that form uniting bands 40.1. (see FIG. 2) The uniting bands 40.1 are transferred to the articles 50 of the first group on the conveying drum 22.

[0046] Subsequently, the articles 50, 60 of the first and second groups are transported to a folding star 23.1, which joins a front end of the respective uniting band 40.1 to the first group of articles 50. Next, the first and second groups of articles 50, 60 are transported to a removal drum 24 that removes the second group of articles 60, which are not yet provided with a uniting band, from the conveying drum 22.

[0047] The removal drum 24 transfers the removed articles 60 of the second group to a conveying drum 25 that transports the articles 60 of the second group to a second tipping apparatus 10.2. The second tipping apparatus 10.2 is provided with a knife drum 13.2, which cuts the tipping paper web in a joint operation with a suction roller 12.2. The cut uniting bands are transferred to the articles 60 of the second group and are attached thereto. The front end of the uniting band is then joined to the articles 60 of the second group on the conveying drum 25 with the aid of a folding star 23.2. The conveying drum 25 conveys the articles 60 of the second group to a drum 26.

[0048] The conveying drum 26 also receives the articles 50 of the first group from the conveying drum 22. As a result, the articles 50 of the first group and articles 60 of the second group are arranged in an alternating manner on the conveying drum 26. Subsequently, the articles 50, 60 of the first and the second groups, respectively, are transported to a rolling apparatus 27 with a rolling block such that the uniting bands are wound completely around the cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles 50, 60. The completely encased article groups 50, 60 are subsequently transferred to further conveying drums 28, 29 and are made available for further processing on a filter-attachment machine.

[0049] The conveying drum 22 is provided with movable small arms or brackets 70 that contain recesses 71 for the articles 50, 60. Thus, the spacing between the alternately arranged articles 50, 60 can be changed and the speed of the articles 50, 60 on the conveying drum 22 can be adapted to the speed of the drum 12.1. The speed change is achieved by decelerating the speed of the articles 50, 60 before transferring the uniting bands 40.1 to the articles 50, 60, such that at the point of transfer of the uniting band 40.1 to the articles 50, the uniting band 40.1 and the respective article 50 move at the same speed. Following the transfer of the uniting bands 40.1, the articles 50, 60 on the conveying drum 22 are accelerated once more. Subsequently, the front end of the uniting band 40.1 is joined by the folding star 23.1 to the article 50. While the articles 50 with their uniting bands 40.1 are transported on the drum 22 to the drum 26, the articles 60 of the second group that have not yet been provided with a uniting band are conveyed by the removal drum 24 to a conveying drum 25.

[0050] The deceleration and acceleration operations take place independent of the conveying speed for drum 22, essentially in the region where the uniting band 40.1 is transferred to the article 50. However, the operations also function to adapt the speeds while articles 50, 60 are received and/or removed and while the tipping paper sections 40.1 are joined to the articles 50 of the first group.

[0051] According to a further modification, the small arms are designed such that several articles 50, 60 are held by one arm section (not shown in FIG. 2). In particular, respectively one article 50 of the first group and one article 60 of the second group can be arranged in the recesses on an arm section. The spacing between the recesses is designed such that when attaching the tipping paper section 40.1 to the articles 50 of the first group, the exposed end of the uniting band between the articles 50, 60 does not come in contact with the preceding or following articles.

[0052] The spacing between the articles 50 of the first group and the articles 60 of the second group is adjusted to create a sufficient distance such that the uniting bands 40.1 from the first tipping apparatus 10.1 are joined to the articles 50 without the uniting bands 40.1 touching the articles 60 of the second group.

[0053] In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the front end of the uniting band 40.1 is joined to the article 50 with a multifunctional drum, for example feeding element 33. The feeding element 33 also functions to remove the articles 60 of the second group. Thus, the feeding element 33 combines the functions of the folding star 23.1 and the removal drum 24 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0054] To adapt the speeds of articles 50, 60 relative to the conveying speeds of the uniting bands 40.1, 40.2, lever segments 35 and/or 36 are provided on the conveying drums 22 and/or 25. Thus, by pivoting the lever segments 35 and/or 36, the speeds of the transported articles 50, 60 is slowed before the respective uniting bands 40.1, 40.2 are transferred to the articles 50, 60 and is accelerated once more after the uniting bands 40.1, 40.2 have been transferred. The drums 22, 25 can operate identically in this respect.

[0055] The lever segment 35 of conveying drum 22 is provided with respectively one holding recess for the article 50 of the first group and one holding recess for the article 60 of the second group to transport the two groups of articles 50, 60. The spacing between holding recesses on the lever segment 35 is designed such that once the uniting band 40.1 is attached, the trailing end of the uniting band 40.1 does not contact with the following second article 60. The lever segment 36 of the conveying drum 25, on the other hand, has only one recess for the second article 60 since the articles 60, which have not yet been provided with a uniting band, are conveyed via the conveying path for the second group of articles 60 to the second tipping apparatus 10.2. The lever segments 35, 36 are arranged so as to swivel in a partial circle of the conveying drum 22 and/or 25 and are tapered toward the drum. The lever segments 35, 36 additionally are provided with thorn-type spacers 39 to prevent the uniting bands 40.1, 40.2 from resting on the lever segments.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the lever segments 35 of the conveying drum 22, as seen from the front and/or in a cross-sectional view, are provided with two recesses for the articles 50, 60 received from the combining drum 21. The lever segments 35 can be pivoted around a pivoting axis 37 aligned parallel to the rotational axis of the drum 22. The pivoting of the lever segments 35 during the drum 22 rotation occurs with a control gear 38, in which a cam disc 72 is guided inside a curved track 73. The lever segment 36 of drum 25 has an identical design and operation except that the lever segment 36 is provided only with recesses for the articles 60 of the second group.

[0057] Each lever segment 35 is provided with respectively one holding recess for one article 50 of the first group and one article 60 of the second group. Spacers 39 are provided between the recesses to prevent the uniting band 40.1 from coming to rest on the lever segment once the uniting band 40.1 is attached to the articles 50 of the first group. The spacing between the holding recesses is determined such that the trailing end of the uniting band 40.1 does not come in contact with the article 60 of the second group.

[0058] In additional embodiments (not shown), the articles 50, 60 on the drum 22 can also be arranged on levers that can be moved or which are moved in radial and/or tangential directions.

[0059] The subject matter of the present invention makes it possible to increase the filter-attachment speed of a filter-attachment machine while providing high format flexibility since the tipping paper for the tobacco articles to be wrapped is provided on two tracks and the cigarette-filter-cigarette groups to which a uniting band is attached are wrapped on the single track of a joint rolling apparatus.

[0060] The invention has been described in detail with respect to exemplary embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention, therefore, as defined in the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and modifications that will fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A method for combining smoking article components, comprising: supplying cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of a first group to a first tipping apparatus; supplying cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of a second group to a second tipping apparatus; providing each the articles of the first group and the second group with a uniting band at the respective tipping apparatus; transporting the articles of the first group and the second group to a joint rolling apparatus; and wrapping each of the articles of the first group and the second group with the respective uniting band at the joint rolling apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first group supplying step includes initially supplying the articles of the first group and the second group to the first tipping apparatus at which only the articles of the first group are supplied with the uniting bands, wherein the transporting step includes transporting the articles of the first group and the second group along first and second conveying paths, respectively, to the joint rolling apparatus, and wherein the second group supplying step includes supplying the articles of the second group with the uniting bands along the second conveying path.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes conveying the articles of the first group and the second group at a conveying speed, and wherein the transporting step further includes varying the conveying speed of at least one of the first group and the second group at at least one of before and after the respective uniting band has been provided.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes decelerating the articles of at least one of the first group and the second group prior to the providing of the uniting band.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes accelerating the articles of at least one of the first group and the second group following the providing of the uniting band.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, following the providing step, partially wrapping one end of the uniting bands to the articles of at least one of the first group and the second group.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes conveying the articles of the first group and the second group on a joint conveying drum and further includes removing the articles of the second group from the joint conveying drum

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the transporting step includes conveying the articles of the first group and the second group in an alternating pattern on a joint conveying drum, said conveying step occurring at least prior to the uniting band being provided to the articles of the first group.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising combining the cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette articles of the first group and the second group on a conveying drum, the first group and the second group being arranged on the conveying drum in an alternating pattern on the conveying drum.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing step includes transferring the uniting bands to the articles of at least one of the first group and the second group at a constant speed.

11. An arrangement for a filter-attachment machine of the tobacco-processing industry, comprising: a first tipping apparatus for applying respective uniting bands to articles of a first cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group; a second tipping apparatus for applying respective uniting bands to articles of a second cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group; and a joint rolling apparatus for wrapping each of the articles of the first cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group and the second cigarette-mouthpiece-cigarette group with the respective uniting band.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising at least one conveying drum for conveying the articles to at least one of the first and second tipping apparatuses, wherein the at least one conveying drum includes means for changing a spacing of the articles of at least one of the first group and the second group.

13. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the at least one conveying drum comprises a plurality of small brackets.

14. The arrangement of claim 12, wherein the at least one conveying drum comprises pivoting lever segments.

15. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising at least one feeder element for joining at least one exposed end of a uniting band to the articles of at least one of the first group and the second group.

16. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising at least one multifunctional drum for the articles of the first and second group.

17. The arrangement of claim 16, wherein the multifunctional drum is arranged to join at least one exposed end of a uniting band to the articles of the first group and to remove the articles of the second group from a conveying drum.

18. In a multifunctional drum for use in a filter attachment machine in the tobacco-processing industry, the improvement wherein the drum includes a mechanism to join at least one exposed end of a uniting band to an article group and to remove a different article group from a conveying drum.

19. In a conveying drum for conveying articles in a filter attachment machine in the tobacco-processing industry, the improvement wherein the drum includes pivoting lever segments for the articles.

20. The conveying drum of claim 19, wherein the lever segments include recesses for the articles.

21. The conveying drum of claim 20, wherein a spacing between two adjacent recesses is greater than an exposed end of a uniting band between the articles.

22. The conveying drum of claim 19, wherein the drum includes at least one spacer on each lever segment for holding an exposed end of a uniting band.