Patent Application
20190281885
Embodiments of the invention relate to a drum for use in an apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry products. Embodiments of the invention also relate to a rolling drum and a rolling apparatus for use in manufacture of tobacco industry products, in particular a rolling apparatus that rolls tipping paper around a collation of rod-shaped articles.
In the manufacture of tobacco industry products, such as cigarettes, tipping paper patches are provided with adhesive and then anchored to rod-shaped articles, such as tobacco and filter rods. The tobacco and filter rods are then rolled so that the tipping paper patch is wrapped around the tobacco and filter rods, thereby joining them together.
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a rolling drum for use in a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus, the rolling drum having a peripheral surface configured to carry a collation of rod-shaped articles, the rolling drum comprising a plurality of ridges on the peripheral surface, each ridge comprising a trailing face and a leading face, the rolling drum comprising a plurality of suction holes for retaining the collation of rod-shaped articles, wherein the plurality of suction holes are disposed at the trailing face and the leading face of each of the ridges.
The trailing face and leading face of each of the ridges respectively face towards and away from a direction of rotation of the rolling drum.
The ridges may be integral with the rolling drum, and may be regularly distributed on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum. The ridges may extend along an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rolling drum.
The rolling drum may comprise a friction-enhancing surface on the peripheral surface between each of the ridges. The friction-enhancing surface may comprise a plurality of striae on the peripheral surface. The plurality of striae may extend along an axis parallel to the rotation axis of the rolling drum.
The friction-enhancing surface may comprise a coating on the peripheral surface. The friction-enhancing surface may comprise a hard particulate matter on the peripheral surface. The friction-enhancing surface may comprise a sprayed coating on the peripheral surface.
An elongate depression may be formed in the peripheral surface where the peripheral surface meets each of the trailing face and the leading face of each of the ridges.
The suctions holes may be disposed in each of the elongate depressions.
The suction holes may be provided on the trailing face and/or the leading face of each of the ridges. The suction holes may be provided where the trailing face and/or leading face of each of the ridges meets the peripheral surface of the rolling drum. The suction holes may be provided at or proximate to the point where the trailing face and/or the leading face of each of the ridges meets the peripheral surface the rolling drum. The suction holes may extend from the curved peripheral surface of the rolling drum to the trailing face and/or the leading face respectively of the ridges. In some embodiments, the curved peripheral surface of the rolling drum may meet the trailing and/or leading face of each of the ridges as defined angled junctions. Alternatively the curved peripheral surface of the rolling drum may transition smoothly in a curved manner with the trailing and/or leading face of each of the ridges. The suction holes may be provided on the curved transition between peripheral surface of the rolling drum and the trailing and/or leading face of each of the ridges. The suction holes may extend from the curved transition to the peripheral surface of the rolling drum and/or to the trailing and/or leading face of each of the ridges.
The length of the peripheral surface between the ridges in a rotational direction of the rolling drum may be greater than the width of the ridges in a rotational direction of the rolling drum.
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is also provided a rolling apparatus for rolling a tipping paper around a collation of rod-shaped articles, the rolling apparatus comprising a rolling drum as described above and a roll hand configured to roll the collation of rod-shaped articles between the peripheral surface of the rolling drum and the roll hand such that a tipping paper is wrapped around the rod-shaped articles to form tobacco industry products.
The trailing faces may be configured to receive a collation of rod-shaped articles upstream of the roll hand, and the leading faces may be configured to receive a collation of wrapped rod-shaped articles downstream of the roll hand.
The peripheral surface of the rolling drum may comprise tipping paper suction holes adapted to retain the tipping paper on the peripheral surface upstream of the roll hand.
The roll hand may comprise a rolling surface over which the collation of rod-shaped articles may be rolled.
The length of the rolling surface in a rotational direction of the rolling drum maybe a whole number of multiples of the length of the peripheral surface between the ridges.
The length of the rolling surface in a rotational direction of the rolling drum may be the same as the length of the surface between the ridges.
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is also provided a machine for assembling tobacco industry products comprising the rolling apparatus described above.
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is also provided a method of assembling tobacco industry products using the rolling apparatus or the machine as described above, the method comprising receiving a collation of rod-shaped articles and tipping paper on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum against a trailing face of a ridge of the rolling drum and retaining the collation of rod-shaped articles by suction through the suction holes at the trailing face, rotating the rolling drum until the roll hand contacts and pushes the collation of rod-shaped articles out of contact with the trailing edge, rolling the collation of rod-shaped articles between the peripheral surface and the roll hand such that the tipping paper is wrapped around the rod-shaped articles, and receiving the wrapped rod-shaped articles against the leading face of an adjacent ridge and retaining the wrapped rod-shaped articles by suction through the suction holes at the leading face.
Suction may be applied to retain the tipping paper on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum for a time after the collation of rod-shaped articles starts to be rolled between the peripheral surface of the rolling drum and the roll hand.
In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is also provided a tobacco industry product assembled using the machine or the method described above.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to
Each tobacco rod 1 comprises tobacco material wrapped in a wrapper, for example a paper wrapper. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the filter component 2 comprises two filter elements each including first, second and third segments 2a, 2b, 2c. The first filter segment 2a is made of plasticized cellulose acetate through which smoke or vapour can pass. The second segment 2b comprises a tubular member made from plastic and having passages therethrough to allow smoke or vapour to pass through the filter segment 2b. The third filter segment 2c comprises a tubular member made of paper. In the collation, the filter component 2 is disposed between the two tobacco rods 1. The collation is joined using a tipping paper patch 3 that is wrapped around the filter component 2 and a part of each tobacco rod 1.
Tipping paper patches 3 are provided by an apparatus (not shown) that applies adhesive to one side of a web of tipping paper and cuts the web to form patches 3. Each tipping paper patch 3 is pressed onto the collation of rods 1, 2 so that the tipping paper patch 3 is anchored to the collation of rods 1, 2 by the adhesive. In this way, when the collation of rods 1, 2 is rolled, the tipping paper patch 3 will be adhered around the circumference of the rods 1, 2, joining them together to form a smoking article assembly. The smoking article assembly can then be cut through the centre to form two smoking articles.
To wrap the tipping paper patch 3 around the collation of rods 1, 2, the collation of rods 1, 2 and the tipping paper patch 3 are rolled by a rolling apparatus 4. The rolling apparatus 4 comprises a rolling drum 5 having a peripheral surface 6 adapted to carry the collation of rods 1, 2. The peripheral surface 6 has a plurality of ridges 7. Each ridge 7 comprises a trailing face or edge 8 and a leading face or edge 9. That is, the rolling drum 5 is intended to rotate in a rotational direction (as indicated by arrow A in
As shown, the anchorage between the tipping paper patch 3 and the collation of rods 1, 2 is created by a partial wrapping of the tipping paper patch 3 around the collation of rods 1, 2. The tipping paper patch 3 extends over the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 in a trailing direction. That is, the rolling drum 5 rotates in the direction indicated by arrow A and the tipping paper patch 3 extends in the opposite direction, so that the tipping paper trails behind the collation of rods 1, 2.
As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, as the rolling drum 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the collation of rods 1, 2 is caused to roll from the trailing face or edge 8 and along the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 in the direction of the arrow B shown in
The rolling drum 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A and the roll hand 10 remains stationary to cause the rolling action previously described with reference to
The rolling drum 4 has a receiving position, indicated by line 11. As a ridge 7 passes this receiving position 11, a collation of rods 1, 2 is transferred to the trailing edge 8 of that ridge 7 together with a tipping paper patch 3. In this example, the collation of rods 1, 2 and tipping paper patch 3 can be transferred onto the rolling drum 5 from an upstream supply drum (not shown). In other examples, the tobacco rods 1, the filter component 2 and tipping paper patch 3 may be supplied by different drums (not shown). In the exemplary embodiment, the trailing edge 8 of a ridge 7 of the rolling drum 5 receives two tobacco rods 1, the filter component 2, and a tipping paper patch 3.
The collation of rods 1, 2 is received in the trailing edge 8 of a ridge 7 in the manner described with reference to
As the rolling drum 5 rotates, the collation of rods 1, 2 and tipping paper patch 3 are carried towards the roll hand 10. The roll hand 10 comprises a first end 14 that contacts the collation of rods 1, 2 and pushes the collation of rods 1, 2 away from the trailing edge 8 as the rolling drum 5 rotates. The roll hand 10 also comprises a rolling surface 15 over which the collation of rods 1, 2 is rolled. The rolling surface 15 of the roll hand 10 is parallel to and spaced from the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5. In other words, the rolling surface 15 is curved, with a larger radius than the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 and centred on the axis of rotation of the rolling drum 5.
The roll hand 10 is positioned relative to the rolling drum 5 so that, once the collation of rods 1, 2 is pushed away from the trailing edge 8 and is disposed between the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 and the rolling surface 15 of the roll hand 10, the collation of rods 1, 2 is securely held between the peripheral surface 6 and the roll hand 10. This ensures that the tipping paper patch 3 is sufficiently tightly wrapped around the collation of rods 1, 2.
The rolling apparatus 4 also includes a suction system (not shown) configured to apply suction to the suction holes 12a, 12b, 13 in the rolling drum 5 during rotation of the rolling drum 5. A suction manifold (not shown) can be used to provide the suction to the suction holes 12a, 12b during pre-defined portions of the rotation of the rolling drum 5, and to switch off the suction to the suction holes 12a, 12b in other pre-defined portions of the rotation of the rolling drum 5.
As shown in
Also shown in
As shown in
The operation of the rolling apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to
As the rolling drum 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A, a ridge 7 passes the receiving position 11 and, at step S1, a collation of rods 1, 2 is transferred to the trailing edge 8 of that ridge 7 together with a tipping paper patch 3, for example from an upstream supply drum. As the rolling drum 5 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the collation of rods 1, 2 is carried in the trailing edge 8 and the tipping paper patch 3 extends from the collation of rods 1, 2 on the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5. The collation of rods 1, 2 along with the tipping paper patch 3 is carried in the trailing edge 8 towards the roll hand 10. The collation of rods 1, 2 is retained by the first rod suction holes 12a of the trailing edge 8 and the tipping paper patch 3 is retained by the tipping paper suction holes 13.
Then, at step S2, the rolling drum 5 rotates until the first end 14 of the roll hand 10 contacts the collation of rods 1, 2 and pushes the collation of rods 1, 2 out of contact with the trailing edge 8. The roll hand 10 rolls the collation of rods 1, 2 between the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 and the roll hand 10 such that the tipping paper patch 3 is wrapped around the collation of rods 1, 2. As the collation of rods 1, 2 passes over the roll hand 10, at step S3 the collation 1, 2 is rolled over the peripheral surface 6 towards the leading edge 9 of the adjacent upstream ridge 7. At step S4, the wrapped collation of rods 1, 2 is retained by vacuum provided by the second rod suction holes 12b of the leading edge 9 downstream of the roll hand 10.
Rolling drums used in the manufacture of conventional cigarettes typically comprises a curved outer surface with flutes in the form of elongate curved recesses in which the collation of rods and tipping paper patches are received and retained. These conventional rolling drums may not be suitable for the manufacture of smoking articles such as heat-not-burn products, in which filter components may comprise rigid plastic parts. Such rigid parts may be difficult to move out from conventional flutes, or may break using conventional manufacturing apparatus which pushes the smoking article components out of the flutes. Furthermore, such conventional manufacturing apparatus which pushes the smoking article components out of the flutes may be dislodged out of alignment by such rigid parts.
The rolling drum of embodiments of the invention comprises projecting ridges provided on the peripheral surface of the rolling drum against which the collation of rods 1, 2 are retained, instead of only having recessed flutes to retain the collation of rods 1, 2 as in conventional rolling drums. That is, the ridges 7 are spaced from each other and the collation of rods 1, 2 are rolled between the ridges 7. The suction holes 12a, 12b on both the trailing and leading faces or edges 8, 9 of the ridges help ensure correct alignment and positioning of these components on the rolling drum 5.
It will be appreciated that the distance of the surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 between the ridges 7 is greater than the width of the ridges 7 in a rotational direction A of the rolling drum 5. This provides greater rolling surface on the rolling drum 5 to accommodate collations of rods 1, 2 to be rolled.
It will be appreciated that substantially the entire distance of the surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 between the ridges 7 is formed as a curve with a centre point corresponding to the axis of rotation of the rolling drum 5.
The length of the rolling surface 15 of the roll hand 10 in a rotational direction A of the rolling drum 5 may be a whole number of multiples of the length of the distance of the surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 between the ridges 7. Although not as shown in
It will be appreciated that the suction holes 12a are provided at the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7, that is, the suction holes 12a may be provided, on, adjacent to or proximate the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7. Within the scope of the invention therefore, it is intended that the suction holes 12a may be provided on the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7, or where the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7 meet the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5. Yet further, the suction holes 12a may be provided on the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 where the trailing faces 8 meet the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5—that is, at or proximate to the point where the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7 meet the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5. Yet further, the suction holes 12a may extend from the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 to the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7. In some embodiments, the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 may meet the trailing faces of the ridges 7 as defined angled junctions, or alternatively may transition smoothly in a curved manner. In the latter embodiment, the suction holes 12a may be provided on the curved transition between peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 and the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7. Also in such embodiments, the suction holes 12a may extend from the curved transition region to the peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 and/or to the trailing faces 8 of the ridges 7. All such variations are intended to comprise embodiments within the scope of the invention, in which the suction holes 12a are provided at the trailing edge or face 8 of the ridges 7. Similarly, such various configurations of suction holes 12b with respect to the leading faces or edges 9 of the ridges 7 are intended to fall within the scope of the invention.
In some embodiments, an elongate depression may be formed in the curved peripheral surface 6 of the rolling drum 5 where the curved surface 6 meets the trailing and/or leading faces 8, 9 of the ridges 7. Such an embodiment is shown in
It is intended within the scope of the invention that the friction-enhancing surface of the rolling drum 5 that increases friction between the rolling drum 5 and the collation of rods 1, 2 is not limited to the plurality of striae 17 of the exemplary embodiment. Other configurations of surface formations or treatment are envisaged which may be formed in or on the surface 6 of the rolling drum 5. Also, friction-enhancing surface may be applied to the surface 6 of the rolling drum 5, for example a film adhered to surface 6, or a coating sprayed onto the surface 6. Such film or coating may include grit, diamond or other hard particulates to increase friction.
As used herein, the term “upstream” will be understood to mean in opposite direction to the rotation of the rolling drum. In particular, referring to
As used herein, the term “tobacco industry product” is intended to include smoking articles comprising combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material), electronic smoking articles such as e-cigarettes, heating devices that release compounds from substrate materials without burning such as tobacco heating products, hybrid systems to generate aerosol from a combination of substrate materials, for example hybrid systems containing a liquid or gel or solid substrate; and aerosol-free nicotine delivery articles such as lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising breathable powders and smokeless tobacco products such as snus and snuff.
In some embodiments, the tobacco industry product is a non-combustible smoking article. In some embodiment the tobacco industry product is a heating device which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments the heating device is a tobacco heating device.
In other embodiments the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials. The substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.
The present invention is intended to encompass an apparatus and method for the manufacture of any tobacco industry product.
As used herein, the term “tipping paper” includes and material suitable for attaching the filter components to a rod of smokeable material and therefore includes any suitable type of paper, metallic foil, or other sheet material.
The drawings accompanying the various embodiments of the invention described herein are not necessarily illustrated to scale and the dimensions of certain features may be exaggerated for ease and clarity of illustration.
In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for a superior rolling apparatus for assembling smoking articles. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1608812.2 | May 2016 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/GB2017/051177 | 4/27/2017 | WO | 00 |
