U.S. patent application number 09/766478 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for method of wrapping drinking straws.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hauni Richmond, Inc.. Invention is credited to Oppe, Hans-Joachim, Preisner, Peter M..
Application Number | 20010003890 09/766478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23406312 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010003890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Preisner, Peter M. ; et
al. |
June 21, 2001 |
Method of wrapping drinking straws
Abstract
Sipping straws are confined in discrete envelopes while
advancing in a single file of spaced-apart straws through a
wrapping station. The envelopes are obtained from a continuous
strip of wrapping paper which is conveyed to the wrapping station
in the direction of advancement of the file of spaced-apart straws
and is draped around the straws in such a way that one of its
longitudinally extending marginal portions overlies and adheres to
the other marginal portion with simultaneous formation of a seam
rather than an outwardly extending fin. The thus obtained tubular
wrapper is thereupon severed in the gaps between successive
spaced-apart straws, and the end portions of the thus obtained
discrete envelopes are sealed by knurling, e.g., simultaneously
with severing of the tubular wrapper.
Inventors: |
Preisner, Peter M.;
(Quinton, VA) ; Oppe, Hans-Joachim; (Midlothian,
VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PETER K. KONTLER
4401 GULF SHORE BLVD. NORTH
NAPLES
FL
34103-3450
US
|
Assignee: |
Hauni Richmond, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
23406312 |
Appl. No.: |
09/766478 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09766478 |
Jan 19, 2001 |
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09357607 |
Jul 20, 1999 |
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6212860 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
53/412 ; 53/415;
53/450 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/067 20130101;
B65B 19/34 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/412 ; 53/415;
53/450 |
International
Class: |
B65B 009/06; B65B
061/18 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A wrapped sipping straw, comprising: an elongated open-ended
tube; and an envelope confining said tube and including a converted
strip of flexible wrapping material, said envelope having two
overlapping marginal portions extending longitudinally of the tube
and forming a seam wherein one of the marginal portions is bonded
to the other marginal portion.
2. The sipping straw of claim 1, wherein said other marginal
portion has an inner side adjacent said tube and said one marginal
portion has an inner side bonded to an outer side of said other
marginal portion.
3. The sipping straw of claim 1, wherein said converted strip has
end portions at least substantially closing the envelope at the
ends of said tube.
4. The sipping straw of claim 1, wherein said tube consists of a
plastic material and said converted strip contains paper.
5. The sipping straw of claim 1, wherein said converted strip has
end portions at least substantially closing the envelope at the
ends of said tube, said envelope further having at least one
weakened portion at least partially surrounding said tube
intermediate said end portions and arranged to break in response to
a pull upon at least one of said end portions relative to the other
of said end portions.
6. The sipping straw of claim 5, wherein said at least one weakened
portion includes at least one group of perforations.
7. The sipping straw of claim 1, wherein said converted strip has
at least one knurled end portion at least substantially closing the
envelope at the respective end of said tube.
8. The sipping straw of claim 1, wherein said envelope has an at
least substantially circular cross-sectional outline and is devoid
of external radial protuberances.
9. A method of confining open-ended sipping straws in discrete
envelopes, comprising the steps of: gathering unconfined straws
into at least one accumulation of at least substantially parallel
straws; transporting from the accumulation at least one file of
spaced-apart successive straws lengthwise toward and through a
wrapping station; advancing toward and through the wrapping station
a strip of wrapping material having two marginal portions; applying
an adhesive to at least one marginal portion of the strip not later
than at the wrapping station; draping the strip around successive
spaced-apart straws of the at least one file at the wrapping
station so that the one marginal portion overlies and adheres to
the other marginal portion to thus form a seam extending
longitudinally of the thus confined straws; and severing the draped
strip between successive confined straws.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of at least
partially sealing the draped strip at least at one end of each
confined straw.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said sealing step comprises
knurling the draped strip.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said sealing step is carried
out simultaneously with said severing step.
13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of applying
to longitudinally spaced-apart portions of the strip printed matter
prior to said draping step so that each envelope exhibits some of
the applied printed matter.
14. The method of claim 9, wherein said severing step includes
providing each envelope with end portions extending beyond the open
ends of the respective confined straws, and further comprising the
step of weakening the strip at a plurality of longitudinally
spaced-apart locations so that each discrete envelope exhibits at
least one weakened portion where the envelope breaks in response to
the application of a pull to at least one end portion relative to
the other end portion of the envelope.
15. The method of claim 9, wherein the adhesive applying step
includes applying to the at least one marginal portion of the strip
a film of hot melt.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of cooling
the seam.
17. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of forming
a continuous tube, and dividing the tube into a plurality of
open-ended sipping straws at a location spaced apart from said
accumulation, said gathering step comprising conveying a mass flow
of unconfined straws from said location to said accumulation.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein said forming step includes
extrusion of a plastic material.
19. Apparatus for confining elongated open-ended sipping straws in
discrete envelopes, comprising: a facility for temporary storage of
an accumulation of unconfined straws; means for transporting at
least one file of spaced-apart successive straws from said facility
lengthwise along a predetermined path; means for advancing to a
predetermined portion of said path a strip of wrapping material
having two marginal portions; means for applying adhesive to at
least one marginal portion of the strip not later than in said
portion of said path; means for draping the strip around successive
spaced-apart straws in said portion of said path so that the at
least one marginal portion overlies and adheres to the other of
said marginal portions; and means for severing the draped strip
between successive confined straws.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for forming
a continuous tube, means for dividing the continuous tube into a
plurality of open-ended straws, means for gathering the thus
obtained straws into a pile, and means for conveying a mass flow of
straws from said pile to said facility.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said forming means comprises
an extruder.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for at
least partially sealing the draped strip at the ends of the
confined straws.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for sealing
comprises means for knurling the draped strip at the ends of the
confined straws.
24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said means for sealing forms
part of said severing means.
25. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising means for
applying to longitudinally spaced-apart portions of the strip items
of information prior to draping of the strip so that each envelope
exhibits at least one item of information.
26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said draping means comprises
means for causing one side of the other marginal portion of the
strip to overlie the straws in said path and for causing one side
of the one marginal portion to overlie and adhere to the other side
of the other marginal portion.
27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said severing means includes
means for providing each envelope with end portions extending
beyond the open ends of the respective confined straws, and further
comprising means for weakening the strip at a plurality of
spaced-apart locations so that each discrete envelope exhibits at
least one weakened portion where the envelope breaks in response to
a pull upon at least one end portion relative to the other end
portion of the envelope.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in the making
of wrapped drinking or sipping straws, and more particularly to
improvements in the methods of and apparatus for confining drinking
of sipping straws (hereinafter called sipping straws) in tubular
envelopes of paper or the like.
[0002] It is well known to confine sipping straws in suitable
elongated tubular envelopes of thin paper or the like. As a rule,
conventional apparatus for the making and wrapping of sipping
straws comprise an extruder that turns out a continuous tube which
is normally made of a suitable plastic material (e.g., a
transparent or translucent plastic material) and is caused to pass
through a cutter. The latter repeatedly severs the leader of the
tube to thus convert it into a file or row of discrete sections
(hereinafter called straws) of desired length. The thus obtained
straws are thereupon wrapped into envelopes in such a way that each
envelope exhibits a longitudinally extending flap or fin and is
closed at the ends. The making of fins and closing at the ends is
accomplished by resorting to suitable knurling tools which
interlace overlapping portions of the respective envelopes. Such
knurling necessarily involves the making of rather pronounced fins
which interfere with predictable confinement of wrapped sipping
straws in cardboard boxes or other types of containers.
Furthermore, the wrapping operation does not always result in the
making of airtight seals and the flaps detract from the appearance
of the ultimate products.
[0003] The maximum output of presently known apparatus for wrapping
sipping straws is in the range of between about 600 and 1000 per
minute. On the other hand, an extruder can turn out 2000 or even
more straws per minute. Thus, the extruder must operate at less
than full capacity due to the lesser output of the wrapping
apparatus.
[0004] Another drawback of presently known and utilized apparatus
for making and wrapping sipping straws is that their requirements
for wrapping paper or other suitable wrapping material greatly
exceed the minimal requirements which must be satisfied in order to
adequately confine and preferably seal or substantially seal an
individual straw in a tubular envelope. The disparity between the
required quantities of wrapping material and the number of wrapped
sipping straws which are turned out per unit of time increases with
increasing lengths of the straws.
[0005] In addition, the rather limited capacity of conventional
straw wrapping or draping apparatus renders it necessary to
increase the number of extruding, wrapping and cartoning machines
which, in turn, contributes significantly to the overall cost and
necessitates the utilization of additional floor space as well as
the services of additional attendants.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved wrapping or draping apparatus for sipping straws.
[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved apparatus for on-line making, wrapping and packing sipping
straws.
[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and
improved method of wrapping sipping straws in an economical
manner.
[0009] An additional object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus which can wrap sipping straws at a rate that is a
multiple of the capacities of presently known straw wrapping
apparatus.
[0010] Still another object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus which can wrap sipping straws in such a way that that the
space requirements of the ultimate products, e.g., in a box or
carton, are less pronounced than those of presently known wrapped
or draped sipping straws.
[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide wrapped
sipping straws which can be more readily confined in cartons or
other types of receptacles than presently known and presently
available wrapped sipping straws.
[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
which can mass produce wrapped sipping straws with substantial
savings in paper or other wrapping material.
[0013] An additional object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus which can ensure the wrapping of sipping straws in a
highly satisfactory manner superior to that achievable by resorting
to heretofore known wrapping apparatus.
[0014] Still another object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus which can be readily converted for the wrapping of
longer, shorter, smaller-diameter or larger-diameter, rigid or
flexible sipping straws.
[0015] A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
for wrapping sipping straws the space requirements of which are
considerably less than those of presently known apparatus.
[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
which can be automated to a desired extent and the output of which
can be varied within a wide range, e.g., starting at a minimum
output at least matching the maximum output of presently known
apparatus.
[0017] An additional object of the invention is to provide the
above outlined apparatus with a novel and improved straw wrapping
unit.
[0018] Still another object of the invention is to provide a
production line which employs a straw wrapping apparatus and means
for delivering sipping straws from a source (such as an extruder)
to the wrapping apparatus, and wherein the delivering means is
designed to compensate for eventual fluctuations of the output of
the source and/or for eventual fluctuations of the requirements of
the wrapping and/or packing apparatus.
[0019] A further object of the invention is to provide a production
line which employs at least one straw wrapping apparatus, at least
one packing apparatus for freshly wrapped straws and means for
transferring wrapped straws from at least one source to the at
least one packing apparatus in such a way that the operation of the
packing apparatus is not affected by eventual fluctuations of the
operation of the wrapping apparatus and/or vice versa.
[0020] Another object of the invention is to provide sipping straws
which are produced in the above outlined apparatus or production
lines and/or in accordance with the above outlined method.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0021] One feature of the present invention resides in the
provision of a wrapped sipping straw which comprises an elongated
open-ended tube and an envelope which confines the tube and
includes a converted strip of flexible wrapping material. The
envelope has two overlapping marginal portions which extend
longitudinally of the tube and form a seam wherein one of the
marginal portions is bonded to the other marginal portion.
[0022] The seam is preferably formed in such a way that the inner
side of the other marginal portion is adjacent the tube and the
inner side of the one marginal portion is bonded to the outer side
of the other marginal portion.
[0023] It is often preferred to provide the converted strip with
end portions which at least substantially close the envelope at the
ends of the tube.
[0024] The tube can consist of a plastic material and the converted
strip can consist of or at least contain paper.
[0025] The envelope can be further provided with at least one
weakened portion which at least partially surrounds the tube
intermediate the end portions of the envelope and serves to break
(such as tear) in response to the exertion of a pull upon at least
one of the end portions relative to the other end portion. The at
least one weakened portion can include at least one group (e.g., a
circumferentially extending row) of perforations.
[0026] At least one end portion of the converted strip can be
closed (or even sealed) by knurling with a suitable tool, e.g., a
rotary knife.
[0027] The envelope can have an at least substantially circular
cross-sectional outline and is preferably devoid of external radial
or substantially radial protuberances (such as the aforediscussed
fins of conventional wrappers for sipping straws).
[0028] Another feature of the instant invention resides in the
provision of a method of confining open-ended sipping straws in
discrete envelopes. The improved method comprises the steps of
gathering unconfined sipping straws into at least one accumulation
(e.g., in a hopper) of at least substantially parallel straws,
transporting from the accumulation at least one file of
spaced-apart successive straws lengthwise toward and through a
wrapping station, advancing toward and through the wrapping station
a strip of wrapping material having two at least substantially
parallel marginal portions, applying an adhesive to at least one
marginal portion of the strip not later than at the wrapping
station, draping the strip around successive spaced-apart straws of
the at least one file at the wrapping station so that the one
marginal portion overlies and adheres to the other marginal portion
to thus form a seam extending longitudinally of the thus confined
straws, and severing the draped strip between successive confined
straws.
[0029] The method can further comprise the step of at least
partially sealing (e.g., actually merely closing) the draped strip
at least at one end of each confined straw. Such sealing step can
include knurling the draped strip at one or both ends of each
confined straw. The sealing step can be carried out simultaneously
with the severing step (e.g., by resorting to a suitable composite
or combined severing and sealing or closing tool).
[0030] The method can further comprise the step of applying to
longitudinally spaced-apart portions of the strip items of
information (such as printed matter) prior to the draping step and
in such distribution that each envelope exhibits some of the
printed matter (the printed matter can repeat itself so that each
envelope carries identical bits or items of information).
[0031] The severing step can include providing each envelope with
the aforementioned end portions extending beyond the open ends of
the respective confined straws, and such method can further
comprise the step of weakening the strip at a plurality of
longitudinally spaced-apart locations so that each discrete
envelope is provided with at least one weakened portion where the
envelope breaks (such as tears) in response to the application of a
pull to at least one end portion relative to the other end portion
of the envelope. This simplifies the removal or extraction of the
straw from its envelope.
[0032] The adhesive applying step can include applying to the at
least one marginal portion of the strip a film of hot melt or
another suitable adhesive substance. If the adhesive is a hot melt,
it is often advisable to cool the seam downstream of or already at
the wrapping station
[0033] The method can further comprise the steps of forming a
continuous tube (e.g., as a result of extrusion of a suitable
plastic material through the annular orifice of a suitable die),
and dividing the tube into a plurality of open-ended sipping straws
at a location which can be spaced apart from the aforementioned
accumulation. The gathering step then preferably comprises
conveying a mass flow of unconfined straws from the aforementioned
location to the accumulation.
[0034] A further feature of the invention resides in the provision
of an apparatus for confining elongated open-ended sipping straws
in discrete envelopes. The improved apparatus comprises a facility
for temporary storage of an accumulation of unconfined (unwrapped)
straws, means for transporting at least one file of spaced-apart
successive straws from the facility lengthwise along a
predetermined path, means for advancing to a predetermined portion
of the path a strip or web of wrapping material having two
preferably parallel marginal portions, means for applying an
adhesive to at least one marginal portion of the strip not later
than in the predetermined portion of the path, means for draping
the strip around successive spaced-apart straws in the
predetermined portion of the path so that the at least one marginal
portion overlies and adheres to the other marginal portion, and
means for severing the draped strip between successive confined
straws.
[0035] The apparatus can further comprise means (such as an
extruder) for forming a continuous tube, means for dividing the
continuous tube into a plurality of open-ended straws, means for
gathering the thus obtained straws into a pile (e.g., into a mass
flow) and means for conveying the mass flow of straws from the pile
to the facility.
[0036] The apparatus can further comprise means for at least
partially closing or sealing the draped strip at the ends of the
confined straws. Such sealing or closing means can comprise means
for knurling the draped strip at one or both ends of each confined
straw. The just discussed sealing or closing means can form part of
the severing means or vice versa.
[0037] The apparatus can further comprise means for applying to
longitudinally spaced-apart portions of the strip items of
information prior to draping of the strip so that each envelope
exhibits at least one item of information (e.g., printed matter
denoting the name of the manufacturer, the trademark of the owner,
the dimensions and/or the color of the straw, and/or other
data).
[0038] The draping means can comprise means for causing one side of
the other marginal portion of the strip to overlie the straws in
their path and for causing one side of the one marginal portion to
overlie and to adhere to the other side of the other marginal
portion.
[0039] The severing means can include means for providing each
envelope with end portions extending beyond the open ends of the
respective confined straws, and such apparatus can further comprise
means for weakening the strip at a plurality of spaced-apart
locations so that each discrete envelope can exhibit at least one
weakened portion where the envelope breaks or is expected to break
in response to a pull upon at least one end portion relative to the
other end portion of the envelope.
[0040] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of
the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.
The improved method, apparatus and product themselves, however,
both as to their construction and their modes of operation,
together with numerous additional important features and attributes
thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following
detailed description of certain presently preferred specific
embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a finished
envelope;
[0042] FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a
portion of a convoluted strip of wrapping material prior to bonding
of the two marginal portions of the strip to each other;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a series of steps forming
part of one embodiment of the improved method;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a series of steps forming
part of another embodiment of the improved method;
[0045] FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of an apparatus which
embodies one presently preferred form of the invention;
[0046] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus as seen
from the right-hand side of FIG. 5; and
[0047] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the apparatus which is shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a portion of a wrapped sipping (drinking) straw
10 which comprises an elongated straw 11 having open ends 11a, 11b
and normally constituting an extrudate. The tube 11 is confined in
an elongated envelope 12 constituting a converted elongated portion
13a (FIG. 2) of a continuous (endless) strip or web 13 (FIG. 5) of
cigarette paper or another suitable flexible wrapping material for
sipping straws.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the portion 13a of strip 13 has two
elongated parallel marginal portions 13b, 13c which overlap each
other and form an elongated seam 13d (FIG. 1) when the conversion
of the portion 13a into an envelope 12 is completed downstream of a
wrapping station WS shown in each of FIGS. 3 to 7 (see particularly
FIGS. 5 and 7). The envelope 12 further comprises two end portions
12a, 12b which are respectively adjacent the open ends 11a, 11b of
the confined straw 11 and have knurled terminal parts 12a',
12b'serving to at least partially seal (e.g., merely close) the
respective end portions 12a, 12b.
[0050] It is often preferred to provide the elongated median
portion of the envelope 12 with at least one weakened portion 13e
which enables the user to gain access to the confined straw 11 with
a minimum of effort or with a lesser effort. The weakened portion
13e which is shown in FIG. 1 has an annular or an arcuate row of
perforations extending circumferentially of the envelope. The
weakened portion 13e can be caused to break by tearing the wrapping
material between neighboring perforations in response to the
exertion of a pull upon the two end portions 12a, 12b or in
response to the exertion of a pull upon one (e.g., 12a) of the end
portions 12a, 12b while the part of the envelope 12 at the other
side of the row of perforations is held against movement or is
pulled away from the one end portion 12a.
[0051] The outer side of the marginal portion 13c and/or the inner
side of the marginal portion 13b is coated with a film of a
suitable adhesive (e.g., a hot melt) which bonds the two marginal
portions to each other to thus form the aforementioned seam 13d. It
is clear that the seam can be formed by bonding the inner side of
the marginal portion 13c to the outer side of the marginal portion
13b. Regardless of the exact nature of the seam 13d (i.e., whether
the marginal portion 13b is located at the outer side of the
marginal portion 13c, or vice versa), a feature of the invention
resides in that the marginal portions 13b, 13c are caused to form a
seam 13d in lieu of a conventional protuberance (such as a flap or
fin) which is located at the outer side of and is pivotable
relative to the elongated cylindrical main portion or section of a
standard envelope. Reference may be had to wrapped straws
distributed by Sweetheart, Chicago, Ill. under the mark
"Sweetheart". The fins or flaps of the envelopes of such
conventional wrapped straws are obtained by knurling and,
therefore, the quantity of wrapping material for the making of
envelopes exhibiting fins considerably exceeds the quantity of
wrapping material which is needed for the making of envelopes 12 of
he type shown in applicants' FIG. 1.
[0052] The steps of one presently preferred embodiment of our
method of making wrapped sipping straws (10) of the type shown in
FIG. 1 are shown schematically in FIG. 3. The first step 20
involves the making of a continuous tube 31 which is normally
furnished by an extruder 30 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and is advanced
length-wise (arrow 32 in FIGS. 6 and 7) toward and through a cutter
33 serving as a means for dividing the tube 31 into a single file
of discrete elongated open-ended sipping straws 11 which are
gathered into a pile 34 on a stack former 35. In FIG. 6, the stack
former 35 includes the upper reach of an endless belt or chain
conveyor 36 installed in a frame 37.
[0053] The next step of this relatively simple method involves a
manual transfer (at 40) of sets or groups of parallel straws 11
from the pile 34 into a hopper 38 to gather an accumulation 39 of
parallel straws upstream of the wrapping station WS. A presently
preferred mode of wrapping successive spaced-apart straws 11 of a
file of such straws in the running strip 13 will be described with
reference to FIG. 5.
[0054] The last step 41 of the method including the steps
represented by the blocks of the diagram shown in FIG. 3 includes
manually packing preselected numbers (e.g., twenty, fifty, hundred
or more) of wrapped straws 10 into suitable containers (not shown),
such as cardboard or plastic boxes, bags or the like.
[0055] The method including the steps already described with
reference to the diagram of FIG. 3 normally further comprises oe or
more additional steps (such as the application of items of
information to the strip 13, providing the strip 13 or the
elongated portions 13a of the strip 13 with weakened portions (such
as perforations) 13e, cooling the seam 13d to promote setting of
the adhesive, and/or others); such step or steps are carried out by
instrumentalities which are or can be identical with or analogous
to those which will be described in connection with FIGS. 4 to 7
and/or which are described and shown in the referenced patents.
[0056] The first three steps of the method represented by the block
diagram of FIG. 4 are or can be identical with the first three
steps of the aforedescribed method represented by the block diagram
of FIG. 3 and are identified by similar reference characters. The
manual handling step 40 of FIG. 3 is replaced by an automatic step
43 carried out by a series of conveyors including the
aforementioned endless belt or chain conveyor 36 and additional
endless conveyors 36a, 36b. The conveyors 36, 36a and 36b (see
particularly FIG. 6) carry out the gathering step which involves
automatically conveying or transporting a mass flow 42 of several
layers or strata of straws 11 from the pile 34 into the hopper 38
to form the accumulation 39.
[0057] The outlet of the hopper 38 discharges straws 11 into the
wrapping station WS, and the wrapped straws 10 issuing from the
station WS enter the range of an interface 44 (including the
conveyors 59, 60 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) which couples the outlet
of the wrapping station WS with a packing station 45 including a
suitable cartoner 61 (shown schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0058] The operation of the endless belt or chain conveyors 36,
36a, 36b can be, and preferably is, automated in order to ensure
that the hopper 38 invariably contains an adequate accumulation of
parallel straws 11, namely an accumulation which suffices to
guarantee continuous operation of various devices at the wrapping
station WS even if the speed of the extruder 30 must be reduced for
a certain interval of time or even if the extruder is brought to a
full stop for a maximum anticipated period of time (e.g., for the
purposes of cleaning, other maintenance, repair, replacement of
parts, failure of the means for supplying a plasticized material to
the extruder and/or other problems).
[0059] Analogously, the hopper 38 should be capable of taking up
the output of the extruder 30 if and when one or more devices or
units at the wrapping station WS are caused to operate at less than
normal speed or are brought to a complete stillstand.
[0060] The units at the wrapping station WS include a fluted rotary
collating drum 50 which is located below an outlet in the bottom
portion of the hopper 38 and serves to transport sideways
successive straws 11 of a series of parallel straws into the range
of a belt conveyor 51 serving to propel a file of successive straws
of the series in the flutes of the collating drum 50 into an
elongated straight (normally at least substantially horizontal)
path defined by a so-called garniture 52 wherein successive
spaced-apart straws 11 are confined in the strip 13.
[0061] The strip 13 is supplied by an expiring bobbin or reel 53
which is rotatably and removably mounted in the frame 37. From the
bobbin 53, the strip 13 advances through a splicer 54, thereupon
through a printer 55 which provides longitudinally spaced-apart
portions of the strip with information, thereafter along a paster
56, and finally into the garniture 52. The printer 55 can apply
items of information (such as printed matter including the
trademark and the name and address of the manufacturer and/or the
distributor, the dimensions of the straws and/or others) in such
distribution that the envelope 12 of each finished product (wrapped
straw) 10 bears all of the information. The paster 56 (for example,
a so-called hot melt glue gun) supplies adhesive which forms a film
on the marginal portion 13b and/or 13c of the running strip 13.
[0062] Garnitures of the type adapted to be utilized at 52 can be
identical with those used in cigarette and filter rod making
machines, e.g., in machines described and shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,060,665 (granted Oct. 29, 1991 to Heitmann for "WRAPPING
MECHANISM FOR ROD MAKING MACHINES OF THE TOBACCO PROCESSING
INDUSTRY"), 4,185,644 (granted Jan. 29, 1980 to Heitmann et al. for
"DISTRIBUTOR FOR CIGARETTE MAKERS OR THE LIKE"), 4,721,119 (granted
Jan. 26, 1988 to Ludszeweit et al. for "ROD MAKING MACHINE WITH
MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE POSITION OF WRAPPING MATERIAL") and
3,974,007 (granted Aug. 10, 1976 for "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF FILTER ROD SECTIONS OR THE LIKE").
[0063] Apparatus for making perforations in running webs or strips
of wrapping material (such as cigarette paper or so-called tipping
paper for use in machines for the making of filter cigarettes) are
disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,281,670 (granted Aug.
4, 1981 to Heitmann et al. for "APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE
PERMEABILITY OF WRAPPING MATERIAL FOR ROD-SHAPED SMOKERS'
PRODUCTS") and 4,469,111 (granted Sep. 4, 1984 to Pinck et al. for
"APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING WEBS OF WRAPPING MATERIAL FOR TOBACCO OR
THE LIKE"). Such apparatus can be utilized to provide the strip 13
with weakened portions 13e shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0064] The disclosures of the above-enumerated patents are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0065] The only important difference between the patented
garnitures and the garniture 52 in the apparatus shown in FIGS. 5
and 7 of the present application is that the conveyor 51 shown in
FIG. 5 is operated to propel successive straws 10 from successive
peripheral flutes of the drum 50 at intervals which are required to
establish between successive straws 11 in the garniture 52 gaps of
a width which suffices to sever (at 57) the strip 13 at selected
distances from the open ends 11a, 11b of the two neighboring straws
11. This enables the knurling tool (e.g., a toothed wheel having
two portions flanking a circular knife of the severing means 57) to
provide the end portions 12a, 12b of the envelopes 12 with the
knurled ends 12a', 12b'at requisite distances from the open ends
11a, 11b of the respective confined straws 11.
[0066] The severing means 57 is followed by two accelerating
rollers 58 which propel successively formed discrete wrapped
sipping straws 10 into the axially parallel peripheral flutes of
the indexible drum-shaped conveyor 59 forming part of the
aforementioned interface 44. The conveyor 59 serves to transfer
successive wrapped straws 10 onto the upper reach of the endless
belt-shaped conveyor 60 of the interface 44. The conveyor 60
delivers a flow of wrapped straws 10 to the packing station 45
where the cartoner 61 introduces arrays of predetermined numbers of
wrapped straws 10 into discrete receptacles in the form of cartons,
boxes, bags or the like. For example, the cartoner 61 can be
designed to introduce arrays of wrapped straws 10 into boxes in a
so-called quincunx formation which is customary in the packets of
plain or filter cigarettes.
[0067] As already mentioned hereinbefore, the exact construction of
the parts at the packaging station 45 forms no part of the present
invention.
[0068] FIG. 5 further shows a spare bobbin or reel 62 for a second
strip 63 having a leader at the splicer 54. The reference character
64 denotes a so-called cooler bar which is adjacent the path of the
freshly formed seam 13d at the garniture 52 to promote the setting
of the adhesive film previously applied by the hot melt glue gun
54. This renders it possible to place the severing means 57 into
close or immediate proximity to the garniture 52.
[0069] FIG. 6 shows several level sensors 65 which are adjacent the
accumulation of unconfined straws 11 in the hopper 38 and transmit
signals to the signal processing arrangement (not specifically
shown) in an electronic control unit 66 (FIG. 7) which
automatically regulates the operation of various belt conveyors,
drums and other mobile parts in order to ensure the establishment
and maintenance of adequate supply of unwrapped straws 11 in the
hopper 38, proper synchronization of the drive means 67, 68 for the
shafts mounting the reels 53, 62 when the supply of strip 13 is
nearly exhausted, synchronization of the speed of the printer 55
with the speed of the running strip 13, 63, etc.
[0070] FIG. 7 further shows a hot melt glue container 69 and a
so-called chiller 70.
[0071] The relationship between the speeds of the propelling
conveyor 51 and the so-called garniture tape 52a of the garniture
52 can be selected in such a way that the width of the gaps between
successive spaced-apart unwrapped straws 11 entering the wrapping
station WS is or approximates 30 mm. This normally suffices to
ensure that the end portions 12a, 12b of each envelope 12 will have
an optimum or an acceptable length, e.g., for proper engagement by
the fingers of a user preparatory to breaking of the weakened
portion 13e.
[0072] It has been found that the utilization of a garniture (52)
in lieu of a conventional (knurling) device for providing the
conventional envelopes or wrappers with finned longitudinally
extending seals results in savings of wrapping material in the
range of up to and in excess of 10-20 percent.
[0073] Furthermore, apparatus of the type shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 can
turn out wrapped sipping straws 10 at a rate of up to 2000 per
minute. On the other hand, the output of conventional apparatus is
in the range of 600-1000 per minute. The improved apparatus can be
automated to a desired extent (e.g., as explained with reference to
FIG. 4 in comparison with the operation described with reference to
FIG. 3), and necessitates a minimum of maintenance and supervision;
this results in savings of not less than two employees per line and
shift. Moreover, the floor space requirements of the improved
apparatus are substantially below those of conventional apparatus,
and the filling of boxes, cartons, bags and/or other receptacles
for preselected numbers of wrapped sipping straws 10 is simplified
because the envelopes 12 are devoid of fins. This renders it
possible to confine larger numbers of novel wrapped straws 10 in
containers which can accept fewer conventional wrapped straws with
external fins. Still further, the possibility of confining larger
numbers of wrapped straws 10 in containers capable of accepting
fewer conventional wrapped straws with fins renders it possible to
achieve savings in connection with the transport of boxes or like
containers to storage and to purchasers.
[0074] Still further, the quality of envelopes 12 is superior to
that of conventional envelopes with fins because the confined
straws 11 are less likely to be damaged and/or defaced during
introduction into containers as well as during withdrawal from
containers and during removal from the envelopes.
[0075] Several components of the aforedescribed apparatus which is
shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 constitute optional features. For example,
the mass flow conveyor system 36, 36a, 36b, the automatic splicer
54, the printer 55, the means (shown in FIG. 5, as at 71) for
providing the strip 13 with weakened portions 13e, the conveyors
59, 60 of the interface 44, and the cartoner 61 constitute
desirable and advantageous but optional features.
[0076] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and
specific aspects of the above outlined contribution to the method
of and apparatus for confining sipping straws in envelopes of paper
or the like and, therefore, such adaptations should and are
intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of
equivalence of the appended claims.
* * * * *