U.S. patent application number 10/050826 was filed with the patent office on 2002-07-18 for method of and apparatus for making rod-like fillers for smokers' products.
Invention is credited to Lorenzen, Heinz-Christen, Steiniger, Wolfgang.
Application Number | 20020092537 10/050826 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7671054 |
Filed Date | 2002-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020092537 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lorenzen, Heinz-Christen ;
et al. |
July 18, 2002 |
Method of and apparatus for making rod-like fillers for smokers'
products
Abstract
A mixture of long and short tobacco particles is sifted in the
hopper of a cigarette maker to segregate the short particles from
the long particles. The long particles are converted into a
continuous stream and the short particles are gathered into a
series of discrete, preferably metered, batches which are
heterogeneously distributed in longitudinally spaced apart portions
of the stream. The latter is thereupon converted into a rod-like
filler which is draped into a web of cigarette paper or other
wrapping material to form therewith a continuous tobacco-containing
rod. The rod is severed between successive batches or successive
groups of batches so that each discrete cigarette contains at least
one batch of short tobacco particles.
Inventors: |
Lorenzen, Heinz-Christen;
(Wentorf, DE) ; Steiniger, Wolfgang; (Geesthacht,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE, BAETJER, HOWARD AND CIVILETTI, LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Family ID: |
7671054 |
Appl. No.: |
10/050826 |
Filed: |
January 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/84.1 ;
131/280 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24C 5/1821 20130101;
A24C 5/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/84.1 ;
131/280 |
International
Class: |
A24C 005/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 18, 2001 |
DE |
101 02 266.2 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of converting a mixture of short and long tobacco
particles into a rod-like filler, comprising the steps of:
segregating the short particles of the mixture from the long
particles; advancing an elongated stream of segregated long
particles along a predetermined path; and admitting into the path
short particles for heterogeneous distribution in the stream.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of gathering
short particles into batches prior to said admitting step.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said admitting step includes
introducing into the path a series of spaced apart batches, and
further comprising the steps of confining the stream and the
batches in a tubular wrapper, and severing the wrapper and the
stream between successive batches.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein said advancing step includes
moving lengthwise a stream consisting of long tobacco particles and
having two spaced apart marginal portions, said admitting step
including applying to one side of the stream batches of short
particles in spaced apart positions from at least one marginal
portions.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said segregating step includes
sifting the mixture of short and long particles.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of gathering
short particles into a mass prior to said admitting step.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said admitting step includes
monitoring the quantity of short particles in the mass and
introducing short particles from the mass into the stream at a rate
which is dependent upon the quantity of short particles in the
mass.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of gathering
short particles into unequal batches prior to said admitting step
and thereupon equalizing the batches, said admitting step including
introducing equalized batches of short particles into said path at
at least substantially identical intervals.
9. Apparatus for building a tobacco filler for the making of
rod-shaped smokers' products from a mixture of short and long
tobacco particles, comprising: means for segregating short
particles of the mixture from the long particles; means for
advancing an elongated stream of segregated long particles along a
predetermined path; and means for admitting into longitudinally
spaced-apart portions of the elongated stream batches of segregated
short particles in a heterogeneous distribution.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said advancing means includes
an endless foraminous conveyor and means for attracting segregated
long particles and batches of short particles to said conveyor.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said admitting means includes
a rotary suction drum having a peripheral array of suction chambers
for the delivery of batches of short particles to a predetermined
portion of said path.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for
converting the stream into discrete fillers of rod-shaped smokers'
products having a predetermined length, said suction chambers
having a length, as seen circumferentially of said drum and
longitudinally of said path, which is less than said predetermined
length.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said path has a width
exceeding the width of a batch and said drum is arranged to deliver
batches of short particles at least substantially centrally of said
path.
14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said segregating means
comprises at least one mobile sieve having a mesh such that the
sieve permits at least some short particles to pass therethrough
but intercepts at least the majority of long particles.
15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for
collecting short particles upon segregation from long
particles.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising means for
monitoring the quantity of short particles in said collecting
means.
17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said admitting means
comprises a vibratory conveyor arranged to transport segregated
short particles from said segregating means toward said path, and a
suction conveyor arranged to attract short particles from said
vibratory conveyor and to deliver the thus attracted short
particles to said path.
18. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for
collecting short particles upon segregation from long particles,
said admitting means including a conveyor for advancement of short
particles to said path and means for transferring metered
quantities of short particles from said collecting means to said
conveyor.
19. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said admitting means includes
means for trimming the batches prior to entry into said path.
20. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said admitting means includes
a first suction conveyor rotatable about a horizontal axis and said
advancing means comprises a second suction conveyor disposed at a
level above said first suction conveyor and arranged to accept
short particles from said first conveyor.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to improvements in methods of and
apparatus for making cigarettes or other rod-shaped smokers'
products wherein a rod-like filler of smokable material is
surrounded by a tubular wrapper or envelope of cigarette paper or
the like. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements
in methods of and in apparatus for making rod-shaped fillers which
consist of or contain several types or grades or sizes of smokable
material, especially short and long particles of shredded tobacco
leaves or the like.
[0002] Rod-shaped smokers' products, such as cigarettes, are turned
out by so-called cigarette rod makers which produce one or more
continuous rod-like fillers. Each filler is draped into a web of
cigarette paper or other suitable wrapping material, and the
resulting continuous rod is severed by a so-called cutoff to yield
a file of discrete cigarettes of unit length or multiple unit
length. If the material of which the filler is made contains short
and long tobacco particles, the initially obtained mixture of such
particles is treated to segregate the short particles from the long
particles, the segregated long particles are advanced to a stream
forming or building station or zone along a first path, and the
segregated short particles are transported to the stream building
zone along a second path. The stream is trimmed or equalized to
convert it into a rod-like filler which is then ready to be draped
into cigarette paper or the like.
[0003] As a rule, the stream building zone is designed in such a
way that the stream is formed at the underside of the lower reach
of an endless foraminous conveyor belt. A suction chamber at the
upper side of the lower reach of the belt attracts the short and
long particles to the belt.
[0004] Comminuted tobacco leaves which are to constitute the
fillers of cigarettes and the like consist of long and medium long
shreds (hereinafter called long particles) and invariably also of
short particles or shreds (fragments of long and/or medium long
shreds). The development of short particles is unavoidable; such
particles are produced during each stage of processing of the long
particles and they must be distributed with considerable care
because they do not contribute to structural stability of the
fillers. In other words, the distribution of long particles must
take place with a view to ensure adequate stability of each section
of a continuous rod-like filler which is being produced in a
cigarette maker, and the distribution of the short particles must
be such that they cannot adversely affect the stability of the
filler but merely add to the quantity of smokable material. It is
customary to seek a uniform or substantially uniform distribution
of short particles in the filler.
[0005] German patent No. 12 41 744 proposes to fractionate a
mixture of fragments of tobacco ribs, short, medium long and long
tobacco particles in such a way that an oscillating sieve
segregates short and medium long particles from the long particles
and from the ribs. The thus segregated short and medium long
particles are caused to form a layer, and the long particles and
long ribs are distributed on top of the layer. Thus, the resulting
twin layer contains all constituents of the original mixture. The
next step involves pneumatically lifting the short, medium long and
long particles for conversion into a rod-like filler. The fragments
of tobacco ribs are too heavy to ascend with the short, medium long
and long particles. The thus obtained filler contains a reasonably
homogeneous mixture of all three groups of (short, medium long and
long) shreds.
[0006] Commonly owned German patent No. 34 38 125 A1 proposes to
employ a vibratory conveyor with two superimposed bottom walls. The
upper bottom wall has openings which are large enough to permit the
passage of medium long and short tobacco particles. This upper
bottom wall is further provided with grooves for collection of
tobacco ribs. The thus segregated long shreds are removed from the
upper bottom wall and are reunited with the segregated medium long
and short tobacco particles which were intercepted by the lower
bottom wall. The ribs are removed from their grooves and are
transported away for further processing. The result of such
treatment is the provision of a reasonably homogeneous mixture of
short, medium long and long tobacco particles.
[0007] Published German patent application No. 15 32 231 proposes
to gather short tobacco particles in a container and to monitor the
quantity of the thus gathered short particles. The contents of the
container are delivered to a suction conveyor for long tobacco
particles at a rate which is a function of the quantity of short
particles. This proposal, too, leads to a reasonably uniform
distribution of short tobacco particles in the flow of long
particles.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a method of
uniformly distributing short tobacco particles in a mass, flow,
stream or an analogous accumulation of long tobacco particles in a
manner which is simpler and less expensive but more reliable than
heretofore known proposals.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a method of
making a rod-like filler of tobacco particles which is more
homogeneous than heretofore known fillers.
[0010] A further object of this invention is to provide a rod-like
tobacco filler the structural stability of which exceeds that of
heretofore known fillers employing short and long tobacco
particles.
[0011] An additional object of the instant invention is to provide
a method which can be practiced without the development of
significant amounts of additional short tobacco particles.
[0012] Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel
and improved apparatus for the practice of the above outlined
method.
[0013] A further object of our invention is to provide a novel and
improved machine for the making of cigarettes, cigarillos or
analogous rod-shaped smokers' products.
[0014] An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel
and improved distribution of short and long tobacco particles in
the fillers of cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and analogous
rod-shaped smokers' products.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide rod-shaped
smokers' products wherein the fillers contain short and long
tobacco particles in a distribution superior to that proposed in
the aforediscussed patents.
[0016] Still another object of the invention is to provide novel
and improved fillers for cigarettes and analogous smokers'
products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] One feature of the present invention resides in the
provision of a method of converting a mixture of short and long
tobacco particles into a rod-like filler, e.g., into a filler of
the type confined in the tubular wrapper of a plain cigarette. The
improved method comprises the steps of segregating the short
particles of the mixture from the long particles, advancing an
elongated stream of segregated long particles along a predetermined
path, and admitting into the path short particles for heterogeneous
distribution in the stream.
[0018] The method can further comprise the step of gathering
segregated short particles into batches or analogous accumulations
prior to the admitting step. The admitting step of such method can
include introducing into the path a series of spaced apart batches,
and such method can further comprise the steps of confining the
stream and the batches in a tubular wrapper and severing the
wrapper and the stream between successive batches. The advancing
step of such method can include moving lengthwise a stream
consisting of long tobacco particles and having two spaced-apart
marginal portions, and the admitting step can include applying to
one side of the stream batches of short particles in spaced-apart
positions from at least one marginal portion.
[0019] The improved method can further comprise the step of
gathering short particles into a mass prior to the admitting step.
The admitting step of such method can include monitoring the
quantity of short particles in the mass and introducing short
particles from the mass into the stream at a rate which is
dependent upon the quantity of short particles in the mass.
[0020] Still further, the improved method can comprise the steps of
gathering short particles into unequal batches prior to the
admitting step and thereupon equalizing the batches. The admitting
step of such method preferably includes introducing equalized
batches of short particles into the path at at least substantially
identical intervals.
[0021] Another feature of the present invention resides in the
provision of an apparatus for building a tobacco filler for the
making of cigarettes or other rod-shaped smokers' products from a
mixture of short and long tobacco particles. The improved apparatus
comprises means for segregating short particles of the mixture from
the long particles, means for advancing an elongated stream of
segregated long particles along a predetermined path, and means for
admitting into longitudinally spaced-apart portions of the
elongated stream batches of segregated short particles in a
heterogeneous distribution.
[0022] The advancing means can include an endless foraminous
conveyor and means for attracting segregated long particles as well
as batches of short particles to the conveyor.
[0023] The admitting means can include a rotary suction drum having
a peripheral array of suction chambers for the delivery of batches
of short particles to a predetermined portion of the path. Such
apparatus can further comprise means for converting the stream into
discrete fillers of rod-shaped smokers' products having a
predetermined length. The aforementioned suction chambers are
preferably dimensioned in such a way that their length (as seen
circumferentially of the drum and hence longitudinally of the path)
is less than the predetermined length. The path can have a width
which exceeds the width of a batch, and the drum is preferably
arranged to deliver batches of short particles at least
substantially centrally of the path.
[0024] The segregating means can comprise at least one mobile sieve
having a mesh such that the sieve permits at least some short
particles to pass therethrough but intercepts at least the majority
of long particles.
[0025] The apparatus can further comprise means for collecting
short particles upon segregation from long particles, and means for
monitoring the quantity of short particles in the collecting
means.
[0026] In a presently preferred embodiment of the improved
apparatus, the admitting means comprises a vibratory conveyor which
is arranged to transport segregated short particles from the
segregating means toward the path for the stream of long particles,
and a suction conveyor which is arranged to attract short particles
from the vibratory conveyor and to deliver the thus attracted short
particles to the path.
[0027] The apparatus can also comprise means for collecting short
particles upon segregation from the long particles of the mixture,
and the admitting means of such apparatus can comprise a conveyor
for advancement of short particles to the path as well as means for
transferring metered quantities of short particles from the
collecting means to such conveyor.
[0028] The admitting means can also include means for trimming the
batches of short particles prior to their entry into the path for
the stream of segregated long particles.
[0029] The admitting means can include a first suction conveyor
which is rotatable about an at least substantially horizontal axis,
and the advancing means can comprise a second suction conveyor
which is disposed at a level above the first suction conveyor and
is arranged to accept short particles from the first conveyor.
[0030] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of
the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.
The improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction
and the modes of assembling and operating the same, together with
numerous additional important and advantageous 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 DRAWING
[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of the distributor in
a cigarette rod making machine wherein the short and long tobacco
particles are manipulated in accordance with one presently
preferred embodiment of our invention;
[0032] FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the part A
of the machine as seen from the left-hand side of FIG. 1; and
[0033] FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged view of a detail in the machine
of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] FIG. 1 illustrates a distributor 1 (also called hopper and
hereinafter referred to as hopper) of a cigarette rod making
machine. The latter comprises a pneumatic conveyor system 4 serving
as a means for advancing an elongated stream (condensed shower 102)
of long tobacco particles 99 along a horizontal path defined by the
lower reach of stretch of an endless foraminous belt conveyor 86
(see also FIGS. 2 and 3). The means for segregating short tobacco
particles 78 from the long particles 99 includes a vibratory sieve
27 in the hopper 1, and the means for admitting trimmed or
equalized batches 114 of short tobacco particles into the path for
the stream (converted shower 102) of long particles 99 includes a
rotary suction drum or wheel 82.
[0035] The hopper 1 comprises a gate 6 which receives a mixture of
randomly distributed (intermixed) short and long tobacco particles
78 and 99 from a suitable source, e.g., from a tobacco shredder,
not shown. The gate 6 is mounted at a level above a preliminary
distributor 8. A photoelectronic sensor 9 in the distributor 8
transmits a signal when the upper surface of the supply of mixture
of short and long tobacco particles 78, 99 descends to a
predetermined level, and such signal actuates a motor 21 (e.g., a
hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston unit) which pivots a
flap 17 to permit a fresh supply of the mixture to enter the
distributor 8. The manner in which the gate 6 can replenish the
supply of mixture in the distributor 8 is or can be similar to or
identical with that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,538 granted
Feb. 15, 1983 to Wolfgang Steiniger for "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
FORMING A STREAM FROM SEVERAL TYPES OF TOBACCO".
[0036] The lower part of the distributor 8 contains a driven rotary
combing roller 10 which propels a flow of mixture along a suitable
(e.g., sheet metal) guide 12 and into a primary magazine 14 of the
hopper 1. A vibratory conveyor 16 discharges short tobacco
particles into the primary magazine 14 and receives such short
particles from a trimming or equalizing device 19 (FIG. 2). The
arrow 18 denotes in FIG. 2 a stream of surplus tobacco (short
particles) which was removed by the trimming device 19 and is on
its way into the chute 16 and thence into the magazine 14, i.e.,
back into the hopper 1.
[0037] An endless elevator conveyor 22 has a rising stretch which
is adjacent the main magazine 14 and is provided with equidistant
platforms or paddles 20 for advancement of successive accumulations
of the mixture of long and short tobacco particles onto the top
surface of a vibrating and/or otherwise agitated sieve 27. The
primary magazine 14 contains an upper level detector 15a and a
lower level detector 15b. These detectors generate signals which
initiate movements of the right-hand reach or stretch of the
elevator conveyor 22 in the direction indicated in FIG. 1 by the
arrow 24. The upper detector 15a can initiate or terminate (when
necessary) the admission of the mixture from the distributor 8
(i.e., the operation of the roller 10), and the lower detector 15b
can arrest the entire hopper 1 or the entire cigarette maker when
it detects that the level of the mixture of short and long tobacco
particles has descended below a preselected value. Reference may be
had again to U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,538 to Steiniger.
[0038] The deflecting roller or pulley 26 at the upper end of the
elevator conveyor 22 causes the latter to discharge successive
ascending accumulations of the mixture from the main magazine 14
onto the vibratory sieve 27. This sieve segregates short tobacco
particles (78) from the long particles (99) and permits the
segregated short particles to enter into a storage facility
(container) 29 beneath the sieve 27.
[0039] The container 29 also accommodates upper and lower level
detectors 31 (such as photocells). Short tobacco particles 78
descend through the sieve 27 and gather in the container 29. Such
short particles are evacuated from the container 29 by a metering
unit 70 and are delivered to a vibratory conveyor 76 for short
particles by a further conveyor or a further system of conveyors
schematically indicated in FIG. 1 by a dotted line 72.
[0040] The long tobacco particles 99 cannot pass through the
vibrating sieve 27 and are caused to advance past a magnet or any
other suitable metal detecting and removing unit 28 on their way
into an upright duct 32. The latter terminates at a level above a
rotary removing conveyor 34 having a carding advancing past a
rapidly driven picker roller 40 which propels the longer particles
99 into a downwardly tapering duct 46. The picker roller 40
cooperates with the conveyor 34 to form therewith the shower 102 of
long tobacco particles 99 which are advanced toward and against the
underside of the lower reach of the foraminous belt conveyor
86.
[0041] A nozzle 48 at the lower end of the duct 46 discharges one
or more jets of compressed air or another gaseous fluid which
propels or propel long tobacco particles 99 through a mouthpiece 62
and against the concave upper side of a guide 54. Ribs and other
heavy particles of the flow descending in the duct 32 advance
downwardly by gravity beyond the nozzle 48 and are evacuated into a
collecting receptacle or conveyor 61 by a cell wheel 56 and a duct
60.
[0042] Any short tobacco particles (shown in FIG. 3 at 50) which
have descended with tobacco ribs into the range of the cell wheel
56 can rise in a duct 58 to enter the space above the concave guide
54 and to form with the longer particles 99 a stream or flow 51
which is converted into the shower 102 not later than when
approaching the underside of the lower reach of the foraminous belt
conveyor 86. The mouthpiece 62 of FIG. 1 contains at least one
compressed air chamber which discharges compressed air in a
direction to the left to thus establish suction in the duct 58
and/or 60 in order to draw short (light) tobacco particles 78 (if
any) onto the guide 54 and into the stream of long (heavy) tobacco
particles deflected by the nozzle 48 and advancing toward the
underside of the lower reach of the endless foraminous belt
conveyor 86.
[0043] As already mentioned hereinbefore, the short tobacco
particles 50 shown in FIG. 3 advance with the heavier and longer
particles 99 along the guide 54 and directly to the underside of
the lower reach of the endless foraminous belt conveyor 86. The
means for advancing longer particles 99 from the sieve 27 (i.e.,
from the station where the short particles 78 are segregated from
the longer particles 99) to the conveyor 86 includes the duct 32,
the rotary conveyor 34 and the picker roller 40, the duct 46, the
compressed air nozzle 48 and the guide 54. The means for advancing
short particles 78 from the storage container 29 to the vibratory
conveyor 76 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises the metering device 70
at the outlet of the container 29; this metering device receives
signals from the sensors 31 which monitor the supply of short
tobacco particles in the container 29. Such short particles advance
from the metering device 70 to the conveyor 76 along the path
indicated by the dotted line 72; this path can be established, at
least in part, by a slide, a chute, an elevator, a feed screw
and/or in any other suitable manner.
[0044] The means for supplying metered quantities (hereinafter
called batches) 114 of short tobacco particles 78 from the
vibratory conveyor 76 to the underside of the lower reach of the
conveyor 86 includes the suction wheel or suction drum 82 having an
annular array of equidistant peripheral suction chambers or grooves
or recesses 80 which communicate with a suitable suction generating
device (such as a blower or a suction pump) while advancing with
the drum 82 past an arcuate slot 98 in a counterclockwise direction
from the approximately 6 o'clock to the approximately 12 o'clock
position, as viewed in FIG. 2.
[0045] The drum 82 is installed for rotation in a vertical plane,
about a horizontal axis, and at a level below the lower reach of
the foraminous conveyor 86. That suction chamber 80 which reaches
the 6 o'clock position begins to communicate with the suction
generating device (via slot 98) and attracts a quantity of short
tobacco particles 78 being supplied by the vibratory conveyor 76.
Such quantity of short particles normally exceeds that which should
be contained in a finished batch 114; therefore, the drum 82
cooperates with a scraper 106 which removes the surplus from the
accumulations confined in successive chambers 80 and returns the
removed surplus onto the vibratory conveyor 76 for renewed delivery
into the range of the drum 82. The equalized batches 114 advance to
the 12 o'clock position of the drum 82, i.e., beyond the suction
slot 98, and are attracted to the underside of the lower reach of
the foraminous conveyor 86 by the suction chamber 87 of the
conveyor assembly 4.
[0046] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the horizontal shaft 83 of the
drum 82 is mounted in an antifriction bearing 84 which, in turn, is
mounted in a housing 81. The shaft 83 can be driven by a suitable
prime mover 85, e.g., an electric motor. The aforementioned suction
generating device can draw air from successive ascending suction
chamber 80 by way of a conduit 88 which communicates with the slot
98 and delivers air in the direction indicated by arrows 87. The
connection between the slot 98 and the suction chamber 80 is
established by way of radial channels 92 provided in the drum 82.
The character 120 denotes an air admitting conduit which admits
atmospheric air into the suction chambers 80 at or close to the
lower reach of the belt conveyor 86 (i.e., at the topmost portion
of the turret 82) so that successive freshly trimmed or equalized
batches 114 are no longer attracted by the suction generating
device which draws air from the chambers 80 while they advance past
the slot 98, i.e., the conduit 120 permits the suction chamber 87
to attract the batches 114 into the shower 102 of long tobacco
particles 99 which advance along the underside of the lower reach
of the belt conveyor 86.
[0047] The operation of the hopper 1 will be understood upon
perusal of the preceding description of FIGS. 1 to 3. As far as the
making of the batches 114 is concerned, and the distribution of
such batches at the underside of the lower reach of the belt 86,
the corresponding parts of the cigarette making machine are
operated as follows:
[0048] The drum 82 is driven by the prime mover 85 in the direction
indicated by the arrow 94 (FIG. 2). The vibratory conveyor 76
delivers a continuous flow of short tobacco particles 78 at the
rate selected by the metering unit 70. Successive increments of the
flow advancing on the conveyor 76 in the direction of arrow 96 are
picked up (at 104) by successive suction chambers 80 of the drum 82
and are moved counterclockwise (arrow 94) toward and past the
scraper 106 which removes the surplus and thus converts the
(remaining) contents of successive suction chambers 80 into
discrete batches each having a preselected size and shape. Such
finished batches continue to remain in the respective suction
chambers 80 during movement at least close to the apex (at 100) of
the drum 82. There, the batches 114 enter the shower 102 of long
tobacco particles 99 and are attracted by the suction chamber 87 of
the conveyor assembly 4, i.e., of the means for advancing the
stream or flow of tobacco particles toward the trimming device 19.
The air admitting opening 120 is adjacent the apex 100.
[0049] The peripheral speed of the drum 82 matches the speed of
lengthwise movement of the belt conveyor 86, i.e., the batches 114
which are delivered by successive chambers 80 do not move relative
to the stream (converted shower 102) of long tobacco particles 99
advancing toward the trimming device 19.
[0050] The batches 114 are shorter than the discrete cigarettes
which are obtained upon severing of the continuous cigarette rod
having a filler 110 consisting of the converted shower 102 and a
file of trimmed batches 114 therein. Furthermore, the suction
chambers 80, and hence the trimmed batches 114, are spaced apart
from each other, as seen in the circumferential direction of the
drum 82 and in the longitudinal direction of the stream building
zone at the underside of the lower reach of the belt conveyor 86.
Still further, the drum 82 is driven in synchronism with the
operation of the cutoff (not shown) which severs the wrapped filler
110 (consisting of a flow of longer particles 99, of the short
particles 50 which are admixed to the shower 102, and of equalized
batches 114) so that the wrapped filler 110 is severed midway or at
least substantially midway between successive trimmed batches 114.
As concerns the construction and the mode of operation of a cutoff
which can be utilized in a cigarette rod making machine embodying
the structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, reference can be had to
commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,471 granted Sep. 24, 1991 to
Helmut Niemann for "APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND GUIDING CIGARETTE
ROD AND THE LIKE". This patent further shows a wrapping mechanism
which can be utilized to drape the tobacco-containing rod-like
filler into a web of cigarette paper or the like upstream of the
cutoff.
[0051] The cutoff severs the cigarette rod including the filler 110
of FIG. 2 across the body of long tobacco particles 99 between
successive pairs of spaced apart equalized batches 114.
[0052] The distance between the underside of the lower reach of the
foraminous belt 86 and the topmost portion of the drum 82 is or can
be selected in such a way that the equalized batches 114 come to
rest in the central portion 108 of the trimmed filler 110, i.e.,
that each batch 114 is completely surrounded by long tobacco
particles 99. Furthermore, the dimensions and the positions of the
suction chambers 80 can be selected in such a way that the width of
a batch 114 at the underside of the lower reach of the belt
conveyor 86 is less than the width of the converted shower 102,
i.e., that the long tobacco particles in the stream approaching the
trimming device 19 extend laterally beyond the batches 114.
[0053] The illustrated trimming device 19 is designed in such a way
that longitudinally spaced apart portions 112 of the finished
rod-like filler 110 contain more tobacco than those between the
portions 112. This results in the making of cigarettes having dense
ends. The portions 112 are or can be located exactly midway between
successive equalized batches 114 of short tobacco 78. Apparatus
which can trim a tobacco stream in such a way that the stream is
converted into a filler of the type shown at 110 in FIG. 2 of the
present application are disclosed in numerous U.S. and foreign
patents and applications owned by the assignee of the present
application.
[0054] In the appended claims, the distribution of batches 114 of
short tobacco particles 78 in the converted shower 102 of long
tobacco particles 99 will be referred to as a heterogeneous
distribution. As utilized in the appended claims, the term
"heterogeneous distribution" is intended to denote that selected
portions of the filler (110) contain only or predominantly long
tobacco particles (99) but that certain other portions of such
filler contain batches of short tobacco particles (78) as well as
quantities of long tobacco particles. Otherwise stated, the
quantity of short tobacco (78) per unit length of the finished
smokers' product varies from section to section (as seen
longitudinally of such product).
[0055] An important advantage of the improved method and apparatus
is that they can be utilized for the making of cigarettes or
analogous smokers' products wherein the rod-like fillers are much
sturdier than in conventionally built smokers' products of such
character. This is important and advantageous because different
portions of a cigarette or an analogous smokers' product are often
subject to different stresses. It has been ascertained that a
substantially heterogeneously distributed group or series or file
of short tobacco greatly enhances the stability of the ultimate
products. The exact nature of heterogeneous distribution of batches
of short tobacco particles in the mass of long tobacco particles
depends upon certain circumstances of actual use of the batches 114
and/or of analogous accumulations of particles 78. Metering of
short tobacco particles 78 in the suction chambers 80 of the drum
82 by the scraper 106 or the like also contributes to the making of
a rod-like filler 110 with a foreseen (predictable) heterogeneous
distribution of short tobacco particles in the long tobacco
particles and the small quantity (if any) of short particles 50
which together form the shower 102.
[0056] Gathering of short tobacco particles 78 into batches 114 and
the distribution of such batches in a manner as shown in FIG. 2
render it possible to ensure that the free ends of the fillers of
cigarettes or the like do not contain short tobacco particles
because the cutoff can sever the cigarette paper surrounding the
filler 110 between (rather than across) successive batches 114. The
likelihood of escape of short tobacco particles 78 and/or 50 at the
ends of discrete cigarettes is even more remote if the trimming
device 19 is designed to provide the filler 110 with projecting
portions 112 or the like and if such projecting portions alternate
with the batches 114 so that they can be severed subsequent to
draping of the filler 110 and during subdivision of the thus
obtained cigarette rod, cigarillo rod or the like into discrete
rod-shaped smokers' products.
[0057] The feature that the batches 114 are implanted in the filler
110 in such a way that they are fully or at least substantially
surrounded by long tobacco particles 99 ensures that the stresses
to which the filler of a cigarette or the like is subjected are
taken up only or almost exclusively by the long tobacco particles
99. Embedding of a file of spaced-apart batches 114 of short
tobacco particles in the central portion of the filler 110 has been
found to contribute significantly to the stability as well as to
other desirable and advantageous characteristics (such as little
likelihood that short tobacco would escape at the ends) of the
finished smokers' products.
[0058] The scraper 106 can constitute a simple tool which simply
sweeps away the surplus of short tobacco particles 78 at the
radially outer ends of the suction chambers 80, or a more complex
(e.g., rotary) trimming or equalizing implement. The removed
surplus descends onto the vibratory conveyor 76 and is advanced
back into the range of the rotating drum 82 for reintroduction into
the oncoming empty suction chambers.
[0059] 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 conrtribution to the art of
making rod-like fillers for cigarettes 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.
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