U.S. patent application number 10/337422 was filed with the patent office on 2003-07-17 for apparatus for perforating the wrappers of rod-shaped smokers' products and the like.
Invention is credited to Dombek, Manfred.
Application Number | 20030131856 10/337422 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7711654 |
Filed Date | 2003-07-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030131856 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dombek, Manfred |
July 17, 2003 |
Apparatus for perforating the wrappers of rod-shaped smokers'
products and the like
Abstract
Tubular envelopes of successive rod-shaped products, such as
cigarettes and/or filter rod sections, are caused to turn about
their longitudinal axes and to simultaneously move sideways during
advancement through a perforating station. At least one laser or
another source of high-energy radiation directs at least one beam
of radiation against a radiation-reflecting body which is caused to
turn about its axis and has one or more curved, such as helical,
surfaces serving to cause migration of and to simultaneously
reflect the beam or beams upon one or more selected portions of the
envelope of the rod-shaped product then moving through the
perforating station. The thus refected beam(s) perforates or
perforate the envelope being advanced through the station.
Inventors: |
Dombek, Manfred;
(Dassendorf, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE, BAETJER, HOWARD AND CIVILETTI, LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Family ID: |
7711654 |
Appl. No.: |
10/337422 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/281 ;
131/27.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24C 5/606 20130101;
B23K 26/0823 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/281 ;
131/27.1 |
International
Class: |
A24C 001/38; A24C
005/60 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 8, 2002 |
DE |
102 00 402.1 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for providing successive tubular envelopes of
rod-shaped products with regions of desired permeability while the
envelopes advance through a perforating station, comprising: a
source arranged to emit at least one beam of high-energy radiation;
and a radiation-reflecting body rotatable about a predetermined
axis and having at least one surface at least a section of which is
curved and is arranged to reflect and to cause simultaneous
migration of the at least one beam while said body rotates about
said axis to thus direct the at least one beam against the envelope
advancing through the perforating station with attendant formation
of perforations therein.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said section of said at least
one surface is strip-shaped.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said section of said at least
one surface is a helix.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said helix has an axis which
is at least substantially parallel to said predetermined axis.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said helix has an axis which
at least substantially coincides with said predetermined axis.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said source is arranged to
direct said at least one beam upon said at least one surface at a
predetermined angle of incidence, said helix having an axis which
is at least substantially parallel to said at least one beam.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said radiation reflecting body
includes a cylinder having an axis coinciding with said
predetermined axis and a peripheral surface including said at least
one surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said body has an external
surface and said at least one surface is inclined relative to said
external surface.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one surface
includes a plurality of discrete curved sections.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said body includes partitions
intermediate said sections.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of said partitions
includes one of (a) a step and (b) an uneven part of said body.
12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein each of said sections
includes first and second end portions respectively disposed in
discrete first and second planes at least substantially parallel to
each other.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said planes are at least
substantially normal to said predetermined axis.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said first and second planes
of the first and second end portions of each of said sections are
spaced apart from each other.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said body has a peripheral
surface and said sections are at least substantially uniformly
distributed at said peripheral surface.
16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said sections are at least
substantially identical with each other regarding at least one of
their (a) shapes, (b) directions and (c) leads.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said section of said at least
one surface is a helix having with respect to said axis a lead of
at least close to 45.degree..
18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source includes at least
one laser.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said laser is arranged to
emit at least one pulsed beam of corpuscular radiation.
20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source and said
radiation-reflecting body are installed in a machine for making
rod-shaped smokers' products.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED CASES
[0001] This application claims the priority of the commonly owned
copending German patent application Serial No. 102 00 402.1 filed
Jan. 8, 2002. The disclosure of the above-identified German patent
application, as well as that of each US and/or foreign patent
and/or patent application identified in the specification of the
present application, is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to improvements in apparatus for
providing selected portions of sheet-like wrapping material with
regions or zones of desired permeability, and more particularly to
improvements in apparatus for selecting the permeability of
wrapping material for rod-like articles, especially rod-like
articles of the tobacco processing industry. Still more
particularly, the invention relates to improvements in apparatus
wherein at least one rotary body is provided with at least one
reflecting surface for at least one beam or ray of high-energy
radiation which is directed against a moving sheet-like wrapping
material while the body is caused to turn about its axis whereby
the at least one beam perforates the sheet-like material. Still
more particularly, the invention relates to improvements in
apparatus wherein the at least one portion of the reflecting
surface of the at least one rotary body is designed to ensure
migration of the at least one beam which is being reflected
thereby.
[0003] The rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry
the wrappers of which can be perforated in the apparatus of the
present invention are intended to encompass all such articles the
normally tubular wrappers or envelopes of which are intended to be
perforated by one or more beams of energy-rich radiation during or
subsequent to the making of the articles. Such articles include
plain or filter cigarettes, filter mouthpieces, cigarillos, cigars,
papyrossi and the like. The wrapping material for the contents
(fillers) of such rod-shaped articles can consist of cigarette
paper, other paper, uniting bands which are utilized to connect
tobacco-containing rod-shaped articles (such as plain cigarettes)
with filter mouthpieces, webs of coherent uniting bands made of
so-called tipping paper such as artificial cork or the like and/or
others. The perforating of such wrapping material can take place
during or subsequent to unwinding of a continuous web or strip from
a bobbin, reel or the like, subsequent to subdivision of the web or
strip into discrete uniting bands and/or subsequent to convoluting
of the continuous web or uniting band around a continuous rod-like
filler of tobacco or filter material or subsequent to convoluting
of discrete uniting bands around two or more coaxial rod-shaped
tobacco- or filter material-containing products.
[0004] An important advantage of properly perforated tubular
envelopes of requisite permeability is that at least the perforated
sections of such envelopes exhibit a desired or optimum
permeability which allows entry of atmospheric air into the column
of tobacco smoke flowing through the envelope from the lighted end
toward the mouth of the smoker. This exerts a desirable influence
upon the percentage of nicotine and/or condensate in that part of
tobacco smoke which enters the mouth and the lungs of the smoker.
In addition, atmospheric air entering the column of tobacco smoke
is considered by many smokers to exert a beneficial influence upon
the taste of tobacco smoke.
[0005] As a rule, or in many instances, the source of energy-rich
radiation which is resorted to in order to perforate the wrapping
material for rod-shaped smokers' products including cigarettes,
filters for tobacco smoke and filter cigarettes or the like
constitutes or employs one or more lasers or other sources of
corpuscular radiation. The beam or beams of radiation issuing from
the laser or lasers is or are normally deflected by one or more
lenses and/or other optical elements which causes or cause the beam
or beams to impinge upon a moving wrapping material, e.g., upon a
running web, upon running uniting bands or upon a running tubular
envelope surrounding a cigarette, a cigarette filter and/or the
like. It is desirable to ensure highly predictable influencing of
permeability, i.e., uniform distribution of perforations in
selected portion(s) of the running web, uniting band or tubular
envelope and/or the making of perforations having a desired size
and/or shape. Such circumstances should prevail during the making
of long series of smokers' products, e.g., in a cigarette making
machine which can turn out up to and in excess of 20,000 rod-shaped
articles per minute.
[0006] Many presently known apparatus for making perforations in
running webs or in running uniting bands and/or in rapidly
advancing tubular envelopes often employ drum- or roller-shaped
conveyors which are set up to transport the commodities to be
perforated (e.g., the tubular wrappers of cigarettes or filter rod
sections) sideways, e.g., at right angles to the longitudinal axes
of the rod-shaped commodities. Such conveyors advance successive
commodities through a perforating zone wherein the wrapping
material is subjected to the action of one or more beams of
energy-rich corpuscular radiation or the like. In order to enlarge
the area of the sheet-like material which is to be perforated, it
is customary to cause the tubular envelope of a cigarette, filter
rod or the like to turn during transport through the perforating
zone. Thus, a cigarette moving through the perforating zone is
normally caused to move sideways (such as exactly at right angles
to its longitudinal axis) and to simultaneously turn about such
axis. The means for imparting to a cigarette a rotary movement
about its axis can include a stationary or mobile surface which is
in more or less linear contact with the cigarette in the
perforating zone, or a roller which cooperates with the drum or an
analogous conveyor that serves to move the cigarette sideways. The
arrangement is often such that the conveyor which moves the
cigarette sideways contacts the wrapper at one side of the
longitudinal axis of the cigarette, and that the rolling surface
contacts the cigarette substantially diametrically opposite the
conveyor.
[0007] Many presently known perforating apparatus for the tubular
wrappers of cigarettes, filter mouthpieces or the like are
assembled in such a way that a drum-shaped conveyor moves a
continuous series of cigarettes or like rod-shaped articles
sideways, that a stationary or mobile rolling member causes
successive rod-shaped articles of the series to turn about their
respective axes, at least at the perforating station, and that each
article is caused to complete a full 360-degree rolling movement
about its axis during travel through the perforating station. Such
arrangement ensures that the perforations in the selected portion
of the tubular envelope are distributed along an arc of at least
substantially 360.degree., i.e., that atmospheric air can enter the
column of tobacco smoke in a smokers' article from all the way
around such article. This can be achieved if each beam of radiation
impinging upon the envelope of an article moving through the
perforating station is caused to move relative to the station. Such
task is performed by the aforementioned rotary body which is caused
to turn about a predetermined axis. As a rule, the body is rotated
by a discrete drive and is provided with a surface which reflects
radiation issuing from the source, e.g., a laser, while the body
rotates about the predetermined axis. The optical system focusses
the moving beam upon the wrapping material at the perforating
station so that the beam produces holes of desired shape, size
and/or distribution. The reflecting surface(s) of the rotary body
serves or serve as one or more mirros arranged to ensure migration
of each deflected beam along a predetermined path defined by
successive points of contact between the beam and the wrapping
material. Such follow-up movements of the reflected beam(s) ensure
highly predictable and rapid increase of permeability of selected
portions of a continuous web, of a series of uniting bands or of a
series of successive tubular wrappers.
[0008] It is to be noted that, as a rule, the radiation source is
caused to modulate each beam. In most instances, such modulation
involves pulsing of the beam or beams so that the enhancement of
permeability involves the making of discrete holes in lieu of
elongated (e.g., circumferentially extending) slots. The discrete
holes can form two or more circumferentially extending and/or
otherwise oriented rows. The pulse sequences are or can be
adjustable to thus select the spacing between successive holes
(perforations) of one or more rows; this enables the apparatus to
provide the perforated portions of the webs, uniting bands and/or
tubular envelopes with any one of a practically infinite number of
different patterns of holes and/or other forms of perforations.
Certain presently preferred variations involve the making of rows
of circular perforations having variable sizes and/or shapes and/or
spacings from each other. Furthermore, the rows of identical or
different perforations can be placed nearer to or at greater
distances from each other and/or they can extend circumferentially
and/or longitudinally of the respective rod-shaped smokers'
products such as plain or filter cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars
and/or filter mouthpieces.
[0009] European patent No. 1 018 392 A2 discloses a perforating
apparatus which is designed to make holes in the tubular envelopes
of rod-shaped articles, particularly cigarettes. The patented
apparatus comprises a light source which generates at least one
high-energy beam serving to perforate the envelopes, a follow-up
device for the at least one beam, a perforating station which is
established by the follow-up device and wherein the envelope of a
cigarette moving therethrough is perforated, means for causing a
cigarette moving through the perforating zone to turn about its
longitudinal axis and to thus expose a substantial part of its
envelope to the action of the beam or beams, and means for
transporting cigarettes through the perforating zone. The
aforementioned follow-up device comprises at least one pivotable
mirror. Prior to reaching the perforating zone, the at least one
light beam is caused to pass through at least one light refracting
unit which ensures that the at least one beam remains focussed upon
the envelope within the entire perforating zone. Thus, the just
described patented apparatus is capable of ensuring that the
(migrating) beam or beams follows or follow a cigarette during
travel through the perforating zone and to provide perforations
extending circumferentially of the tubuar wrapper.
[0010] German patent No. 40 38 928 A1 proposes a cigarette
perforating apparatus which employs a rotary member provided with a
stepped peripheral surface. The steps or stages of such surface are
parallel to each other and constitute deflecting mirrors for a
laser beam which serves to perforate the wrappers of cigarettes.
The beam is guided in such a way that it impinges upon the
reflecting surface at an angle to the axis of the rotary member and
that it is alternatingly deflected into different paths by the
stepped portions of the peripheral surface, and such paths are
parallel to each other. The just described arrangement ensures that
the number of the thus obtained perforations matches the number of
steps or stages in the peripheral surface of the rotary member. A
drawback of such apparatus is that its versatility is rather
limited, i.e., it can merely provide the envelope of a cigarette
with perforations which are spaced apart from each other in the
axial direction of the cigarette but the perforations cannot be
distributed in the circumferential direction of the cigarette which
is caused to move axially through the perforating station.
[0011] A further apparatus for the making of perforations in
wrapping material which is to be converted into tubular envelopes
of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped products of the tobacco
processing industry is disclosed in German patent No. 195 11 393
A1. This apparatus also comprises a rotary body which constitutes a
polygonal mirror serving to cyclically deflect a laser beam through
a predetermined angle while the body rotates. A series of
neighboring optical elements are disposed next to each other in the
path of the laser beam which is being deflected by the polygonal
mirror, and each such optical element directs the beam upon a
predetermined portion of the wrapping material. Thus, the envelope
of a cigarette or the like which is confined in a portion of the
thus treated wrapping material can be provided with several
perforations the number of which matches the number of optical
elements. During treatment (i.e., during the making of
perforations), the wrapping material is spread out to lie flat upon
a support and it must move relative to the perforating apparatus. A
drawback of the just described apparatus is that the wrapping
material must move through a separate perforating unit during a
stage preceding the draping of such material around successive
rod-shaped articles or around a continuous rod-like filler of
tobacco or filter material for tobacco smoke. Moreover, the
perforations in the tubular envelopes made of the thus treated
wrapping material extend only longitudinally (axially) of the
ultimate rod-shaped products.
[0012] To summarize: All of the aforediscussed conventional methods
and apparatus exhibit the drawback that, even though they can
provide discrete perforations in selected portions of the wrappers
of cigarettes or the like, they are not designed to ensure
continuous movements of a focussed laser beam or the like,
especially while a rod-shaped article moves sideways, in such a way
that the envelope of the article is provided with circumferentially
extending perforations.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a
perforating apparatus wherein a beam of high-energy radiation, such
as a laser beam, can be maintained in continuous motion by
resorting to relatively simple kinematics.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide novel and
improved beam guiding and modulating means between a laser or
another suitable source of radiation and the material which is to
be perforated.
[0015] A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and
improved method of influencing one or more beams of corpuscular
radiation or the like in a machine for the making of rod-shaped
smokers' products.
[0016] An additional object of the instant invention is to provide
a web perforating apparatus which can be installed in existing
machines for the making of plain or filter cigarettes, filter
mouthpieces and/or other rod-shaped products of the tobacco
processing industry without necessitating any or any pronounced
changes in the construction and/or mode of operation of such
machines.
[0017] Still another object of the invention is to provide an
apparatus which can form the wrappers of rod-shaped articles with
zones of desired permeability in a simple, predictable and readily
adjustable manner.
[0018] A further object of the invention is to provide novel and
improved optical components for utilization in the apparatus of the
above outlined character.
[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide a machine,
such as a cigarette maker or a filter tipping machine, which
embodies one or more apparatus of the above outlined character.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The invention resides in the provision of an apparatus which
is set up to provide successive tubular envelopes or wrappers of
rod-shaped products with regions of desired permeabilities while
the envelopes advance through a perforating station, preferably by
moving sideways and by simultaneously turning about their
longitudinal axes. The improved apparatus comprises a source (such
as a laser) which is arranged to emit at least one beam of
high-energy radiation (such as a pulsating beam of corpuscular
radiation), and a radiation-reflecting body which is rotatable
about a predetermined axis and has at least one surface at least a
section of which is curved (this term is intended to encompass
bent, arched, arcuate and other configurations which are or which
can be said to be curved) and is arranged to reflect and to cause
simultaneous migration (such as periodic shifting or movement) of
the at least one beam while the radiation-reflecting body rotates
about the predetermined axis to thus direct the at least one beam
against the envelope advancing through the perforating station with
attendant (resulting) formation of perforations in the
envelope.
[0021] The aforementioned section of the at least one surface is or
can be strip-shaped.
[0022] In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment, the
aforementioned section of the at least one surface is a helix. The
axis of such helix is or can be at least substantially parallel to
the (predetermined) axis about which the radiation-reflecting body
rotates. Alternatively, the axis of the helix can at least
substantially coincide with the predetermined axis. The source is
or can be arranged to direct the at least one beam upon the at
least one surface at a predetermined angle of incidence, and the
axis of the helix can be at least substantially parallel to such
beam.
[0023] The at least one surface is or can be inclined relative to
the external surface of the radiation-reflecting body. Furthermore,
the at least one surface can include a plurality of discrete curved
sections, and such body can further include partitions between the
sections. For example, each partition can include a step or an
uneven part of the radiation-reflecting body. Each section can
include first and second end portions which are respectively
disposed in discrete first and second planes that are at least
substantially parallel to each other. Such planes are or can be at
least substantially normal to the (predetermined) axis of the
radiation-reflecting body. The first and second planes of the first
and second end portions of each of the sections are spaced apart
from each other. The sections can be at least substantially
uniformly distributed at the peripheral surface of the
radiation-reflecting body. The sections can be at least
substantially identical with each other regarding their shapes,
directions and/or leads.
[0024] If the aforementioned section of the at least one surface is
a helix, the lead of such helix with respect to the predetermined
axis of the radiation-reflecting body is or can at least
approximate 45.degree..
[0025] The source of high-energy radiation can include or
constitute at least one laser, and such laser can be arranged to
emit at least one beam of corpuscular radiation, particularly at
least one pulsed beam of corpuscular radiation.
[0026] The source of high-energy radiation and the
radiation-reflecting body can be installed in a machine for the
making of rod-shaped smokers' products, e.g., in a filter tipping
machine wherein plain cigarettes are assembled with filter rod
sections of unit length or multiple unit length, in a cigarette
making machine or in a filter rod making machine.
[0027] 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, installing and operating the same,
together with numerous additional advantageous and important
features and attributes theeof, will be best understood upon
perusal of the following detailed description of certain presently
preferred specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic front elevational view of a filter
tipping machine which is equipped with permeability enhancing
apparatus embodying one form of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevational view of a rotary
mirror-like radiation-reflecting body which can be utilized in the
improved apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 3a is a schematic side elevational view of an apparatus
which embodies one form of the present invention and employs a
single radiation-reflecting body of the type shown in FIG. 2;
[0031] FIG. 3b is a transverse sectional view as seen in the
direction of arrows from the line 3b-3b in FIG. 3a and shows a beam
of high-energy radiation issuing from a laser forming part of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 3a;
[0032] FIG. 3c is a sectional view of a modulated beam as seen in
the direction of arrows from the line 3c-3c in FIG. 3a;
[0033] FIG. 3d is an enlarged elevational view of an optical
element which is utilized in the perforating apparatus of FIG.
3a;
[0034] FIG. 4a is a front elevational view of a modified apparatus
which employs two rotary radiation reflecting bodies and can be
utilized for simultaneous making of rows of circumferentially
extending perforations in the envelopes of two discrete or still
non-separated rod-shaped products;
[0035] FIG. 4b is a side elevational view of the modified
apparatus, as seen from the left-hand side of FIG. 4a; and
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a filter cigarette of double unit
length and two pulsating beams of corpuscular radiation which are
utilized in a filter cigarette making machine or the like to
simultaneously form two circumferentially extending rows of
perforations.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0037] The filter tipping machine of FIG. 1 is similar to that
disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,008 granted Aug. 4,
1992 to Oesterling et al. for "METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING
FILTER CIGARETTES" or to that disclosed in commonly owned U.S. Pat.
No. 5,054,346 granted Oct. 8, 1991 to Heitmann for "APPARATUS FOR
REPEATEDLY SEVERING RUNNING WEBS OF TIPPING PAPER AND THE LIKE".
The machine comprises a fluted rotary drum-shaped conveyor 1
mounted in a machine frame and receiving two rows of parallel plain
cigarettes of unit length from a cigarette rod making machine, not
shown, e.g., a machine known as PROTOS and distributed by the
assignee of the present application. The conveyor 1 delivers the
two rows of plain cigarettes to two fluted drum-shaped aligning
conveyors 2 which serve to align each cigarette of one of the two
rows with a cigarette of the other row and to deliver successive
pairs of aligned cigarettes into successive peripheral flutes of a
rotary drum-shaped assembly conveyor 3 in such a way that the
cigarettes in the flutes of the conveyor 3 are spaced apart from
each other.
[0038] The frame of the tipping machine further supports a magazine
4 for a supply of filter rod sections of six times unit length. The
outlet at the bottom of the magazine 4 delivers filter mouthpieces
into the axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped
severing conveyor 6 which cooperates with two axially and
circumferentially staggered rotary circular disc-shaped knives 7 to
subdivide each filter moutpiece of six times unit length into three
coaxial filter mouthpieces of double unit length and which delivers
the thus obtained groups of three filter mouthpieces each into
discrete conveyors of a composite rotary drum-shaped staggering
conveyor 8. The latter staggers the three mouthpieces of each group
in the circumferential direction and delivers them into successive
axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped
shuffling conveyor 9. The shuffling conveyor 9 cooperates with
stationary cams or with driven belts (not shown) to convert the
received filter plugs of double unit length into a row wherein each
preceding filter plug is in exact alignment with each following
plug, and successive filter plugs of double unit length of the thus
obtained single row are inserted into the gaps between pairs of
plain cigarettes of unit length in the flutes of the assembly
conveyor 3 by a rotary drum-shaped accelerating conveyor 11. Thus,
each of those flutes of the conveyor 3 which advance beyond the
transfer station between the conveyors 3, 11 contains a group of
three coaxial rod-shaped articles, namely, two plain cigarettes of
unit length and a filter mouthpiece of double unit length between
them.
[0039] The next step involves axial movement of at least one plain
cigarette in each group of three rod-shaped articles toward the
other plain cigarette so that the two plain cigarettes abut the
adjacent end faces of the respective filter mouthpiece. Such
condensed groups are admitted into successive axially parallel
peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped transfer conveyor 12. The
latter is adjacent a rotary drum-shaped counterknife 19 of a
severing apparatus which further includes a rotary knife carrier
21. Such severing apparatus serves to repeatedly sever a web 13 of
coherent uniting bands (e.g., made of artificial cork) which are to
be rolled around the filter mouthpieces of double unit length as
well as around the adjacent end portions of the respective pairs of
plain cigarettes of unit length being supplied by the transfer
conveyor 12.
[0040] The web 13 is drawn off an expiring bobbin or reel 14 and is
caused to advance past a customary curling device 17 having a
relatively sharp edge which serves to enhance the ability of the
running web to curl. Successive increments of the thus treated web
13 are advanced by a pair of cooperating entraining rollers 16
disposed ahead of a paster 18 serving to provide one side of the
running web 13 with a film of a suitable adhesive, e.g., a hot
melt. The web 13 is thereupon severed by the knives of the knife
carrier 21 in cooperation with the counterknife 19 to yield a
succession of discrete uniting bands each of which is caused to
adhere to the oncoming group of three coaxial rod-shaped articles
being delivered by the transfer conveyor 12. Actual convoluting of
successive uniting bands around the respective groups of three
coaxial rod-shaped articles each is carried out on a rotary
drum-shaped rolling conveyor 22 in cooperation with a stationary or
mobile rolling device 23.
[0041] The rolling conveyor 22 delivers the thus obtained
successive filter cigarettes of double unit length to a rotary
drum-shaped drying conveyor 24, and the latter transfers the filter
cigarettes onto a rotary drum-shaped severing conveyor 26 which
cooperates with a rotary circular knife 25 to sever each filter
cigarette of double unit length midway across its filter mouthpiece
of double unit length and to thus produce pairs of filter
cigarettes of unit length. The severing conveyor 26 can cooperate
with or include a device (not shown) which detects and segregates
defective filter cigarettes of unit length or double unit
length.
[0042] Successive pairs of coaxial filter cigarettes of unit length
are taken over by a so-called turn-around device 29 which can be of
the type disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,008
to Oesterling et al. and 5,054,346 to Heitmann, or in U.S. Pat. No.
3,583,546 granted Jun. 8, 1971 to Koop for "APPARATUS FOR INVERTING
CIGARETTES OR THE LIKE". The apparatus 29 comprises a first rotary
drum-shaped transfer conveyor 27. The latter delivers one filter
cigarette of each pair directly to a second rotary drum-shaped
transfer conveyor 28. The other filter cigarette of each pair is
inverted end-for-end on its way from the conveyor 27 to the
conveyor 28 so that the latter gathers a single file of filter
cigarettes of unit length which move sideways and the filter
mouthpieces of all of which face in the same direction. The
conveyor 28 delivers successive filter cigarettes of unit length to
the axially parallel peripheral flutes of a rotary drum-shaped
testing conveyor 31, and the latter delivers successive tested
filter cigarettes to a further drum-shaped conveyor 32 which can
perform the dual function of ejecting those filter cigarettes which
have been found to be defective during travel with the testing
conveyor 31 and of carrying out one or more additional tests, e.g.,
to ascertain the density of tobacco-containing ends of successive
filter cigarettes of unit length.
[0043] The conveyor 32 delivers satisfactory filter cigarettes of
unit length into the range of a rotary braking device 33 before
such cigarettes reach the upper stretch of an endless belt or band
conveyor 36 being trained over several pulleys (one shown at 34)
and serving to move the repeatedly tested filter cigarettes of unit
length to a further processing station, e.g., into a packing
machine such as a machine for the making of so-called hinged-lid
packets normally containing arrays of twenty parallel cigarettes
each.
[0044] A first source 37 of high-energy radiation (e.g., a laser
which emits a pulsating beam of corpuscular radiation) is installed
adjacent the drying conveyor 24, and a second such source 37 is
shown adjacent the transfer conveyor 28. It is normally sufficient
to employ a single radiation source or to install such radiation
source adjacent to at least one drum-shaped conveyor in the tipping
machine of FIG. 1. The source or sources 37 forms or form part of a
novel optical apparatus which serves to provide the tubular
envelopes or wrappers of successive filter cigarettes of unit
length or multiple unit length with regions of desired permeability
while the envelopes advance through the single perforating station
or through the respective one of several perforating stations. Each
of the two optical apparatus shown in FIG. 1 further comprises a
rotary cylindrical radiation-reflecting body or mirror 44 which is
shown in FIG. 2 and which is utilized in each of the embodiments
respectively shown in FIGS. 3a-3d and 4a-4b. The means for rotating
the radiation-reflecting body 44 about its axis 44a comprises a
suitable drive, e.g., an electric motor. The arrangement is
preferably such that, when the improved optical apparatus is in
actual use, the body 44 is caused to rotate about its axis 44a at a
constant speed.
[0045] FIG. 2 shows a presently preferred radiation-reflecting body
or mirror 44, its longitudinal axis 44a and the pulsating radiation
beam 38 issuing from the source 37 (not shown in FIG. 2) and
propagating itself in the direction of and coinciding with the axis
44a. The beam 38 impinges upon and is reflected by the body 44. The
peripheral surface of the body 44 is provided with a
beam-reflecting surface including at least one curved strip-shaped
portion or section 46 shown in FIG. 2 in the form of a helix. The
beam 38 which is shown in FIG. 2 is reflected by the helical
section 46 in such a way that it leaves in a direction at right
angles to the axis 44a, i.e., radially of the reflecting body
44.
[0046] The helical or part helical strip-shaped section 46 of the
corpuscular radiation-reflecting peripheral surface of the body 44
has an axis which coincides with the rotational axis 44a.
Furthermore, the surface section 46 which is shown in FIG. 2
extends at right angles to the peripheral surface of the
cylindrical body 44. The angle between the axis 44a and the
impinging radiation beam 38 on the one hand, and the direction of
deflection of the beam by the illustrated surface section 46 on the
other hand is 90.degree.. The laser 37 which emits the pulsating
incoming beam 38 is assumed to be stationary, and the direction of
propagation of the beam 38 coincides with or is parallel to the
axis 44a. This beam is also stationary (i.e., it does not move
sideways, it does not swivel or pivot, it does not oscillate and it
does not carry out any other stray movements) because the laser 37
is stationary. All that counts is to ensure that the pulsating beam
issuing from the laser 37 impinge upon the helical section 46 at
the peripheral surface of the radiation-reflecting body or mirror
44. The arrow 48 denotes in FIG. 2 one possible direction of
reflection of the incident beam 38 by the section 46.
[0047] The lead or pitch of the helical section 46 is preferably
constant; this ensures that, when the body 44 is caused to turn
about its axis 44a in the direction indicated in FIG. 2 by the
arrow B, the reflected beam 48 travels or migrates through a
certain distance in a direction from the starting end (first end
portion) 46a to the other end (second end portion) 46b of the
helical section 46 and moves transversely of its radiation axis.
The thus covered distance matches or approximates the
circumferential length of the tubular envelope or wrapper of a
cigarette (such as a filter cigarette) which is then located at the
perforating station defined, for example, in part by the
drum-shaped conveyor 24 or 28 shown in FIG. 1.
[0048] It will be seen that the rotary movement of the body or
mirror 44 must be synchronized with the rolling movement of the
filter cigarette at the perforating station in such a way that the
cigarette rotates (about its longitudinal axis) through 360.degree.
while the body 44 turns through an angle corresponding to that of
the circumferentially offset end portions 46a, 46b of the helical
section 46 relative to each other.
[0049] The lead of the helical section 46 shown in FIG. 2 is
assumed to equal or at least approximate 45.degree.. As already
mentioned hereinbefore, the angle between the incident beam 38 and
the reflected beam 48 is or approximates 90.degree.. However, the
just described angular relationships are not mandatory, i.e., the
lead of the section 46 can depart from 45.degree., and the angle
between the incident and reflected beams 38 and 48 can deviate from
90.degree..
[0050] FIG. 2 shows a relatively simple radiation reflecting body
(44) the peripheral surface of which is provided with a single
curved beam reflecting surface, namely the helical portion or
section 46. However, the body 44 or an equivalent thereof can be
provided with a composite curved radiation reflecting surface which
includes two or more helical or similar sections identical with or
analogous to the helical section 46 of FIG. 2. This will be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b wherein the
radiation-reflecting body or mirror 44A is provided with four
preferably identical helical portions or sections 46.
[0051] Referring now to FIGS. 3a to 3d, the rotary cylindrical body
or mirror 44 is installed in a housing or deflector head 40 having
an inlet 42 for the beam 38' which is a modification of the beam 38
issuing from the laser 37. The beam 38 issuing from the laser 37
has an at least substantially circular cross-sectional outline (see
FIG. 3b). This beam is caused to pass through an optical element 39
which changes its cross-sectional outline from circular to flat or
linear as shown in FIG. 3c. The thus modified beam 38' penetrates
through the inlet 42 of the housing 40 and impinges upon the
section 46 of the rotating radiation reflecting body 44. The latter
can be identical with the aforedescribed body 44 shown in FIG.
2.
[0052] The optical element 39 of FIG. 3a can be omitted if the
laser 37 is replaced with a source of high-energy radiation which
embodies the element 39 or an equivalent thereof, i.e., if the
substitute for the laser 37 of FIG. 3a can emit a beam having a
cross-sectional outline matching, resembling or approximating that
shown at 38' in FIG. 3c.
[0053] The beam 48 which is reflected by the section 46 of the
peripheral surface of the rotary body 44 in the housing 40 of FIG.
3a is caused to pass through a partly cylindrical lens 50 which
focusses the beam 48 (the focussed beam is shown at 52) upon the
envelope of a cigarette 60 (such as a filter cigarette of the type
produced in the tipping machine of FIG. 1) then moving sideways
through the perforating station PS established by a drum-shaped
conveyor 70 rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow A. At
the same time, the cigarette 60 dwelling at the perforating station
PS is caused to turn about its own axis as a result of linear
contact with one or more endless belts or bands 78 trained about
pulleys 80, 81 at least one of which is driven to rotate clockwise,
as viewed in FIG. 3a (see the arrow AA).
[0054] The axis of the partly cylindrical focussing lens 50 is
normal to the direction of propagation of the reflected beam 48.
This lens is shown in a sectional view in FIG. 3d; its purpose is
to convert the incident linear beam 48 into the convergent beam 52
which impinges upon the tubular envelope of the rotating cigarette
60 then dwelling at the perforating station PS. The thus obtained
row of perforations extends circumferentially of the envelope.
[0055] The drum-shaped conveyor 70 can constitute the rotary
conveyor 24 or 28 in the tipping machine of FIG. 1, or one of
several other conveyors, e.g., the conveyor 27 or 31. In order to
ensure predictable advancement of cigarettes 60 toward and away
from the station PS and turning of successive cigarettes 60 at the
perforating station, the peripheral surface of the conveyor 70 is
provided with circumferentially spaced-apart axially parallel and
radially outwardly extending projections or ribs 72 each having a
front side 77 and a rear side 76 (as seen in the direction of the
arrow A). The front side 77 of any one of the ribs 72 and the rear
side 76 of the immediately preceding rib 72 flank a convex portion
74 of the peripheral surface of the conveyor 70. The speed of the
belt(s) 78 and the peripheral speed of the conveyor 70 are
synchronized in such a way that a cigarette 60 which has been
deposited on one of the surface portions 74 adjacent the trailing
side 76 of the respective rib 72 moves with the side 76 to the
station PS and dwells at this station until entrained by the
oncoming front side 77 of the immediately following rib 72 upon
completion of the perforating operation by the focussed beam
52.
[0056] The ribs 72 cooperate with the main portion of the conveyor
70 to define a series of preferably identical troughs each of which
is bounded by a surface portion 74, by the front or leading side 77
of one of the respective ribs 72 and by the trailing side 76 of the
other rib 72. It will be seen that, in FIG. 3a, the conveyor 70 is
caused to rotate in a counterclock-wise direction (arrow A), and
the pulleys 80, 81 for the endless belt(s) 78 are caused to turn in
a clockwise direction (arrow AA).
[0057] A cigarette 60 which is delivered to a convex portion 74 of
the peripheral surface of the drum-shaped conveyor 70 (e.g., by the
conveyor 22 or by the conveyor 28 or 30 of FIG. 1) is attracted to
the convex portion 74 at the respective trailing side 76 by suction
or in any other suitable way. To this end, the conveyor 70 can be
provided with rows of suction ports which are temporarily
connectable to the suction intake of a fan or another suction
generating device during each revolution of the conveyor. Reference
may be had, for example, to commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,882
granted May 2, 1989 to Hinz for "APPARATUS FOR ROLLING UNITING
BANDS AROUND GROUPS OF ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES".
[0058] Each filter cigarette 60 is deposited at and is attracted by
suction against the trailing side 76 of one of the ribs 72 before
such cigarette reaches the endless belt(s) 78. Suction is not
applied while the cigarette contacts the belt(s) 78 and rolls along
the convex surface portion 74 then at the perforating station PS
away from the trailing side 76. Suction is again effective when the
cigarette 60 is approached by the oncoming front side 77 of the
next-following rib 72. The belt(s) 78 decelerates or decelerate the
cigarette 60 which reaches the station PS by causing the cigarette
to roll about its axis while dwelling within the range of the
focussed beam 52. Upon completion of the perforating step, the
cigarette 60 at the station PS is engaged by the oncoming front
side 77 and is advanced (see the arrow A) beyond the station PS.
The peripheral speed of the conveyor 70 exceeds the speed of the
endless belt(s) 78.
[0059] That cigarette 60 which, in FIG. 3a, occupies the
perforating station PS still abuts the trailing side 76 of the
respective rib 72. This is not absolutely necessary; thus, the
belt(s) 78 can engage and begin to roll a cigarette 60 along the
respective convex surface portion 74 before the cigarette reaches
the perforating station, e.g., in such a way that the cigarette
which is being impinged upon by the focussed beam 52 is located
between, for example, at least substantially midway between, the
respective ribs 72.
[0060] Other modes of causing successive cigarettes 60 to dwell at
the perforating station PS for required intervals of time are
equally within the purview of the present invention. All that
normally counts is to ensure that each cigarette 60 dwells at the
perforating station PS and simultaneously turns about its axis for
an interval of time which is required to enable the beam 52 to
perforate the envelope of such cigarette all the way around the
circumference of the envelope or along a selected angle.
[0061] It is also possible to replace the driven rolling belt(s) 78
with a stationary rolling member which contacts a cigarette 60 at
the perforating station PS. Such arrangement is particularly
desirable if there is no room at the perforating station for a
relatively bulky cigarette rolling arrangement (such as the belt(s)
78, the pulleys 80, 81 and the means for driving at least one of
the pulleys).
[0062] In accordance with still another modification, the optical
element 39 can be replaced with a device which is capable of
converting the circular laser beam 38 into a beam having a more or
less point- or dot-shaped cross-sectional outline. This renders it
possible to dispense with the optical element 50. Alternatively,
the laser 37 can be designed in such a way that the beam which is
being emitted thereby has a more or less dot-shaped cross-sectional
outline. Such modifications might involve higher expenses for the
sources of high-energy radiation.
[0063] A further presently preferred embodiment of the improved
apparatus which can be utilized as a means for increasing the
permeability of selected regions of tubular envelopes controlledly
advancing through a permeability influencing (such as perforating)
station is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The radiation source (not
shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b) can include a laser which emits a beam 38
impinging upon and being influenced by an optical element 39a
constituting a collector lens. The convergent beam issuing from the
lens 39a is thereupon influenced by two cylindrical radiation
reflecting bodies or mirrors 44A and 45. The parts of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 4a are turned through 90.degree. relative to the
parts of the aforedescribed apparatus which is shown in FIG. 3a.
Thus, the axes 44a and 45a of the radiation reflecting bodies 44A
and 45 extend at right angles to the plane of FIG. 4a. Furthermore,
the beam 38 issuing from the laser forming part of the apparatus of
FIGS. 4a and 4b is also normal to the plane of FIG. 4a. FIG. 4b is
a view as seen from the left-hand side of FIG. 4a.
[0064] An advantage of the apparatus of FIGS. 4a and 4b is that it
employs a collector lens 39a which is simpler than the lens 39. The
radiation reflecting bodies 44A and 45 are arranged to rotate about
their axes in directions which are respectively indicated by the
arrows B and B'. Because this apparatus comprises two rotary
radiation reflecting bodies 44A and 45, the non-illustrated
radiation source and the collector lens 39a are designed in such a
way that they produce two parallel beams 38 (see FIG. 4a). This can
be readily accomplished by employing a collector lens 39a which
comprises two neighboring lens segments or portions 39' shown in
FIG. 4a. The focal length of the composite lens 39a is selected in
such a way that the focal point of the entire beam is clearly
behind the body or mirror 44A, namely at a location where the
convergent beam impinges upon the tubular envelope of an article
(such as a cigarette 160) at the perforating station. Thus, the
lens 39a converts the incoming laser beam into a convergent beam.
However, it is also within the purview of the present invention to
install the lens 39a directly in the laser that emits the beam 38
shown to the right of the lens 39a actually shown in FIG. 4b. Still
further, it is clear that the apparatus of FIGS. 4a and 4b can also
comprise a housing analogous to the housing 40 of FIG. 3a and
serving as a deflecting head adapted to confine the radiation
reflecting bodies or mirrors 44A and 45.
[0065] The bodies 44A and 45 of FIG. 4a are mirror images of each
other with reference to a plane which is tangential to the
peripheral surfaces of such bodies and extends between the two
segments 39a' of the collector lens 39a. This ensures that the two
beams of the composite beam issuing from the laser and propagating
themselves at right angles to the plane of FIG. 4a impinge upon
discrete sections 46 of the composite reflecting surfaces of the
bodies 44A and 45. Such beams are shown in FIG. 5, as at 52 and 54,
and they are reflected by discrete mirrors 58. These reflected
beams 52, 54 impinge upon axially spaced-apart portions of the
envelope of cigarette 160 at the perforating station. The
cigarettes 160 of FIGS. 4a, 4b and 5 are rod-shaped smokers'
products of double unit length.
[0066] The cigarette 160-I which is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b by
solid lines is located at the inlet (receiving end) of the
perforating station, and its longitudinal axis is spaced apart from
the longitudinal axis of the parallel cigarette 160-II by a
distance C. The cigarette 160-II (shown by broken lines) is
disposed at the outlet (discharge end) of the perforating station.
Sidewise movements of the cigarettes 160-I, 160-II in the course of
the perforating action take place at an angle to the beams 52 and
54 (see FIG. 4b). The reason is that, during migration of the beams
38 due to rotation of sections 46 of the bodies 44A, 45, the path
of the focal point is not normal to the focussed beams 52, 54
since, owing to reflection by the helical sections 46 at the
peripheral surfaces of the bodies 44A, 45, the lengths of the
reflected beams 48, 49 and of the focussed beams 52, 54 are changed
accordingly.
[0067] As can be seen in FIG. 4a, each of the bodies 44A, 45 is
provided with a composite surface including four equidistant
strip-shaped curved (helical) sections 46. Each of the sections 46
extends along a fourth of a circle. Since the sections 46 of each
of the bodies 44A, 45 are uniformly distributed at the peripheral
surface of the respective body, they are disposed at angular
distances of 90.degree. relative to each other. The lengths,
shapes, leads and orientations of all four sections 46 on each of
the bodies 44A, 45 are identical. The first end portions 46a (see
FIG. 2) and the second end portions 46b (refer again to FIG. 2) of
all sections 46 are disposed in imaginary planes which are adjacent
to or coincide with the respective end faces of the corresponding
bodies 44A and 45. Furthermore, the end portions 46a and 46b are
normal to the axes (44a, 45a) of the corresponding bodies 44A and
45.
[0068] Each stage of operation of the apparatus embodying the
structure of FIGS. 4a and 4b involves a turning of the bodies 44A,
45 through angles of 90.degree., and each such stage involves
rotation of a cigarette 160 about its own axis through an angle of
360.degree. as well as a sidewise advancement (arrow A) through the
distance C. The next stage involves a similar manipulation of the
next-following cigarette while the bodies 44A, 45 again turn
through 90.degree.. Thus, the angular displacement (90.degree.) of
each of the two bodies 44A, 45 per treatment (perforation) of
envelopes of the cigarettes 160 is related to the distance C which
a cigarette must cover during treatment of its envelope by the
focussed beam 52 or 54.
[0069] The laser beam 38 automatically reassumes its starting
position as soon as the angular displacement of the bodies 44A, 45
through the angles of 90.degree. is completed. In other words, the
beam 38 then again impinges upon the first end portions 46a of the
next sections 46 of the two bodies 44A and 45.
[0070] Since the beam 38 has a certain cross-sectional area, the
useful angle of rotation per stage of operation of the apparatus
shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b is somewhat less than the angular distance
between a pair of neighboring sections 46. This is the reason for
the provision of the collector lens 39a which reduces the diameter
of and prefocusses the incident beam 38 to thus optimize the useful
intervals of utilization of the laser, i.e., to optimize the useful
distance of radiation of laser beam per working cycle.
[0071] It is to be noted here that the apparatus embodying the
structure of FIGS. 4a and 4b is a so-called twin-beam embodiment
which can be put to use to perforate the envelopes of cigarettes of
double unit length. Such cigarettes can be produced in the machine
of FIG. 1 wherein the conveyor 13 has axially parallel peripheral
flutes each of which receives a pair of axially spaced-apart
cigarettes of unit length and a filter mouthpiece of double unit
length between them. These groups are transferred onto the conveyor
12 which cooperates with the counterknife 19 to apply to each group
an adhesive-coated uniting band which adheres to the entire filter
mouthpiece of double unit length and to the adjacent inner end
portions of the respective plain cigarettes of unit length. The
initial contact between a uniting band and the adjacent rod-shaped
components of a filter cigarette of double unit length on the
conveyor 12 is a mere straight linear contact, and such minimal
contact is increased into full contact between the external
surfaces of the three components and the adhesive-coated internal
surface of the uniting band during travel of the three components
and the uniting band with the rolling conveyor 22 past the
stationary or mobile rolling device 23.
[0072] If the improved apparatus is to provide perforations in the
envelopes of successive filter cigarettes of double unit length,
the perforating operations can be carried out at a station defined
in part by the drying conveyor 24 or by the conveyor 28 of the
machine shown in FIG. 1. The beams 52, 54 (see FIG. 5) then impinge
upon two axially spaced-apart portions of the envelope of each
cigarette 160. The perforations 62, 64 provided by the two beams
52, 54 can form two circumferentially complete annuli, one in the
envelope of one and the other in the envelope of the other of two
filter cigarettes of unit length which are obtained as a result of
halving each cigarette of double unit length on the conveyor
26.
[0073] The effect of the curved helical sections 46 of the
composite radiation reflecting surfaces on the rotating bodies 44A,
45 is the same as that of an inclined surface which is shifted in a
direction normal to its plane, except that the kinematics of a
rotary mirror-like body 44A or 45 with helical sections 46 are much
simpler. This will be appreciated by referring to FIG. 4b which
shows, in addition to the progress of two helical sections 46, the
corresponding leads by broken straight lines. The broken line also
denotes the progress of the corresponding developed helical section
46 in the form of an inclined reflecting surface. FIG. 4b further
shows that, owing to parallel shifting of such reflecting section
from its starting position (indicated at 46-I) to its end position
(denoted at 46-II), the reflected beam undergoes a sidewise
movement, namely from an initial position (which is shown by solid
lines and is denoted by the character 48-I), to an end position in
which the beam is shown by broken lines and is identified by the
reference character 48-II. The characters 52-I and 52-II
respectively denote the beams 48-I and 48-II which are focussed by
the mirrors 58. Still further, FIG. 4b shows that, after rotation
of the body 44A in the direction of arrow B and through the
prescribed angle is completed, there takes place an abrupt return
movement of the beam 38 to the initial position of the
next-following section 46 because the end position 46-I of the
preceding section 46 coincides with the starting position 46-II of
the next section 46.
[0074] The mirrors 58 are shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b for the sake of
better illustration and for illustration in a space-saving manner.
However, it is equally possible (especially if the required space
is available) to omit the reflecting mirrors 58 and to cause the
reflected beams 48, 49 to be focussed directly upon the envelope of
the cigarette at the perforating station. Still further, it is also
possible to employ the mirrors 58 or their equvalents in the
apparatus of FIGS. 3a to 3d, especially if the available space
renders such utilization of the mirrors 58 possible. It goes
without saying that the apparatus of FIGS. 3a to 3d can operate
with two rotary radiation reflecting bodies, such as the bodies
44A, 45 shown in FIG. 4a if this apparatus is set up to
simultaneously perforate the envelopes of pairs of cigarettes,
cigarillos or the like.
[0075] An important advantage of all embodiments of the improved
apparatus is that the curved section or sections 46 of the rotary
body or bodies (44 or 44A, 45) ensures or ensure a continuous
shifting (migration) of the reflected beam or beams. This
contributes to simplicity of the kinematics which are utilized to
cause the beam or beams to continuously follow the prescribed path
for optimal perforation of one or more portions of the envelope(s)
at the perforating station. Therefore, the improved apparatus is
particularly suited for use in connection with the making of
predictable arrays of circumferentially extending perforations in
cigarette making and like or analogous machines; all that is
necessary is to ensure that the articles to be perforated move
sideways.
[0076] Rotation of the body 44 or bodies 44A, 45 about its axis
(44a) or about their respective axes (44a, 45a), and simultaneos
rotation or orbiting of the curved section or sections 46 (such as
one or more helical sections or their equivalents) about the
respective axis or axes causes the incident beam or beams of
high-energy radiation to propagate itself or themselves in
parallelism with the axis or axes of the section or sections in a
manner as if the beam or beams were to impinge at an angle upon a
plane reflecting surface while the surface moves at right angles to
its plane. The difference is that the means for controlling the
propagation of the beam(s) in the apparatus of the present
invention is much simpler and easier to control from the
stand-point of kinematics, compactness and/or cost.
[0077] 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 art of
perforating tubular envelopes and the like and, therefore, such
adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the
meaning and range of equivalence of the appended claims.
* * * * *