U.S. patent application number 11/725565 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-25 for perforation apparatus of the tobacco processing industry for perforating a wrapper of a rod-shaped article.
This patent application is currently assigned to Hauni Maschinenbau AG. Invention is credited to Ralf Grassmel, Norbert Lange.
Application Number | 20070246053 11/725565 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38152208 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070246053 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grassmel; Ralf ; et
al. |
October 25, 2007 |
Perforation apparatus of the tobacco processing industry for
perforating a wrapper of a rod-shaped article
Abstract
A perforation apparatus of the tobacco-processing industry for
perforating a wrapper of a rod-shaped article includes at least one
optical radiation source to generate at least one primary beam.
Optical elements are operative to split the at least one primary
beam into at least four mutually non-overlapping partial beams to
produce at least four perforation zones offset in an axial
direction of the rod-shaped article. Partial beams arranged mirror
symmetrically to each other with respect to a mirror plane of the
rod-shaped article are derived from the same primary beam.
Inventors: |
Grassmel; Ralf; (Jork,
DE) ; Lange; Norbert; (Glinde, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Assignee: |
Hauni Maschinenbau AG
Kurt-A.-Korber-Chaussee 8-32
Hamburg
DE
D-21033
|
Family ID: |
38152208 |
Appl. No.: |
11/725565 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/280 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23K 2103/50 20180801;
B23K 2103/40 20180801; B23K 26/0608 20130101; B23K 26/067 20130101;
B23K 26/382 20151001; A24C 5/606 20130101; B23K 2103/32
20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/280 |
International
Class: |
A24C 5/00 20060101
A24C005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 21, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 013 929.1 |
Claims
1. A perforation apparatus of the tobacco-processing industry for
perforating a wrapper of a rod-shaped article, comprising: at least
one optical radiation source to generate at least one primary beam;
and optical elements operative to split the at least one primary
beam into at least four mutually non-overlapping partial beams to
produce at least four perforation zones offset in an axial
direction of the rod-shaped article, wherein partial beams arranged
mirror symmetrically to each other with respect to a mirror plane
of the rod-shaped article are derived from the same primary
beam.
2. The perforation apparatus according to claim 1, further
including a device following the optical radiation source which is
operative in combination with the optical elements to generate from
the at least one primary beam overlapping partial beams to produce
a plurality of rows of perforations in respective perforation
zones.
3. The perforation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at
least one optical radiation source generates at least two
independent primary beams.
4. The perforation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the
optical elements include at least a first optical element in a beam
path of one of the independent primary beams and a second optical
in a beam path of a second one of the independent primary beams,
and the first and second optical elements are offset by an azimuth
angle about the rod-shaped article.
5. The perforation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
azimuth angle is less than about 60.degree..
6. The perforation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
azimuth angle is less than about 45.degree..
7. The perforation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
azimuth angle is less than about 30.degree..
8. The perforation apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at
least one optical radiation source comprises separate optical
radiation sources to generate each primary beam.
9. The perforation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
optical elements include partially transmitting mirrors.
10. The perforation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
optical elements have transmittances that are co-ordinated with
each other so that, with respect to a mirror plane of the
rod-shaped article, two partial beams arranged mirror symmetrically
to each other each have substantially equal radiation
intensity.
11. A filter assembling machine, comprising an apparatus for
rotating a rod-shaped article about a longitudinal axis of the
rod-shaped article in a stationary perforation position forming a
combination with a perforation apparatus according to claim 1, for
perforating a rod-shaped article rotating in the perforation
position.
12. A method for perforating a wrapper of a rod-shaped tobacco
article, including steps of: generating at least one optical
primary beam; splitting the primary beam into at least four
mutually non-overlapping partial beams, wherein partial beams
arranged mirror symmetrically to each other, with respect to a
mirror plane of the rod-shaped article are derived from the same
primary beam; and perforating the rod-shaped article in at least
four perforation zones offset in an axial direction of the
rod-shaped article by the partial beams.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of German Application No.
10 2006 013 929.1 filed Mar. 21, 2006, the subject matter of which
is incorporated herein by reference, together with each and every
U.S. and foreign patent and patent application mentioned below.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a perforation apparatus of the
tobacco-processing industry for perforating a wrapper of a
rod-shaped article, having at least one optical radiation source
for generating at least one primary beam, and optical elements for
splitting the primary beam into mutually non-overlapping partial
beams for producing perforation zones offset in the axial direction
of the rod-shaped article.
[0003] Perforation apparatuses for producing a perforation zone in
the tipping paper of a filter cigarette are known from German
patent documents DE 33 21 800A1, DE 34 18 188A1, DE 37 05 627A, DE
195 30 216 A1 and DE 101 60 167 A1, and European patent document EP
0 578 385 A1. Usually, these apparatuses for perforating tipping
paper are used in the manufacture of double-length cigarette rods.
Therefore, it is known in the art to split the primary beam into
two partial beams for producing identical perforations for each
half of a double-length cigarette rod corresponding to one
cigarette.
SUMMARY
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
perforation apparatus that allows differentiated influencing of the
air permeability through the perforation in the wrapper of the
rod-shaped article.
[0005] The above and other objects are achieved according to the
invention, wherein in one embodiment there is provided a
perforation apparatus of the tobacco-processing industry for
perforating a wrapper of a rod-shaped article, comprising: at least
one optical radiation source to generate at least one primary beam;
and optical elements operative to split the at least one primary
beam into at least four mutually non-overlapping partial beams to
produce at least four perforation zones offset in an axial
direction of the rod-shaped article, wherein partial beams arranged
mirror symmetrically to each other with respect to a mirror plane
of the rod-shaped article are derived from the same primary
beam.
[0006] On account of the production of at least four independent
partial beams, instead of the conventional production of two
independent partial beams, at least two independent perforation
zones can be produced in the tipping paper for each cigarette. This
allows individual adjustment of the air permeability of the wrapper
at several axially offset positions. This is especially important
in connection with the development of cigarette filters of
multi-stage construction, to allow individual adjustment of the air
permeability of the tipping paper for each filter component.
[0007] Due to the allocation of partial beams arranged mirror
symmetrically to each other, with respect to a mirror plane of the
rod-shaped article, to the same primary beam, an identical
perforation structure of the two cigarettes of a double-length
cigarette rod is ensured. This feature is different from the
disclosure of German patent document DE 33 21 800 A1, which
provides an asymmetrical allocation of the partial beams to the
primary beams, with respect to the mirror plane of the rod-shaped
article, which is contrary to the aim of providing identical
perforations for each cigarette of a rod-shaped article in the form
of a double length cigarette.
[0008] According to the above described embodiment of the
invention, at least four mutually non-overlapping partial beams are
generated. This means that the bundles of light beams of at least
four partial beams do not overlap each other geometrically in the
region between the optical elements and the rod-shaped article.
This allows individual, independent adjustment of the perforation
properties produced by each partial beam, in particular the
production of different perforation zones for a cigarette.
[0009] The generation of four partial beams is known, for example,
from German patent documents DE 3418188A1, DE 19530216A1 and DE
10160167A1. However, in each case two partial beams for producing a
uniform perforation zone for a cigarette overlap. Each perforation
zone therefore includes two separate, but closely spatially
connected rows of perforations. These documents therefore disclose
only two partial beams or partial beam regions which do not overlap
each other.
[0010] Within the scope of the present application the term
"perforation zone" is used for all perforations which are produced
with partial beams overlapping each other. According to the
invention, therefore, at least four perforation zones (at least two
perforation zones per cigarette) are produced, while the
above-mentioned documents disclose the production of only two
perforation zones (one perforation zone per cigarette).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is described below with the aid of
advantageous practical examples with reference to the attached
drawings.
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a perforation apparatus in a first embodiment
in a view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped
article.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows the perforation apparatus of the first
embodiment in a view along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped
article.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a perforation apparatus in a second embodiment
in a view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped
article.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows the perforation apparatus of the second
embodiment in a view along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped
article.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a perforation apparatus in a third embodiment
in a view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped
article.
[0017] FIG. 6 shows a perforation apparatus in a fourth embodiment
in a view perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped
article.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, the perforation
apparatus 10 includes a beam generating device 11, preferably a
laser, for generating an optical primary beam 12. Optical elements
13 to 16 split the primary beam 12 into partial beams (secondary
beams) 17 to 20 and deflect the partial beams 17 to 20 in a
direction towards a rod-shaped article 21. Corresponding focusing
elements 24 to 27 focus the partial beams 17 to 20 on the
rod-shaped article 21 to produce corresponding perforations 28 to
31 in the tipping paper 32 of the rod-shaped article 21. The
rod-shaped article 21 is in the form of a double-length cigarette,
i.e. it has two halves 22, 23 each forming one cigarette. The
rod-shaped article 21 is cut into two single cigarettes 22, 23 in
the mirror plane S in a subsequent production process.
[0019] To produce the perforation, the laser radiation is pulsed,
for example by a chopper disc, not shown, and the rod-shaped
article 21 is rotated about its longitudinal axis at a fixed
location. This takes place preferably by a corresponding rolling
device in a filter assembler, as disclosed, for example, in German
patent document DE 37 05 627 A1, particularly reference being made
to FIG. 1 thereof and its description, wherein there is shown and
described a filter assembler apparatus 36 that includes a
perforation apparatus 10.
[0020] Referring again to FIG. 1 of the present application, the
optical elements 13 to 15 are beam splitters in the form of
semi-transmitting mirrors which each reflect a portion of the
primary beam 12, resulting in the partial beams 17 to 19, and let
through the remainder of the primary beam 12 to the subsequent
optical element 16 to produce the partial beam 20. The last optical
element 16 as a rule has a reflectivity of 100% (non-transmitting
mirror or purely deflecting element). FIG. 2 shows the perforation
apparatus of the FIG. 1 in a view along the longitudinal axis of
the rod-shaped article
[0021] The partial beams 17 to 20 are extended beams, as
illustrated by the example of the partial beam 17 in FIG. 1. For
the other partial beams 18 to 20, only the light cone behind the
respective focusing lenses 25 to 27 has been shown. As can be seen
from FIG. 1, the four beams behind the optical elements 13 to 16
are free from overlap with each other.
[0022] If the optical elements 13 to 15 successively have a
reflectivity of 25%, 33% and 50%, each of the partial beams 17 to
20 has the same intensity, so that identical perforations 28 to 31
are produced. However, this does not necessarily have to be the
case. In general, the reflectivity of the optical elements 13 to 15
must only be coordinated with each other such that in each case
mirror symmetrical partial beams have the same intensity, with
reference to the mirror plane S between the cigarettes 22 and 23,
thus ensuring that the two cigarettes 22 and 23 have the same
perforation structure. For example, the partial beams 17 and 18 can
have different intensities in order to be able to individually
adjust the air permeability of the perforations 28 and 29 of the
cigarette 22, the sum of intensities of the partial beams 17 and 18
in this case being appropriately 50%.
[0023] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the
perforation apparatus includes two beam generating devices 11A,
11B, in particular two lasers, for generating two optical primary
beams 12A and 12B. The optical elements 13 and 16 are located in
the beam path of the primary beam 11A, and the optical elements 14
and 15 are located in the beam path of the primary beam 11B. In
other words, the mirror symmetrical outer partial beams 17 and 20
are allocated to the same primary beam 12A, and the inversely
symmetrical inner partial beams 18 and 19 are allocated to the same
primary beam 12B. The use of two individually adjustable beam
generating devices 11A, 11B to generate separate primary beams 12A,
12B allows the perforation properties, for example the number of
holes or the ventilation, of the outer perforations 28, 31 to be
individually adjusted independently of the perforation properties
of the inner perforations 29, 30.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the perforation apparatus of FIG. 3 in a view
along the longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article. As can be
seen from FIG. 4, the optical assembly 11A, 13, 16, 24, 27
corresponding to the first primary beam 12A is expediently offset
by an azimuth angle .omega. from the optical assembly 11B, 14, 15,
25, 26 corresponding to the second primary beam 12B. In this case a
low azimuth angle .omega. is preferred with a view to a compact
size.
[0025] The beam splitters 13 and 14 in this embodiment expediently
have a reflectivity of 50%.
[0026] In a modified embodiment, a plurality of primary beams can
also be generated by a single beam generating device, for example a
use of one or more pre-arranged beam splitters.
[0027] FIG. 5 shows a view of another embodiment along the
longitudinal axis of the rod-shaped article similar to the view
shown in FIG. 4. Two rows of perforations 28A, 28B or 31A, 31B are
produced in each of the two outer perforations zones 28, 31 of each
cigarette 22, 23, so that there is a total of six rows of
perforations, including the two inner perforation zones 29, 30. For
this purpose the primary beam 12A is split into two primary beams
33, 34. This can be done for example by a diffractive element 35,
or some other suitable device, for example an arrangement as
described in German patent document DE 195 30 216 A1. The primary
beams 33, 34 are partially reflected by the beam splitter 13 in
order to generate the partial beams 17A, 17B which in turn produce
the rows of perforations 28A, 28B. The primary beams 33, 34
transmitted by the beam splitter 13 are reflected by the beam
splitter 16 in order to generate the partial beams 20A, 20B which
in turn produce the rows of perforations 31A, 31B.
[0028] The light beams or cones corresponding to the partial beams
17A, 17B overlap spatially, as can be seen from FIG. 5 by the
example of the light cones corresponding to the partial beams 17A,
17B after the focusing element 24. Similarly, the light beams or
cones corresponding to the partial beams 20A, 20B overlap. The
embodiment of FIG. 5 therefore includes four perforation zones
corresponding to four mutually non-overlapping partial beam regions
17 to 20 with a total of six partial beams 17A, 17B, 18, 19, 20A,
20B.
[0029] In a further embodiment, alternatively or in addition in
each of the inner perforation zones 29, 30 a plurality of rows of
perforations can be produced.
[0030] The invention is not restricted to producing two rows of
perforations per perforation zone.
[0031] The embodiment according to FIG. 6 shows that the optical
beam splitting means are not restricted to semi-transmitting
mirrors and that a separate optical beam splitting device does not
have to be provided for each independent partial beam. Here optical
prisms 40, 41 made of a suitable material, for example ZnS, are
provided as the beam splitting mechanism. The mutually independent
partial beams 17 to 20 are here produced by reflection at the front
and rear sides of the prisms 40, 41.
[0032] The distance from the inner perforation zones 29, 30 to the
mirror plane S is preferably within the range from about 11 to
about 15 mm and is further preferably approximately 13 mm, and the
distance from the outer perforations zones 28, 31 to the mirror
plane S is preferably within the range from about 19 to about 25
mm.
[0033] The partial beams 17 to 20 are preferably incident on the
wrapper of the rod-shaped article 21 at an angle of not more than
10.degree..
[0034] The invention has been described in detail with respect to
referred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the
foregoing to those skilled in the art, that changes and
modifications may be made without departing from the invention in
its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in
the appended claims, is intended to cover all such changes and
modifications that fall within the true spirit of the
invention.
* * * * *