EP2566355B1 - Machine and method for making cigarette filters - Google Patents
Machine and method for making cigarette filters Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2566355B1 EP2566355B1 EP11714397.4A EP11714397A EP2566355B1 EP 2566355 B1 EP2566355 B1 EP 2566355B1 EP 11714397 A EP11714397 A EP 11714397A EP 2566355 B1 EP2566355 B1 EP 2566355B1
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- filter
- track
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- segments
- combining
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
- A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
- A24D3/0275—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features
- A24D3/0287—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features for composite filters
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a machine and a method for making cigarette filters, in particular composite cigarette filters, i.e. filters comprising two or more segments of filtering material.
- the above mentioned segments can be either arranged according to a continuous line, to form a succession of combined filters, or separated from one another by spaces, to form a succession of recess filters.
- the several segments can be made either of different filtering materials or of the same filtering material, which can be impregnated or not with liquid additives or, in general, with particulates, for instance in powder form.
- the machines for making composite filters are usually of the type described in WO-2009/074540 and FR-1280722 ; they generally comprise a combining device provided with an inlet for each type of segment and with an outlet for filter elements comprising a combination of segments of the above mentioned segment types.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for making cigarette filters, in particular composite filters, that are easy and economical to be produced and, at the same time, guarantee high flexibility as regards changes in segment format and distribution and a relatively low energy consumption.
- a machine for making cigarette filters according to claim 1 and, preferably, according to any one of the claims depending directly or indirectly upon the claim 1.
- a method is also provided for making cigarette filters according to claim 19 and, preferably, according to any one of the claims depending directly or indirectly upon the claim 19.
- number 1 indicates, in its entirety, a machine for making cigarette filters, in particular cigarette composite filters.
- the machine 1 is suitable to produce a succession of double filters, generically indicated with the number 2, each of which comprises, in the present case, at least one segment 3 and at least one segment 4, which present equal lengths in the illustrated example but in reality can present different lengths.
- the segments 3 and 4 are arranged inside a tubular casing 5 either according to a continuous line, to define a succession of double filters 2 which must be subsequently cut to obtain combined filters 2a ( figure 6 ), or according to a line comprising spaces 6, to define a succession of double filters 2 which must be subsequently cut to obtain recess filters 2b ( figure 7 ).
- the segments 3 and 4 can be of different filtering materials or of the same filtering material, which is not impregnated for one of the two segments 3 and 4, while is impregnated with particulate material for the other of the two segments 3 and 4.
- the material of both the segments 3 and 4 can also be impregnated in different manners.
- the segment 3 can be made of cellulose acetate
- the segment 4 can be made of cellulose acetate impregnated with carbon dust.
- the segments 3 and 4 are obtained by transversally cutting respective rods 7 ( figure 5 ) extracted in a known manner from respective hoppers 8 and 9 by means of respective extracting and cutting units 10, each of which comprises an extracting roller 11 externally provided with axial grooves 12.
- the extracting roller is mounted for rotation, in counterclockwise direction in figure 1 , around a horizontal axis 13; moreover, it is arranged to close an exit of the respective hopper 8, 9 and, along a part of its own periphery, into contact with the rods 7 contained in the respective hopper 8, 9.
- the grooves 12 are sucking grooves uniformly distributed around the axis 13 and each of them is suitable to receive and hold a respective rod 7, and to move this rod 7 along a circular path to extract it from the respective hopper 8, 9 and to engage it with a succession of cutting units 14, through which the rod 7 is cut into the respective segments 3, 4.
- the machine 1 comprises a combining device 15 to combine segments 3 and 4 to obtain a cited ordered succession ( figure 6 and 7 ) that can be chosen among a plurality of ordered successions obtainable by combining segments 3 and 4 of different dimensions and spaces 6, as the case may be.
- each of these ordered successions is obtained starting from the formation of a series of filter groups 16 through the combining device 15 and according to a given law variable from ordered succession to ordered succession; each of these filter groups 16, as it will be described hereafter, can be constituted even by a single segment 3 or 4 or part of it, and can be equal to, or different from, the two adjacent filter groups 16 preceding and, respectively, following it in the series.
- the combining device 15 comprises a rectangular plate 17 arranged horizontally and presenting a longitudinal rear edge 18, which is arranged transversally to the axes 13 and along which the adjacent hoppers 8 and 9 and the respective extracting and cutting groups 10 are mounted, and a longitudinal front edge 19, parallel to the longitudinal rear edge 18.
- the plate 17 is arranged at a lower level than that of the plane defined by the two axes 13 and presents an upper surface 20, whose plane is tangent to the outer surfaces of both the extracting rollers 11.
- the combining device 15 furthermore comprises four wheels 21, 22, 23, and 24, wherein the wheels 21 and 24 are inlet wheels for respective feeding lines for the segments 3 and 4, the wheel 23 is a transferring wheel of the feeding line of the segments 4, and the wheel 22 is an outlet combining wheel coupled to both the cited feeding lines.
- wheels 21-24 are of the same type, only the wheel 21 will be described in detail hereinafter. Obviously, the detailed description below applies to all the remaining wheels 22-24.
- the wheel 21 comprises a shaft 25, which presents a vertical axis 26 perpendicular to the plate 17 and is mounted in a rotatable and axially fixed manner through a cylindrical sleeve 27 coaxial to the axis 26 and engaged in fixed position by means of a through hole 28 obtained in the plate 17.
- a pulley 29 is keyed, which is carried into rotation, together with the other pulleys 29, by a belt 30 actuated by a motor 31.
- the pulley 30 is suitable to put the wheels 21 and 23 into counterclockwise rotation and the wheel 22 and 24 in clockwise rotation.
- the relative peripheral speed of ach wheel 22-24 relative to the other wheels is of major significance in management of the machine 1; and it should be furthermore noted that the configuration of figure 3 , wherein all the pulleys 29 have the same diameter and the respective wheels 21-24 have therefore the same peripheral speed, can be suitable to obtain a particular double filter 2, for instance the double filter 2 of figure 6 , while the use of pulleys 29, presenting different diameters, will be necessary for obtaining double filters 2 of different type.
- each of the wheels 22-24 is motorized through a respective motor, in particular an adjustable speed electric motor.
- the grooves swept by the teeth 33 of the wheels 21 to 24 define respective annular tracks, respectively indicated with 37, 38, 39, and 40 and extending on the plate 17 coaxially to the respective axes 26, wherein the track 38 presents a first portion common to the track 37 and a second portion common to the track 39, which presents a portion common to the track 40.
- the tracks 37 and 40 are inlet tracks for the respective feeding lines of the segments 3 and 4
- the track 39 is a transfer track of the feeding line of the segments 4
- the track 38 is an outlet track comprising a part, which is substantially tangent to the longitudinal front edge 19 of the plate 17, is arranged downstream of the cited second portion and upstream of the cited first portion of the track 38 in the direction of rotation of the wheel 22, and presents a radial opening which is an outlet 41 of the combining device 15.
- an appendix 42 extends outwards from each end of the longitudinal rear edge 18 of the plate 17; this appendix is perpendicular to the longitudinal rear edge 18, supports, together with a frame 43 for supporting the plate 17, the respective hopper 8, 9 and presents an upper surface coplanar with the upper surface 20 of the plate 17.
- Each appendix 42 extends below, and substantially tangentially to, the respective extracting roller 11 and is followed by a respective rectilinear slit 44, which is tangential to the respective wheel 21, 24 and extends along the plate 17 until it exits inside the respective track 37, 40.
- the slit 44 defines a rectilinear inlet track for the respective segments 3, 4 inside the combining device 15.
- each slit 44 is parallel to each other, but they are inclined relative to the axes 13 of the respective extracting rollers 11. Namely, while each axis 13 is perpendicular to the longitudinal rear edge 18 of the plate 17 and is parallel to the peripheral grooves 12 of the respective extracting roller 11, each slit 44 is inclined forward, in the direction of rotation of the respective extracting roller 11 and relative to a peripheral groove 12 facing it, starting from a rear end of the peripheral groove 12.
- Each of the slits 44 defines a feeding path for a succession of rods 7 extracted by the respective extracting roller 11 from the respective hopper 8, 9.
- each slit 44 is associated to a respective transport system 45, which is suitable to transfer the rods 7 from the respective extracting roller 11 to the respective track 37, 40 and comprises a conveyor 46 and an accelerating unit 47.
- Each conveyor 46 is a pocket conveyor comprising a motorized annular chain 48, which presents a transport branch extending immediately below the respective slit 44 and is provided with teeth 49, which are movable along the slit 44, project above the upper surface 20 and are suitable to engage in a slidable manner respective peripheral grooves 12 of the respective extracting roller 11 when this latter rotates about the respective axis 13.
- Each accelerating unit 47 comprises two motorized endless conveyors 50 and 51, which are arranged along the respective slit 44 at opposite sides of the plate 17 and present transport branches parallel to and facing one another, defining between themselves, and along the respective slit 44, an advancement channel 52 for the segments 3, 4 (or portions thereof) of the respective rods 7.
- the conveyor 50 is arranged below the plate 17 and its transport branch is coplanar, and aligned, with the transport branch of the chain 48 and presents an inlet rear end, which is joined, through a slab 53, to the front end of the transport branch of the respective conveyor 46.
- the machine 1 comprises an outlet section 54 of the substantially known type, which in turn comprises a forming beam 55, of the known type, supported by the frame 43 and arranged with an its own inlet portion along the longitudinal front edge 19 of the plate 17; a feeding unit 56, of the known type, for feeding a paper strip 57 that moves, in use, along the forming beam 55 in a direction 58 and defines a conveyor to advance, in the direction 58, the filtering material exiting from the outlet 41; a transfer group 59, of the known type, for transferring the filtering material from the combining device 15 to the forming beam 55 above the conveyor defined by the paper strip 57 for forming, along the forming beam 55 and in a known manner, a continuous filter worm 60; and a rotating cutting head 61, of the known type, suitable to cut transversally the continuous worm 60 to obtain a succession of segments, each of which corresponds to a double filter 2.
- the transfer group 59 is arranged above the level of the plate 17; however, a (non-illustrated) embodiment is also provided, according to which the transfer group 59 is arranged below the level of the plate 17; but in this case the transfer wheels constituting the transfer group 59 are more than three and comprise at least two further end wheels to bring the filtering material above the conveyor defined by the paper strip 57.
- the transfer group 59 comprises, in the illustrated example, three gear wheels 63, 64, and 65 of the centrifugal type, i.e. similar to that of the wheels 21-24.
- the wheels 63, 64, and 65 are rotatable about respective axes parallel to the axis 13, are arranged aligned on a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal front edge 19 of the plate 17, and are provided with respective transport pockets, each of which is suitable to receive a respective filter group 16, constituted by the content of a corresponding transport pocket 36 of the combining wheel 22.
- the wheel 63 is an inlet wheel, which is rotatable in phase with the combining wheel 22 and in clockwise direction in figure 2 , and is arranged in a position tangential to the track 38 at the radial opening 41;
- the wheel 65 is an outlet wheel, which is rotatable clockwise in figure 2 and is arranged above the inlet of the forming beam 55 tangentially to the strip 57;
- the wheel 64 is an intermediate wheel, which is tangential to the wheels 63 and 65 and is rotatable counterclockwise in figure 2 and in phase with the wheels 63 and 65.
- the wheels 63 and 64 have a common motorization and rotate in phase with the combining wheel 22 and with a peripheral speed comprised between the peripheral speed VC of the combining wheel 22 and the speed VN of advancement of the strip 57.
- the ratio between the peripheral speed of the wheels 63 and 64 and the peripheral speed of the combining wheel 22 is equal to the ratio between the length of the transport pockets of the wheels 63 and 64 and the length of the transport pockets 36 of the combining wheel 22.
- the wheel 65 (and in any case the last wheel of the transfer group 59) is usually provided with an independent motorisation and presents a peripheral speed VT, which is comprised between the peripheral speed of the wheels 63 and 64 and the speed VN of advancement of the strip 57.
- the advancement of the filter groups 16 between the radial opening 41 and the forming beam 55 is therefore obtained by making a controlled braking, i.e. with a speed decreasing from the peripheral speed VC of the combining wheel 22 to the speed VN of the strip 57 by means of one, two, or three speed jumps.
- each extracting roller 11 is put into counterclockwise rotation about the respective axis 13 with a constant peripheral speed V1, which can be different from the constant speed V1 of the other extracting roller.
- each groove 12 takes a respective rod 7 and move it forward through the cutting unit 14, which transforms it into a succession of segments 3 or of segments 4 or of fractions thereof, adjacent to one another.
- Each extracting roller 11 and the respective conveyor 46 are mutually synchronised so that, when a groove 12 is in a position facing the upper surface 20 of the plate 17 and tangential to it, the respective cut rod 7 enters transversally inside a transport pocket of the conveyor 46 and the tooth 49, which limits this pocket at the back, engages the rear end of the cited groove 12 and moves along this groove extracting the cut rod 7 and moving it towards the inlet of the channel 52 with the speed V2.
- This operation is possible thanks to the fact that the slit 44 and the transport branch of the conveyor 46 are inclined by the angle "a" relative to the groove 12, allowing the tooth 49 to follow the groove 12 even if the groove 12 continues to translate parallel to itself with the speed V1.
- the above mentioned transport pockets 36 are defined by the wheel 21 and move with the speed V4, indicated hereinafter with V4a, along the track 37; as regards the segments 4, the above mentioned transport pockets 36 are defined instead by the wheel 24 and move with the speed V4b (which can be different from the speed V4a together with the respective speed V3) along the track 40.
- the wheels 21-24 are synchronised with one another so that the segments 3 are directly transferred from a transport pocket 36 of the wheel 21 to a respective given position inside a transport pocket 36 of the wheel 22; and the segments 4 are transferred from a transport pocket 36 of the wheel 24 to a transport pocket 36 of the wheel 23 and then to a respective given position inside a transport pocket 36 of the wheel 22.
- the synchronisation of the wheels 21-24 is such that, immediately upstream of the outlet 41, the segments 3 and 4 are ordered, along the periphery of the combining wheel 22, according to a given order corresponding to that of the sequence to be formed on the forming beam 55.
- This example relates to the formation of a sequence such as that illustrated in figure 6 .
- This sequence can be obtained according to three different methods.
- All the wheels 21-24 are actuated with a same peripheral speed V4, but the wheel 21 is substantially in phase with the combining wheel 22, and the wheels 23 and 24 are in phase with one another, but slightly in advance relative to the combining wheel 22. This advance can be in the order of half the length of a transport pocket 36 of the combining wheel 22.
- each transport pocket 36 of the combining wheel 22 receives from the wheel 21 a segment 3, which, once entered inside the cited transport pocket 36, immediately comes into contact with the rear tooth 35 of the transport pocket 36.
- the cited transport pocket 36 of the combining wheel 22 receives from the wheel 23 a segment 4, which moves in front of the respective segment 3 and comes immediately into contact with it to form a filter group 16, which is constituted by a segment 4 and a segment 3, in series and into contact with each other, and which coincides with a module 16a repeating the ordered succession to be formed along the forming beam 55.
- the distance D is zeroed through a controlled "braking" obtained by means of at least one speed jump made during the transfer of the filter groups 16 from the combining wheel 22 to the forming beam 55.
- the succession of figure 6 is therefore formed on the strip 57, and this succession, once it has been packed with the strip 57, is cut by the cutting head 61 into a succession of double filters 2, which will be then cut in two to obtain single filters 2a, on a subsequent filter-adder machine (not illustrated).
- All the wheels 21, 23, and 24 are actuated with a same peripheral speed V4, but the wheel 21 is out of phase relative to the wheels 23 and 24 by a distance equal to the length L2+K of the transport pocket 36 of the combining wheel 22; while the combining wheel 22 is actuated with a speed VC equal to the double of the speed V4 and so that inside one of the pockets of each pair of transport pockets 36 of the combining wheel 22 a filter group 16 is formed, constituted by a segment 3, and inside the other pocket a filter group 16 is formed, constituted by a segment 4.
- the extracting and cutting group 10 is set so as to feed half a segment 3 inside each transport pocket 36 of the wheel 21; furthermore, the wheels 21 and 22 are actuated with a same peripheral speed V4 and in phase with each other, while the wheels 23 and 24 are actuated with a speed equal to half the speed V4.
- the filter group 16 constituted by half segment 3 is, in this case, shorter than the filter group 16 constituted by half segment 3 and a segment 4, using the "Method 3" and applying a different controlled braking it will be possible to obtain a sequence (not illustrated) enabling the production of double filters 2, which comprise, in succession, a half segment 4, a half segment 3, a space S, a half segment 3 and a half segment 4.
- double filters 2 can be therefore cut into two halves to obtain a pair of cigarette filters, each of which comprising a half space S (mouth side), a half segment 3 and a half segment 4 (cigarette side).
- This example relates to the formation of a sequence such as that illustrated in figure 7 .
- the double filters 2 are produced in two distinct phases, the first of which, performed by the combining device 15, is a phase of combining and ordering segments 3 and 4 to form, inside the transport pockets 36 of the wheel 22, a succession of filter groups 16, whose structures and order are a function of the reciprocal phasing and of the relative speeds of the wheels 21-24; and the second of which, performed by moving forward the filter groups 16 from the combining device 15 to the cutting head 61, is a composing and cutting phase, during which the initial distribution of the filter groups 16, imposed by the distribution of the transport pockets 36 of the combining wheel 22, is changed by imparting a controlled braking to the filter groups 16 during their transfer from the combining device 15 to the forming beam 55, and setting this braking it is possible to obtain compact sequences for producing filters 2a or recess sequences for producing filters 2b.
- the filter groups 16 are maintained, in a known manner and through suction, in their end relative positions during their advancement along the conveyor defined by the strip 57, which, moving forward along the forming beam 55, is folded, in a known manner, transversally around the succession of filter groups 16 to form the filter worm 60, which is fed with continuous motion through a cutting station, wherein the cutting head 61 cuts the worm 60 to form the double filters 2.
- the machine 1 described above presents some distinctive features constituted by the facts that:
- the machine 66 substantially corresponds to two machines 1, wherein the plates 17 have been made integral to one another along their longitudinal front edges 19 to form a single plate 69, the hoppers for the rods 7 are four, are generically indicated with the number 70 and are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the plate 69, and there are two series of wheels 21-24, wherein the two combining wheels 22 are tangential to each other and share the radial opening 41.
- a single outlet section 54 with a single forming beam 55 there are a single feeding unit 56 for feeding a single paper strip 57 and a single transfer group 59 for transferring the filter groups (not illustrated) from the single outlet 41 to the forming beam 55 above the strip 57 to produce on the paper strip 57 ordered successions (not illustrated) comprising four types of segments compacted together or spaced.
- the four hoppers 70 are arranged in pairs along the branches of a L and along two contiguous edges of a plate 71 supporting eight wheels, generically indicated with the number 72, similar to the wheels 21-24, one of which, indicated with 72a, is a combining wheel allowing the formation, on a single not illustrated forming beam, of ordered successions (not illustrated) comprising four types of segment compacted together or spaced.
- the four hoppers 70 are arranged in pairs along the branches of a T and along two contiguous edges of a plate 73 supporting nine wheels, generically indicated with the number 74, similar to the wheels 21-24, one of which, indicated with 74a, is a combining wheel allowing the formation, on a single not illustrated forming beam, of ordered successions (not illustrated) comprising four types of segments compacted together or spaced.
- each of these machines is constituted by two mutually integrated modules, and that each of these modules is constituted by a machine 1, that has its own plate 17 common to the other machine 1.
- the variant illustrated in figures 11 and 12 relates to a different accelerating unit, indicated with the number 47a, suitable to be used instead of each accelerating unit 47 and, analogously to this latter, to receive in succession the rods 7 from the chain 48 and to accelerate the respective segments 3, 4 to feed them singularly to the transport pockets 36 of the respective wheel 21, 24.
- Each accelerating unit 47a comprises two conveyors 50a and 51a, which are arranged along the respective slit 44 at opposite sides of the plate 17 and which define between themselves along the slit 44 the advancement channel 52 for the segments 3, 4 of the respective rods 7.
- the conveyor 50a is arranged below the plate 17 and comprises two disks 75, which are motorized, to rotate in opposite directions around respective axes 76 extending perpendicularly to the plate 17, and are arranged substantially tangential to one another.
- the disks 75 are arranged coplanar to one another and to the transport branch of the chain 48 and at opposite sides of the elongation of the transport branch, and they are externally limited by respective frusto-conical surfaces 77, which are arranged with their conicities facing upwards and define, between themselves and at the zone of substantial tangency, a lower surface portion of the channel (52).
- the actuation of the disks 75 is such that, in use, the peripheral speeds V3 of the frusto-conical surfaces 77 at their zone of substantial tangency are equal to one another and concordant with the linear speed V2 of advancement of the teeth 49 of the chain 48.
- the conveyor 51a is arranged above the plate 17 and comprises a pulley 78, which is motorized to rotate around an axis 79 parallel to the plate 17, perpendicular to the axes 76 and extending on a plane defined by the axes 76.
- the pulley 78 is directly arranged above the zone of substantial tangency of the disks 75 and presents an outer annular groove 80, whose peripheral speed V3 is equal to, and concordant with, in the zone of substantial tangency of the disks 75, the peripheral speed V3 of the disks 75 and defines, at the zone of substantial tangency of the disks 75, an upper surface portion of the channel 52.
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- Cigarettes, Filters, And Manufacturing Of Filters (AREA)
- Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
- Filtering Of Dispersed Particles In Gases (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a machine and a method for making cigarette filters, in particular composite cigarette filters, i.e. filters comprising two or more segments of filtering material.
- As it is well known, the above mentioned segments can be either arranged according to a continuous line, to form a succession of combined filters, or separated from one another by spaces, to form a succession of recess filters. The several segments can be made either of different filtering materials or of the same filtering material, which can be impregnated or not with liquid additives or, in general, with particulates, for instance in powder form.
- The machines for making composite filters are usually of the type described in
WO-2009/074540 andFR-1280722 - In the known machines of the type described above, the advancement of the segments through the combining device is obtained by means of rotating drums, which suck the segments, and therefore the obtained combinations of segments, and hold them inside their peripheral transport pockets. These sucking rollers not only are relatively complex from a structural viewpoint and expensive from an energy viewpoint, but they also make the machine relatively rigid, as changes in the format and/or distribution of the segments in the desired segment combinations can be obtained only by changing the drums and/or the positions of the inlets of the combining device.
- The object of the present invention is to provide a machine and a method for making cigarette filters, in particular composite filters, that are easy and economical to be produced and, at the same time, guarantee high flexibility as regards changes in segment format and distribution and a relatively low energy consumption.
- According to the present invention a machine is provided for making cigarette filters according to
claim 1 and, preferably, according to any one of the claims depending directly or indirectly upon theclaim 1. - According to the present invention a method is also provided for making cigarette filters according to
claim 19 and, preferably, according to any one of the claims depending directly or indirectly upon theclaim 19. - The present invention will be described hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, that illustrate some non limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:
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figure 1 is a side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of the filter making machine of the present invention; -
figure 2 is a partial plan view in enlarged scale of the machine offigure 1 ; -
figure 3 is a perspective view in enlarged scale of a detail offigure 2 ; -
figure 4 is a perspective view in enlarged scale of a detail offigures 2 and3 , with some parts in cross-section and some parts removed for the sake of clarity; -
figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a further detail offigures 2 and3 ; -
figures 6 and 7 schematically illustrate respective filters that can be produced by means of the filter making machine offigure 1 ; -
figures 8 ,9 , and10 schematically illustrate respective variants of the filter making machine offigure 1 ; -
figure 11 is a schematic view in enlarged scale, according to a perspective view analogous to that offigure 5 , of a variant of the detail offigure 5 ; and -
figure 12 is an elevation view in enlarged scale of a detail offigure 11 . - In
figure 1 ,number 1 indicates, in its entirety, a machine for making cigarette filters, in particular cigarette composite filters. - According to what illustrated by way of example in
figures 6 and 7 , themachine 1 is suitable to produce a succession of double filters, generically indicated with thenumber 2, each of which comprises, in the present case, at least onesegment 3 and at least one segment 4, which present equal lengths in the illustrated example but in reality can present different lengths. Thesegments 3 and 4 are arranged inside atubular casing 5 either according to a continuous line, to define a succession ofdouble filters 2 which must be subsequently cut to obtain combinedfilters 2a (figure 6 ), or according to aline comprising spaces 6, to define a succession ofdouble filters 2 which must be subsequently cut to obtainrecess filters 2b (figure 7 ). - The
segments 3 and 4 can be of different filtering materials or of the same filtering material, which is not impregnated for one of the twosegments 3 and 4, while is impregnated with particulate material for the other of the twosegments 3 and 4. Alternatively, the material of both thesegments 3 and 4 can also be impregnated in different manners. In practice, thesegment 3 can be made of cellulose acetate, while the segment 4 can be made of cellulose acetate impregnated with carbon dust. - The
segments 3 and 4 are obtained by transversally cutting respective rods 7 (figure 5 ) extracted in a known manner fromrespective hoppers cutting units 10, each of which comprises an extractingroller 11 externally provided withaxial grooves 12. The extracting roller is mounted for rotation, in counterclockwise direction infigure 1 , around ahorizontal axis 13; moreover, it is arranged to close an exit of therespective hopper rods 7 contained in therespective hopper grooves 12 are sucking grooves uniformly distributed around theaxis 13 and each of them is suitable to receive and hold arespective rod 7, and to move thisrod 7 along a circular path to extract it from therespective hopper cutting units 14, through which therod 7 is cut into therespective segments 3, 4. In the illustrated example, associated with each extractingroller 11 there are threecutting units 14, each of which comprises, in a known and therefore not illustrated manner, a shaft parallel to theaxis 13 and carrying keyed, in axially adjustable positions, more cutting disks suitable to engage therespective rods 7 moved forward from the extractingroller 11. - According to what is better illustrated in
figures 2 and3 , in addition to the twohoppers cutting units 10, themachine 1 comprises a combiningdevice 15 to combinesegments 3 and 4 to obtain a cited ordered succession (figure 6 and 7 ) that can be chosen among a plurality of ordered successions obtainable by combiningsegments 3 and 4 of different dimensions andspaces 6, as the case may be. - As it will be better explained hereinafter, each of these ordered successions is obtained starting from the formation of a series of
filter groups 16 through the combiningdevice 15 and according to a given law variable from ordered succession to ordered succession; each of thesefilter groups 16, as it will be described hereafter, can be constituted even by asingle segment 3 or 4 or part of it, and can be equal to, or different from, the twoadjacent filter groups 16 preceding and, respectively, following it in the series. - According to what illustrated in
figures 2 and3 , the combiningdevice 15 comprises arectangular plate 17 arranged horizontally and presenting a longitudinalrear edge 18, which is arranged transversally to theaxes 13 and along which theadjacent hoppers cutting groups 10 are mounted, and a longitudinalfront edge 19, parallel to the longitudinalrear edge 18. Theplate 17 is arranged at a lower level than that of the plane defined by the twoaxes 13 and presents anupper surface 20, whose plane is tangent to the outer surfaces of both the extractingrollers 11. - The combining
device 15 furthermore comprises fourwheels wheels segments 3 and 4, thewheel 23 is a transferring wheel of the feeding line of the segments 4, and thewheel 22 is an outlet combining wheel coupled to both the cited feeding lines. - As the wheels 21-24 are of the same type, only the
wheel 21 will be described in detail hereinafter. Obviously, the detailed description below applies to all the remaining wheels 22-24. - According to what illustrated in particular in
figure 4 , thewheel 21 comprises ashaft 25, which presents avertical axis 26 perpendicular to theplate 17 and is mounted in a rotatable and axially fixed manner through acylindrical sleeve 27 coaxial to theaxis 26 and engaged in fixed position by means of athrough hole 28 obtained in theplate 17. On a lower end of theshaft 25 projecting below thesleeve 27, apulley 29 is keyed, which is carried into rotation, together with theother pulleys 29, by abelt 30 actuated by amotor 31. In particular, and with reference tofigure 3 , thepulley 30 is suitable to put thewheels wheel - With regard to what mentioned above about the motorization of the wheels 22-24, it should be noted that, as it will be better described hereafter, the relative peripheral speed of ach wheel 22-24 relative to the other wheels is of major significance in management of the
machine 1; and it should be furthermore noted that the configuration offigure 3 , wherein all thepulleys 29 have the same diameter and the respective wheels 21-24 have therefore the same peripheral speed, can be suitable to obtain a particulardouble filter 2, for instance thedouble filter 2 offigure 6 , while the use ofpulleys 29, presenting different diameters, will be necessary for obtainingdouble filters 2 of different type. - In order to eliminate the drawback of changing the
pulleys 29 for each format change, according to a not illustrated variant and formachines 1 designed not only for producing a single type ofdouble filter 2, each of the wheels 22-24 is motorized through a respective motor, in particular an adjustable speed electric motor. - With reference to
figure 4 , to an upper end of theshaft 25 projecting above thesleeve 27 are fixed the inner ends of a plurality ofradial tines 32, and the outer ends thereof are fixed, in a manner that can be disassembled, to aflat ring 33, which is coaxial to theaxis 26 and is housed slidable inside anannular depression 34 obtained in theplate 17 coaxially to theaxis 26 and through theupper surface 20 of theplate 17. Along the outer periphery of thedepression 34 an annular groove is obtained, arranged outside theflat ring 33 and swept by a plurality ofteeth 35, which project radially towards the outside of theflat ring 33, are uniformly distributed about theaxis 26 and define a plurality oftransport pockets 36. - According to what illustrated in
figure 4 , the grooves swept by theteeth 33 of thewheels 21 to 24 define respective annular tracks, respectively indicated with 37, 38, 39, and 40 and extending on theplate 17 coaxially to therespective axes 26, wherein thetrack 38 presents a first portion common to thetrack 37 and a second portion common to thetrack 39, which presents a portion common to thetrack 40. Thetracks segments 3 and 4, thetrack 39 is a transfer track of the feeding line of the segments 4 and thetrack 38 is an outlet track comprising a part, which is substantially tangent to the longitudinalfront edge 19 of theplate 17, is arranged downstream of the cited second portion and upstream of the cited first portion of thetrack 38 in the direction of rotation of thewheel 22, and presents a radial opening which is anoutlet 41 of the combiningdevice 15. - According to what illustrated in
figure 2 , anappendix 42 extends outwards from each end of the longitudinalrear edge 18 of theplate 17; this appendix is perpendicular to the longitudinalrear edge 18, supports, together with aframe 43 for supporting theplate 17, therespective hopper upper surface 20 of theplate 17. Eachappendix 42 extends below, and substantially tangentially to, the respective extractingroller 11 and is followed by a respectiverectilinear slit 44, which is tangential to therespective wheel plate 17 until it exits inside therespective track slit 44 defines a rectilinear inlet track for therespective segments 3, 4 inside the combiningdevice 15. Infigure 2 it should be noted that the twoslits 44 are parallel to each other, but they are inclined relative to theaxes 13 of the respective extractingrollers 11. Namely, while eachaxis 13 is perpendicular to the longitudinalrear edge 18 of theplate 17 and is parallel to theperipheral grooves 12 of the respective extractingroller 11, eachslit 44 is inclined forward, in the direction of rotation of the respective extractingroller 11 and relative to aperipheral groove 12 facing it, starting from a rear end of theperipheral groove 12. - Each of the
slits 44 defines a feeding path for a succession ofrods 7 extracted by the respective extractingroller 11 from therespective hopper figure 5 , eachslit 44 is associated to arespective transport system 45, which is suitable to transfer therods 7 from the respective extractingroller 11 to therespective track conveyor 46 and an acceleratingunit 47. - Each
conveyor 46 is a pocket conveyor comprising a motorizedannular chain 48, which presents a transport branch extending immediately below therespective slit 44 and is provided withteeth 49, which are movable along theslit 44, project above theupper surface 20 and are suitable to engage in a slidable manner respectiveperipheral grooves 12 of the respective extractingroller 11 when this latter rotates about therespective axis 13. - Each accelerating
unit 47 comprises two motorizedendless conveyors respective slit 44 at opposite sides of theplate 17 and present transport branches parallel to and facing one another, defining between themselves, and along therespective slit 44, anadvancement channel 52 for thesegments 3, 4 (or portions thereof) of therespective rods 7. In particular, theconveyor 50 is arranged below theplate 17 and its transport branch is coplanar, and aligned, with the transport branch of thechain 48 and presents an inlet rear end, which is joined, through aslab 53, to the front end of the transport branch of therespective conveyor 46. -
- a = angle of inclination of the
slit 44 relative to theaxis 13; - V1 = peripheral speed of the extracting
roller 11; - V2 = linear speed of advancement of the
teeth 49; - V3 = linear speed of advancement of the
conveyors - V4 = linear speed of advancement of the
teeth 35. - Lastly, the
machine 1 comprises anoutlet section 54 of the substantially known type, which in turn comprises a formingbeam 55, of the known type, supported by theframe 43 and arranged with an its own inlet portion along the longitudinalfront edge 19 of theplate 17; afeeding unit 56, of the known type, for feeding apaper strip 57 that moves, in use, along the formingbeam 55 in adirection 58 and defines a conveyor to advance, in thedirection 58, the filtering material exiting from theoutlet 41; atransfer group 59, of the known type, for transferring the filtering material from the combiningdevice 15 to the formingbeam 55 above the conveyor defined by thepaper strip 57 for forming, along the formingbeam 55 and in a known manner, acontinuous filter worm 60; and a rotatingcutting head 61, of the known type, suitable to cut transversally thecontinuous worm 60 to obtain a succession of segments, each of which corresponds to adouble filter 2. - In the illustrated example of embodiment, the
transfer group 59 is arranged above the level of theplate 17; however, a (non-illustrated) embodiment is also provided, according to which thetransfer group 59 is arranged below the level of theplate 17; but in this case the transfer wheels constituting thetransfer group 59 are more than three and comprise at least two further end wheels to bring the filtering material above the conveyor defined by thepaper strip 57. - According to what illustrated in
figure 2 , thetransfer group 59 comprises, in the illustrated example, threegear wheels wheels axis 13, are arranged aligned on a vertical plane passing through the longitudinalfront edge 19 of theplate 17, and are provided with respective transport pockets, each of which is suitable to receive arespective filter group 16, constituted by the content of acorresponding transport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22. In particular, thewheel 63 is an inlet wheel, which is rotatable in phase with the combiningwheel 22 and in clockwise direction infigure 2 , and is arranged in a position tangential to thetrack 38 at theradial opening 41; thewheel 65 is an outlet wheel, which is rotatable clockwise infigure 2 and is arranged above the inlet of the formingbeam 55 tangentially to thestrip 57; and thewheel 64 is an intermediate wheel, which is tangential to thewheels figure 2 and in phase with thewheels - Usually, the
wheels wheel 22 and with a peripheral speed comprised between the peripheral speed VC of the combiningwheel 22 and the speed VN of advancement of thestrip 57. In general, the ratio between the peripheral speed of thewheels wheel 22 is equal to the ratio between the length of the transport pockets of thewheels wheel 22. - Lastly, the wheel 65 (and in any case the last wheel of the transfer group 59) is usually provided with an independent motorisation and presents a peripheral speed VT, which is comprised between the peripheral speed of the
wheels strip 57. -
- In conclusion, in the case of the
transfer group 59, the advancement of thefilter groups 16 between theradial opening 41 and the formingbeam 55 is therefore obtained by making a controlled braking, i.e. with a speed decreasing from the peripheral speed VC of the combiningwheel 22 to the speed VN of thestrip 57 by means of one, two, or three speed jumps. - In use, each extracting
roller 11 is put into counterclockwise rotation about therespective axis 13 with a constant peripheral speed V1, which can be different from the constant speed V1 of the other extracting roller. During this rotation, eachgroove 12 takes arespective rod 7 and move it forward through the cuttingunit 14, which transforms it into a succession ofsegments 3 or of segments 4 or of fractions thereof, adjacent to one another. - Each extracting
roller 11 and therespective conveyor 46 are mutually synchronised so that, when agroove 12 is in a position facing theupper surface 20 of theplate 17 and tangential to it, therespective cut rod 7 enters transversally inside a transport pocket of theconveyor 46 and thetooth 49, which limits this pocket at the back, engages the rear end of the citedgroove 12 and moves along this groove extracting thecut rod 7 and moving it towards the inlet of thechannel 52 with the speed V2. This operation is possible thanks to the fact that theslit 44 and the transport branch of theconveyor 46 are inclined by the angle "a" relative to thegroove 12, allowing thetooth 49 to follow thegroove 12 even if thegroove 12 continues to translate parallel to itself with the speed V1. - When the
cut rod 7 achieves the inlet of the channel 52 (figure 5 ), itsfirst segment 3, 4 (or a fraction thereof) is taken by theconveyors subsequent segments 3, 4 and feeding it inside arespective transport pocket 36 of thewheel wheel segments 3, the above mentionedtransport pockets 36 are defined by thewheel 21 and move with the speed V4, indicated hereinafter with V4a, along thetrack 37; as regards the segments 4, the above mentionedtransport pockets 36 are defined instead by thewheel 24 and move with the speed V4b (which can be different from the speed V4a together with the respective speed V3) along thetrack 40. - The wheels 21-24 are synchronised with one another so that the
segments 3 are directly transferred from atransport pocket 36 of thewheel 21 to a respective given position inside atransport pocket 36 of thewheel 22; and the segments 4 are transferred from atransport pocket 36 of thewheel 24 to atransport pocket 36 of thewheel 23 and then to a respective given position inside atransport pocket 36 of thewheel 22. The synchronisation of the wheels 21-24 is such that, immediately upstream of theoutlet 41, thesegments 3 and 4 are ordered, along the periphery of the combiningwheel 22, according to a given order corresponding to that of the sequence to be formed on the formingbeam 55. - Some examples will allow to better explain the operation of the combining
device 15 and of its interaction with thetransfer group 59 and with the conveyor defined by thestrip 57 along the formingbeam 55. - This example relates to the formation of a sequence such as that illustrated in
figure 6 . - This sequence can be obtained according to three different methods.
- All the wheels 21-24 are actuated with a same peripheral speed V4, but the
wheel 21 is substantially in phase with the combiningwheel 22, and thewheels wheel 22. This advance can be in the order of half the length of atransport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22. - This setting allows each
transport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22 to receive from the wheel 21 asegment 3, which, once entered inside the citedtransport pocket 36, immediately comes into contact with therear tooth 35 of thetransport pocket 36. Afterwards, the citedtransport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22 receives from the wheel 23 a segment 4, which moves in front of therespective segment 3 and comes immediately into contact with it to form afilter group 16, which is constituted by a segment 4 and asegment 3, in series and into contact with each other, and which coincides with amodule 16a repeating the ordered succession to be formed along the formingbeam 55. The citedfilter group 16 presents a length L1 lower than a length L2 of thetransport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22, and the distance D between thisfilter group 16 and each of theadjacent filter groups 16 will be equal to:
where K is the thickness of atooth 35. - The distance D is zeroed through a controlled "braking" obtained by means of at least one speed jump made during the transfer of the
filter groups 16 from the combiningwheel 22 to the formingbeam 55. - The succession of
figure 6 is therefore formed on thestrip 57, and this succession, once it has been packed with thestrip 57, is cut by the cuttinghead 61 into a succession ofdouble filters 2, which will be then cut in two to obtainsingle filters 2a, on a subsequent filter-adder machine (not illustrated). - All the
wheels wheel 21 is out of phase relative to thewheels transport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22; while the combiningwheel 22 is actuated with a speed VC equal to the double of the speed V4 and so that inside one of the pockets of each pair of transport pockets 36 of the combining wheel 22 afilter group 16 is formed, constituted by asegment 3, and inside the other pocket afilter group 16 is formed, constituted by a segment 4. - Analogously to what described for the "
Method 1", in this case again the distance between thefilter groups 16 of the series exiting from the combiningwheel 22 is zeroed by applying a controlled braking to thefilter groups 16 during their transfer to the formingbeam 55. - The extracting and
cutting group 10 is set so as to feed half asegment 3 inside eachtransport pocket 36 of thewheel 21; furthermore, thewheels wheels - In this way it is possible to feed
half segment 3 inside eachtransport pocket 36 of the combiningwheel 22, while alternatingtransport pockets 36 of the combiningwheel 22 receive also a segment 4. - By subsequently compacting the two
different filter groups 16, the sequence offigure 6 is obtained. - As the
filter group 16 constituted byhalf segment 3 is, in this case, shorter than thefilter group 16 constituted byhalf segment 3 and a segment 4, using the "Method 3" and applying a different controlled braking it will be possible to obtain a sequence (not illustrated) enabling the production ofdouble filters 2, which comprise, in succession, a half segment 4, ahalf segment 3, a space S, ahalf segment 3 and a half segment 4. Each of thesedouble filters 2 can be therefore cut into two halves to obtain a pair of cigarette filters, each of which comprising a half space S (mouth side), ahalf segment 3 and a half segment 4 (cigarette side). - This result will be obviously always possible only if the length S of the cited
space 6 in lower than half of the length of thesegment 3. - This example relates to the formation of a sequence such as that illustrated in
figure 7 . - This sequence is obtained by using the "
Method 2" of the example 1, with the only difference that the braking of thefilter groups 16 during their transfer to the formingbeam 55 is limited so that thefilter groups 16 are not compacted, as in the case of the cited "method 2", at the inlet of the conveyor defined by thestrip 57, but they are arranged on it spaced from one another by a distance S equal to the length of thespace 6. - From the examples above it is clearly apparent that on the
machine 1 thedouble filters 2 are produced in two distinct phases, the first of which, performed by the combiningdevice 15, is a phase of combining andordering segments 3 and 4 to form, inside the transport pockets 36 of thewheel 22, a succession offilter groups 16, whose structures and order are a function of the reciprocal phasing and of the relative speeds of the wheels 21-24; and the second of which, performed by moving forward thefilter groups 16 from the combiningdevice 15 to the cuttinghead 61, is a composing and cutting phase, during which the initial distribution of thefilter groups 16, imposed by the distribution of the transport pockets 36 of the combiningwheel 22, is changed by imparting a controlled braking to thefilter groups 16 during their transfer from the combiningdevice 15 to the formingbeam 55, and setting this braking it is possible to obtain compact sequences for producingfilters 2a or recess sequences for producingfilters 2b. - The filter groups 16 are maintained, in a known manner and through suction, in their end relative positions during their advancement along the conveyor defined by the
strip 57, which, moving forward along the formingbeam 55, is folded, in a known manner, transversally around the succession offilter groups 16 to form thefilter worm 60, which is fed with continuous motion through a cutting station, wherein the cuttinghead 61 cuts theworm 60 to form thedouble filters 2. - It is clearly apparent that, if the aim is to produce compact sequences, the transferring
group 59 can be replaced, in a not illustrated manner, with a simple conveyor compactor of the known type. - With respect to the known filter machines, the
machine 1 described above presents some distinctive features constituted by the facts that: - once the
segments 3 and 4 have achieved theplate 17, they move, resting on a horizontal plane and being pushed (without being held through suction), both when they are fed to the combiningdevice 15 along theslits 44 and when they move along the combiningdevice 15; - the
filter groups 16 exiting from the combiningdevice 15, push-advance along the transferringgroup 59 separated from one another by distances defined by the dimensions of the transport pockets of the wheels 63-65; - the composition of the
filter groups 16, and therefore of the succession formed on the conveyor defined by thestrip 57, can be varied simply by adjusting the phasing and the peripheral speeds of the wheels 22-24; - the reciprocal positions of the
filter groups 16 and the formation of spaces S, if any, are adjusted absolutely without controlling, through suction and/or through the insertion of teeth of width S, the position of thefilter groups 16 along the transferringgroup 59, but simply by controlling the speed of thefilter groups 16 applying a controlled braking to them during their transfer from the combiningdevice 15 to the conveyor defined by thestrip 57; and - the format changes do not require the mounting and demounting of cylindrical drums keyed on respective shafts, but simply the replacement of the flat rings 33.
- The variants illustrated in
figures 8 to 10 relate to machines, indicated respectively with 66, 67, and 68, for making four-segment filters (not illustrated). - In particular, the
machine 66 substantially corresponds to twomachines 1, wherein theplates 17 have been made integral to one another along their longitudinal front edges 19 to form asingle plate 69, the hoppers for therods 7 are four, are generically indicated with thenumber 70 and are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of theplate 69, and there are two series of wheels 21-24, wherein the two combiningwheels 22 are tangential to each other and share theradial opening 41. In themachine 66 there are asingle outlet section 54 with a single formingbeam 55, asingle feeding unit 56 for feeding asingle paper strip 57 and asingle transfer group 59 for transferring the filter groups (not illustrated) from thesingle outlet 41 to the formingbeam 55 above thestrip 57 to produce on thepaper strip 57 ordered successions (not illustrated) comprising four types of segments compacted together or spaced. - In the
machine 67, the fourhoppers 70 are arranged in pairs along the branches of a L and along two contiguous edges of aplate 71 supporting eight wheels, generically indicated with thenumber 72, similar to the wheels 21-24, one of which, indicated with 72a, is a combining wheel allowing the formation, on a single not illustrated forming beam, of ordered successions (not illustrated) comprising four types of segment compacted together or spaced. - Lastly, in the
machine 68 the fourhoppers 70 are arranged in pairs along the branches of a T and along two contiguous edges of aplate 73 supporting nine wheels, generically indicated with thenumber 74, similar to the wheels 21-24, one of which, indicated with 74a, is a combining wheel allowing the formation, on a single not illustrated forming beam, of ordered successions (not illustrated) comprising four types of segments compacted together or spaced. - Observing the diagrams of the
machines machine 1, that has itsown plate 17 common to theother machine 1. - In particular, it should be noted that:
- in the
machine 66, the outlets of both the modules are mutually combined on thetransfer group 59; - in the
machine 67, the outlet of one of the two modules is connected with an intermediate track of the combining device of the other module; and - in the
machine 68, the outlet of one of the modules is directly connected to thetransfer group 59, while the outlet of the other module is connected to thetransfer group 59 through the combiningwheel 74a that is, in this case, an additional wheel. - In view of the above description it is easily understood that, if one desires to produce filters with two ore more segments and
machines 1 are available, it is always possible to combine in various manner, according to not illustrated variants, at least twomachines 1 using asingle transfer group 59, connecting theoutlet 41 of one first of themachines 1 directly to thetransfer group 59, and connecting the outlet of thesecond machine 1 with any one of the tracks 37-40 of the combiningdevice 15 of thefirst machine 1 or with thetransfer group 59. Obviously, these connections can be either direct or produced indirectly through the interposition of a conveyor, preferably constituted by a train of pocket wheels, which can be even wheels with vertical axis devoid of suction or, due to space reasons, suction pocket wheels with horizontal axis. - The variant illustrated in
figures 11 and 12 relates to a different accelerating unit, indicated with thenumber 47a, suitable to be used instead of each acceleratingunit 47 and, analogously to this latter, to receive in succession therods 7 from thechain 48 and to accelerate therespective segments 3, 4 to feed them singularly to the transport pockets 36 of therespective wheel - Each accelerating
unit 47a comprises twoconveyors respective slit 44 at opposite sides of theplate 17 and which define between themselves along theslit 44 theadvancement channel 52 for thesegments 3, 4 of therespective rods 7. - In particular, the
conveyor 50a is arranged below theplate 17 and comprises twodisks 75, which are motorized, to rotate in opposite directions aroundrespective axes 76 extending perpendicularly to theplate 17, and are arranged substantially tangential to one another. Thedisks 75 are arranged coplanar to one another and to the transport branch of thechain 48 and at opposite sides of the elongation of the transport branch, and they are externally limited by respective frusto-conical surfaces 77, which are arranged with their conicities facing upwards and define, between themselves and at the zone of substantial tangency, a lower surface portion of the channel (52). The actuation of thedisks 75 is such that, in use, the peripheral speeds V3 of the frusto-conical surfaces 77 at their zone of substantial tangency are equal to one another and concordant with the linear speed V2 of advancement of theteeth 49 of thechain 48. - The
conveyor 51a is arranged above theplate 17 and comprises apulley 78, which is motorized to rotate around anaxis 79 parallel to theplate 17, perpendicular to theaxes 76 and extending on a plane defined by theaxes 76. Thepulley 78 is directly arranged above the zone of substantial tangency of thedisks 75 and presents an outerannular groove 80, whose peripheral speed V3 is equal to, and concordant with, in the zone of substantial tangency of thedisks 75, the peripheral speed V3 of thedisks 75 and defines, at the zone of substantial tangency of thedisks 75, an upper surface portion of thechannel 52.
Claims (22)
- A filter making machine for making segmented cigarette filters (2; 2a; 2b), the machine (1) comprising a first portion for combining a number of filter segments (3, 4) and a second portion for composing and cutting the filters (2; 2a; 2b); the first portion comprising at least a combining device (15) to combine several types of filter segment (3, 4) made of several types of filtering material to obtain a succession of segmented filter groups (16), the combining device (15) having an inlet (44) for each type of filter segment (3, 4) and an outlet (41) for the filter groups (16); and the machine (1) being characterized in that the combining device (15) comprises an horizontal plate (17) having, at the upper side, a succession of tracks (37-40) adapted to be followed in part by the segments (3, 4) and in part by the filter groups (16); the plate (17) defining a rest and support surface for the filter segments (3, 4) and the filter groups (16) which move, in use, along the tracks (37-40); each track (37; 38; 39; 40) being tangent to, and communicating with, each adjacent track (37; 38; 39; 40); and the inlets (44) and the outlet (41) being associated to respective tracks (37, 40; 38).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 1, wherein each track (37; 38; 39; 40) is an annular track extending about a respective axis (26) which is perpendicular to the plate (17); wheel means (21; 22; 23; 24) being carried by the plate (17) coaxially to said axis (26) to advance the filter segments (3, 4) and/or the filter groups (16) along the track (37; 38; 39; 40).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 2, wherein, for each said track (37; 38; 39; 40), the wheel means (21; 22; 23; 24) comprise a motorized flat ring (33) which is coaxial to said axis (26) and has a plurality of teeth (35) for sweeping the track (37; 38; 39; 40), the teeth (45).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 2 or 3, and further comprising at least two hoppers (8, 9) for respective types of filter segment (3; 4); each hopper (8; 9) being associated to a respective inlet (44) which comprises a straight track extending, at least in part, along the plate (17) and tangent to a respective said annular track (37; 40), which is an inlet track (37; 40) for the combining device (15); extracting means (11) being provided for extracting the filter segments (3, 4) from each hopper (8, 9); and conveyor means (45) being movable along the straight track for conveying the filter segments (3, 4) from the extracting means (11) to the respective inlet track (37; 40).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 4, wherein each hopper (8, 9) is designed to accommodate a plurality of filter rods (7) of a respective type of filtering material; the extracting means (11) comprising, for each hopper (8, 9), a motorized extracting roller (11) mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis (13) and having peripheral axial grooves (12) each adapted to receive and retain a respective said filter rod (7).
- The filter making machine as claimed in Claim 5, wherein cutting means (14) are provided to cut each filter rod (7) into the respective segments (3; 4) when the filter rod (7) is displaced, in use, by the relevant extracting roller (11).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 5 or 6, wherein each extracting roller (11) is arranged above, and tangent to, the respective straight track; the conveying means (45) comprising an endless conveyor (46), which is synchronized with the respective extracting roller (11) and has a succession of teeth (49), each of which is adapted to move, in use, along a respective axial groove (12) and the respective straight track.
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 7, wherein each said straight track is defined by a respective slit (44) provided through the plate (17); the respective endless conveyor (46) being arranged below the plate (17).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein each extracting roller (11) is mounted for continuous rotation about the respective axis (13) in a predetermined direction and with a predetermined constant speed of rotation; the respective straight track being inclined, in relation to said axis (13), by an angle (a), the amplitude of which is a function of said speed of rotation.
- The filter making machine claimed in one of Claims 2 to 9, wherein the annular tracks (37-40) comprise at least a pair of inlet tracks (37, 40) connected to respective said inlets (44) to receive respective types of filter segment (3; 4), at least one combining track (38) associated with the inlet tracks (37, 40), and at least a transfer track (39) interposed between the combining track (38) and a respective inlet track (40); the wheel means (21; 22; 23; 24) comprising, for each said annular track (37; 38; 39; 40), a motorized flat ring (33) which is coaxial to said axis (26) and has a plurality of teeth (35) for sweeping the respective annular track (37; 38; 39; 40); the teeth (35) defining a succession of transport pockets (36), which are movable along the annular track (37; 38; 39; 40) for receiving, each, a respective filter segment (3; 4) or a respective filter group (16).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 10, wherein the transport pockets (36) movable along the inlet tracks (37, 40) and the transport pockets (36) movable along the transfer track (39) are phased with one another and with the transport pockets (36) movable along the combining track (38) to feed the filter segments (3, 4) to respective transport pockets (36) movable along the combining track (38) at determined positions and with a determined succession order chosen from a number of different combinations of position and succession order.
- The filter making machine claimed in Claims 4 and 11, wherein the conveying means (45) further comprise an accelerating unit (47; 47a) adapted to receive a respective said rod (7) and to separate the respective filter segments (3; 4) from one another to feed them in succession to the respective said transport pockets (36) movable along the respective inlet track (37; 40).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claims 8 and 12, wherein the accelerating unit (47; 47a) comprises a first and a second motorized conveyor (50, 51; 50a, 51a), which are arranged along the respective said slit (44) the first below and the second above the plate (17) and define therebetween, and along the respective slit (44), an advancement channel (52) for the filter segments (3; 4) of the respective filter rods (7).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 13, wherein the first and second conveyor (50, 51) of the accelerating unit (47) are endless conveyors having respective parallel transport branches which face one another; the transport branch of the first conveyor (50) defining a lower side, and the transport branch of the second conveyor (51) defining an upper side, of said channel (52).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 13, wherein the first conveyor (50a) is arranged below the plate (17) and comprises two coplanar disks (75), which are motorized to rotate in opposite directions about respective first axes (76) extending perpendicularly to the plate (17), have frusto-conical peripheries which extend through a zone of substantial tangency of the disks (75) to one another and are arranged with their conicities facing upwards to define, therebetween and at the zone of substantial tangency, a lower surface portion of the channel (52).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 15, wherein the second conveyor (51a) is arranged above the plate (17) and comprises a pulley (78), which is motorized to rotate about a second axis (79) parallel to the plate (17), perpendicular to the first axes (76) and extending on a plane defined by the first axes (76); the pulley (78) having an outer annular groove (80) defining, at said zone of substantial tangency, an upper surface portion of the channel (52).
- The filter making machine as claimed in one of the foregoing Claims, wherein said second portion comprises a forming beam (55) for forming a continuous filter worm (60); a feeding unit (56) for feeding a paper strip (57) along the forming beam (55); a transfer group (59) for push-transferring the filter group (16) from said outlet (41) to the forming beam (55) above the strip (57); and a cutting head (61) for cutting the continuous worm (60) to obtain said filters (2).
- The filter making machine claimed in Claim 17, wherein feeding means (56) are provided to feed, in use, the paper strip (57) along the forming beam (55) at a speed (VN) lower than a speed (VC) of the filtering groups (16) at the outlet (41) of the combining device (15).
- A method for making segmented cigarette filters (2; 2a; 2b), the method comprising a first step for combining a number of filter segments (3, 4) together and a second step for composing and cutting the filters (2; 2a; 2b); the first step comprising:- providing at least a combining device (15) to combine several types of filter segment (3, 4) made of several types of filtering material to obtain a succession of segmented filter groups (16) having respective compositions; the combining device (15) having an inlet (44) for each type of filter segment (3, 4), an outlet (41) for the filter groups (16), and a succession of tracks (37-40) extending on a horizontal plane and adapted to be followed in part by the segments (3, 4) and in part by the filter groups (16); each track (37; 38; 39; 40) being tangent to, and communicating with, each adjacent track (37; 38; 39; 40); the inlets (44) being associated to respective inlet tracks (37, 40), and the outlet (41) being associated to a combining track (38);- pushing the filter segments (3; 4) along the respective tracks (37; 40, 39), and inside respective first transfer pockets (36), by moving the first transfer pockets (36) along the tracks (37; 40, 39) at respective first speeds (V4) to feed the filter segments (3, 4) to second transfer pockets (36) arranged for movement along the combining track (38) at a second speed (VC) to form, within the second transfer pockets (36), said filter groups (16) arranged in said succession along the combining track (38); the composition of each filter group (16) being controlled by varying said first and second speed (V4, VC) and/or the phases of the first and second pockets (36); and- push-advancing the filter groups (16) along the combining track (38) up to their leaving, in said succession, the combining device (15) trough said outlet (41).
- The method claimed in Claim 19, wherein the second step comprises:- feeding the filter groups (16) through said outlet (41) in said succession, at said second speed (VC) and aligned in a predetermined first space relationship, to a transfer group (59) of the filter groups (16);- feeding, at an adjustable third speed (VN) lower than the second speed (VC), a paper strip (57) along a forming beam (55) for a filter continuous worm (60);- push-advancing, by means of the transfer group (59), the filter groups (16), arranged in said succession, from said outlet (41) to the forming beam (55) and above the paper strip (57);- applying to the filter groups (16), during their transfer from said outlet (41) to the forming beam (55), a controlled braking so as to order the filter groups (16) on the paper strip (57) and along the continuous filter worm (60), according to said succession, but aligned in a predetermined second space relationship more compacted than the first space relationship;- feeding the continuous filter worm (60) at said third speed (VN) to a cutting head (61) to cut the continuous filter worm (60) into filter segments (2) each comprising two counterposed cigarette filters (2a, 2b).
- The method claimed in Claim 20, wherein said controlled braking is obtained by means of a speed jump at the passage of the filter groups (16) from the transfer group (59) to the forming beam (55).
- The method claimed in Claim 20, wherein said controlled braking is obtained by means of a number of speed jumps, of which one is applied when transferring the filter groups (16) from the transfer group (59) to the forming beam (55), and another is applied when transferring the filter groups (16) from the combining device (15) to the transfer group (59) or when advancing the filter groups (16) along the transfer group (59).
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PL11714397T PL2566355T3 (en) | 2010-03-02 | 2011-03-01 | Machine and method for making cigarette filters |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ITBO2010A000123A IT1398917B1 (en) | 2010-03-02 | 2010-03-02 | MACHINE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF CIGARETTE FILTERS |
PCT/IB2011/000425 WO2011107854A1 (en) | 2010-03-02 | 2011-03-01 | Machine and method for making cigarette filters |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2566355A1 EP2566355A1 (en) | 2013-03-13 |
EP2566355B1 true EP2566355B1 (en) | 2014-06-18 |
Family
ID=42751991
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP11714397.4A Active EP2566355B1 (en) | 2010-03-02 | 2011-03-01 | Machine and method for making cigarette filters |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2566355B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5806687B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102892315B (en) |
ES (1) | ES2500950T3 (en) |
IT (1) | IT1398917B1 (en) |
PL (1) | PL2566355T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2011107854A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102011085981A1 (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2014-01-09 | Hauni Maschinenbau Ag | Filter manufacturing machine of the tobacco processing industry |
ITBO20110672A1 (en) * | 2011-11-24 | 2013-05-25 | Montrade Srl | ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE |
EP3148353B1 (en) | 2014-05-26 | 2018-06-20 | MONTRADE S.p.A. | Method and apparatus for production of composite rods for smoking articles |
PL409093A1 (en) * | 2014-08-04 | 2016-02-15 | International Tobacco Machinery Poland Spółka Z Ograniczoną Odpowiedzialnością | Method and a device for transferring the bar-like elements in the tobacco industry machines |
EP3050441A1 (en) * | 2015-01-29 | 2016-08-03 | International Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp. z o.o. | Apparatus to manufacture rod-like articles used in products of the tobacco industry and transport unit to transfer stream of rod-like articles |
PL3117722T3 (en) | 2015-07-16 | 2018-01-31 | Int Tobacco Machinery Poland Sp Zoo | A transfer disc and its use |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3088359A (en) * | 1958-05-21 | 1963-05-07 | Olin Mathieson | Composite rod machine |
GB971491A (en) * | 1959-11-26 | 1964-09-30 | Tom Rowlands | Improvements in or relating to the production of mouthpieces for cigarettes |
FR1280722A (en) | 1960-11-23 | 1962-01-08 | Tecalemit | Advanced air filter and silencer and its means of attachment to a suction pipe |
JPH0735590Y2 (en) * | 1988-09-01 | 1995-08-16 | 日本たばこ産業株式会社 | Filter plug carrier in cigarette filter manufacturing machine |
JP2003024035A (en) * | 2001-07-18 | 2003-01-28 | Japan Tobacco Inc | Machine for producing filter rod for cigarette |
WO2006004111A1 (en) * | 2004-07-07 | 2006-01-12 | Japan Tobacco Inc. | Filter rod manufacturing machine |
JP2007312601A (en) * | 2004-08-16 | 2007-12-06 | Japan Tobacco Inc | Setup device for inserting packaging web into rod manufacturing machine |
US8291916B2 (en) * | 2004-12-30 | 2012-10-23 | Philip Morris Usa Inc. | Parallel cigarette filter combining techniques with particle filling of cavities |
PL383995A1 (en) * | 2007-12-10 | 2009-06-22 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | The manner of setting up a group of segments in multi-segment filter production process and a device for preparation and setting up in groups of segments in multi-segment filter production process |
CN101361591B (en) * | 2008-09-28 | 2010-10-27 | 山东中烟工业公司 | Manufacturing device and method for coloring the center of cigarette filter stick |
-
2010
- 2010-03-02 IT ITBO2010A000123A patent/IT1398917B1/en active
-
2011
- 2011-03-01 ES ES11714397.4T patent/ES2500950T3/en active Active
- 2011-03-01 CN CN201180011982.9A patent/CN102892315B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2011-03-01 WO PCT/IB2011/000425 patent/WO2011107854A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-03-01 JP JP2012555507A patent/JP5806687B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2011-03-01 EP EP11714397.4A patent/EP2566355B1/en active Active
- 2011-03-01 PL PL11714397T patent/PL2566355T3/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2566355A1 (en) | 2013-03-13 |
JP2013520983A (en) | 2013-06-10 |
CN102892315B (en) | 2014-07-23 |
PL2566355T3 (en) | 2014-11-28 |
ITBO20100123A1 (en) | 2011-09-03 |
CN102892315A (en) | 2013-01-23 |
IT1398917B1 (en) | 2013-03-28 |
ES2500950T3 (en) | 2014-10-01 |
WO2011107854A1 (en) | 2011-09-09 |
JP5806687B2 (en) | 2015-11-10 |
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