WO2011033121A1

WO2011033121A1 - Method and apparatus for introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material

Info

Publication number: WO2011033121A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/063872
Authority: WO
Inventors: Karl Kaljura; Andrew Davis; David Lewis; Edward John; Ivaylo Petkov
Original assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
Priority date: 2009-09-21
Filing date: 2010-09-21
Publication date: 2011-03-24
Also published as: GB0916539D0; TW201130432A

Abstract

A method and apparatus for introducing objects into rod material (3) during manufacture of tobacco industry product rods is disclosed. Objects are entrained in a fluid flow and inserted into the rod material (3) in high densities.

Description

Method and apparatus for introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material during rod manufacture.

It is well known in the art to include additives in smoking articles. Examples of additives include various flavourants or colorants as well as carbon which is known to adsorb certain substances from smoke.

Prior approaches to including carbon in filter rods have included adhering particulate additive material to a thread which is then inserted into the filter rod material during filter rod manufacture. The density of carbon included in filters manufactured in this way is limited and is unsuitable for filters that require a large quantity of carbon to be provided in a small volume.

The present invention provides an apparatus for introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material during rod manufacture, the apparatus comprising an object storage unit, an entrainment unit configured to receive the objects from the object storage unit and entrain the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream, and an output unit to feed the stream into the filter rod or tobacco.

The present invention also provides a method of introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material during rod manufacture, the method comprising storing the objects in an object storage unit, receiving the objects from the object storage unit, entraining the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream and feeding the stream into the filter rod or tobacco.

Yet another provision of the present invention is a smoking article manufactured according to the method hereinbefore described. In order that the invention may be more fully understood embodiments thereof will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a three dimensional perspective view of a filter rod making machine and granule insert unit attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the granule insert unit shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is an exploded cross sectional view of the granule insert unit shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional plan view showing the operation of the venturi device of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is side-on cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a filter rod manufactured according to the present invention;

Figure 7 is a cross sectional view of an alternative filter rod manufactured according to the present invention; Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a smoking article comprising a filter rod manufactured according to the present invention;

Figure 9 is a side view of a granule insert unit according to an alternative

embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 10 is a three dimensional view of a hopper according to the present invention. In the following description reference will be made to the insertion of objects in the form of granules such as carbon granules into filter rod material and tobacco. In particular, activated carbon or synthetic beaded carbon may be employed. It should be borne in mind however that other objects that can be used as additives may be employed, such as capsules, filaments or any other additive that may be inserted into filter rod material and tobacco during the manufacture of filter rods and tobacco rods.

Figure 1 shows part of a filter rod making machine 1 comprising a granule insert unit 2. During operation of the machine 1, filter rod material 3, in the form of cellulose acetate tow, is drawn through a set of conveying rollers (not shown), and is compressed through a stuffer jet (not shown) and through the tongue 4 of a garniture 5, where it is paper wrapped with a plugwrap 6 and subsequently cut into segments by a cutter (not shown) to form filter rods. It will be understood by a skilled person that materials other than cellulose acetate may be used as filter rod material 3.

Figure 2 shows a cross section of the granule insert unit 2 in engagement with the tongue 4 of the filter rod making machine 1 shown in Figure 1. The granule insert unit 2 comprises a granule feed funnel or hopper 7, a venturi insert device 8 and an insert tube 9. The insert tube 9 may be bent so that it can be aligned longitudinally with the direction in which the filter rod material 3 is conveyed. The position of the insert tube 9 may be adjusted using the insert tube adjustment wheel 9A shown in Figure 1. This allows the stream of granules to be positioned along the longitudinal axis of the filter rod material 3 or alternatively off-centre but parallel to the longitudinal axis. The granule insert unit also comprises air jet inlets lOa-c shown in Figure 1.

Referring again to Figure 2, the feed funnel or hopper 7 is configured to accept granules or other objects for insertion into filter rod material. The hopper 7 is preferably conical in shape to allow granules to be transferred to the hopper 7 manually or alternatively using mechanical or electromechanical delivery means such as a feed conveyor, fluted feed drum or screw feeder (not shown). Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the venturi device 8 shown in Figure 2. The venturi device 8 comprises a generally conical block 11 with an axial bore 12 with an inlet 13 that receives a supply of granules 14 from the hopper 7 and an outlet 15 that supplies the granules 14 into the insert tube 9.

The conical block 11 is received within a generally cylindrical housing 16 with a conical end spaced from the block 11 to define a converging air passageway 17 which opens into the insert tube 9 in the region of the outlet 15 of the bore 12. The air supply passageway 17 is fed with compressed air from the three air jet inlets lOa-c, one of which 10a is shown in Figure 3. The air jet inlets l Oa-c are coupled to a compressed air or other gas source (not shown) and feed into respective longitudinal bores 18 that connect into the converging air supply passageway 17. Although the jet inlets l Oa-c are fed with air, other fluids could be employed, for example helium or nitrogen.

Granules 14 are received from the hopper 7 and are directed into the axial bore 12. Compressed air from the inlet 10a is directed along the longitudinal bore 18 towards the region 15 where the axial bore 12 and the longitudinal bore 18 converge.

During operation of the venturi device 8 the Venturi effect is exploited to propel the granules 14 towards the filter rod material 3 as it is formed into filter rods. Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the air flow in the venturi device 8 during operation of the granule insert unit 2. As air is propelled from two of the jet sources 10a, 10b through the longitudinal bores 18a, 18b and into the insert tube 9, an area of low pressure is created in the region 15 and insert tube 9. The granules 14 initially occupy an area of high pressure relative to this low pressure region 15. A pressure gradient force is created that acts on the granules 14 and propels them into the insert tube 9 with a velocity greater than if they were to be acted upon by the force due to gravity alone. This allows a high density of carbon granules 14 to be inserted into the filter rod material. The insert tube 9 feeds into the tongue 4 of the filter rod making machine 1. The position of the insert tube 9 may be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the filter rod under manufacture. In Figure 2 the insert tube 9 is bent however in other embodiments the insert tube 9 may be straight. The granules may be centred along the longitudinal axis of the filter rod or substantially parallel to but offset from the longitudinal axis using the insert tube adjustment wheel 9A shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention. Prior to insertion into the filter rod material, the granules 14 are stored in a granule storage unit 19. The storage unit 19 comprises a pressurised air source 20 that is operable to inject an air jet 21 into a chamber 22. The direction of the air jet 21 is represented by the arrows in Figure 5. The pressurised air jet 21 urges a stream of the granules 14 into an exit tube 23. The granules 14 that are urged into the exit tube 23 are entrained in the highly pressurised air jet 21 and are directed towards the insert tube 9 of an alternative embodiment of the granule insert unit 2. The insert tube 9 may operate in much the same way as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 -4.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a filter rod 24 manufactured using the machine 1. A region 25 comprising carbon granules 14 may extend substantially along the longitudinal axis of the filter rod 26. The diameter of the region 25 may be determined in large part by the diameter of the insert tube 9 of the granule insert unit 2. Alternatively, the region 25 comprising carbon granules 14 may extend parallel to but offset from the longitudinal axis. This flexibility allows the position of the region 25 to be controlled so that effects such as in dalmatian filters may be obtained. The filter rod may then be wrapped in tipping paper or another suitable wrapper and cut into separate filters, in a manner well known in the art for forming filters for smoking articles. In the embodiments hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 -5 the region 25 may be formed from a single continuous stream of granules 14 inserted into the filter rod material 3. In addition to this configuration it may be desirable to provide a series of regions 25 formed of continuous streams of granules 14, the regions 25 separated by gaps 26. A filter rod 27 compatible with such a configuration is shown in Figure 7. The filter rod 27 may then be cut, in a manner well known in the art, along the dashed lines 28a-c to produce individual filter portions. Figure 8 shows a cigarette 29 comprising a filter 30 that has been manufactured according to the above description with reference to Figure 7. The filter 30 may be attached to the tobacco rod 31 in a manner well known in the art such as through the use of tipping paper (not shown). The region 25 of the filter 30 containing carbon granules 14 may be in contact with the tobacco rod 31 of the cigarette 29. The region 26 that does not contain any carbon granules 13 may be located at the end of the filter 30 that comes into contact with a user's mouth during smoking. This configuration may reduce any unpleasant effects the carbon granules 14 might have on the taste and enjoyment of the cigarette 29 during smoking. Smoking articles manufactured according to the foregoing description have the advantage that they can contain large quantities of carbon granules which, when located in smoking article filters, are known to modify constituents of smoke. In a preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the invention be employed in filters for slim or superslim cigarettes which have a smaller diameter than conventional kingsize cigarettes, and where it is desirable that it be possible to insert large quantities of carbon granules into a small volume of filtration material.

The present invention may be combined with dalmatian or active patch filters that are well known in the art to increase further the amount of carbon in these filters.

Figure 9 shows a granule insert unit 2 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The insert unit 2 shown in Figure 9 is similar to the insert unit 2 shown in Figure 2. However, the insert unit 2 shown in Figure 9 comprises a high flow vacuum pump 32 instead of the venturi insert device 8 shown in Figure 2. The granule insert unit 2 also comprises a granule feed hopper 7 and an exit tube 9.

The hopper 7 shown in Figure 9 is a funnel formed from a frustoconical section 35 and a tubular section 36 which are connected to each other. The flow of granules from the hopper 7 to the vacuum pump 32 may be facilitated passing air through the bottom of the hopper 7 thereby fluidising the granules stored therein.

The high flow vacuum pump 32 may be of a type known in the art for material transfer such as KVPDF High Flow Vacuum Pumps. Compressed air enters the vacuum pump 32 through an air inlet 33 and flows cyclonically through a central tube 34 of the pump 32. The cyclonic flow of compressed air produces a vacuum which can draw granules or additives from the hopper 7, through the central tube 34 and into the exit tube 9 to converge with the tongue 4 of the garniture 5 shown in Figure 1. In use, the vacuum pump 32 can transfer granules at a rate of approximately 300 grams per minute (g/min).

As well as introducing carbon granules into filter tow as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 -10, the insert unit 2 may be used to insert granules or other additives into a stream of tobacco.

It is intended that, when used to insert granules into a stream of tobacco, the insert unit 2 may be attached to a tobacco rod manufacturing device of a type that is well known in the art. The insert unit 2 may insert granules into a stream of tobacco as the stream of tobacco is being conveyed towards a garniture along a device known as a suction chamber rail or conveyor that is known in the art. Modifications may be made to the insert unit 2 such as using a plough (not shown) to form a furrow in the stream of tobacco to further facilitate granule insertion. However, it is intended that the embodiments described in the foregoing description be compatible with insertion of granules into a stream of tobacco without substantial alterations made thereto.

This insertion technique allows granules to be accurately inserted in specific amounts, minimising the amount of granules lost during rod manufacture.

Examples of granules which may be inserted into tobacco include, but are not limited to, triacetin, glycerol, menthol, carbon, various types of catalyst, solid flavourants such as cocoa, or endothermic materials that are known to possess low ignition propensity characteristics.

Granular potassium chloride or granular sodium chloride may be inserted to influence the burn rate of tobacco rods. Other additives, in granular form, that will be apparent to those skilled in the art may be inserted to modify various other characteristics of smoking articles when used.

An alternative hopper 7 is shown in Figure 10. The hopper 7 comprises a frustoconical section 35 and a tubular section 36. The tubular section 36 is connected to a hopper exit tube 37. The hopper exit tube 37 may be connected to the venturi device 8 hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-3 or, alternatively, to the vacuum pump 32 hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 9.

In use, granules are placed in the hopper 7 shown in Figure 10 and drop, under gravity, into the hopper exit tube 37. From the hopper exit tube 37 the granules are entrained by the venturi device 8 or the vacuum pump 32 and inserted into the filter rod material or tobacco stream as described in the foregoing description.

Alternatively, granules may drop, under gravity, from the hopper 7 into a stream of tobacco that is being conveyed by a tobacco suction chamber rail or conveyor that is known in the art. Many modifications to the embodiments hereinbefore described are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention which is defined by the claims listed hereinafter.

Claims

1. Apparatus for introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material during rod manufacture, the apparatus comprising:

an object storage unit;

an entrainment unit configured to receive the objects from the object storage unit and entrain the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream; and

an output unit to feed the stream into the rod material.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco industry product material is filter rod material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco industry product material is tobacco.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the entrainment unit is a venturi device.

5. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the entrainment unit is configured to propel the objects in a high pressure jet.

6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the entrainment unit is a vacuum pump.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the output unit is configured to position the flow substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod material.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the object storage unit is a conical hopper.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the objects introduced into the rod material are carbon granules or carbon filaments.

10. A method of introducing objects into tobacco industry product rod material during rod manufacture, the method comprising:

storing the objects in an object storage unit;

receiving the objects from the object storage unit;

entraining the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream; and feeding the stream into the rod material.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein entraining the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream comprises using a venturi device to entrain the objects.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein entraining the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream comprises propelling the objects in a high pressure jet.

13. A method according to any of claim 10, wherein entraining the objects in a continuous pressurised fluid stream comprises using a vacuum pump to propel the objects.

14. A method according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein feeding the stream comprises positioning the stream substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the rod material.

15. A method according to any of claims 10 to 14, wherein storing the objects comprises storing the objects in a conical hopper.

16. A method according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the objects are carbon granules or carbon filaments.

17. A method according to any of claims 10 to 16 further comprising forming a rod of tobacco industry product.

18. A method according to any of claims 10 to 17, wherein the tobacco industry product rod material is filter rod material.

19. A method according to any of claims 10 to 17, wherein the tobacco industry product rod material is tobacco.

20. A filter rod manufactured according to the method of claim 18.

21. A tobacco rod manufactured according to the method of claim 19.

22. A smoking article comprising the filter rod of claim 20 and/ or the tobacco rod of claim 21.

23. A method, apparatus, filter rod or tobacco rod substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.