US3000382A - Manufacture of filter-tip cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 19, 1961 G. D. HORGAN MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1958 INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1961 G. D. HORGAN MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 3, 1958 INVENTOR GEORGE DANlEL HORGAN BY 7M ATTORNEY Sept. 19, 1961 D. HORGAN 3,000,382

MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETTES Filed Sept. 3, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GEORGE DANIEL HORGAN 'WJM ATTORNEY United States Patent C MANUFACTURE OF FILTER-TIP CIGARETIES George Daniel Horgan, London, England, assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Sept. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 758,705 Claims priority, application Great Britain Sept. 10, 1957 15 Claims. (Cl. 131-94) This invention relates to the production of filter-mouthpiece cigarettes and is more particularly concerned with the wrapping of a connecting sheet of tipping material to unite the filter to the tobacco section of the complete cigarette. It is known in the art of making filter-mouthpiece cigarettes to assemble together two suitable lengths of cigarette rod and interposing a double length filter mouthpiece between them, butting the assembly together, and rolling a gummed section of tipping material around the butted ends to unite them, the mouthpiece portion and connecting material being then cut through to form two equal cigarettes. The tipping material is usually fed from a continuous reel and is gummed, cut to length and carried by a suction drum or other device to a drum which is rotated to carry the assembled cigarettes to a final cut ting position, the tipping material being applied and rolled upon the cigarettes whilst they are passing to said position. It has been found very undesirable to roll the cigarettes to a greater extent than is necessary to wrap the assembly completely, said rolling tending to loosen the tobacco and to cause excessive shorts or extrusion of tobacco from the ends of the cigarettes. It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and means of applying the tipping material which greatly minimizes the above disadvantage and affords smooth wrapping without requiring intermittent operation.

The invention comprises controlling the rolling motion of cigarette assemblies carried on the periphery of a rotatable hollow member or cage during application of wrapping or connecting material by effecting engaging contact with such assemblies from the interior of the said member or cage.

The invention also consists in a machine for applying wrapping or connecting material to filter-mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable member or cage formed to support assembled cigarette and mouthpiece lengths on the periphery thereof, means for feeding lengths of wrapping or connecting material to be wrapped about the assemblies, and means within the member or cage having a surface for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies to control the rolling motion thereof during the wrapping operation.

In a preferred arrangement according to the invention the cigarette assemblies are supported between spaced rods or rollers constituting the periphery of the rotatable member or cage and are engaged in the region of the wrapper or connecting sheet application by a rotatable drum or roller mounted eccentrically within the drum or cage so that the assemblies are subjected to a rolling motion between the surface of said roller or drum and a rotary suction controlled drum or equivalent means which feeds lengths of previously gummed wrapper material to the assemblies so that the wrapper is secured about the butted ends of such assemblies. Preferably the speed of the controlling engaging surface is the same as that at which the wrapping material is fed but in the opposite direction.

In a convenient construction according to the invention the rotatable cage or drum is carried upon a driven hollow shaft through which a fixed shaft extends into the interior of the cage or drum and is formed to support the eccentn'cally mounted controlling roller or drum. Internal guide means for maintaining the cigarette assemblies in 3,000,382 Patented Sept. '19, 1961 the desired position between the rods or rollers of the cage are also supported from the said fixed shaft.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 1 is an end view, with the front plate removed, of a machine for applying wrapping material to filter-mouthpiece cigarettes;

FIGURES 2 and 2a are top and bottom half sections respectively on the line X--X of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail of one end of a roller carrying rod.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, illustrated in the drawing, as applied by way of example to a machine for applying wrapping material to an assembly of two cigarette lengths with an inter-' posed double length of mouthpiece material, there is provided a rotatably mounted hollow member or cage comprising a front end plate 1 of circular disc shape and a rear end plate 2 of dished circular shape connected at their peripheries by a series of spaced parallel rods 3. As shown in detail in FIGURE 3, a bearing sleeve 4 is secured near the end of each rod 3 and a tubular roller 5 is supported for free rotation upon the sleeves. The peripheries of the end plates 1 and 2 are transversely grooved or serrated to provide a series of uniformly spaced projections 6 and each rod is mounted between two opposite projections so that there is a free through space between the rollers. The latter are spaced circumferentially so as to locate freely between them a cigarette assembly 7. Also the outside diameter of the rollers 5 is less than that of the cigarettes and the centers of both rollers and cigarettes are located on the same pitch circle 8. Plain rods of suitable diameter may be employed instead of the rollers if desired. The axial spacing of the end plates 1 and 2 is such that the cigarette assembly will project a short distance from either end as seen in the lower part of FIGURE 2a. The cage is secured by means of bolts to a flange 9 (FIGURE 2) on a hollow shaft 10 which is supported in bearings 11 and 12 from a suitable housing, parts of which are shown in FIGURE 2 at 13 and 14. The hollow shaft 10 is arranged to be driven through suitable gearing including a pinion, indicated at 15, secured to the shaft. A fixed shaft 16 extends through the tubular shaft 10 and is non-rotatably locked to the housing 13, 14 by an arm 17 secured to the shaft and a cross pin 18. The fixed shaft is located by bearing sleeves 19 and 20, and projects within the cage. A crank arm 21 se cured to the end of the fixed shaft 16 within the cage has a crank pin 22 secured thereto upon which is mounted a bearing 23 for a rotatable tip-rolling drum 24 disposed eccentrically with respect to the cage so that its periphery approaches closely to the ring of rollers 5 at the region where the wrapping material is to be applied. This region lies underneath and to one side of the cage and is indicated at 25 in FIGURE 1. A suction controlled drum 26 for feeding Wrapping material to the cage is suitably disposed in this region and the minimum spacing between the peripheries of the suction drum and the tip-rolling drum 24 is set at substantially the diameter of a cigarette. The suction drum may be of known kind and is adjustably mounted to obtain the required setting. The surface of the tip-rolling drum 24 is coated with a suitable friction material such as that known as Teflon. The axial length of the surface of this drum 24 is such that it overlaps the double length of mouthpiece material in the cigarette assembly. This mouthpiece material is shown at 27 in the lower part of FIGURE 2a. A pin-ion 28 is secured to the hub of the tip-rolling drum 24 and is meshed with an intermediate pinion 29 rotatable on a bearing 30 upon a pin 31 secured to an extension 32 of the crank arm 21. The intermediate pinion 29 meshes with an internally toothed ring 33 bolted to the end plate 2 of the cage. By

'ing guide means or segments 43 and 44 3 this arrangement rotation of the cage rotates the tip-rolling drum in the opposite direction, and the gearing is chosen so that the peripheral speeds of the tip-rolling drum 24 and the suction controlled drum 26 which carries the wrapping material are the same.

' The cigarette assemblies 7 are fed to the spaces between the cage rollers by any convenient means (not shown) from a position indicated by the arrow 55 in FIGURE 1, and are carried by the cage so as to pass between the tiprolling drum 24 and the suction controlled drum 26 and thereby have imparted to them a rolling motion as they meet the previously gummed sheets of wrapping material (34 in FIGURE 1) which are thus completely wrapped round the assembled cigarettes and mouthpiece sections to secure these together.

The cigarette assemblies are maintained in the required position between the cage rollers 5 by stationary support- (FIGURE 2) mounted inside the cage at a suitable distance from the inner periphery thereof, these guide means or segments being interrupted at the wrapping region as later described. There is also provided an outer curved guide plate 35, 36 or equivalent guide means as shown in FIGURE 1, this guide being interrupted at the suction wrapper feed drum 26. The double mouthpiece lengths 27 are fed to the cage by a suitable transfer drum 37 (FIGURE 1) which receives the mouthpiece lengths from a source of supply (not shown) and which may be of known kind. It will be seen that the outer guide 35 extends from the transfer drum 37 to the wrapper feeding suction drum 26.

The internal guide means or segments 43 and 44 referred to above are supported by three arms 38 which extend from a web 39 secured to a plate 40 on the end of the crank pin 22 of the stationary shaft 16. The plate 40 carries a pin 41 which is aligned with the axis of the tubular shaft and carries a bearing 42 rotatably supporting the cage end plate 1. The internal guide means, above-mentioned, comprise flanged segments 43 and 44 the peripheral surfaces of which are adapted to support the cigarette rod sections, and between these are arranged a pair of spaced flat rings 45 and 46 (FIGURE 2) the edges of which support the mouthpiece material. Tubular spacers 47 are interposed between the various rings which are secured together by bolts 48 to the stationary arms 38. It may be mentioned that the butting together of the assembled cigarette rod and mouthpiece sections after they have been fed to the cage is eifected by suitable known means.

Any suitable or known means may be provided for feeding cigarette rod and mouthpiece lengths to the spaces between the cage rollers. After the gummed lengths of wrapping material have been applied by the suction drum 26, the connected assemblies on the cage are subjected to heating means for drying the adhesive, as for example, a heater drum indicated at 49 in FIGURE 1. The assemblies are then received by a transfer drum, indicated at 50, upon which the assemblies are severed by a suitable cutting knife 51.

Whilst the invention has been described as applied to the connecting of two cigarette rod lengths with a double length mouthpiece or filter piece, it can also be applied to assemblies comprising less or more of such sections and the mouthpieces may be of any kind. Also the invention is not restricted to the particular structural arrangements of the above example.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about the assemblies and eccentric means within said drum cooperating with said feeding means for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies and the lengths of connectins m e ia n a ng mot on o applyi g said len to said assemblies.

2. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about the assemblies and eccentrically rotatable means within said drum rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the drum, cooperating with said feeding means for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies and the lengths of connecting material in a rolling motion for applying said lengths to the assemblies.

3. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical outer drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, a rotatable inner drum, eccentrically mounted for rotation within said outer drum, gear means operatively connecting said outer drum and said eccentrically mounted inner drum for rotating said inner drum in a direction opposite to said outer drum, a suction controlled drum disposed exteriorly and adjacent said outer drum for feeding gummed uniting band material to the filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, and cooperating with said eccentrically mounted inner drum for engaging said assemblies and the material in a rolling motion therebetween and for securing the wrapping about the assemblies.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein said gear means are arranged for operating said outer drum and said inner drum at equal surface speeds.

5. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a rotatable cylindrical drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, a plurality of spaced, axially disposed rod elements rotatably secured about the periphery of said drum for receiving the cigarette assemblies therebetween, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about the assemblies, and means eccentrically rotatable within said drum, in a direction opposite to said drum cooperating with said drum and said feeding means for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies and the lengths of uniting band material in a rolling motion for applying the material to said assemblies.

6,. The machine according to claim 5, wherein said rotatable cylindrical drum is provided with spaced peripheral projections for mounting said rod elements.

7. The machine according to claim 6, wherein said rod elements consist of inner rods and freely rotatable rollers mounted thereon.

8. The machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cylindrical drum is provided with semi-circular grooves between said r'od elements for positioning the cigarette assemblies with the center lines thereof in peripheral alignment with the center lines of the rod elements.

9. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a housing, a hollow shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, means for driving said hollow shaft, a cylindrical drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies, secured to said hollow shaft, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about the assemblies, eccentric drum means within said drum, operatively connected to said cylindrical drum, rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of the rotation of said cylindrical drum and cooperating with said feeding means for frictionally engaging'the cigarette assemblies and the wrapping material in a rolling motion therebetween and for securing the Wrapping about the assemblies and gear means operatively connecting said cylindrical drum in a direction opposite to said, eccentric drum means.

10. The machine according to claim 9, further provided with a fixed shaft extending through said hollow shaft and secured to said housing, and a crank pin secured to said fixed shaft for mounting said eccentric drum means.

11. A machine for applying uniting band material to filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies, comprising a housing, a rotatable cylindrical drum for supporting filter mouthpiece assemblies on the periphery thereof, mounted for rotation in said housing, means for feeding lengths of uniting band material to be wrapped about the as semblies, eccentric means mounted for rotation within said drum, cooperating with said feeding means for frictionally engaging the cigarette assemblies and the lengths of uniting band material in a rolling motion for applying said lengths to said assemblies, outer guide means and inner guide means disposed about the outer and inner peripheries of said cylindrical drum for guiding cigarette rod sections, said outer guide means being secured to the housing, and means Within said cylindrical drum for supporting said inner guide means.

12. The machine according to claim 11, wherein said means for supporting the inner guide comprise a fixed shaft secured to said housing and a three-armed radially extending member in abutment with said inner guide.

13. The machine according to claim 11, further provided with a pair of outer flanged rings secured to said housing, said rings having peripheral surfaces for supporting cigarette rod sections.

14. The machine according to claim 13, further provided with a pair of spaced inner fiat rings having peripheral edges for supporting sections of mouthpiece material.

15. The machine according to claim 14, wherein said outer and inner guide means are formed with openings adjacent the point of contact of the feeding means and the eccentric means for allowing contact between said eccentric means and said feeding means and the filter mouthpiece cigarette assemblies.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,165,144 Lubbock July 4, 1939 2,786,472 5Creuzberg Mar. 26, 1957 2,802,470 Treble Aug. 13, 1957 2,809,640 Oldenkamp Oct. 15, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 467,333 Great Britain June 15, 1937 773,749 Great Britain May 1, 1957

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