Compound horizontal filter assembly machine and process
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsMichael S. Braunshteyn, Raquel M. Olegario
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and processes for producing compound cigarette filters by horizontally assembling multiple filter segments onto the horizontally oriented transverse flutes of a continuous belt. Spaced apart hoppers are serially arranged above the belt, and each hopper contains at least one of the multiple segments of the compound filter being assembled. A transfer structure between each hopper and the belt serially delivers the filter segments to the flutes on the belt, and after such assembly the various filter segments are removed as a group from each flute of the continuous belt. The filter segments are then combined as a group with wrapped tobacco rods to thereby produce filtered cigarettes.
Claims2
A process for producing cigarettes including compound filters by horizontally assembling multiple filter segments, the process comprising:
- producing a horizontal assembly by delivering multiple filter segments from fluted vacuum drums onto a flute of a belt, wherein at least two of the multiple filter segments are delivered at different times, and wherein at least one of the multiple filter segments is delivered at a location adjacent to a previously delivered filter segment;
- removing the horizontal assembly from the flute of the belt;
- securing a wrapped tobacco rod to each end of the horizontal assembly;
- and
- cutting the horizontal assembly in two to thereby produce two cigarettes,
- wherein the delivering multiple filter segments includes,
- delivering a first and second filter segment to non-adjacent locations on opposite ends of the flute,
- delivering a third filter segment to a location between the first and second filter segments,
- delivering a fourth and fifth filter segment to locations adjacent to opposite ends of the third filter segment, and
- delivering a sixth and seventh filter segment, the sixth filter segment delivered to a location adjacent to the first filter segment, and the seventh filter segment delivered to a location adjacent to the second filter segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.