Method and apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles
AssigneePhilip Morris Products S.A.
InventorsLeonardo Nappi, Clement Besso
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Abstract
There is provided a method and apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles. The method comprises providing hollow tubes (309) of filter material. Each hollow tube has an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The method further comprises providing filter inserts (205). Each filter insert (205) has a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube. The method further comprises inserting each filter insert (205) into a hollow tube (309) of filter material. During inserting, the first portion of the filter insert (205) engages with the hollow tube (309) to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube.
Claims18
A method for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing hollow tubes of filter material, each hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter;
- providing filter inserts, each filter insert having a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tubes;
- and
- inserting each filter insert into a hollow tube of filter material, wherein the step of inserting comprises positioning each filter insert relative to a hollow tube of filter material by positioning each filter insert within a sleeve or sleeves adjacent a hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube, wherein the filter insert is substantially spherical, the cross sectional dimension of the first portion of the filter insert being a diameter of the substantially spherical filter insert.
Apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, each filter comprising a hollow tube of filter material, the hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and first and second filter inserts disposed in the hollow tube of filter material, each of the first and second filter inserts having a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, the apparatus comprising:
- a first piston configured to engage and push the first filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the first filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the first filter insert in the hollow tube;
- a second piston configured to engage and push the second filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the second filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the second filter insert in the hollow tube,
- wherein the first and second pistons are arranged to insert the first and second filter inserts from opposite ends of the hollow tube of filter material,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first and second pistons to insert the first and second filter inserts simultaneously into the hollow tube of filter material;
- a first sleeve configured to receive the first filter inserts, wherein the first sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the first piston causes the first filter insert to be pushed from within the first sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material;
- and
- a second sleeve configured to receive the second filter insert, wherein the second sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the second piston causes the second filter insert to be pushed from within the second sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material.
Apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, each filter comprising a hollow tube of filter material, the hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and first and second filter inserts disposed in the hollow tube of filter material, each of the first and second filter inserts having a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, the apparatus comprising:
- a first piston configured to engage and push the first filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the first filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube;
- a second piston configured to engage and push the second filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the second filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the second filter insert in the hollow tube,
- wherein the first and second pistons are arranged to insert the first and second filter inserts from opposite ends of the hollow tube of filter material,
- wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first and second pistons to insert two filter inserts simultaneously into the hollow tube of filter material
- a first sleeve configured to receive the first filter insert, wherein the first sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the first piston causes the first filter insert to be pushed from within the first sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material,
- a second sleeve configured to receive the second filter insert, wherein the second sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the second piston causes the second filter insert to be pushed from within the second sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material;
- and
- a hopper configured to deliver the first and second filter inserts relative to the first and second sleeves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.