Seam-sealing adhesive application apparatus and associated method

An apparatus for forming a smoking article rod, comprising:

• a forming device configured to engage a continuous stream of a smokable filler material with a first surface of a longitudinally-continuous web of a wrapping material, the first surface being a wire-side surface of the cigarette wrapping paper, the web having laterally-opposed first and second edge portions extending along the longitudinally-continuous web, and having a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface being a felt-side surface of the cigarette wrapping paper;
• a wrapping device configured to longitudinally wrap the web of the wrapping material about the smokable filler material such that the wire-side surface about the first edge portion extends over the felt-side surface about the second edge portion, and so as to contain the smokable filler material within the longitudinally-continuous web;
• and
• an adhesive applicator device including a first applicator configured to apply an adhesive material to the wire-side surface about and longitudinally the first edge portion and a second applicator configured to apply the adhesive material to the felt-side surface about and longitudinally along the second edge portion separately and discretely from the adhesive material applied to the wire-side surface by the first applicator, prior to the wrapping device engaging the wire-side surface of the first edge portion and the felt-side surface of the second edge portion, with the separate and discrete applications of the adhesive material dispensed from the first and second applicators disposed therebetween, to form a sealed seam and produce a longitudinally-continuous smoking article rod.

A method for forming a smoking article rod, comprising:

• longitudinally wrapping a longitudinally-continuous web of a wrapping material comprising a cigarette wrapping paper, a first surface of the longitudinally- continuous web of the cigarette wrapping paper being a wire-side surface and having a continuous stream of a smokable filler material engaged therewith, such that the wire-side surface about a first edge portion extends over a second surface of the longitudinally-continuous web of the cigarette wrapping paper, the second surface being a felt-side surface, about a second edge portion laterally opposed to the first edge portion, the felt-side surface opposing the web-side surface, and so as to contain the smokable filler material within the longitudinally-continuous web;
• and
• applying an adhesive material dispensed from a first applicator to the wire-side surface about and longitudinally along the first edge portion and applying the adhesive material dispensed from a second applicator to the felt-side surface about and longitudinally along the second edge portion separately and discretely from the adhesive material applied to the wire-side surface by the first applicator, prior to engaging the wire-side surface of the first edge portion and felt-side surface of the second edge portion, with the separate and discrete applications of the adhesive material dispensed from the first and second applicators disposed therebetween, to form a sealed seam and produce a longitudinally-continuous smoking article rod.

An apparatus for forming a smoking article rod, comprising:

• a wrapping device configured to longitudinally wrap a longitudinally-continuous web of a wrapping material comprising a cigarette wrapping paper about a continuous stream of a smokable filler material engaged with a first surface of the longitudinally-continuous web of the wrapping material, such that the first surface about a first edge portion extends over a second surface of the longitudinally-continuous web of the wrapping material about the second edge portion laterally opposed to the first edge portion, the first surface being a wire-side surface and the second surface opposing the first surface and being a felt-side surface, and so as to contain the smokable filler material within the longitudinally-continuous web;
• and
• an adhesive applicator device configured to apply an adhesive material dispensed from a first applicator to the wire-side surface about and longitudinally along the first edge portion and to apply the adhesive material dispensed from a second applicator to the felt-side surface about and longitudinally along the second edge portion separately and discretely from the adhesive material applied to the wire-side surface by the first applicator, prior to the wrapping device engaging the wire-side surface of the first edge portion and felt-side surface of the second edge portion, with the separate and discrete applications of the adhesive material dispensed from the first and second applicators disposed therebetween, to form a sealed seam and produce a longitudinally-continuous smoking article rod.