Manufacture of filter-tipped cigarettes
AssigneeMolins Limited
InventorsClifford Russell Marritt, Robert Ernest Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Filter tipped cigarettes are produced by dividing a continuous tobacco stream into alternate sections having respective lengths corresponding to a double cigarette filler and a double filter portion. The double filter portion sections are removed from the stream to leave spaced double filler sections which proceed to a position where double filter portions are inserted in the gaps left by the removed sections. The stream of alternating tobacco sections and filter portions is continuously wrapped and subsequently cut at the middles of the tobacco sections and filter portions to produce individual filter cigarettes. The sections of tobacco removed from the continuous stream may be returned to the stream.
Claims41
A cigarette-making machine comprising first conveyor means arranged to carry a tobacco stream;
- means for cutting said tobacco stream while on said first conveyor means into alternating first and second sections;
- second conveyor means arranged adjacent said first conveyor means to define therewith a transfer point;
- means for holding said first and second sections of tobacco in substantial alignment on said first conveyor means while said sections are conveyed up to said transfer point;
- means for selectively transferring said first sections to said second conveyor means at said transfer point and for holding said second sections on said first conveyor means while said second sections are conveyed beyond said transfer point to leave gaps between said first sections on said second conveyor means;
- means for inserting filter portions into said gaps between said first sections;
- and means for forming said first sections and filter portions into a continuous filter cigarette rod.
A cigarette-making machine according to claim 15 in which each knife is pivotally mounted on said first conveyor means, said machine further comprising a cam follower and a cam track for operating said knife.
A cigarette-making machine comprising first conveyor means arranged to carry a tobacco stream;
- means for cutting said tobacco stream while on said first conveyor means into alternating first and second sections;
- second conveyor means arranged adjacent said first conveyor means to define therewith a transfer point;
- means for transferring said first sections to said second conveyor means while said second sections continue on said first conveyor means past said transfer point to leave gaps between said first sections on said second conveyor means;
- means for inserting filter portions into said gaps between said first sections;
- means for supporting and conveying a continuous wrapper web along a path;
- and means for forming said first sections and filter portions into a continuous filter cigarette rod;
- said second conveyor means comprising an endless band arranged to deposit said first tobacco sections on said continuous wrapper web, said band having a lower run which extends along adjacent said wrapper web and which converges towards said wrapper web in the direction of travel of said web along said path, whereby said first tobacco sections deposited on said web may be compressed slightly between said web and said band.
A cigarette-making machine comprising first conveyor means arranged to carry a tobacco stream;
- means for cutting said tobacco stream while on said first conveyor means into alternating first and second sections;
- second conveyor means arranged adjacent said first conveyor means to define therewith a transfer point;
- means for transferring said first sections to said second conveyor means while said second sections continue on said first conveyor means past said transfer point to leave gaps between said first sections on said second conveyor means;
- means for inserting filter portions into said gaps between said first sections;
- means for supporting and conveying a continuous wrapper web along a path;
- means for forming said first sections and filter portions into a continuous filter cigarette rod;
- said second conveyor means comprising a suction wheel arranged adjacent said first conveyor means, another wheel spaced from said suction wheel and an air pervious endless band passing around said suction wheel and said other wheel arranged to deposit said first tobacco sections on said wrapper web.
A method of making filter cigarettes comprising forming a continuous tobacco stream, cutting the tobacco stream into alternating first and second sections as they are conveyed along a first path, feeding said first and second sections along said first path after cutting said stream, subsequently selectively directing said first sections with gaps left therebetween along second path while continuing to convey said second sections along said first path and said second sections along a third path, inserting filter portions into said gaps left between said first sections on said second path, and continuously wrapping said first sections and said filter portions in a wrapper web.
A cigarette-making machine for forming a stream of endwise-moving spaced tobacco sections with gaps between said sections, an endless band arranged to receive said spaced tobacco sections, a conveyor for feeding a continuous wrapper web, means for feeding said spaced tobacco sections from said endless band onto said continuous wrapper web on said conveyor, means for inserting filter portions in said gaps between said tobacco sections, said endless band having a lower run which extends along and is spaced from said conveyor, said conveyor and said endless band converging in the direction of travel of said continuous wrapper web, whereby said tobacco sections and said filter portions may be compressed slightly, and means for wrapping said filter portions and said tobacco sections in said continuous wrapper web after said compression.
A cigarette-making machine comprising a suction band having a substantially horizontal lower run onto which tobacco may be showered upwardly by means of an air stream to form a tobacco stream thereon;
- first conveyor means arranged to receive said tobacco stream from said suction band;
- means for cutting said tobacco stream while on said first conveyor means into alternating first and second sections;
- means for supporting and conveying a continuous wrapper web;
- a transfer conveyor in the form of an endless band which is arranged adjacent said first conveyor means to define therewith a transfer point and which has a lower run which extends along adjacent said continuous wrapper web;
- means for selectively transferring said first sections of tobacco from said first conveyor means to said endless band while said second sections continue on said first conveyor means past said transfer point such that gaps are left between said first sections on said endless band;
- means for transferring said first sections of tobacco onto said continuous wrapper web from said endless band;
- means for inserting filter portions into said gaps between said first sections;
- and means for forming said first sections and filter portions into a continuous filter cigarette rod by wrapping in said wrapper web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.