US 4,281,670 A · Apparatus for increasing the permeability of wrapping material for rod-shaped smokers products

Abstract

Webs which are to be converted into wrappers for filter rod sections, cigars, cigarillos or cigarettes, or the wrappers of such articles, are perforated by one or more laser beams in the machine wherein the articles are produced. The permeability of wrappers can be changed by increasing or reducing the number of holes and/or by increasing or reducing the size of holes in each wrapper. The permeability of the wrappers of finished articles is monitored and the intensity of laser beam or beams is automatically adjusted when the monitored permeability deviates from a desired value. The perforations are formed for the purpose of admitting cool atmospheric air which influences the quantity of nicotine and condensate in the column of smoke. The perforations are disposed close to or in the filter plugs of filter cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos, or close to one or both ends of each filter rod section or plain cigarette, depending on the length of such articles.

Claims27

Dependent claims

In a machine for the production and/or processing of rod-shaped articles which constitute or form part of smokers' products and wherein a wrapper surrounds a rod-like filler, a combination comprising drive means for moving a succession of wrappers along a predetermined path;

at least one source of coherent radiation operable to emit at least one beam of coherent radiation;
means for directing said beam against successive wrappers in said path whereby the wrappers are perforated at the points of impingement of said beam, said drive means including conveyor means for moving a succession of articles sideways past said beam directing means;
and means for temporarily interrupting the sidewise movement of articles along said path while the articles are in register with said beam directing means and for simultaneously rotating the arrested articles about their respective axes.

at least one source of coherent radiation operable to emit at least one beam of coherent radiation;
means for directing said beam against successive wrappers in said path whereby the wrappers are perforated at the points of impingement of said beam, said drive means including conveyor means for moving a succession of rod-shaped articles sideways past said beam directing means;
and means for temporarily reducing the speed of sidewise movement of successive articles along said path while the articles are in register with said beam directing means and for simultaneously rotating the articles about their respective axes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus for increasing the permeability of wrapping material for rod-shaped smokers products

Life of this patent

Apparatus for increasing the permeability of wrapping material for rod-shaped smokers products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27