US 4,580,579 A · Method and apparatus for producing a composite tobacco filler

Abstract

A composite tobacco filler is formed in three stages by showering or otherwise depositing the particles of a first tobacco type at one side of a first air-permeable suction conveyor to form a narrow core one surface of which contacts the first conveyor; by thereupon depositing on the first conveyor a first layer which consists of another type of tobacco, which overlies the core, and whose marginal portions extend laterally beyond the core; by thereupon transferring the core and the first layer onto a second air-permeable suction conveyor so that the one surface of the core becomes exposed and the first layer directly contacts one side of the second conveyor; and by thereafter showering a second tobacco layer of the other type onto the exposed surface of the core and onto the marginal portions of the first layer to thus complete the formation of a filler wherein the core is completely surrounded by the material of the two layers. The core can be trimmed prior to formation of the first layer, the first layer can be trimmed prior to transfer onto the second conveyor, and the second layer can be trimmed on the second conveyor.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method of producing a rod-like tobacco filler wherein a core containing a first particulate material is surrounded by an annular envelope containing a different second particulate material, comprising the steps of building on an air-permeable first conveyor a stream of first material having a first width;

pneumatically holding the stream on the first conveyor so that one side of the stream abuts against the conveyor;
utilizing the conveyor to advance the stream lengthwise;
depositing on the conveyor a first elongated layer containing said second material and having a greater second width so that a central portion thereof overlies the stream and two marginal portions thereof extend laterally beyond the stream;
transferring the first layer and the stream onto a second conveyor so that the one side of the stream becomes exposed;
utilizing the second conveyor to advance the stream and the first layer lengthwise;
and depositing on the one side of the stream and on the marginal portions of the first layer a second layer containing said second material and forming with said first layer said annular envelope which surrounds the stream.

3 more elements

Apparatus for producing a rod-like tobacco filler wherein a core containing a first particulate material is surrounded by an annular envelope containing a different second particulate material, comprising an air-permeable first conveyor having a first and a second side and a predetermined width;

means for establishing between said sides a pressure differential so that the pressure at one of said sides exceeds the pressure at the other of said sides;
a first material supplying device arranged to deposit on the one side and substantially centrally of said conveyor an elongated stream containing particles of first material, having a second width which is less than said predetermined width so that two marginal portions of said one side of said conveyor remain exposed, and a surface which directly contacts said conveyor;
a second material supplying device arranged to deposit on the stream and on the marginal portions of said one side a first layer containing said second material and having marginal portions directly overlying said conveyor;
a second conveyor arranged to receive the stream and the first layer from said first conveyor so that the first layer directly overlies the second conveyor and said surface of the stream becomes exposed;
and a third material supplying device arranged to deposit on said surface of the stream and on said marginal portions of the first layer a second layer containing particles of second material so that the stream is fully confined between the first and second layers.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for producing a composite tobacco filler

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for producing a composite tobacco filler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36