# US 5,345,950 A · Apparatus for applying starch paste to tobacco articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,345,950 A - Document ID: US5345950A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/017,981 - Filed: 1993-02-12 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1990-07-25 - Assignees: Lorillard Tobacco Company - Inventors: Herbert F. Adebahr; Derek P. Noakes; Mark E. Coby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345950A ## CPC - A24C 5/24: Pasting the seam - A24C: MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES ## Abstract A method and apparatus, which are utilized in cigarette making machinery, for applying starch paste for sealing the edges of cigarette paper includes a pencil paster nozzle, means for supplying starch paste under pressure, and a high precision metering pump for regulating the flow of paste to the nozzle. The metering pump operates as a function of line speed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a high speed machine for folding and sealing a continuous length of cigarette paper about a tobacco rod, including garniture means for exposing one edge of the paper to define a lap, and means for applying a starch paste to the lap prior to sealing, the improvement wherein the means for applying a starch paste comprises: a paster nozzle having an outer tip positioned to be in contact with the lap of the cigarette paper for applying paste along the lap; means for supplying starch paste to a metering pump means at a controlled pressure; a high precision metering pump means for receiving paste from the paste supplying means and for supplying paste to said nozzle at a controlled rate, wherein said nozzle has an internal bore sized for delivering paste at a relatively low pressure and at a rate for applying a thin, uniform film of paste to the lap as the paper moves past said tip, and wherein said tip is elongated in cross-section and oriented such that the longer dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A machine according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle has a reduced wall thickness at said tip, and wherein the portion of said tip positioned to contact the paper has been polished in the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A machine according to claim 1, wherein said nozzle is oriented at an angle of 83.degree. to 84.degree. relative to the direction of paper travel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A machine according to claim 1, wherein the metering pump means comprises a high precision rotary pump, and means for coupling said pump to the machine for rotating proportional to the speed of said machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A machine according to claim 1, which includes means for varying operating speed, wherein said metering pump means includes means for supplying paste to said nozzle proportional to the machine operating speed. ### Claim 6 In a high speed machine for folding and sealing a continuous length of cigarette paper about a tobacco rod, including garniture means for exposing one edge of the paper to define a lap, and means for applying a starch paste to the lap prior to sealing, the improvement wherein the means for applying a starch paste comprises: a paster nozzle having an outer tip positioned to be in contact with the lap of the cigarette paper for applying paste along the lap; means for supplying starch paste to a metering pump means at a controlled pressure; a high precision metering pump means for receiving paste from the paste supplying means and for supplying paste to said nozzle at a controlled rate, wherein said nozzle has an internal bore sized for delivering paste at a relatively low pressure and at a rate for applying a thin, uniform film of paste to the lap as the paper moves past said tip; wherein said nozzle includes a nozzle tube, wherein said tip is secured in said nozzle tube and has a portion extending therefrom; wherein said tip has an outer dimension, in cross-section, less than said nozzle tube; and wherein said nozzle tube and tip have a continuous bore therethrough of uniform area. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A machine according to claim 6, wherein the portion of said tip positioned to contact the paper has been polished in the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A machine according to claim 6, wherein the extending portion of said tip is elongated in cross-section and oriented such that the longer dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A machine according to claim 8, wherein the portion of said tip positioned to contact the paper has been polished in the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) A machine according to claim 6, comprising a nozzle housing having means for receiving said nozzle; and mounting block means on said machine for releasably securing said nozzle housing at a preselected position and orientation. ### Claim 11 Apparatus for applying starch paste to an exposed edge of moving cigarette paper, comprising: a two-part paster nozzle comprising a nozzle tube and a relatively thin-walled outer tip having an outlet end positioned to be in contact with the exposed edge of the cigarette paper for applying paste along the exposed edge; means for supplying starch paste to a metering pump means; a metering pump means for receiving paste from the paste supplying means and for supplying paste to said nozzle at a controlled rate; wherein said nozzle has an internal bore sized for delivering paste at a relatively low pressure and at a rate for applying a thin, uniform film of paste to the exposed edge as the paper moves past said tip, and wherein said tip is elongated in cross-section and oriented such that the longer dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said nozzle is oriented at an angle of 83.degree. to 84.degree. relative to the direction of paper travel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A machine according to claim 11, which includes means for varying operating speed, wherein said metering pump means includes means for supplying paste to said nozzle proportional to the machine operating speed. ### Claim 14 Apparatus for applying a starch paste to an exposed edge of moving cigarette paper, comprising: a two-part paster nozzle comprising a nozzle tube and a relatively thin-walled outer tip having an outlet end positioned to be in contact with the exposed edge of the cigarette paper for applying paste along the exposed edge; means for supplying starch paste to a metering pump means; a metering pump means for receiving paste from the paste supplying means and for supplying paste to said nozzle at a controlled rate, wherein said nozzle has an internal bore sized for delivering paste at a relatively low pressure and at a rate for applying a thin, uniform film of paste to the exposed edge as the paper moves past said tip; wherein said tip is secured in said nozzle tube and has a portion extending therefrom; wherein said tip has an outer dimension, in cross-section, less than said nozzle tube; and wherein said nozzle tube and tip have a continuous bore therethrough of uniform area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the portion of said tip positioned to contact the paper has been polished in the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the extending portion of said tip is elongated in cross-section and oriented such that the longer dimension is substantially perpendicular to the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the portion of said tip positioned to contact the paper has been polished in the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising a nozzle housing having means for receiving said nozzle, and mounting block means on said machine for releasably securing said nozzle housing at a preselected position and orientation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said nozzle tube has an enlarged bore extending from one end partially into said tube, and wherein part of the length of said tip is secured in said enlarged bore. ### Claim 20 A method of applying paste to an exposed edge of moving cigarette paper, comprising: providing starch paste at a preselected pressure to the inlet side of a high precision metering pump; providing a nozzle, having an outer tip, having an internal bore sized for delivering paste at a relatively low pressure; positioning the nozzle tip to be in contact with one edge of the moving paper; driving the metering pump at a preselected speed for supplying paste from the metering pump to the nozzle at a controlled rate for applying a thin, uniform layer of paste to the exposed edge as the paper moves past the tip, and further comprising the step, prior to providing paste to the nozzle, of squeezing the nozzle tip such that the bore through the tip is elongated and oriented perpendicular to the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the nozzle includes a nozzle tube and a thin, nozzle tip extending therefrom, and comprising the step, prior to providing paste to the nozzle, of polishing the nozzle tip in the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, comprising the step of applying paste while the nozzle is oriented at an angle of 83.degree. to 84.degree. relative to the direction of paper movement. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, comprising the step supplying paste to the nozzle at a rate proportional to the speed of the paper past the tip.