Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters
AssigneeR.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
InventorPhilip Andrew Deal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Cigarette filter rods having individual objects positioned at predetermined intervals therein are prepared by transferring the individual objects from a rotating horizontal pan to a rotating vertical wheel and then depositing the object into a web of filter tow. Each object is positioned within the moving web of tow. The web filter material and the objects positioned within the web are introduced into a rod-forming unit wherein the rod is formed. The rate of feed of the filter tow, the rate of rotation of the horizontal pan and the vertical wheel are controlled relative to one another such that objects are positioned at predetermined intervals along the rod. Cigarette filter elements having well controlled amounts of flavorant contained therein can be made from the rods.
Claims13
An apparatus for providing rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each rod having objects individually spaced at predetermined intervals along the length thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- a rotatable member including a pan having a plurality of holes formed in the pan at predetermined intervals around the periphery of the pan, a skirt depending from the perimeter of the pan defining a plurality of slots in the skirt,
- a plurality of stem lifters each comprising a hollow tube, a cam block and a cam follower coupled to the cam block, the hollow tube being slidingly received within each hole of the plurality of holes of the pan, the cam block being coupled at a predetermined position on the tube and being slidingly received within the slot;
- and
- a cam drum in a position fixed relative the rotatable member, the cam drum having a side wall received within and adjacent to the skirt of the rotatable member, the side wall having a cam channel defined therein circumscribing a continuous undulating path around the perimeter of the cam drum;
- wherein the cam follower of each stem lifter is received within the cam channel;
- whereupon during rotation of the rotatable member;
- the cam follower moves along the path described by the cam channel whereby the stem lifters rise and fall at a rotational position defined by the cam channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.