Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters
AssigneeR.J. Reynolds Tabacco Company
InventorPhilip Andrew Deal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims32
An apparatus for providing filter rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each filter rod having objects individually spaced at predetermined intervals along a length thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- a hopper for receiving a supply of a plurality of objects;
- a transfer member capable of rotation about a first axis and in communication with the hopper, the transfer member positioned to receive a plurality of objects from the hopper at a radially inward portion of the transfer member, the transfer member defining a plurality of channels extending radially away from the inward portion to a radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member such that the objects are delivered from the radially inward portion to the radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member during rotation of the transfer member;
- and
- a vacuum-assisted insertion wheel in operable communication with the transfer member and configured to receive objects therefrom, the insertion wheel being capable of rotation about a second axis and having a peripheral face, the peripheral face defining a plurality of spaced pockets for receiving individual objects therein from the transfer member, the insertion wheel being configured to apply a vacuum to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain the individual objects within the pockets during rotation of the insertion wheel, and the insertion wheel being configured to insert a plurality of objects at predetermined intervals within the continuous supply of filter material.
A method for providing filter rods for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each filter rod having objects individually spaced at predetermined intervals along a length thereof, the method comprising:
- feeding objects from a hopper to a radially inward portion of a transfer member capable of rotation about a first axis;
- rotating the transfer member to deliver the objects from the radially inward portion to a radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member via a plurality of channels defined by the transfer member and extending radially away from the inward portion to the radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member;
- transferring the objects from the transfer member to a vacuum-assisted insertion wheel rotatable about a second axis and having a peripheral face, the peripheral face defining a plurality of spaced pockets for receiving individual objects therein from the transfer member, wherein each object is held within a pocket, and a vacuum is applied to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain the individual objects within the pockets during rotation of the insertion wheel;
- rotating the insertion wheel to place an object held within a pocket into position for insertion into a continuous supply of filter material;
- and
- inserting the object into the continuous supply of filter material.
An apparatus comprising:
- a transfer member capable of rotation about a first axis, the transfer member positioned to receive a plurality of objects at a radially inward portion of the transfer member, the plurality of objects being delivered from the radially inward portion to a radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member during rotation of the transfer member;
- and
- a vacuum-assisted rotatable member in operable communication with the transfer member and configured to receive objects therefrom, the rotatable member being capable of rotation about a second axis and having a peripheral face, the peripheral face defining a plurality of spaced pockets for receiving individual objects therein from the transfer member, the rotatable member being configured to apply a vacuum to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain the individual objects within the pockets during rotation of the rotatable member when the pockets are in a first position, and the rotatable member being configured to release an object from one of the pockets during rotation of the rotatable member when the one of the pockets is in a second position.
An apparatus for providing filter rods formed from a continuous supply of filter material for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, each filter rod having objects individually spaced at predetermined intervals along a length thereof, the apparatus comprising:
- a hopper for receiving a supply of a plurality of objects;
- a transfer member capable of rotation about a first axis and in communication with the hopper, the transfer member positioned to receive a plurality of objects from the hopper at a radially inward portion of the transfer member, the transfer member defining a plurality of channels extending radially away from the inward portion to a radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member such that the objects are delivered from the radially inward portion to the radially outward peripheral portion of the transfer member during rotation of the transfer member;
- and
- a vacuum-assisted insertion wheel in operable communication with the transfer member and configured to receive objects therefrom, the insertion wheel being capable of rotation about a second axis and having a peripheral face, the peripheral face defining a plurality of spaced pockets for receiving individual objects therein from the transfer member, the insertion wheel being configured to apply a vacuum to at least a portion of the pockets to maintain the individual objects within the pockets during rotation of the insertion wheel, and the insertion wheel being configured to insert a plurality of objects at predetermined intervals within the continuous supply of filter material,
- wherein the radially inward portion of the transfer member is disposed in a central portion of the transfer member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.