Abstract:
A drum elevator and method of elevating cigarettes (11), the apparatus comprising a series of rotatable cigarette tranferring drums (102) comprising a first plurality of horizontally disposed drums (106) at a first elevation and a second plurality of vertically disposed drums (103) extending to a second elevation, the second plurality of vertically disposed drums (103) receiving output from the first plurality of drums (106), the series of drums (102) adapted to receive a procession of cigarettes (11) at the first elevation and to elevate the cigarettes (11) along a transfer path to the second elevation while maintaining the cigarettes (11) arranged substantially in the procession; a rejection station (146) at a location along the transfer path; a controller (110) operative to selectively actuate the rejection station (146); and a stack former (104) at the second elevation, the stack former (104) receiving output of the second plurality of vertically disposed drums (103).
Abstract:
A method and apparatus (10) for delivering predetermined amounts of particulate material and/or plasticizer (110) to a location remote from the particulate material (110), and a cigarette filter (996) and a cigarette (900) made according to the method and apparatus (10).
Abstract:
An apparatus and methods for producing at extremely high production speeds small pouches (100) filled with tobacco or other granular, powdered or solid content. An endless web substrate (12), with or without flavor film (14) thereon, is formed into a tubular shape (29) with a longitudinal seam (106). The tube (29) is cut to individual lengths (10V), and a procession of tubes is crimp-closed at one end (102), filled and crimp-closed at the other end (104) to complete pouch production. During production, the seams formed at the crimped ends (102, 104) of the pouch are parallel to one another and the longitudinal seam (106) of the pouch (100) is midway between the sides of the pouch (100) and orthogonal to the seams formed at the crimped ends (102, 104) of the pouch (100).
Abstract:
A process of producing a filter tube comprises the steps of cutting a paper segment 18 of given length and width from an endless paper supply. Next, a solid filter 14 of cellulose acetate tow, for example, is centrally positioned on the paper segment. Opposed tube forming rollers 20,22 engage the ends of the solid filter, and as these rollers rotate, the paper segment is formed into a tube shape. Overlapping portions of the paper segment are secured together, and the tube forming rollers are withdrawn from the tube to thereby complete the forming operation.
Abstract:
In a method and apparatus (10) for producing a small pouch (12) with a predetermined amount of particulate material (14) therein, a predetermined amount of the particulate material (14) is portioned from a bulk supply and compacted into a single discrete caplet (22). The caplet (22) is then deposited into an open hollow pouch (12) closed at one end thereof, and the open end is then closed with the caplet (22) between the closed ends of the pouch (12). The caplet (22) in the pouch (12) is then compressed to return it to its particulate form. The particulate material (14) may be granular or shredded tobacco.
Abstract:
A bead feeder for serially delivering beads 12 to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel 14 which rotates about a vertical axis 20. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl 22 and a plurality of radially arranged channels 24 below the bowl connected to rotate with the bowl. Discharge openings 26 in the bowl are in alignment with the radially arranged channels to delivery beads to those channels, and a bead receiving pocket 28 is positioned at the outer end of each channel. A transfer wheel 16 picks up beads from the bead receiving pockets and transfers those beads to a delivery wheel 18 by vacuum transfer and release. The delivery wheel serially delivers the beads to the downstream location.
Abstract:
A bead feeder for serially delivering beads 12 to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel 14 which rotates about a vertical axis 20. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl 22 and a plurality of radially arranged channels 24 below the bowl connected to rotate with the bowl. Discharge openings 26 in the bowl are in alignment with the radially arranged channels to delivery beads to those channels, and a bead receiving pocket 28 is positioned at the outer end of each channel. A transfer wheel 16 picks up beads from the bead receiving pockets and transfers those beads to a delivery wheel 18 by vacuum transfer and release. The delivery wheel serially delivers the beads to the downstream location.
Abstract:
A method for making cigarettes comprises providing a supplying tubes to a tobacco rod maker from a hopper (151), supplying tobacco to the maker through an updraught chamber (143, 145) so that tobacco accumulates around the tubes. The tobacco is wrapped with paper (123) in a garniture (117) to form hollow wrapped tobacco rods having a tube running through them.