Method and a system for the manufacture of tobacco products

Abstract

Tobacco products are manufactured by a system including at least a first production machine turning out the tobacco products and at least one user machine in receipt of the products, connected together in cascade. In the event of a stoppage at the user machine, the speed of the first machine is reduced to a first level, lower than that of the normal operating speed, whereupon the lower speed is maintained for a programmed length of time during which the tobacco products that continue to be turned out by the first machine are ejected at an outfeed station, and thus prevented from reaching the user machine.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a method and to a system for the manufacture of tobacco products. [0002] A conventional system of the type in question appears normally as a line comprising a plurality of machines linked one to the next in cascade. [0003] More exactly, such a line typically comprises a cigarette maker at the upstream end and, proceeding downstream along the feed direction followed by the products, a filter tip attachment machine, then a packer, a cellophaner for overwrapping packets, a cartoner by which packets are wrapped in multiples, and a further cellophaner or equivalent machine by which the cartons are overwrapped. [0004] Such lines can also be equipped with temporary storage units or “buffers”, interposed between cascaded machines and serving to compensate any imbalances in output between these same machines, as well as allowing one machine to keep operating for a given period of time in the event of another machine connecte...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing tobacco products in a system comprising a production machine and a user machine. The method includes steps of adjusting the speed of the production machine to a slower level and ejecting the tobacco products from the production machine. The invention also includes a system with a master control unit that can adjust the speed of the production machine, interlocking with an ejector means and sensing means to detect any break in the operation of the user machine. The technical effect of this invention is to improve the production and distribution of tobacco products, ensuring a steady supply to the user machine.

Problems solved by technology

Since it is impossible to install such buffers between every single pair of machines making up the production line, and given therefore that lines will also include machines linked directly one to another, it is obvious that a stoppage occurring in one machine for whatever reason will result also in a stoppage of the machine, or machines, directly linked to this same machine.

The consequences of these enforced stoppages are conspicuously negative, in terms both of production losses and of wasted material, particularly when involving machines equipped with devices (such as printing or gumming equipment) that need a certain amount of time at each restart for normal operating conditions to be established.

During these transient phases in the operation of the system, when the cigarette maker continues to function for a certain duration while the filter tip attachment machine remains inactive, notable quantities of tobacco are lost, not least through the effect of the high operating speeds of which modern cigarette makers and filter tip attachment machines are capable, and especially in the case of twin-track, dual-rod type cigarette makers.

Even where the tobacco in question is reclaimed, its quality is significantly degraded thereafter.

The task of removing this fragment of cigarette rod is a complex one, since besides opening up the casing of the machine it may also be necessary to disturb the quality control and gumming devices, dismantling them in part and occasioning lengthy periods of inactivity as a result.

In this instance, a stoppage occurring at the cellophaner for whatever reason will in turn force a stoppage of the packer, resulting in loss of time and waste of wrapping materials and cigarettes alike, as the packets currently being assembled must be discarded before normal operation can be resumed.

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