Device and method for producing strands and rod-shaped articles for the tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (40) and a method for producing a strip bundle (42) for the tobacco processing industry. The device (40) comprises a supply device (44), a separation device (32) and a strip bundle forming device (70). The supply device (44) is configured to supply a flat web (10) made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and to convey it to a separation device (32) arranged downstream of the supply device (44). The separation device (32) is configured to separate the flat web (10) into a plurality of strips (4), and the strip bundle forming device (70) arranged downstream of the separation device (32) is configured to form a strip bundle (42) from a plurality of strips (4). The device (40) is improved by a coating device (52), which is configured to apply a conductive layer (8) at least in sections to a surface (12) of the flat web (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for producing bundles for the tobacco processing industry, the device comprising a supply device, a separation device and a bundle forming device, wherein the supply device is configured to supply a flat web made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and convey it to a separation device arranged downstream of the supply device, the separation device is configured to divide the flat web into a plurality of strips, and the bundle forming device arranged downstream of the separation device is configured to form a bundle from a plurality of strips. The present invention also relates to a method for producing bundles for the tobacco processing industry using a device, the device comprising a supply device, a separation device and a bundle forming device, wherein the supply device is configured to supply a flat web made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and convey it to a separation device arranged downstream of the supply device, the separation device is configured to divide the flat web into a plurality of strips, and the bundle forming device arranged downstream of the separation device is configured to form a bundle from a plurality of strips. In addition, the present invention relates to a rod-shaped article for the tobacco processing industry. Background Art

[0002] The rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are generally known. They are, for example, cigarettes or cigars, or they may also be tobacco rods, filters or filter segments. In addition to these typical rod-shaped articles, articles that have a rod-shaped shape but do not require a combustion process when consumed are also considered to be rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry. An example of such a rod-shaped article of the tobacco processing industry is a so-called HNB article (heat-not-burn article). It is a product of the tobacco processing industry that is heated during the consumption process but will not be burned. When consuming HNB articles, steam is generated by heat transfer, for example, from an electrically driven heat source to a substrate that forms a hot melt adhesive. This steam is determined for consumption and contains aromatics and inclusions. As a substrate for forming an aerosol, a tobacco-containing substance can often be used, but unlike traditional smoking products, this substance is not burned. In many cases, a foil (reconstructed foil) made of a reconstructed tobacco material is used as a tobacco-containing substance. This foil can be produced according to a papermaking process or according to a pulping process. During consumption of the HNB article, volatile substances are released from the aerosol-forming substrate, ie, for example, a foil made of reconstituted tobacco material, by the effect of heat.

[0003] In order to heat the substrate that forms the aerosol, it exists in the form of a tobacco rod as a gathered surface formation, and it is also regarded as a rod-shaped article, and a heating plate is placed in the area of ​​the rod-shaped article where the surface formation exists. Such a system is known, for example, from EP2854577B1 or from WO2013 / 178769A1. The substrate that forms the aerosol is heated in this system by direct contact with the heating plate. In this design, the surface formation is heated more strongly in the vicinity of the heating plate than in the area farther from the heating plate. The uneven heating of the surface formation causes the aromatics and the contained substances to not be evaporated uniformly from the aerosol-forming substance in all areas.

[0004] A possible alternative for heating a substrate that forms an aerosol is known from WO2017 / 036951A1. In this system, the wrapping material strip of the rod-shaped object to be heated is printed with a closed conductor track, which surrounds the substrate that forms the aerosol. In order to heat the substrate, these conductor tracks are exposed to a magnetic alternating field during the operation of the HNB device. Current is induced in the closed conductor track by the alternating field. The resulting losses heat up the conductor track and its surroundings. Unlike the previously described devices in which the substrate that forms an aerosol is heated from the center of the rod-shaped object using a heating plate, in this device, the heating of the substrate starts from the outer side of the rod-shaped object via the wrapping paper. Although the heat distribution in this system may be more uniform than those systems using a centrally arranged heating plate or a heating core rod, the substrate that forms the aerosol is still heated more strongly or weakly in some areas of the rod-shaped object. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to propose a device for producing strips for the tobacco processing industry, a method for producing strips for the tobacco processing industry and a rod-shaped article for the tobacco processing industry made from the strips, wherein the aerosol-forming tobacco material present in the strips or in the article should be heated as evenly as possible.

[0006] This object is achieved by a device for producing strip bundles for the tobacco processing industry, which device includes a providing device, a separating device and a strip bundle forming device, wherein the providing device is configured to provide a flat web made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and convey it to a separating device arranged downstream of the providing device, the separating device is configured to separate the flat web into a plurality of strips, and the strip bundle forming device arranged downstream of the separating device is configured to form a strip bundle from a plurality of strips, wherein the device is improved by a coating device, which is configured to arrange a conductive layer at least in sections on the surface of the flat web and connect it to the flat web.

[0007] By means of the device according to aspects of the invention, a tobacco processing industry strip can be produced, the individual strips of which can be inductively heated independently and directly via a conductive layer located on the surface of the strip. In this way, the heat required for evaporating the aromatics and the inclusions is generated directly at the place where the heat is required from the tobacco material forming the hot melt. All the tobacco material forming the hot melt is heated uniformly, thereby ensuring an effective and uniform evaporation of the aromatics and the inclusions.

[0008] The device is configured to arrange the conductive layer on only one of the two surfaces or sides of the flat web and connect it to the flat web according to one embodiment. The aromatics and the inclusions can be effectively released from the tobacco material forming the hot melt adhesive via the uncoated surface by coating only one side.

[0009] The conductive layer applied to the surface of the flat web is in particular a metal layer, for example a layer at least mainly composed of iron, steel or aluminum. The conductive layer is applied directly to the surface of the flat web, for example in the form of a foil. The coating device is configured to arrange the conductive layer in the form of a foil on the surface of the flat web and connect it to the flat web according to one embodiment. In order to connect the foil to the flat web, the coating device, for example, includes a glue coating device. The glue coating device of the coating device is configured to apply glue to the surface of the flat web to be coated. The coating device is also configured to further apply the conductive layer as a foil to the glued surface downstream, that is, immediately afterwards. Glue is only a possible connecting agent. The coating device is configured to produce a connection without a connecting agent between the foil and the flat web according to other embodiments. This connection without a connecting agent can be produced, for example, in the following manner: the coating device is configured to slightly dissolve the flat web on the surface with a suitable solvent and then, for example, connect the foil to the flat web by applying a suitable pressure. For example, water is used as a suitable solvent. The coating device can also be configured to mechanically connect the foil and the flat web to each other. For this purpose, the coating device can be provided, for example, to introduce embossing or punching at least in sections into the foil and the flat web, so that they are mechanically attached to one another.

[0010] Alternatively, according to a further embodiment, the coating device is provided for evaporating or spraying the electrically conductive layer onto the surface of the flat web.

[0011] According to a further embodiment, the device for producing strips for the tobacco processing industry is designed such that the separation device is arranged directly downstream of the coating device. In other words, the device is designed such that no further processing steps or machining steps are performed on the flat web before the flat web coated on one side is fed to the separation device, i.e. before the flat web is separated into strips.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the device is improved in that the coating device is provided for distributing the conductive layer intermittently on the surface of the flat web along the longitudinal extension direction of the flat web and connecting it to the flat web. In this connection, it is provided in particular that the coating device is provided for distributing the conductive layer on the surface of the flat web in a structure and also connecting it to the flat web, wherein the structure consists of a plurality of coating regions which are arranged periodically, in particular, along the longitudinal extension direction of the flat web and which are also arranged in particular at a distance from the side edges of the flat web.

[0013] The shape of the coating area is arbitrary. For example, it is arranged as a polygon, such as a rectangle, triangle, etc., or a segmented curved shape. The distance between the coating area and the side edge of the flat web is in particular 35 mm to 130 mm, more in particular 50 mm to 100 mm and more in particular 60 mm to 80 mm. The distance between the coating areas in the longitudinal extension direction of the flat web is in particular 1 mm to 20 mm, more in particular 3 mm to 15 mm and more in particular 4 mm to 8 mm.

[0014] The conductive layer can be intermittently implemented not only over the width of the flat web but also in the longitudinal extension direction of the flat web. The advantage of the intermittent structure of the conductive layer is that the strips can be arranged in the rod-shaped object made of strips so that the conductive layer is not visible even at the head end of the individual tobacco rods of the rod-shaped object. This is not only an optical / aesthetic advantage, but also there is no need to cut the strips through the conductive layer. The device is particularly configured to synchronize the intermittent nature of the conductive layer with the cutting of the strips. If the cutting of the strips through the conductive layer is avoided, then for example the tool used for cutting the strips has a better service life.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device is improved in that the coating device is provided for varying the coverage of the surface of the flat web by the conductive layer. Coverage in the context of this specification is understood to be the proportion of the total surface of the flat web that is occupied by the conductive layer. If, for example, the coverage of the conductive layer is 8%, then 8% of the total surface of the flat web is coated with the conductive layer.

[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the coverage is between 2% and 15%, in particular between 3% and 10%, and in particular still between 5% and 8%.

[0017] The device is also preferably provided with a control and / or regulation device, which can variably control and / or regulate the coverage of the flat web during the production process. This can be done, for example, by varying the spacing of the conductive layer from the side edges of the flat web. If a larger spacing from the side edges of the flat web is maintained, the coverage decreases. If the spacing from the side edges is reduced, the coverage increases.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, the device for producing the strips has suitable sensors and / or measuring devices, which are configured to determine the mass of the conductive layer per unit length of the strip. This value is also a measure of how much of the total surface formed by the strips within the strip is covered by the conductive layer. Preferably, the sensor and / or measuring device is a contactless sensor. With the aid of the measured values ​​for the mass of the conductive layer in the strip detected in this way, the coverage can be dynamically re-controlled and / or readjusted.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device is improved in the following manner: the separation device comprises a first roller and a second roller cooperating with the first roller, wherein the respective shell surfaces of the first roller and the second roller have grooves and protrusions arranged side by side and closed in the circumferential direction alternately in the axial direction of the respective rollers, and in the action area the protrusions of the first roller are embedded in the grooves of the second roller and the protrusions of the second roller are embedded in the grooves of the first roller, wherein the grooves and protrusions of the rollers do not contact each other in the action area, wherein the rollers are arranged such that they are embedded in each other and overstretch the flat web transversely to a predetermined separation line so that the flat web is torn along the separation line.

[0020] The first roller and the second roller do not touch each other in the active area. The flat web is not cut along the separation line by the interaction of two blades, but is torn in a defined manner by overstretching. Advantageously, no cutting process occurs in this way. By the targeted and defined overstretching of the flat web and the subsequent tearing, an open structure is obtained at the breaking edge of the strip. Due to this open structure, the strip is particularly suitable for receiving additives or can also release fragrances and contents, for example, when heated. The separation device also has particularly low wear due to the lack of contact between the rollers.

[0021] According to an alternative embodiment, the device is improved in the following manner: the separation device is a disc knife cutting device, which comprises a first roller and a second roller cooperating with the first roller, wherein the respective shell surfaces of the first roller and the second roller alternately have disc knives arranged side by side and grooves arranged between adjacent disc knives in the axial direction of the respective rollers, and in the action area, the disc knives of the first roller are embedded in the grooves of the second roller and the disc knives of the second roller are embedded in the grooves of the first roller, wherein the blades of the disc knives of the first roller are in contact with the blades of the disc knives of the second roller, respectively, so that the flat web can be separated or divided into strips in a continuous shearing manner. The disc knife cutting device allows the flat web to be extremely accurately separated into individual strips along a defined cutting edge.

[0022] Separating devices, both those comprising two rollers for defined tearing of the flat web and those comprising a disc-knife cutting device, can comprise intermittently implemented discs or disc-knifes. This means that at least one of the projections or at least one of the blades is designed in a section in the circumferential direction such that adjacent strips are not completely separated from one another, but are connected to one another via a remaining web. For this purpose, for example, recesses are present in the projections or the disc-knife.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device is improved in the following manner: the grooves of the first roller and the second roller have a first width in a first region extending in the axial direction of the respective roller, and the grooves of the first roller and the second roller have a second width in a second region extending in the axial direction of the respective roller, wherein the first width and the second width have different values ​​from each other, so that a first partial strip having at least approximately the first width and a second partial strip having approximately the second width can be produced using a separation device, wherein in particular the first width is greater than the second width and the rollers are designed in such a way that the grooves of the first width are present in a first section of the rollers in which a coating device for coating a conductive layer is arranged on the flat web.

[0024] In each of the two regions, any number of grooves and protrusions can be present. This number can be, for example, between 1 and 200. This means that, in particular, it is provided that only a single protrusion or only a single groove is present both in the first region and in the second region. The first part or the second part in this case consists of only a single strip. For example, the flat web can not be further divided in the first region in which no conductive layer is present on the surface of the flat web.

[0025] Advantageously, such an arrangement enables the strips having the conductive layer on their surface to be implemented with a greater width than the remaining strips. It can be advantageous for the flat web to be divided into two parts of different widths in this way. For example, the greater width of the strips of the coating allows them to be heated inductively more effectively.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, the device is improved in that a pulling device, in particular a pulling roller pair, is arranged directly downstream of the separation device. According to a further embodiment, the device is assembly-free between the separation device and the pulling roller pair. This means that the individual strips separated by the separation device do not pass through further processing devices before they enter the pulling roller pair. This does not exclude that the strips are guided between the separation device and the pulling roller pair, for example, on a conveying trough, a slide, a conveyor belt, an auxiliary conveying wheel, etc. The pulling roller pair keeps the strips under a defined stress and advantageously avoids the risk of the conductive layer falling off the surface of the strips.

[0027] The object is also solved by a method for producing strip bundles for the tobacco processing industry using a device, which includes a providing device, a separating device and a strip bundle forming device, wherein the providing device is configured to provide a flat web made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and convey it to a separating device arranged downstream of the providing device, the separating device is configured to separate the flat web into a plurality of strips, and the strip bundle forming device arranged downstream of the separating device is configured to form a strip bundle from a plurality of strips, wherein the method is improved in the following manner: the device includes a coating device, which arranges a conductive layer at least in sections on the surface of the flat web and connects it to the flat web.

[0028] In particular, it is provided that the flat web is fed to a separating device arranged directly downstream of the coating device without further processing steps being carried out on the flat web.

[0029] By means of the method according to the invention, it is advantageously possible to produce a strand which is suitable for use in an inductively heated HNB device. An HNB device in the context of this specification is understood to be a device with which rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry are heated for consumption, wherein no combustion process occurs. Furthermore, the method has the same or similar advantages as those already described with respect to the device for producing rod-shaped articles of the tobacco processing industry.

[0030] The method is advantageously improved in that the coating device disposes the electrically conductive layer intermittently on the surface of the flat web along the longitudinal extension direction of the flat web and connects the electrically conductive layer to the flat web.

[0031] The method is also improved, in particular, in the following manner: the coating device arranges the conductive layer on the surface of the flat web in a structure and connects it thereto, the structure consisting of a plurality of coating areas that are arranged periodically, in particular along the longitudinal extension direction of the flat web, and the coating areas are also arranged, in particular, to have a distance from the side edges of the flat web.

[0032] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the method is characterized in that the coating device varies the coverage of the surface of the flat web with the electrically conductive layer.

[0033] In the context of this method, the coverage described in conjunction with the device can also be achieved.

[0034] The method is also advantageously improved in the following manner: the separation device comprises a first roller and a second roller cooperating with the first roller, wherein the respective shell surfaces of the first roller and the second roller have grooves and projections arranged side by side and closed in the circumferential direction alternately in the axial direction of the respective rollers, and in the action area the projections of the first roller engage in the grooves of the second roller and the projections of the second roller engage in the grooves of the first roller, wherein the grooves and projections of the rollers do not contact each other in the action area, wherein the rollers are arranged such that they engage in each other and overstretch the flat web transversely to a predetermined separation line so that the flat web is torn along the separation line.

[0035] According to another advantageous embodiment, the method is characterized in that the separation device is a disc knife cutting device, which includes a first roller and a second roller cooperating with the first roller, wherein the corresponding shell surfaces of the first roller and the second roller alternately have disc knives arranged side by side and grooves arranged between adjacent disc knives along the axial direction of the corresponding rollers, and in the action area, the disc knives of the first roller are embedded in the grooves of the second roller and the disc knives of the second roller are embedded in the grooves of the first roller, wherein the blades of the disc knives of the first roller are in contact with the blades of the disc knives of the second roller respectively, so that the flat web is divided into strips in a continuous shearing manner.

[0036] The object is also achieved by a rod-shaped article for the tobacco industry made from a tobacco industry strip, which is produced by a method according to one or more of the preceding embodiments. The rod-shaped article can be inductively heated uniformly, so that a particularly high degree of utilization of the aroma and the contents of the aerosol-forming tobacco material can be achieved.

[0037] The stick-shaped objects are in particular stick-shaped HBN objects, ie objects which are heated but not burnt during consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Other features of the invention are apparent from the description of the embodiments according to the invention in conjunction with the claims and the drawings. The embodiments according to the invention may implement a single feature or a combination of multiple features.

[0039] The invention is described below without limiting the general inventive concept by means of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings, wherein explicit reference is made to the drawings for all details according to the invention which are not explained in detail in the text.

[0040] Figure 1 , 2 respectively show schematically simplified cross-sectional views of rod-shaped articles according to the prior art,

[0041] Figure 3 shows a schematically simplified cross-sectional view through a rod-shaped article,

[0042] Figure 4 , 5 , 6 shows a schematically simplified perspective view of a flat web which is intermittently coated,

[0043] Figure 7 and 8 shows a schematically simplified longitudinal section through a rod-shaped object according to various embodiments,

[0044] Fig. 9 A schematically simplified top view of a separating device, shown in sections, which separates a flat web into strips of different widths and

[0045] Fig.10 A schematic and simplified side view of a device for producing a strand is shown.

[0046] In the context of the present invention, features marked with “especially” or “preferably” are to be understood as optional features.

[0047] In the figures, identical or identical elements and / or parts are respectively provided with the same reference symbols, so that an individual reintroduction is not necessary. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] Figure 1 A schematically simplified cross-sectional view of a rod-shaped article 2 for the tobacco processing industry according to the prior art is shown in the region of a tobacco rod 18. The rod-shaped article 2 comprises a plurality of strips 4 as tobacco rods 18, wherein Figure 1 For the sake of clarity, only some strips are provided with reference numerals. The strip 4 is made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and is heated during consumption of the stick-shaped article 2, so that aromatics and inclusions can evaporate from the aerosol-forming tobacco material of the strip 4. The heat flow required to heat the strip 4 is schematically shown by arrows. This heat is brought into the tobacco rod 18 from the outer side. However, this leads to an uneven heat distribution in the tobacco rod 18 of such a stick-shaped article 2 according to the prior art. The strip 4 located near the shell surface of the tobacco rod 18 is heated more strongly than the strip 4 located in the center of the tobacco rod 18. This leads to an uneven utilization of the aromatics and inclusions present in the strip 4. Figure 2 A further cross-sectional view through a tobacco rod 18 of a rod-shaped article 2 known from the prior art is shown. The tobacco rod 18 again has a plurality of strips 4, which are made of an aerosol-forming substrate. To heat the strips 4, a heating mandrel 6 is placed centrally in the tobacco rod 18, which, however, also heats the strips 4 unevenly. The strips 4 located near the heating mandrel 6 are heated significantly more intensely than the strips 4 near the shell surface.

[0049] Figure 3In a schematically simplified cross-sectional view, a tobacco rod 18 of a rod-shaped article 2 according to an embodiment is shown. The rod-shaped article 2 comprises a plurality of strips 4 made of aerosol-forming tobacco material. This shall be referred to as the first part 4.1 and is Figure 3 The strips 4 shown by the line pairs in the diagram of FIG. 4 have a conductive layer 8 on their surface. The remaining strips 4 classified as the second part 4.2 do not have a conductive layer 8 on their surface. The strips 4 of the first part 4.1, i.e. the strips 4 having the conductive layer 8 on their surface, are statistically distributed within the tobacco rod 18 of the rod-shaped article 2. The strips 4 of the first part 4.1 can be evenly distributed on the cross section of the rod-shaped article 2. It can also be arranged that the individual strips 4 of the first part 4.1 are distributed annularly on the cross section.

[0050] If the tobacco rod 18 of the rod-shaped object 2 is heated by means of an induction energy source, the first part 4.1 strip 4 having the conductive layer 8 on its surface is heated. As already mentioned, since the first part 4.1 strip 4 is statistically distributed in the tobacco rod 18 of the rod-shaped object 2, the tobacco rod 18 is heated particularly uniformly and moreover particularly effectively. Local overheating can be avoided and the heat energy is effectively introduced into the aerosol-forming material of the strip 4.

[0051] Figure 4 A flat web 10 made of aerosol-forming tobacco material is shown in a schematically simplified perspective view. The flat web 10 is produced, for example, from a reconstituted tobacco material, which can be produced, for example, according to a papermaking process or according to a pulping process. An electrically conductive layer 8 is applied intermittently on the surface 12 of the flat web 10. The structure of the electrically conductive layer 8 consists of intermittently, especially periodically arranged coating regions 16, in the illustrated embodiment, rectangular regions 16. These coating regions are periodically arranged not only along the longitudinal extension direction L of the flat web 10 but also along a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension direction L. In particular, it is arranged that the coating region 16 maintains a spacing A with the side edge 14 of the flat web 10. This spacing A can be, for example, variably changed during the coating of the flat web 10, which will be discussed in more detail later.

[0052] Use the dotted line Figure 4 In the diagram, the flat web 10 is divided into a plurality of strips 4 to the left of the dotted line. Due to the intermittent coating transverse to its longitudinal extension direction L, not only a first part 4.1 strip 4 with a conductive layer 8 on its surface is produced, but also a second part 4.2 strip 4 without a conductive layer on its surface is produced.

[0053] The intermittency of the conductive layer 8 along the longitudinal extension direction L of the flat web 10 can be synchronized with the cutting of the bundle made of a plurality of strips 4 when it is divided into individual tobacco rods 18 or rod-shaped objects. This provides the possibility that the rod-shaped objects produced from such a flat web 10 do not have a visible coating in the region of their head end. This will also be discussed in more detail later.

[0054] Figure 5 In a further schematically simplified perspective view, an intermittently coated flat web 10 is shown. In the embodiment shown, the coated regions 16 in which the conductive layer 8 is present on the surface 12 of the flat web 10 are guided to the side edges 14 of the flat web 10. Thus, the intermittent coating in this case takes place only in the longitudinal extension direction L of the flat web 10.

[0055] Figure 6 In another schematically simplified perspective view, a further coated flat web 10 is shown. This coating is again only intermittent in the longitudinal extension direction. Figure 5 Unlike the exemplary embodiment, the coating region 16 is at a distance A from the side edge 14 of the flat web 10. Thus, when the flat web 10 is divided into individual strips 4, a first part 4.1 (with coating) and a second part 4.2 (without coating) of the strips 4 are obtained.

[0056] Figure 7 In longitudinal section, a rod-shaped article 2 according to an embodiment is shown, which includes a tobacco rod 18, which is produced from a plurality of strips that are no longer shown. The rod-shaped article 2 is surrounded by a wrapping paper 20 on its outer side. The tobacco rod 18 forms the head end 22 of the rod-shaped article 2, and the air flow is sucked into the head end. Downstream of the tobacco rod 18 is a spacing element 24, and further downstream of the spacing element is connected to a cooling element 26. Finally, the aerosol generated by heating in the tobacco rod 18 further enters the filter 28 downstream. The aerosol-air mixture comes out of the rod-shaped article 2 at the mouth end 30. The product structure shown is only exemplary. According to other embodiments not shown, the rod-shaped article can be changed, for example, in the arrangement of the segments shown, the number of segments, the length of the segments or the nature of the segments.

[0057] The strips forming the tobacco rod 18 each have an electrically conductive layer 8 in the areas schematically marked with a thick solid line. The thick solid line schematically depicts the area in which the electrically conductive layer 8 extends. The intermittent coating of the flat web 10 is synchronized with the strip cutting device so that the coating of the strip is not visible at the head end 22 of the tobacco rod 18. On the contrary, the coating extends to the end of the tobacco rod 18 adjacent to the spacing element 24.

[0058] Figure 8A further rod-shaped object 2 according to an embodiment is shown in a schematically simplified longitudinal sectional view. Figure 7 The rod-shaped article 2 known from the prior art differs only in the position of the conductive layer 8 forming the strip of tobacco rod 18. In the embodiment shown, the intermittency or size of the coating area 16 is selected so that the area of ​​the strip coated not only maintains a predetermined distance from the head end 22 but also from the spacing element 24.

[0059] Fig. 9 The separating device 32 is shown in a schematic and simplified top view. A flat web 10 is fed to the separating device 32, on the surface 12 of which there are intermittently coated areas 16. The separating device 32 is designed such that the grooves of the first and second rollers have a first width in a first section B1 extending in the axial direction AR of the respective rollers. The width of the grooves is Fig.10 The spacing is indicated by a single line at the right edge of the schematically illustrated roller. In the second section B2 (in the illustrated embodiment, the roller has two second sections B2) surrounding the first section B1, the groove has a second width. This is also schematically indicated by the line drawn at the right edge of the illustrated roller. The first width of the groove in the first section B1 is greater than the width of the groove in the second section B2. In this way, the separating device 32 can produce a first portion 4.1 strip 4 with a first width and a second portion 4.2 strip 4 with a second width. In addition, the flat web 10 is fed to the separating device so that the flat web 10 has a coating area 16 in the first section B1 of the separating device, while the conductive layer 8 is not present in the second section B2. This in turn makes it possible to provide a first portion 4.1 strip 4 with a larger width, which has a conductive layer 8 on its respective surface.

[0060] According to a further, not shown, embodiment, the rollers of the separating device 32 can be embodied as segmented rollers, as is shown in the applicant's non-prepublished patent application with official application number DE 10 2019 125 295.4.

[0061] Fig.10A device 40 for the tobacco processing industry according to an embodiment is shown, which is configured to produce a strip bundle 42 for the tobacco processing industry. The device 40 comprises a providing device 44, which provides a flat web 10. The providing device 44 is a roll providing module in the illustrated embodiment and comprises a first receiving mandrel 46, on which a roll is received by way of example, and a second receiving mandrel 48, on which another roll can be received. The flat web 10 is stored on the roll, from which it is unrolled. This process can be assisted in that one or both receiving mandrels 46, 48 or the rolls arranged thereon are drivable. The flat web 10 is then deflected within the providing device 44 via a plurality of deflection wheels, which are not individually provided with reference numerals. In order to keep the web stress of the flat web 10 at a desired value, a springer (Tänzer) 50 can be provided.

[0062] Since only a limited length of flat web 10 is stored on a single reel, a reel change is required from time to time. The providing device 44 can be provided for automatic reel change, i.e., connecting the final free end of the first flat web 10 to the second flat web 10 to be processed next. In this regard, automatic reel change can also be provided.

[0063] A provision device for a conductive foil 54 is provided above the provision device 44 for the roll, which is exemplarily configured as a part of the provision device 52. This other provision device can be configured in the same manner as the provision device 44 for the roll, with the difference that foil 54 is provided on the roll instead of flat web 10. Similar to the provision device 44, the coating device 52 comprises a first and a second receiving mandrel 46, 48. A roll is arranged on the first receiving mandrel 46, on which the conductive foil 54 is stored. An ejector 50 can be provided again to keep the conductive foil 54 under the desired stress. The roll on which the conductive foil 54 is stored can be automatically replaced in the same manner as before with respect to the provision device 44 and the flat web 10 present there. The coating device 52 guides the conductive foil 54 to the glue coating station 56 via different deflection wheels. There, a glue layer is applied to the conductive foil 54 on one side. The conductive foil 54 is then divided into individual segments in a dividing device 58, which are then connected to the flat web 10, in the embodiment shown, by gluing. In this way, a flat web 10 can be provided with a conductive layer 8 on one side, which is formed by the conductive foil 54. By dividing the conductive foil 54, the conductive layer 8 is intermittently present on the surface of the flat web 10 and forms mutually independent coating areas (see Figures 4 to 6 ). The segmentation of the conductive foil 54 into individual segments can be carried out, for example, as described in the applicant's non-prepublished patent application with official application number DE102019126583.

[0064] Alternatively, a coating device 52 can be provided which evaporates or sprays the electrically conductive layer 8 onto the surface 12 of the flat web 10 .

[0065] The coated flat web 10 then reaches the separation device 32. The separation device 32 comprises a first roller 60 and a second roller 62, which cooperate with each other. Possible designs of the rollers 60, 62 are explained below.

[0066] The separation device 32 comprises, for example, a first roller and a second roller 60, 62 cooperating therewith, wherein the respective shell surfaces of the first and second rollers 60, 62 have alternately arranged side-by-side closed circumferentially circumferential grooves and projections in the axial direction (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the paper surface and about which the rollers 60, 62 rotate). In the active region, the projections of the first roller 60 engage in the grooves of the second roller 62 and the projections of the second roller 62 engage in the grooves of the first roller 60. The grooves and projections of the rollers 60, 62 do not contact each other in the active region. The rollers 60, 62 are arranged in such a way that they engage in each other and overstretch the flat web 10 transversely to a predetermined separation line, so that the flat web 10 is torn into individual strips 4 along the separation line.

[0067] Alternatively, the separation device 32 is a disc knife cutting device. It comprises a first roller and a second roller 60, 62 cooperating therewith, wherein the respective shell surfaces of the first and second rollers 60, 62 have disc knives arranged side by side and grooves arranged between adjacent disc knives alternately in the axial direction of the respective rollers 60, 62. In the active region, the disc knives of the first roller 60 are embedded in the grooves of the second roller 62, wherein the blades of the disc knives of the first roller 60 are in contact with the blades of the disc knives of the second roller 62 respectively. The flat web 10 is separated into strips 4 in a continuous shearing manner.

[0068] In both cases, the two rollers 60, 62 separate the flat material web 10 into a plurality of individual strips 4. In both variants, it can also be provided that intermittently implemented disks or disk blades are present. This means that at least one of the projections or at least one of the blades is designed in a section in the circumferential direction so that adjacent strips 4 are not completely separated from one another, but are connected to one another via a remaining web. For this purpose, for example, grooves are present in the projections or the disk blades.

[0069] The strip 4 is fed to a pair of traction rollers 66 via a static support 64. The strip 4 reaches a filling nozzle 68 of a strand forming device 70 via a further static support 64. The static support 64 and the pair of traction rollers 60 are part of a transfer module 72. From the filling nozzle 68, the strip 4 continues in the transport direction TR to a format channel 74, in which a strand 42 is formed from the strip 4.

[0070] The strip bundle 42 formed from the strip further reaches the cutting module 76 downstream, where the strip bundle is cut into individual rod-shaped objects, for example, into individual tobacco rods 18, for example, by means of a rotating knife holder 78. The individual rod-shaped objects are further transferred downstream to the removal module 80. The removal module 80 transfers the longitudinal axial transport of the rod-shaped objects into a transverse axial transport. This is achieved, for example, by pushing in rollers, etc. The rod-shaped objects can then be conveyed to other processing devices, for example, to produce rod-shaped objects 2 from tobacco rods 18 and other components.

[0071] The entire device 40 can be constructed in a modular manner. The individual modules are each shown as a closed framed area in the figures.

[0072] The cutting module 76 or its blade carrier 78 is synchronized, for example, with the coating device 52, in particular the separation device 58 of the coating device 52, so that the separation of the strips 42 is respectively carried out in a region in which no conductive layer 8 is present on the surface 12 of the flat web 10. The synchronization can be carried out in such a way that the conductive layer 8 is formed as shown in FIG. Figure 7 and 8 It is shown in FIG. 1 within the tobacco rod 18 of the rod-shaped article 2 .

[0073] The device 40 is also designed in particular so that the coverage of the conductive layer 8 on the surface of the flat web can be variably changed. For this purpose, for example, the distance A of the coating area 16 from the side edge 14 of the flat web 10 is changed. The device 40 can include suitable sensors and / or measuring devices 82, with which, for example, the mass of the conductive layer 8 in the tobacco rod 18 is detected. If the measured mass of the conductive layer 8 is below the desired value, the distance A of the coating area 16 from the side edge 14 of the flat web 10 can be reduced and the number of coating areas 4 can therefore be increased. Conversely, the mass of the conductive layer 8 in the tobacco rod 18 can be reduced by increasing the distance A.

[0074] All mentioned features, including those which will be taken from the drawings alone, as well as individual features disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention, either alone or in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be completed by individual features or by a combination of multiple features.

[0075] Reference numerals list

[0076] 2 stick-shaped items

[0077] 4 strips

[0078] 4.1 Part 1

[0079] 4.2 Part 2

[0080] 6 Heating mandrel

[0081] 8 Conductive layer

[0082] 10 Flat webs

[0083] 12 Surface

[0084] 14 Side edge

[0085] 16 Cladding area

[0086] 18 Tobacco rods

[0087] 20 Wrapping paper

[0088] 22 Head end

[0089] 24 Spacer element

[0090] 26 Cooling element

[0091] 28 Filter

[0092] 30 Mouth end

[0093] 32 Separation device

[0094] 40 Tobacco processing equipment

[0095] 42 bundles

[0096] 44 Provide device

[0097] 46 First receiving mandrel

[0098] 48 Second receiving mandrel

[0099] 50 Flipper

[0100] 52 Coating device

[0101] 54 Conductive foil

[0102] 56 Gluing Station

[0103] 58 Splitting device

[0104] 60 First Roll

[0105] 62 Second Roller

[0106] 64 Static bracket

[0107] 66 traction roller pair

[0108] 68 Filling nozzle

[0109] 70 beam shaping device

[0110] 72 Transfer Module

[0111] 74 Format Module

[0112] 76 Cutting Module

[0113] 78 Knife holder

[0114] 80 Remove module

[0115] 82 Sensors and / or measuring devices

[0116] A Spacing

[0117] AR Axial direction

[0118] B1 Section 1

[0119] B2 Section 2

[0120] L longitudinal extension direction

[0121] TR Transmit direction.

Claims

1. A device (40) for producing a strip (42) for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a providing device (44), a separating device (32) and a strip forming device (70), wherein: The providing device (44) is configured to provide a flat web (10) made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and convey the flat web to a separating device (32) arranged downstream of the providing device (44), the separating device (32) being configured to separate the flat web (10) into a plurality of strips (4), and a strip bundle forming device (70) arranged downstream of the separating device (32) being configured to form a strip bundle (42) from a plurality of strips (4), characterized in that it comprises a coating device (52), which is configured to arrange a conductive layer (8) at least in sections on a surface (12) of the flat web (10) and connect it to the flat web (10).

2. The device (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that The coating device (52) is configured to intermittently arrange the conductive layer (8) on the surface (12) of the flat web (10) along the longitudinal extension direction (L) of the flat web (10) and connect the conductive layer to the flat web (10).

3. The device (40) according to claim 2, characterized in that The coating device (52) is configured to arrange the conductive layer (8) in a structure on the surface (12) of the flat web (10) and connect it to the flat web (10), wherein the structure is composed of a plurality of periodically arranged coating regions (16).

4. The device (40) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The coating device (52) is arranged to vary the coverage of the surface (12) of the flat web (10) by the conductive layer (8).

5. The device (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that The separation device (32) includes a first roller (60) and a second roller (62) cooperating with the first roller, wherein the corresponding shell surfaces of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) have grooves and protrusions arranged alternately in a side-by-side manner and closed in a circumferential direction along the axial direction of the corresponding rollers, and in an action area, the protrusion of the first roller (60) is embedded in the groove of the second roller (62) and the protrusion of the second roller (62) is embedded in the groove of the first roller (60), wherein the grooves and protrusions of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) do not contact each other in the action area, wherein the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) are arranged to embed into each other and overstretch the flat web (10) transversely to a predetermined separation line, so that the flat web (10) is torn along the separation line.

6. The device (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that The separation device (32) is a disc knife cutting device, which includes a first roller (60) and a second roller (62) cooperating with the first roller, wherein the corresponding shell surfaces of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) have disc knives arranged side by side and grooves arranged between adjacent disc knives alternately along the axial direction of the corresponding rollers, and in the action area, the disc knives of the first roller (60) are embedded in the grooves of the second roller (62) and the disc knives of the second roller (62) are embedded in the grooves of the first roller (60), wherein the blades of the disc knives of the first roller (60) are in contact with the blades of the disc knives of the second roller (62), respectively, so that the flat web material (10) can be divided or divided into strips (4) in a continuous shearing manner.

7. The device (40) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that The grooves of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) have a first width in a first area extending along the axial direction of the corresponding roller, and the grooves of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) have a second width in a second area extending along the axial direction of the corresponding roller, wherein the first width and the second width have different values ​​from each other, so that the separation device (32) can produce a first portion (4.1) strip (4) having at least approximately the first width and a second portion (4.2) strip (4) having approximately the second width.

8. The device (40) according to claim 1, characterized in that A pulling device is arranged directly downstream of the separation device (32).

9. The device (40) according to claim 3, characterized in that The structure consists of a plurality of coating regions (16) which are periodically arranged along the longitudinal extension direction (L) of the flat web (10).

10. The device (40) according to claim 3, characterized in that The coating region is also arranged at a distance (A) from a side edge (14) of the flat web (10).

11. The device (40) according to claim 7, characterized in that The first width is greater than the second width and the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) are configured so that a groove of the first width is present in a first section (B1) of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62), in which the coating device (52) is configured to apply a conductive layer (8) to the flat web (10).

12. The device (40) according to claim 8, characterized in that The traction device is a traction roller pair (66).

13. A method for producing a strip (42) for the tobacco processing industry using a device (40), the device comprising a providing device (44), a separating device (32) and a strip forming device (70), wherein: The providing device (44) is configured to provide a flat web (10) made of aerosol-forming tobacco material and convey the flat web to a separating device (32) arranged downstream of the providing device (44), the separating device (32) being configured to separate the flat web (10) into a plurality of strips (4), and a strip bundle forming device (70) arranged downstream of the separating device (32) being configured to form a strip bundle (42) from a plurality of strips (4), characterized in that the device (40) includes a coating device (52), which is configured to arrange a conductive layer (8) at least in sections on the surface (12) of the flat web (10) and connect it to the flat web (10).

14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The coating device (52) intermittently arranges the conductive layer (8) on the surface (12) of the flat web (10) along the longitudinal extension direction (L) of the flat web (10) and connects the conductive layer to the flat web (10).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The coating device (52) arranges the conductive layer (8) on the surface (12) of the flat web (10) in a structure composed of a plurality of periodically arranged coating regions (16) and connects the conductive layer to the flat web (10).

16. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that The coating device (52) varies the coverage of the surface (12) of the flat web (10) by the conductive layer (8).

17. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The separation device (32) includes a first roller (60) and a second roller (62) cooperating with the first roller, wherein the corresponding shell surfaces of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) have grooves and protrusions arranged alternately in a side-by-side manner and closed in a circumferential direction along the axial direction of the corresponding rollers, and in an action area, the protrusion of the first roller (60) is embedded in the groove of the second roller (62) and the protrusion of the second roller (62) is embedded in the groove of the first roller (60), wherein the grooves and protrusions of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) do not contact each other in the action area, wherein the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) are arranged to embed into each other and overstretch the flat web (10) transversely to a predetermined separation line, so that the flat web (10) is torn along the separation line.

18. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that The separation device (32) is a disc knife cutting device, which includes a first roller (60) and a second roller (62) cooperating with the first roller, wherein the corresponding shell surfaces of the first roller (60) and the second roller (62) have disc knives arranged side by side and grooves arranged between adjacent disc knives alternately along the axial direction of the corresponding rollers, and in the action area, the disc knives of the first roller (60) are embedded in the grooves of the second roller (62) and the disc knives of the second roller (62) are embedded in the grooves of the first roller (60), wherein the blades of the disc knives of the first roller (60) are in contact with the blades of the disc knives of the second roller (62), respectively, so that the flat web (10) is divided into strips (4) in a continuous shearing manner.

19. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The structure consists of a plurality of coating regions (16) which are periodically arranged along the longitudinal extension direction (L) of the flat web (10).

20. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that The coating region is also arranged at a distance (A) from a side edge (14) of the flat web (10).

21. Rod-shaped article (2) for the tobacco industry made from a tobacco industry strand (42) produced by the method according to claim 13.

Images