Winding machine and winding method for filling rods

Abstract

A rolling machine (6) of a filled rod (TR) shapes a flavoring material into a filler (B) during conveyance of the flavoring material along with a rolling paper (P) along a conveyance path (4) and is continuously wrapped by the rolling paper (P), the rolling machine (6) is provided with a distribution belt (8) that travels along the conveyance path (4), a shaping table (10) that has a shaping groove (14) in which the distribution belt (8) travels, the rolling paper (P) is supplied onto the distribution belt (8), travels in the shaping groove (14) along with the distribution belt (8), the filler (B) is supplied onto the rolling paper (P), is shaped into the filled rod (TR) by the distribution belt (8) that travels in the shaping groove (14) and is continuously wrapped by the rolling paper (P), the shaping table (10) has a suction chamber (32) that suctions a groove space (30) of the shaping groove (14), the distribution belt (8) is provided with a suction hole (36), and suction force from the suction chamber (32) is applied to the rolling paper (P) via the suction hole (36).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a winding machine and winding method for filling rods. Background Technology

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cigarette rolling machine. The rolling machine transports tobacco raw materials, such as tobacco shreds, along with rolling paper along a transport path. During this transport process, the rolling machine shapes the tobacco raw materials into a filler and continuously wraps it with rolling paper. The rolling machine includes: a feeding belt that travels along the transport path; and a forming table having forming grooves for the feeding belt to travel through.

[0003] The cigarette paper is fed onto a feeding belt and travels together with it in a forming trough. A filler made of tobacco raw material is fed onto the cigarette paper, and the cigarette is formed into a tobacco stick by the feeding belt traveling in the forming trough and continuously wrapped by the cigarette paper. As the filler, feeding belt, and cigarette paper travel together in the forming trough, the cigarette paper, bearing the weight of the filler, comes into contact with the feeding belt, and friction acts between the cigarette paper and the feeding belt.

[0004] By applying friction between the paper roll and the feeding belt, the paper roll can become an integral part of the feeding belt and travel in the forming groove, and the paper roll can continuously wrap the filler.

[0005] Existing technical documents

[0006] Patent documents

[0007] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-183248 Summary of the Invention

[0008] The technical problem that the invention aims to solve

[0009] A tobacco stick filled with tobacco raw materials is broadly defined as a stick filled with flavoring materials (though it may also contain no tobacco raw materials). In this case, the filling portion obtained by cutting the filling stick constitutes a non-combustion heated flavor-attracting article. A heater used in devices employing flavor-attracting articles heats the filling portion by inserting it, generating an aerosol of flavoring components. In this case, if the amount of flavoring material filling the filling portion is large relative to the size of the heater, the insertion resistance of the heater relative to the filling portion increases, making it difficult to insert the heater and deteriorating operability during inhalation. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the heater may break due to the insertion resistance.

[0010] Furthermore, if the amount of flavoring material in the filling section is greater than the size of the heater, the insertion of the heater will cause the flavoring material in the filling section to become too dense, worsening the air permeability and potentially damaging the taste. To eliminate these problems, the amount of flavoring material filling the filling rod has been reduced compared to the past. Moreover, considering the cost of flavor-attracting products, the amount of flavoring material filling has also been reduced.

[0011] Reducing the amount of flavoring material decreases the filling density of the filler, resulting in a decrease in filler hardness, or softening. This softening reduces the filler's reaction force, meaning it becomes less elastically deformable. Consequently, the adhesion between the paper roll and the feeding belt decreases as it travels through the forming tank, reducing friction between them. As a result, the feeding belt, paper roll, and filler cannot move together in the forming tank, creating a risk of clogging due to flavoring material residue and preventing the creation of the desired filler rod.

[0012] The present invention was made in view of the following problem, and aims to provide a rolling machine and method for filling rods that can produce the desired filling rods even when the amount of flavoring material is reduced.

[0013] Technical solutions for solving technical problems

[0014] A type of filler rod winding machine, in which fragrance raw material is formed into filler and continuously wrapped by roll paper while being transported along a transport path, the filler rod winding machine includes: a feeding belt that travels along the transport path; a forming table having a forming groove for the feeding belt to travel in; roll paper is fed onto the feeding belt and travels in the forming groove together with the feeding belt; filler is fed onto the roll paper and formed into a filler rod by means of the feeding belt traveling in the forming groove and being continuously wrapped by the roll paper; the forming table has a suction chamber for attracting the groove space of the forming groove; the feeding belt has suction holes through which the suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the roll paper.

[0015] One method for rolling up a filler rod involves shaping the fragrance material into a filler and continuously wrapping it with the roll of paper while transporting the fragrance material and the roll of paper together along a transport path. This method includes: a transport step in which the roll of paper is supplied onto the transport belt and the filler is supplied onto the roll of paper using a feeding belt traveling along the transport path and a forming table having a forming groove for the feeding belt to travel on; the roll of paper, the filler, and the feeding belt being transported together in the forming groove; a packaging step in which the filler is continuously wrapped by the roll of paper to form a filler rod using the feeding belt; and a suction process in which the roll of paper is subjected to suction through suction holes opened on the feeding belt by drawing in the groove space of the forming groove.

[0016] Invention Effects

[0017] Based on the aforementioned filling rod winding machine and winding method, even with a reduction in the amount of flavoring material used, it is possible to manufacture the desired filling rod. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a filler rod manufacturing machine.

[0019] Figure 2 From Figure 1 A partial sectional view of the winding machine viewed from the C-C direction.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a partial top view of the ration belt.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the method for rolling up the filler rod. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a filler rod manufacturing machine 1. The filler rod manufacturing machine 1 includes a suction belt 2. The suction belt 2 is annular, and fragrance raw materials are adsorbed in layers on the lower surface of the suction belt 2 to form a fragrance layer TL. The fragrance layer TL is conveyed along the conveying direction indicated by arrow A in the conveying path 4.

[0023] The flavoring material of filler B constituting the filler rod is, for example, shredded tobacco, a product made by shredding tobacco sheets, or a product made by folding tobacco sheets into pleats. Furthermore, the flavoring material may also be a product in which flavorings are added to sheets formed from pulp that does not contain tobacco, a product made by shredding sheets formed from non-tobacco plants, or a product made by folding these sheets into pleats.

[0024] Downstream of the suction belt 2 in the transport direction A of the transport path 4, the winding machine 6 of this embodiment is arranged. During the process of transferring the fragrance layer TL, which is made of fragrance raw material, together with the roll paper P, which is made of paper web, along the transport path 4, the winding machine 6 forms the fragrance layer TL into filler B and continuously wraps it with the roll paper P to form a filler rod TR.

[0025] The winding machine 6 includes a feed belt 8, a forming table 10, and a drive roller 12. The feed belt 8 is in a loop and is wound around the drive roller 12. As the drive roller 12 rotates, a portion of the feed belt 8 travels along the transport path 4. The forming table 10 has a forming groove 14 for the feed belt 8 to travel in. A roll of paper P is fed onto the feed belt 8 and travels together with the feed belt 8 in the forming groove 14.

[0026] Filler B is supplied to the roll paper P and continuously wrapped by the roll paper P by the feeding belt 8 traveling in the forming groove 14, forming a filler rod TR. In the winding machine 6, a guide plate 16, a clamp 18, a short retainer 20, a long retainer 22, and a heater 24 are arranged sequentially from the upstream side of the transport direction A of the transport path 4. The guide plate 16, the clamp 18, and the forming table 10 cooperate to form a compression forming unit 26 for compressing the fragrance layer TL into filler B.

[0027] The guide plate 16 detaches the fragrance layer TL from the suction belt 2 and guides it to the roll paper P. As the feed belt 8 travels, the fragrance layer TL supplied to the roll paper P passes through the clamp 18 together with the feed belt 8. The clamp 18 cooperates with the forming groove 14 of the forming table 10 to compress the fragrance layer TL into filler B. The filler B, along with the feed belt 8 and the roll paper P, passes through the short holder 20, the long holder 22, and the heater 24 via the clamp 18.

[0028] At this point, filler B is continuously wrapped by roll paper P, forming a filler rod TR. The two edges of roll paper P overlap with each other via adhesive, forming a seam at the filler rod TR. The adhesive at the seam is dried as the filler rod TR passes through heater 24. The filler rod TR, fed from the winding machine 6, is cut to a specified length by cutting unit 28. The cut filler rod TR is transported to a filter fitting unit (not shown) in a subsequent process to form the filling part of a non-combustion heated fragrance-attracting article.

[0029] Figure 2 Indicates from Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the winding machine 6 viewed along the C-C direction. In this embodiment, a suction chamber 32 is formed inside the forming table 10 of the winding machine 6 to draw in the groove space 30 of the forming groove 14. The suction chamber 32 has multiple openings along the transport path 4 in the forming groove 14. Figure 1As shown, the suction chamber 32 is connected to a plurality of suction ports 34 formed on the forming stage 10, and is connected to a suction source through each suction port 34.

[0030] Suction holes 36 are provided on the feed belt 8. The suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the roll paper P through the suction holes 36 of the feed belt 8. In addition, a cooling passage 38 is formed inside the forming table 10. The cooling passage 38 receives a circulating supply of cooling water from the outside to cool the forming table 10, especially the forming tank 14.

[0031] Figure 3 This is a partial top view of the dispensing belt 8. Multiple suction holes 36 are provided along the extending direction of the dispensing belt 8. The shape of the suction holes 36 can be circular or rectangular, and the size and formation range of a single suction hole 36 can be arranged in various patterns. Furthermore, the number of rows of suction holes 36 can be as follows... Figure 3 As shown, it can be a single column, or it can be multiple columns.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the method for rolling up the filler rod TR. When rolling up the filler rod TR begins, in step S1, as described above, a roll of paper P is supplied to the feeding belt 8, and filler B is supplied to the roll of paper P, causing the roll of paper P, filler B, and feeding belt 8 to travel together in the forming groove 14 for transport (transportation step). Furthermore, in step S2, as described above, filler B is continuously wrapped from the roll of paper P by the feeding belt 8 to form the filler rod TR (packaging step).

[0033] In the packaging step, in process P1, the paper roll P is subjected to an attractive force from the suction chamber 32 via the suction holes 36 that open in the feed belt 8 by the groove space 30 of the suction forming groove 14. In the suction process, the paper roll P is subjected to an attractive force via a plurality of suction holes 36 arranged throughout the extending direction of the feed belt 8.

[0034] Furthermore, in the packaging step, in process P2, the forming tank 14 of the forming table is cooled using cooling water circulating in the cooling passage 38 (cooling process). It should be noted that, for ease of explanation, the above-described rolling method is described in steps S1 and S2 and processes P1 and P2, but from the start to the end of rolling up the filling rod TR, steps S1 and S2 and processes P1 and P2 are performed at the same time.

[0035] As described above, in the winding machine 6 and winding method of the filling rod TR in this embodiment, the forming table 10 has a suction chamber 32, and the feeding belt 8 has a suction hole 36. Moreover, in the suction process of the packaging step, the paper roll P is subjected to an attractive force from the suction chamber 32 via the suction hole 36.

[0036] As described above, when the amount of flavoring material added is reduced compared to the past, the frictional force acting between the roll paper P and the feeding belt 8 decreases due to the softening of filler B. More specifically, if the hardness of filler B is less than 70%, it becomes difficult to manufacture the filler rod TR, thus indicating that the hardness of filler B needs to be set to 70% or more, more preferably 75% or more.

[0037] It should be noted that the hardness of filler B was measured using a measuring device (model: DD60 Adensitmeter (manufactured by Heinr. Borgwaldt GmbH)). The measuring device has a pusher that applies a load to the filler rod TR by descending a distance d. With the diameter of the filler rod TR before applying the load set as Ds and the diameter of the filler rod TR after a specified time of load application set as Dd, the descent distance of the pusher is calculated using the formula Ds - Dd, and the hardness of filler B is calculated using the formula (Dd / Ds) × 100.

[0038] If the hardness of filler B is less than 70%, the friction between the paper roll P and the feeding belt 8 decreases, making it difficult for the feeding belt 8, paper roll P, and filler B to move together. This poses a risk of clogging due to fragrance residue in the forming groove 14, preventing the desired filler rod TR from being manufactured. On the other hand, in this embodiment, even if the hardness of filler B is less than 70%, the decrease in friction between the paper roll P and the feeding belt 8 can be compensated by the suction force from the suction chamber 32.

[0039] Therefore, even when the amount of flavoring material is reduced compared to the past, the adhesion between the dispensing belt 8 and the paper roll P during travel can be improved, thus enabling the dispensing belt 8, the paper roll P, and the filler B to travel as a whole. This prevents undesirable situations such as filler B residue in the forming groove 14 causing blockage. In other words, the desired filler rod TR can be manufactured regardless of the amount and density of the flavoring material, and regardless of the hardness of the filler B.

[0040] Furthermore, multiple suction holes 36 are provided along the extending direction of the feeding belt 8. This allows for a more effective application of the suction force from the suction chamber 32 to the roll paper P. Consequently, the suction force from the suction chamber 32 can further and more effectively compensate for the aforementioned decrease in frictional force.

[0041] Furthermore, the suction chamber 32 has multiple openings along the transport path 4 in the forming groove 14. This allows for a more effective attraction force from the suction chamber 32 to be applied to the feeding belt 8 and the paper roll P across the entire area of ​​the forming groove 14 in the transport direction A. Therefore, the attraction force from the suction chamber 32 can more effectively compensate for the aforementioned decrease in frictional force.

[0042] Furthermore, the forming table 10 has a cooling passage 38 to cool the forming tank 14 during the cooling process of the packaging step. If the dispensing belt 8, traveling due to the suction force from the suction chamber 32, comes into excessive contact with the forming tank 14, frictional heat is generated in both the dispensing belt 8 and the forming tank 14. However, by circulating cooling water in the cooling passage 38 to cool the forming tank 14, high temperatures due to frictional heat can be prevented in both the dispensing belt 8 and the forming tank 14. Therefore, deformation of the filler rod TR due to high temperatures can be prevented, ensuring the quality of the filler rod TR.

[0043] This concludes the description of the embodiments. However, the embodiments described above are not limited and various modifications can be made without departing from the main idea. For example, the forming table 10 has a cooling passage 38 inside, but in practice, the cooling passage 38 may not be indispensable. Specifically, if the frictional force of the feed belt 8 relative to the forming groove 14 is reduced by controlling the suction pressure of the suction source, the generation of frictional heat in the forming groove 14 can be suppressed, and the feed belt can travel smoothly in the forming groove 14. Therefore, the desired filling rod TR can be manufactured even without cooling the forming groove 14.

[0044] Furthermore, as long as the suction process can apply an attractive force to the roll paper P through the suction holes 36 of the feeding belt 8, methods other than forming a suction chamber 32 in the forming table 10 can be used. Similarly, as long as the cooling process can cool the forming tank 14, methods other than forming a cooling passage 38 in the forming table 10 can be used.

[0045] Furthermore, the above embodiments are not limited to the winding machine 6 and winding method of the filling rod TR used in non-combustion heating type fragrance attracting articles, but can also be applied to the winding machine 6 and winding method of the filling rod TR used in combustion type fragrance attracting articles.

[0046] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0047] 4: Conveying path; 6: Roller; 8: Feeding belt; 10: Forming table; 14: Forming groove; 30: Groove space; 32: Suction chamber; 36: Suction hole; 38: Cooling passage; B: Filler; P: Roll paper; TR: Filler rod.

Claims

1. A filling rod winding machine, wherein, during the conveying of a fragrance ingredient along a roll of paper along a conveying path, the fragrance ingredient is shaped into a filling material and continuously wrapped by the roll of paper, wherein, have: A ration belt that travels along the transport path; A forming table having a forming groove for the feeding belt to travel in; The roll of paper is fed onto the feed belt and travels together with the feed belt in the forming groove. The filler is supplied onto the roll of paper and formed into the filler rod by means of the feeding belt traveling in the forming groove and being continuously wrapped by the roll of paper. The forming stage has a suction chamber that draws in the groove space of the forming groove. The feeding belt has suction holes, through which the suction chamber exerts an attractive force on the roll of paper.

2. The rewinding machine for the filling rod according to claim 1, Multiple suction holes are provided along the extension direction of the feeding belt.

3. The rewinding machine for the filling rod according to claim 1, Multiple suction chambers are provided in the forming groove along the transport path.

4. The rewinding machine for the filling rod according to claim 1, The forming stage has a cooling passage for cooling the forming tank.

5. A method for rolling up a filler rod, wherein, during the transport of a fragrance ingredient together with a roll of paper along a transport path, the fragrance ingredient is shaped into a filler and continuously wrapped by the roll of paper, wherein, Include: The conveying step uses a feed belt traveling along the conveying path and a forming table having a forming groove for the feed belt to travel on, to feed the roll of paper onto the feed belt and to feed the filler onto the roll of paper, so that the roll of paper, the filler and the feed belt travel together in the forming groove for conveying. The packaging step involves using the feeding belt to continuously wrap the filler from the roll of paper to form the filler rod; In the packaging step, a suction process is performed to apply attractive force to the roll of paper by drawing in the groove space of the forming groove through suction holes opened on the feeding belt.

6. The method for winding up the filler rod according to claim 5, In the suction process, an attractive force is applied to the roll of paper via a plurality of suction holes arranged in the extending direction of the feeding belt.

7. The method for winding up the filler rod according to claim 5, In the packaging step, a cooling process is performed to cool the forming tank.

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