Device and method for producing a strip made of a multilayer flat web, and rod-shaped article

By designing a format guide unit and separation equipment in strip manufacturing equipment in the tobacco processing industry, the additives are embedded between the flat formats of tobacco materials and broken into multiple layers of longitudinal strips, the problem of difficulty in adding additives in existing equipment is solved, and the improvement of product quality and equipment efficiency is achieved.

CN119894392APending Publication Date: 2025-04-25KORBER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202380060533.6
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2022-08-19
Filing Date
2023-08-08
Publication Date
2025-04-25

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

It is difficult for existing strip manufacturing equipment in the tobacco processing industry to flexibly add additives, resulting in limited quality and efficiency of products.

Method used

An apparatus including a web guide unit and a separation device is designed to form a multi-layered flat web by embedding an additive flat web between the first and second tobacco material flat webs, and disconnecting into a plurality of multi-layered longitudinal strips in the separation device, provided as material strips to the downstream strip forming unit.

Benefits of technology

The additives are uniformly distributed in the strips, the quality of the product and the efficiency and reliability of the equipment are improved, and interference and interruptions caused by parallel processes are avoided.

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Abstract

A device (2) and a method for producing a strand (4) of the tobacco processing industry; and a rod-shaped article (16). The device (2) comprises a strip content providing unit (6) which is configured to provide a strip (8) of material for a strip forming unit (10) arranged downstream. The strand content supply unit (6) comprises a web guide unit (18) and a separating device (20), the web guide unit (18) being designed to combine the first flat tobacco material web (22), the additive flat web (26) and the second flat tobacco material web (24) together to form a common multi-layer flat web (28) and to supply the multi-layer flat web (28) to the separating device (20). The invention relates to a strip forming unit (10) for forming a material strip (8) from a plurality of flat multilayer webs (28), in which a flat additive web (26) is embedded between a first and a second flat tobacco material web (22, 24), and a separating device (20) is provided for separating the flat multilayer web (28) into a plurality of longitudinal multilayer strips (30) and feeding the plurality of longitudinal multilayer strips (30) as material strips (8) to the strip forming unit (10).
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an apparatus for producing rods for the tobacco processing industry, comprising a rod content providing unit, which is configured to provide a rod-forming unit arranged downstream with a material rod. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing rods for the tobacco processing industry using an apparatus for the tobacco processing industry, the apparatus comprising a rod content providing unit, which is configured to provide a rod-forming unit arranged downstream with a material rod. Finally, the invention relates to rod-shaped products for the tobacco processing industry. Background Art

[0002] Products of the tobacco processing industry made from the strips of the tobacco processing industry are generally known. They relate to, for example, cigarettes, cigars, tobacco rods, filters or filter sections. In addition to these traditional rod-shaped products, these products that do not require a combustion process when consumed are also considered products of the tobacco processing industry. This is, for example, so-called HNB products (HNB stands for "Heat-Not-Burn", "heating does not burn"), which are also referred to as THP products (THP stands for "Tobacco-Heated-Produkt", "tobacco heating products"). The product includes a tobacco-containing material that is heated for consumption. The aromatic components and the internal components of the tobacco are provided in an air flow determined for consumption together with the aerosol-forming substances. As a tobacco-containing material, for example, a membrane (recombination membrane) composed of a recombined tobacco material is used, which is provided with a vapor-forming substance, such as glycerol or propylene glycol. The tobacco membrane can be manufactured not only according to the paper method but also according to the slurry method.

[0003] In the THP product, aerosol-forming tobacco material is present, for example as a gathered planar structure or in the form of a plurality of strips. WO 2021 / 213845 A1 discloses a device with which a rod-shaped product can be produced, in which the aerosol-forming tobacco material is present in the form of a plurality of strips. As in conventional rod-shaped products in the tobacco processing industry, in the THP product, the tobacco material is also expected to be provided with additives. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the invention is to specify a device for the tobacco processing industry for producing rods for the tobacco processing industry, a method for producing rods for the tobacco processing industry, and a rod-shaped product for the tobacco processing industry, wherein a flexible possibility of adding additives to the rods should be achieved.

[0005] The object is achieved by an apparatus for manufacturing strips for the tobacco processing industry, the apparatus comprising a strip content providing unit, which is configured to provide material strips to a strip forming unit arranged downstream, wherein the apparatus is improved in that the strip content providing unit comprises a web guiding unit and a separation device, wherein the web guiding unit is configured to combine a first tobacco material flat web, an additive flat web and a second tobacco material flat web into a common multi-layer flat web and supply the multi-layer flat web to the separation device, wherein the additive flat web is embedded between the first and second tobacco material flat webs, wherein the separation device is configured to break the multi-layer flat web into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips and provide the plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips as material strips to the strip forming unit.

[0006] Advantageously, the material strip is provided by the device, and the material strip also includes additives in addition to tobacco material. The material strip includes a plurality of longitudinal strips, which are not only made of tobacco material but also made of additives. By embedding additives between the tobacco material flat webs and breaking the multilayer flat webs formed in this way into longitudinal strips in the separation device, the efficiency and reliability of the device can be improved. There are also a plurality of reasons for this. The reliability of the device is improved because the process that does not need to be carried out in parallel is not required. The tobacco material flat web and the additive flat web are broken into longitudinal strips in the separation device in the only common process. A plurality of cutting tools and the material webs that are cut into strips or the material strips that are made of the strips that are cut can be advantageously avoided. The material strips that are cut into strips or the material webs that are cut into strips that are arranged in parallel in some devices are more susceptible to interference than the device according to aspects of the present invention. When only in one of the material strips or the material webs that are cut, interference, for example strip fracture, occurs, it is enough to produce interference for the total process. Reducing the processes running in parallel to a single process then already leads to an improvement in the reliability of the overall process.

[0007] In addition, in many cases, it is like this, that is: the additive flat web has an additive and this additive should also be referred to as an added material below, and compared to tobacco material, the additive flat web is not so tensile or fracture-resistant. In other words, the flat web consisting of the additional material is more susceptible to potential strip fracture than the tobacco material flat web itself. Now by embedding the additive flat web between two tobacco material flat webs, it is possible to tolerate the fracture of a single strip or the fracture of multiple strips of the additive flat web without any problem. For example, the additive strip that is broken in the disconnection process of the flat web is carried by the tobacco material strip in other process steps and is conveyed with it. Advantageously, the interruption of the total process is avoided. The additive flat web has a tensile strength Rf26. The first tobacco material flat web has a tensile strength Rf22. The second tobacco material flat web has a tensile strength Rf24. Preferably, Rf26<Rf24 and / or Rf26<Rf22, in particular Rf26<0.5*Rf24 and / or Rf26<0.5*Rf22, applies. In particular, with a web width of 15 mm, Rf22 and / or Rf24 greater than 15N applies. In particular, with a web width of 15 mm, Rf26 less than 5N applies.

[0008] The arrangement of the additive flat web between two tobacco material flat webs is advantageous in addition in the splicing process of the additive flat web. When the additive flat web of output and the new additive flat web are connected to each other at the splicing position, a splicing process takes place. The splicing position inevitably weakens the material of the additive flat web. Therefore, the danger of the fracture of the strip or the fracture of the whole strip is particularly high in the region of the splicing position. As already mentioned above, the partial fracture of the strip of the additive flat web in the region of the splicing position can be tolerated. The single strip of the fracture of the additive flat web is carried in the sandwich structure by being in both sides, for example, the tobacco material flat web above and below or the strip made by it. It therefore will not be lost for continuous technology. Also the interference to the total process can be advantageously avoided. These advantages mainly appear when using following material as additive, and the tensile strength of the material causing the additive flat web is less than the tensile strength of the tobacco material flat web.

[0009] In addition, in many cases, it is so, that is: especially about the separation device, the adhesion of the additive flat web is greater than the tobacco material flat web. If the separation device and the additive flat web produce direct interaction, this will cause the sticking of the separation device so. Advantageously avoided this point, because the additive flat web is embedded between the tobacco material flat webs. Therefore, the additive flat web will not directly contact the separation device with the degree when the additive flat web itself is cut off or, for example, is in the upper side or lower side of the tobacco material flat web in a double-layer structure. This also shows the advantage of significant process technology.

[0010] According to the other advantage of the equipment of aspect of the present invention (described other advantage is more in product aspect than in process technology aspect), can be seen in the following aspects: additive flat web is in contact with the first or second tobacco material flat web on two flat sides over a large area. So feasible, tobacco material and the additive present in the additive flat web are heated and consumed jointly. The aromatic component and the included component included in the tobacco material are transformed into the air stream determined by consumption together with the additive, because tobacco material and additive are more or less always in the same temperature. The multilayer structure or the sandwich structure realized in the multilayer flat web also ensure the good contact between additive and tobacco material or the relevant flat web. By the separation process of carrying out in the separation device, slight pressure is repeatedly applied to the multilayer structure, so that tobacco material flat web and additive flat web are at least slightly connected to each other. This connection between tobacco material and additive has ensured in addition that there is evenly distributed (especially observed in the cross section) in the strip material and therefore also evenly distributed in the additive in the rod-shaped product made by the strip material. In particular, the additive flat web and / or the additive and / or the additive layer and / or the additive longitudinal strip contain glycerol and / or propylene glycol. In particular, the additive flat web and / or the additive layer contain glycerol and / or propylene glycol in a proportion of at least 30%, preferably 50% or particularly preferably at least 60%, wherein the proportion describes the ratio of the mass of glycerol and / or propylene glycol to the dry mass of the additive layer and / or the additive flat web and / or the additive longitudinal strip and is at least 0.3, preferably 0.5 or particularly preferably 0.6.

[0011] The additive flat web is provided with additives, for example, with flavoring ingredients or inclusions. This is, for example, a flavoring or menthol. As an additive, for example, propylene glycol or glycerol or a mixture of these two substances can also be provided to enhance steam generation. In addition, tobacco-saving fillers, etc. can be used as additives.

[0012] Preferably, it is provided that the first tobacco material flat web and the second tobacco material flat web are at least approximately equal in width. The width of the tobacco material flat web is measured transversely to, in particular perpendicularly to, its longitudinal direction. In order to position the first tobacco material flat web and the second tobacco material flat web edge to edge, the device particularly comprises a web edge adjusting portion. For example, not only the first web edge adjusting portion is provided for the first tobacco material flat web, but also the second web edge adjusting portion is provided for the second tobacco material flat web. The web guide unit is further particularly designed so that the web guide unit is set to be used for locating the additive flat web centrally between the first and second tobacco material flat webs. The additive flat web is then preferably positioned so that its longitudinal edge relative to the longitudinal edge of the two tobacco material flat webs---transversely to the longitudinal direction---has approximately equal intervals. Compared to the first or second tobacco material flat web, the additive flat web particularly has a smaller width.

[0013] According to another advantageous embodiment, the device is improved in that the separation device includes a first roller and a second roller cooperating with the first roller, wherein the corresponding circumferential side surfaces of the first and second rollers have grooves and projections that are arranged alternately side by side with each other in the axial direction of the corresponding rollers and are closed and circumferential in the circumferential direction, and in the action area the projection of the first roller engages in the groove of the second roller and the projection of the second roller engages in the groove of the first roller, wherein the grooves and projections of the rollers do not contact each other in the action area, and wherein the rollers are arranged such that they engage with each other and the flat web overextends transversely to a predetermined separation line so that the flat webs are split apart from each other along the separation line.

[0014] The first and second rollers do not come into contact with one another in the active region. The flat web is not separated along the separation line by the interaction of the two blades, but is torn off in a defined manner by overstretching. Advantageously, no cutting process then takes place. By the targeted and defined overstretching and subsequent tearing off of the flat web, an open structure is obtained at the tearing edge of the strip. Due to this open structure, the strip is particularly suitable for delivering additives, for example aroma components and ingredients when heated. The separation device also has very little wear due to the lack of contact between the rollers.

[0015] According to an alternative embodiment, the improvement of the device is that the separation device is a disc knife cutting device, which includes a first roller and a second roller that acts together with the first roller, wherein the corresponding circumferential sides of the first and second rollers have disc knives arranged alternately side by side with each other in the axial direction of the corresponding rollers and grooves arranged between adjacent disc knives, and in the action area, the disc knife of the first roller engages in the groove of the second roller, and the disc knife of the second roller engages in the groove of the first roller, wherein the cutting part of the disc knife of the first roller contacts the cutting part of the disc knife of the second roller respectively, so that the flat web can be broken or cut into strips according to the type of continuous shearing.

[0016] Separating devices that include not only two rollers that tear off the flat web in a defined manner, but also disc-knife cutting devices can also include intermittently implemented discs or disc knives. This means that at least one of the projections or at least one of the knives is designed in sections along the circumference so that adjacent strips are not completely separated from each other, but are connected to each other via a remaining web. For this purpose, for example, recesses are provided in the projections or the disc knives.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the improvement of the device lies in that the strip content providing unit includes a web separation unit, which is arranged upstream of the web guiding unit and is configured to cut the tobacco material flat web according to length and provide the partial webs formed in this way as a first tobacco material flat web and a second tobacco material flat web to the web guiding unit.

[0018] The web separation unit is moreover designed in particular such that the first and second partial webs have the same width. Advantageously, it is sufficient if a single flat web of tobacco material is fed to the device.

[0019] According to another advantageous embodiment, the device comprises a flat web providing unit. In the flat web providing unit, for example, a tobacco material flat web or a first tobacco material flat web and a second tobacco material flat web separated subsequently are provided. For example, a flat web is provided on a bobbin. The flat web providing unit is furthermore configured to provide an additive flat web. For example, an additive flat web can also be provided on a bobbin. The flat web providing unit furthermore comprises, for example, a bobbin switcher and a connector, which fully automatically connect the output flat web with a new flat web and supply it to the production process that is continuously performed.

[0020] According to another advantageous embodiment, the strip content providing unit includes a web folding unit, which is arranged upstream of the web guiding unit and is configured to fold the flat web in an overlapping manner according to length along a folding line which also extends in the longitudinal direction of the flat web within a folding path extending in the longitudinal direction of the flat web, so that partial areas of a single flat side of the flat web located on both sides of the folding line face each other, wherein sections of the flat web which are present on both sides of the folding line form a first tobacco material flat web and a second tobacco material flat web, and the web guiding unit is configured to position the additive flat web between the first tobacco material flat web and the second tobacco material flat web within the folding path.

[0021] In particular, it is provided in this regard that the web folding unit comprises a guide plate which forms a folding edge which is designed to bring a folding line into the flat web of tobacco material, wherein partial areas of a single flat side of the flat web which are located on both sides of the folding line are guided on opposite sides of the guide plate.

[0022] Even when the tobacco material flat web is folded together, the first tobacco material flat web and the second tobacco material flat web can be provided from a single tobacco material flat web. Compared to the embodiment of the device in which the tobacco material flat web is broken into two partial webs, the separation device that is otherwise necessary for this is omitted according to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, only corresponding guide plates that can be easily realized in terms of structure are required.

[0023] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the device for producing strips for the tobacco processing industry is improved in that the web guiding unit is implemented without web edge adjustment for the flat additive web.

[0024] Advantageously, the web edge adjusting portion for the additive flat web can be abandoned. Otherwise, the web edge adjusting portion is provided so as to avoid extremely narrow strips in the region of the edge when the flat web is broken into longitudinal strips. Because even when there is no accurate positioning, the extremely narrow edge strips that may occur of the additive flat web are carried without any problem by the strips above and below the first tobacco material flat web and the second tobacco material flat web, i.e., conveyed together in the transport process, the web edge adjusting portion can be abandoned. The thin edge strips are cut off in the sandwich layer and conveyed together by the tobacco material. Abandoning the web edge adjusting portion shows a favorable simplification of the device.

[0025] According to another advantageous embodiment, the improvement of the device for manufacturing strips for the tobacco processing industry is that a longitudinal strip detaching device, in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip detaching device, is arranged between the separation device and the strip forming unit, and the longitudinal strip detaching device is designed to at least partially detach the multi-layer longitudinal strips from their multi-layer structure.

[0026] If multilayer structures, especially sandwich structures, are not desired in the manufactured rod-shaped products, the multilayer structures can be separated before the strip is formed by means of a strip separation device. Strips can then exist randomly within the strip and multilayer structures can be avoided.

[0027] In both cases, i.e., when a resulting sandwich structure is desired for the production of the strip, and also when the resulting sandwich structure is to be present randomly by the separation device, a strip can be provided in which the additive is very evenly distributed in the cross section of the strip. This is advantageous for the quality of the rod-shaped product produced from the strip. In particular, it is avoided that strips of additive are concentrated in certain areas of the strip, which could lead to undesirable product properties.

[0028] The object is also achieved by a method for manufacturing strips for the tobacco processing industry using equipment for the tobacco processing industry, the equipment comprising a strip content providing unit, using which the material strips are provided to a strip forming unit arranged downstream, wherein the method is improved in that the strip content providing unit comprises a web guiding unit and a separation device, wherein the web guiding unit combines a first tobacco material flat web, an additive flat web and a second tobacco material flat web into a common multi-layer flat web, wherein the additive flat web is embedded between the first and second tobacco material flat webs by the web guiding unit, and wherein the web guiding unit supplies the multi-layer flat web to the separation device, wherein the separation device breaks the multi-layer flat web into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips, and the plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips are provided as material strips to the strip forming unit.

[0029] The method for producing rods for the tobacco processing industry has the same or similar advantages as those already mentioned with regard to the device for producing rods for the tobacco processing industry, so that a repeated description will not be necessary.

[0030] According to an advantageous embodiment, the method is improved in that the strip content providing unit comprises a web separation unit, which is arranged upstream of the web guiding unit, wherein the web separation unit separates the tobacco material flat web according to length so that two partial webs appear, wherein the web separation unit provides the partial webs to the web guiding unit as a first tobacco material flat web and a second tobacco material flat web.

[0031] According to an alternative embodiment, the improvement of the method for manufacturing strips for the tobacco processing industry is further characterized in that the strip content providing unit includes a web folding unit, which is arranged upstream of the web guiding unit, wherein the web folding unit folds the flat web in an overlapping manner according to length along a folding line also extending in the longitudinal direction of the flat web within a folding path extending in the longitudinal direction of the flat web, so that partial areas of a single flat side of the flat web located on both sides of the folding line face each other, wherein sections of the flat web existing on both sides of the folding line form a first tobacco material flat web and a second tobacco material flat web, and the web guiding unit positions the additive flat web between the first tobacco material flat web and the second tobacco material flat web within the folding path.

[0032] According to an advantageous embodiment, it is further provided that the web guiding unit does not carry out any web edge adjustment for the additive flat web.

[0033] Furthermore, it is provided in particular that a longitudinal strip detaching device, in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip detaching device, is arranged between the separating device and the strip forming unit, wherein the longitudinal strip detaching device detaches the multilayer longitudinal strip at least partially from its multilayer structure.

[0034] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the method is improved in that a flat web is processed as the additive flat web, which is more adhesive than the tobacco material flat web.

[0035] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a rod-shaped product for the tobacco processing industry, which is produced from a rod for the tobacco processing industry, which is produced according to a method according to one or more of the above-mentioned embodiments.

[0036] Rod-shaped products in the tobacco processing industry are in particular so-called HNB products or THP products.

[0037] The description of the embodiments according to the invention together with the claims and the appended drawings is sufficient to describe the embodiments according to the invention. Figure 1 The embodiments of the present invention can satisfy individual features or a combination of several features. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention is described below based on exemplary embodiments without limiting the overall inventive concept with reference to the drawings, wherein explicit reference is made to the drawings for all specific details according to the invention that are not explained in detail in the text.

[0039] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing an apparatus for manufacturing rods for the tobacco processing industry,

[0040] Figure 2 A simplified perspective illustration of a web separation unit of such an apparatus for producing strips for the tobacco processing industry is shown,

[0041] Figure 3 A simplified perspective view of a web folding unit of such an apparatus for producing strips for the tobacco processing industry is shown,

[0042] Figure 4 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a multi-layer flat web,

[0043] Figure 5 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a rod-shaped article produced by a method according to an embodiment,

[0044] Figure 6 shows a simplified cross-sectional view of a multi-layer flat web having separation lines for forming multi-layer longitudinal strips, and

[0045] Figure 7 A simplified cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a rod-shaped product produced by a method according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In the context of the present invention, features expressed as "particularly" or "preferably" are to be understood as optional features.

[0047] In the figures, identical or identical elements and / or components are each provided with the same reference symbols, so that they do not have to be introduced again in each case.

[0048] Figure 1A device 2 for producing a strip 4 for the tobacco processing industry is shown in a schematically simplified diagram. The device 2 comprises a strip content providing unit 6, which is configured to provide a material strip 8 to a strip forming unit 10 arranged downstream. The strip forming unit 10 comprises a format unit 12, in which the material strip 8 is formed into a strip 4 for the tobacco processing industry, which is preferably constructed as a stretched or at least partially gathered cut multi-layer flat web. Rod-shaped products 16 for the tobacco processing industry are cut to length from the strip 4 by means of a cutting device 14. The product 16 is, for example, a so-called HNB product or a THP product.

[0049] The strip material content providing unit 6 comprises a web guiding unit 18 and a separating device 20. A part or section of the strip material content providing unit 6 is regarded as the web guiding unit 18. The web guiding unit 18 is configured to combine the first tobacco material flat web 22, the additive flat web 26 and the second tobacco material flat web 24 into a common multi-layer flat web 28. Here, the additive flat web 26 is embedded between the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24. The multi-layer flat web 28 is supplied to the separating device 20. The separating device 20 is configured to break the multi-layer flat web 28 into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips 30. A plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 form a material strip, which is preferably configured as a cut multi-layer flat web 8, which is provided to the strip forming unit 10, for example, by a transport roller pair 32 and a conveying support 34, and the conveying support is particularly configured as a static support with lateral boundaries, etc. The strip 4 is thus formed in the format unit 12.

[0050] The rod content providing unit 6 comprises, in addition to the web guiding unit 18 and the separating device 20, a flat web providing unit 36, with which the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 and the additive flat web 26 are provided. For example, the flat webs 22, 24, 26 are provided on tubes. The flat web providing unit 36 ​​can also be designed so that an automatic tube change can be realized.

[0051] The first tobacco material flat web 22 passes from the tube 38 via different deflection rollers, not shown in detail, to the web guide unit 18. Likewise, the second tobacco material flat web 24 passes from the tube 38 via different deflection rollers to the web guide unit 18. In order to adjust and / or control the web tension, a dancer roller 46 can be arranged in both web guides. By way of example, a dancer roller 46 is only shown in the web guide of the second tobacco material flat web 24.

[0052] Guide the second tobacco material flat web 24 by the web edge adjusting part 40 in the web guide unit 18 by way of example. The web edge adjusting part can also be set for the first tobacco material flat web 22. The first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 can be placed precisely longitudinally edge to longitudinally edge by means of (multiple) web edge adjusting parts. In other words, the longitudinal edges of the two tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 are then placed in an adaptive manner. In addition, there can be another web edge adjusting part for the multilayer flat web 28. An additive flat web 26 is placed between the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24. The additive flat web is also unfolded from the tube 38. The web edge adjusting part can be abandoned for the additive flat web 26, which does not mean that, nevertheless and by way of example, a web edge adjusting part is set for the additive flat web 26. The web edge adjusting part is usually set to avoid narrow edge strips in the separation device 20 adjacent to the web guide unit 18. In the separating device 20, the multi-layer flat web 28 is broken into multi-layer longitudinal strips 30. If the multi-layer flat web 28 is supplied to the separating device 20 in such a way that narrow edge strips appear, these narrow edge strips may break and be lost for the production process or cause disruptions in the production process. For the additive flat web 26, it is advantageously possible to dispense with web edge adjustment, because even in the case of narrow additive strips, these narrow additive strips are also transported together with the tobacco material longitudinal strips and do not actually cause disruptions to the production process.

[0053] The multilayer flat web 28 is preferably located directly upstream of the separating device 20. For example, the flat webs 22, 24, 26 are guided together through the separating device 20. However, it is also possible to provide additional guide rollers with which the flat webs 22, 24, 26 are guided together.

[0054] The separation device 20 is, for example, a disc knife cutting device. A device can also be provided as a separation device 20, with which a flat web is broken into longitudinal strips, in which the flat web is locally and transversely to its longitudinal direction so greatly that the flat web is broken from one another in a defined manner along the separation line. Such a separation device 20 is known, for example, from DE 10 2019 125 295.4 of the applicant. The separation device 20 can also be designed in such a way that adjacent strips are connected to one another by means of webs.

[0055] Figure 2A web separation unit 42 is shown in a simplified perspective view, which can be implemented as a part of a strip content providing unit 6. A flat web 44 consisting of tobacco material is supplied to the web separation unit 42. Through different deflection rollers not shown in detail and a dancing roller 46 provided for maintaining web tension, the flat web 44 reaches a disc knife device 48, which breaks the flat web 44 into a first tobacco material flat web 22 and a second tobacco material flat web 24. The adjacent deflection rollers form a web guide unit 18, which is used to guide and finally guide the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 together. An additive flat web 26 is embedded between the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24, and the additive flat web is supplied from below by a dancing roller 46. Thus, a multi-layer flat web 28 can be provided.

[0056] The web separation unit 42 is then arranged upstream of the web guide unit 18. Starting from the disc knife device 48, the web separation unit 42 transitions into the web guide unit 18. The partial web formed by the flat web 44 downstream of the disc knife device 48 is considered from this point on to be the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24.

[0057] According to a further embodiment, the strip content providing unit 6 is designed in such a way that it comprises a web folding unit 50. Figure 3 is shown in a simplified perspective view of . The web folding unit 50 is likewise arranged upstream of the web guiding unit 18 and is designed to fold the flat web 44 along folding lines which also extend in the longitudinal direction L of the flat web 44 in lengths superimposed on one another within a folding path 52 which extends in the longitudinal direction L of the flat web 44. The flat webs 44 are folded on one another in such a way that partial areas of the individual flat sides of the flat web 44 which are situated on both sides of the folding line face one another, for example from their upper sides, in other words overlap one another. The sections of the flat web 44 which are present on both sides of the folding line now form the first and second tobacco material flat webs 22, 24. In Figure 3 The web guiding unit 18 , not shown in the drawing, is provided for placing the additive flat web 26 within the folding path 52 between the first and the second tobacco material flat web 22 , 24 .

[0058] The web folding unit 50 comprises, for example, a guide plate 54 which forms a folding edge in the flat web 44 and ensures that the flat webs are folded one on top of the other as described above. The guide plate 54 can also be used to place the additive flat web 26 between the two tobacco material flat webs 22, 24.

[0059] According to a further embodiment, a strip detaching device 56 is arranged between the separating device 20 and the strip forming unit 10 (see Figure 1 ). The strip stripping device 56 is operated in particular pneumatically and strips the multi-layer longitudinal strip 30 from its multi-layer structure. In other words, the multi-layer structure can be divided, for example by compressed air impact, so that individual longitudinal strips consisting of tobacco material and of additive flat webs are present. Such a division is realized, for example, on the conveying support 34. The conveying support preferably has lateral boundaries and / or a device for generating an air cushion for the multi-layer longitudinal strip to be conveyed.

[0060] Figure 4 A preferred embodiment of a multi-layer flat web 28 is shown in a schematically simplified cross-sectional view, which is divided into multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 by a separation device 20. The multi-layer flat web comprises a first and a second tobacco material flat web 22, 24 and an additive flat web 26 arranged therebetween. The tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 are arranged so that their outer edges 58 are aligned and overlap each other. For this purpose, corresponding web edge adjustment parts are provided. Figure 4 The width of the additive flat web 26 is preferably smaller than the width of the tobacco material flat webs 22, 24 as viewed in the cross section shown in FIG. Figure 6 2 shows a multi-layer flat web 28 and, by way of example, a separating line which is realized by a separating device 20 and which separates the multi-layer flat web 28 into multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 .

[0061] Figure 5 A rod-shaped product 16 is shown in a simplified cross-sectional view. The rod-shaped product comprises a plurality of longitudinal strips of tobacco material and some longitudinal strips of additives 60 in the cross section. The longitudinal strips of tobacco material are not shown for reasons of clarity, but it can be clearly seen that the longitudinal strips of additives 60 are evenly distributed in the cross section. The product 16 is exemplarily provided with a strip 62 of wrapping material, such as, for example, wrapping paper or the like.

[0062] Figure 7 A rod-shaped product 16 is shown in a simplified cross-sectional view. The rod-shaped product comprises a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips 30 in the cross section, the multi-layer longitudinal strips having a tobacco material longitudinal strip and an additive longitudinal strip 60. The additive longitudinal strips 60 are also evenly distributed in the cross section in this embodiment. The product 16 is exemplarily provided with a wrapping material strip 62, such as, for example, a wrapping paper or the like.

[0063] All of the features mentioned, including those that can be seen alone from the drawings and those disclosed in combination with other features, are considered essential to the invention both individually and in combination. Embodiments according to the invention can be achieved by individual features or combinations of a plurality of features.

[0064] List of reference numerals:

[0065] 2 Equipment

[0066] 4 strips

[0067] 6 Strip Contents Supply Unit

[0068] 8 Material strip, preferably in the form of a stretched or at least partially gathered cut multi-layer flat web

[0069] 10 Strip forming unit

[0070] 12 Format Units

[0071] 14 Cutting equipment

[0072] 16 Products

[0073] 18 Web guiding unit

[0074] 20 Separation equipment

[0075] 22 First tobacco material flat format

[0076] 24. Second tobacco material flat format

[0077] 26 Additive Flat Format

[0078] 28 multi-layer flat format

[0079] 30 layers of longitudinal strips

[0080] 32 transport roller pairs

[0081] 34 Delivery stent

[0082] 36 flat format supply unit

[0083] 38 Bobbin

[0084] 40 Format edge adjustment unit

[0085] 42 Frame separation unit

[0086] 44 flat format

[0087] 46 Jumping roller

[0088] 48 Disc Knife Equipment

[0089] 50-sheet folding unit

[0090] 52 Folding Path

[0091] 54 Guide plate

[0092] 56 Strip Release Device

[0093] 58 outer edge

[0094] 60 additive longitudinal strips, additive layers

[0095] 62 Coating material

[0096] L Longitudinal direction.

Claims

1. A device (2) for producing a strip (4) for the tobacco processing industry, the device comprising a strip content providing unit (6), the strip content providing unit being configured to provide a strip of material (8) to a strip forming unit (10) arranged downstream, characterized in that: The strip content providing unit (6) comprises a web guiding unit (18) and a separating device (20), wherein the web guiding unit (18) is configured to combine a first tobacco material flat web (22), an additive flat web (26) and a second tobacco material flat web (24) together into a common multi-layer flat web (28) and supply the multi-layer flat web (28) to the separating device (20), wherein the additive flat web (26) is embedded between the first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24), wherein the separating device (20) is configured to break the multi-layer flat web (28) into a plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) and supply the plurality of multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) as material strips (8) to the strip forming unit (10).

2. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The strip content providing unit (6) comprises a web separation unit (42) which is arranged upstream of the web guiding unit (18) and is configured to cut tobacco material flat webs (22, 24) in length and to provide the partial webs thus formed as first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24) to the web guiding unit (18).

3. The device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The strip content providing unit (6) includes a web folding unit (50), which is arranged upstream of the web guiding unit (18) and is configured to fold the flat web (44) in a superimposed manner along a folding line also extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the flat web (44) within a folding path (52) extending in the longitudinal direction of the flat web (44) so ​​that partial areas of a single flat side of the flat web (44) located on both sides of the folding line face each other, wherein the sections of the flat web (44) existing on both sides of the folding line form the first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24), and the web guiding unit (18) is configured to position the additive flat web (26) between the first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24) within the folding path (52).

4. The device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that The web folding unit (50) comprises a guide plate (54) which forms a folding edge which is designed to bring the folding line into the flat web (44) of tobacco material, wherein partial areas of a single flat side surface of the flat web (44) located on both sides of the folding line are guided on opposite sides of the guide plate (54).

5. The device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that The web guiding unit (18) is realized without any web edge adjustment for the additive flat web (26).

6. The device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A longitudinal strip detaching device (56), in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip detaching device (56), is arranged between the separation device (20) and the strip forming unit (10), and is designed to detach the multi-layer longitudinal strip (30) at least partially from its multi-layer structure.

7. A method for producing a rod (4) for the tobacco processing industry, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a flat web (44), preferably a first flat web (22) of tobacco material and a second flat web (24) of tobacco material, - providing a flat additive web (26) having an upper side and a lower side, - conveying the flat web (44) and the additive flat web (26) and arranging them into a multi-layer flat web (28), wherein the top and bottom sides of the additive flat web (26) are connected to the flat web (44), preferably the top side of the additive flat web (26) is connected to the first tobacco material flat web (22) and the bottom side of the additive flat web (26) is connected to the second tobacco material flat web (24), - separating the multi-layer flat web (28) into multi-layer longitudinal strips, preferably into multi-layer longitudinal strips connected to one another in sections, preferably having a width of between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, particularly preferably between 0.8 mm and 2 mm, and - Forming the multi-layer longitudinal strips (30) into strips (4).

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that The flat web (44) is cut to length so that two partial webs, namely the first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24), are formed.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The flat web (44) is folded one on top of the other in length along a folding line also extending in the longitudinal direction (L) of the flat web (44) within a folding path extending along the longitudinal direction (L) of the flat web (44), so that partial areas of a single flat side of the flat web (44) located on both sides of the folding line face each other, wherein the partial areas of the flat web (44) located on both sides of the folding line form the first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24), and the web guiding unit (18) positions the additive flat web (26) between the first and second tobacco material flat webs (22, 24) within the folding path.

10. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that The additive flat web (26) has a smaller width than the flat web (44) and / or the first tobacco material flat web (22) and / or the second tobacco material flat web (24).

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that The multi-layer longitudinal strip (30) is at least partially detached from its multi-layer structure by a longitudinal strip detaching device (56), in particular a pneumatically operated longitudinal strip detaching device (56).

12. A method for producing rods (4) for the tobacco processing industry using an apparatus (2) for the tobacco processing industry according to at least one of claims 1 to 6.

13. A rod-shaped product (16) for the tobacco processing industry, which is manufactured from a rod material (4) for the tobacco processing industry, wherein the rod material is manufactured according to the method according to any one of claims 7 to 12.

14. A rod-shaped smoking article for the tobacco processing industry, having a mouth-side end and a distal end, wherein: A filter element is arranged at the end on the mouth side, and the rod-shaped smoking article has an aerosol-forming section, which has a multilayer longitudinal strip (30), which has at least three layers, preferably has at least two tobacco-containing layers consisting of a first tobacco material flat web and / or a second tobacco material flat web, and / or preferably has an additive layer (60) consisting of an additive flat web, wherein the multilayer longitudinal strip has a width between 0.5 mm and 4 mm, wherein, particularly preferably, in the multilayer longitudinal strip, the additive layer (60) has a smaller width than one or two tobacco-containing layers.

15. The rod-shaped smoking article according to claim 14, characterized in that The aerosol-forming section has at least 4, 8, 10 or 20 multilayer longitudinal strips (30), and / or the additive layer (60) preferably has a proportion of glycerol and / or propylene glycol of at least 30%, preferably 50% or particularly preferably at least 60%, wherein the proportion describes the ratio of the mass of glycerol and / or propylene glycol to the dry mass of the additive layer (60) and is at least 0.3, preferably 0.5 or particularly preferably 0.6.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Apparatus and method for producing a rod, and rod-shaped article in the tobacco-processing industry

    WO2021213845A1