Folding device for folding strands of filler material provided in continuous rods for the tobacco industry

Abstract

The folding device (4, 4', 4'', 4'', 4'''') for folding a filler material thin body (3) provided in a continuous rod (CR) for the tobacco industry comprises an inner folding member (20, 20', 20'', 20''') having a first folding surface (22) and an outer folding member (21, 21', 21'', 21''') having a second folding surface (23). The first folding surface (22) is arranged radially around an axis (k) of the inner folding member (20, 20', 20'', 20''') adapted to fold the filler material thin body (3), and the second folding surface (23) is arranged radially around an axis (m) of the outer folding member (21, 21', 21'', 21''') adapted to fold the filler material thin body (3). The inner folding members (20, 20', 20'', 20''') are arranged inside the outer folding members (21, 21', 21'', 21'''), and the first folding surfaces (22) arranged radially around the axis (k) of the inner folding members (20, 20', 20'', 20''') are disposed between the second folding surfaces (23) arranged radially around the axis (m) of the outer folding members (21, 21', 21'', 21''').

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a folding device for folding filler material strands arranged in a continuous rod for the tobacco industry.

[0002] The present invention is used in the tobacco industry to manufacture paper filters. [Background technology]

[0003] In the tobacco industry, a commonly used method for manufacturing cigarette filters involves forming a continuous rod filled with a filtration material and cutting the rod into individual rods, which are then ultimately cut into individual mouthpieces or segments for use in the manufacture of multi-layer filters. The filler material used in the manufacture of continuous rods is typically a fibrous material. For many years, paper and acetate fibers have been commonly used, and the filler material is usually in strand form. The problem manufacturers of such rods must solve is obtaining a cylindrical rod shape. Shape errors are easily visible at the ends of the rods, which should be circular. The end shapes can be oval, and the ends are often irregular, which is due to the uneven placement of the filler material within the rod, i.e., random bending of the material when feeding the filler material before forming the continuous rod. The problem of obtaining a circular cross section is much greater when an object is placed within a continuous rod. Single objects, such as aroma capsules or tubes, are commonly used. Continuous objects, such as fibers impregnated with aroma substances, are also commonly used. Achieving uniform folding and compression of the material is particularly difficult when objects are inserted transverse to the direction of movement of the filter material strand. For each inserted object, uniform distribution of filler material around and / or between the objects must be achieved. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to properly prepare the sheet prior to object insertion.

[0004] The prior art is known for devices that fold a paper web before compression in a continuous rod manufacturing process. An example of such a solution is shown in U.S. Patent No. 5,627,493. U.S. Patent No. 5,627,493 discloses a device for processing a continuous web, including a crimping structure used to manufacture rod-shaped products such as smoking product filter elements. The device includes a first roller and a second roller. The first roller and the second roller each have a plurality of circumferential cams. The first roller and the second roller are further arranged such that the circumferential cams of the first roller and the circumferential cams of the second roller are interconnected. After the continuous sheet having the crimped structure is transported between the first roller and the second roller, the continuous sheet having the crimped structure has overlapping crimped structures, maintaining continuity, and a corrugated structure extending in the longitudinal direction of the web.

[0005] Devices for maintaining separation between individual crimped paper webs are also known, as shown in, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,949,949. The body of the guide unit has a funnel-like shape. Separating members are arranged within the ring in converging channels, with at least one separating member arranged along the guide unit, designed to separate at least two webs. The upper separating member extends from the inlet to the outlet of the compression unit and has the shape of an elongated plate with converging edges. The lower separating member has a similar shape to the upper separating member, i.e., elongated converging edges.

[0006] Patent Document 3 discloses a method for pleating a sheet of material. The apparatus includes a conveying device that conveys the sheet of material along a conveying direction and a set of crimping rollers. The set includes a first main pressure roller, a second main pressure roller, and a pre-crimping roller. The first main pressure roller and the second main pressure roller define first and second rotation axes, respectively, facing each other, one in front of the other. The first roller has a first plurality of ridges across a portion of its width, and the second roller has a second plurality of ridges across a portion of its width. The pre-crimping roller has a third plurality of ridges across a portion of its width and has a diameter smaller than the diameters of the first main crimping roller and the second main crimping roller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 105745069 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 3918929 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 00-000000 US 2020 / 337362 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0008] The object of the present invention is to develop a device for folding filler material used in the tobacco industry. The device allows for the filling of continuous rods being produced and rods cut from the continuous rod to obtain a substantially circular cross section. This is possible not only when the continuous rod being produced is filled only with filler material, but also when individual objects are placed within the continuous rod and individual rods, such as spherical objects like capsules or elongated objects like tubes. Obtaining a continuous rod with a circular cross section is also expected when continuous objects, such as tubes, thin rods, threads, or other continuous objects, are placed inside the rod. Furthermore, when various objects are placed within the continuous rod, it is expected that the objects will be placed at the center of the continuous rod. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The subject of the present invention is a folding device for folding strips of filler material arranged in continuous rods for the tobacco industry, comprising an inner folding member with a first folding surface arranged radially about the axis of the inner folding member, the first folding surface being adapted to impart corrugations to the strips of filler material, and an outer folding member with a second folding surface arranged radially about the axis of the outer folding member, the second folding surface being adapted to impart corrugations to the strips of filler material, the first folding surface arranged radially about the axis of the inner folding member being arranged between the second folding surfaces arranged radially about the axis of the outer folding member.

[0010] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the first folding surface is arranged to converge on the axis of the inner folding member from the entrance to the exit of the folding device, and the second folding surface is arranged to converge on the axis of the outer folding member from the entrance to the exit of the folding device, the axis of the inner folding member being coaxial with the axis of the outer folding member.

[0011] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the first bending surface is arranged to converge on the axis of the inner bending member from the entrance to the exit of the bending device, and the second bending surface is arranged to converge on the axis of the outer bending member from the entrance to the exit of the bending device, the axis of the inner bending member being arranged not to be coaxial with the axis of the outer bending member.

[0012] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the distance of the first folding surface from the axis of the inner folding member in the direction from the inlet to the outlet increases, reaches a maximum height and then decreases.

[0013] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the convergence angle that the second folding surface makes with the axis of the outer folding member decreases in the direction from the inlet to the outlet.

[0014] The device according to the invention may further be characterized in that the first folding surface is uniformly arranged around the axis of the inner folding member and / or the second folding surface is uniformly arranged around the axis of the outer folding member.

[0015] The device according to the invention may further be characterized in that the first folding surface is non-uniformly arranged around the axis of the inner folding member and / or the second folding surface is non-uniformly arranged around the axis of the outer folding member.

[0016] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the first and second folding surfaces are arranged alternately with one another over at least a portion of the distance from the inlet to the outlet of the folding device.

[0017] The device according to the invention may further be characterized in that the inner folding member comprises a first rib and the first folding surface is a raised portion of the first rib, and / or the outer folding member comprises a second rib and the second folding surface is a raised portion of the second rib.

[0018] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the thickness of the first rib and / or the thickness of the second rib vary in a direction perpendicular and / or parallel to the axis of the inner folding member and / or the axis of the outer folding member, respectively.

[0019] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that the inner folding member has an inner restraining surface that is at least partially conical in shape, and / or the outer folding member has an outer restraining surface that is at least partially conical in shape.

[0020] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that it comprises a guide member for guiding the web of filler material in an adjustable position transversely to the axis of the inner folding member or the axis of the outer folding member.

[0021] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that said guide member takes the form of a rotating member having a horizontal axis of rotation, the axial cross section of the surface of said rotating member having an arcuate or substantially elliptical shape.

[0022] The device according to the invention is further characterized in that it further comprises a separating member provided above the axis of the inner folding member from the inlet to the outlet of the folding device.

[0023] The present invention also provides an apparatus for producing rods for the tobacco industry, comprising a supply section for supplying the filler material, a device for folding the filler material according to any one of the above-mentioned variants, a device for supplying packaging material, a forming section for forming the continuous rod, and a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into the plurality of rods.

[0024] An advantage of this apparatus is that it allows for controlled folding of a single paper web while compressing the web within the folding apparatus. Further advantages of the present invention include uniform folding of the filler material and uniform density of the filler material within the produced rod, whether the rod contains an object or not. The apparatus is adaptable for folding filler material not only for continuous objects having a substantially circular cross section, but also for objects having generally any cross-sectional shape, including oval, irregular, polygonal, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] The object of the invention is illustrated in more detail in the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0026] [Figure 1a] 1 shows a rod manufacturing machine with no objects inside. [Figure 1b] 1 shows a machine for manufacturing rods with individual objects inside. [Figure 1c] 1 shows a machine for manufacturing rods with elongated objects inside. [Figure 2a] 1a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1a showing the folding device. [Figure 2b] FIG. 1b is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1b, showing the folding device. [Figure 3a] 3 shows an inner folding member of the first embodiment as viewed from the outlet side of the folding device. FIG. [Figure 3b] 3b shows a cross-sectional view of the inner folding member of FIG. 3a. [Figure 3c] 10 shows the components of the inner folding member of the second embodiment. [Figure 4a] 3 shows an outer bending member of the first embodiment as viewed from the inlet side of the bending device. FIG. [Figure 4b] 4b shows an axial cross section of the outer folding member of FIG. 4a. [Figure 4c] 10 shows the components of the outer folding member of the second embodiment. [Figure 5]3a and 4a show a first embodiment of a folding device including an inner folding member and an outer folding member, respectively; [Figure 6] 3c shows a second embodiment of a folding device including an inner folding member of FIG. 3c and an outer folding member of FIG. 4c. [Figure 7] 11 shows an inner folding member of the third embodiment as viewed from the outlet side of the folding device. [Figure 8] 10 shows an outer bending member of the third embodiment as viewed from the inlet side of the bending device. [Figure 9] 10 shows a bending device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 shows a bending device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11a] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod manufacturing machine including a bending device with fixed guide members. [Figure 11b] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod manufacturing machine including a bending device with fixed guide members. [Figure 12a] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod manufacturing machine including a bending device with a rotary guide member. [Figure 12b] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod manufacturing machine including a bending device with a rotary guide member. [Figure 12c] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod manufacturing machine including a bending device with a rotary guide member. [Figure 13a] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod making machine including a fourth embodiment of a folding device for folding a web of material around a continuous element. [Figure 13b] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a rod making machine including a fourth embodiment of a folding device for folding a web of material around a continuous element. [Figure 14] 10 shows a bending device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 shows a bending device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 shows a bending device according to a seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The machine 1 shown in FIG. 1a for producing rods R from a continuous filler material 3 includes a supply section 2 for supplying a thin strip of filler material 3, a folding device 4 for folding the thin strip of filler material 3, a forming section 5 for forming a continuous rod CR, and a cutting head 6 for cutting the continuous tobacco industry rod CR into individual rods R. The machine 1 shown in FIG. 1a is adapted to produce rods filled with filler material 3 but without any objects inside. FIG. 1b shows a machine similar to the machine in FIG. 1a, adapted to produce rods R with individual objects such as capsules or tubes inside. FIG. 1c shows a machine similar to the machine in FIG. 1a, adapted to produce rods R with elongated objects inside, the length of which is the length of the rod R cut from a continuous object.

[0028] The delivery section 2 includes a payout section 7 in which a bobbin 8 of a thin sheet of filler material 3 is disposed, and a tensioning section 9 for maintaining a constant tension on the filler material 3. The forming section 5 includes a portable adjusting rod 10, an adhesive device 11, and a wrapping section 12. A corrugation forming section 13 may be disposed between the supply section 2 and the folding device 4 for corrugating the thin sheet of material 3 or for cutting the thin sheet of material 3 longitudinally. The filler material 3 is a material selected from paper, acetate, or any other fibrous material. The wrapping material 14 is supplied from a supply section 15 and is typically in the form of a paper tape unwound from a bobbin.

[0029] The web of material 3 is unwound from a bobbin 8, passes through a tensioning section 9, and is fed to a folding device 4 where the filler material 3 is folded and compressed. The web of filler material 3 may be further corrugated or cut in a corrugation section 13 before being fed to the folding device 4. The folding of the filler material 3 is performed by inner and outer folding surfaces of the folding members, as described below. The folded and compressed web of material 3 is formed into a cylindrical shape and wrapped in a wrapping material 14 to form a continuous rod CR, to which the wrapping material is adhered with adhesive from an adhesive device 11. The continuous rod CR is cut into individual rods R by a cutting head 6. The produced rods R are used in the production of tobacco industry products, such as cut into segments for individual mouthpieces or multi-layer filters.

[0030] A folding device 4 for folding a sheet of filler material 3 is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2a and comprises an inner folding member 20 and an outer folding member 21. The inner folding member 20, shown in dotted lines, is arranged inside the outer folding member 21. The filler material moves in the direction T. The inlet of the folding device 4 is indicated by 40 and the outlet by 41. The folding device shown in Fig. 2b is part of the machine of Fig. 1b adapted to produce rods with individual objects. In the embodiment shown, an inserter 35 is arranged downstream of the folding device 4 for inserting capsules into the formed continuous rod CR. The inserter may comprise, for example, an inserting wheel 44 (Fig. 11a) or another inserting member.

[0031] The first embodiment of the inner folding member 20 (FIGS. 3a and 3b) has a first folding surface 22 arranged around the axis k of the inner folding member 20. In the embodiment of the folding device 4 shown, the inner folding member 20 is provided with first ribs 24, and the first folding surface 22 is a raised portion of the first rib 24. The first folding surface 22 is arranged radially with respect to the axis k, and the first folding surface 22 is arranged circularly around the inner restraining surface 26. This means that the folding surfaces are arranged on radii extending substantially radially from the axis k of the inner folding member 20 at angular intervals on the restraining surface 26, and the inner restraining surface 26 is at least partially conical. The inner restraining surface 26 may be in the form of a conical segment, may be partially conical, may include a flat segment, or may have a surface with an irregular or regular curvature. FIG. 3c shows an inner bending member 20′ having a first bending surface 22 similar to that of FIG. 3b, but with a profiled bar 28, which is shaped like the raised portion of the first rib 24. The bar 28 is fixed to rings 29 and 30. The outer bending member 21, shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b in a first embodiment, has a second bending surface 23 arranged around the axis m of the outer bending member 21, which is radially arranged relative to the axis m. The outer bending member 21 has a second rib 25, which is a raised portion of the second rib 25. The second bending surface 23 is arranged in a circular shape inside the outer restraining surface 27, which may be partially conical. The outer restraining surface 27 may be in the form of a conical segment, a partially conical segment, or may include a flat segment or a surface with an irregular or regular curvature. Figure 4c shows an outer folding member 21' having a second folding surface 23 similar to that of Figure 4b, but with a profiled bar 31 which is shaped similarly to the raised portion of the second rib 25. The bar 31 is fixed to rings 32 and 33.

[0032] The first embodiment of the folding device 4 shown in FIG. 5 includes the inner folding member 20 shown in FIG. 3a and the outer folding member 21 shown in FIG. 4a. The inner folding member 20 and the outer folding member 21 are arranged such that the axis k of the inner folding member 20 and the axis m of the outer folding member 21 coincide with each other. The first folding surface 22 is disposed between the second folding surfaces 23, and the second folding surface 23 is disposed between the first folding surfaces 22. The first folding surface 22 and the second folding surface 23 are arranged in a circular pattern around the axes k and m, respectively. In this embodiment, both the first folding surface 22 and the second folding surface 23 are uniformly disposed around the converging axes k and m. The axes k and m can also be arranged at a small angle or non-coaxially parallel. FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the folding device 4'. The folding device 4' includes the inner folding member 20' shown in FIG. 3c and the outer folding member 21' shown in FIG. 4c. The first and second bending surfaces 22, 23 are arranged in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and are alternately arranged over at least a portion of the distance from the entrance 40 to the exit 41 of the folding device 4, 4′.

[0033] First folding surface 22, second folding surface 23, inner restraining surface 26, and outer restraining surface 27 form folding channel 34. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the sheet of filler material 3 moves within folding channel 34 and is uniformly folded. The folding of filler material 3 in Figure 5 and other figures is shown in a simplified manner. The non-coaxiality or non-parallelism of axes k and m of folding members 20 and 21 can be used to non-uniformly fold the sheet of filler material 3 or to controllably vary the degree of compression of the material about axes k and m.

[0034] The inner and outer folding members 20 and 21, generally shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, are arranged such that the inlet side 20A (FIG. 3b) of the inner folding member 20 is located at the inlet side 40 (FIG. 2) of the folding device 4. The inlet side 21A (FIG. 4b) of the outer folding member 21 is also located at the inlet side 40 of the folding device 4. The outlet sides 20B and 21B of the inner and outer folding members 20 and 21 are located at the outlet side 41 of the folding device 4. The first folding surface 22 is arranged to converge along the axis k of the inner folding member from the inlet 40 to the outlet 41 of the folding device 4. The second folding surface 23 is arranged to converge along the axis m of the outer folding member 21 from the inlet 40 to the outlet 41 of the folding device 4, i.e., along the direction of travel T of the thin body of filler material 3. The height h1 of the first rib 24, measured from the inner restraining surface 26, can be variable. The height h1 of the first rib 24 decreases from the entrance 40 to the exit 41 of the bending device 4, and the first rib 24 is rounded on the entrance 40 side. The distance d from the axis k to a point on the first bending surface 22 varies, starting at d1 at the entrance 40, increasing from d1 to d2, then decreasing from d2 to d3, and finally decreasing to d4 at the exit 41. The height h2 of the second rib 25, measured from the outer restraint surface 27, can be variable. The height h2 of the second rib 25 varies from the entrance 40 to the exit 41, initially increasing and then decreasing, and the second rib 25 is rounded on the entrance 40 side. Increasing the rib height allows the filler material 3 to form a greater corrugation, and the resulting bending results in a substantially circular cross-section of the continuous rod CR. Similarly, increasing the number of ribs also allows the filler material to bend more significantly, resulting in a substantially circular cross-section of the continuous rod CR.

[0035] The web of filler material 3 is fed into the folding apparatus 4 in a flat form and is reformed in the folding channel 34 from the flat configuration to a substantially circular configuration about axes k, m, as shown in Figure 5. The web of filler material 3 is disposed between a first folding surface 22 and a second folding surface 23. The inner folding surface 22 is uniformly disposed about axis k, and the outer folding surface 23 is uniformly disposed about axis m, in this case about the same axis.

[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the inner folding member 20″ includes first ribs 24′ that are unevenly distributed around the axis k. The thickness g of the first ribs 24 varies in the direction of movement T of the filler material 3, i.e., in a direction substantially parallel to the axis k. The thickness g on the inlet 40 side is greater than the thickness g′ on the outlet 41 side. Furthermore, the thickness g of the first ribs 24 also varies in a direction transverse to the direction of movement T of the filler material 3, i.e., in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis k. The thickness g″ at the inner restraining surface 26 (see FIG. 9) is greater than the thickness g at the raised portion of the rib 24. FIG. 8 shows an outer folding member 21″ including second ribs 25 that have a variable thickness f. The thickness f of the second rib 25 varies in the direction of movement T of the filler material 3, i.e., in a direction substantially parallel to the axis m. The thickness f on the inlet 40 side is greater than the thickness f″ on the outlet 41 side. Furthermore, the thickness f of the second rib 25 also varies in a direction transverse to the direction of movement T of the filler material 3, i.e., in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis m. The thickness f at the outer restraint surface 27 is greater than the thickness f' on the axis m side. The first ribs 24 are unevenly arranged around the axis k. The second ribs 25 are also unevenly arranged around the axis m. The arrangement of the second ribs 25 of the outer bending member 21'' is aligned with the arrangement of the first ribs 24 of the inner bending member 20'' in FIG. 7. The inner bending member 20'' and the outer bending member 21'' are arranged together so that the axes k and m coincide in FIG. 9, and are arranged together so that the axes k and m are not coaxial in FIG. 10. The axis k of the inner bending member 20'' is located above the axis m of the outer bending member 21''. This arrangement of the inner bending member 20'' and the outer bending member 21'' increases the folding of the filler material 3, thereby achieving higher compression at the top of the folding channel 34. If the axis k of the inner folding member 20'' is located below the axis m of the outer folding member 21'', a higher compression is achieved at the bottom of the folding channel 34. By adjusting the position of the inner folding member 20'' relative to the outer folding member 21'', the degree of compression of the filler material 3 in the continuous rod CR to be produced can be gradually changed. A uniformly adjusted folding of the filler material 3 allows a central position of the object inside the continuous rod CR to be obtained.

[0037] In FIG. 11a, a cross section along the axis r of the forming channel 42 shows the separating element 43, also shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The separating element 43 is positioned above or in contact with the axis k of the inner folding element 20, so as to extend into the forming channel 42 from the inlet 40. The separating element 43 has the form of a tapered plate, i.e., its width at the inlet 40 is close to the radius of the outer restraining surface 27, and then decreases toward the outlet 41 and the forming channel 42. Further along the direction of travel T of the thin body of material 3, the separating element 43 reaches an insertion wheel 44 for inserting, for example, capsules 45 into the thin body of filler material 3. The separating element 43 separates the ends 3A and 3B of the thin body of filler material 3 both in the folding device 4 and in the forming channel 42. The use of the separating element 43 facilitates the insertion of capsules 45 by separating the ends 3A and 3B.

[0038] The folding device 4 may include a guide member along which the filler material 3 is conveyed before being delivered for folding. FIGS. 11a and 11b show an arcuate non-rotating guide member 46. The non-rotating guide member 46 has an adjustable position and is adapted to change its position laterally relative to the axis k of the inner folding member 20 or the axis m of the outer folding member 21. The non-rotating guide member 46 is attached to a guide member bracket 47, allowing for adjustment in the adjustment direction S of the guide member 46, i.e., laterally relative to the axis k or m of the folding members 20, 21. FIGS. 12a and 12b show a rotary guide member 48 having a rotation axis p, with a surface 48A of the rotary guide member 48 having an arcuate or generally elliptical cross section. The rotary guide member 48 is also adjustable in the adjustment direction S. Varying the position of the non-rotating guides 46 or the rotating guides 48 changes the degree of compression of the filler material 3 within the continuous rod CR, with downward movement of the guides 46, 48 increasing compression in the lower areas of the folding device, i.e., in the region of the ends 3A, 3B. In the embodiment of Figure 12a, an insertion wheel 49 is shown for placing tubes 50 within the continuous rod CR. As with the capsules 45, the separating members 43 facilitate the insertion of the tubes 50 between the fibers of the filler material 3.

[0039] The folding device 4" shown in Figure 13a is part of the machine shown in Figure 1c and is adapted to produce a rod R comprising an elongated object. In the embodiment shown, a feeder 36 is located upstream of the folding device 4, which feeds a continuous object 50 into the continuous rod CR being formed. The continuous object 50 may have a cross-section that is circular, elliptical, polygonal, multi-armed, or any other cross-sectional shape. In the embodiment shown, the continuous object 50 is in the form of a tube. Figure 13b shows an embodiment of the folding device 4" adapted to fold the filler material 3 around a continuous object 50 that is fed through the center by an inner folding member 20". The continuous object 50 is fed through an opening 51 in the inner folding member 20". The folding device 4" can also be adapted to any other cross-sectional shape of the continuous object 50.

[0040] FIG. 14 shows an embodiment in which the first rib 24′ and the second rib 25′ have an increased height on the inlet 40 side compared to the first rib 24 and the second rib 25 of the previous embodiment. The first folding surface 22 and the second folding surface 23 are formed in any of the above-described manners. The first rib 24′ may have slidable legs 53 and is adapted to change its position in accordance with the direction U about the axis k. The second rib 25′ may have slidable legs 54 and is adapted to change its position in accordance with the direction U about the axis m. Changing the position of the first folding surface 22 and / or the second folding surface 23 around the axis k of the inner folding member 20 or the axis m of the outer folding member 21 can be used in any of the above-described embodiments. Therefore, the folding channels 34 can be formed in various and arbitrary ways to adapt the folding of the filler material to manufacturing requirements.

[0041] 15 shows an embodiment in which the folding device comprises a single first folding surface 22 and two second folding surfaces 23, the first folding surface 22 being arranged between the two second folding surfaces 23. An embodiment in which a single second folding surface 23 is arranged between the two first folding surfaces 22 is also possible.

[0042] FIG. 16 shows a folding device 4'''' that includes an inner folding member 20''' and an outer folding member 21'''. The first folding surface 22 of the inner folding member 20''' and the second folding surface 23 of the outer folding member 21''' are arranged so that the width of the folding channel 34 varies within a small range or is substantially constant. The positions of the first folding surface 22 and the second folding surface 23, and therefore the folding channel 34, may be variable. The position of the first folding surface 22 is defined by the distance e from the axis k. The distance e from the axis k at the bottom of the folding device 4'''' is greater than the distance e' at the top. In the embodiment shown, the distance e of successive inner folding surfaces 22 gradually decreases to e'. The distance e may be constant for all first folding surfaces 22. The position of the second folding surface 23 is defined by the distance c from the axis m. The distance c from the axis m at the bottom of the folding device 4''' is greater than the distance c' at the top. In the embodiment shown, the distance c of successive inner folding surfaces 23 gradually decreases to c'. The distance c may also be constant for all second folding surfaces 23. The folding device 4'''' can be used for filling materials 3 with low strength. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1. Rod manufacturing machine 2. Transmission section 3 Filling material 3A, 3B End of thin body of filling material 4, 4', 4'', 4'''', 4'''' folding device 5 Formation part 6 cutting heads 7. Feeding section 8. Thin material bobbin 9 Pulling part 10 Form adjustment section 11 Gluing device 12 Packaging Department 13 Crimp section 14 Packaging materials 15 Supply section 20, 20', 20'', 20'' Inner bending member 20A Inlet side of inner bending member 20B Outlet side of inner bending member 21, 21', 21'', 21''' Outer bending member 21A Inlet side of outer bending member 21B Outer bending member exit side 22 First bending surface 23 Second bending surface 24, 24' 1st rib 25, 25' 2nd rib 26 Inner restraint surface 27 Outer restraint surface 28 Profile Bar 29, 30 Fixing ring 31 Profile Bar 32, 33 Fixing ring 34 Folding Channel 35 Insertion section 36 Supply section 40 Entrance of bending device 41 Exit of folding device 42 Formation Channel 43 Separation member 44 Object / Capsule Insertion Wheel 45 Insertion object, capsule 46 Non-rotating guide member 47 Guide member bracket 48 Rotation guide member 49 Tube Insert Wheel 50 Insertion continuous object, tube 51 Opening of inner folding member 20'' 53 Leg of first rib 24' 54 Leg of second rib 25' d Distance from axis k of the first bending surface e Distance from axis k of the first bending surface c Distance from axis m of the second bending surface h1 Height of first rib h2 Height of second rib g Thickness of the first rib on the inlet side g' Thickness of the first rib on the outlet side g'' Thickness of the first rib on the inner restraint surface f Thickness of the second rib f' Thickness of the second rib on the inlet side f'' Thickness of the second rib on the outlet side k Axis of inner bending member m Axis of outer bending member p Horizontal rotation axis of the rotation guide member r axis of the forming channel S Guide member adjustment direction T Filling material movement direction U-rib movement direction CR Continuous Rod R Rod

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for folding a web of filler material provided in a continuous tobacco rod, comprising: an inner folding member having a first folding surface; an outer folding member having a second folding surface; the first folding surface is radially disposed about an axis of the inner folding member adapted to fold the web of filler material, and the second folding surface is radially disposed about an axis of the outer folding member adapted to fold the web of filler material; the inner folding member is disposed within the outer folding member; and the first folding surfaces disposed radially about the axis of the inner folding member are disposed between the second folding surfaces disposed radially about the axis of the outer folding member; An apparatus characterized in that

2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bending surface is configured to converge on the axis of the inner bending member from the entrance to the exit of the bending apparatus, and the second bending surface is configured to converge on the axis of the outer bending member from the entrance to the exit of the bending apparatus, the axis of the inner bending member being coaxial with the axis of the outer bending member.

3. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bending surface is configured to converge on the axis of the inner bending member from the entrance to the exit of the bending apparatus, and the second bending surface is configured to converge on the axis of the outer bending member from the entrance to the exit of the bending apparatus, and the axis of the inner bending member is arranged not to be coaxial with the axis of the outer bending member.

4. 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distance of the first folding surface from the axis of the inner folding member in the direction from the inlet to the outlet increases, reaches a maximum height, and then decreases.

5. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the convergence angle that the second folding surface makes with the axis of the outer folding member decreases in the direction from the inlet to the outlet.

6. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first folding surface is uniformly arranged around the axis of the inner folding member and / or the second folding surface is uniformly arranged around the axis of the outer folding member.

7. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first folding surface is non-uniformly disposed about the axis of the inner folding member and / or the second folding surface is non-uniformly disposed about the axis of the outer folding member.

8. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second folding surfaces are arranged alternately over at least a portion of the distance from the entrance to the exit of the folding apparatus.

9. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner folding member comprises a first rib and the first folding surface is a raised portion of the first rib, and / or the outer folding member comprises a second rib and the second folding surface is a raised portion of the second rib.

10. 10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the thickness of the first rib and / or the thickness of the second rib vary in a direction perpendicular and / or parallel to the axis of the inner folding member and / or the axis of the outer folding member, respectively.

11. 11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the inner folding member has an inner restraining surface that is at least partially conical in shape, and / or the outer folding member has an outer restraining surface that is at least partially conical in shape.

12. 12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member for guiding the thin body of filling material in an adjustable position transversely to the axis of the inner folding member or the axis of the outer folding member.

13. 12. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the guide member takes the form of a rotating member having a horizontal axis of rotation, the axial cross section of the surface of the rotating member having an arcuate or substantially elliptical shape.

14. 14. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 13, further comprising a separating member disposed above the axis of the inner folding member from the inlet to the outlet of the folding apparatus.

15. 15. An apparatus for producing a plurality of rods for the tobacco industry, comprising: a supply section for supplying the filler material; a device for folding the filler material according to any one of claims 1 to 14; a device for supplying wrapping material; a forming section for forming the continuous rod; and a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into the plurality of rods.

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