Apparatus and method for cutting rods for smoking articles

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for cutting rods for smoking articles. [Solution] The apparatus for cutting a rod for smoking articles comprises a support configured to house a rod for smoking articles, a rotating blade (20) configured to engage with the rod for smoking articles housed on the support and cut it into pieces, and a scraper (28) mounted near the rotating blade (20) for contacting and cleaning the rotating blade (20), and further comprises a magnet (30) mounted in close proximity to the rotating blade and interacting with metal particles present on the rotating blade and / or within the rod for smoking articles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for cutting a rod for a smoking article.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles referred to herein include both conventional cigarettes and aerosol-generating articles. In a smoking article, a sensory medium is burned or heated to provide flavor to a user.

[0003] A conventional combustible cigarette is a narrow cylinder that contains a combustible material, typically a mixture of tobacco cut filler, etc., that is rolled into paper for smoking. The cigarette is lit at one end, burned without producing flames, and the resulting smoke is inhaled through the opposite end. A filter may be provided attached to the rolled combustible material.

[0004] An aerosol-generating article or heat-not-burn product includes an aerosol-generating substrate that is heated rather than burned. The aerosol-generating substrate is, for example, a tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based cast sheet, or a biodegradable fibrous material. Typically, in such heated aerosol-generating articles, the aerosol is generated by heat transfer to the aerosol-generating substrate or material physically separated from the heat source, and this aerosol-generating substrate or material may be in contact with the heat source, within the heat source, around the heat source, or downstream of the heat source. During use of the aerosol-generating article, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-generating substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in the air drawn through the aerosol-generating article. The released compounds condense as they cool to form an aerosol.

[0005] In a typical manufacturing process for conventional cigarettes, a continuous rod of tobacco rolled in paper may be cut transversely into fragments, and each fragment may be joined to a filter segment to create a final cigarette. Alternatively, two of the aforementioned fragments may be joined to a filter of twice the length, and the resulting semi-finished product rod may be cut in two to produce two single cigarettes.

[0006] In a typical manufacturing process for aerosol-generating articles, aerosol-generating substrates, in the form of sheets or foils, are assembled into a continuous rod, which is then cut into aerosol-generating plugs. These aerosol-generating plugs are components of the aerosol-generating article. For example, the continuous rod is cut transversely into individual rods, and the individual rods are cut transversely into plugs, which are then combined with other components such as filters to create the final aerosol-generating article.

[0007] Filters and other components for both conventional cigarettes and aerosol-generating articles may also be manufactured by forming a rod and cutting the rod into fragments or plugs. All of the rods described above are intended as rods for smoking articles.

[0008] The aforementioned cutting of rods for smoking articles, carried out through a rotating blade, is known in the art.

[0009] For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,090,602 discloses a rotating drum-shaped article feed conveyor, which is driven to rotate counterclockwise and whose periphery is formed by round grooves parallel to pairs of coaxially filtered cigarettes. The conveyor structures a cutting conveyor for a filtered cigarette manufacturing machine. The conveyor receives filtered cigarettes at twice the unit length and transports these cigarettes past a rotating disc-shaped knife that cuts each cigarette midway between its ends so that the cigarette yields two unit lengths of coaxially filtered cigarettes.

[0010] Document European Patent No. EP3216355 discloses a cutting head for cutting rod-shaped fragments in a machine for manufacturing smoker's articles such as filters or cigarette fragments. The cutting head comprises a circular blade adapted to cut rod-shaped articles conveyed in a suction groove of a drum. A scraping disc is provided for mechanically removing residue from the blade.

[0011] U.S. Patent No. 3,460,418 discloses a disc cutter used in the manufacture of cigarettes and cigarette filters. The cleaning device is made of flexible steel and includes a cleaner blade that is movable between a neutral position and a cleaning position, and is not in contact with the disc cutter. [Overview of the project]

[0012] In this technical field, it is desirable to have apparatus and methods for cutting rods for smoking articles that improve the quality of the cut rods and the resulting smoking articles.

[0013] It would be desirable to have an apparatus and method for cutting rods for smoking articles that prevents the blade from becoming contaminated, and therefore prevents the cut rod from becoming contaminated and / or damaged.

[0014] In fact, the rotating blade can become contaminated by the material of the rod. Some of the material may remain on the rotating blade, not only compromising the quality of the cutting in progress but also potentially contaminating the rod. This problem is even more pronounced if the rod contains glycerin and / or flavorings, which increase the viscosity and viscosity of the material.

[0015] It is desirable to have an apparatus and method for cutting rods for smoking articles that avoids rapid wear of the rotating blade and preserves the effectiveness of the cutting for a long period of time.

[0016] Furthermore, it would be desirable to have a device and method for cutting rods for smoking articles that requires less maintenance and therefore reduces associated costs and the costs of manufacturing smoking articles.

[0017] In fact, if the rotating blade is not cleaned from the material it has stuck to, the effectiveness of the cut may be impaired, and the rotating blade may be susceptible to damage, which can impair the operation of the cutting device and necessitate maintenance and / or replacement of the rotating blade.

[0018] This disclosure relates to an apparatus for cutting rods for smoking articles. The apparatus comprises a support configured to house rods for smoking articles, and a rotating blade configured to engage with the rods for smoking articles housed on the support and to cut them into rod pieces. The apparatus further comprises a scraper mounted near the rotating blade, for example, to contact and clean the rotating blade.

[0019] The disclosure also relates to a method for cutting a rod for a smoking article. The method includes housing a rod for a smoking article on a support and engaging a rotating blade with the rod for the smoking article housed on the support to cut the aforementioned rod for the smoking article into rod pieces. The method further includes cleaning the aforementioned rotating blade by bringing a scraper into contact with the rotating blade.

[0020] A method for cutting a rod for smoking articles may be carried out through an apparatus for cutting a rod for smoking articles, and / or the apparatus for cutting a rod for smoking articles may be configured to carry out a method for cutting a rod for smoking articles.

[0021] The inventors have found that the disclosed apparatus and / or method allows for the efficient keeping of the rotating blade clean while cutting rods and manufacturing smoking articles. In fact, the scraper removes any residue that may be on the blade and could compromise the quality of the cut.

[0022] The inventors also found that the disclosed apparatus and / or method improves the quality of the cut rods and the resulting smoking articles, and allows the effectiveness of the cutting to be maintained for a longer period of time. Thus, the disclosed apparatus and / or method allows for / reduction of maintenance operations, associated costs, and the cost of manufacturing smoking articles.

[0023] Preferably, the rotating blade is disc-shaped. The disc-shaped rotating blade rotates about a central axis of rotation and is provided with a circumferential cutting edge. Preferably, the rotating blade is positioned in a plane, and the said plane is transverse to the rod for the smoking article housed on the support. In some other embodiments, the rotating blade may include at least one cutting portion mounted on the rotating support.

[0024] According to some embodiments, a scraper may be configured to contact and clean the rotating blade while the rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod for the smoking article into rod pieces. The inventors have found that continuous cleaning performed while the blade is cutting allows for the removal of particles and dirt as soon as they settle on the blade.

[0025] The scraper may be made of a metal such as brass, a polymer material, or a fibrous material such as felt. In some embodiments, the scraper may include a brush having bristles that contact the rotating blade, and the bristles of the brush may be made of a metal, such as brass, or a polymer material or a fibrous material such as felt. In other embodiments, the scraper may include a foil having an edge that contacts the rotating blade, and the foil may be made of a metal, such as brass, or a polymer material or a fibrous material such as felt.

[0026] Brass has been proven to be non-aggressive to blades (it does not lead to blade wear). Polymer and fiber materials should be of a type that does not lead to any wear on the blade.

[0027] The pressure applied to the blade by the scraper may be adjusted depending on the type of material the rod is made of.

[0028] The apparatus may also be equipped with a nozzle that is in fluid communication with a gas, optionally air, source, and the nozzle may point toward the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade is rotating, targeting a jet of gas toward the rotating blade. According to the method, a jet of gas, optionally air, may be targeted toward the rotating blade, while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod. Optionally, the jet of gas targets an area of ​​the rotating blade away from the rod for the smoking article under cutting.

[0029] In some embodiments, the gas conditioner is configured to control the temperature of the gas from the gas supply source. The temperature of the gas from the gas supply source may be controlled to keep the temperature of the rotating blade within a temperature range.

[0030] The rotating blade is placed in a plane, and the nozzle may be arranged such that the gas jet is inclined at an angle of 20° to 70°, optionally 45°, and is reported to the aforementioned plane.

[0031] The inventors have found that the inclination of the gas jet helps to remove the residues and break their clusters, and also to pulverize the aforementioned residues into small particles and avoid their diffusion.

[0032] The inventors have found that the cooling caused by the gas jet reduces the heat of the rotating blade caused by cutting, and thus limits the wear of the blade.

[0033] The inventors have also found that the combined action of the scraper and the gas jet significantly improves the cleaning effectiveness.

[0034] The inventors have found that the direct effect of the scraper significantly improves the action of the nozzle, and vice versa, achieving a combined result that cannot be achieved by the scraper or the nozzle when they are used separately. In fact, the cooling also reduces the viscosity of the residues on the blade, and thus makes their removal by the scraper much more effective without excessively increasing the pressure applied to the blade by the scraper. Reducing the pressure that needs to be applied by the scraper not only reduces the wear of the blade (and any coating, for example in a DLC coating), but also improves the working life of the scraper. The temperature and viscosity of the residues should not be lowered too much to avoid hardening of the residues.

[0035] Preferably, the gas temperature may be controlled to 2° to 15°C, optionally to 5° to 15°C. The temperature range may be 10°C to 35°C, optionally to 10°C to 20°C. The gas pressure may be controlled to 2 bar to 10 bar, optionally to 4 bar to 6 bar.

[0036] On the other hand, by removing the residue layer on the blade, the scraper allows the cooling gas jet to come into direct contact with the metal of the blade, thus improving the cooling of the blade.

[0037] Preferably, the scraper and nozzle function in a rotating blade portion that is separated from the support and from the rod to be cut in order to prevent damage to the rod.

[0038] In some embodiments, the scraper and nozzle operate on different parts of the rotating blade. The rotating blade has a rotation axis, and the scraper and nozzle may be fixed around the rotation axis. For example, the scraper and nozzle are angularly evenly spaced around the rotation axis.

[0039] The apparatus may also include a magnet positioned near the rotating blade, such as one that interacts with the metal particles located on and / or within the rod. The magnet may be a permanent magnet made of neodymium or an electromagnet, for example. The method may also include the following steps: generating a magnetic field that interacts with the metal particles located on and / or within the rod, so that the aforementioned metal particles move away from the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod.

[0040] The inventors found that the magnets could remove any metal particles and limit contamination of the rods and machinery.

[0041] These metallic particles may be present in the residue / film on the blade or as particles circulating in the air. The magnetic effect is particularly effective when the same rod for smoking articles includes metal components such as susceptor elements for heated non-combustible products, which are heated through induction heating that generates the aforementioned metallic particles when cut by the blade.

[0042] The inventors also found that the combined action of a magnet and a scraper and / or a gas jet significantly improves cleaning effectiveness.

[0043] The inventors found that the direct effect of the magnet significantly improves the action of the scraper and / or nozzle, and vice versa, achieving combined results that cannot be achieved by the magnet, scraper, or nozzle alone when they are used separately.

[0044] In fact, the gas jet pressure helps to break up clusters of residue, making the metal particles trapped in these clusters accessible to magnetic forces. The gas jet also drives metal particles that are in the air for cutting away from the blade.

[0045] Removing metal particles from the blade assists the cooling action performed by the gas jet, as these metal particles can be heated during the cutting process and contribute to the heating of the blade.

[0046] Furthermore, removing metal particles from the residue creates pores within the residue and non-adhering areas, making the residue more brittle and thus easier to wash away with a scraper.

[0047] The scraper removes the residue, including any metal particles that have adhered to the inside, or at least diffuses the residue into a thinner film state where the metal particles are more easily extracted by magnetic force.

[0048] Furthermore, removing metal particles, which are the hardest components of the residue, reduces damage to the scraper and improves its lifespan.

[0049] The inventors also found that the disclosed apparatus and / or method improves the quality of the cut rod provided with the susceptor element and the resulting smoking article having the susceptor element, and allows the effectiveness of the cut to be maintained for a longer period of time.

[0050] Thus, the susceptor element inside the rod is not deformed / damaged by cutting, and when consumed, the heating of the final smoking item is not altered by undesirable modifications to the shape of the susceptor element due to cutting. In fact, damaging the susceptor element during cutting can create not only inefficiency and waste of the sensory medium, but also a lack of consistency in the consumables.

[0051] In some embodiments, the magnet, scraper, and nozzle are positioned around the axis of rotation. The magnet, scraper, and nozzle may be evenly spaced angularly around the axis of rotation. Preferably, with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotating blade around the axis of rotation, the nozzle is positioned such that the gas jet strikes the rotating blade immediately downstream of the rod under cutting, the magnet is positioned downstream of the nozzle, and the scraper is positioned downstream of the magnet. While the rotating blade rotates, the aforementioned rotating blade continuously encounters the rod under cutting, the gas jet, the magnetic field, and the scraper.

[0052] The apparatus may also include a housing that partitions the accumulation chamber, encloses the scraper, and partially encloses the rotating blade. The housing may have an opening facing a support, and a portion of the rotating blade may protrude from the opening and engage with a rod housed on the support. In other words, the rotating blade may be partially enclosed within the housing or protrude from the opening of the housing.

[0053] The inventors found that the housing prevents cutting debris and particles removed from the blade from scattering and contaminating other parts of the equipment.

[0054] If the magnet is part of the device, the aforementioned magnet may be fixed inside the housing.

[0055] If the nozzle is part of the device, the aforementioned nozzle may be positioned outside the housing. Optionally, the nozzle points towards the opening of the housing. The gas jet may be outside the housing, or it may point towards the opening of the housing.

[0056] In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a suction port and a suction device that is in fluid communication with the suction port. The suction port may be housed within the housing, i.e., within the accumulation chamber. The method may include vacuuming to remove the debris from the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade is rotating and cutting the rod.

[0057] The inventors also found that the suction port not only removes cutting debris and particles from the blade and collects them within the housing, but also allows external dust and debris generated by cutting to be drawn into the accumulation chamber. The dust and debris may be driven towards the opening of the housing, within the housing, and then through the suction port. The dust and debris are captured into the accumulation chamber where they will be discarded.

[0058] The jet of gas from the nozzle may help drive dust and debris toward the aforementioned opening. If the dust and debris contain metallic particles, the magnet may help push or pull the aforementioned metallic particles within the housing and then through the suction port.

[0059] Due to the controlled temperature of the gas jet, the storage chamber may also be at 2°C to 15°C, or optionally 5°C to 15°C.

[0060] The rotating blade has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and in some embodiments, the scraper comprises a first scraper that contacts the first surface and a second scraper that contacts the second surface. The nozzle may also comprise a first nozzle that targets the first surface and a second nozzle that targets the second surface. The magnet may also comprise a first magnet that faces the first surface and a second magnet that faces the second surface. In this way, complete cleaning of both surfaces of the blade is ensured.

[0061] The support may include a conveyor for the rods for smoking articles. The edge of the rotating blade is close to the conveyor to cut the rods for smoking articles when they are carried under the rotating blade by the conveyor.

[0062] In some embodiments, the rod for smoking articles is a continuous rod for smoking articles. The conveyor may include an elongated track that accommodates and moves forward the continuous rod for smoking articles. The continuous rod is moved by the conveyor along a direction that coincides with the longitudinal extension of the continuous rod described above.

[0063] In some other embodiments, the rods for the smoking articles are individual rods. The conveyor may have seats, and the seats are configured to accommodate multiple individual rods for the smoking articles. The conveyor may have a rotating drum, and the seats are located on the peripheral portion of the rotating drum. The seats and the rods within the seats may be parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating drum. The edges of the rotating blades may be close to the peripheral portion of the rotating drum in order to cut the rods for the smoking articles when they are carried under the rotating blades by the rotating drum.

[0064] In some embodiments, the device comprises multiple rotating blades. The rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may be positioned adjacent to each other. The rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may be mounted on a common rotating shaft. The rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may be positioned at different circumferential positions around a rotating drum. Optionally, the rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may all be partially enclosed and share the same housing.

[0065] A rod for smoking articles may have an additional section for a sensory medium or smoking article wrapped in a wrapper.

[0066] In some embodiments, the sensory medium includes tobacco. For example, the sensory medium includes cut-filler tobacco. The sensory medium may also include at least one flavoring agent.

[0067] In some other embodiments, the sensory medium comprises an aerosol-generating substrate, optionally a sheet of the aerosol-generating substrate, optionally assembled. The sheet of the aerosol-generating substrate may be a reconstituted tobacco sheet, or a tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based cast sheet, or a biodegradable fibrous material. The sheet of the aerosol-generating substrate may be made from a mixture comprising fibers, a binder, and at least one aerosol-forming agent. The at least one aerosol-forming agent may contain a polyhydric alcohol. The polyhydric alcohol may be triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, or glycerin, or propylene glycol. In some embodiments, examples of aerosol-forming agents include monohydric alcohols, optionally menthol; or esters of polyhydric alcohols, optionally glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate; or aliphatic esters of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, or polycarboxylic acids, optionally dimethyl dodecanediate, dimethyl tetradecanediate, or triethyl citrate.

[0068] The amount of aerosol-forming agent in the sensory medium may be 10 percent to 80 percent by dry weight, optionally 15 percent to 60 percent, optionally about 20 percent, or optionally about 50 percent.

[0069] In some embodiments, the rod for the smoking article comprises a susceptor element connected to a sensory medium, and the smoking article is an aerosol-generating article or a non-combustible product that is heated.

[0070] The susceptor element may be embedded in the sensory medium. The susceptor element may extend along the rod for the smoking article. The susceptor element may be a rod, optionally a flat rod, or a strip, and may have an optionally rectangular cross-section. The susceptor element may be located in the center of the rod (i.e., along the central longitudinal axis of the rod). The susceptor element may be cut by a rotating blade while cutting the rod for the smoking article.

[0071] The inventors have found that the disclosed apparatus and method for cutting rods for smoking articles is particularly effective when the aforementioned rods for smoking articles are for heated non-combustible products and include a susceptor element. In fact, the sensory media for heated non-combustible products use high concentrations of aerosol-forming agents and flavorings, such as glycerin, which increase the viscosity and viscosity of the aerosol-forming substrate. High viscosity and viscosity contribute to the fouling of the rotating blades of the apparatus for cutting rods for smoking articles.

[0072] Furthermore, since the susceptor element must also be cut by the rotating blade, several other problems arise: the increased friction resulting from the cutting of the susceptor element heats the rotating blade and increases blade wear; the shavings from the susceptor element generate metal particles and metal dust that contaminate the rod and machine; and the heated rotating blade increases the amount and viscosity of films such as glycerin and flavoring agents, which remain on the blade and make it even more difficult to remove the deposits from the blade.

[0073] The inventors have found that the action of the scraper in the device, and more efficiently, the combined action of the scraper with the nozzle and / or magnet and / or suction, allows the rotating blade to be kept clean, improve the quality of the cut rod and the resulting smoked articles, avoid rapid wear of the rotating blade, and maintain cutting effectiveness, even when the rod for smoking articles is a non-heating, non-combustible product and contains a susceptor element.

[0074] A rod for smoking articles may comprise smoking articles of multiple lengths that can be cut to obtain a single smoking article. The smoking articles of multiple lengths may comprise at least one sensory media section and at least one additional section. The smoking articles of multiple lengths may be cut in the sensory media section or in the additional section.

[0075] This disclosure also relates to equipment for manufacturing smoking articles. Equipment for manufacturing smoking articles may include devices for cutting rods for smoking articles.

[0076] An apparatus for cutting rods for smoking articles may comprise a support configured to house rods for smoking articles, and a rotating blade configured to engage with the rods for smoking articles housed on the support and to cut them into rod pieces. The apparatus may further comprise a scraper mounted near the rotating blade, for example, to contact and clean the rotating blade.

[0077] Preferably, the rotating blade is disc-shaped. The disc-shaped rotating blade rotates about a central axis of rotation and is provided with a circumferential cutting edge. Preferably, the rotating blade is positioned in a plane, and the said plane is transverse to the rod for the smoking article housed on the support. In some other embodiments, the rotating blade may include at least one cutting portion mounted on the rotating support.

[0078] According to some embodiments, the scraper may be configured to contact and clean the rotating blade while the rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod for the smoking article into rod pieces.

[0079] The scraper may be made of a metal such as brass, a polymer material, or a fibrous material such as felt.

[0080] In some embodiments, the scraper may comprise a brush having bristles that contact the rotating blade, and the bristles of the brush may be made of metal, such as brass, or a polymer or fibrous material such as felt. In other embodiments, the scraper may comprise a foil having an edge that contacts the rotating blade, and the foil may be made of metal, such as brass, or a polymer or fibrous material such as felt.

[0081] The apparatus may also be equipped with nozzles that are in fluid communication with a gas, or optionally, air, source, and the nozzles may be pointed toward the rotating blades while the aforementioned rotating blades are rotating, targeting the jet of gas toward the rotating blades.

[0082] In some embodiments, the gas conditioner is configured to control the temperature of the gas from the gas supply source.

[0083] The rotating blade is positioned in a plane, and the nozzle may be positioned so that the gas jet is inclined at an angle of 20° to 70°, and optionally 45°, and reported to the aforementioned plane.

[0084] Preferably, the gas temperature may be controlled to 2° to 15°C, and optionally to 5° to 15°C. The gas pressure may be controlled to 2 bar to 10 bar, and optionally to 4 bar to 6 bar.

[0085] Preferably, the scraper and nozzle function in a rotating blade portion that is separated from the support and from the rod to be cut in order to prevent damage to the rod.

[0086] In some embodiments, the scraper and nozzle operate on different parts of the rotating blade. The rotating blade has a rotation axis, and the scraper and nozzle may be fixed around the rotation axis. For example, the scraper and nozzle are angularly evenly spaced around the rotation axis.

[0087] The apparatus may also include magnets positioned near the rotating blades, such as those that interact with metal particles located on and / or within the rods. The magnets may be permanent magnets, for example, permanent magnets made of neodymium, or electromagnets.

[0088] In some embodiments, the magnet, scraper, and nozzle are positioned around the axis of rotation. The magnet, scraper, and nozzle may be evenly spaced angularly around the axis of rotation. Preferably, with respect to the rotation direction of the rotating blade about the axis of rotation, the nozzle is positioned such that the jet of gas strikes the rotating blade immediately downstream of the rod under cutting, the magnet is positioned downstream of the gas jet, and the scraper is positioned downstream of the magnet.

[0089] The apparatus may also include a housing that partitions the accumulation chamber, encloses the scraper, and partially encloses the rotating blade. The housing may have an opening facing a support, and a portion of the rotating blade may protrude from the opening and engage with a rod housed on the support.

[0090] If the magnet is part of the device, the aforementioned magnet may be fixed inside the housing.

[0091] If the nozzle is part of the device, the aforementioned nozzle may be positioned outside the housing. Optionally, the nozzle points towards the opening of the housing.

[0092] In some embodiments, the device includes a suction port and a suction device that communicates fluidly with the suction port. The suction port may be housed within the housing.

[0093] The rotating blade has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and in some embodiments, the scraper comprises a first scraper that contacts the first surface and a second scraper that contacts the second surface. The nozzle may also comprise a first nozzle that targets the first surface and a second nozzle that targets the second surface. The magnet may also comprise a first magnet that faces the first surface and a second magnet that faces the second surface.

[0094] The support may include a conveyor for the rods for smoking articles. The edge of the rotating blade is close to the conveyor to cut the rods for smoking articles when they are carried under the rotating blade by the conveyor.

[0095] The conveyor may have a long, narrow track that accommodates a continuous rod of smoking articles and moves forward.

[0096] The conveyor may have seats, which are configured to accommodate multiple individual rods for smoking articles. The conveyor may also have a rotating drum, and the seats are located on the periphery of the rotating drum. The seats and the rods within the seats may be parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating drum. The edges of the rotating blades may be close to the periphery of the rotating drum in order to cut the rods for smoking articles when they are carried under the rotating blades by the rotating drum.

[0097] In some embodiments, the device comprises multiple rotating blades. The rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may be positioned adjacent to each other. The rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may be mounted on a common rotating shaft. The rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may be positioned at different circumferential positions around a rotating drum. Optionally, the rotating blades of the multiple rotating blades may all be partially enclosed and share the same housing.

[0098] The equipment for manufacturing smoking articles may include equipment for manufacturing a plurality of sensory media sections, equipment for manufacturing a plurality of additional sections, and a combiner machine configured to manufacture a plurality of smoking articles by axially connecting the additional sections and the sensory media sections.

[0099] The apparatus for cutting rods for smoking articles may be part of equipment for producing multiple sensory media sections and / or equipment for producing multiple additional sections and / or part of a combiner machine.

[0100] This disclosure also relates to a process for manufacturing smoking articles. The process for manufacturing smoking articles may include a method for cutting rods for smoking articles.

[0101] A method for cutting a rod for a smoking article includes: housing the rod for a smoking article on a support; and engaging a rotating blade with the rod for a smoking article housed on the support to cut the aforementioned rod for a smoking article into rod pieces. The method further includes cleaning the aforementioned rotating blade by bringing a scraper into contact with it.

[0102] A scraper may be used to clean the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade is rotating and cutting the rod for the smoking article into rod pieces.

[0103] The pressure applied to the blade by the scraper may be adjusted depending on the type of material the rod is made of.

[0104] A jet of gas, or optionally air, may be targeted against the rotating blade, while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod. Optionally, the jet of gas targets an area of ​​the rotating blade away from the rod for the smoking object under cutting.

[0105] The temperature of the gas from the gas supply source may be controlled to keep the temperature of the rotating blades within a temperature range. The temperature range may be 10°C to 35°C, or optionally 10°C to 20°C.

[0106] The method may also include the following steps: generating a magnetic field that interacts with metal particles located on and / or within the rod, so that the aforementioned metal particles move away from the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod.

[0107] While the rotating blade is rotating, it may continuously encounter the rod, gas jet, magnetic field, and scraper beneath it.

[0108] The rotating blade may be partially enclosed within the housing or may protrude from an opening in the housing. The gas jet may be outside the housing or may point towards the opening in the housing. The gas jet may be in the direction of cutting.

[0109] The method may include vacuuming the debris away from the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade is rotating and cutting the rod.

[0110] A process for manufacturing a smoking article may include the following steps: a step of manufacturing multiple sensory media sections; a step of manufacturing multiple additional sections; and a step of manufacturing multiple smoking articles by combining the additional sections and the sensory media sections.

[0111] The steps of creating multiple sensory media sections, and / or creating multiple additional sections, and / or combining additional sections with sensory media sections may include a method for cutting a rod for smoking articles.

[0112] In some embodiments, creating multiple sensory media sections involves connecting susceptor elements to sensory media.

[0113] In some embodiments, the creation of multiple sensory media sections includes creating a sheet of aerosol generating substrate, connecting susceptor elements in the form of a continuous band to the sheet of aerosol generating substrate, assembling the sheet of aerosol generating substrate together with the susceptor elements to form a continuous rod, winding the continuous rod within a wrapper, and cutting the continuous rod into the form of multiple sensory media sections.

[0114] In some embodiments, the process may also include cutting the sensory media section into shorter sections which are combined with additional sections, and cutting the sensory media section into shorter sections is performed through a method for cutting rods for smoking articles.

[0115] This disclosure also relates to smoking articles produced through processes for manufacturing the smoking articles disclosed above and / or through equipment for manufacturing the smoking articles disclosed above. The aforementioned smoking articles may be combustible cigarettes or aerosol-generating articles.

[0116] As used herein, smoking articles are intended to include both conventional combustible cigarettes and similar products in which a sensory medium, typically a sensory medium section containing tobacco, is ignited and burned, and heated non-combustible products in which aerosol-generating substrate is heated rather than burned.

[0117] As used herein, the sensory medium is the portion of a smoking article that produces smoke (through combustion in conventional cigarettes) or an aerosol (through heating in heated non-combustible products) and provides flavor to the user.

[0118] As used herein, a rod for a smoking article is a semi-finished product of the process for making a smoking article. The rod may comprise at least one sensory media section and / or at least one additional section.

[0119] As used herein, an additional section is any section other than a sensory media section configured to provide a structural function to a smoking article and / or to add or remove further substances (filter), to dilute the smoke or aerosol with air, to change the temperature of the smoke or aerosol, or otherwise to modify the properties of the smoke or aerosol. An additional section may comprise one or more elements.

[0120] As used herein, a susceptor element is an element made of a material (e.g., metal or ceramic) used for its ability to absorb electromagnetic energy and convert it into heat. Susceptor elements are employed in heated non-combustible products that are heated by heating the susceptor material through a heating device equipped with an electromagnetic generator. When a heated non-combustible product having a susceptor element is inserted into the heating device, the heating device generates an alternating magnetic field that creates eddy currents on the susceptor. These eddy currents heat the susceptor by the Joule effect.

[0121] The present invention is defined in the claims. However, a non-exclusive list of non-limiting embodiments is provided below. One or more features of these embodiments may be combined with one or more features of any of the features described above, for example, one or more features of other embodiments, forms, or aspects described herein.

[0122] EX1. Apparatus for cutting rods for smoking articles, A support configured to house a rod for smoking articles, A rotating blade configured to engage with a rod for smoking articles housed on a support and to cut the rod into rod pieces, An apparatus comprising a scraper mounted near a rotating blade for purposes such as contacting and cleaning the rotating blade.

[0123] EX2. An apparatus according to EX1, wherein the rotating blade is disc-shaped, and otherwise comprises at least one cutting section mounted on a rotating support.

[0124] EX3. Apparatus according to EX1 or EX2, wherein a scraper is configured to contact and clean the rotating blade while the rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod for smoking articles into rod pieces.

[0125] EX4. Apparatus according to any of EX1-EX3, wherein the scraper is made of metal, such as brass, or a polymer material, or a fibrous material such as felt.

[0126] EX5. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX4, wherein the scraper comprises a brush having bristles that contact a rotating blade, or a foil having an edge that contacts a rotating blade.

[0127] EX6. Apparatus according to EX5, wherein the bristles or foil of the brush are made of metal, such as brass, or polymer material, or fibrous material such as felt.

[0128] EX7. A device according to any of EX1 to EX6, comprising a nozzle that communicates with a gas source and fluid, wherein the nozzle points toward a rotating blade and targets a jet of gas toward the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates.

[0129] EX8. A device using EX7, where the gas is air.

[0130] EX9. An apparatus according to EX7 or EX8, comprising a gas conditioner configured to control the temperature of gas from a gas source.

[0131] EX10. An apparatus according to any of EX7 to EX9, in which a rotating blade is placed in a plane, and a nozzle, a jet of gas, is positioned so as to be inclined at an angle of 20° to 70°, and optionally 45°, and reported to the aforementioned plane.

[0132] EX11. Apparatus according to any of EX7-EX10, wherein the scraper and nozzle operate on a portion of a rotating blade separated from the support and from the rod being cut.

[0133] EX12. An apparatus according to any of EX7-EX11, in which the scraper and nozzle operate on different parts of a rotating blade.

[0134] EX13. An apparatus according to any of EX7 to EX12, wherein the rotating blade has a rotation axis, and the scraper and nozzle are fixed around the rotation axis.

[0135] EX14. Apparatus according to EX13, in which the scraper and nozzle are evenly spaced at angles around the axis of rotation.

[0136] EX15. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX14, comprising a magnet mounted near a rotating blade, such as interacting with metal particles located on the rotating blade and / or within a rod for a smoking article.

[0137] EX16. The apparatus according to EX15, wherein the magnet is a permanent magnet, for example, a permanent magnet made of neodymium, or an electromagnet.

[0138] EX17. An apparatus according to EX15 or EX16, where the magnet, scraper, and nozzle are fixed around the axis of rotation, when EX15 is according to any of EX7-EX14.

[0139] EX18. Apparatus according to EX17, in which the magnet, scraper, and nozzle are evenly spaced at angles around the axis of rotation.

[0140] EX19. Apparatus according to EX17 or EX18, wherein, with respect to the rotation direction of the rotating blade around the axis of rotation, the nozzle is positioned such that the gas jet strikes the rotating blade immediately downstream of the rod below the cutting surface, the magnet is positioned downstream of the gas jet, and the scraper is positioned downstream of the magnet.

[0141] EX20. An apparatus according to any of Examples EX1 to EX19, comprising a housing that partitions the storage chamber, surrounds the scraper, and partially surrounds the rotating blade.

[0142] EX21. A device according to EX20, where the magnet is housed within the housing, as per any of EX15-EX19.

[0143] EX22. An apparatus according to EX20 or EX21, wherein the housing has an opening facing a support, and a portion of the rotating blade protrudes from the opening and engages with a rod housed on the support.

[0144] EX23. An apparatus according to any of EX7-EX14, or any of EX20-EX22, in which the nozzle is fixed outside the housing.

[0145] EX24. A device using EX23, where the nozzle points towards the opening.

[0146] EX25. A device according to any of EX20 to EX24, comprising a suction port voluntarily housed within a housing and a suction device that communicates fluidly with the suction port.

[0147] EX26. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX25, wherein a rotating blade is placed in a plane, and the aforementioned plane is transverse to a rod for a smoking article housed on a support.

[0148] EX27. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX26, wherein the rotating blade has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the scraper comprises a first scraper that contacts the first surface and a second scraper that contacts the second surface.

[0149] EX28. The apparatus according to EX27, when the nozzle comprises a first nozzle that targets a first surface and a second nozzle that targets a second surface, according to any of EX7 to EX14.

[0150] EX29. A device according to EX27 or EX28, where EX27 is according to any of EX15 to EX19, and the magnet comprises a first magnet facing a first surface and a second magnet facing a second surface.

[0151] EX30. A device according to any of EX1 to EX29, wherein the support structure is equipped with a conveyor for rods for smoking articles.

[0152] EX31. Apparatus according to EX30, wherein the conveyor has a long, narrow track for accommodating and moving forward a continuous rod of smoking articles.

[0153] EX32. Apparatus according to EX30 or EX31, wherein the conveyor is equipped with a seat, and the seat is configured to accommodate a plurality of separate rods for smoking articles.

[0154] EX33. A device, as described above in EX30-EX32, in which the edge of the rotating blade is close to the conveyor in order to cut the rod for the smoking item when the rod for the smoking item is being carried by a conveyor under a rotating blade.

[0155] EX34. A device according to EX30, wherein the conveyor is equipped with a rotating drum, and the seat is positioned on the peripheral portion of the rotating drum, and the seat and the rods within the seat are optionally parallel to the axis of rotation of the rotating drum.

[0156] EX35. The apparatus according to EX34, in which the edge of the rotating blade is close to the periphery of the rotating drum in order to cut the rod for the smoking article when the rod for the smoking article is carried under the rotating drum by the rotating drum.

[0157] EX36. A device equipped with multiple rotating blades, according to any of EX1 to EX35.

[0158] EX37. A device based on EX36, in which multiple rotating blades are positioned adjacent to each other, and the rotating blades can be optionally mounted on a common rotating shaft.

[0159] EX38. An apparatus according to EX36 or EX37, where the rotating blades of a plurality of rotating blades are fixed at different circumferential positions around a rotating drum, as in EX36 according to EX34 or EX35.

[0160] EX39. An apparatus according to any of EX36-EX38, where all of the rotating blades among multiple rotating blades are partially enclosed within the same housing, as in EX36 according to EX20-EX25 and either EX34 or EX35.

[0161] EX40. A method for cutting a rod for smoking articles, To house the rod for smoking articles on a support, The rotating blade is engaged with a rod for smoking articles housed on a support, and the rod for smoking articles is cut into rod pieces. A method comprising cleaning the aforementioned rotating blade by bringing a scraper into contact with the rotating blade.

[0162] EX41. The method according to EX40, wherein the method described above is carried out through equipment according to any of EX1 to EX39.

[0163] EX42. A method according to EX42 or EX41, wherein a scraper contacts and cleans a rotating blade, while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates and cuts a rod for smoking articles into rod pieces.

[0164] EX43. A method according to any of EX40 to EX42, further comprising targeting a jet of gas from a gas supply source to the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade is rotating and cutting the rod.

[0165] EX44. A method according to EX43, comprising controlling the temperature of the gas from a gas supply source to maintain the temperature of the rotating blade within a temperature range.

[0166] EX45. The method according to EX44, wherein the gas temperature is controlled to be between 2°C and 15°C, and optionally between 5°C and 15°C.

[0167] EX46. A method according to EX44 or EX45, wherein the temperature range is 10°C to 35°C, or optionally 10°C to 20°C.

[0168] EX47. A method according to any of EX43 to EX46, in which the gas pressure is controlled to be between 2 bar and 10 bar, and optionally between 4 bar and 6 bar.

[0169] EX48. A method according to any of EX43-EX47, wherein a jet of gas targets an area of ​​a rotating blade separated from the rod for the smoking article under cutting.

[0170] EX49. A device according to any of EX43 to EX48, wherein a rotating blade is partially enclosed within a housing and protrudes from an opening in the housing, and a gas jet is located outside the housing and points toward the opening in the housing, and can be arbitrarily pointed toward the cutting direction.

[0171] EX50. A method according to any of EX40-EX49, comprising generating a magnetic field that interacts with metal particles located on and / or within a rod, thereby moving the aforementioned metal particles away from the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade rotates and cuts the rod.

[0172] EX51. A method according to any of EX40 to EX50, which includes vacuuming the debris away from the rotating blade while the aforementioned rotating blade is rotating and cutting the rod.

[0173] EX52. The method according to any of EX43-EX49 and EX50 and EX51, wherein the rotating blade continuously encounters the rod below the cutting, a gas jet, a magnetic field, and a scraper while the rotating blade is rotating.

[0174] EX53. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX39, or a method according to any of EX40 to EX52, wherein a rod for smoking articles is equipped with a sensory medium wrapped in a wrapper.

[0175] EX54. Apparatus or method according to EX53, wherein the sensory medium includes tobacco, optionally cut-filler tobacco.

[0176] EX55. Apparatus or method according to EX53 or EX54, wherein the sensory medium contains at least one flavoring agent.

[0177] EX56. The apparatus or method according to EX53, wherein the sensory medium includes an aerosol generating substrate, optionally a sheet of aerosol generating substrate, and optionally the sheets of aerosol generating substrate are assembled.

[0178] EX57. Apparatus or method according to EX56, wherein the aerosol generating substrate sheet is a reconstituted tobacco sheet, or a tobacco-free herbaceous or plant-based cast sheet, or a biodegradable fibrous material.

[0179] EX58. Apparatus or method according to EX56 or EX57, wherein a sheet of aerosol generating substrate is prepared from a mixture comprising fibers, a binder, and at least one aerosol forming agent.

[0180] EX59. Apparatus or method according to EX58, wherein at least one aerosol-forming agent contains a polyhydric alcohol.

[0181] EX60. Apparatus or method according to EX59, wherein the polyhydric alcohol may be triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerin, or propylene glycol.

[0182] EX61. Apparatus or method according to any of EX58 to EX60, wherein the amount of aerosol-forming agent in the sensory medium is 10 percent to 80 percent, optionally 15 percent to 60 percent, optionally about 20 percent, or optionally about 50 percent, on a dry weight basis.

[0183] EX62. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX39, or a method according to any of EX40 to EX52, or an apparatus or method according to any of EX53 to EX61, wherein the rod for smoking articles includes an additional section for smoking articles.

[0184] EX63. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX39, or a method according to any of EX40 to EX52, or an apparatus or method according to any of EX53 to EX62, wherein the rod for the smoking article is a continuous rod or individual rods.

[0185] EX64. An apparatus or method according to any of EX53 to EX60, wherein a rod for smoking articles comprises a susceptor element connected to a sensory medium, and the susceptor element can be optionally embedded in the sensory medium.

[0186] EX65. Apparatus or method according to EX64, wherein a susceptor element extends along a rod for a smoking article.

[0187] EX66. Apparatus or method according to EX64 or EX65, wherein the susceptor element may be a rod, a flat rod, or a strip, and may have a rectangular cross-section.

[0188] EX67. Apparatus or method according to any of EX64-EX66, wherein a susceptor element is cut by a rotating blade while cutting a rod for a smoking article.

[0189] EX68. An apparatus according to any of EX1 to EX39, or a method according to any of EX40 to EX52, or an apparatus or method according to any of EX53 to EX67, wherein a rod for smoking articles comprises smoking articles of multiple lengths, which are cut to obtain a single smoking article.

[0190] EX69. Apparatus or method according to EX68, wherein smoking articles of multiple lengths comprise at least one sensory mediating section and at least one additional section.

[0191] EX70. Apparatus or method according to EX69, wherein smoking articles of multiple lengths are cut in a sensory media section or in an additional section.

[0192] EX71. Equipment for manufacturing smoking articles, Equipment for creating multiple sensory media sections, Equipment for creating multiple additional sections, A combiner machine configured to produce multiple smoking articles by axially connecting additional sections and sensory media sections, At least one device according to any of EX1 to EX39 or any of EX53 to EX70, wherein at least one of the aforementioned devices is part of a system for producing multiple sensory media sections and / or part of a system for producing multiple additional sections and / or part of a combiner machine.

[0193] EX72. A process for manufacturing smoking articles, The process of creating multiple sensory media sections, The process of creating multiple additional sections, The process includes a step of creating multiple smoking articles by combining additional sections and sensory media sections, A method comprising the steps of creating multiple sensory media sections, and / or creating multiple additional sections, and / or combining the additional sections with the sensory media sections, wherein the steps include any of the methods of EX40 to EX70.

[0194] EX73. The process according to EX72, where the method for creating multiple sensory media sections is one of EX64-EX67, and the method involves connecting susceptor elements to sensory media.

[0195] EX74. The process according to EX73, wherein the fabrication of multiple sensory media sections includes: fabricating a sheet of aerosol generating substrate; connecting susceptor elements in the form of a continuous band to the sheet of aerosol generating substrate; assembling the sheets of aerosol generating substrate together with the susceptor elements to form a continuous rod; winding the continuous rod in a wrapper; cutting the continuous rod into the form of multiple sensory media sections; cutting the sensory media sections into shorter sections and combining them with additional sections, wherein the cutting of the sensory media sections into shorter sections is carried out by any of the methods of X40 to EX70.

[0196] EX75. Smoking articles produced through any of the processes in EX72-EX74 and / or the equipment in EX71.

[0197] EX76. A smoking article according to EX75, wherein the aforementioned smoking article is a combustible cigarette or an aerosol-generating article.

[0198] Here, we will further describe the examples with reference to the figures. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0199] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a portion of the equipment used to manufacture smoking articles. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a top view of the equipment shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows a series of processes A to F performed by the equipment shown in the preceding figure. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a semi-finished product manufactured using the equipment shown in the preceding figure. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the assembled equipment shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a 3D view of a portion of the assembly shown in Figure 3. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a side view of one element of the assembly shown in Figures 3 and 4. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is another diagram of the elements in Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0200] Figures 1 and 2 show apparatus 1 for producing multiple sensory media sections, which are part of the apparatus for manufacturing a smoking article. The apparatus for manufacturing the entire smoking article, which is not shown in its entirety, is configured to produce the finished smoking article. The smoking article produced through the exemplary apparatus detailed herein is an aerosol-generating article 2 (heated non-combustible product) comprising an aerosol-generating substrate that is heated rather than burned.

[0201] The aerosol-generating article 2 comprises a sensory medium section 3 coupled to an additional section 4 (Figure 3).

[0202] The sensory media section 3 comprises a sheet 5 of aerosol-generating substrate that is assembled and wound within a wrapper 6 (Figure 4).

[0203] The aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 is made from a mixture comprising fibers, a binder, and at least one aerosol-forming agent. The sensory media section 3 shown in attached Figure 4 further comprises a susceptor element 7 which has a rectangular cross-section and is shaped like a flat rod or strip extending along the entire length of the assembly 5 of aerosol-generating substrate sheets. The susceptor element 7 is embedded in the middle of the sensory media section 3. The sensory media section 3 shown in attached Figure 4 is part of an aerosol-generating article 2 which is configured to be consumed by heating the susceptor element 7 through a heating device (not shown) which includes an electromagnetic generator.

[0204] The additional section 4, schematically shown in Figure 3, typically comprises a filter having a mouthpiece end and may be formed by one or more elements.

[0205] During use of the aerosol-forming agent aerosol generating article 2, the volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming agent are released from the sheet assembly 5 of the aerosol-generating substrate by heat transfer from the susceptor element 7 and are entrained into the air drawn in by the user through the aerosol-generating article 2 from the additional section 4 having a mouthpiece end.

[0206] The aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 may be a reconstituted sheet obtained through a casting process from the components of the mixture disclosed above, for example, tobacco powder or other nicotine-containing material, water, fiber, for example, cellulose, and one or more aerosol-forming agents.

[0207] For example, the aerosol-forming agent may include a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerin and a monohydric alcohol such as menthol. The polyhydric alcohol may also be triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, or propylene glycol. The aerosol-forming agent may also include an ester of a polyhydric alcohol (such as monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate glycerol), or an aliphatic ester of a monocarboxylic acid, dicarboxylic acid, or polycarboxylic acid (such as dimethyl dodecanediate, dimethyl tetradecanediate, or triethyl citrate).

[0208] The first step is to produce a slurry by mixing the above components. In the second step, the slurry is placed inside a casting box and cast by a casting knife on a moving conveyor steel belt to create a continuous sheet of aerosol generating substrate 5.

[0209] The aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 is dried for further processing and wound onto one or more reel carriers 8. The amount of aerosol-forming agent in the aerosol-generating substrate 5 may be 10 percent to 80 percent, optionally 15 percent to 60 percent, optionally about 20 percent, or optionally about 50 percent, on a dry weight basis.

[0210] The equipment 1 for producing the multiple sensory media sections 3 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a reel carrier 8 for transporting sheets 5 of aerosol generating substrate.

[0211] The sheet 5 of aerosol generating substrate unwound from the reel carrier 8 is supplied along the feeding path in the feeding direction "F".

[0212] With respect to the feeding direction "V", downstream of the reel carrier 8, the equipment 1 includes crimp rollers 9 configured to crimp the aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5. The crimping process weakens the aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 along the longitudinal axis, and the crimping process also helps to fold and assemble the aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 into the sensory media section 3 that fits into the aerosol-generating article 2.

[0213] Downstream of the crimping roller 9 with respect to the feeding direction "V", the equipment 1 includes a bending device 10 configured to move the aerosol generating substrate sheet 5 from a flat configuration (upstream of the bending device 10) to an aggregated rod-like configuration (downstream of the bending device 10), and to wrap a wrapper 6 around the aggregate of aerosol generating substrate 5 to obtain a continuous sensory medium rod 11. The bending device 10 may be shaped like a tapered funnel.

[0214] Before or during the transfer of the aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 into an assembly of rod-shaped components, the continuous strips or bands 7 of the susceptor elements are connected to the aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 such that when the aerosol-generating substrate sheet 5 is assembled, the susceptor elements 7 are positioned along the central longitudinal axis of the continuous sensory medium rod 11.

[0215] Downstream of the bending device 10, the cutting device 12 cuts the continuous sensory medium rod 11 into a plurality of four-length sensory medium sections 13, that is, sections each having a length four times the length of the sensory medium section of a single aerosol generating article 2.

[0216] On the other hand, the equipment for manufacturing multiple additional sections not shown in the attached drawings manufactures multiple double-length additional sections 14.

[0217] The combiner machine 15, schematically represented in Figures 1 and 2, is configured to divide four length sensory media sections 13 into a single sensory media section 3, divide a double-length additional section 14 into a single additional section 4, and then axially connect the additional section 4 and the sensory media section 3 to produce multiple aerosol-generating articles 2.

[0218] Figure 3 shows an example of the process steps performed by the combiner machine 15. Each of the four length sensory media sections 13 is cut into four single sensory media sections 3 (A-B). The four axially aligned single sensory media sections 3 are separated from each other (C). Two double-length additional sections 14 are placed between the two sensory media sections 3 and combined with the aforementioned two sensory media sections 3 (D-E) to form two double-length aerosol generating articles 2. Each of the two double-length aerosol generating articles 2 is cut at its respective double-length additional section 14 to obtain four single aerosol generating articles 2 (F).

[0219] As shown in Figure 2, the transfer device 16 moves the four length sensory media sections 13 coming from the cutting device 12 in sequence and aligns them along the elongated tracks in each seat 17 (arrow "M", Figures 2 and 5) located on the periphery of the rotating drum 18. The seats 17, and the four length sensory media sections 13 once housed within the seats 17, are parallel to the rotation axis "XX" of the rotating drum 18. The four length sensory media sections 13 may be held in place within the seats 17 by suction.

[0220] The rotating drum 18 is part of the apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles, and the four length sensory media sections 13 are individual rods for smoking articles that are cut by the apparatus 19. The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles further comprises three rotating blades 20 configured to engage with the four length sensory media sections 13 housed on the rotating drum 18 and cut them into rod pieces. The three rotating blades 20 cut each of the four length sensory media sections 13 (Figure 3 - Step A) into four single sensory media sections 3 (Figure 3 - Step B).

[0221] The three rotating blades 20 are disc-shaped and are mounted on a common shaft 21 which is operably connected to a motor (not shown) configured to rotate the three rotating blades 20 about a rotation axis YY. The common shaft 21 and rotation axis "YY" are oriented parallel to the rotation axis "XX" of the rotating drum 18. Each disc-shaped rotating blade 20 is positioned in a plane perpendicular to its respective rotation axis "YY", in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis "XX" of the rotating drum 18, and in a plane perpendicular to the four-length sensory media sections 13 housed within the seat 17. In some other embodiments not shown in the accompanying figures, the rotating blades 20 may be positioned at different circumferential positions around the rotating drum 18. For example, multiple shafts 21 may comprise multiple rotating blades 20.

[0222] In other embodiments not shown in the drawings, the rotating blade may comprise one or more cutting sections mounted on a rotating support. The cutting sections are stable on the support and also rotate together with the support.

[0223] The relative positions of the rotating drum 18 and the three rotating blades 20 are such that, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the edges 22 of each rotating blade 20 are close to the peripheral portion of the rotating drum 18 in order to engage with and cut the four length sensory media sections 13 as they are carried one by one under the rotating blades 20 by the rotation of the rotating drum 18. Thus, the apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles is configured to carry out the process from A to B in Figure 3.

[0224] The combiner machine 15 may include further rotating drums, represented by rectangles 23 in Figure 2, arranged in a cascading manner and connected to further devices. These further rotating drums and devices are configured to perform process steps C to F outlined in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows, as a non-limiting example, one auxiliary rotating drum 24 provided with each seat 25. The auxiliary rotating drum 24 is stationary adjacent to the rotating drum 18 and receives and carries four single sensory media sections 3 cut by the device 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles.

[0225] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles comprises a housing 26 that partially encloses the rotating blades 20. A portion of the housing 26 is shown in Figures 7 and 8. The housing 26 is located near the rotating drum 18 and presents an opening 27 that opens toward or faces the rotating drum 18. Each rotating blade 20 is partially housed within the housing 26 and partially protrudes from the housing 26 or from its respective opening 27. In the exemplary embodiments shown in Figures 7 and 8, the common shaft 21 and the main portion of the rotating blades 20 are outside the housing 26, while secondary portions of each rotating blade 20 are housed within the housing 26. The main portion of each rotating blade 20 protrudes from the opening 27 and engages with the sensory medium section 3 housed on the rotating drum 18. The housing 26 internally partitions a collection chamber for dust and debris.

[0226] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles further comprises an assembly configured to clean each rotating blade 20 while the rotating blade 20 cuts four length sensory media sections 13 and removes dust and debris.

[0227] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the attached figure, the assembly comprises two scrapers 28, two nozzles 29, and two magnets 30 operably connected to each rotating blade 20. Each rotating blade 20 has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first scraper 28, the first nozzle 29, and the first magnet 30 are operably connected to the first surface, and the second scraper 28, the second nozzle 29, and the second magnet 30 are operably connected to the second surface of the same rotating blade 20.

[0228] For simplification and clarity, attached Figures 7 and 8 show only the scraper 28, nozzle 29, and magnet 30 on one side of a single rotating blade 20, and the following description refers to Figures 7 and 8 mentioned above.

[0229] The scraper 28 comprises a brush with metal bristles that clean in contact with the surface of the rotating blade 20 while the rotating blade 20 rotates and cuts the four length sensory medium sections 13 into rod pieces. The scraper 28 is enclosed by a housing 26 and is fully housed within a storage chamber. In an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figure, the scraper 28 is a metal foil with an edge that contacts the surface of the rotating blade 20. The foil or brush bristles may also be made of other materials such as polymer materials or fibrous materials.

[0230] The nozzle 29 is located outside the housing 26 and points toward the plane of the rotating blade 20, targeting a jet of gas, such as air, 31 toward the aforementioned plane while the rotating blade 20 rotates and cuts the four length sensory media sections 13. The nozzle 29 is positioned so that the gas jet 31 is inclined at a reported angle "α" of 45° with respect to a plane of the rotating blade 20. The nozzle 29 is positioned so that the gas jet 31 points toward the opening 27 and is in the direction of cutting (Figure 8). With respect to the rotation direction of the rotating blade 20 about its axis of rotation "YY", the nozzle 29 is positioned so that the gas jet 31 strikes the rotating blade 20 just downstream of the four length sensory media sections 13 below the cutting. The nozzle 29 is in fluid communication with the gas supply source 32, and the gas conditioner 33 is configured to control the temperature of the gas from the gas supply source 32 (Figure 7). The gas temperature is controlled to approximately 10°C, and the gas pressure is controlled to approximately 5 bar. In this way, the temperature of the rotating blade 20 may be controlled to be within a temperature range of, for example, 10°C to 20°C.

[0231] The magnet 30 is an electromagnet and is mounted near the rotating blade 20 in the housing 26 so as to interact with the metal particles located on the rotating blade 20 and / or with the metal particles in the four-length sensory medium sections 13 under cutting and movement, so as the rotating blade 20 rotates and cuts the four-length sensory medium sections 13. The metal particles originate from the cutting of the susceptor element 7 embedded in the sensory medium and extending along the four-length sensory medium sections 13. The magnet may also be a permanent magnet made of neodymium, for example.

[0232] The magnet 30, scraper 28, and nozzle 29 are positioned around the rotation axis "YY", for example, at evenly spaced angles around the rotation axis "YY". In the embodiment shown in the attached figures, with respect to the rotation direction "D" of the rotating blade 20 around the rotation axis "YY", the nozzle 29 is positioned so that the gas jet 31 strikes the rotating blade 20 just downstream of the four length sensory media sections 13 under cutting, the magnet 30 is positioned downstream of the gas jet 31, and the scraper 28 is positioned downstream of the magnet 30 (Figures 7 and 8). While the rotating blade 20 rotates, the aforementioned rotating blade 20 successively encounters the four length sensory media sections 13 under cutting, the gas jet 31, the magnetic field generated by the magnet 30, and the scraper 28.

[0233] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles further comprises a suction device 34 in fluid communication with a suction port 35 that opens inside the housing 26, i.e., into the accumulation chamber (Figure 7). The suction device 34 is configured to vacuum up debris away from the rotating blade 20 while the aforementioned rotating blade 20 rotates and cuts the four length sensory medium sections 13.

[0234] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles, disclosed above and illustrated in the attached figures, is configured to cut four sensory media sections 13 of different lengths, i.e., into individual rods.

[0235] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles according to the present invention may also be implemented to cut each of two double-length aerosol-generating articles 2 to obtain four single aerosol-generating articles 2 as shown in Figures 3(E-F). This cutting is performed by the apparatus 19 in each of the additional double-length sections 14.

[0236] Furthermore, the cutting device 12 in Figures 1 and 2, which cuts a continuous sensory medium rod 11 into a plurality of four-length sensory medium sections 13, may also be a device 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles according to the present invention, namely a scraper 28 and optionally a nozzle 29 and / or magnet 30. In this embodiment, the support comprises a conveyor having an elongated track for housing and moving the continuous sensory medium rod 11 forward, and the rotating blade 20 of the device 19 may be shaped to carry out the proper cutting of the aforementioned forward-moving continuous sensory medium rod 11.

[0237] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles according to the present invention may also be part of equipment for producing a number of additional sections not shown. For example, the apparatus 19 may be configured to cut a continuous rod of filter material.

[0238] The apparatus 19 for cutting rods for smoking articles according to the present invention may also be part of equipment for producing conventional combustible cigarettes. For example, the apparatus 19 may be implemented to cut a continuous rod of tobacco cut filler having a flavoring agent rolled in a paper wrapper.

[0239] For the purposes of this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers representing amounts, quantities, percentages, etc., are understood to be modified in all cases by the term “approximately.” Furthermore, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points and any intermediate ranges within them, which may or may not be specifically listed herein. Thus, in this context, number A is understood as 5 percent of A ± A. In this context, number A may be considered to include a number that falls within the general standard error of the measurement of the characteristic modified by number A. In some cases used in the appended claims, number A may deviate by the percentages listed above, provided that the amount of deviation of A does not substantially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Furthermore, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points and any intermediate ranges within them, which may or may not be specifically listed herein.

Claims

1. A device for cutting rods for smoking articles, A support configured to house a rod for smoking articles, A rotating blade (20) is configured to engage with the rod for a smoking article housed on the support and to cut the rod into rod pieces, A scraper (28) is installed near the rotating blade (20) for purposes such as contacting and cleaning the rotating blade (20), The apparatus further comprises a magnet (30) positioned near the rotating blade (20), such that it interacts with metal particles located on the rotating blade (20) and / or within the rod for the smoking article.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scraper (28) comprises a brush having bristles that contact the rotating blade (20), or a foil having an edge that contacts the rotating blade (20).

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a nozzle (29) in fluid communication with a gas source (32), wherein the nozzle (29) points toward the rotating blade (20) so as to target the rotating blade (20) with a jet of gas (31) while the rotating blade (20) is rotating.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotating blade (20) is placed in a plane, and the nozzle (29) is positioned such that the gas jet (31) is inclined with respect to the plane at a reported angle (α) of 20° to 70°.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein, with respect to the rotation direction of the rotating blade (20) about a rotation axis (Y-Y), the nozzle (29) is positioned such that the gas jet (31) strikes the rotating blade (20) immediately downstream of the rod below the cutting surface, the magnet (30) is positioned downstream of the gas jet (31), and the scraper (28) is positioned downstream of the magnet (30).

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a housing (26) that partitions the storage chamber, surrounds the scraper (28), and partially surrounds the rotating blade (20); a suction port (35) housed within the housing (26); and a suction device (34) that is in fluid communication with the suction port (35).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, when the housing (26) has an opening (27) facing the support, a portion of the rotating blade (20) protrudes from the opening (27) and engages with the rod housed on the support, and the nozzle (29) is fixed outside the housing (26) and points toward the opening (27).

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support comprises a conveyor for the rods for smoking articles, the conveyor comprises a seat (17), and the seat is configured to accommodate a plurality of individual rods for smoking articles; the conveyor comprises a rotating drum (18), and the seat (17) is located on the peripheral portion of the rotating drum (18).

9. A method for cutting a rod for smoking articles, To house the rod for smoking articles on a support, A step of engaging the rotating blade (20) with the rod for the smoking article housed on the support, to cut the rod for the smoking article into rod pieces, This includes bringing the scraper (28) into contact with the rotating blade (20) to clean the rotating blade, A method further comprising generating a magnetic field that interacts with metal particles located on and / or within the rotating blade (20) to move the metal particles away from the rotating blade (20) while the rotating blade (20) rotates and cuts the rod.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising targeting a jet of gas (31) from a gas supply source (32) to the rotating blade (20) while the rotating blade (20) is rotating and cutting the rod.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising controlling the temperature of the gas from the gas supply source (32) to maintain the temperature of the rotating blade (20) within a temperature range, wherein the temperature of the gas is controlled to be between 2° and 15°.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising vacuuming up the debris so that it moves away from the rotating blade (20) while the rotating blade is rotating and cutting the rod.

13. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein while the rotating blade (20) is rotating, the rotating blade (20) continuously encounters the rod below the cutting surface, the gas jet (31), the magnetic field, and the scraper (28).

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