Filling rod hoist and hoisting method

The filling rod hoisting machine addresses the challenge of manufacturing a filled rod with reduced flavor raw material by using suction chambers and holes to maintain adhesion and prevent clogging, ensuring smooth operation and complete formation.

JP7606619B2Active Publication Date: 2024-12-25JAPAN TOBACCO INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023539453
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2021-08-04
Publication Date
2024-12-25
Estimated Expiration
2041-08-04

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The insertion resistance of a heater into a flavor-filled rod increases when the filling amount of flavor raw material exceeds the heater's size, leading to operability issues, potential breakage, and reduced air permeability, which can result in incomplete manufacturing of the filled rod due to decreased frictional force and clogging.

Method used

A filling rod hoisting machine equipped with a garniture tape and forming bed having suction chambers and suction holes to apply suction force to the wrapping paper, ensuring the garniture tape, wrapping paper, and filling material run smoothly together, even with reduced filling amounts.

Benefits of technology

Ensures the manufacture of a desired filled rod by maintaining adhesion and preventing clogging, despite reduced filling amounts and hardness, through the application of suction force to compensate for decreased frictional force.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

Provided is equipment 6 for winding a filling rod TR, the winding equipment 6 continuously wrapping a flavor raw ingredient in rollable paper P while molding the flavor raw ingredient into a filler B through a process for transporting the flavor raw ingredient together with the rollable paper P along a transport path 4, wherein: the winding equipment 6 comprises a garniture tape 8 that travels along the transport path 4, and a molding bed 10 having a molding groove 14 in which the garniture tape 8 travels; the rollable paper P is supported on the garniture tape 8 and travels in the molding groove 14 together with the garniture tape 8; the filler B is supported on the rollable paper P, and is continuously wrapped in the rollable paper P via the garniture tape 8 traveling in the molding groove 14 and is molded into the filling rod TR; the molding bed 10 has a suction chamber 32 for suctioning a groove space 30 in the molding groove 14; and the garniture tape 8 has a suction hole 36 opened therein and applies suction force from the suction chamber 23 to the rollable paper P via the suction hole 36.
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Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine and a method for hoisting a filler rod. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a tobacco rod winding machine. The winding machine conveys tobacco raw material such as cut tobacco along a conveying path together with cigarette paper. During this conveying process, the winding machine forms the tobacco raw material into a filler while continuously wrapping it in cigarette paper. The winding machine includes a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path, and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs.

[0003] The cigarette paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and runs through the forming groove together with the garniture tape. A filler made of tobacco raw materials is supplied onto the cigarette paper and is continuously wrapped by the cigarette paper via the garniture tape running through the forming groove to be formed into a tobacco rod. When the filler runs through the forming groove together with the garniture tape and the cigarette paper, the weight of the filler brings the cigarette paper into contact with the garniture tape, and frictional force acts between the cigarette paper and the garniture tape.

[0004] A frictional force acts between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape, allowing the wrapping paper to run together with the garniture tape through the forming groove, and allowing the wrapping paper to continuously encase the filling. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-183248 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] A tobacco rod filled with tobacco raw material is broadly defined as a filled rod filled with flavor raw material (which may not include tobacco raw material). In this case, the filled section obtained by cutting the filled rod constitutes a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. A heater of a device used to use the flavor inhalation article is inserted into the filled section, for example, to heat the filled section and generate an aerosol of flavor components. In this case, if the amount of flavor raw material filled in the filled section is large compared to the size of the heater, the insertion resistance of the heater into the filled section increases, making it difficult to insert the heater and deteriorating operability during inhalation. In addition, the insertion resistance of the heater may cause the heater to break.

[0007] Furthermore, if the amount of flavor raw material filled in the filling section is large compared to the size of the heater, the insertion of the heater may cause the flavor raw material in the filling section to become overcrowded, deteriorating the breathability of the filling section and impairing the smoking taste. In order to eliminate these problems, the amount of flavor raw material filled in the filling rod may be reduced from that of the conventional method. Also, the amount of flavor raw material filled may be reduced in consideration of the cost of the flavor inhalation article.

[0008] When the amount of flavor raw material is reduced, the filling density of the flavor raw material filling is reduced, so the hardness of the filling is reduced, i.e., the filling is softened. The softening of the filling reduces the reaction force of the filling, in other words, the filling is less likely to deform elastically, so that the adhesion between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape when running through the forming groove is reduced, and the frictional force between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape is reduced. As a result, the garniture tape, wrapping paper, and filling are less likely to run together in the forming groove, and the flavor raw material may be left behind in the forming groove, causing clogging, etc., and the desired filled rod may not be manufactured.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and aims to provide a winding machine and a winding method for a filled rod that can produce a desired filled rod even when the amount of flavor raw material filled is reduced. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] One embodiment of a filling rod winding machine is a filling rod winding machine that, in the process of transporting the flavor raw material along a conveying path together with a wrapping paper, continuously wraps the flavor raw material in the wrapping paper while shaping the flavor raw material into a filling material. The machine is equipped with a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path and a forming bed having a forming groove through which the garniture tape runs. The wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and runs through the forming groove together with the garniture tape. The filling material is supplied onto the wrapping paper and is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper via the garniture tape running through the forming groove to be formed into a filling rod. The forming bed has a suction chamber that suctions the groove space of the forming groove. The garniture tape has a suction hole opened therein, and suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the wrapping paper through the suction hole.

[0011] One embodiment of a method for winding a filled rod is a method for winding a filled rod in which, during the process of transporting the flavor raw material along a conveying path together with a wrapping paper, the flavor raw material is shaped into a filling and continuously wrapped in the wrapping paper. The method includes a conveying step using a garniture tape running along the conveying path and a forming bed having a forming groove through which the garniture tape runs, in which the wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and the filling material is supplied onto the wrapping paper, and the wrapping paper and the filling material are conveyed by running them through the forming groove together with the garniture tape, and a wrapping step in which the filling material is continuously wrapped in the wrapping paper via the garniture tape to form a filled rod. In the wrapping step, a suction process is performed in which a suction force is applied to the wrapping paper through a suction hole opened in the garniture tape by suctioning the groove space of the forming groove. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the above-described filling rod winding machine and method, a desired filling rod can be manufactured even when the amount of flavor ingredient filled is reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filler rod making machine. [Diagram 2]2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hoist seen from the CC direction in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for winding a filling rod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] 1 shows a schematic diagram of a stuffed rod manufacturing machine 1. The stuffed rod manufacturing machine 1 is equipped with a suction band 2. The suction band 2 is endless, and adsorbs flavor raw materials in a layer on the lower surface of the suction band 2 to form a flavor layer TL, and transfers the flavor layer TL in the conveying direction indicated by arrow A of a conveying path 4.

[0015] The flavor raw material constituting the filling material B of the filling rod is, for example, shredded tobacco, a tobacco sheet, or a tobacco sheet folded in a gathered shape. The flavor raw material may also be a sheet formed from pulp not containing tobacco to which flavoring has been added, a shredded sheet formed from a non-tobacco plant, or such a sheet folded in a gathered shape.

[0016] A winding machine 6 according to this embodiment is disposed downstream of the suction band 2 in the conveying direction A of the conveying path 4. In the process of transferring the flavor layer TL made of a flavor raw material together with the wrapping paper P made of a paper web along the conveying path 4, the winding machine 6 forms the flavor layer TL into a filling B while continuously wrapping it with the wrapping paper P, thereby forming it into a filled rod TR.

[0017] The winding machine 6 includes a garniture tape 8, a forming bed 10, and a driving drum 12. The garniture tape 8 is endless and is wound around the driving drum 12. As the driving drum 12 rotates, a portion of the garniture tape 8 runs along the conveying path 4. The forming bed 10 has a forming groove 14 through which the garniture tape 8 runs. The wrapper P is supplied onto the garniture tape 8 and runs through the forming groove 14 together with the garniture tape 8.

[0018] The filling material B is supplied onto the wrapping paper P and is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper P via the garniture tape 8 traveling in the forming groove 14, and is formed into a filling rod TR. In the winding machine 6, a shoe 16, a tongs 18, a short holder 20, a long holder 22, and a heater 24 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the conveying direction A of the conveying path 4. The shoe 16 and the tongs 18 cooperate with the forming bed 10 to form a compression molding unit 26 for compression molding the flavor layer TL into the filling material B.

[0019] The shoe 16 peels the flavor layer TL from the suction band 2 and guides it to the wrapping paper P. When the garniture tape 8 travels and the flavor layer TL supplied onto the wrapping paper P passes through the tongs 18 together with the garniture tape 8, the tongs 18 cooperates with the forming grooves 14 of the forming bed 10 to compression-form the flavor layer TL into a filling B. The filling B that has passed through the tongs 18 passes through the short holder 20, the long holder 22, and the heater 24 together with the garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P.

[0020] At this time, the filling material B is continuously wrapped in the wrapping paper P and formed into a filling rod TR. Both side edges of the wrapping paper P are overlapped with each other via glue, forming a seam of the wrapping paper P in the filling rod TR. The glue of the seam is dried when the filling rod TR passes through a heater 24. The filling rod TR sent out from the winding machine 6 passes through a cutting unit 28 and is cut to a predetermined length. The cut filling rod TR is transported to a filter attachment unit (not shown) in a subsequent process, and forms a filling section of a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article.

[0021] Fig. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the hoisting machine 6 as seen from the CC direction in Fig. 1. Inside the forming bed 10 of the hoisting machine 6 of this embodiment, a suction chamber 32 that sucks the groove space 30 of the forming groove 14 is formed. A plurality of suction chambers 32 are opened to the forming groove 14 along the conveying path 4. As also shown in Fig. 1, the suction chamber 32 is connected to a plurality of suction ports 34 formed in the forming bed 10, and each suction port 34 is connected to a suction source.

[0022] The garniture tape 8 has suction holes 36. Suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the wrapper P through the suction holes 36 of the garniture tape 8. Furthermore, a cooling passage 38 is formed inside the forming bed 10. The cooling passage 38 receives a circulating supply of cooling water from the outside, and cools the forming bed 10, particularly the forming groove 14.

[0023] 3 shows a partial top view of the garniture tape 8. A plurality of suction holes 36 are provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape 8. The hole shape of the suction holes 36 may be circular or rectangular, and various patterns are assumed for the size and formation range of each suction hole 36. In addition, the number of rows of the suction holes 36 may be one row as shown in FIG. 3, or multiple rows.

[0024] 4 shows a flow chart for explaining a method for winding up the filled rod TR. When winding up the filled rod TR starts, in step S1, as described above, the wrapping paper P is supplied onto the garniture tape 8, and the filler B is supplied onto the wrapping paper P, and the wrapping paper P and the filler B are transported by running through the forming groove 14 together with the garniture tape 8 (transport step). In step S2, as described above, the filler B is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper P via the garniture tape 8 to form the filled rod TR (wrapping step).

[0025] In the wrapping step, in process P1, the groove space 30 of the forming groove 14 is sucked, thereby applying suction force from the suction chamber 32 to the wrapping paper P via the suction holes 36 opened in the garniture tape 8 (suction process). In the suction process, suction force is applied to the wrapping paper P via the multiple suction holes 36 provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape 8.

[0026] In the wrapping step, in process P2, the forming groove 14 of the forming bed is cooled by cooling water circulating through the cooling passage 38 (cooling process). Note that, for convenience of explanation, the above winding method has been explained by dividing it into steps S1 and S2 and processes P1 and P2, but from the start to the end of winding up the filling rod TR, steps S1 and S2 and processes P1 and P2 are performed at the same timing.

[0027] As described above, in the winding machine 6 and the winding method for the filling rod TR of this embodiment, the forming bed 10 has the suction chamber 32, and the garniture tape 8 has the suction holes 36. Then, in the suction process of the wrapping step, the suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the wrapper P through the suction holes 36.

[0028] As described above, when the amount of flavor raw material filled is reduced compared to the conventional amount, the filler B softens, reducing the frictional force acting between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8. More specifically, it has been found that if the hardness of the filler B is less than 70%, it becomes difficult to manufacture the filled rod TR, and therefore the hardness of the filler B needs to be 70% or more, more preferably 75% or more.

[0029] The hardness of the filling material B is measured using a measuring device (model number: DD60A densimeter (manufactured by Heinr. Borgwaldt GmbH)). The measuring device is equipped with a pusher, which is lowered a distance d to apply a load to the filling rod TR. If the diameter of the filling rod TR before the load is applied is Ds and the diameter of the filling rod TR after the load is applied for a predetermined time is Dd, the distance d of the pusher is calculated by the formula Ds-Dd, and the hardness of the filling material B is calculated by the formula (Dd / Ds)×100.

[0030] If the hardness of the filling material B is less than 70%, the frictional force between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8 will decrease, making it difficult for the garniture tape 8, wrapping paper P, and filling material B to run together, and the flavor ingredient may be left behind in the forming groove 14, causing clogging, and the desired filled rod TR may not be manufactured. On the other hand, in this embodiment, even if the hardness of the filling material B is less than 70%, the reduction in the frictional force between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8 can be compensated for by the suction force from the suction chamber 32.

[0031] As a result, even if the amount of flavor raw material filled is reduced compared to the conventional case, the adhesion between the running garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P can be increased, so that the garniture tape 8, wrapping paper P, and filling material B can be run as one body. This makes it possible to prevent problems such as the filling material B being left behind and clogging the forming groove 14. In other words, a desired filled rod TR can be manufactured regardless of the filling amount and filling density of the flavor raw material and regardless of the hardness of the filling material B.

[0032] In addition, a plurality of suction holes 36 are provided along the extending direction of the garniture tape 8. This allows the suction force from the suction chamber 32 to be applied to the wrapper P more effectively. This allows the suction force from the suction chamber 32 to more effectively compensate for the reduction in the frictional force described above.

[0033] Furthermore, the suction chambers 32 are opened in multiple locations in the forming groove 14 along the conveying path 4. This allows the suction force from the suction chambers 32 to be applied more effectively to the garniture tape 8 and the wrapper P over the entire area of ​​the forming groove 14 in the conveying direction A. Therefore, the suction force from the suction chambers 32 can more effectively compensate for the reduction in frictional force described above.

[0034] Furthermore, the forming bed 10 has a cooling passage 38, and the forming groove 14 is cooled in the cooling process of the wrapping step. If the suction force from the suction chamber 32 causes the traveling garniture tape 8 to come into excessive contact with the forming groove 14, frictional heat is generated in the garniture tape 8 and the forming groove 14. However, by circulating cooling water through the cooling passage 38 to cool the forming groove 14, the garniture tape 8 and the forming groove 14 are prevented from being heated to high temperatures due to frictional heat. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the denaturation of the filling rod TR due to high temperatures, and ensure the quality of the filling rod TR.

[0035] The above is the end of the description of the embodiment, but the above embodiment is not limited and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the forming bed 10 has a cooling passage 38 therein, but the cooling passage 38 is not necessarily essential for implementation. Specifically, if the frictional force of the garniture tape 8 against the forming groove 14 is reduced by controlling the suction pressure of the suction source, the garniture tape can run smoothly in the forming groove 14 while suppressing the generation of frictional heat in the forming groove 14, so that the desired filling rod TR can be manufactured without cooling the forming groove 14.

[0036] In addition, the suction process may use a means other than forming the suction chamber 32 in the forming bed 10 as long as it is possible to apply suction force to the wrapper P through the suction holes 36 of the garniture tape 8. In addition, the cooling process may use a means other than forming the cooling passage 38 in the forming bed 10 as long as it is possible to cool the forming grooves 14.

[0037] Furthermore, the above embodiment is not limited to the winding machine 6 and winding method for a filling rod TR used in a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article, but can also be applied to the winding machine 6 and winding method for a filling rod TR used in a combustion type flavor inhalation article. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 4. Transport Route 6 Hoisting machine 8. Gag Tape 10 Molding Bed 14 Molding groove 30 Groove space 32 Suction chamber 36 Suction hole 38 Cooling passage B Filling P Roll Paper TR Filling Rod

Claims

1. A filling rod winding machine that, in a process of conveying a flavor raw material together with a wrapping paper along a conveying path, forms the flavor raw material into a filling and continuously wraps the flavor raw material with the wrapping paper, A garniture tape running along the transport path; a forming bed having a forming groove through which the garniture tape runs; Equipped with The wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and travels through the forming groove together with the garniture tape; The filling material is supplied onto the wrapping paper, and is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper through the garniture tape running in the forming groove, and is formed into the filling rod; The forming bed has a suction chamber that sucks the groove space of the forming groove, A winding machine for a filling rod, wherein the garniture tape has a suction hole opened therein, and a suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the wrapping paper through the suction hole.

2. The hoist for a filling rod according to claim 1 , wherein the suction holes are provided in a plurality of directions along an extension direction of the garniture tape.

3. The filling rod hoisting machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction chamber is opened in a plurality of openings in the forming groove along the conveying path.

4. The filling rod hoisting machine according to claim 1 , wherein the forming bed has a cooling passage for cooling the forming groove.

5. A method for winding a filling rod, comprising the steps of: forming a flavor raw material into a filling material and continuously wrapping the flavor raw material with a wrapping paper during a process of conveying the flavor raw material together with a wrapping paper along a conveying path, the method comprising the steps of: a conveying step of using a garniture tape running along the conveying path and a forming bed having a forming groove through which the garniture tape runs, supplying the wrapping paper onto the garniture tape and supplying the filler onto the wrapping paper, and conveying the wrapping paper and the filler by running the forming groove together with the garniture tape; a wrapping step of continuously wrapping the filling with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape to form the filling rod; Including, In the wrapping step, a suction process is performed in which a suction force is applied to the wrapping paper through a suction hole opened in the garniture tape by sucking the groove space of the forming groove.

6. 6. The method for winding a filling rod according to claim 5, wherein in the suction process, a suction force is applied to the wrapping paper through a plurality of suction holes provided along an extension direction of the garniture tape.

7. 7. The method for winding a filling rod according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the wrapping step includes a cooling process for cooling the forming groove.

Citation Information

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