Cigarette Maker With Modular Garniture And Single Motor Drive

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current cigarette manufacturing machinery is complex, costly, and inefficient due to the need for multiple motors, cumbersome metering drums with sharp needles or blades, and time-consuming format changes and cleaning processes, especially when handling sticky filler materials like cannabis-based products.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of cavity drums with triangular cavities for handling smaller particles, a modular garniture format parts bank for quick replacement, and a single motor system using a spline shaft to drive both the cutting knife and acceleration wheel, along with carbide cutting knives that eliminate the need for sharpening tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional metering drums with needles or blades are used, then long fiber filler material can be processed, but smaller particles including dust cannot be handled effectively and cleaning becomes hazardous and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling of smaller particlesVSAvoidcleaning hazard and difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The metering drum surface is segmented into multiple cavities instead of using continuous needles or blades. Each cavity acts as an independent particle receptacle, allowing small particles to be captured and held securely. This segmentation enables effective handling of smaller particles while making the surface easier to clean by preventing material from becoming trapped in complex needle arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using protruding needles or blades that extend outward from the drum surface, the invention inverts the approach by creating cavities that indent into the drum surface. This inversion eliminates the sharp, hazardous elements while maintaining the metering function, as particles are captured in the cavity depressions rather than on sharp protrusions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If garniture format parts are fixed to machine bed for stable operation, then cigarette rod production is reliable, but format changes require stopping machine and replacing individual parts which is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecigarette rod production stabilityVSAvoidformat change time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The garniture format parts are segmented into modular assemblies that can be independently replaced. Each module contains specific format components that can be pre-assembled and tested separately, then quickly installed on the machine as complete units rather than individual parts, reducing format change time while maintaining production stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Format changeover components are prepared in advance as pre-assembled modules with all necessary adjustments pre-configured. This preliminary preparation allows operators to simply swap complete modules rather than assembling and adjusting individual parts during format changes, significantly reducing downtime while ensuring reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If multiple motors are used to drive cutting knife and acceleration wheel separately, then precise control of each component is achieved, but machine size and cost increase making it unfeasible for lower cost cigarette products

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting and acceleration control precisionVSAvoidmachine size and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the drive functions for the cutting knife and acceleration wheel into a single motor system. The motor is coupled through a transmission mechanism that distributes power to both components, eliminating the need for separate motors while maintaining precise control of each element through synchronized mechanical coupling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

A single motor is designed to perform multiple functions by driving both the cutting knife and acceleration wheel through an integrated transmission system. This multi-functional approach reduces the total number of motors required, decreasing machine size and cost while maintaining the precision needed for both cutting and acceleration operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This design simplifies the handling and cleaning of machinery, reduces downtime, and enhances production efficiency by allowing for quick format changes and precise cutting operations, making the process more cost-effective and suitable for high-speed cigarette production.

Implementation Method 1

the filler material will adhere to the conveyor by the means of a vacuum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

cavity drums with triangular cavities for handling smaller particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11819050B2Cigarette maker

Publication Date: 2023.11.21 KORBER TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A system for manufacturing cigarettes is provided. The system can include an easily removable and/or replaceable metering device that use a cavity drum to dispense a filler material, a modular garniture format parts bank that can be removed and replaced as a single unit from the cigarette manufacturing machinery, and a cutter head having components operated with a single motor that turns a spline shaft.