Rod-Like Article Tip Crimping With Concave Pressing Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tobacco industry rod-like articles face issues with filling materials falling out of the wrapper and neighboring elements entering thin-walled tubes, leading to lower quality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for forming crimped tips on rod-like articles, using rotary drum conveyors and pressing elements with concave or spherical forming surfaces to crimp the ends, preventing filling materials from escaping and restricting neighboring segments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the glue is not strong enough or the wrapper is not tightened to a sufficient degree, then the rod-like article is easier to manufacture, but the filling material falls out of the wrapper resulting in lower quality
Solution Approach 1:
The tip forming device performs crimping action on the wrapper at the tip region before the filling material could potentially escape. This preliminary mechanical reinforcement prevents the need for excessive glue or tight wrapping, while ensuring filling material retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the physical state of the wrapper material by applying localized pressure and deformation (crimping) to transform it into a reinforced structure that prevents filling material escape, thereby improving quality without compromising ease of manufacture.
2Device complexity
If thin walled tubes are used as distance elements in multi-segment mouthpieces, then the device complexity is reduced, but the neighbouring element may enter into the thin walled tube
Solution Approach 1:
The tip forming device creates a crimped tip structure on thin-walled tubes before they are assembled into multi-segment mouthpieces. This preliminary action reinforces the tube ends, preventing neighboring elements from entering while maintaining the simplicity of using thin-walled tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The device applies localized crimping only to the tip regions of the thin-walled tubes, leaving the main body walls thin and simple. This local reinforcement provides structural integrity where needed while maintaining overall device complexity reduction.
3Reliability
If crimped tips are formed on rod-like articles, then the filling material is prevented from falling out, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tip forming device processes multiple rod-like articles simultaneously using multiple pressing elements arranged in parallel. This segmentation of the processing function allows crimping of multiple items in one operational cycle, reducing the impact on overall manufacturing complexity while ensuring quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing elements with concave or spherical forming surfaces can process different types of rod-like articles (cigarettes, filter rods, mouthpieces) with a single device configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized equipment for each product type, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
The crimped tips effectively prevent filling materials from falling out and ensure proper alignment of neighboring segments, enhancing the quality and efficiency of rod-like articles.
Implementation Method 1
pressing elements (32, 33) which are movable towards and away from each other in a moving direction parallel to the axis of the flute (28) and towards and away from the rod-like article (1)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
A device for forming tips of a rod-like article, characterized in that it comprises: a drum conveyor (26) having at least one flute (28) for transferring the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15) transversally to an axis (k) of the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15), wherein the flute (28) for transferring the rod-like article (1, 5, 10, 15) is configured to move along a first circular path (s); a first pressing element (32, 51) configured to move along a second circular path (r) and a second pressing element (33, 45, 53) configured to move along a third circular path (t), wherein the third circular path (t) is located opposite to the second circular path (s) with respect to the first circular path (r), wherein the first pressing element (32, 51) and the second pressing element (33, 45, 53) form a pair (34, 47, 50) of the pressing elements located opposite to each other, wherein at least one pressing element (32, 33, 51, 53) of the pair (34, 47, 50) of the pressing elements (32, 33, 45, 51, 53) has a concave forming surface (35, 36, 52, 54), wherein the pressing elements (32, 33, 45, 51, 53) are configured to move linearly along an axis (Y) of the flute (28) that is transverse to the first circular path (s) towards and away from each other, wherein the first circular path (s), the second circular path (r) and the third circular path (t) are arranged coaxially.