Suction Belt Small Openings Tobacco Fiber Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction belts in cigarette production often result in significant loss of tobacco fibers due to inefficient filtration, with up to 10% of tobacco material being suctioned through and not reaching its intended destination, leading to financial losses and quality issues.
Innovation Solution
A suction belt with openings of 0.3 mm or less across its surface, ensuring that tobacco fibers above a certain size are transported while smaller fibers and particulate matter are suctioned, reducing material loss and improving cigarette quality, achieved through a woven or knitted fabric with specific weave patterns and straight lateral peripheries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the suction belt uses a woven fabric with openings for air permeability, then tobacco and filter material can be suctioned effectively, but tobacco fibers are lost through the openings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of opening size from conventional larger openings to specifically small openings of 0.3 mm or less. This parameter change allows the suction belt to maintain air permeability for effective suction while preventing tobacco fibers from passing through, thus resolving the contradiction between suction efficiency and fiber loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific zone with small openings (0.3 mm or less) in the suction belt fabric. This localized modification of opening size in specific areas allows differentiation between allowing air passage while blocking fiber passage, addressing the contradiction between maintaining suction function and preventing material loss
2Use of energy by moving object
If the suction belt has larger openings for better air permeability, then suctioning is more efficient, but more tobacco material is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the opening size parameter to 0.3 mm or less, which is the critical threshold that maintains sufficient air permeability for vacuum suction while being small enough to block tobacco fibers. This precise parameter control resolves the contradiction between air permeability efficiency and material loss prevention
3Loss of substance
If tobacco fibers are suctioned through the belt for recycling, then material loss is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing fiber loss and then implementing complex recycling systems to recover it, the patent converts the potential harm (fiber loss) into a benefit by designing the suction belt with small openings that prevent fiber passage from the start. This eliminates the need for complex recycling infrastructure while achieving the same material retention goal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the fiber loss problem at its source by using small openings (0.3 mm or less) that prevent fibers from being suctioned through the belt in the first place. This proactive extraction of the problem eliminates the need for downstream recovery systems, reducing overall system 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
This design significantly reduces tobacco and filter material loss, enhancing the quality of cigarettes and providing cost savings by minimizing the amount of material suctioned through the belt, while maintaining reliable air permeability for efficient material transport.
Implementation Method 1
a suction belt for transporting tobacco and/or filter material in the production of cigarettes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a suction belt for transporting tobacco and/or filter material in the production of cigarettes. The suction belt has a flat belt material that is formed into a ring and has a plurality of openings that are disposed so as to be distributed across the surface of the belt material. The suction belt is characterized in that at least 75% of all openings have an available extent of 0.3 mm or less.