Vertical Filter Filling Machine Precision Dosing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for producing composite cigarette filters often damage the paper filter tubes, result in imprecise granular material deposition, generate fine dust, and suffer from cross-contamination, leading to inefficient and contaminated filter production.

Innovation Solution

A vertical filter filling machine that uses preformed paper tubes with hollow ends and a solid cellulose acetate center, which are filled with metered granular material and sealed with solid filter segments, maintaining tube integrity through coordinated movement and precise dosing, and producing compound filters with minimal contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If granular filter material is directly flowed from a storage hopper into a vertically oriented filter tube, then the production process is simple, but the integrity of the paper filter tube is destroyed and imprecise amounts of granular material are deposited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidgranular material deposition precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (rotating plate with cavities) between the storage hopper and the filter tube. The cavities on the rotating plate precisely measure and contain specific amounts of granular material before transferring it to the filter tube, thereby achieving precise dosing while maintaining a relatively simple overall process structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the granular material deposition process into discrete cavities on a rotating plate. Each cavity holds a precise amount of material, and the segmented delivery mechanism ensures accurate placement into the filter tube without direct flowing, thus improving precision while keeping the device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If granular filter material is directly flowed into a filter tube, then the process is fast, but fine dust and cross contamination are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction rateVSAvoidfine dust and cross contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The rotating plate with cavities serves as an intermediary that contains and controls the granular material during transfer. This intermediate containment prevents material from scattering as fine dust and eliminates cross-contamination between different filter tubes, while the rapid rotation of the plate maintains high production rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cavities on the rotating plate act as flexible containment structures that hold the granular material securely during transfer. These cavity structures prevent material escape and dust generation while allowing rapid, controlled delivery to multiple filter tubes in sequence, maintaining productivity without harmful byproducts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Manufacturing precision

If the filter tube is filled with granular material and solid filter segments, then precise dosing is achieved, but the process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedosing precisionVSAvoidprocess complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the filling process into distinct phases: granular material deposition in cavities, then sequential placement of solid filter segments. This segmentation allows precise dosing of each material type while organizing the complexity into manageable, repeatable steps that occur during the rotation of the plate through different positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotating plate mechanism enables continuous operation where granular material is deposited, then solid filter segments are placed, all during the continuous rotation through various positions. This continuous process achieves precise dosing of multiple materials without stopping, thereby managing process complexity through smooth, uninterrupted operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 machine efficiently produces multiple cavity cigarette filters with precise dosing and minimal contamination, maintaining filter tube integrity and reducing dust and scatter, enabling high-rate production of clean and precise filters.

Implementation Method 1

A predetermined amount of granular material is withdrawn by suction from a source of such material, and the predetermined amount of material is deposited into an upper open end of the filter tube

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentUS7479099B2Vertical filter filling machine and process

Publication Date: 2009.01.20 PHILIP MORRIS USA INC

AI summary

Process and apparatus for the mass production of compound cigarette filters function to deposit granular filter material into the open ends of vertically oriented filter tubes. Predetermined amounts of diverse granular material are withdrawn by suction from sources of such material, and these amounts are deposited into the tubes. Solid filter segments seal the granular material within the tube. After one half of each filter tube is filled with granular material and sealed, the tube is inverted and the opposite end is filled in substantially the same manner. When cut in half each filter tube produces two cigarette filters.