KR101533477B1

KR101533477B1 - Patch applicator appatratus and method

Info

Publication number: KR101533477B1
Application number: KR1020107021596A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 베르나드 탈리에르; 크리스 그랜트; 스튜어트 로버츠; 미쉘 볼로츠
Original assignee: 필립모리스 프로덕츠 에스.에이.
Priority date: 2008-03-12
Filing date: 2009-03-12
Publication date: 2015-07-03
Also published as: CN101970323B; PT2265530E; KR20100123744A; TWI494170B; EA017706B1; CN101970323A; EP2265530B1; JP2011512853A; WO2009112257A1; DK2265530T3; BRPI0909147A2; EP2265530A1; PL2265530T3; HUE026310T2; BRPI0909147A8; TW200946241A; ES2556954T3; BRPI0909147B1; JP5308463B2; EA201071061A1

Abstract

An apparatus and method for spacing a patch of a first material onto a web of a second material is provided. The web of the first material is guided via the clamping means to tighten the web of the first material. The clamping means is arranged to drive the web of the first material at a constant speed as the web of the first material is guided. The glue is attached to the web of the first material. The adhesive web of the first material is cut to form an adhesive patch of the first material. The web of the second material is guided. Finally, the adhesive patch of the first material is attached to the web of the second material. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for the manufacture of smoking articles. The method and apparatus are particularly useful for attaching a thermal conduction patch to a web of material such as paper during the manufacture of a smoking article.

Description

[0001] Patch applicator appatratus and method [0002]

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for attaching a patch of a first material spaced above a web of a second material. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for spacedly attaching a thermal conductive patch on a web of material such as paper for use in the manufacture of smoking articles.

Throughout the specification, the term " smoking article "refers not only to a conventional smoking article in which a substrate, generally a cigarette, is burnt, but also to a smoking article that is heated, heated, Other smoking articles, such as heated smoking articles, which are distillation-based smoking articles, may also be mentioned.

The method and apparatus may be used in a number of different apparatuses. For example, in the manufacture of packaging some consumer goods, it may be necessary to attach spaced patches of one package over another. In the manufacture of smoking articles it may be necessary to attach spaced patches of one material onto a web of material such as paper, such as tobacco paper or tip ping, for the addition or labeling of flavors such as methanol, for example. One material may be polypropylene.

However, the method and apparatus can also include heated smoking articles such as those described in patent applications US 4,714,082, US 5,819,751, and US 5,040,551, distillation-based smoking articles such as those described in patent application WO2009 / 02232, &Lt; / RTI > ® and the RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company of Eclipse®.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for spacedly attaching a patch of a first material onto a web of a second material, the apparatus comprising: A means for guiding a web of a first material, the clamping means being provided for driving the web, for clamping the web of the first material; means for guiding the web of glue to the web of the first material; A cutter equipped with one or more cutter blades for cutting the adhesive web of the first material to form an adhesive patch of the first material, means for guiding the web of the second material, And a transfer drum for attaching the adhesive patch of the transfer belt.

As used herein, the term "glue " is used to mean any material that adheres something, including adhesives, grasses, cements, and other sticky materials.

In one embodiment, the apparatus is for use in producing a smoking article, wherein the first material is a thermally conductive material and the second material is a paper-like material.

Preferably, the glue applicator is disposed to apply a gluing area spaced apart from the web of the first material. This is advantageous because the glue does not need to cover the entire web of the first material and only a portion of each patch of the first material adheres to the glue. Additionally, this is advantageous because there is no glue along the line where the cutter cuts the web of the first material. This prevents the cutter from solidifying with the glue. Optionally, the glue dispenser can be arranged to attach a continuous stream of glue to the web of the first material.

In one embodiment, in which the device is used in the manufacture of smoking articles, the device comprises a web of material, such as paper, to secure the thermal conduction patches spaced apart from the constituent members in the finished smoking article to a web of paper- The second glue applicator may be further provided.

Preferably, the second glue applicator is located downstream of the transfer drum. Optionally, the second glue applicator may be located upstream of the transfer drum. Preferably, the second glue applicator is arranged to attach a line of glue to a thermal conduction patch spaced on a web of paper-like material. In one embodiment of a finished smoking article comprising a combustible heat source, the second glue applicator is configured to separate the heat conduction patches from each other in a finished smoking article, Can be placed to attach a line of glue to the thermal conduction patch.

Preferably, the clamping means is guided at a variable speed depending on the length of each patch of the first material and the spacing between the patches of the first material on the web of the second material, . More preferably, the clamping means is arranged to drive the web of the first material as it is guided at a variable speed according to the ratio of the respective free conduction patch length to the length between the patches.

In one embodiment, in which the device is used in the manufacture of smoking articles, the clamping means is preferably arranged to guide at a variable rate according to the ratio of the length of each thermal conduction patch to the distance between the thermal conduction patches on a material, And is disposed to drive the web of thermally conductive material. Even more preferably, the clamping means is arranged to drive the web of thermally conductive material as it is guided at a variable rate according to the ratio of the length of each thermal conduction patch to the length of the finished smoking article without mouthpiece. Thus, the spacing of the adhesive patches of the first material on the web of the second material can be controlled by the infeed rate of the web of the second material when set by the clamping means.

In one embodiment of this device, the clamping means comprises two movable pinch drive rollers arranged to be tightened together to control the feed rate of the web of the first material. The apparatus may further comprise additional roller (s) for lifting any deflection in the web of the first material.

The apparatus may further comprise a cam for repeatedly accelerating the web of the first material downstream of the clamping means. This allows the adhesive patches to be non-uniformly spaced on the web of the second material. Thus, the size and control of the cam determines the spacing of the adhesive patches on the web of the second material. The cam can be a mechanical cam or an electric cam.

In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a perforating means for perforating the web of the second workpiece. In an embodiment in which the apparatus is used for the manufacture of a smoking article, the perforating means can be arranged to perforate the web of the second material in a direction corresponding to the circumferential direction of the finished smoking article. Optionally, the perforating means may be arranged to puncture the web of the second material in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the finished smoking article.

In one embodiment, the cutter is arranged to receive the adhesive web of the second workpiece at a constant speed. Preferably, in this embodiment, the cutter blades or the blades of the cutter are uniformly spaced. Optionally, the cutter blades or the blades of the cutter may be non-uniformly spaced. Preferably, the cutter blade moves at a constant speed relative to the adhesive web of the first material to help form a neat cut.

In a selectable embodiment, the adhesive web of the first material is arranged to be accelerated repeatedly as the adhesive web of the first material enters the cutter. This can be accomplished by placing the cutter downstream of the cam. In this embodiment, preferably, the cutter blade (s) are non-uniformly spaced with the acceleration of the web of the first material. Selectably, the cutter blade (s) can be evenly spaced. Preferably, the cutter blades move at a constant speed relative to the adhesive web of the first material to help form a neat cut.

Preferably, the means for guiding the web of the first material comprises a bobbin.

The web of the first material may comprise a ribbon, a strip, or a band. The first material and the second material may be the same material. However, more preferably, the first material and the second material are different materials. Preferably, the first material and the second material are flexible webs of material having any suitable width, length, and thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the first material is an effective thermal conductor. The first material may be a metal material. The first material may be aluminum foil. In a preferred embodiment, the second material is a paper-like material. The second material may be a cigarette paper. The second material may be other suitable rigid paper, such as a tipping paper.

The apparatus comprises means for guiding a web of a third material, which further comprises clamping means for clamping the web of the third material, arranged to drive the web of the third material at a constant speed as the web of the third material is guided An additional glue applicator for applying glue to the web of the third material, an additional cutter having one or more cutter blades for cutting the adhesive web of the third material to form an adhesive patch of the third material, An additional transfer drum may be provided for attaching the adhesive patch of the third material to the web.

In this embodiment, the patches of the first material and the patches of the third material may be individually attached to the web of the second material. The two types of patches can have arbitrary positions and sizes. The first material and the third material may be the same or different. The web of the third material may comprise a ribbon, strip, or band. The third material may be a flexible web of material having any suitable width, length, and thickness.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for spacedly attaching a patch of a first material onto a web of a second material comprising a first web of material Means for guiding the web of the first material, the clamping means being for clamping the web of the first material, arranged to drive the web; a glue applicator for applying glue to the web of the first material; Means for guiding the web of the first material, and means for receiving the adhesive web of the first material to form an adhesive patch of the first material, cutting the adhesive web of the first material to form an adhesive web of the first material, And cutting and conveying means arranged to attach the adhesive patch of the first material to the web of the material. The apparatus further comprises a cam positioned upstream of the cutting and conveying means and arranged to accelerate the adhesive web of the first material repeatedly as the cam is injected into the cutting and conveying means, 1 to form two different gaps between the adhesive patches of the material.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for spacedly attaching a thermal conductive patch on a web of paper-like material for use in the manufacture of smoking articles, the apparatus comprising a web of thermally conductive material Means for guiding a web of a thermally conductive material comprising clamping means for clamping a web of thermally conductive material disposed to drive a web of thermally conductive material at a constant rate; A glue applicator, a cutter for cutting the adhesive web of thermally conductive material to form an adhesive patch of a thermally conductive material, means for guiding the web of material such as paper, and a web of thermally conductive material And a transfer drum for attaching the adhesive patch.

Preferably, the clamping means is arranged to drive the web of thermally conductive material as it is guided at a variable rate according to the ratio of the required length of each thermal conduction patch to the gap between the thermal conduction patches on the web of material such as paper do. Thus, spacing of the adhesive patches of the thermally conductive material on a web of paper-like material can be controlled by the infusion rate of the web of thermally conductive material, such as is set by the clamping means.

In one embodiment, the apparatus may further comprise perforation means for perforating the web of material such as paper. The perforating means can be arranged to perforate a web of paper-like material in a direction corresponding to the circumferential direction of the finished smoking article. Optionally, the perforating means can be arranged to puncture a web of paper-like material in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the finished smoking article.

The web of thermally conductive material may comprise a ribbon, strip, or band. The web of material such as paper may have ribbons, strips, or bands. Preferably, the materials such as thermally conductive material and paper are flexible webs of material having any suitable width, length, and thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the thermally conductive material is a metal material. The thermally conductive material is an aluminum foil. In a preferred embodiment, a material such as paper may be a cigarette paper. The second material may be other suitable rigid paper, such as a tipping paper.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for attaching a patch of a first material on a web of a second material spaced apart, the method comprising the steps of: Guiding the web of the first material through a clamping means for tightening the web of the first material disposed to drive the web; applying glue to the web of the first material; forming an adhesive patch of the first material; Cutting the adhesive web of the first material to guide the web of the second material, and attaching the adhesive patch of the first material to the web of the second material.

Preferably, applying the glue to the web of the first material comprises applying a second glue area to the web of the first material. This is advantageous since it is not necessary to cover all the webs of the first material. It is also advantageous because there is no glue along the line where the cutter cuts the web. This prevents the cutter from solidifying with the glue. The spacing of the glue regions may be equal to the required first material patch size. Optionally, applying glue to the web of the first material may comprise attaching a continuous stream of glue to the web of the first material.

Preferably, attaching the adhesive patch of the first material to the web of the second material comprises attaching an adhesive patch of the first material spaced apart from the web of the second material. The adhesive patch of the first material can be uniformly spaced from the web of the second material. Optionally, the adhesive patch of the first material may be unevenly spaced in the web of the second material.

The adhesive patches of the first material may all be the same size. The adhesive patch of the first material may be of different sizes.

The web of first material may comprise a ribbon, strip, or band. The web of second material may comprise a ribbon, strip, or band. The first material and the second material may be the same material. However, more preferably, the first material and the second material may be different materials. Preferably, the first material and the second material are flexible webs of a material having any suitable width, length, and thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the first material is an effective thermal conductor. The first material may be a metal material. The first material may be aluminum foil. In a preferred embodiment, the second material is a paper-like material. The second material may be a cigarette paper. The second material may be other suitable rigid paper, such as a tipping paper.

Guiding the web of the third material through the additional clamping means for tightening the web of the third material arranged to drive the web of the third material at a constant speed as the web of the third material is guided, A step of applying glue to the web of the third material, a step of cutting the adhesive web of the third material to form an adhesive patch of the third material, and a step of attaching the adhesive patch of the third material to the web of the second material Respectively.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for spacedly attaching a thermal conductive patch on a web of material such as paper for use in the manufacture of smoking articles wherein the web of thermally conductive material is guided Conducting web of thermally conductive material through clamping means for clamping the web of thermally conductive material disposed to drive the web of thermally conductive material at a constant rate; applying glue to the web of thermally conductive material; Cutting the adhesive web of thermally conductive material to form an adhesive patch of conductive material, guiding the web of material such as paper, and attaching a patch of thermally conductive material to the web of the second material do.

The web of thermally conductive material may comprise a ribbon, strip, or band. The web of material such as paper may have ribbons, strips, or bands. Preferably, the materials such as thermally conductive material and paper are flexible webs of material having any suitable width, length, and thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the thermally conductive material is a metal material. The thermally conductive material may be aluminum foil. In a preferred embodiment, a material such as paper may be a cigarette paper. The second material may be other suitable rigid paper, such as a tipping paper.

The features described in one aspect of the present invention may be applied to another aspect of the present invention.

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for attaching a patch of a first material on a web of a second material spaced apart.

The present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows a distillation-based smoking article.
Figures 2a, 2b and 2c show the steps performed by the apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of the device.
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the device.
Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the device.

As described above, the present invention provides an apparatus and a method for spacing a patch of a first material on a web of a second material. Particularly useful applications of the apparatus and methods of the present invention are the use of distillation based as described in patent application WO < RTI ID = 0.0 > 390828, < / RTI > US 5,819,751, and US 5,040,551, Of smokers and trade names Premier® and Eclipse® Cigarette paper, or tipping paper onto a web of paper-like material for use in making heated cigarettes such as those sold by the Reynolds Tobacco Company.

The distillation-based smoking article described in WO2009 / 022232 is shown in Fig. The smoking article 101 includes a combustible heat source 103, an aerosol generating substrate 105, an elongated expansion chamber 107 enclosed within the outer paper cover 111, and a mouth piece 109 coaxially and adjacently aligned do. The combustible heat source (103) is cylindrical and has a central air flow passage (113) extending in the longitudinal direction through the heat source (103). The aerosol generating substrate 105 is located downstream of the combustible heat source 103 and has a cylindrical plug with glycerin as an aerosol generator and made of a homogenous tobacco material 115 bounded by a plug cover 117. A thermally conductive material 119 comprised of an aluminum foil lid contacts and surrounds the rear portion of the combustible heat source 103 and is adjacent to the front portion of the aerosol generating substrate 105. The elongated expansion chamber 107 has a cardboard 121 which is located downstream of the aerosol generating substrate 105 and which is a tube with a cylindrical open end. The mouthpiece 109 has a cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate tow 123 positioned downstream of the expansion chamber 107 and delimited by a filter plug lid 125. In this embodiment, the outer paper lid 111 has a perforation 127 near its circumference at the near upstream of the heat conducting member 119. The smoking article 101 is bounded by a tipping finger 129.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a special distillation-based smoking article. However, various variations are possible. For example, one or more modifications may be made if necessary. The heat source may have additional or differently disposed air flow channels. The aerosol generating substrate may be of any suitable material. Additional aerosol substrates may also be included, including other tobacco materials or flavors. A barrier material may be included between the heat source and the aerosol generating substrate. Two short chambers may be provided instead of one expansion chamber. Any suitable mouthpiece may be provided or omitted altogether. Tipping papers can be omitted. The perforations can be omitted or positioned adjacent the thermally conductive material so that the consumer can see the aluminum foil through the perforation. Or the perforations may extend in the longitudinal direction instead of around the circumference of the smoking article.

The apparatus and method of the present invention can be used during manufacture of the smoking article of Figure 1 for attaching an aluminum foil to a paper web to form a thermal burning material 119.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate one embodiment of the method of the present invention for attaching an aluminum foil to a paper web to form a thermally conductive material 119 on a smoking article, such as the smoking article shown in FIG. Fig.

2A, the glue region 201 is periodically attached to the web of the first material in the form of an aluminum foil web 203. In this embodiment, the width 501 of the web 203 corresponds to the circumference of the finished smoking article. In this embodiment, the periodicity of the glue region corresponds to the required length of each thermal charging member 119 in the finished smoking article (see FIG. 1). Optionally, a continuous stream of glue may be attached to the aluminum foil web 203.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the aluminum foil web is cut into individual adhesive patches of a first material in the form of aluminum patches 205, each patch forming a heat conducting member 119 in the finished smoking article. Each of the patches 205 includes an adhesive area 207. [ In this embodiment, the width 501 of each patch 205 corresponds to the circumference of the finished smoking article. In this embodiment, the height 503 of each patch 205, which is the same as the periodicity of the glue region, corresponds to the required length of the heat conducting member 119 in the finished smoking article (see FIG. 1).

Referring to FIG. 2C, an aluminum patch 205 is attached to the paper web 209. Since the adhesive zone 207 is shown in phantom in FIG. 2C and the patch is rotated, each adhesive zone is on the back side of the aluminum patch 205 to attach the aluminum patch 205 to the paper web 209 . In addition, additional glue lines 210 are attached to each aluminum patch 205. This additional glue line may be used to secure the aluminum patch 205 to the heat source 103. Referring to Figure 1, the glue line 210 is preferably positioned between the front end of the aluminum and the back end of the heat source to secure the aluminum patch to the downstream end of the heat source 103. In this embodiment, the width 501 + 505 of the paper web 209 corresponds to the sum of the circumference 501 of the finished smoking article and the margin 505 for glue application. A perforation line 211 corresponding to the perforation 127 in the finished smoking article (see Fig. 1) may also be attached.

In FIG. 2C, the patches 205 are non-uniformly spaced from the paper web 209. In fact, there are two different intervals 507 and 509 between the patches. This arrangement is particularly advantageous as described below. It is common to form a rod of a length twice as long as a smoking article in the manufacture of a smoking article. This double rod length is cut into two pieces, the double-length filter mouth piece is inserted in the center and fixed together with the tip ping, and the smoking article, which is twice as long as the whole, is cut to form two smoking articles. In this arrangement, the rods of the smoking article each twice the length should be arranged in the reverse order of the other half of the members. Thereby, when the filter mouthpiece is inserted into the center, two correct smoking articles are produced. Thus, the aluminum patch 205 on the paper web will need to have two different gaps as shown in Fig. 2C. The first spacing 507 corresponds to the spacing between aluminum patches in one double-length rod. The second spacing 509 corresponds to the spacing between the heat conducting patches on the adjacent rods. The spacing of the patches 205 on the paper web 209 will be further described below.

3 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus 301 includes a back plate 303, means for guiding the aluminum foil web in the form of an aluminum foil inlet 305 from an aluminum foil feed bobbin 311, an aluminum foil dancing roller 309 (dancing roller) A means for guiding the paper web in the form of a paper feed inlet 319 and a paper feed drum 321, a feed drum in the form of a patch feed drum 323, and a paper outlet 325 . In Figure 3, the thick line indicates the web of aluminum foil, the thin line is used to direct the paper web, and the thin line with spaced thick lines indicates a web of paper having an attached patch of aluminum foil do.

The operation of the apparatus of Figure 3 is as follows. The aluminum foil web is fed from the supply bobbin 307 to the injection port 305. The aluminum foil web is then fed around the dancing roller 309 and can be moved up and down to affect the tension in the foil web, as shown by the arrows. The aluminum foil web is then fed through a stationary roller 313 to the pinch drive roller 311 in the direction of the arrow. The stationary roller 313 may also be known as free floating idle rollers. The pinch drive roller 311 drives the first material web at the correct speed and the dancer roller 309 lifts any slack in the incoming web. More specifically, the two pinch drive rollers can engage with each other to engage and secure the incoming web, so that the first material is metered at the correct speed. The dancing roller 309 ensures tension in the web by lifting any slack. In this embodiment, the infusion rate of the incoming aluminum web is determined by the ratio of the patch length to the length of the smoking article without mouthpiece. The injection speed of the aluminum web is set by the pinch drive roller 311 in accordance with this ratio.

Following pinch drive roller 311, glue applicator 315 attaches a continuous or intermittent stream of glue zone 201 or glue line, or glue towards the web, as shown in FIG. 2A. Glue applicator 315 may be constantly in contact with the web as it passes through the web. If a region of the glue is needed, it can be set rather than a stream of continuous glue, for example by regularly varying glue control. This can be electronically controlled.

The bonded aluminum foil web then advances toward the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323. The patch cutting drum 317 has one or more blades parallel to the drum axis to cut the aluminum foil web substantially perpendicular to its length. As the bonded aluminum foil web passes between the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323, the web is cut into individual aluminum patches 205 as shown in FIG. 2B. Preferably, a suction is attached to the inlet of the patch delivery drum 323 to attach the web and patch to the drum. The blades preferably move alongside the aluminum foil web when cutting the aluminum foil web to ensure knit cut. In other words, the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323 preferably move at the same speed on their surfaces. Individual patches (the glue side externally) pass clockwise around the patch delivery drum. Preferably, air is sent outward at the exit of the patch delivery drum 323, which helps the patch to move away from the drum. The paper is fed from the paper supply bobbin (not shown) into the injection drum 321. As the paper comes into contact with the individual aluminum patches 205 on the patch delivery drum 323, the patches are attached to the paper. Air sent from the outlet of the patch delivery drum 323 toward the outside helps to attach the patch to the paper. The glue may be dried by a heater (not shown).

Once the patch is attached to the paper, the perforation means 327 forms a perforation in the paper web (as shown at 211 in FIG. 2C). This forms a perforation in the finished smoking article (see (127) in FIG. 1). As already mentioned, the perforations can extend along the longitudinal axis of the smoking article instead of around the circumference of the article, in which case the perforating means 327 can be set accordingly. The perforations may allow the user to remove a portion of the paper wrapper from the heat source. This prevents the paper package from burning when the smoking article is ignited. The perforations can be selectively attached to individual units consisting of a knife and counter drum upstream or downstream of the transport drum 323.

Glue applicator 329 is used to attach an additional line of glue to each patch (see (210) in FIG. 2C). This glue line can be used to fix the patch to the heat source, to collect constituent members, and to maintain the integrity of the smoking article. If the perforations extend in the lengthwise direction of the smoking article, the user can tear off the paper wrapper on the heat source by ripping along the perforation from the upstream end. The glue line will prevent the entire paper package from being removed. Glue applicator 329 may be used to apply any glue required for the next step in the manufacturing process. To seal the glue applicator 329 when not in use, the removable pad contacts the paper and presses one patch against the glue gun nozzle to prevent the glue from drying.

Additional units (not shown) may be provided to attach prints or other indicia to the paper web in front of the injection port 319 or within the area of the additional glue applicator 329.

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Suitably, the same reference numerals as in Fig. 3 have been used. In addition, as in Figure 3, a thick line was used to direct the web of aluminum foil, a thin line was used to direct the web of paper, and a thin line with spaced thick portions was used to direct the aluminum foil &Lt; / RTI > was used to designate a web of paper having an attached patch of < RTI ID = 0.0 > The apparatus 301 'includes an aluminum foil inlet 305, an aluminum foil dancing roller 309, a pinch drive roller 311, a stationary roller 313, a glue applicator 304, a backing plate 303, an aluminum foil supply bobbin 307, The paper feed inlet 321, the patch feed drum 323, the paper outlet 325, the perforating means 327, and the additional glue applicator 329, the paper cutting insert 315, the patch cutting drum 317, the paper inlet 319, . However, in the present embodiment, the device additionally comprises an electronic cam (cam) 401 (shown schematically in Fig. 4).

The operation of the apparatus of FIG. 4 is as follows. An aluminum foil web is fed from the supply bobbin 307 to the injection port 305. The aluminum foil web is then fed around a dancing roller 309 which can move up and down to exert a tensile force within the foil web. Then, the aluminum foil web is fed in the direction of the arrow to the pinch drive roller 311 via the stationary roller 313. The pinch drive roller 311 drives the first material web at the correct feed rate and the dancer roller 309 lifts any slack in the incoming web. Pinch Drive Roller 311 Next, an aluminum foil web is applied to the glue zone 201 or a line of glue, or glue applicator 315, to attach a continuous or intermittent glue stream towards the web, as shown in FIG. 2A And is supplied via the cam 401.

The bonded aluminum foil web then advances toward the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323. As the bonded aluminum foil web passes between the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323, the web is cut into individual aluminum patches as shown in Figure 2b. Alternatively, the suction portion may be attached to the inlet of the patch delivery drum 323 to attach the web and patch to the drum. On the other hand, the patch delivery drum 323 and the cutting drum 317 preferably move at the same speed at the surface, and ensure cut cut. Individual patches (the glue side externally) pass clockwise around the patch delivery drum. On the other hand, air is sent out from the outlet of the patch delivery drum 323, which helps the patch to move away from the drum. The paper is fed from the paper supply bobbin (not shown) into the injection drum 321. As the paper is brought into contact with the individual aluminum patches 205 on the patch delivery drum 323, the patches are attached to the paper as shown in FIG. 2C. Once the patch is attached to the paper, the perforating means 327 forms a perforation in the paper web. Glue applicator 329 may be used to apply an additional line of glue to each patch or any glue required for the next step in the manufacturing process. Additional units (not shown) may be provided to attach prints or other indicia to the paper web in front of the injection port 319 or within the area of the additional glue applicator 329.

In the embodiment of Figure 3, the infusion rate of the incoming aluminum web is determined by the ratio of the patch length to the length of the smoking article without mouthpiece. The injection speed of the aluminum web is set by the pinch drive roller 311 in accordance with this ratio. Also, as the paper web advances faster, the patches are attached to maintain the same attachment pitch (periodicity). In this case, at the same rate, the aluminum foil patch will be evenly spaced on the paper (i.e., not shown in FIG. 2C).

However, in order to have a variable periodicity, the speed of the aluminum web must be constantly changed. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the pinch drive roller 311 injects the web at a constant speed and the electronic cam 401 enables a variable periodicity as shown in Figure 2c. With the force of the cam 401, the tensile force in the web changes periodically. The pinch drive roller 311 operates to adjust the constant injection speed at the pinch drive roller 311 to a variable injection speed at the patch delivery drum 323. [ The dancing roller 309 lifts any slack. There is no backward motion to soak up the glue patch. The cam 401 is adjusted to the speed of the transfer drum so that the aluminum web is not pulled back faster than the speed at which the transfer drum pushes forward. Thus, the infusion rate of the incoming aluminum web is set by the pinch drive roller 311 and is determined by the ratio of the patch length to the length of the smoking article without the mouthpiece, and the cam 401 has two And the dancing roller 309 lifts the slack in the web as the tensile force varies.

This allows the apparatus to produce a patch paper web with alternating large and small gaps between the patches, as shown in Fig. 2c.

The cam profile programmed in the pinch drive roller 311 may be varied to change the size of two different intervals 507 and 509 between the patches. If two or more different spacings are required, the electronic cam can be properly controlled.

Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention. Suitably, the same reference numerals as in Figs. 3 and 4 have been used. In addition, as in Figures 3 and 4, a thick line was used to direct the web of aluminum foil, a thin line was used to direct the web of paper, and a thin line with a thickened portion Was used to designate a paper web having an attached patch of aluminum foil. The apparatus 301 " comprises an aluminum foil inlet 305, an aluminum foil dancing roller 309, a pinch drive roller 311, a stationary roller 313, a glue dispenser 305, a backing plate 303, an aluminum foil feed bobbin 307, The paper feeding hole 321, the patch feeding drum 323, the paper discharging port 325, the punching means 327, and the additional glue dispenser 315, the patch cutting drum 317, the paper inlet 319, 329). In this embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a mechanical cam mechanism 601 composed of a stationary roller 603 and a movable roller 605.

Operation of the apparatus of FIG. 5 is as follows. An aluminum foil web is fed from the supply bobbin 307 to the injection port 305. The aluminum foil web is then fed around a dancing roller 309 which can move up and down to exert a tensile force within the foil web. Then, the aluminum foil web is fed in the direction of the arrow to the pinch drive roller 311 via the stationary roller 313. After the pinch drive roller 311, an aluminum foil web is fed through the cam mechanism 601. [

The cam mechanism 601 has a first fixed wheel 603 having a protrusion 603a and a second wheel 605 on the movable frame 605a. The fixed wheel 603 rotates and the frame 605a and the roller 605 move up and away from the roller 605 (see arrows) when the projection 603a is adjacent to the frame 605a. This creates a long avenue for the incoming web. Then, as the stationary wheel continues to rotate, the protrusion 603a rotates past the frame 605a, at which time the frame 605a and the roller 605 return back to their original position (see arrow) . This returns the incoming web to its original path. The injection speed of the incoming aluminum web is determined by the ratio of the patch length to the length of the smoking article without mouthpiece, the pinch drive roller drives the web, the cam mechanism forms two gaps between the patches, (309) lifts the slack in the web as the tensile force changes.

The cam mechanism 601 is followed by a glue applicator 315 that attaches a continuous or intermittent stream of glue zone 201 or glue line or glue towards the web, Lt; / RTI > To prevent the glue from becoming dirty, the aluminum web is not pulled back over the gun nozzle. The bonded aluminum foil web then advances toward the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323. As the bonded aluminum foil web passes between the patch cutting drum 317 and the patch delivery drum 323, the web is cut into individual aluminum patches 205 as shown in FIG. 2B. Alternatively, the suction portion may be attached to the inlet of the patch delivery drum 323 to attach the web and patch to the drum. On the other hand, the patch delivery drum 323 and the cutting drum 317 preferably move at the same speed at the surface, so that the cutting blade moves alongside the aluminum foil web and ensures a cut. Individual patches (the glue side externally) pass clockwise around the patch delivery drum. On the other hand, air is sent out from the outlet of the patch delivery drum 323, which helps the patch to move away from the drum.

The paper is fed from the paper supply bobbin (not shown) into the injection drum 321. As the paper is brought into contact with the individual aluminum patches 205 on the patch delivery drum 323, the patches are attached to the paper as shown in FIG. 2C. Once the patch is attached to the paper, the perforating means 327 forms a perforation in the paper web. Glue applicator 329 may be used to apply an additional line of glue to each patch or any glue required for the next step in the manufacturing process. Additional units (not shown) may be provided to attach prints or other indicia to the paper web in front of the injection port 319 or within the area of the additional glue applicator 329.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the mechanical cam mechanism 601 enables a variable periodicity as shown in Figure 2c. As the cam mechanism operates, the incoming web is accelerated repeatedly. The tensile force in the web is kept constant downstream of the cam mechanism 601. [ The pinch drive roller 311 operates to connect a constant injection speed at the pinch drive roller 311 at a variable injection speed in the patch delivery drum 323.

This allows the apparatus to produce a patch paper web with alternating large and small gaps between the patches, as shown in Figure 2c. The operation of the cam mechanism 601, in particular the size and rotational speed of the cam, can be varied to change the size of the two different intervals 507, 509 between the patches. If two or more different spaces are required, additional cams may be used as needed.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 the spacing of the blades on the cutting drum must be carefully considered so that the web is cut correctly.

The present invention describes a device for attaching a patch of a first material on a web of a second material, spaced apart, for use in the manufacture of a smoking article. However, the present invention can be used wherever a patch of one material is needed for another material. One application of this is in the packaging of some consumer products, such as in the wrapping paper. The two materials may have ribbons, strips, or bands. The two material webs are generally similar to sheets and may have any suitable length, width, and thickness. The two material webs can be wound onto rollers or drums as desired. The first material and the second material may be different materials or the same material.

Claims

An apparatus for attaching a patch of a first material on a web of a second material in a spaced-
And a clamping means for clamping the web of the first material, the clamping means being arranged to drive the web of the first material at a constant speed as the web of the first material is guided Means;
A cam for repeatedly accelerating the web of the first material downstream of the clamping means;
A glue dispenser for applying a glue to the web of the first material;
A cutter having at least one cutter blade for cutting the adhesive web of the first material to form an adhesive patch of the first material;
Means for guiding the web of the second material; And
And a transfer drum for attaching the adhesive patch of the first material to the web of the second material.

The device of claim 1, wherein the first material is a thermally conductive material and the second material is a paper-like material for use in the manufacture of a smoking article.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the glue applicator is disposed to apply the gluing area to the web of the first material in a spaced-apart manner.

The article of claim 2, further comprising a second glue applicator for applying glue to a web of material such as paper to secure the thermal conduction patch spaced apart from the component in the finished smoking article to a web of material such as paper .

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the singulated clamping means is driven at a variable speed according to the ratio of the length of each thermal conduction patch to the spacing between the thermal conduction patches on the same material as the paper, The device being arranged to

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a perforation means for perforating the web of the second material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a perforating means for perforating the web of the second material in a direction corresponding to the circumferential direction of the finished smoking article.

The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a perforating means for perforating the web of the second material in a direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the finished smoking article.

The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising clamping means for clamping the web of the third material, arranged to drive the web of the third material at a constant speed as the web of the third material is guided, Means for guiding a web of a third material;
An additional glue applicator for applying glue to the web of said third material;
An additional cutter having at least one cutter blade for cutting the adhesive web of the third material to form an adhesive patch of the third material; And
Further comprising an additional transfer drum for attaching an adhesive patch of a third material to the web of the second material.

A device for use in the manufacture of smoking articles for attaching a thermal conductive patch on a web of material such as paper in a spaced apart manner and arranged to drive the web of thermally conductive material at a constant rate as the web of thermally conductive material is guided A means for guiding a web of thermally conductive material comprising clamping means for clamping the web of thermally conductive material;
A glue applicator for applying glue to the web of the thermally conductive material,
A cutter for cutting the adhesive web of the thermally conductive material to form an adhesive patch of the thermally conductive material;
Means for guiding a web of material such as paper, and
And a transfer drum for attaching an adhesive patch of the thermally conductive material to a web of the same material as the paper.

As a method for attaching the patch of the first material on the web of the second material spaced apart,
Guiding the web of the first material through clamping means for clamping the web of the first material, which is arranged to drive the web of the first material at a constant speed as the web of the first material is guided;
Repeatedly accelerating the web of the first material downstream of the clamping means by a cam;
Applying glue to the web of the first material;
Cutting the adhesive web of the first material to form an adhesive patch of the first material;
Guiding the web of the second material; And
And attaching an adhesive patch of the first material to the web of the second material.

A method for manufacturing a smoking article for attaching a heat conduction patch on a web such as paper in a spaced manner,
Conducting a web of thermally conductive material through a clamping means for clamping the web of thermally conductive material disposed to drive the web of thermally conductive material at a constant rate as the web of thermally conductive material is guided;
Repeatedly accelerating the web of thermally conductive material downstream of the clamping means by a cam;
Applying glue to the web of thermally conductive material;
Cutting the adhesive web of thermally conductive material to form an adhesive patch of the thermally conductive material;
Guiding a web of the same material as the paper; And
Attaching an adhesive patch of a thermal conductive material to the web of the second material.

delete