WO2015001316A1

WO2015001316A1 - Curling machine

Info

Publication number: WO2015001316A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/051954
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steven Holford
Original assignee: British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
Priority date: 2013-07-03
Filing date: 2014-06-26
Publication date: 2015-01-08
Also published as: GB201311948D0

Abstract

A curling machine for curling sheet material that has first and second patterned and unpatterned surface portions, includes a curling bar that has a first region including a curling edge over which the second portion of the sheet material can be slid so as to impart a curl thereto in said first surface region, and a second region so configured that the first portion of the sheet material can pass without substantial sliding frictional engagement with said second region. The curling bar may be used in cigarette making machine for curling a sheet wrapper for cigarettes.

Description

CURLING MACHINE

Description

Field

This spedficaiion discloses a curling bar for curling sheet material, which has particular but not exclusive application to use in a machine for making smoking articles such as cigarettes.

Background

Hitherto, curling bars have been used in cigarette making machines to predispose sheet materials such as tipping paper to wrap around the cylindrical form of the cigarette during manufacture. In a typical example, the curling bar comprises a fixed longitudinal edge over which a sheet material is dragged to reduce localised stresses on one side and thereby providing the sheet material with a predisposition to curl, which facilitates wrapping the sheet material around the cylindrical body of a cigarette or like smoking article. One example of a curling bar is described in US 3,962,957.

Summary

Embodiments of a ending machine described herein for making a curled sheet wrapper include a sheet wrapper source, the sheet wrapper having first and second surface portions, and a curling bar to curl the sheet material from the source, the bar including a first region including a curling edge over which the second surface portion of the sheet material is slidable so as to impart a curl thereto in said second surface portion, and a second region so configured that the first surface portion of the sheet material can pass without substantial sliding frictional engagement with said second region, the machine being so configured as to provide the sheet wrapper curled by the curling bar and patterned and unpatterned in said first and second surface portions respectively.

The curling edge of the curling bat may have a vertex that extends Iongitudinally of the bar and the second region may include a cut-out portion in the curling edge to allow passage of the patterned portion of the sheet material.

The second region may include a rotary portion configured to rotate about an axis extending longitudinally of the curling bar. The rotary portion may have a surface pattern that is complimentary to the pattern of the patterned portion of the sheet so as to be rotated in substantial synchronism with the patterned sheet portion. A patterning station maybe provided to apply a pattern to the second surface portion of the sheet material before, during or after curling by the curling bar. In one embodiment, the wrapper has been patterned in said second surface portion offline.

The machine may be configured for making smoking articles such as cigarettes, for example to curl sheet material in the form of tipping paper which is provided with patterned and unpatterned portions.

Also described herein is a method of curling sheet material with the curling bar that includes passing the first surface portion over the second region and the second surface portion over the first region. A pattern may be applied to the first surface portion of the sheet material before, during or after curling with the curling bar, for example by embossing.

The sheet material maybe wrapped around a smoking article after curling with the curling bar, in the manufacture of the smoking article.

Also described herein is sheet material that has been curled by the aforesaid curling method.

There is also described herein a sheet wrapper and a smoking article including the sheet wrapper having first and second patterned and unpatterned surface regions that have not and have been subject to curling respectively.

Furthermore, an embodiment of curling bar is described herein for curling sheet material that has a patterned surface portions and an unpatterned portion between the patterned portions. The curling bar includes a first region including a curling edge over which the unpatterned first portion of the sheet material can be slid so as to impart a curl thereto in said first surface region, and second regions on opposite sides of the first region and so configured that the patterned portions of the sheet material can pass without substantial sliding frictional engagement whereby to maintain the pattern in the patterned portions. Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of curling bar for use in a cigarette making machine will now be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of components of a cigarette making machine that incorporates a curling bar for curling tipping paper;

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of tipping paper with patterned and unpatterned portions when passing through a curling station illustrated in Figure 1;

Figures 3a-3d illustrate stages in the manufacture of cigarettes back-to-back using a partially patterned tipping paper;

Figure 4 is a first example of a curling bar for use at the curling station in Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a second example of a curling bar for use at the curling station.

Detailed description

Referring to Figure 1, features of cigarette making machine are shown in a schematic outline, in which sheet material comprising tipping paper 1 is fed from a supply roll 2 over a guide roller 3 to a curling station 4 that includes a curling bar 5. The sheet 1 is dragged in tension over the bar 5 along a path which changes direction at the bar 5. As shown in Figure 2, the tipping paper sheet material 1 comprises first surface portions 6-1, 6-2 and second surface portions 7-1, 7-2, 7-3. In this example, the first and second surface portions 6, 7 are patterned and unpatterned respectively, with the first, patterned surface portions 6-1, 6-2 comprising parallel, longitudinal stripes that extend along the web of tipping paper 1. In this example, the embossing has been formed in a prior process by means of an embossing roller but other embossing and patterning techniques will be evident to those skilled in the art. For example the pattern may include a logo or typographic information which may be applied as a coating on either or both sides of the sheet material 1, with or without embossing. At the curling station 4, the curling bar 5 reduces localised stress in surface la of the tipping paper 1. To this end, the curling bar includes a longitudinal curling edge 8 with first regions 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 over which the second unpatterned portions 7-1, 7-2, 7-3 can be slid in frictional engagement so as to impart a curl to the tipping paper by stress release in at least its surface la. Also, the curling bar 5 includes second regions 10-1, 10-2 that are so configured that the first patterned portions 6-1, 6-2 can pass the curling bar without substantial sliding frictional engagement. In this way, the curling bar allows the pattern to remain in the patterned portions 6-1, 6-2, without being destroyed by the curling edge 8 of the curling bar 5.

A first example of the curling bar will now be described in more detail with reference to Figure 4. The curling bar 5 is generally triangular in cross section to provide the longitudinally extending vertex 8 that provides the curling edge portions 9-1, 9-2, 9-3. Portions 10-1, 10-2 that allow passage of the unpatterned portions 6-1, 6-2 comprise cut out regions 11-1, 11-2 in the vertex 8 of the curling edge. The cut out regions 11-1, 11-2 are disposed on opposite sides of the curling edge portion 9-2 so that the curling bar can be used in a process to manufacture two cigarettes back-to-back with respective patterned filters, as described in more detail hereinafter.

Another example of the curling bar 5 is illustrated in Figure 5, which includes fixed, generally oval sectioned regions 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 which correspond to the portions of the curling edge 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 shown in Figure 4. The portions 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 engage with the unpatterned portions 7-1, 7-2, 7-3 of the tipping paper 1 to impart a curl by stress release in surface la, as previously described. Between the portions 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 are arranged cylindrical, rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 that are configured to rotate about an axis X-X' that extends longitudinally of the curling bar 5. The cylindrical, rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 are each provided with a patterned cylindrical exterior surface 14-1, 14-2 that is complimentary to the embossed pattern of portions 6-1, 6-2 of the tipping paper 1. Thus, as the tipping paper 1 passes through the curling station 4, the unpatterned portions 7-1, 7-2, 7-3 pass over the fixed portions 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 of the curling edge 8 in sliding frictional engagement to release stresses in the surface la. The patterned portions 6-1, 6-2 pass over the rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 and the pattern 14-1, 14-2 engages with the corresponding pattern on regions 6-1, 6-2 such that the rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 are rotated in synchronism with the tipping paper sheet 1 as it passes through the curling station. In this way, the rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 do not degrade the patterned portions 6-1, 6-2 of the tipping paper sheet 1. The rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 are thus driven to rotate by the passage of the tipping paper 1 over the curling bar 5, but as an alternative, the rotary portions may be driven by an external motor and a servo system may be provided to control their speed of rotation to accord with the rate of travel of the tipping paper 1. Referring again to Figure 1, the tipping paper 1 passes under tension from the curling station 4 over guide rollers 15, 16 to a gluing station 17 at which an adhesive is applied to the surface la of the tipping paper. Thereafter, the tipping paper 1 passes to a cutting station 18 comprising a rotary cutting drum 19 with radially extending cutting blades 20, and a platen roller 21. The knives 20 cut the tipping paper into successive segments 1' to be wrapped around successive cigarettes at a rolling station 22.

As shown in Figure 3, the rolling station 22 is operable to wrap the successive segments 1' of tipping paper around succesive pairs of cigarettes which are assembled back-to- back. As illustrated in Figure 3A, one of the cigarette pairs includes a filter rod 23 of a length suitable for two cigarettes that is configured between first and second tobacco rods 24, 25. As well known in the art the filter rod 23 may comprise cellulose acetate tow within a plugwrap (not shown) and other filter features may be included. The tobacco rods may comprise tobacco or like smokeable material within a paper or like wrapper. The configuration of filter and tobacco rods shown in Figure 3 maybe created in a peripheral groove formed on the exterior surface of a rolling drum (not shown) in the cigarette making machine.

Then, as shown in Figure 3B, one of the cut segments 1' with a coating of glue provided by gluing station 17, is wrapped around the configuration of tobacco and filter rods, 23, 24, 25 so as to glue the tobacco rods 24, 25 to opposite ends of the filter rod 23, as shown in Figure 3C. The patterned portions 6-1, 6-2 form patterned rings around spaced regions of the filter rod 23. The resulting arrangement is then passed to a separating station 26 illustrated in Figure 1, which includes a cutting blade to cut the filter rod 23 and produce two separate cigarettes, 27, 28 as illustrated in Figure 3D each with a respective ring 6-1, 6-2 of patterned tipping paper around the cigarette filter.

In the embodiment described herein, the first and second surface portions 6, 7 are patterned and unpatterned respectively, with the pattern having been applied e.g. by embossing in a preparation step before curling with the curling bar 5 at the curling station 4. The patterning of the first surface portions 6 may be carried out as an offline preparation step for the supply roll 2 before it is installed in the machine shown in Figure 1. However, the application of the pattern maybe carried out on line in the machine. For example, the roll 2 may comprise a roll of unpatterned wrapper and the guide roller 3 may be used as a patterning station to apply the pattern to the first portions 6 of the tipping paper 1 as it passes over the roller 3. The cylindrical surface of the roller 3 may include patterned and unpatterned surface portions corresponding to the surface portions 6, 7 and additional pinch rollers (not shown) may be utilised to impress the surface pattern of roller 3 onto the tipping paper 1.. Alternatively, the pattern can be applied to the sheet material 1 after curling has been performed by the curling bar 5 to the first surface portions 6. For example, the roller 15 shown in Figure 1 maybe used as a patterning station in a similar way as just described for roller 3, with the roller 15 being formed with a suitable surface pattern to impress a pattern into the regions 6 after curling by the curling bar. In another embodiment, the patterning is performed offline after curling by the curling bar. In yet another embodiment, the rotary portions 13-1, 13-2 of the curling bar shown in Figure 5 can be configured as embossing rollers to act as a patterning station so that the pattern is applied to the first portions 6-1, 6-2 during curling by the curling bar 5.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) maybe practiced and provide for superior curling bars and methods of using the same. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments maybe utilised and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope and/ or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A machine for making a curled sheet wrapper including

a sheet wrapper source, the sheet wrapper having first and second surface portions, and

a curling bar to curl the sheet material from the source, the bar including a first region including a curling edge over which the second surface portion of the sheet material is slidable so as to impart a curl thereto in said second surface portion, and a second region so configured that the first surface portion of the sheet material can pass without substantial sliding frictional engagement with said second region, the machine being so configured as to provide the sheet wrapper curled by the curling bar and patterned and unpatterned in said first and second surface portions respectively.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the curling edge of the curling bar has a vertex that extends longitudinally of the bar.

3. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the second region includes a cut-out portion in the curling edge to allow passage of the second portion of the sheet material.

4. A machine according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the second region includes a rotary portion configured to rotate about an axis extending longitudinally of the bar.

5. A machine according to claim 4 including a rotary portion has a surface pattern that is complimentary to the pattern of the patterned portion of the sheet, to be rotated in substantial synchronism with the patterned sheet portion.

6. A machine according to any preceding claim including a patterning station to apply a pattern to the second surface portion of the sheet material before, during or after curling by the curling bar.

7. A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the wrapper has been patterned in said second surface region offline.

8. A machine according to any preceding claim further configured to make articles that include a curled sheet wrapper.

9. A machine according to claim 8 comprising a cigarette making machine.

10. A machine for making a curled sheet wrapper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of curling sheet material with a machine as claimed in any preceding claim including passing the first surface portion over the second region and the first surface portion over the second region.

12. A method according to claim 11 including applying a pattern to the first surface portion of the sheet material before, during or after curling with the curling bar.

13. A method according to claim 12 including applying the pattern by embossing.

14. A method according to claim 11, 12 or 13 including wrapping the sheet material around a smoking article after curling with the curling bar.

15. A smoking article made by a method according to claim 14.

16. Sheet material that has been curled according to the method of any one of claims 11 to 15.

17. A method of curling sheet material with curling bar substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. A smoking article including a sheet wrapper having first and second surface regions that are patterned and unpatterned and that have not and have been subject to curling respectively.

19. Sheet wrapper material having first and second surface regions that are patterned and unpatterned and that have not and have been subject to curling respectively.

20. A curling bar for curling sheet material that has a patterned surface portions and an unpatterned portion between the patterned portions, the bar including a first region including a curling edge over which the unpatterned first portion of the sheet material can be slid so as to impart a curl thereto in said first surface region, and second regions on opposite sides of the first region and so configured that the patterned portions of the sheet material can pass without substantial sliding frictional engagement whereby to maintain the pattern in the patterned portions.

21. A curling bar according to claim 20 wherein the curling edge has a vertex that extends longitudinally of the bar and the second regions comprise a cut-out portions in the curling edge to allow passage of the patterned portions of the sheet material.

22. A curling bar according to claim 20 or 21 wherein the second regions include a rotary portion configured to rotate about an axis extending longitudinally of the bar.