Method of producing filter-tipped cigarettes of different sizes

Abstract: A method of producing filter-tipped cigarettes, whereby first elongated elements (3), each consisting of a double cigarette portion, are cut transversely by a first blade (12) into two single portions (13, 14), which are parted axially, separated by a second elongated element (18) consisting of a double filter, and connected to the second elongated element (18) to form a double cigarette (32), the second elongated element (18) of which is cut transversely by a second blade (36) to form two single filter-tipped cigarettes (37, 38); at least one of the two blades (12, 36) being offset laterally in relation to the mid plane of the elongated element (3, 18) engaged thereby.

Description: The present invention relates to a method of producing filter-tipped cigarettes of different sizes. For producing filter-tipped cigarettes, filter assembly machines are employed which are supplied by a cigarette manufacturing machine with a succession of double cigarette portions, which, as disclosed, for example, in US-A-3,372,702, are cut transversely into half by a first blade to form two single cigarette portions. The single portions in each pair are then parted axially to define a gap into which a double filter is fed, and the ends of which are joined to the two single portions to form a double cigarette. The double filter of each double cigarette is then cut transversely into half by a second blade to form two single filter-tipped cigarettes of the same size. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method enabling two streams of cigarettes of different sizes to be produced on a single filter assembly machine of the aforementioned type. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of producing filter-tipped cigarettes of different sizes, whereby first elongated elements, each consisting of a double cigarette portion, are cut transversely by first cutting means into two single portions, which are parted axially, separated by a second elongated element consisting of a double filter, and connected to the second elongated element to form a double cigarette, the second elongated element of which is cut transversely by second cutting means to form two single filter-tipped cigarettes; characterized by the fact that at least one of said first and second cutting means engages the relative elongated element in a position offset laterally in relation to the mid transverse plane of the elongated element. A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 shows a partial schematic view of a filter assembly machine connected to a cigarette manufacturing machine and implementing the method according to the present invention; Fig.s 2 and 3 show larger-scale plan views of two successive details in Fig.1; Fig.s 4 and 5 show larger-scale plan views of a first variation of the details in Fig.s 2 and 3; Fig.s 6 and 7 show larger-scale plan views of a second variation of the details in Fig.s 2 and 3. Number 1 in Fig.1 indicates a known type of cigarette manufacturing machine comprising an output plate 2 along which is fed, at substantially constant axial speed, a continuous cigarette rod (not shown) which is cut by a known cutting head (not shown) into a succession of portions 3. In known manner, said cutting head (not shown) is rotated at such a speed as to produce portions 3 of a length equal to the total length of the tobacco-filled portions of two of the filter-tipped cigarettes being produced. Number 4 in Fig.1 indicates a filter assembly machine, the input roller 5 of which is connected to output plate 2 of machine 1 by a rotary transfer unit 6, e.g. of the type described in USA Patent N. 3,303,926. Unit 6, rotating about its axis, provides in known manner for successively transferring portions 3 from output plate 2 into respective peripheral seats 7 on input roller 5, which is powered so as to rotate anticlockwise (in Fig.1) and at constant angular speed about its axis parallel to plate 2. Roller 5, rotating about its axis, provides for feeding portions 3 perpendicular to their longitudinal axis, and transferring them successively into respective peripheral seats 8 on a roller 9 powered so as to rotate clockwise in Fig.1. Roller 9 is tangent to roller 5, and provides for feeding portions 3 along a circular path along which the ends of portions 3 contact an aligning plate 10 for accurately aligning portions 3 transversely. Once aligned, portions 3 are fed by roller 9 through a cutting station 11 where a blade 12 cuts each portion 3 into two portions 13 and 14, which remain aligned and substantially contacting each other end to end inside seat 8. As shown in Fig.1, roller 9 is also tangent to the side by side rollers 15 and 16 of an axial parting or spacing unit 17 of the type described in USA Patent N. 4,531,629 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure. By virtue of unit 17, rollers 15 and 16 of which are offset heightwise, portions 13 and 14 aligned inside each seat 8 are separated axially by a distance substantially equal to the length of a double filter 18, and are fed into seats 19 on a roller 20 substantially tangent to rollers 15 and 16 and rotating about its axis in the same direction as roller 9 and at the same surface speed as rollers 15 and 16. Roller 20 is positioned parallel to roller 9, and forms part of a known type of assembly unit 21, which also comprises a first and second roller, 22 and 23, for supplying double filters 18. As shown in Fig.1, roller 22 is located between and substantially tangent to rollers 20 and 23, and rotates about its axis in the opposite direction to and at the same surface speed as rollers 20 and 23, for feeding each double filter 18 into a respective seat 19 at a loading station 24 upstream from the point of tangency between roller 20 and rollers 15 and 16. More specifically, roller 22 feeds each double filter 18 into a substantially central portion of respective seat 19 corresponding with the gap between the side by side ends of respective pair of portions 13 and 14, so that, once fed into respective seat 19, each double filter 18 defines, inside seat 19, two vacant end portions which are subsequently occupied by respective coaxial portions 13 and 14, so as to form, on roller 20, an assembly 25 consisting of two portions 13 and 14 separated by a double filter 18. Assemblies 25 are fed successively by roller 20 to the input roller 26 of a finishing unit 27 of the type described in Italian Patent N. 1,200,229 to which full reference is made herein in the interest of full disclosure. Finishing unit 27 comprises first and second cascade rollers 28 and 29 for supplying roller 26 with a succession of bands 30, each of which provides for joining portions 13 and 14 and double filter 18 of a respective assembly 25. Unit 27 also comprises a known type of rolling unit 31 for successively receiving assemblies 25 and bands 30, rolling each band 30 about respective double filter 18 and the adjacent end portions of respective portions 13 and 14 to form a double cigarette 32, and feeding double cigarettes 32 into respective seats 33 on roller 34 of a cutting unit 35. In addition to roller 34, cutting unit 35 also comprises a rotary blade 36 substantially tangent to roller 34 and which provides for cutting double filters 18 of respective double cigarettes 32 to form two filter-tipped cigarettes 37 and 38 housed inside the same seat 33 with respective filters 39 and 40 arranged facing and substantially contacting each other. Roller 34 is positioned tangent to two side by side output rollers 41 and 42, for transferring cigarettes 37 and 38 into respective seats 43 and 44 on rollers 41 and 42 respectively, and defining two separate streams of cigarettes off machine 4. According to the embodiment shown in Fig.s 2 and 3, blade 12 is offset laterally in relation to the center of portion 3, so as to cut portion 3 into two portions 13 and 14 of different lengths. In the example shown, blade 12 is offset in relation to the center of portions 3 by offsetting portions 3 in relation to roller 9 by means of plate 10, and maintaining blade 12 coplanar with the mid transverse plane of roller 9. According to a variation not shown, portions 3 may of course be centered by plate 10 in relation to roller 9, and blade 12 shifted laterally as required in relation to the position wherein it is centered in relation to roller 9. According to the embodiment shown in Fig.s 2 and 3, blade 36 is centered perfectly in relation to double filters 18, so as to produce filter-tipped cigarettes 37 and 38 of different lengths but with filters 39 and 40 of the same length. According to the variation shown in Fig.s 4 and 5, blade 12 is centered in relation to portions 3 so as to cut each portion 3 into two portions 13 and 14 of the same length, whereas blade 36 is offset laterally in relation to the center of double filters 18 so as to form filter-tipped cigarettes 37 and 38 of different lengths by virtue of the different lengths of filters 39 and 40. According to the variation shown in Fig.s 6 and 7, both blade 12 and blade 36 are offset laterally in relation to the center of portions 3 and double filters 18 respectively, so as to form filter-tipped cigarettes 37 and 38 of different sizes by virtue of the different lengths of respective portions 13 and 14 and respective filters 39 and 40.

Claims: A method of producing filter-tipped cigarettes of different sizes, whereby first elongated elements (3), each consisting of a double cigarette portion, are cut transversely by first cutting means (12) into two single portions (13, 14), which are parted axially, separated by a second elongated element (18) consisting of a double filter, and connected to the second elongated element (18) to form a double cigarette (32), the second elongated element (18) of which is cut transversely by second cutting means (36) to form two single filter-tipped cigarettes (37, 38); characterized by the fact that at least one of said first and second cutting means (12, 36) engages the relative elongated element (3, 18) in a position offset laterally in relation to the mid transverse plane of the elongated element (3, 18). A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the first cutting means (12) engage each said first elongated element (3) in such a position as to form two single portions (13, 14) of different lengths. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the second cutting means (36) engage each said second elongated element (18) in such a manner as to form two filter-tipped cigarettes (37, 38) having filters (39, 40) of different lengths.

Inventors: BELVEDERI BRUNO, DRAGHETTI FIORENZO, BELVEDERI, BRUNO, DRAGHETTI, FIORENZO
Applicants: GD SPA, G.D SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A24C5
IPC codes: A24C5