MACHINE FOR ROLLING AND GLUING A CIGAR WRAPPER AND METHOD FOR ROLLING AND GLUING A CIGAR WRAPPER

Abstract: Machine for rolling and gluing of a cigar wrapper containing a rolling device (1) and a transport means (2) to take a wrapper (4) from a means of supplying a wrapper, bring it to the rolling device (1) and wrap it around an inner part (B) of a cigar in the rolling device, which transport means (2) comprises a suction surface (3). The machine is fitted with a glue applicator with a glue supply (60B), which glue supply is provided with a glue nozzle (61) for - during the rolling of the wrapper - applying glue either to the wrapper between the suction tool and the rolling device or to the bunch in the rolling device in a position before the wrapper is wrapped around it.

Description: Machine for rolling and gluing a cigar wrapper and method for rolling and gluing a cigar wrapper. The invention concerns a machine for rolling and gluing a cigar wrapper, the machine comprising a rolling device and a transport tool to take a wrapper from a means of supplying a wrapper, bring it to the rolling device and wrap it around an inner part of a cigar present in the rolling device, which transport tool contains a suction surface. Such a machine is also called an 'wrapping roller'. An wrapping roller is a machine, which wraps a wrapper around a bunch. This bunch is a crude cigar (in the first paragraph called the 'inner part') that usually contains the tobacco filler and a cover leaf. For the further completion into a cigar, this bunch still needs a wrapper. Within the scope of the invention, 'cigar' is understood to mean cigars of all sorts and sizes. A wrapper is usually a form that is cut out of the right-hand or left-hand side of a tobacco leaf and is wrapped around the bunch by the machine mentioned in the first paragraph. A wrapper may also be made of tobacco paper, a so-called wrapper of homogenized tobacco. The wrappers may be supplied on a roll/bobbin or be cut out of a tobacco leaf right at the machine. The bunch may be supplied by a conveyor belt or be manufactured by a machine that is coupled directly to the wrapping roller. The bunch is placed into the rolling device, for instance with the aid of a gripper. This rolling device is a holder with rotating parts, for example rollers in which the wrapper can be guided and rolled and in which the cigar will be given its eventual form. In the existing wrapping rollers the rolling tool contains a suction plate to pick up a wrapper and this plate with wrapper is moved above the rolling device. Next the tip of the wrapper is punched into the rolling device by means of a needle. The rotating rolling device in its rotating movement pulls the wrapper into the rolling device and by means of the suction plate the wrapper is further guided by governing the x-y position and the angle of the suction plate with respect to the rolling device. The tension of the wrapper can be regulated by means of the suction power of the suction tool. In existing machines the glue is added to the wrapper. This may be done in a stamping mode, by which the suction tool together with the wrapper is pushed against a glue stamp, or in a wiping mode, by which the suction tool together with the wrapper is moved across a comb filled with glue. After the cigar has been completely rolled and shaped, the suction plate moves away from the rolling device in order to collect a new wrapper for the next cycle. Now a second gripper can take the cigar out of the rolling device for further processing and the former gripper can supply a new bunch. The existing methods and machines show a number of important disadvantages. The suction power exerted by the suction tool (and, thus, the tension in the wrapper) will drop during the course of time. Wrapper breakage is a common occurrence. Furthermore, the glue adds moisture to the cigar and before use this moisture must be removed. Hence the cigar must be dried, which is time consuming and may perhaps lead to loss of quality. A goal of the invention is to supply a machine for rolling and gluing a cigar wrapper with an improved efficiency by preventing and/or reducing one or more of the above-mentioned problems. To this end the machine for rolling and gluing a wrapper is characterised in a first embodiment of the invention by providing the machine with a glue applicator with a glue supply, which glue supply is fitted with a glue nozzle to apply glue during the rolling of the wrapper to the wrapper between the suction tool and the rolling device and in a second embodiment of the invention at a place before the wrapper is wrapped around it. In the existing machine the glue is applied while the wrapper is retained by suction. The wrapper is a natural product and sometimes shows cracks and/or is porous. As a result the glue will stick in or to the suction foot and may contaminate the vacuum system. The regulation of the suction power and hence the regulation of the tension in the wrapper will be hampered by this. During the course of time the suction foot must be disconnected and cleaned. Glue remainders on the suction foot may also lead to the wrapper breaking. Furthermore, on average too much glue is used. Too much glue means too much moisture in the cigar, which will have to be dried before use, resulting in additional cost of time and energy, and possibly loss of quality. In the machine according to the invention, the glue is applied to the wrapper during the rolling process between the suction tool and the rolling device (in the first embodiment) or on the bunch in the rolling device (in the second embodiment). In this way no glue will be deposited in or on the suction tool or the suction system. The suction tool and the suction system are no longer contaminated with glue. The regulation of the suction power and hence the regulation of the tension in the wrapper is improved, which reduces the risk of the wrapper breaking. Another benefit results from the fact that the suction tool does not have to make an additional movement to provide the wrapper with glue. This increases the production speed. Preferably the machine is fitted with means to change the position of the glue nozzle during the rolling process. This allows the glue nozzle to move along - during unwrapping - with the movement of the suction foot and/or the wrapper that is being rolled. A controlled movement of the glue nozzle coupled with the unwrapping movement allows gluing in the most economical way. This brings the important benefit that on average less glue needs to be used with the result that less moisture is added to the cigar. This is advantageous for both embodiments. Preferably the glue supply forms a guiding tool, for example a guiding comb over which the wrapper runs. Such a guiding tool between the suction tool and the rolling device improves the control over the rolling of the wrapper. The suction tool may be flat, but is preferably curved. A curved suction tool provides more room for the glue supply which is advantageous for both embodiments, but in particular when the glue supply is fitted with a glue nozzle to apply glue during the rolling of the wrapper to the wrapper between the suction tool and the rolling device. The invention also concerns a method for the manufacture of cigars, which method comprises a process stage in which the wrapper is rolled and glued. In an economical version the glue is applied in solid form. The crux of the invention is the application of glue during the rolling process and this between the suction foot and the rolling device (or alternatively in the rolling device immediately before the application of the wrapper) and preferably by a gluing nozzle that makes a movement coupled with the unwrapping of the wrapper wherein the suction tool is preferably curved. The invention also concerns a machine for the manufacture of a cigar, comprising a machine for rolling and gluing the wrapper. Machines for rolling and gluing the wrapper can be detached from the machines that cut the wrappers or produces the bunches, but they can also be an integral part of a production machine for the manufacture of a cigar, which machine comprises further components, such as machines that cut wrappers or that produce bunches and even packaging machines. The aforementioned benefits of the invention and particularly the fact that the suction tool requires less cleaning and the reduction of the risk of wrapper breakage and the possibility to increase the production speed are also or even more important for such machines for the manufacture of cigars. There where the speed of rolling can be increased, this will also affect the components of such a machine that supply bunches and/or wrappers as well as parts of such a machine that further process the formed cigars, for example packaging them. These and further aspects of the invention are described below and illustrated by means of a drawing. In the drawing: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the cross-section of an existing machine for rolling wrappers Figures 2A and 2B show diagrammatically a detail of a machine according to the invention in the first, respectively second embodiment. Figures 3A and 3B show a perspective view and a cross-section respectively of a machine according to the invention. Figure 4 shows in a perspective view a further example of a machine according to the invention. The figures have not been drawn to scale, equal parts are usually designated with the same reference numbers. Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the cross-section of an existing machine for rolling and gluing the wrapper of a cigar. During the rolling process there is a bunch in rolling device 1. Transport tool 2 comprises a flat suction plate 3. Using transport tool 2 (not shown here) a wrapper is taken from the carrier and moved to rolling device 1. During the unwrapping of wrapper 4 the, in this machine flat, suction surface 3 moves in both x-direction (along the cigar) and y-direction. In figure 1 is diagrammatically indicated that transport tool 2 together with wrapper 4 is pressed against a glue stamp 5. In the existing machine the glue is applied while the wrapper is sucked into position. The wrapper is a natural product and sometimes shows cracks and is porous. As a result of this the glue will stick in or on the suction foot and penetrate the vacuum system. The regulation of the suction power and hence the regulation of the tension in the wrapper will be hampered because of this. During the course of time the suction foot must be disconnected and cleaned. Glue remains on the suction foot may also give rise to wrapper breakage. Furthermore, on average too much glue is used. Too much glue means too much moisture in the cigar. Figures 2A and 2B show details of the rolling machine according to the invention. The rolling device 1 contains a number of rollers 6, 7, 8 and 9 in which bunch B is rolled. Wrapper 4 is essentially a kind of strip that wraps itself around the bunch. During the rolling process transport means 2 makes a partly forward and partly sideways movement over the bunch, in the figure indicated by arrows 71 , 72 and 73. After rolling the wrapper must remain in place and this is the reason why glue is used. The machine according to the invention is fitted with a glue applicator (60) with a glue supply (60B). The glue supply has a connection 60A with the glue container, which may or may not form a fixed part of the machine. The glue applicator has a glue nozzle (61) that applies glue to either the wrapper between the suction surface of transport means 2 and rolling device (6, 7, 8 and 9), (Fig. 2A) or directly to bunch B in the rolling device, but before the wrapper is wrapped around it (Fig. 2B) (so that as little glue as possible will enter the rolling device). Then no glue will penetrate the vacuum system or be deposited on to the suction foot any longer. Preferably glue nozzle 61 makes a movement during unwrapping that corresponds to the movement of the suction foot, or more in detail with the wrapper that is being rolled. In the figures 2A and 2B this is diagrammatically shown by arrow 70. This controlled movement that is coupled with the unwrapping movement allows gluing in the most economical way (with less moisture being an important benefit). Apart from this glue supply line 60B (in a preferred version) can also serve as a guiding comb for the wrapper, over which the wrapper runs. The glue can, contrary to the existing method, be supplied in dry form (benefit: less moisture). Preferably the suction tool will be curved, i.e. curving away from the rolling device. This provides more room for the glue nozzle and the glue supply. This is advantageous for both embodiments but in particular for the embodiment of Fig. 2A. Figures 3A and 3B show a perspective view (figure 3A) and a cross- section (figure 3B) of an example of a machine according to the invention. The glue nozzle 61 is situated between the suction surface of transport means 2 and the rolling device and applies glue to wrapper 4. In this preferred version, the machine is fitted with tool 74 to let the glue supply 60B and, thus, the glue nozzle 61 make movement 70, whereas the suction tool makes the movement 71 , 72 and 73. Figure 4 shows a version of a machine according to the invention, which is fitted with a transport means 2 with a curved suction surface 3. Because the suction surface 3 is curved (and curved away from the rolling device), there is more room between the rolling device and the suction tool for the suction nozzle. This renders the application of the invention simpler. The crux of the invention is the application of glue during the rolling process and this between the suction surface and the rolling device (or alternatively in the rolling device immediately before the application of the wrapper) and (very) preferably by a gluing nozzle that makes a movement coupled with the unwrapping of the wrapper. The machine and the method according to the invention also allow the use of glue in dry form, for example in the form of powder. In the existing machines this is difficult, if not impossible, because using the glue in the form of powder would run the risk that during the transport of the powdered wrapper at least a part of the applied glue would come loose. This loss of glue does not just reduce the bonding strength, but also results in glue remainders deposited on other parts of the machine, which is very undesirable. In the machine and the method according to the invention the glue is applied direct between wrapper and bunch and will not cause any or much less problems, or get lost. This is of particular advantageous if the glue is applied directly on the bunch. It will be clear that there are many possible variations within the scope of the invention and that the invention is not limited to the examples given above.

Claims: Conclusions: 1. Machine for rolling and gluing of a cigar wrapper comprising a rolling device (1) and a transport means (2) to take a wrapper (4) from a means of supplying a wrapper, bring it to the rolling device (1) and wrap it around an inner part (B) of a cigar, which transport means (2) comprises a suction surface (3), characterized in that the machine is provided with a glue applicator with a glue supply (60B), which glue supply is provided with a glue nozzle (61) for - during the rolling of the wrapper - applying glue to the wrapper between the suction surface and the rolling device. 2. Machine for rolling and gluing of a cigar wrapper comprising a rolling device (1) and a transport means (2) to take a wrapper (4) from a means of supplying a wrapper, bring it to the rolling device (1) and wrap it around an inner part (B) of a cigar, which transport means (2) comprises a suction surface (3), characterized in that the machine is provided with a glue applicator with a glue supply (60B), which glue supply is provided with a glue nozzle (61) for - during the rolling of the wrapper - applying glue to the bunch in the rolling device in a position before the wrapper is wrapped around it. 3. Machine according to conclusion 1 or 2, characterized in that the machine comprises moving means (74) to change the glue nozzle's position during rolling. 4. Machine according to conclusion 1 , 2 or , characterized in that the glue supply (60B) forms a guiding tool, for example a guiding comb over which the wrapper will run during operation. 5. Machine according to conclusion 1 , 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the transport means comprises a curved suction surface. 6. Machine for the manufacture of a cigar comprising a machine for rolling and gluing of a cigar wrapper according to one of the conclusions 1 , 2, 3, 4 or 5. 7. Method for the production of cigars, which method comprises a process step for wrapping a wrapper of a cigar around a bunch, during which process step a wrapper is sucked by a suction tool and moved to a rolling device and wrapped around the bunch, with the characteristic feature, that during the rolling glue is applied through a glue nozzle to the wrapper between the suction tool and the rolling device 8. Method for the production of cigars, which method comprises a process step for wrapping a wrapper of a cigar around a bunch, during which process step a wrapper is sucked by a suction tool and moved to a rolling device and wrapped around the bunch, with the characteristic feature, that during the rolling glue is applied through a glue nozzle to the bunch in the rolling device in a position before the wrapper is wrapped around it. 9. Method according to conclusion 7 or 8, with the characteristic feature, that the glue nozzle is moved during the rolling process. 10. Method according to conclusion 7, 8 or 9, with the characteristic feature, that during the rolling process the wrapper is pulled over a glue supply that is situated between the suction tool and the rolling device. 11. Method according to conclusion 7, 8, 9 or 10, with the characteristic feature, that the glue is applied a dry form.

Inventors: BREEMANS JOZEF LOUIS, BREEMANS, JOZEF, LOUIS
Applicants: BREEMANS JOZEF LOUIS, LAREKA MACHINES B V, BREEMANS, JOZEF, LOUIS, LAREKA MACHINES B.V.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A24C1
IPC codes: A24C1