Patent GB-1214491-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the manufacture of composite of flexible material
IPC: A24D3/18
Filed: 1967-02-21
Abstract: 1,214,491. Tobacco smoke filters. MOLINS MACHINE CO. Ltd., D. W. MOLINS and T. ROWLANDS. 20 Feb., 1968 [21 Feb., 1967], No. 8229/67. Heading A2C. [Also in Division F2] A process for the production of a continuous composite tube of flexible resilient material, which is particularly for making mouthpieces for cigars, cigarettes &c., comprises the steps of feeding lengthwise a continuous web 2 of the material and continuously slitting the web longitudinally at a controlled or variable distance from one of its edges to divide it into a strip 6 of accurately controlled width determined by the diameter of the composite tube being made and from which the outer tube, having longitudinally abutting edges, is formed and a strip 5 constituting the remainder of the web and from which the inner tube, having non-abutting longitudinal edges, is formed. As shown, a cigar mouthpiece formed by the process comprises an outer tube f formed with a butt joint g and an inner tube l having a lapped joint i a filter plug e being fitted in one, and tobacco rod a, b in the other, end. The joint i may be gummed. The tube is encased in a retaining wrapper j of thin paper having a gummed seam k. A primary web 2 of thick paper, or thin card, Fig. 1, is continuously drawn over rollers and through a guide 3, which has a pair of slotted runners (19, 19), Fig. 13, not shown, carried by a support plate (20), to a roller knife 4 which slits the web longitudinally to form strips 5 and 6 which are to form respectively the inner and outer tubes l, f. The guide is mounted on adjustable brackets (23, 24) so that the web 2 can be biased to run up against the right hand runner (19) and the position of the web 2 relative to the knife 4 can be adjusted, the knife (4) having a circumferential cutting edge (11) which co-operates with a circumferential slot (13) in a counter roller (12), Figs. 12, 13, not shown. The knife (4) and the roller (12) are joumalled respectively in pivotal arms (14, 15) which are urged together by a spring (18). At regular intervals the knife (26), with a V-shaped cutting edge, of a nipping device 25 cuts out lugs m to produce successive flaps which are subsequently raised by a brush 29 to form raised flaps to locate the filter plugs e. Alternatively, the device 25 may have three knives to cut three lugs n, Fig. 15, if filter plugs are not to be used in the mouthpieces. The strips 5, 6 and paper web 8 are led, by an endless tape 31, which is flexible laterally, one on top of the other into a garniture 7 and are advanced between a support bed and a series of guides and folders, which progressively fold the strips 5, 6 and the web 8 into the tube as shown in Fig. 15. As the inner strip 5 is led into the garniture an apparatus (32), Fig. 2A, not shown, feeds filter plugs e on to it, a brush, not shown, pushing the plugs e back against their respective lugs m. The left hand side of the web 8 is pasted by a wheel (39), Fig. 10, not shown, before it is folded down and lapped over the right hand edge. The formed tube then passes beneath a heater which dries the seam. The plugs e are double length the tube being cut either through the plugs e or midway therebetween.