Patent ID: 12207677

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An exemplary embodiment of a rolling device according to the invention is described in detail below, with reference to the appended drawings. This example illustrates the characteristics and advantages of the invention.

Unless otherwise specified, a same element appearing in different figures has a single reference.

For the purposes of understanding the invention, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted according to the reference frame V, L, T indicated in the figures, the longitudinal L and transverse T axes of which extend in a horizontal plane. The rear of the device towards the front of the rolling device is oriented along the longitudinal axis L of the reference frame VLT.

FIG.1illustrates a paper or cardboard rolling device10including:a main casing12which extends along a longitudinal axis X parallel to the longitudinal axis L of the reference frame VLT between a front face14and a rear face16,a sliding element48translationally movably mounted along the longitudinal axis X in the main casing12, from the front face14of the main casing12, between an open position and a closed position of the main casing12, anda rotary element86rotatably movably mounted along the longitudinal axis X.

Advantageously, the sliding element48and the rotary element86are removable relative to the main casing12of the rolling device10, in a translational movement along the longitudinal axis X.

FIGS.2to7represent the rolling device according to a first embodiment,FIG.9is a representation of the rolling device according to a second embodiment and FIG. illustrates the rolling device according to a third embodiment.

The main casing12as represented in isolation inFIG.2comprises:a base28transversely delimited by two lateral edges29,an external cap18which comprises a lower portion20and a rounded upper portion22, the lower portion20being the portion closest to the base28and the upper portion22being the portion furthest from the base28,a first receiving slot24arranged in the upper portion22of the cap18,a support30for rolling the sheet106arranged from the base28and having a rounded shape, the convex face of which is oriented towards the cap18,two first guide rails38for translational guiding along the longitudinal axis X, each comprising a front end40equipped with a blocking abutment42, anda positioning mark26arranged on the cap18. The base28and the cap18structurally form the outside of the main casing12in which the support30and the first guide rails38are arranged.

According to the first embodiment of the invention, the support30comprises a holding groove32including a stop surface104. The holding groove32divides the support30into a first and a second part34,36symmetrical relative to a vertical plane P comprising the longitudinal axis X.

The first receiving slot24is rectangular and defined by its longitudinal length and transverse width.

Each first guide rail38is arranged opposite a lateral edge29of the base28and is raised relative to the base28so as to leave a free space for receiving part of the sliding element48inside the main casing12. According to one alternative not represented of this exemplary embodiment, the main casing12comprises a single first guide rail38.

The main casing12comprises a notch44arranged in the cap18forming an opening from the front face14of the main casing12for receiving part of the sliding element48inside the main casing12.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the main casing12comprises an arrow27represented on the cap18to indicate to the user the direction of introduction of the sheet106into the main casing12.

The sliding element48as represented in isolation inFIG.3comprises:a shell50which extends along the longitudinal axis X between a front edge52and a rear edge54and which comprises an open lower portion56divided into two lateral sides57and a rounded upper portion58,a second receiving slot60arranged in the upper portion58of the shell50and delimited transversely by two longitudinal sides62,a wall72for closing the front face14of the main casing12arranged to bear against the front edge52of the shell50,a stud74, visible inFIG.5, arranged in the closing wall72and which extends along the longitudinal axis X, andtwo second guide rails76for translational guiding along the longitudinal axis X, each comprising a rear end78equipped with a blocking abutment80.

The shell50includes two elastic blades64arranged on either side of the second receiving slot60and each comprising a free end66arranged opposite the second receiving slot60. The shell50may comprise a single elastic blade64arranged on one side of the second receiving slot60.

According to one alternative, not represented, of the shell50, the free end66of each elastic blade64forms one of the two longitudinal sides62of the second receiving slot60. The shell50may comprise a single elastic blade64arranged on one side of the second receiving slot60, the free end66of which forms one longitudinal side62of the second receiving slot60. The other longitudinal side62is formed directly by the shell50.

As illustrated inFIGS.6and7, the free end66of the elastic blade64includes a rim70which extends radially towards the longitudinal axis X. Preferably, the free end66is at an angular distance D within the range ]0-45[ degrees relative to the vertical plane P. Each elastic blade64is made, for example, by a partial cut-out of the shell50.

The rear edge54of the shell50is in the shape of an arc of a circle and comprises:a shoulder83which extends radially towards the longitudinal axis X up to an inner peripheral wall84so as to reduce the diameter of the rear edge54, andtwo projections85arranged on the peripheral wall84of the shoulder83, on each lateral side57of the lower portion56of the shell50.

Each second guide rail76of the sliding element48is configured to cooperate with a first guide rail38of the main casing12between an open position and a closed position of the main casing12. Each blocking abutment80of the second guide rails76is configured to cooperate with a blocking abutment42of the first guide rails38to stop translation of the sliding element48in the main casing12in an open position of the main casing12.

Each second guide rail76is arranged from a lateral side57of the lower portion56of the shell50. According to one alternative not represented of this exemplary embodiment, the sliding element48comprises a single second guide rail76.

The sliding element48comprises two gripping zones82arranged on either side of the shell50and adjacent to the closing wall72. Each gripping zone82of the sliding element48is intended to be received into a notch44of the cap18of the main casing12.

The rotary element86as represented in isolation inFIG.4comprises:a cylindrical shaft88which extends along the longitudinal axis X between a first and a second end90,92,a third receiving slot94arranged in the shaft88and open up to its second end92,an adjustment wheel100integral with the first end90of the shaft88, anda positioning mark102arranged on the adjustment wheel100.

The second end92of the shaft88comprises a blind hole98which extends along the longitudinal axis X and configured to cooperate with the stud74of the closing wall72of the sliding element48.

According to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIG.4, the third receiving slot94of the rotary element86is a radial through slot.

As illustrated inFIGS.6and7, the third receiving slot94has two chamfers96which extend along the longitudinal axis X. Preferably, each chamfer96is at an angular distance D1within the ]0-45[ degrees interval relative to the vertical plane P.

Preferably, the distance between the two projections85of the shoulder of the rear edge54of the shell50of the sliding element48is equal to the diameter of the shaft88of the rotary element86. The projections85make it possible to pull the rolled sheet106during translation of the sliding element48towards the open position of the main casing12until the sheet106is expelled from the rolling device10.

According to one alternative not represented, the diameter of the shoulder83of the rear edge54of the shell50of the sliding element48is equal to the diameter of the shaft88of the rotary element86. In this case, the rolled sheet106is pulled directly by the shoulder83during translation of the sliding element48. In addition, the peripheral wall84of the shoulder is smooth and has no projections85.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and4, the rotary element86comprises an arrow103represented on the adjustment wheel100to indicate the direction of rotation of the adjustment wheel100to the user.

In a mounted and open position of the rolling device10as represented inFIG.5:the shell50of the sliding element48is configured to be housed inside the main casing12, from the front face14of the main casing12, andthe shaft88of the rotary element86is configured to be housed inside the main casing12, from the rear face16of the main casing12visible inFIG.2.

The arrangement of the different elements in the closed position of the rolling device10, as represented inFIGS.6and7, is as follows:the upper portion58of the shell50and the free end66of the elastic blade64of the shell50of the sliding element48face the shaft88of the rotary element86and are positioned above the shaft88along the vertical axis V, andthe support30of the main casing12and the stop surface104face the shaft88of the rotary element86and are positioned below the shaft88along the vertical axis V.

The arrangement of the receiving slots24,60and94in the closed position of the rolling device is as follows:the first and second receiving slots24,60are aligned along the same vertical plane P,the second receiving slot60is arranged between the first receiving slot24and the shaft88of the rotary element86along the vertical axis V, andthe first and second receiving slots24,60are aligned with the holding groove32along the same vertical plane P.

When the mark26of the main casing12and the mark102of the rotary element86are aligned with each other, the third receiving slot94of the rotary element86is aligned with the first and second receiving slots24,60along the same vertical plane P. The alignment of the three receiving slots24,60and94is required to introduce the sheet106inside the rolling device10.

In addition, when the marks26,102are aligned with each other, the free end66of the elastic blade64of the shell50of the sliding element48is aligned with the chamfer96of the third receiving slot94of the rotary element86by the same angular distance D, D1relative to the vertical plane P. This angle formed by the free end66and the chamfer96facilitates folding of the sheet106during rolling.

The unrolled sheet106represented inFIG.6extends between a first and a second end108,110defining its length.

FIG.8illustrates the sheet106rolled into the shape of a cylinder by the rolling device10according to the invention comprising:the first end108inside the rolled sheet106and the second end110outside the rolled sheet106,an inner partition112which extends along the entire diameter of the cylinder of the rolled sheet106, anda folded zone114comprising the first end108.

The internal partition112is configured to reinforce the rolled sheet106so as to limit crushing thereof and also to improve filtering capacity of the rolled sheet106. The folded zone114bears against an inner segment116of the rolled sheet106.

According to one alternative embodiment of the sheet106, the folded zone114is first size-coated so that the folded zone114is attached by sizing against the inner segment116to hold the sheet106in the rolled position. The so-called pre-size-coated folded zone114of the sheet106includes a layer of size deposited before the sheet106is rolled.

According to a second embodiment of the invention represented inFIG.9, the third receiving slot94is a radial through slot and the support30of the main casing12includes a continuous stop surface104. The geometry of the support30in this embodiment is simplified due to the absence of a holding groove32.

According to a third embodiment of the invention represented inFIG.10, the third receiving slot of the rotary element extends only along a portion of the diameter of the shaft88of the rotary element86and includes the stop surface104. The geometry of the support30in this embodiment is simplified due to the absence of the holding groove32.

The method for rolling a sheet106of paper or cardboard with the use of a rolling device12according to the invention by a user includes the following successive steps of:1 Mounting the sliding element48with the main casing12by the user by inserting the shell50of the sliding element48from the front face14of the main casing12;2 Mounting the rotary element86with the main casing12by the user by inserting the shaft88of the rotary element86from the rear face16of the main casing12;3 Aligning the mark102of the rotary element86with the mark26of the main casing12by rotating the adjustment wheel100of the rotary element86;
If the selected sheet106includes a pre-size-coated zone:5 Locating the face including the pre-size-coated zone of the sheet106, and orienting the sheet106so that the face including the pre-size-coated zone faces the arrow27of the main casing12and engaged first in the receiving slots24,60,94;
If the selected sheet106does not include a pre-size-coated zone: switching from step 4 to step 6 without performing step 5.6 Introducing the first pre-size-coated end108of the sheet106into the main casing10, through the first, second and third receiving slots24,60,94until the sheet106abuts against the stop surface104;
If the sheet106has a pre-size-coated zone:7A Rotating the adjustment wheel100of the rotary element86by the user in a direction indicated by the arrow103of the adjustment wheel100of the rotary element86;
If the selected sheet106does not include a pre-size-coated zone:7B Rotating the adjustment wheel100of the rotary element86by the user in a direction randomly determined by the user; and8 Translating the sliding element48to the open position of the main casing12of the rolling device10and contact of the blocking abutments42and80corresponding to the complete opening of the main casing.

After performing steps 1 and 2, the main casing12is in a closed position and the first and second receiving slots24,60are aligned along the vertical plane P. Following step 3, the third receiving slot94is aligned with the first and second receiving slots24,60of the rolling device10.

For steps 7A and 7B, the adjustment wheel100is rotated until the second end110of the sheet106is inserted into the rolling device10, and then the adjustment wheel100is rotated by at least one additional revolution to ensure that the sheet106is completely rolled about the shaft88of the rotary element86.

During step 7A or 7B of rotating the adjustment wheel100of the rotary element86, the third receiving slot94of the rotary element86drives the sheet106guided by the convex shape of the support30of the main casing12and held bearing against the shaft88of the rotary element86by the free end66of the elastic blade64of the shell50of the sliding element48.

Preferably, step 8 of translating the sliding element is carried out by the user by applying pressure to each of the two gripping zones82of the sliding element48while holding the main casing12.

During step 8 of translating the sliding element48, the shoulder83of the rear edge54of the shell50of the sliding element48pulls the rolled sheet106until it is expelled from the rolling device10through the open lower portion56of the shell50of the sliding element48.

According to the first embodiment of the rolling device10, step 6 of introducing the first end108of the sheet106is carried out up to the holding groove32including the stop surface104. As a result, at start of step 7A or 7B of rotating the wheel100of the rotary element86, the first end108of the sheet106is held in the holding groove32to form the folded zone114of the rolled sheet106.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, step 6 of introducing the first end108of the sheet106is carried out up to the support30including the stop surface104. The sheet106rolled according to this embodiment does not include a folded zone114.

According to the third embodiment of the invention, step 6 of introducing the first end108of the sheet106is performed up to the third receiving slot94including the stop surface104. The sheet106rolled according to this embodiment does not include a folded zone114and the inner partition112extends only along a portion of the diameter of the cylinder of the rolled sheet106.

The use of a rolling device10according to the invention in the form of a handheld device with a small overall size offers one alternative to manually rolling the sheet106. Such a device is configured to individually form filters and for obtaining filters for roll-your-own cigarettes all having a similar geometry and more particularly a substantially identical diameter determined by the size of the diameter of the shaft88of the rotary element. In addition, the presence of a third slot94for receiving the rotary element86first enables the sheet106to be driven during rotation of the adjustment wheel100of the rotary element86, but also the inner partition112to be formed, which rigidifies structure of the rolled sheet106and improves filtering capacity of the rolled sheet106when used in a roll-your-own cigarette.