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(11) | EP 4 381 963 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | EQUIPMENT AND METHOD FOR WINDING FILLING ROD |
| (57) Provided is equipment 6 for winding a filling rod TR, the winding equipment 6 continuously
wrapping a flavor raw ingredient in rollable paper P while molding the flavor raw
ingredient into a filler B through a process for transporting the flavor raw ingredient
together with the rollable paper P along a transport path 4, wherein: the winding
equipment 6 comprises a garniture tape 8 that travels along the transport path 4,
and a molding bed 10 having a molding groove 14 in which the garniture tape 8 travels;
the rollable paper P is supported on the garniture tape 8 and travels in the molding
groove 14 together with the garniture tape 8; the filler B is supported on the rollable
paper P, and is continuously wrapped in the rollable paper P via the garniture tape
8 traveling in the molding groove 14 and is molded into the filling rod TR; the molding
bed 10 has a suction chamber 32 for suctioning a groove space 30 in the molding groove
14; and the garniture tape 8 has a suction hole 36 opened therein and applies suction
force from the suction chamber 23 to the rollable paper P via the suction hole 36. |
Technical Field
Background Art
[0002] PTL 1 describes a wrapping machine for a tobacco rod. The wrapping machine conveys a tobacco raw material, such as shredded tobacco, with a wrapping paper along a conveying path. In the conveying process, the wrapping machine forms a tobacco raw material into a filler while continuously wrapping the filler with the wrapping paper. The wrapping machine includes a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path, and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs.
[0003] A wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and runs along the forming groove with the garniture tape. A filler made of a tobacco raw material is supplied onto the wrapping paper and is continuously wrapped with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape running along the forming groove to be formed into a tobacco rod. When the filler runs along the forming groove with the garniture tape and the wrapping paper, the wrapping paper and the garniture tape contact with each other upon receiving the weight of the filler, with the result that frictional force is applied between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape.
[0004] When the frictional force is applied between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape, the wrapping paper is allowed to run along the forming groove together with the garniture tape, and the wrapping paper is allowed to continuously wrap the filler.
Citation List
Patent Literature
Summary of Invention
Technical Problem
[0006] A tobacco rod filled with a tobacco raw material is defined as a filler rod filled with a flavor raw material (there can be a case where a tobacco raw material is not contained) in a broad sense. In this case, a filled part obtained by cutting the filler rod is a component of a heat-not-burn flavor inhaling article. A heater of a device used to use the flavor inhaling article, for example, heats the filled part when inserted into the filled part and generates an aerosol of a flavor component. In this case, in the filled part, when the filling amount of flavor raw material is large for the size of the heater, the resistance to insert the heater to the filled part increases to make it difficult to insert the heater, with the result that operability during inhalation deteriorates. The resistance to insert the heater may lead to breakage of the heater.
[0007] Furthermore, in the filled part, when the filling amount of flavor raw material is large for the size of the heater, the flavor raw material in the filled part becomes excessively dense as a result of insertion of the heater, so air permeability in the filled part deteriorates, with the result that an inhalation taste may be impaired. To eliminate these inconveniences, the filling amount of flavor raw material that fills the filler rod can be reduced as compared to the existing art. In consideration of a situation in terms of costs for a flavor inhaling article, the filling amount of flavor raw material can be reduced.
[0008] When the filling amount of flavor raw material is reduced, a packing density of filler made of a flavor raw material decreases, so the hardness of the filler decreases, that is, the filler softens. As a result of softening of the filler, the reaction force of the filler decreases, in other words, the filler is difficult to elastically deform, so adhesion between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape at the time when the wrapping paper and the garniture tape run along the forming groove and the frictional force between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape decreases. As a result, in the forming groove, the garniture tape, the wrapping paper, and the filler are difficult to run together, so the flavor raw material is, for example, left to clog the forming groove, and there is a possibility that a desired filler rod cannot be manufactured.
[0009] The present invention is made in view of such a problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wrapping machine and a wrapping method for a filler rod, capable of manufacturing a desired filler rod even when the filling amount of flavor raw material is reduced.
Solution to Problem
[0010] A wrapping machine for a filler rod according to an aspect is a wrapping machine for a filler rod. The wrapping machine, in a process of conveying a flavor raw material along a conveying path with a wrapping paper, forms the flavor raw material into a filler and continuously wraps the filler with the wrapping paper. The wrapping machine includes a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path, and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs. The wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and runs along the forming groove with the garniture tape. The filler is supplied onto the wrapping paper and is continuously wrapped with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape running along the forming groove to be formed into the filler rod. The forming bed has a suction chamber that sucks a groove space in the forming groove. A suction hole is perforated in the garniture tape, and suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the wrapping paper via the suction hole.
[0011] A wrapping method for a filler rod according to an aspect is a wrapping method for a filler rod. The wrapping method, in a process of conveying a flavor raw material along a conveying path with a wrapping paper, forms the flavor raw material into a filler and continuously wraps the filler with the wrapping paper. The wrapping method includes: a conveying step of, by using a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs, supplying the wrapping paper onto the garniture tape and supplying the filler onto the wrapping paper and conveying the wrapping paper and the filler together with the garniture tape by causing the wrapping paper and the filler together with the garniture tape to run along the forming groove; and a wrapping step of continuously wrapping the filler with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape to be formed into the filler rod. In the wrapping step, a suction process of applying suction force to the wrapping paper via a suction hole perforated in the garniture tape by sucking a groove space of the forming groove.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0012] With the wrapping machine and the wrapping method for a filler rod, even when the filling amount of flavor raw material is reduced, it is possible to manufacture a desired filler rod.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0013]
[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filler rod manufacturing machine.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a partially sectional view of a wrapping machine, taken along the line C-C in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a partially top view of a garniture tape.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates a wrapping method for a filler rod.
Description of Embodiments
[0014] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filler rod manufacturing machine 1. The filler rod manufacturing machine 1 includes a suction band 2. The suction band 2 has an endless shape. A flavor layer TL is formed on the lower surface of the suction band 2 by adsorbing a flavor raw material in a layer. The flavor layer TL is transferred in a conveying direction of the conveying path 4, indicated by the arrow A.
[0015] A flavor raw material that is a component of a filler B of a filler rod is, for example, shredded tobacco, an article obtained by shredding a tobacco sheet, or an article obtained by gathering a tobacco sheet. Alternatively, a flavor raw material may be an article obtained by adding a flavoring agent to a sheet made from pulp not containing tobacco, an article obtained by shredding a sheet made from a non-tobacco plant, or an article obtained by gathering a sheet of any one of them.
[0016] A wrapping machine 6 according to the present embodiment is disposed downstream of the suction band 2 in a conveying direction A of the conveying path 4. In a process of transferring the flavor layer TL made of a flavor raw material with a wrapping paper P made of a paper web along the conveying path 4, the wrapping machine 6 forms the flavor layer TL into a filler B and continuously wraps the filler B with the wrapping paper P to be formed into a filler rod TR.
[0017] The wrapping machine 6 includes a garniture tape 8, a forming bed 10, and a drive drum 12. The garniture tape 8 has an endless shape and is wound around the drive drum 12. With the rotation of the drive drum 12, part of the garniture tape 8 runs along the conveying path 4. The forming bed 10 has a forming groove 14 along which the garniture tape 8 runs. A wrapping paper P is supplied onto the garniture tape 8 and runs along the forming groove 14 with the garniture tape 8.
[0018] A filler B is supplied onto the wrapping paper P and is continuously wrapped with the wrapping paper P via the garniture tape 8 running along the forming groove 14 to be formed into a filler rod TR. A shoe 16, tong 18, a short holder 20, a long holder 22, and a heater 24 are disposed in the wrapping machine 6 in order from an upstream side of the conveying path 4 in the conveying direction A. The shoe 16 and the tong 18 cooperate with the forming bed 10 to make up a compression forming unit 26 for compression-forming the flavor layer TL into the filler B.
[0019] The shoe 16 peels the flavor layer TL from the suction band 2 and guides the flavor layer TL to the wrapping paper P. When the garniture tape 8 runs and the flavor layer TL supplied onto the wrapping paper P passes by the tong 18 with the garniture tape 8, the tong 18 cooperate with the forming groove 14 of the forming bed 10 to compression-form the flavor layer TL into the filler B. The filler B having passed by the tong 18 passes by the short holder 20, the long holder 22, and the heater 24 with the garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P.
[0020] At this time, the filler B is continuously wrapped with the wrapping paper P and is formed into the filler rod TR. Both side edges of the wrapping paper P are placed on top of each other via an adhesive to form a seam of the wrapping paper P on the filler rod TR. The adhesive at the seam is dried when the filler rod TR passes by the heater 24. The filler rod TR sent out from the wrapping machine 6 passes through a cutting unit 28 and is cut with a predetermined length. The cut filler rod TR is conveyed to a filter attachment unit (not shown) in a downstream process to be a filled part of a heat-not-burn flavor inhaling article.
[0021] Fig. 2 is a partially sectional view of the wrapping machine 6, taken along the line C-C in Fig. 1. A suction chamber 32 for sucking a groove space 30 of the forming groove 14 is formed in the forming bed 10 of the wrapping machine 6 according to the present embodiment. A plurality of the suction chambers 32 is perforated in the forming groove 14 along the conveying path 4. As shown in Fig. 1, the suction chambers 32 respectively communicate with a plurality of suction ports 34 formed in the forming bed 10, and the suction ports 34 communicate with a suction source.
[0022] A suction hole 36 is perforated in the garniture tape 8. Suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the wrapping paper P via the suction hole 36 of the garniture tape 8. Furthermore, a cooling passage 38 is formed in the forming bed 10. The cooling passage 38 receives coolant circulated and supplied from outside to cool particularly the forming groove 14 of the forming bed 10.
[0023] Fig. 3 is a partially top view of the garniture tape 8. A plurality of the suction holes 36 is provided along an extension direction of the garniture tape 8. The hole shape of the suction hole 36 may be circular or may be rectangular. Various patterns are presumed as the size and formation range of one suction hole 36. The number of lines of the suction holes 36 may be one as shown in Fig. 3 or may be multiple.
[0024] Fig. 4 is a flowchart that illustrates a wrapping method for a filler rod TR. When wrapping of the filler rod TR is started, in step S1, as described above, the wrapping paper P is supplied onto the garniture tape 8, the filler B is supplied onto the wrapping paper P, and the wrapping paper P and the filler B are conveyed so as to run with the garniture tape 8 along the forming groove 14 (conveying step). In step S2, as described above, the filler B is continuously wrapped with the wrapping paper P via the garniture tape 8 to be formed into the filler rod TR (wrapping step).
[0025] In the wrapping step, in process P1, by sucking the groove space 30 of the forming groove 14, suction force from the suction chambers 32 is applied to the wrapping paper P via the suction holes 36 perforated in the garniture tape 8 (suction process). In the suction process, suction force is applied to the wrapping paper P via the plurality of suction holes 36 provided in the extension direction of the garniture tape 8.
[0026] In the wrapping step, in process P2, the forming groove 14 of the forming bed is cooled with coolant circulating in the cooling passage 38 (cooling process). The wrapping method has been described by being separated into step S1, step S2, process P1, and process P2 for the sake of description; however, step S1, step S2, process P1, and process P2 are performed at the same timing from when wrapping of the filler rod TR is started to when the wrapping ends.
[0027] As described above, in the wrapping machine 6 and the wrapping method for the filler rod TR according to the present embodiment, the forming bed 10 has the suction chambers 32, and the garniture tape 8 has the suction holes 36. In the suction process of the wrapping step, suction force from the suction chambers 32 is applied to the wrapping paper P via the suction holes 36.
[0028] As described above, when the filling amount of flavor raw material is reduced as compared to the existing art, frictional force applied between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8 reduces due to softening of the filler B. More specifically, when the hardness of the filler B is lower than 70%, it is difficult to manufacture the filler rod TR, so it has been proved that the hardness of the filler B needs to be higher than or equal to 70% and more preferably higher than or equal to 75%.
[0029] The hardness of the filler B is measured with a measuring instrument (model number: DD60A Densimeter (made by Heinr. Borgwaldt GmbH)). The measuring instrument includes a pusher and applies a rod on the filler rod TR by lowering the pusher by a lowering distance d. Where the diameter of the filler rod TR before application of a load is Ds and the diameter of the filler rod TR after a load is applied for a predetermined period of time is Dd, the lowering distance d of the pusher is calculated by the expression Ds - Dd, and the hardness of the filler B is calculated by the expression (Dd/Ds) × 100.
[0030] When the hardness of the filler B is lower than 70%, the garniture tape 8, the wrapping paper P, and the filler B are difficult to run together due to a decrease in frictional force between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8, so the flavor raw material is, for example, left to clog the forming groove 14, and there is a possibility that a desired filler rod TR cannot be manufactured. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, even when the hardness of the filler B is lower than 70%, a decrease in frictional force between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8 can be compensated by suction force from the suction chambers 32.
[0031] Thus, even when the filling amount of flavor raw material is reduced as compared to the existing art, it is possible to enhance adhesion between the garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P in running, so it is possible to cause the garniture tape 8, the wrapping paper P, and the filler B to run together. Therefore, an inconvenience that the filler B is left to clog the forming groove 14 can be suppressed. In other words, irrespective of the filling amount and packing density of flavor raw material or irrespective of the hardness of the filler B, a desired filler rod TR can be manufactured.
[0032] The plurality of suction holes 36 is provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape 8. Thus, suction force from the suction chambers 32 can be further effectively applied to the wrapping paper P. Thus, the above-described decrease in frictional force can be further effectively compensated by suction force from the suction chambers 32.
[0033] The plurality of suction chambers 32 is perforated in the forming groove 14 along the conveying path 4. Thus, suction force from the suction chambers 32 can be further effectively applied to the garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P over all the range of the forming groove 14 in the conveying direction A. Therefore, the above-described decrease in frictional force can be further effectively compensated by suction force from the suction chambers 32.
[0034] The forming bed 10 has the cooling passage 38, and the forming groove 14 is cooled in the cooling process of the wrapping step. When the garniture tape 8 in running excessively contacts with the forming groove 14 due to suction force from the suction chambers 32, heat of friction is generated in the garniture tape 8 and the forming groove 14. However, when coolant is circulated in the cooling passage 38 to cool the forming groove 14, high temperature of the garniture tape 8 and the forming groove 14 due to heat of friction is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress denaturation of the filler rod TR due to high temperature, so it is possible to ensure the quality of the filler rod TR.
[0035] The description of the embodiment has been described above; however, the above-described embodiment is not restrictive and may be modified into various forms without departing from the purport. For example, the forming bed 10 includes the cooling passage 38 inside; however, the cooling passage 38 is not always indispensable. Specifically, when frictional force of the garniture tape 8 against the forming groove 14 is reduced by controlling the suction pressure of the suction source, it is possible to smoothly cause the garniture tape 8 to run in the forming groove 14 while suppressing generation of heat of friction in the forming groove 14, so it is possible to manufacture a desired filler rod TR even when the forming groove 14 is not cooled.
[0036] The suction process may use means other than forming the suction chambers 32 in the forming bed 10 as long as suction force can be applied to the wrapping paper P via the suction holes 36 of the garniture tape 8. The cooling process may use means other than forming the cooling passage 38 in the forming bed 10 as long as it is possible to cool the forming groove 14.
[0037] The above-described embodiment is not limited to the wrapping machine 6 and the wrapping method for a filler rod TR used in a heat-not-burn flavor inhaling article and may also be applied to the wrapping machine 6 and the wrapping method for a filler rod TR used in a heat-burn flavor inhaling article.
Reference Signs List
1. A wrapping machine for a filler rod, the wrapping machine, in a process of conveying
a flavor raw material with a wrapping paper along a conveying path, forming the flavor
raw material into a filler and continuously wrapping the filler with the wrapping
paper, the wrapping machine comprising:
a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path; and
a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs, wherein
the wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and runs along the forming groove with the garniture tape,
the filler is supplied onto the wrapping paper and is continuously wrapped with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape running along the forming groove to be formed into the filler rod,
the forming bed has a suction chamber that sucks a groove space in the forming groove, and
a suction hole is perforated in the garniture tape, and suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the wrapping paper via the suction hole.
2. The wrapping machine for a filler rod according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of
the suction holes is provided along an extension direction of the garniture tape.
3. The wrapping machine for a filler rod according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality
of the suction chambers is perforated in the forming groove along the conveying path.
4. The wrapping machine for a filler rod according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
the forming bed has a cooling passage for cooling the forming groove.
5. A wrapping method for a filler rod, the wrapping method, in a process of conveying
a flavor raw material with a wrapping paper along a conveying path, forming the flavor
raw material into a filler and continuously wrapping the filler with the wrapping
paper, the wrapping method comprising:
a conveying step of, by using a garniture tape that runs along the conveying path and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs, supplying the wrapping paper onto the garniture tape and supplying the filler onto the wrapping paper and conveying the wrapping paper and the filler together with the garniture tape by causing the wrapping paper and the filler together with the garniture tape to run along the forming groove; and
a wrapping step of continuously wrapping the filler with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape to be formed into the filler rod, wherein
in the wrapping step, a suction process of applying suction force to the wrapping paper via a suction hole perforated in the garniture tape by sucking a groove space of the forming groove.
6. The wrapping method for a filler rod according to claim 5, wherein, in the suction
process, suction force is applied to the wrapping paper via a plurality of the suction
holes provided along an extension direction of the garniture tape.
7. The wrapping method for a filler rod according to claim 5 or 6, wherein, in the wrapping
step, a cooling process of cooling the forming groove is performed.
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description