IT202100010538A1 - PACKAGING METHOD AND PACKAGING MACHINE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SMOKE ITEMS WITHOUT COMBUSTION - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the industrial invention entitled:

"Packaging method and packaging machine for the production of smokeless smoking articles"

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The present invention ? relating to a method of packaging and a packaging machine for the production of smoking articles (cigarettes) without combustion, or for a smoking article (cigarette) commercially known under the designation HNB (?Heat Not Burn?).

EARLIER ART

Recently on the market, smokeless articles (cigarettes) have been proposed, in which a piece of tobacco instead of being burned (or subjected to direct combustion), is heated to temperatures between 300?C and 400?C for generating an aerosol which contains nicotine and is aspirated by the smoker after passing through at least one filter coupled to the tobacco-based piece.

At present, smokeless articles (cigarettes) are produced by combining machines of the type described in patent application WO2014064655A1. A combining machine includes: a plurality? of feeds for feeding a relative component of the smoking article, a sequence of combination drums in which the components from each feed are received side by side in each seat, and a unit? rolling in which the adjacent components are wrapped in a connecting band. Considering that a smokeless smoking article usually comprises at least four different components, the combining machine will have to comprise at least four different feeds and consequently, the combining machine is generally complex and cumbersome. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Purpose of the present invention? provide a packaging method and a packaging machine for the production of smokeless smoking articles that are easy and economical to make and, at the same time, allow to achieve productivity? adequate ensuring high quality standards.

In accordance with the present invention, a packaging method and a packaging machine are provided for the production of smoking articles without combustion, according to what is claimed in the attached claims.

The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention forming an integral part of the present description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention will come now described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:

? figure 1 ? a schematic and longitudinal sectional view of a smokeless smoking article;

? figures 2, 3 and 4 are respective schematic views in longitudinal section of as many variants of the smoking article without combustion of figure 1;

? figure 5 ? a schematic plan view of a packaging machine which produces the smokeless smoking article of figure 1;

? figure 6 ? a schematic and frontal view of a first unit? of packaging of the packaging machine of figure 5;

? figure 7 ? a schematic and frontal view of a second unit? of packaging of the packaging machine of figure 5;

? the figure 8 ? a schematic and frontal view of a unit? of transfer of the packaging machine of figure 5;

? figure 9 ? a schematic view of part of the unit? transfer of the figure 8 and part of the second unit? of packaging of figure 8; And

? figures 10 schematically illustrate the production steps of the smoking article without combustion of figure 1 in the packaging machine of figure 5. PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In figure 1 and with the reference numeral 1 ? indicated as a whole a smokeless article without combustion.

The smoking article 1 comprises a tobacco-based piece 2 of a cylindrical shape which is adapted to be heated (without burning the tobacco) to generate an aerosol containing nicotine. In particular, the tobacco-based clip 2 ? consisting of a tobacco-based heart 3 with a cylindrical shape wrapped in a wrapping band 4 which can be made of paper (or other similar material) or pu? also be tobacco-based. The tobacco-based segment 2 normally has a length of between 8 and 16 mm.

The smoking article 1 also comprises a group 5 of components 6 which overall has a cylindrical shape and ? stably connected at the end to the tobacco-based piece 2 by means of a connecting strip 7 (made of paper or other similar material) which ? partially wrapped over the wrapping band 4 of the tobacco-based segment 2. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, group 5 is composed of two components 6 coupled at the head and held together by a connection strap 8 (made of paper or other similar material) around which ? the connection band 6 is wound; obviously the group 5 could be composed of a different number of components 6: from a minimum of a single component 6, to a maximum of six to eight components 6 (figure 2 shows an embodiment in which the group 5 is composed from four components 6). In accordance with a variant embodiment not shown, the group 5 of components 6 could also be stably connected to the tobacco-based piece 2 by providing an empty space between the relative ends. head.

The components 6 of a group 5 can comprise, for example, filter components 6, flavoring components 6, cooling components 6 or even others. Generally (but not necessarily), a group 5 comprises at least one filtering component 6 since ? typically required a (albeit minimal) filtering action of the aerosol generated by the heating of the tobacco-based section 2; obviously, a group 5 could also include two or more? 6 filtering components (adjacent to each other or even separate) which perform different filtering actions in series.

? important to underline that the bands 4, 7 and 8 always have respective glue strips (widely known and not illustrated in the attached figures) which are arranged axially to glue the bands 4, 7 and 8 on themselves in such a way as to keep the bands 4 , 7 and 8 stable in their rolled configuration.

Preferably, the connecting band 7 has an axial length shorter than an axial length of the smoking article 1 and therefore leaves a part of the smoking article 1 itself uncovered, in particular it leaves a (preponderant) part of the base-based portion 2 uncovered. of tobacco.

In the two embodiments illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the group 5 is formed (assembled) independently of the corresponding tobacco-based piece 2 and is therefore provided with the connection band 8 necessary to keep the various components 6 of the group 5 united. In the two alternative embodiments illustrated in figures 3 and 4, the group 5 is formed (assembled) together with the corresponding tobacco-based piece 2 and therefore ? devoid of the clamp 8 connection, as ? the connection band 6 (which also performs the function of connection between the group 5 and the tobacco-based piece 2) is sufficient to keep the various components 6 of the group 5 united.

In figure 5 with the reference number 9 ? Overall, a packaging machine is indicated which produces the smokeless articles 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 and which with some modifications could also produce the smokeless articles 1 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

The packaging machine 9 comprises a unit? 10 of packaging that produces the pieces 2 based on tobacco and a unit? 11 which assembles (combines) the tobacco-based segments 2 with the groups 5 to complete the production of the smoking articles 1. The unit 10 of packaging ? arranged adjacent to the unit? 11 of packaging and ? oriented perpendicular to the unit? 11 packaging; the packaging machine 9 also includes a unit? 12 transfer that ? interposed between the units? 10 and 11 and transfers the tobacco-based segments 2 directly from an output station S1 of the unit? 10 of packaging and to an input station S2 of the unit? 11 of packaging. As a non-limiting example, the unit? 10 of packaging ? made as described in the patent applications EP3469922A1 and EP3469923A1.

According to what is illustrated in figure 6, the unit? 10 comprises a conveyor system 13 which advances a tobacco-based ribbon 14 along a path P1 which is progressively unwound from a reel 15.

The unit 10 comprises a processing device 16 which performs a processing on the tobacco-based web 14 advancing along the path P1. According to a preferred embodiment, the processing device 16 comprises a pair of rollers 17 cooperating with each other to perform a processing on the tobacco-based strip 14 which is passed through the two rollers 17 themselves; by way of example, the two rollers 17 fold and/or cut the tobacco-based strip 14 along longitudinal folding and/or cutting lines (that is, parallel to the direction of advancement along the path P1). The modalities? execution of the folds and cuts made by the pair of rollers 17 on the tobacco-based ribbon 14 are detailed for example in the patent applications EP3469922A1 and EP3469923A1; obviously, the pair of rollers 17 could also perform other types of processing on the tobacco-based strip 14.

The unit 10 comprises a collection device 18 which ? arranged downstream of the pair of rollers 17 and receives the tobacco-based sliver 14 processed by the pair of rollers 17; the collection device 18 collects the tobacco-based ribbon 14 processed by the pair of rollers 17 to form a cylindrical bead 19 which advances longitudinally along the path P1.

The unit 10 comprises a winding device 20 for winding around the cord 19 (outgoing from the collection device 18) a wrapping tape 21 (which will form the wrapping band 4 of a single tobacco-based piece 2) unwound by a reel 22. That is, the wrapping tape 21 is folded to form a tube that surrounds the cord 19 without play. The winding device 20 comprises a forming beam configured to receive the cord 19 from the collection device 18 and to receive from the the wrapping tape 21 previously gummed (or equipped with glue) is down.

The unit 10 comprises a cutting device 23 which ? arranged downstream of the winding device 20 and transversely cuts the cord 19 to obtain tobacco-based lengths 2 which advance longitudinally along the path P1.

Downstream of the cutting device 23 ? is the exit station S1 arranged in which the tobacco-based segments 2 leave the unit individually? 10 of packaging.

The unit 10 could also comprise a device for applying an additive, not shown, to the tobacco-based web 14 upstream or downstream of the processing device 16.

According to what is illustrated in figure 7, the unit? 11 comprises a drum conveying system 24 for transversely advancing the tobacco-based pieces 2 along a path P2 which ? transversal to path P1. In particular, the conveying system 24 comprises a plurality of of drums which are provided with peripheral suction seats and are mounted to rotate around respective rotation axes horizontal and perpendicular to the plane of figure 1. The conveying system 24, i.e. the path P2, begins with an inlet drum 25 which receives the pieces 2 based on tobacco at the entrance station S2.

According to what is illustrated in figure 8, the unit? 12 includes a transfer drum 26 which is mounted rotatably about an axis 27 of rotation (horizontal and perpendicular to the path P1) and supports a plurality? of suction gripping heads 28 which move from the outlet station S1 where they pick up the tobacco-based pieces 2 with a longitudinal movement (as shown in Figure 8) to the inlet station S2 where they release the tobacco-based pieces 2 with a transverse movement on the suction seats of the inlet drum 25 (as illustrated in figure 9). Due to the small axial dimension (length) of the tobacco-based lengths 2, ? preferably the transfer drum 26 supports at least eight vacuum pick heads 28 (as shown in FIG. 8 ); in particular, at least ten suction socket heads 28 (or eleven or twelve) should be provided.

According to what is illustrated in figure 7, the unit? 11 comprises a cutting drum 29 which receives the tobacco-based pieces 2 from the input drum 25 (as shown in Figure 10a ) and cooperates with a cutting device 30 to cut the tobacco in half. each tobacco-based piece 2 (as shown in Figure 10b). About this ? important to note that the pieces 2 based on tobacco coming from the unit? 10 are of double length (that is, they have a double length compared to a length of a tobacco-based piece 2 of a finished smoking article 2) and are therefore cut in half. (that is, in two identical pieces) to give rise to two distinct tobacco-based pieces 2 of single length intended to constitute two distinct smoking articles 1.

The unit 11 comprises a spacer drum 31 which receives from the cutting drum 29 the pairs of tobacco-based lengths 2 of single length (still adjacent to each other) and separates them axially, or moves them axially away from each other (as shown in figure 10c).

The unit 11 comprises a combination drum 32 which first receives groups 5 of double length (i.e. having a length twice the length of a group 5 of a finished smoking article 2) and subsequently receives from the spacer drum 31 the pairs of 2 single-length tobacco-based pieces that are arranged at the ends? opposite sides of the double-length groups 5 (as illustrated in Figure 10d).

The unit 11 comprises a hopper 33 which contains a mass of groups 5 of double length and a series of feed drums 34-37 which take the groups 5 of double length from the bottom of the hopper 33 and insert the groups 5 of double length into the seats combination drum 32 aspirants.

The unit 11 comprises a coupling drum 38 which receives from the combining drum 35 the pairs of tobacco-based pieces 2 of single length between which the groups 5 of double length are interposed and applies respective connecting bands 7 of double length (as shown in figure 10e) obtained from the transversal cut of a connecting tape 39 (previously gummed, or provided with glue) unwound from a reel.

The unit 11 comprises a rolling drum 40 in which the winding of the double-length connecting strips 7 is completed around the pairs of single-length tobacco-based pieces 2 between which the double-length groups 5 are interposed; in the rolling drum 40 the formation of pairs of smoking articles 1 centrally joined together is completed (as shown in figure 10e).

The unit 11 comprises a passage drum 41 which receives the pairs of smoking articles 1 joined centrally by the rolling drum 40.

The unit 11 comprises a cutting drum 42 which receives the pairs of smoking articles 1 centrally joined together by the passage drum 41 and cooperates with a cutting device 43 to cut them in half. each pair of smoking articles 1 centrally joined together and thus separating the two smoking articles 1 (as shown in Fig. 10f ).

The final part of the unit? 11 comprises a passage drum 44 and an overturning drum 45, in which each smoking article 1 of the same row is subjected to the so-called ?tip-turning? to pass from an orientation discordant with the other smoking article 1 side by side to an orientation in agreement with the other smoking article 1 and, at the same time, to pass from two rows of smoking articles 1 side by side to a single row of smoking articles 1 smoke (obviously having a distribution pitch halved with respect to the two rows of smoke articles 1 placed side by side).

In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1 and 10, each group 5 comprises only two components 6; according to other embodiments, each group 5 comprises a different number of components 6: from a minimum of a single component 6 to a maximum of six to eight components 6.

In the embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 10, the unit? 11 the complete double-length units 5 (that is ?made and finished?) are fed, each of which includes all the components 6 and the connection band 8 which determines a stable connection between all the components 6; that is, each group 5 is formed outside the unit? 11 packaging that receives groups 5 already? formats. In this embodiment ? also foreseen the clamp 8 of connection that ? necessary to keep the group 5 united upstream of the unit? 11 of packaging. According to a different embodiment not shown, the unit? 11 for packaging, the loose components 6 (ie separated from each other) of the same group 5 are fed and therefore each group 5 is formed directly in the unit? 11 of packaging with modality? Note. In this embodiment not ? provided the connection clamp 8 whose function is not ? more necessary, since once a group 5 has been formed next to a tobacco-based piece 2, the group 5 is kept united by the connection band 6 which is applied immediately after the group 5 is complete.

In the embodiment illustrated in figures 7 and 10, the unit? 11 the tobacco-based segments 2 of double length and the units 5 of double length are fed to operate on a double line (that is, to form two axially side by side smoking articles 1 at the same time). According to a different embodiment not shown, the unit? 11, the tobacco-based segments 2 of single length and the groups 5 of single length are fed to operate on a single line (that is, to form a single smoking article 1 at a time). In other words, in the production sequence illustrated in figures 7 and 10 two smoking articles 1 are processed in parallel at a time; alternatively, only one smoking article 1 could be processed at a time.

The embodiments described here can be combined with each other without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

The packaging machine 9 described above has numerous advantages.

In the first place, the packaging machine 9 described above is particularly compact and relatively simple and cheap to make.

Furthermore, the packaging machine 9 described above makes it possible to achieve productivity? relatively high hourly hours while guaranteeing a high quality standard (ie guaranteeing the formation of perfectly shaped tubular elements 1 without crushing or more or less accentuated deformations).

LIST OF FIGURE REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 smoking item

2 tobacco-based piece

3 tobacco heart

4 wrapping strip

5 group

6 components

7 connection band 8 connection band 9 packaging machine 10 units? of packaging 11 units? of packaging 12 units? of transfer

13 conveying system 14 tobacco tape 15 reel

16 processing device 17 rollers

18 collection device

19 bead

20 winding device 21 wrapping tape

22 reel

23 cutting device

24 conveyor system 25 inlet drum

26 transfer drum 27 axis of rotation

28 gripping heads

29 cutting drum

30 cutting device

31 spacer drum

32 combination drum 33 hopper

34 Feed Drum 35 Feed Drum 36 Feed Drum 37 Feed Drum 38 Bonding Drum 39 Bonding Belt 40 Rolling Drum

41 passage drum 42 cutting drum

43 cutting device

44 passage drum 45 overturning drum

S1 exit station

S2 entrance station

Claims (12)

1) Packaging method for the production of smokeless articles (1) and characterized by the fact that it includes the phases of: advancing a tobacco-based web (14) along a first path (P1); carrying out processing on the tobacco-based tape (14) through a pair of rollers (17) cooperating with each other and between which the tobacco-based tape (14) is passed; collecting the tobacco-based sliver (14) worked by the pair of rollers (17) to form a cylindrical bead (19) which advances longitudinally along the first path (P1); wrapping a wrapping tape (21) around the cord (19); And transversely cutting the cord (19) wound up by the wrapping tape (21) to obtain tobacco-based lengths (2) which advance longitudinally along the first path (P1); pick up the tobacco-based pieces (2) which advance longitudinally along the first path (P1) and transfer the tobacco-based pieces (2) to a second path (P2) transversal to the first path (P1) by means of a drum ( 26) mounted rotatably about an axis (27) of rotation; transversely advancing the tobacco-based pieces (2) along the second path (P2); coupling to each tobacco-based piece (2), during its transverse advancement along the second path (P2), a group (5) composed of at least two different components (6); and wind around each piece (2) of tobacco and the corresponding group (5), during their transversal advancement along the second path (P2), a first connecting strip (7) which establishes a stable connection so as to complete the formation of at least one (1) non-combustible smoking item. 2) Packaging method according to claim 1, wherein each smoking article (1) has a tobacco-based piece (2) having a length of between 8 and 16 mm. 3) Packaging method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the step of transversally cutting the cord (19) wrapped up by the wrapping tape (21) involves cutting tobacco-based pieces (2) of a double length compared to a final length of a tobacco-based piece (2) of a article (1) from smoking; during the transversal advancement of the tobacco-based segments (2) along the second path (P2), each tobacco-based segment (2) of double length is cut into two halves; which are then axially moved away from each other to insert between the two halves? a group (5) of double length; and the group (5) of double length is cut in two halves? to separate two distinct smoking articles (1) formed together. 4) Packaging method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of transversally cutting the cord (19) wrapped up by the wrapping tape (21) involves cutting tobacco-based pieces (2) of a length equal to a length end of a tobacco-based portion (2) of a smoking article (1). 5) Packaging method according to one of the claims from 1 to 4 and comprising the further step of wrapping around each group (5) a second connection strip (8) which creates a stable connection between the at least two components (6) of the group (5), before coupling the group (5) to the corresponding tobacco-based piece (2). 6) Packaging method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the step of coupling each tobacco-based piece (2) with a corresponding group (5) comprises the further steps of: coupling a first component (6) of group (5) to the tobacco-based segment (2); and subsequently coupled to the piece (2) based on tobacco, already? coupled to the first component (6), a second component (6) of the group (5). 7) Packaging method according to one of the claims from 1 to 6, in which each first connecting band (6) has an axial length shorter than the axial length of a smoking article (1) and therefore leaves a part of the corresponding article uncovered (1) from smoking, in particular it leaves a part of the tobacco-based portion uncovered (2). 8) Packaging method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the step of carrying out a processing on the tobacco-based tape (14) involves folding and/or cutting the tobacco-based tape (14) along longitudinal lines . 9) Packaging method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: the steps of feeding the tobacco-based sliver (14) along the first path (P1), performing processing on the tobacco-based sliver (14), collecting the tobacco-based sliver (14), winding the sliver (21 ) of wrapping, and transversely cut the cord (19) are performed in a first unit? (10) packaging; And the steps of transversely advancing the tobacco-based segments (2) along the second path (P2); coupling a group (5) to each tobacco-based section (2), and wrapping the first connection strip (7) around each tobacco section (2) and the corresponding group (5), are performed in a second unit? (10) packaging that ? arranged adjacent and orthogonally to the first unit? (10) packaging. 10) Packaging method according to one of the claims from 1 to 9, in which the transfer drum (26) by rotating about the rotation axis (27) advances a plurality of of suction pick-up heads (28) which move from an outlet station (S1) where they pick up the tobacco-based pieces (2) with a longitudinal movement to an inlet station (S2) where they release the pieces (2 ) made from tobacco with a transverse motion. 11) Packaging method according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the transfer drum (26) by rotating about the rotation axis (27) advances at least eight, and preferably at least ten, suction gripping heads (28). 12) Packaging machine (8) for the production of smoking articles (1) without combustion characterized in that it comprises: a first conveying system (13) for advancing a tobacco-based web (14) along a first path (P1); a pair of rollers (17) cooperating with each other to perform a process on the tobacco-based ribbon (14) which is passed through the two rollers (17) themselves; a collection device (18) for collecting the tobacco-based sliver (14) processed by the pair of rollers (17) to form a cylindrical-shaped bead (19) which advances longitudinally along the first path (P1); a first winding device (20) for winding a wrapping tape (21) around the cord (19); and a cutting device (23) for transversally cutting the cord (19) wound by the wrapping tape (21) to obtain tobacco-based lengths (2) which advance longitudinally along the first path (P1); a transfer drum (26) mounted rotatable about an axis (27) of rotation to pick up the tobacco-based pieces (2) advancing longitudinally along the first path (P1) and transfer the tobacco-based pieces (2) to a second path (P2) transverse to the first path (P1) by means of; a second conveying system (24) for transversely feeding the tobacco-based pieces (2) along the second path (P2); a coupling system for coupling to each tobacco-based piece (2), during its transverse advancement along the second path (P2), a group (5) composed of at least two different components (6); and a second wrapping device for wrapping around each length (2) of tobacco and the corresponding group (5), during their transversal advancement along the second path (P2), a connecting strip (7) which establishes a stable connection in so as to complete the formation of at least one article (1) from smoke without combustion.