Decelerator Of Cigarettes Collected By A Fluted Drum

What is this patent about?

'105 is related to the field of cigarette manufacturing, specifically to devices that collect and transfer cigarettes from a cigarette maker to downstream processing equipment. The background acknowledges that cigarettes are ejected at high speeds into fluted drums for collection, but existing braking methods, such as sudden pneumatic suction, can damage the cigarettes by causing tobacco to fall out.

The underlying idea behind '105 is to provide a gentler, more progressive deceleration of cigarettes as they enter the flutes of a rotating catcher drum. This is achieved by using a rotating, generally conical suction body with a series of suction holes arranged in spiral rows. The suction force applied to the cigarette gradually increases as it moves along the flute, reducing its speed without abrupt stops.

The claims of '105 focus on the combination of a rotating fluted catcher drum and a rotating pneumatic decelerator. The decelerator has a hollow, generally conical body with suction holes arranged in spiral rows. The rotation of the drum and decelerator are coordinated, and the suction holes are positioned to progressively brake the cigarettes as they enter the drum's flutes.

In practice, the conical suction body rotates in sync with the catcher drum. As a cigarette enters a flute, it encounters the first suction hole in a spiral row. As the drum and decelerator continue to rotate, the cigarette is drawn towards subsequent suction holes in the same row. The spiral arrangement of the holes ensures that the suction force gradually increases, gently slowing the cigarette down. The shape of the suction body and the placement of the holes are designed to match the curvature and movement of the flutes on the catcher drum.

The key differentiation from prior art lies in the progressive nature of the deceleration. Instead of a single, strong suction force, '105 uses a series of suction points with increasing force. This gradual braking minimizes the risk of damage to the cigarettes and prevents tobacco from falling out. The synchronized rotation of the decelerator and catcher drum ensures that the suction is applied at the correct points along the cigarette's trajectory, optimizing the deceleration process.