IP Verse

Method And Apparatus For Regulating The Permeability Of Wrapping Material For Rod-Shaped Smokers' Products

Patent No. US4193409 (titled "Method And Apparatus For Regulating The Permeability Of Wrapping Material For Rod-Shaped Smokers' Products") was filed by Hauni Werke Koerber & Kgde on Oct 11, 1977. The application was issued on Mar 18, 1980.

What is this patent about?

'409 is related to the field of manufacturing rod-shaped smokers' products, specifically addressing the problem of inconsistent air permeability in cigarette wrappers. The background involves the increasing demand for cigarettes with perforated wrappers to dilute tobacco smoke with cool air, reducing nicotine and condensate intake. Existing methods fail to ensure consistent permeability across different cigarettes, leading to consumer dissatisfaction.

The underlying idea behind '409 is to create a closed-loop feedback system that automatically adjusts the perforation process based on real-time measurements of wrapper permeability. This involves making holes in the cigarette wrapper, testing the airflow through those holes, comparing the measured airflow to a target value, and then adjusting the hole-making process to compensate for any deviation. The core insight is to use pneumatic testing to directly measure permeability and use that information to control the perforation parameters.

The claims of '409 focus on a method of regulating the permeability of wrappers of rod-shaped articles. This method includes making holes in the wrappers, testing the articles with a gaseous fluid to establish a pressure differential and measure fluid flow, monitoring the rate of fluid flow and producing signals indicative of the monitored rate, comparing these signals with a reference signal denoting the desired rate, and utilizing the difference to change the combined area of holes in the wrappers.

In practice, the invention can be implemented using various hole-making techniques, such as mechanical piercing with needles, laser ablation, or spark discharge. A pneumatic testing station measures the airflow through the wrapper, and the resulting signal is compared to a setpoint. If the airflow is too low, the system increases the size or number of holes; if it's too high, the system reduces the size or number of holes. This adjustment can be achieved by changing the depth of needle penetration, the intensity of the laser, or the frequency of spark discharge.

The key differentiation from prior approaches lies in the automatic, closed-loop control of the perforation process. Instead of relying on pre-set parameters, the system continuously monitors and adjusts the perforation process to maintain consistent wrapper permeability. This ensures that each cigarette delivers a consistent smoking experience, regardless of variations in the wrapper material or the performance of the perforation equipment. This also reduces the number of rejected cigarettes.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical Landscape

In the mid-1970s when '409 was filed, cigarette manufacturing equipment typically relied on mechanical systems for processing and handling tobacco and wrapping materials. At a time when automation was less sophisticated, achieving consistent and precise control over manufacturing processes, such as wrapper perforation, was non-trivial. Systems commonly relied on pneumatic and electromechanical components for sensing and actuation, rather than advanced digital control systems.

Prosecution Position

The disclosed invention provides a method and apparatus for regulating the permeability of cigarette wrappers by automatically adjusting the size or number of perforations. This addresses the problem of inconsistent air intake in cigarettes, which can irritate consumers. The invention monitors the rate of fluid flow through the wrapper, compares it to a reference signal, and uses the difference to adjust the perforation process. This closed-loop feedback system enables consistent wrapper permeability, reducing the number of rejected cigarettes and ensuring a more uniform product for consumers.

Claims

This patent contains zero claims, so there are no independent or dependent claims to analyze.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)	Support for Specification	Interpretation
Combined area of holes (Claim 1)	The method comprises the steps of making holes in the wrappers so as to permit entry of atmospheric air when the respective products are lighted at one end and a column of tobacco smoke is drawn through the other end of the products, testing the articles with a gaseous fluid including establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the wrappers (at least in the region of the holes) so that the testing fluid flows through the wrappers at a rate which is a function of the combined area of holes in the wrappers, monitoring the rate of fluid flow through the wrappers (e.g., by means of an electropneumatic transducer) and producing first signals which are indicative of the monitored rate, comparing the first signals with a preferably variable reference signal denoting the desired or optimum rate of fluid flow through the wrappers, generating a third signal (e.g., at the output of a signal comparing stage) which denotes the differences between the first signals and the selected reference signal, and utilizing the third signals to change the combined area of holes in the wrappers; this last mentioned step includes increasing the combined area of holes when the desired rate exceeds the monitored rate and reducing the combined area of holes when the desired rate is less than the monitored rate.	The total area of all the holes in the wrappers that allow fluid to flow through.
Pressure differential (Claim 1)	The method comprises the steps of making holes in the wrappers so as to permit entry of atmospheric air when the respective products are lighted at one end and a column of tobacco smoke is drawn through the other end of the products, testing the articles with a gaseous fluid including establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the wrappers (at least in the region of the holes) so that the testing fluid flows through the wrappers at a rate which is a function of the combined area of holes in the wrappers, monitoring the rate of fluid flow through the wrappers (e.g., by means of an electropneumatic transducer) and producing first signals which are indicative of the monitored rate, comparing the first signals with a preferably variable reference signal denoting the desired or optimum rate of fluid flow through the wrappers, generating a third signal (e.g., at the output of a signal comparing stage) which denotes the differences between the first signals and the selected reference signal, and utilizing the third signals to change the combined area of holes in the wrappers; this last mentioned step includes increasing the combined area of holes when the desired rate exceeds the monitored rate and reducing the combined area of holes when the desired rate is less than the monitored rate.	A difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the wrappers, particularly in the area of the holes, causing the testing fluid to flow through the wrappers.
Rate of fluid flow (Claim 1)	The method comprises the steps of making holes in the wrappers so as to permit entry of atmospheric air when the respective products are lighted at one end and a column of tobacco smoke is drawn through the other end of the products, testing the articles with a gaseous fluid including establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the wrappers (at least in the region of the holes) so that the testing fluid flows through the wrappers at a rate which is a function of the combined area of holes in the wrappers, monitoring the rate of fluid flow through the wrappers (e.g., by means of an electropneumatic transducer) and producing first signals which are indicative of the monitored rate, comparing the first signals with a preferably variable reference signal denoting the desired or optimum rate of fluid flow through the wrappers, generating a third signal (e.g., at the output of a signal comparing stage) which denotes the differences between the first signals and the selected reference signal, and utilizing the third signals to change the combined area of holes in the wrappers; this last mentioned step includes increasing the combined area of holes when the desired rate exceeds the monitored rate and reducing the combined area of holes when the desired rate is less than the monitored rate.	The speed at which the gaseous fluid moves through the wrappers, which is indicative of the combined area of the holes.
Reference signal (Claim 1)	The method comprises the steps of making holes in the wrappers so as to permit entry of atmospheric air when the respective products are lighted at one end and a column of tobacco smoke is drawn through the other end of the products, testing the articles with a gaseous fluid including establishing a pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the wrappers (at least in the region of the holes) so that the testing fluid flows through the wrappers at a rate which is a function of the combined area of holes in the wrappers, monitoring the rate of fluid flow through the wrappers (e.g., by means of an electropneumatic transducer) and producing first signals which are indicative of the monitored rate, comparing the first signals with a preferably variable reference signal denoting the desired or optimum rate of fluid flow through the wrappers, generating a third signal (e.g., at the output of a signal comparing stage) which denotes the differences between the first signals and the selected reference signal, and utilizing the third signals to change the combined area of holes in the wrappers; this last mentioned step includes increasing the combined area of holes when the desired rate exceeds the monitored rate and reducing the combined area of holes when the desired rate is less than the monitored rate.	A signal representing the desired or optimum rate of fluid flow through the wrappers, used for comparison with the actual rate.

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US4193409

HAUNI WERKE KOERBER & KGDE

Application Number: US84110877
Filing Date: Oct 11, 1977
Publication Date: Mar 18, 1980
External Links: Slate, USPTO, Google Patents