Method Of Spacing And Turning Over Two Coaxial Cigarette Lengths On Filter Assembling Machine

What is this patent about?

'360 is related to the field of cigarette manufacturing, specifically to machines that assemble filters onto cigarette lengths. The background involves taking a continuous cigarette rod, cutting it into double lengths, and then attaching a double filter to create two single filter cigarettes. A common problem is that the cut ends of the cigarette lengths are often rough, leading to undesirable cigarette quality.

The underlying idea behind '360 is to simultaneously space and invert two cigarette lengths using a rotating mechanism. Instead of axially displacing the cigarette lengths, which can cause tobacco leakage and weaken the cigarette structure, the invention uses rotating recesses to flip the cigarettes end-for-end while also creating the necessary gap for the double filter.

The claims of '360 focus on a method for spacing and turning over two coaxial cigarette lengths on a filter assembling machine. This involves conveying the cigarette lengths in recesses on a conveyor that rotates perpendicular to the cigarette axes. The recesses then rotate approximately 180 degrees, positioning the cigarette lengths with their opposite ends facing each other, separated by a distance suitable for a double filter.

In practice, the machine uses a rotating roller with nacelles (recesses) to hold the cigarette lengths. As the roller turns, a cam mechanism actuates gears connected to the nacelles, causing them to rotate. This rotation flips the cigarettes, presenting the smooth ends outward. The distance between the nacelles is adjustable to accommodate different cigarette lengths and filter sizes, ensuring proper spacing.

This approach differs from prior methods that rely on axial displacement of the cigarette lengths. By using a rotational mechanism, the invention avoids the problems of tobacco leakage and structural weakening associated with sliding the cigarettes. The simultaneous spacing and turning operation streamlines the filter assembly process, leading to more efficient and reliable cigarette manufacturing.