JP7606619B2 - Filling rod hoist and hoisting method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a hoisting machine and hoisting method for a filling rod.

Patent Document 1 discloses a tobacco rod winding machine. The winding machine transports tobacco raw materials, such as cut tobacco, along a transport path together with wrapping paper. During this transport process, the winding machine continuously wraps the tobacco raw materials in wrapping paper while forming them into a filler. The winding machine is equipped with a garniture tape that runs along the transport path, and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs.

The cigarette paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and runs through the forming groove together with the garniture tape. The filler, which is made of tobacco raw materials, is supplied onto the cigarette paper and is continuously wrapped by the cigarette paper via the garniture tape running through the forming groove to be formed into a tobacco rod. When the filler runs through the forming groove together with the garniture tape and cigarette paper, the weight of the filler brings the cigarette paper and the garniture tape into contact with each other, and frictional force acts between the cigarette paper and the garniture tape.

Frictional forces act between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape, allowing the wrapping paper to run together with the garniture tape through the forming groove and for the wrapping paper to continuously wrap around the filling material.

JP 2009-183248 A

A tobacco rod filled with tobacco raw materials is broadly defined as a filled rod filled with flavor raw materials (which may not include tobacco raw materials). In this case, the filled section obtained by cutting the filled rod constitutes a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation article. A heater of a device used to use the flavor inhalation article is inserted into the filled section, for example, to heat the filled section and generate an aerosol of flavor components. In this case, if the amount of flavor raw materials filled in the filled section is large compared to the size of the heater, the insertion resistance of the heater into the filled section increases, making it difficult to insert the heater and deteriorating operability during inhalation. Furthermore, the insertion resistance of the heater may cause the heater to break.

Furthermore, if the amount of flavor ingredient filled in the filling section is large compared to the size of the heater, the insertion of the heater may cause the flavor ingredient in the filling section to become overcrowded, reducing the breathability of the filling section and impairing the smoking taste. To eliminate these problems, the amount of flavor ingredient filled into the filling rod may be reduced from conventional levels. Also, the amount of flavor ingredient filled may be reduced in consideration of the cost of the flavor inhalation article.

When the amount of flavor raw material is reduced, the filling density of the flavor raw material filling is reduced, and the hardness of the filling is reduced, i.e., the filling is softened. The softening of the filling reduces the reaction force of the filling, in other words, the filling is less likely to deform elastically, so the adhesion between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape when running through the forming groove is reduced, and the friction between the wrapping paper and the garniture tape is reduced. As a result, it becomes difficult for the garniture tape, wrapping paper, and filling to run together in the forming groove, and flavor raw material may be left behind in the forming groove, causing clogging, and it may not be possible to manufacture the desired filled rod.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a filling rod winding machine and winding method that can produce the desired filling rod even when the amount of flavor ingredient filled is reduced.

In one embodiment, the winding machine for a filling rod is a winding machine for a filling rod that, in the process of transporting the flavor raw material together with the wrapping paper along a transport path, continuously wraps the flavor raw material in the wrapping paper while shaping the flavor raw material into a filling. The winding machine includes a garniture tape that runs along the transport 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 through the forming groove together with the garniture tape. The filling is supplied onto the wrapping paper and is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper via the garniture tape running through the forming groove to be formed into a filling rod. The forming bed has a suction chamber that sucks the groove space of the forming groove. The garniture tape has a suction hole that is opened, and suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the wrapping paper through the suction hole.

A method for winding a filled rod according to one embodiment is a method for winding a filled rod in which, in the process of transporting the flavor raw material together with the wrapping paper along a transport path, the flavor raw material is shaped into a filling and continuously wrapped in the wrapping paper. The method includes a transport step using a garniture tape running along the transport path and a forming bed having a forming groove along which the garniture tape runs, in which the wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and the filling is supplied onto the wrapping paper, and the wrapping paper and the filling are transported by running them along the forming groove together with the garniture tape, and a wrapping step in which the filling is continuously wrapped in the wrapping paper via the garniture tape to form a filled rod. In the wrapping step, a suction process is performed in which a suction force is applied to the wrapping paper through a suction hole opened in the garniture tape by sucking the groove space of the forming groove.

According to the above-mentioned filling rod winding machine and winding method, the desired filling rod can be produced even when the amount of flavor ingredient filled is reduced.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a filler rod making machine. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the hoist seen from the CC direction in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method for winding a filling rod.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a filled rod manufacturing machine 1. The filled rod manufacturing machine 1 is equipped with a suction band 2. The suction band 2 is endless, and flavor raw materials are adsorbed in layers on the lower surface of the suction band 2 to form a flavor layer TL, and the flavor layer TL is transported in the conveying direction indicated by arrow A of the conveying path 4.

The flavor raw material constituting the filling material B of the filling rod is, for example, shredded tobacco, a tobacco sheet, or a tobacco sheet folded in a gathered shape. The flavor raw material may also be a sheet formed from tobacco-free pulp to which flavoring has been added, a shredded sheet formed from a non-tobacco plant, or one of these sheets folded in a gathered shape.

A winding machine 6 according to this embodiment is disposed downstream of the suction band 2 in the conveying direction A of the conveying path 4. In the process of transporting the flavor layer TL made of flavor raw materials together with the wrapping paper P made of a paper web along the conveying path 4, the winding machine 6 forms the flavor layer TL into a filling B while continuously wrapping it with the wrapping paper P, thereby forming it into a filling rod TR.

The hoisting machine 6 is equipped with a garniture tape 8, a forming bed 10, and a drive drum 12. The garniture tape 8 is endless and is wound around the drive drum 12. As the drive drum 12 rotates, a portion of the garniture tape 8 runs along the conveying path 4. The forming bed 10 has a forming groove 14 through which the garniture tape 8 runs. The wrapping paper P is supplied onto the garniture tape 8 and runs through the forming groove 14 together with the garniture tape 8.

The filling material B is supplied onto the wrapping paper P and is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper P via the garniture tape 8 running in the forming groove 14, and is formed into a filling rod TR. In the winding machine 6, a shoe 16, a tongs 18, a short holder 20, a long holder 22, and a heater 24 are arranged in this order from the upstream side of the conveying direction A on the conveying path 4. The shoe 16 and the tongs 18 cooperate with the forming bed 10 to form a compression molding unit 26 for compressing and molding the flavor layer TL into the filling material B.

The shoe 16 peels the flavor layer TL from the suction band 2 and guides it to the wrapping paper P. As the garniture tape 8 travels and the flavor layer TL supplied onto the wrapping paper P passes through the tongs 18 together with the garniture tape 8, the tongs 18 cooperates with the forming groove 14 of the forming bed 10 to compression mold the flavor layer TL into a filling B. The filling B that has passed through the tongs 18 passes through the short holder 20, the long holder 22, and the heater 24 together with the garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P.

At this time, the filling material B is continuously wrapped in the wrapping paper P and formed into a filling rod TR. Both side edges of the wrapping paper P are overlapped with each other via glue, forming a seam of the wrapping paper P in the filling rod TR. The glue of the seam is dried when the filling rod TR passes through the heater 24. The filling rod TR sent out from the winding machine 6 passes through the cutting unit 28 and is cut to a predetermined length. The cut filling rod TR is transported to a filter attachment unit (not shown) in a subsequent process, and forms the filling section of the non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation product.

Figure 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the hoist 6 as viewed from the CC direction in Figure 1. A suction chamber 32 that sucks the groove space 30 of the forming groove 14 is formed inside the forming bed 10 of the hoist 6 of this embodiment. The suction chamber 32 is opened in multiple locations in the forming groove 14 along the conveying path 4. As also shown in Figure 1, the suction chamber 32 is connected to multiple suction ports 34 formed in the forming bed 10, and each suction port 34 is connected to a suction source.

The garniture tape 8 has suction holes 36. Suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the wrapping paper P through the suction holes 36 of the garniture tape 8. Furthermore, a cooling passage 38 is formed inside the forming bed 10. The cooling passage 38 receives a circulating supply of cooling water from the outside, and cools the forming bed 10, particularly the forming groove 14.

Figure 3 shows a partial top view of the garniture tape 8. A plurality of suction holes 36 are provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape 8. The shape of the suction holes 36 may be circular or rectangular, and various patterns are envisioned for the size and formation range of each suction hole 36. The number of rows of suction holes 36 may be one row as shown in Figure 3, or multiple rows.

Figure 4 shows a flow chart explaining the method of winding up the filling rod TR. When winding up the filling rod TR starts, in step S1, as described above, the wrapping paper P is supplied onto the garniture tape 8, and the filling B is supplied onto the wrapping paper P, and the wrapping paper P and the filling B are transported by running through the forming groove 14 together with the garniture tape 8 (transport step). In step S2, as described above, the filling B is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper P via the garniture tape 8 to form the filling rod TR (wrapping step).

In the wrapping step, in process P1, the groove space 30 of the forming groove 14 is sucked, and suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the wrapping paper P through the suction holes 36 opened in the garniture tape 8 (suction process). In the suction process, suction force is applied to the wrapping paper P through multiple suction holes 36 provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape 8.

In the wrapping step, in process P2, the forming groove 14 of the forming bed is cooled by cooling water circulating through the cooling passage 38 (cooling process). Note that, for convenience of explanation, the above winding method has been explained by dividing it into steps S1 and S2 and processes P1 and P2, but steps S1 and S2 and processes P1 and P2 are performed at the same timing from the start to the end of winding the filling rod TR.

As described above, in the winding machine 6 and winding method for the filling rod TR of this embodiment, the forming bed 10 has a suction chamber 32, and the garniture tape 8 has a suction hole 36. Then, in the suction process of the wrapping step, suction force from the suction chamber 32 is applied to the wrapping paper P via the suction hole 36.

As mentioned above, when the amount of flavor ingredient filled is reduced compared to the conventional amount, the softening of the filling material B reduces the frictional force acting between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8. More specifically, it has been found that if the hardness of the filling material B is less than 70%, it becomes difficult to manufacture the filling rod TR, so the hardness of the filling material B needs to be 70% or more, more preferably 75% or more.

The hardness of filling material B is measured using a measuring device (model number: DD60A densimeter, manufactured by Heinr. Borgwaldt GmbH). The measuring device is equipped with a pusher, which is lowered a distance d to apply a load to the filling rod TR. If the diameter of the filling rod TR before the load is applied is Ds and the diameter of the filling rod TR after the load is applied for a predetermined time is Dd, the distance d that the pusher is lowered is calculated using the formula Ds-Dd, and the hardness of filling material B is calculated using the formula (Dd/Ds) x 100.

If the hardness of the filling B is less than 70%, the frictional force between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8 decreases, making it difficult for the garniture tape 8, wrapping paper P, and filling B to run together, and the flavor ingredients may be left behind and clogged in the molding groove 14, making it impossible to produce the desired filling rod TR. On the other hand, in this embodiment, even if the hardness of the filling B is less than 70%, the reduction in the frictional force between the wrapping paper P and the garniture tape 8 can be compensated for by the suction force from the suction chamber 32.

As a result, even if the amount of flavor raw material filled is reduced compared to the conventional method, the adhesion between the running garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P can be increased, making it possible to run the garniture tape 8, wrapping paper P, and filling material B as one unit. This prevents problems such as the filling material B being left behind in the molding groove 14 and clogging it. In other words, the desired filling rod TR can be manufactured regardless of the filling amount and filling density of the flavor raw material, and regardless of the hardness of the filling material B.

In addition, multiple suction holes 36 are provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape 8. This allows the suction force from the suction chamber 32 to be applied to the wrapping paper P more effectively. This allows the suction force from the suction chamber 32 to more effectively compensate for the reduction in frictional force described above.

In addition, the suction chambers 32 are opened in multiple locations in the forming groove 14 along the conveying path 4. This allows the suction force from the suction chambers 32 to be applied more effectively to the garniture tape 8 and the wrapping paper P over the entire area of the forming groove 14 in the conveying direction A. Therefore, the aforementioned reduction in frictional force can be more effectively compensated for by the suction force from the suction chambers 32.

In addition, the forming bed 10 has a cooling passage 38, and the forming groove 14 is cooled during the cooling process of the wrapping step. If the suction force from the suction chamber 32 causes the running garniture tape 8 to come into excessive contact with the forming groove 14, frictional heat is generated in the garniture tape 8 and the forming groove 14. However, by circulating cooling water through the cooling passage 38 to cool the forming groove 14, the garniture tape 8 and the forming groove 14 are prevented from becoming hot due to frictional heat. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the denaturation of the filling rod TR due to high temperatures, and to ensure the quality of the filling rod TR.

This concludes the description of the embodiment, but the above embodiment is not limited and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the forming bed 10 has a cooling passage 38 therein, but the cooling passage 38 is not necessarily essential for implementation. Specifically, by controlling the suction pressure of the suction source to reduce the frictional force of the garniture tape 8 against the forming groove 14, the garniture tape can be made to run smoothly in the forming groove 14 while suppressing the generation of frictional heat in the forming groove 14, so that the desired filling rod TR can be manufactured without cooling the forming groove 14.

In addition, the suction process may use a means other than forming a suction chamber 32 in the forming bed 10 as long as it is possible to apply suction force to the wrapping paper P through the suction holes 36 in the garniture tape 8. In addition, the cooling process may use a means other than forming a cooling passage 38 in the forming bed 10 as long as it is possible to cool the forming groove 14.

Furthermore, the above embodiment is not limited to a winding machine 6 and a winding method for a filling rod TR used in a non-combustion heating type flavor inhalation product, but can also be applied to a winding machine 6 and a winding method for a filling rod TR used in a combustion type flavor inhalation product.

4: conveying path 6: hoisting machine 8: garniture tape 10: forming bed 14: forming groove 30: groove space 32: suction chamber 36: suction hole 38: cooling passage B: filler P: wrapping paper TR: filler rod

Claims (7)

A filling rod winding machine that, in a process of conveying a flavor raw material together with a wrapping paper along a conveying path, forms the flavor raw material into a filling and continuously wraps the flavor raw material with the wrapping paper,
A garniture tape running along the transport path;
a forming bed having a forming groove through which the garniture tape runs,
The wrapping paper is supplied onto the garniture tape and travels through the forming groove together with the garniture tape;
The filling material is supplied onto the wrapping paper, and is continuously wrapped by the wrapping paper through the garniture tape running in the forming groove, and is formed into the filling rod;
The forming bed has a suction chamber that sucks the groove space of the forming groove,
A winding machine for a filling rod, wherein the garniture tape has a suction hole opened therein, and a suction force from the suction chamber is applied to the wrapping paper through the suction hole. A hoisting machine for a filling rod as described in claim 1, wherein the suction holes are provided in multiple positions along the extension direction of the garniture tape. A hoisting machine for filling rods as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the suction chamber is opened in multiple locations in the forming groove along the conveying path. A hoisting machine for filling rods as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the forming bed has a cooling passage for cooling the forming groove. A method for winding a filling rod, comprising the steps of: forming a flavor raw material into a filling material and continuously wrapping the flavor raw material with a wrapping paper during a process of conveying the flavor raw material together with a wrapping paper along a conveying path, the method comprising the steps of:
a conveying step of using a garniture tape running along the conveying path and a forming bed having a forming groove through 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 by running the forming groove together with the garniture tape;
and a wrapping step of continuously wrapping the filling with the wrapping paper via the garniture tape to form the filling rod,
In the wrapping step, a suction process is performed in which a suction force is applied to the wrapping paper through a suction hole opened in the garniture tape by sucking the groove space of the forming groove. The method for winding a filling rod as described in claim 5, wherein in the suction process, suction force is applied to the wrapping paper through a plurality of suction holes provided along the extension direction of the garniture tape. The method for winding a filling rod as described in claim 5 or 6, wherein the wrapping step includes a cooling process for cooling the forming groove.

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