EP3075268B1

EP3075268B1 - Apparatus for forming an endless rod from a sticky tobacco material

Info

Publication number: EP3075268B1
Application number: EP15169472.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Susilo Wonowidjojo; Buan Susilo
Original assignee: Gudang Garam TBK PT
Current assignee: Gudang Garam TBK PT
Priority date: 2015-04-02
Filing date: 2015-05-27
Publication date: 2020-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 2035-05-27
Also published as: EP3075268A1; CN106036983A; EP3075269A2; EP3075269A3; EP3075266A1; JP2016195585A; JP6272280B2; EP3075272A2; EP3075272A3

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus (device) for forming an endless rod from a sticky tobacco material.
The tobacco industry and associated industries as well as tobacco cultivation, tobacco machine production and suppliers of packaging and other materials are an important economic factor in many countries. However, smoking has health risks so that an improvement in the safety of tobacco products is sought.
Conventional cigarettes comprise a rod made of tobacco material (tobacco rod) with a wrapping made of cigarette paper. A cylindrical filter (plug) made of cellulose acetate with a wrapping made of filter paper (plug wrap) is placed on one end of the tobacco rod. The filter and edge area of the tobacco rod is wrapped by a wrapping made of tipping paper. The tobacco material is made of natural leaf tobacco, in particular by conditioning, stemming/stripping, drying, mixing, saucing (casing), flavouring by spraying on flavouring substances (top flavouring) and cutting. Frequently, up to 25 % reconstituted tobacco or other tobacco substitute is mixed into the tobacco material produced in this manner. Reconstituted tobacco is a pliant, homogeneous, paper-like sheet, which is produced in a process known from paper production of finely ground and rebundled raw tobacco or from clean fabrication waste also treated in this manner.
One disadvantage of the conventional cigarette is that hazardous substances are released as a result of the burning of the tobacco material at temperatures of 800° to 1100°C.
The smoking article "Eclipse" from R.J. Reynolds contains an internal heat source in the form of a piece of coal provided with air channels and containing an oxidation means and a capsule with aerosol-generating material. When drawing on a cigarette, the glowing piece of coal heats the sucked-in air to approx. 300°C and vaporizes the heated air aerosol from the capsule. Such smoking articles, which heat the tobacco rather than burn it, are described in the Chemical and Biological Studies on New Cigarette Prototypes that Heat Instead of Burn Tobacco, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Monograph (1988) and Inhalation Toxicology, 12:5, P. 1-58 (2000). Details on the smoking article "Eclipse" are specified in the following document:
EP 1 993 388 B1 describes tobacco products and smoking articles (e.g. cigarettes), which do not release products of incomplete burning and pyrolysis products. The smoking article has an end to be lit, downstream from this a mouth end and an aerosol-producing system. The aerosol-producing system comprises a heat-generating segment and an aerosol-producing segment, which is arranged downstream from the heat-generating segment. The heat-generating segment preferably comprises a short heat source, which contains a combustible, carbon-containing fuel element. The aerosol-producing area comprises an aerosol-generating material, e.g. glycerine and flavour. A mouthpiece, on which the smoker can draw, is arranged on the mouth end. The mouthpiece is preferably a filter. The heat source is in intimate contact with particles of cerium oxide and a metallic halide, which convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. When the smoker draws on the mouth end, air is pulled through the heat-generating segment and heated. Carbon monoxide created by the burning is converted to carbon dioxide. The heated air vaporizes aerosol from the aerosol segment and the aerosol is inhaled through the filter by the smoker. The vaporizing of the aerosol via the heated air avoids incomplete combustion products and pyrolysis products.
EP 2 443 947 A1 describes another smoking article, which has a carbon-containing fuel element in an end to be lit, an aerosol-producing system arranged downstream from it and a filter arranged downstream from it. The smoking articles with integrated chemical heat source have the disadvantage that their production is complex. Moreover, they can create carbon monoxide and other poisonous combustion products that smoker ingests. There is also the risk that the tobacco burns and the taste of the aerosol is negatively impacted.
The electronic system "IQOS" by Philip Morris consists of a pen-like heater and the "Marlboro Heat Sticks", which contain pulverized tobacco. The Heat Sticks are inserted into the holder. The tobacco is heated to a temperature of up to 350° in the holder. The nicotine-containing gas thereby released should contain fewer toxic substances and is inhaled by the consumer. The health risks of conventional cigarettes should hereby be reduced. Details on the system are specified in the following documents:
WO 2013/178766 A1 describes an aerosol-producing article comprising an aerosol-generating material, which is supported via a support element on a spacer element, to which a filter connects. The entirety is wrapped with cigarette paper. The aerosol-generating material comprises a rod formed from a first sheet of crimped tobacco material and a second sheet of another tobacco material wrapped in a wrapping material. For the production of the rods, continuous strips of tobacco material are pulled, crimped, placed on top of each other from bobbins, formed into a continuous strand and the strand is divided into rods. When using the aerosol-generating article, a blade-like heating element of a heater penetrates the aerosol-generating material and heats it with a temperature of e.g. approximately 375°C. Aerosols are hereby released, which condense within the spacer element and exit the filter into the mouth of the user.
Variants of the aerosol-generating article with a second sheet of a flavour not made of tobacco are described in WO2013/178767 A1 and with a second sheet of aluminum foil in WO 2013/178768 A1 . WO 2013/190036 A1 describes another variant, in which the aerosol-generating substrate is to be created such that a heating element with a diameter between 40% and 70% of the diameter of the aerosol-generating substrate can penetrate without significant deformation of the article. WO 2013/098405 describes a variant, in which a support element and behind it a condensation element are arranged in the direction of flow behind the aerosol-generating substrate. WO 2013/098409 A1 and WO 2013/098410 A2 describe variants, which have a front plug in front of the aerosol-generating substrate.
WO 2011/076407 A1 and WO 2013/098395 A1 describe heaters for smoking articles, which have an electrically heated pin, which is inserted into the aerosol-generating material of the smoking article.
US 8,430,106 and WO 2014/048745 describe a heater for a smoking article, which have a thermally conductive pin, which is pressed into an aerosol-producing material of the smoking article. The pin is also heated outside the smoking article, for example inductively.
The heaters with a heated pin have the disadvantage that they only direct the heat into the aerosol-producing material locally, so that it is heated unevenly. Furthermore, there is a risk of the aerosol-producing material adhering to the pin.
WO 2014/048745 describes a heater for smoking articles, which has electrically conductive particles in a cup, into which one end of the smoking article is inserted. The cup is heated inductively. The disadvantage is the only local and thus uneven heating of the aerosol-producing material. Furthermore, the cigarette paper impairs the heat transfer, which results in increased heat output. This is particularly pronounced for smoking articles from several segments, which are held together by several layers of cigarette paper.
WO 2014/048745 describes a variant, in which an inductive heater heats electrically conductive particles, which are embedded into the aerosol-producing material of the smoking article. The disadvantage of this is the increased production effort through the embedding of electrically conductive particles in the aerosol-producing material.
EP 0 846 424 B1 describes a device for forming a continuous tobacco rod for the cigarette production with a suction rod conveyor, which is equipped with a revolving, continuous, porous tape, to which vacuum is supplied from the top and on whose underside tobacco fibres are conveyed along a tobacco channel. In the case of the processing of tacky tobacco fibres, such as for example during the production of cigarettes for the Indonesian market, due to the high percentage of molasse, conventional suction conveyors frequently lead to operating errors and only comparatively lower processing speeds are achieved. In many cases, the suction rod conveyors need to be cleaned and the tape replaced.
A device according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US 3,817,258 .
The object of the invention is to provide a reliable device having a higher production capacity and a longer service life for forming a continuous rod made of tacky tobacco material.
The object is solved by a device with the characteristics of claim 1.
The device (apparatus) according to the invention for forming a continuous rod of tacky shreds and/or fibres of tobacco material for the production of aerosol-generating articles comprises a suction rod conveyor, which has a revolving, continuous, porous tape, which is supplied with vacuum from above and on the underside of which shreds and/or fibres of tobacco material are conveyed along a tobacco channel, characterized in that at least one liquid pressure nozzle is directed to the underside of the tape and is connected with a source for a liquid under pressure. In the case of the device according to the invention, the tape is continuously or intermittently subjected to a liquid under pressure from the liquid under pressure nozzle (pressurized liquid nozzle) and the liquid is extracted by means of a negative pressure source. For this, an additional negative pressure source is preferably supplied to the continuous porous tape. Alternatively or additionally, the vacuum supplied to the continuous porous tape is used for this. Tacky particles and other impurities are hereby extracted from the tape and the tape is cleaned. Interruptions in operations are hereby avoided and high throughputs are achieved and the service life of the tape is increased. The negative pressure source is preferably applied to the continuous porous tape, which lies opposite the side supplied with hydraulic fluid. Alternatively or additionally, it is attached to the same side.
The cleaning of the tape takes place during the production of the continuous rod tobacco material in an area of the tape, on which the continuous rod is not shaped from tobacco material. The cleaning of the tape preferably takes place in an area far removed from the part of the tape, on which the continuous rod is shaped. Alternatively, the cleaning of the tape takes place during an interruption in the production process, in which the device does not produce a continuous rod of tobacco material.
The device is suitable both for the processing of tacky tobacco fibres as well as for the processing of tacky shreds of reconstituted tobacco material.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an exhaust hood is arranged on the top side of the tape opposite the at least one liquid pressure nozzle and is connected with a negative pressure source. The fluid or respectively dust is pulled out particularly effectively by means of the exhaust hood.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the liquid pressure nozzle is a water pressure nozzle (pressurized water nozzle) and is connected with a pressurized water source. A particularly effective cleaning is achieved through the spraying of pressurized water on the tape. The water is drinking water or completely demineralized water or ultra-pure water. Furthermore, a cleaning agent can be added to the water. Furthermore, first water with a cleaning agent and then water free of cleaning agent can be sprayed on.
According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises one to four liquid pressure nozzles. It preferably comprises two liquid pressure nozzles. According to another embodiment, the liquid pressure nozzles are flat spray nozzles. According to a further embodiment, the liquid pressure nozzles are arranged in one or more rows perpendicular to the conveying direction or respectively the direction of travel of the tape of the suction rod conveyor. According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid pressure nozzle works with a pressure of 2 to 100 bar.
According to a further embodiment, at least one compressed air nozzle (air pressure nozzle) is pointed at the underside of the tape and is connected with a compressed air source. By means of compressed air, the tape can be cleaned in particular of dust and residual amounts of the pressurized, sprayed on fluid can be removed from the tape. The tape is hereby dried so that it does not supply moisture to the tobacco material during the formation of the suction section and the tobacco material does not stick to the tape.
The drying of the tape by means of compressed air is particularly advantageous for cleaning the tape during the ongoing production process.
According to a further embodiment, the device comprises three to 25 compressed air nozzles. It preferably has eight compressed air nozzles. According to a further embodiment, the compressed air nozzles are arranged in one or more rows perpendicular to the conveying direction or respectively the direction of travel of the tape of the suction rod conveyor. According to a preferred embodiment, the compressed air nozzles are operated with compressed air in the range of 0.1 to 10 bar. They are preferably operated with a pressure of 5 to 6 bar.
According to a further embodiment, an ambient air supply device is arranged on the underside of the tape opposite the exhaust hood and is connected with ambient air. The tape can be dried again through ventilation with ambient air from the ambient air supply device and unpleasant flavours can be eliminated.
According to a further embodiment, the suction hood is connected with a fan for dust removal and a vacuum source via a two-way valve so that the exhaust hood can be connected optionally with the fan for dust removal and the vacuum source. For the removal of dust from the tape, first compressed air and not yet hydraulic fluid is preferably supplied and the exhaust hood is connected with the fan for dust removal. For the removal of tacky components, hydraulic fluid and, if applicable, additionally compressed air is then preferably supplied and the vacuum source is connected with the exhaust hood.
According to a further embodiment, the two-way valve is connected with the vacuum source via at least one filter. The filter serves to filter out water and/or dirty tobacco and/or dust and/or air from the fluid removed from the tape.
According to a further embodiment, the two-way valve is connected with the vacuum source via a serial arrangement of a filter for removing water and dirty tobacco and a filter for removing dust and air.
According to a further embodiment, the at least one liquid pressure nozzle and/or compressed air nozzle and the exhaust hood are arranged within a suction chamber, which surrounds a part of the tape, in order to generate a negative pressure on the top side of the tape. Alternatively, the at least one liquid pressure nozzle and/or compressed air nozzle and the exhaust hood are arranged outside the suction chamber.
According to a further embodiment, the compressed air nozzle is arranged in the direction of flow of the tape behind the liquid pressure nozzle. A drying of the tape is hereby achieved after the flushing with hydraulic fluid.
According to a further embodiment, the supply device for ambient air is arranged in the direction of flow of the tape behind the at least one hydraulic fluid nozzle. The tape is hereby ventilated after cleaning and drying. Further drying can be achieved by the ventilation and accumulation of unpleasant flavours on the tape can be reduced.
The invention will be further explained with reference to th accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments. The drawings show in:

Fig. 1: an aerosol-generating article in a longitudinal section;
Fig. 2: a rolling method for producing reconstituted tobacco in a flow chart;
Fig. 3: a slurry method for producing reconstituted tobacco in a flow chart;
Fig. 4: a paper method for producing reconstituted tobacco in a flow chart;
Fig. 5: a device for producing aerosol-generating article using shreds of reconstituted tobacco material in a schematic perspective view;
Fig. 6: an assembly of tubes, filters and tobacco rods in a roughly schematic flow chart;
Fig. 7: an assembly of tubes and filters in a roughly schematic flow chart;
Fig. 8: a heater in a roughly schematic longitudinal section;
Fig. 9: the same heater with inserted rod in a roughly schematic longitudinal section;
Fig. 10: a further heater in an X-ray image;
Fig. 11: a device according to the invention for cleaning a suction tape in a roughly schematic view;
Fig. 12: an arrangement of the device for cleaning the suction tape in a suction chamber in a schematic view.

According to Fig. 1, an aerosol-generating article 1 has a rod section 2, which comprises a filling of reconstituted tobacco material 3. The rod section 2 is wrapped by a wrapping 4. This is hereby preferably cigarette paper.
A tube 5, which is for example made of acetate, in particular non-wrap acetate (NWA), or paper, is applied to the one end of the rod section 2. A filter 6 is applied to the other end of the hollow tube 5. The filter 6 is preferably made of acetate.
The tube 5 and the filter 6 are surrounded and held together by an inner wrapping 7 e.g. made of filter paper. The tube 5, the filter 6 and the neighbouring edge of the wrapping 4 are surrounded by an outer wrapping 8. This is hereby preferably tipping paper. Rod section 2, tube 5 and filter 6 are hereby preferably held together.
The aerosol-generating article 1 is a segmented rod.
The reconstituted tobacco material 3 is produced in one of the methods described below.
In the rolling process according to Fig. 2, tobacco waste like stems and tobacco scraps are supplied 8 and ground in a first step 9. In a second step 10, the ground material is mixed with adhesive 11 and water, spices and fragrances or flavours 12.
In a third step, the mixture is rolled in a first rolling press 13 and, in a fourth step, in a second rolling press 14. The rolled material is dried in a fifth step 15 and cut into strings in a subsequent sixth step 16. In a seventh step 17, the cut strings are balance dried in a cylinder.
Finally, the dried strings are packed in a last step 18. This can be omitted for example if the reconstituted tobacco material is made in the same factory where the aerosol-generating particle is produced.
In the slurry method according to Fig. 3, tobacco waste like stems and tobacco leaf pieces 19 are supplied. In a first step 20, the raw material is ground. In a second step 21, the ground material is mixed with adhesive 22 and water, spices and fragrances or respectively flavours 23 into a pulp.
In a third step 24, the pulp is dried on a flat underlay so that a solid flat material forms.
In a fourth step 25, the flat material is cut into strings and, if applicable, packed in a fifth step 26.
The paper production method can take place according to the method in Fig. 4. Base products are in turn tobacco by-products like stems, crushed tobacco leaves and tobacco dust 27.
The raw material is classified in a first step 28. In a second step 29, classified material is immersed in water 30 and (recycled) extraction means 31.
In a third step 32, ingredients are extracted from the mixture. The extraction means laden with extracted substances is recycled 31 and supplied to the second step 29.
The remaining material is separated into solids 33 and liquids 34. The solids are processed into a pulp in a further step 35 during the addition of fibres and fillers 36. In a paper-producing process, paper is made in another step 37.
The liquid 34 separated after the extraction is cleaned in another step 38 and concentrated at a low temperature 39. Additives or respectively ingredients 40, 41 are then added in two steps 42, 43. These are for example clove oil and/or another clove product and/or molasses and/or saccharose and/or another sugar product and/or saccharine and/or another artificial sweetener.
The produced paper 37 is saturated and coated with the liquid that was concentrated and obtained in a second step 44.
The saturated and coated paper is then dried, cut and air-dried and, if applicable, packed in further steps 45 to 48.
The reconstituted tobacco 3 produced according to the method described above is cut into shreds in a tobacco-cutting machine. For example, a KT2-type tobacco-cutting machine from the company Hauni can be used for this, as described in the patent publication EP 0 872 189 A1 .
The shreds are preferably dried in a tobacco dryer. For example, a KLD-type rotary dryer from the company Hauni can be used for this, as described in the patent publication EP 1 929 888 A1 .
In a further step, top flavour can be applied to the dried and cut shreds. The top flavour can be for example clove oil and/or another clove product and/or molasses and/or saccharose and/or another sugar product and/or saccharine and/or another artificial sweetener. A glycerine or another humectant can also be applied. A flavouring device can be used for this, for example a flavouring drum with spray application of the type FLT from the company Hauni.
The further processing of tobacco shreds prepared in this manner is explained based on Fig. 5.
In a conventional cigarette machine, the tobacco shreds 3 are transported upwards diagonally out of a first reservoir 49 by means of a conveyor 50. From the upper end of the conveyor 50, the tobacco shreds 3 in a veil fall into a guide shaft 51. From the bottom end of the guide shaft 51, the tobacco shreds 3 are dissipated by means of needle and picker roller 52 in a fine veil 53 below a suction tape 54. A negative pressure is supplied to the top side of the suction tape 54. The negative pressure suctions the tobacco shreds 3 on the bottom side of the suction tape 54, where they are shaped into a continuous tobacco rod (or respectively continuous rod of tobacco material) in a channel.
On the end of the suction tape 54, the tobacco rod 55 is trimmed to a defined height by means of a trimming unit 56 with a trimming disk pair. The trimming disks have pockets on the outer periphery. They are synchronized so that alternately a pocket-free section of the outer periphery of both trimming disks separates tobacco from the tobacco rod 55 and the pockets of both trimming disks separate no tobacco from the tobacco rod. A head sealing on the ends of the tobacco rods is hereby prepared.
The continuously formed tobacco rod 55 is wrapped with cigarette paper in the cigarette machine. For this, a continuous strip 58 of cigarette paper is supplied from a cigarette paper loader 57.
The strip 58 is transported on a garniture tape 59 in the direction of conveyance of the tobacco rod 55 and the tobacco rod 55 is hereby applied to the strip 58. By means of fixed deflectors or respectively folding devices, the strip 58 is sealed around the tobacco rod 55 after it has been applied. In a gluing station, cold glue is supplied by means of a glue jet 59.1 in the overlapping area of the two edges of the strip 58. The strip 58 is then compressed in the area of the seam in a sealing chamber 60 and the cold glue is hardened by means of a downstream rod heater 61. The continuous wrapped tobacco rod 62 exits the rod heater 61.
In a subsequent weight check system 63 with microwave sensor of a system for regulating the weight of the wrapped tobacco rod 62, the weight of the wrapped tobacco rod 62 is measured continuously. In a subsequent diameter check system 64 of a system for regulating the diameter of the wrapped tobacco rod 62, the weight of the wrapped tobacco rod 62 is measured continuously.
This is followed by a rod cutting device 65, from which the continuous wrapped tobacco rod 62 is cut into individual long rod sections 67 by means of rotary knives 66.
The long rod sections 67 are then deflected perpendicular to the transport direction of the tobacco strand 55 by means of a transfer head 68 into a sequence of parallel long rod sections 67. These are transported on by a pickup drum 69.
Each long rod section 67 is divided into respectively two rod sections 71 (tobacco rod) by means of a first cut drum 70.
Each pair of two rod sections 71 is pulled apart by means of a separating drum 72.
Above the conveying path of the rod sections 71, combinations 73 of a long tube 71 are supplied from a second reservoir 78 in the middle, two long filters 75 on both sides and two short tubes 76 on the two ends. The combinations 73 are wrapped and held together by a thin paper (e.g. filter paper) 76. They are combined in a filter assembler, which can be part of a cigarette machine (e.g. type "Max" from the company Hauni). The production of tube 78 and filters 80 is shown roughly schematically in the upper part of Figure 6 and in Figure 7. The tubes 79 are preferably produced by means of a non-wrap acetate (NWA) filter maker and the filters 80 by means of an acetate filter maker.
According to Figure 7, the tubes 79 and filters 80 are respectively divided into long tubes 74 and long filters 75 and combined in a combiner into a continuous rod, in which long tubes 74 and long filters 75 are arranged alternately. The rod is wrapped with the paper 78 and divided into combinations 73 through long tubes 79.
According to Figure 5, the combinations 73 are output in succession in parallel alignment from the second hopper 77 and divided respectively into two halves or respectively combinations 82 by means of a second cut drum 81. The combinations 82 created by division have respectively in the middle a long filter 75 with two short hollow tubes 76 on both ends.
These combinations 81 are offset with respect to each other by means of an alternating deposit drum 83 and arranged in parallel alignment in a row behind each other by means of a centering drum 84 and transported on. Finally, a combination 82 is inserted between two rod sections 71 on the separating drum 72 by means of a pre-assembly drum 85.
A continuous tipping paper web 87 is continuously supplied from a tipping paper loader 86. The tipping paper web 87 is provided with a cold glue by means of a tipper gluing device 88, which is heated in a pre-heating device 89. The tipping paper web 87 is then cut into short tipping papers 91 by means of a tipping paper cutting drum 90 and the tipping papers 91 are placed around the combinations pushed together on an assembly drum 93 and the adjacent edges of the rod sections 71 by means of a tipping paper drum 92.
The combinations 94 pre-glued in this manner bypass a rolling drum 95 on a rolling hand heater 96. They are then supplied to a final cut drum 98 by means of a transfer drum 97 and divided into respectively two aerosol-generating articles 1 or respectively two segmented rods through the filter 82.
The production of the articles 1 from combinations 73 and rod sections 71 is shown schematically in Figure 6. In addition to the respective state of the preliminary product of article 1, the device acting on it is also specified.
The aerosol-generating articles 1 are brought into one row and parallel alignment by means of a turning drum 99 so that the tipping paper 8 is located respectively on the front side in the picture.
The articles are then supplied to a transfer drum in a laser station 101 by means of a transfer drum 100 and perforations for secondary air are incorporated in the area of the tipping paper 8.
The articles 1 then make their way onto an inspection drum 103 via a transfer drum 102. The quality is checked there and defective articles 1 are sorted out by means of the downstream final reject drum 104. The defect-free articles 1 make their way over a transfer drum 105 and a transfer and sampling drum 106 either over an exit drum 107 to a packaging machine or into a sampling box 108.
The sorted rejects or respectively the intermediate products that have fallen during transport are supplied for further use via a transport conveyor 109.
The aerosol-generating articles 1 are consumed by means of a heater according to Fig. 8 to 10.
According to Fig. 8, a heater 110 has a tubular base body 111 with an insertion opening 112 for articles 1 on the one end and an air inlet 113 for air on the other end. In the base body 111, a capillary tube 114 is arranged concentrically. The capillary tube 114 has a needle tip 115. The capillary tube 114 and the needle tip 115 are provided respectively with radial holes 116 , which interconnect the inside with the outside of the capillary tube 114 or respectively the needle tip 115.
On the end lying opposite the needle tip 115, the capillary tube 114 is connected with a funnel-like widening 116. The widening 116 is provided with an entry opening 117 for air on the side opposite the capillary tube 114. A conduit 118 for air extends from the entry opening 117 through the widening 116 and through the capillary tube 114 up to the needle tip 115. A heating element 119 is arranged in the widening 116, for example an electrical resistance heating wire.
The capillary tube 114 with the needle tip 115 and the widening 116 as well as the heating element 119 are held in the base body 111 by means of holders (not shown).
Furthermore, the base body 111 has laterally at least one radial ventilation hole 120.
The electrical heating element 119 is operated with an electrical power supply, for example with a battery or a rechargeable battery.
An accommodation 121 for a part of an article 1 inside the base body is accessible from outside via the insertion opening 112.
According to Fig. 9, an article 1 with a rod section 2 is inserted forwards through the insertion opening into the accommodation 121 so that the capillary tube 114 with the needle tip 115 penetrates forwards into the reconstituted tobacco material 3.
The heating element 119 is heated by means of the electrical power supply. When the smoker draws on the filter 6, air from the air inlet 113 is drawn into the base body 1 through the article 1 and the conduit 118. The drawn-in air is heated by the heating element 119 to a temperature around e.g. 375° and makes its way into the rod section 2 through the conduit 118 and the holes 116. The heated air there releases an aerosol from the reconstituted tobacco material 3.
The heated air with the aerosol makes its way to the mouth of the smoker through the tube 5 and the filter 6. En route through the tube 5 and the filter 6, aerosol and air are cooled down to a temperature of 30° to 40°C and unwanted substances are filtered out of the aerosol. During inhalation, secondary air gets into the article through the ventilation hole 120 of the base body 111 and the end of the reconstituted tobacco material 3. Furthermore, secondary air is mixed in through secondary-air holes 122 on the filter 6. The secondary air contributes to the cooling down of aerosol and air.
When the article 1 is used up, i.e. the reconstituted tobacco material 3 no longer releases appreciable amounts of aerosol upon inhalation, the smoker can pull out the article 1 and the heater is ready to receive a new article 1.
The heater 110.1 in Fig. 10 differs from the one previously described in particular in that a vacuum sensor 123 is connected to the conduit 118. The vacuum sensor 123 is connected with an electronic controller 124. Furthermore, the heater 110.1 has a sound generator 125 for generating a cracking sound.
An electrical power supply is connected with the controller and the heater. The electrical power supply is optionally connectible via a plug connection 126, for example via a USB port. The electrical power supply can also be obtained from a computer, laptop, etc.
The heater 110.1 according to Fig. 10 can be made of several modules 127. A module 127 comprises in a part 111.1 of the cylindrical base body 111 the capillary tube 114 with the needle tip 115, the sensor 123, the controller 124, the sound generator 125 and the heating element 119.
A further module 128, which comprises the accommodation 128 for a part of the article 1, can be connected to this module 127 via a glue connection or via a detachable connection (e.g. a screw connection). The further module 128 consists of a further part 111.2 of the cylindrical base body, provided if applicable with secondary-air holes. The inner diameter of the further module is adjusted to the diameter of the article 1. The heater 110.1 can be produced with modules 128 with different diameters in order to use articles 1 with a different outer diameter.
Furthermore, the heater 110.1 can have a power supply module, which can be connected with the other end of the module 127, e.g. through adhering or by means of a detachable connection, such as a screw connection. The power supply module can also have a part of the cylindrical base body 111, in which batteries or rechargeable batteries are arranged, e.g. button cells. The connection of the power supply module with the electrical components of the module 127 can take place via plug connections or fixed wiring.
When the smoker draws on an article 1, which is inserted into the accommodation 121, the sensor 123 registers a negative pressure and the controller 124 controls a crackle sound as is typical when smoking Indonesian cigarettes through the burning of clove products.
Furthermore, the controller can switch on the heating element 119 during drawing on the cigarette or supply increased power to the heating element 119 in order to heat up the drawn-in air during inhalation.
Fig. 11 and 12 show a device according to the invention for cleaning a suction tape 129, which can be used in particular on a suction tape 54 according to Fig. 1.
According to Fig. 11, the device 129 comprises at least one water pressure nozzle 130, which is pointed at the underside of the tape 54. Furthermore, it comprises an air pressure nozzle 131, which is pointed at the underside of the tape 54 in the direction of flow of the tape 54 behind the water pressure nozzle 130. Furthermore, it comprises a supply (feed) device for ambient air 132, which is pointed at the underside of the tape 54 in the direction of flow of the tape 54 behind the air pressure nozzle.
Preferably, water pressure nozzles 130 with a diameter of 0.1 to 1 mm are used, which are operated with a water pressure of max. 100 bar.
Preferably, 1 to 4, also preferably 2, water pressure nozzles 130 are used. The water pressure nozzles 130 are preferably flat spray nozzles. For example, flat spray nozzles with the trade name Delavan CAC are used.
The air pressure nozzles 131 preferably have a diameter of 0.1 to 1 mm.
Three to 25, preferably 8, air pressure nozzles 131 are preferably used. The air pressure nozzles 131 can be arranged horizontally, vertically and diagonally with respect to the plane, through which the tape passes on the air pressure nozzles 131.
Several air pressure nozzles 131 are preferably aligned differently with the belt 54.
Above the tape 54, an exhaust hood 133 is arranged opposite the water pressure nozzle 129, the air pressure nozzle 130 and the supply device for ambient air 132.
The air pressure nozzle 129 is connected with a water pressure pump 135 via a water pressure regulator 134, the water pressure pump 135 being supplied with water out of a container 136. The water pressure pump 135 can build up a water pressure of 2 to 250 bar. The water pressure regulator 134 enables a regulation of the water pressure in the range of 5 to 250 bar.
The air pressure nozzle 130 is connected with a compressed air network 138 via an air pressure regulator 137. The air pressure can be adjusted by means of the air pressure regulator 137 in the range of 0.1 to 10 bar.
The supply device for ambient air 132 is for example a hood opened towards the underside of the tape 54, which is connected with ambient air via a conduit.
The exhaust hood 133 is connected with a two-way valve 140 via a conduit 139. The two-way valve 139 is connected on one side with a dust fan 141 and on the other side via series-connected filters 142 and 143 with a vacuum pump 144 or other vacuum source.
The vacuum source 144 generates a negative pressure of 100 to 500 mbar with respect to the ambient temperature.
The filter 142 serves to remove water and dirty tobacco. It is connected to a water tank 145 via a discharge.
According to Figure 12, the cleaning device 129 is arranged within a suction chamber 146 for creating a negative pressure on the top side of the tape 54.
The cleaning of the tape 54 is preferably performed intermittently. It preferably takes place after the production of 50,000 to 1,000,000 cigarettes or respectively a time frame, which corresponds with a production of 50,000 to 100,000 cigarettes.
During normal production without the use of pressurized water, removal of dust and air by means of the dust fan 141 to the central dust extraction takes place when the two-way valve 140 is appropriately switched. During cleaning using pressurized water from the water pressure nozzles 130, a suctioning of the water etc. by means of the vacuum source 144 takes place when the two-way valve 140 is appropriately switched.
The service life of the tape 54 can be prolonged considerably. The minimum service life of the tape 54 is 522,000 cigarettes when using the cleaning device 129, and the maximum achieved runtime is 2,323,000 cigarettes. On average, 1,474,225 cigarettes were able to be produced with a tape 54, which was cleaned regularly by means of the cleaning device 129.

Claims

Device for forming an endless rod from a sticky tobacco material for manufacture of aerosol generating articles comprising a suction-type rod conveyor equipped with a revolving, continuous, porous tape (54), to which vacuum is applied from the top and on whose underside tobacco material shreds or fibres are conveyed along a tobacco channel, wherein the tobacco material is shaped into a continuous tobacco rod, at least one liquid pressure nozzle (130) being directed to the underside of the tape (54) and connected to a source for fluid under pressure and an exhaust hood (133) is arranged at the upper side of the tape (54) opposite the at least one liquid pressure nozzle (130) and connected to a vacuum source (144), characterized in that the liquid pressure nozzle (130) is arranged that a cleaning of the tape (54) takes place in an area of the tape (54) on which the continuous rod (55) is not shaped from tobacco material.
Device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid pressure nozzle is a water pressure nozzle (130) directed to the underside of the tape (54) and connected to a water pressure source (135).
Device according to one of the claims 1 to 2, wherein at least one air pressure nozzle (131) is directed to the underside of the tape (54) and connected to an air pressure source (138).
Device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein an ambient air supply device is arranged on the underside of the tape (54) opposite the exhaust hood (133) and connected to ambient air.
Device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the exhaust hood (133) is connected via a two-way valve (140) with a dust extraction fan (141) and a vacuum source (144), so that the exhaust hood (133) is selectively connectable with dust extraction fan (141) and the vacuum source (144).
Device according to claim 5, wherein the two-way valve (140) is connected via at least one filter (142, 143) with the vacuum source (144).
Device according to claim 6, wherein the two-way valve (140) is connected via a sequential arrangement of a filter (142) for removing water and dirty tobacco and a filter (143) for removing dust and air with the vacuum source (144).
Device according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the at least one liquid pressure nozzle (130) and the exhaust hood (133) are arranged within a suction chamber (146) surrounding a portion of the tape (54).
Device according to any of claims 2 and 3, wherein the air pressure nozzle (131) is arranged in transport direction of the tape (54) behind the water pressure nozzle (131).
Device according to any of claims 3 and 4, wherein the ambient air supply device (132) is arranged behind the at least one pressure nozzle (131) in transport direction of the tape (54).