Method and apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10757966-B2
Application number	US-201314758371-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2013
Priority date	Dec 31, 2012
Publication date	Sep 1, 2020
Grant date	Sep 1, 2020

Abstract

There is provided a method and apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles. The method comprises providing hollow tubes (309) of filter material. Each hollow tube has an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The method further comprises providing filter inserts (205). Each filter insert (205) has a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube. The method further comprises inserting each filter insert (205) into a hollow tube (309) of filter material. During inserting, the first portion of the filter insert (205) engages with the hollow tube (309) to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, the method comprising the steps of:
providing hollow tubes of filter material, each hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter;
providing filter inserts, each filter insert having a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tubes; and
inserting each filter insert into a hollow tube of filter material, wherein the step of inserting comprises positioning each filter insert relative to a hollow tube of filter material by positioning each filter insert within a sleeve or sleeves adjacent a hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube, wherein the filter insert is substantially spherical, the cross sectional dimension of the first portion of the filter insert being a diameter of the substantially spherical filter insert.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting comprises inserting two filter inserts simultaneously into each hollow tube of filter material, the two filter inserts being inserted from opposite ends of the hollow tube of filter material.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each filter insert has a second portion having a cross sectional dimension smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, and wherein, during the step of inserting, the second portion of the filter insert is the leading portion.

4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein each hollow tube of filter material comprises a filter wrapper circumscribing the filter material.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting each filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material comprises supporting the hollow tube of filter material on a first rotatable drum.

6. A method according to claim 5 , wherein supporting the hollow tube of filter material on the first rotatable drum comprises providing a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the first drum such that the hollow tube of filter material adheres to the drum.

7. A method according to claim 5 , wherein the first rotatable drum is rotating continuously during the step of inserting the filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, each filter comprising a hollow tube of filter material, the hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and first and second filter inserts disposed in the hollow tube of filter material, each of the first and second filter inserts having a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, the apparatus comprising:
a first piston configured to engage and push the first filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the first filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the first filter insert in the hollow tube;
a second piston configured to engage and push the second filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the second filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the second filter insert in the hollow tube,
wherein the first and second pistons are arranged to insert the first and second filter inserts from opposite ends of the hollow tube of filter material,
wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first and second pistons to insert the first and second filter inserts simultaneously into the hollow tube of filter material;
a first sleeve configured to receive the first filter inserts, wherein the first sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the first piston causes the first filter insert to be pushed from within the first sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material; and
a second sleeve configured to receive the second filter insert, wherein the second sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the second piston causes the second filter insert to be pushed from within the second sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second filter inserts have a second portion having a cross sectional dimension smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, and wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first and second pistons to insert the first and second filter inserts into the hollow tube such that the second portion of each of the first and second filter inserts are the leading portion during the inserting.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the filter insert is substantially spherical, the cross sectional dimension of the first portion of each of the first and second filter inserts are a diameter of the substantially spherical filter insert.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the hollow tube of filter material comprises a filter wrapper circumscribing the filter material.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a first rotatable drum for supporting the hollow tube of filter material as the first and second filter inserts are inserted into the hollow tubes of filter material.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a hopper configured to deliver the first and second filter inserts relative to the first and second pistons.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second sleeves are positionable adjacent a hollow tube of filter material.

15. Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:
first rotatable drum for supporting the hollow tube of filter material as the first and second filter inserts are inserted into the hollow tube of filter material; and
a hopper configured to deliver the first and second filter inserts relative to the first and second pistons.

16. Apparatus for manufacturing filters for smoking articles, each filter comprising a hollow tube of filter material, the hollow tube having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, and first and second filter inserts disposed in the hollow tube of filter material, each of the first and second filter inserts having a first portion having a cross sectional dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow tube, the apparatus comprising:
a first piston configured to engage and push the first filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the first filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the filter insert in the hollow tube;
a second piston configured to engage and push the second filter insert into the hollow tube of filter material such that, during inserting, the first portion of the second filter insert engages with the hollow tube to retain the second filter insert in the hollow tube,
wherein the first and second pistons are arranged to insert the first and second filter inserts from opposite ends of the hollow tube of filter material,
wherein the apparatus is configured to cause the first and second pistons to insert two filter inserts simultaneously into the hollow tube of filter material
a first sleeve configured to receive the first filter insert, wherein the first sleeve is positionable relative to the hollow tube of filter material such that actuation of the first piston causes the first filter insert to be pushed from within the first sleeve into the hollow tube of filter material,
a second sleeve configured to receive the second fi

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

• Nappi Leonardo
• Besso Clement

Classifications

• A24D3/02 Primary

  Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters · CPC title

• A24D3/045

  with smoke acceleration means, e.g. impact-filters · CPC title

• A24D3/0216 Primary

  the additive being in the form of capsules, beads or the like · CPC title

• A24D3/0287

  for composite filters · CPC title