Method and apparatus for folding a web of material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12089629-B2
Application number	US-201916967837-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2019
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a compressed rod of web material for the filter rod of an aerosol-generating article, comprising: supplying a feed of web material from a supply apparatus; drawing the web material through a filter rod manufacturing apparatus; introducing a curved ridge into the central portion of the width wise cross-section of the web material as it approaches contact with the interior of a folding funnel, by drawing the web material across a forming surface of a former that contacts a central portion of the web material, in which the forming surface deflects the central portion of the web material from a line extending between where the web material leaves the supply apparatus and the center of an outlet of the folding funnel; and folding the web material in the folding funnel to form a compressed rod of web material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of pleating a web material to form a compressed rod of pleated web material for a filter rod of an aerosol-generating article, comprising:
supplying a feed of web material from a supply apparatus;
drawing the web material through a filter rod manufacturing apparatus;
introducing a curved ridge into a central portion of a width wise cross-section of the web material as it approaches contact with an interior of a folding funnel, by drawing the web material across a forming surface of a former before the web material enters the folding funnel, wherein the forming surface contacts a central portion of the web material, in which the forming surface deflects the central portion of the web material from a line extending between where the web material leaves the supply apparatus and a center of an outlet of the folding funnel; and
pleating the web material in the folding funnel to form a compressed rod of pleated web material; and, wherein the forming surface is provided with a textured surface.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the web material is deflected by a deflection distance of 20 mm to 60 mm, at a peak of the curved central ridge, where the web material passes over the forming surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein relative positions of the former and folding funnel are adjustable for adjusting a deflection distance of the web material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming surface is located 20 mm to 200 mm from a mouth of the folding funnel.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the former extends into a mouth of the folding funnel.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the textured surface is a plurality of ridges extending along a direction of travel of the web material.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the former is provided with a temperature control mechanism.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the forming surface is provided with a plurality of air supply holes.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a curved W-shape is produced in the web material where it is drawn across the former.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the central portion of a width-wise cross-section of the web material is a central 50% of the width of the web material.

11. A method of manufacturing a filter rod for an aerosol-generating article, comprising the method of manufacturing a compressed rod of claim 1 , and wrapping the compressed rod of pleated web material within a tube of wrapping paper.

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

• Giannini Antonella
• Malossi Stefano
• Monzoni Alberto

Classifications

• A24D3/043

  with ventilation means, e.g. air dilution (A24D3/041 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A24D3/0258

  Means for making grooves · CPC title

• A24D3/0233

  by means of a garniture · CPC title

• A24D3/17

  Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices · CPC title

• A24D3/0266

  Rolling means · CPC title