Method for introducing objects into a smoking article

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016174604-A1
Application number	US-201615055007-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Nov 14, 2008
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for introducing objects into a smoking article includes delivering the objects from a reservoir to a transfer chamber and then to a rotatable wheel which inserts objects into the smoking article. The objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer in the transfer chamber and the objects are moved from the single layer in the transfer chamber in a direction towards or along the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for introducing objects into a smoking article, comprising the steps of:
introducing objects from a reservoir into a transfer chamber arranged such that the objects are aligned into a single vertically arranged layer therein, delivering the objects with a rotatable wheel to a location where the objects are to be introduced into the smoking article, the rotatable wheel arranged adjacent the transfer chamber, and moving the objects from the single vertically arranged layer in the transfer chamber in a direction towards or along a peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the objects comprises moving the objects along a circulating path within the transfer chamber, with the circulating path at the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel extending in the direction of rotation of the rotatable wheel along the peripheral surface.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of moving the objects comprises moving the objects in a direction towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel within the transfer chamber with the aid of a vacuum.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transfer chamber is arranged between the reservoir and the rotatable wheel and means for moving the objects transfers the objects in a direction towards or along a peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the means for moving the objects creates a circulating movement of the objects in the transfer chamber such that at the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel the objects move along a circulating path extending in the direction of rotation of the rotatable wheel.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the means for moving the objects comprises a plurality of nozzles blowing air into the interior of the transfer chamber, the nozzles being arranged in a manner such as to generate an air stream causing the movement of the objects along the circulating path.

7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a rotary brush is arranged at the end of the circulating path of the objects along the rotatable wheel, the rotary brush together with a curved side wall of the transfer chamber causing movement of the objects in a reverse direction in the transfer chamber to contribute to the circulating movement therein.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the means for moving the objects comprises suction means which causes the objects in the transfer chamber to move towards the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one nozzle blows air into the transfer chamber, the at least one nozzle being arranged such that an air stream reverses the direction of movement of the objects in the transfer chamber.

10 . The method of claim 4 , wherein:
the rotatable wheel comprises a plurality of individual pockets equidistantly arranged in the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel, each individual pocket being adapted to retain a single object during delivery of the objects to the location where the objects are to be introduced into the smoking article, the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel further comprises a groove running about the entire circumference of the rotatable wheel and passing through the individual pockets; and a scraper extending into the groove adjacent to the location where the objects are to be introduced into a smoking article, the scraper having a tip and a sloped surface which releases the objects from the pockets and sequentially guides a corresponding one of the objects to the desired location in a smoking article.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the individual pockets of the rotatable wheel is connected at its bottom to a channel extending radially inwardly to a common suction supply channel applying suction to the individual pockets.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of the individual pockets of the rotatable wheel is chamfered at a transition to the peripheral surface of the rotatable wheel.

13 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising a guiding cone guiding a filter material of the smoking article, the guiding cone having an opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the guiding cone, and the rotatable wheel being arranged to penetrate through the opening into the interior of the guiding cone while introducing the objects into the filter material.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising a compression tongue downstream of the guiding cone, the compression tongue compressing the filter material with the introduced objects so as to fix the objects in the filter material.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the objects are flavor beads.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the objects are flavor capsules.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the objects are menthol flavor beads.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the objects are menthol flavor capsules.

Assignees

• Philip Morris Usa Inc

Inventors

• Prestia Ivan
• Libbra Roberto
• Ferrari Eva
• Cantieri Fabio
• Ferrazzin Diego
• Pagnoni Michele

Classifications

• A24D3/025 Primary

  Final operations, i.e. after the filter rod forming process (A24D3/0275 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A24D3/0216

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

• A24D3/0229

  Filter rod forming processes (A24D3/0275 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A24D3/061

  containing additives entrapped within capsules, sponge-like material or the like, for further release upon smoking · CPC title

• A24D3/027

  Multiple line manufacturing devices · CPC title