Method and apparatus for treating continuous sheet material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016288446-A1
Application number	US-201415029861-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 22, 2014
Priority date	Dec 23, 2013
Publication date	Oct 6, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The method for treating continuous sheet material for use in the manufacture of rod-shaped articles comprises the steps of providing a continuous sheet material comprising a crimping structure running in a longitudinal direction of the continuous sheet material. It further comprises the step of providing a first roller and a second roller, the first roller and the second roller comprising a plurality of circumferentially running cams, the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and the circumferentially running cams of the second roller engaging each other. The method further comprises the step of guiding the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure between the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and of the second roller. Thereby the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure is provided with a wave like structure, the wave-like structure runs in a longitudinal direction of the continuous sheet material and overlays the crimping structure.

First claim

1 . Method for treating continuous sheet material for use in the manufacture of rod-shaped articles, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a continuous sheet material comprising a crimping structure, the crimping structure running in a longitudinal direction of the continuous sheet material; providing a first roller and a second roller, the first roller and the second roller comprising a plurality of circumferentially running cams, the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and the circumferentially running cams of the second roller engaging each other; guiding the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure between the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and of the second roller, thereby providing the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure running in the longitudinal direction with a wave-like structure, the wave-like structure running in a longitudinal direction of the continuous sheet material and the wave-like structure overlaying the crimping structure.

2 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein providing the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure with a wave-like structure comprises providing the continuous sheet material with a wave-like structure having wave peak to wave trough dimensions in the range of between about 10 mm and about 50 mm.

3 . Method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of limiting a torsional movement of the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure.

4 . Method according to claim 3 , wherein limiting a torsional movement of the continuous sheet material is performed by guiding the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure between and along guiding beams, which guiding beams act on a central portion of the continuous sheet material.

5 . Method according to claim 3 , further comprising the step of reducing the width of the continuous sheet material upon performing the step of limiting the torsional movement of the sheet material.

6 . Method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of feeding the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure into a rod making machine.

7 . Method according to claim 1 , wherein a continuous sheet material made of a plastic material such as cellulose acetate is provided.

8 . Apparatus for treating continuous sheet material comprising a crimping structure for use in the manufacture of rod-shaped articles, the apparatus comprising a first roller and a second roller, the first roller and the second roller each comprising a plurality of circumferentially running cams, wherein the first roller and the second roller are arranged to enable the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and the circumferentially running cams of the second roller to engage each other for providing the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure with a wave-like structure overlaying the crimping structure and running in a longitudinal direction of the continuous sheet material upon guiding the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure between the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and the circumferentially running cams of the second roller.

9 . Apparatus according to claim 8 , comprising a gap of a constant width arranged between the circumferentially running cams of the first roller and the circumferentially running cams of the second roller.

10 . Apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a distance between neighbouring circumferentially running cams of the first roller ranges between about 5 mm and about 40 mm.

11 . Apparatus according to any one of claim 8 , further comprising guiding beams, each having a longitudinal axis, the guiding beams being arranged with their longitudinal axis in a direction of transport of the continuous sheet material for guiding of the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure along the guiding beams in the direction of transport, thereby limiting a torsional movement of the sheet material.

12 . Apparatus according to claim 11 , the guiding beams further being arranged next to each other and at a preset distance to each other and further being arranged with an offset perpendicular to a movement plane of the continuous sheet material, neighbouring guiding beams having an offset in directions opposite each other to enable guiding of the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure in between and along the guiding beams in a wave-like manner in the direction of transport.

13 . Apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the guiding beams are arranged with a distance between upstream ends of neighbouring guiding beams being larger than a distance between downstream ends of neighbouring guiding beams.

14 . Apparatus according claim 11 , wherein an odd total number of guiding beams is arranged next to each other, and wherein a width of an upstream end of at least one guiding beam is larger than a width of a downstream end of this guiding beam.

15 . Installation comprising an apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the apparatus is arranged between a crimping apparatus for providing the continuous sheet material with a crimping structure running in a longitudinal direction of the continuous sheet material and a rod making machine, and wherein a length of the first roller and a length of the second roller is smaller than a width of an outlet of the crimping apparatus and is larger than a width of an inlet of the rod making machine.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the rod-shaped articles comprise filter elements for smoking articles.

17 . Method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of limiting a torsional movement of the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure.

18 . Method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of reducing the width of the continuous sheet material upon performing the step of limiting the torsional movement of the sheet material.

19 . Apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein a distance between neighbouring circumferentially running cams of the first roller ranges between about 5 mm and about 40 mm.

20 . Apparatus according to claim 9 , further comprising guiding beams, each having a longitudinal axis, the guiding beams being arranged with their longitudinal axis in a direction of transport of the continuous sheet material for guiding of the continuous sheet material comprising the crimping structure and comprising the wave-like structure along the guiding beams in the direction of transport, thereby limiting a torsional movement of the sheet material

Assignees

• Philip Morris Products Sa

Inventors

• Sanna Daniele
• Ferrazzin Diego

Classifications

• A24D3/10

  of cellulose or cellulose derivatives · CPC title

• B31F1/122 Primary

  the paper being submitted to an additional mechanical deformation other than crêping, e.g. for making it elastic in all directions · CPC title

• A24D3/0204

  Preliminary operations before the filter rod forming process, e.g. crimping, blooming (A24D3/0275 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B31D5/0082

  Making filter elements, e.g. pleated · CPC title

• B31F1/18 Primary

  by tools arranged in the direction of web feed {; Longitudinal crêping, i.e. providing paper with crêpes parallel to the direction of web movement, e.g. for making paper elastic transversely to this direction} · CPC title