Method for producing a bobbin comprising alkaloids containing material

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a bobbin comprising a plurality of wounds of a laminated sheet, the method comprising the steps of: •providing a continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material having a free surface; •providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material having a free surface; •adhering the free surface of the continuous sheet of the first protective material to the free surface of the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material to form a continuous laminated sheet comprising at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material, wherein said at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and said at least one layer of a first protective material define an adhesion surface between them; •feeding said laminated sheet to a rotatable center core; •rotating the center core so as to wind said continuous laminated sheet around it in such a way to form said bobbin comprising a plurality of wounds of a continuous laminated sheet comprising at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material.

Claims

1. A method for producing a bobbin comprising a plurality of windings of a laminated sheet, the method comprising the steps of: providing a continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material having a free surface; providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material having a free surface; applying a release agent on the free surface of the continuous sheet of a first protective material; adhering the free surface of the continuous sheet of the first protective material to the free surface of the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material to form a continuous laminated sheet comprising at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material, wherein said at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and said at least one layer of a first protective material define an adhesion surface between them; feeding said laminated sheet to a rotatable center core; and rotating the rotatable center core so as to wind said continuous laminated sheet around it in such a way to form said bobbin comprising a plurality of windings of a continuous laminated sheet comprising at least one layer of alkaloids containing material and at least one layer of a first protective material, wherein the release agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, calcium, talc, cellulose, and tobacco powder.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material has a moisture content comprised between from about 7 percent to about 15 percent in total weight basis of the sheet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material has a thickness comprised between about 100 micron and about 300 micron.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the continuous sheet of a first protective material has a thickness comprised between about 5 micron and about 50 micron.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising passing the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material and the continuous sheet of a first protective material through a pair of rollers in such a way to press the free surface of the continuous sheet of said first protective material onto the free surface of the continuous sheet of alkaloids containing material.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step of applying an outer layer of a second protective material outwardly to the plurality of windings.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the outer layer of a second protective material is applied by wrapping at least one sheet of the second protective material outwardly to said plurality of windings.

Description

(1) Specific embodiments of the invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bobbin of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a continuous laminated sheet comprising one layer of alkaloids containing material and one layer of a first protective material;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first variant of the apparatus for producing the bobbin of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second variant of the apparatus for producing the bobbin of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a side view of a third variant of the apparatus for producing the bobbin of the invention; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a side view of a fourth variant of the apparatus for producing the bobbin of the invention.

(8) In FIG. 1 a perspective view of a bobbin 100 realized according to the invention is shown.

(9) Bobbin 100 comprises a plurality of windings 110 of a continuous laminated sheet 120.

(10) As depicted in more detail in FIG. 2, said laminated sheet 120 comprises one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 as alkaloids containing material and one layer of a first protective material 140. The first protective material is paper or polypropylene.

(11) Layer of a first protective material 140 adheres to layer of homogenized tobacco material 130, thus defining an adhesion surface between them between a free surface of the first protective material and a free surface of the homogenized tobacco material 140, as better detailed below, the free surface of the first protective material facing the free surface of the homogenized tobacco material.

(12) In FIG. 3 a perspective view of a first variant of apparatus 200 for producing bobbin 100 is shown.

(13) In FIG. 3 apparatus 200 includes a first mother bobbin 210 comprising a wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, a second mother bobbin 230 comprising a wound sheet of a first protective material 240, a first unwinding device 250 adapted to unwind said first mother bobbin 210 of homogenized tobacco material, a second unwinding device 260 adapted to unwind said second mother bobbin 230 of first protective material, a first feed path 270, and second feed path 280, an adhesion device 290, a rotatable center core 300. Each unwinding device 250, 260 includes a motor, which is not depicted in the drawings.

(14) First unwinding device 250 includes a rotatable center core around which first mother bobbin 210 is wound and rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 2. First unwinding device 250 unwinds from first mother bobbin 210 the wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, thus providing a continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320. Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 has a free surface 325.

(15) Second unwinding device 260 includes a rotatable center core around which second mother bobbin 230 is wound, it rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 3 and unwinds from second mother bobbin 230 the wound sheet of a first protective material 240, thus providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material 330. Continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 has a free surface 335.

(16) Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 and continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 are fed respectively through the first feed path 270 and the second feed path 280 to adhesion device 290.

(17) The sheet of homogenized tobacco material and the sheet of first protective material are fed to adhesion device 290 including a rotatable center core 300.

(18) In the adhesion device 290, the free surface 335 of continuous sheet of the first protective material 330 is adhered to free surface 325 of continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320, in such a way to form a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140 (as shown in detail in FIG. 2), wherein said at least one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and said at least one layer of a first protective material 140 define an adhesion surface between them.

(19) A motor (not depicted in the drawings) rotates rotatable center core 300 in the sense indicated by arrow 1, so that laminated sheet 120 is wound around rotatable center core 300, forming a bobbin 100 comprising a plurality of windings 110 of a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140 (as shown in detail in FIG. 2).

(20) It is clear from the drawings that the bobbin of laminated sheet has a plurality of windings and between two consequent windings of homogenized tobacco sheet a sheet of first protective material is interposed.

(21) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second variant of apparatus 400 for producing bobbin 100.

(22) In FIG. 4, apparatus 400 includes a first mother bobbin 210 comprising a wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, a second mother bobbin 230 comprising a wound sheet of a first protective material 240, a first unwinding device 250 adapted to unwind said first mother bobbin 210, a second unwinding device 260 adapted to unwind said second mother bobbin 230, a first feed path 270, a second feed path 280, a release agent dosing station 340, an adhesion device 290, a rotatable center core 300, and at least motor (not depicted in the drawings) to rotate the unwinding devices 250, 260.

(23) First unwinding device 250 includes a rotatable center core around which mother bobbin 210 is wound, it rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 2 and unwinds from first mother bobbin 210 the wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, thus providing a continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320. Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 has a free surface 325.

(24) Second unwinding device 260 includes a rotatable center core around which second mother bobbin 230 is wound, rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 3 and unwinds from second mother bobbin 230 the wound sheet of a first protective material 240, thus providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material 330. Continuous sheet of a first protective material has a free surface 335. The first protective material is paper or polypropylene.

(25) Release agent dosing station 340 doses a release agent 345 on free surface 335 of continuous sheet of a first protective material 330. The release agent 345 is glycerin.

(26) Adhesion device 290 includes a pair of rollers 295.

(27) Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 and continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 are fed respectively through first feed path 270 second feed path 280 to adhesion device 290 and pass through said pair of rollers 295.

(28) Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 and continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 pass through pair of rollers 295 of the adhesion device 290 and the free surface 335 of continuous sheet of the first protective material 330 adhere to the free surface 325 of continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320, in such a way to form a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140 (as shown in detail in FIG. 2).

(29) A motor (not depicted in FIG. 4) rotates rotatable center core 300 in the sense indicated by arrow 1 and laminated sheet 120 is wound around rotatable center core 300, thus forming a bobbin 100 comprising a plurality of windings 110 of a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140 adhering thereto.

(30) In FIG. 5 a side view of a third variant of the apparatus 500 for producing bobbin 100 is shown.

(31) In FIG. 5, apparatus 500 includes a first mother bobbin 210 comprising a wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, a second mother bobbin 230 comprising a wound sheet of a first protective material 240, a first unwinding device 250 adapted to unwind said mother bobbin 210, a second unwinding device 260 adapted to unwind said second mother bobbin 230, a first feed path 270, a second feed path 280, an adhesion device 290, a rotatable center core 300, and a motor (not depicted in FIG. 5).

(32) First unwinding device 250 includes a rotatable center core around which the first mother bobbin 210 is wound, it rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 2 and unwinds from first mother bobbin 210 the wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, thus providing a continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320. Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 has a free surface 325.

(33) Second unwinding device 260 includes a rotatable center core around which second mother bobbin 230 is wound, it rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 3 and unwinds from second mother bobbin 230 the wound sheet of a first protective material 240, thus providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material 330. Continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 has a free surface 335. The first protective material is a mixture of glycerin, or cellulose liquid based, talc or calcium mixture liquid based.

(34) First feed path 270 includes rollers 275, used for tensioning and aligning material during process.

(35) Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 passes through rollers 275 of first feed path 270 and is fed to adhesion device 290.

(36) Continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 is fed through second feed path 280 to adhesion device 290.

(37) Adhesion device 290 is adapted to adhere free surface 335 of continuous sheet of the first protective material 330 to free surface 325 of continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320, in such a way to form a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140.

(38) Motor (not depicted in FIG. 5) rotates rotatable center core 300 in the sense indicated by arrow 1 and laminated sheet 120 is wound around rotatable center core 300, thus forming a bobbin 100 comprising a plurality of wounds 110 of a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140.

(39) In FIG. 6 a side view of a fourth variant of the apparatus 600 for producing two bobbins 100′ and 100″ is shown.

(40) In FIG. 6, apparatus 600 includes a first mother bobbin 210 comprising a wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, a second mother bobbin 230 comprising a wound sheet of a first protective material 240, a first unwinding device 250 adapted to unwind said first mother bobbin 210, a second unwinding device 260 adapted to unwind said mother bobbin 230, a first feed path 270, a second feed path 280, a release agent dosing station 340, an adhesion device 290, a cutting device 350, two rotatable center cores 300′ and 300″, and two motors, not depicted in the drawings, to rotate the center cores 300′, 300″.

(41) First unwinding device 250 includes the rotatable center core around which mother bobbin 210 is wound, it rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 2 and unwinds from first mother bobbin 210 the wound sheet of homogenized tobacco material 220, thus providing a continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320. Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 has a free surface 325.

(42) Second unwinding device 260 includes the rotatable center core around which second mother bobbin 230 is wound, it rotates in the sense indicated by arrow 3 and unwinds from mother bobbin 230 the wound sheet of a first protective material 240, thus providing a continuous sheet of a first protective material 330. Continuous sheet of a first protective material has a free surface 335. The first protective material is a mixture of glycerin, or cellulose liquid based, talc or calcium mixture liquid based.

(43) Release agent dosing station 340 doses a release agent 345 (not shown in FIG. 6) on free surface 335 of continuous sheet of a first protective material 330. The release agent 345 is glycerin.

(44) Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 and continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 are fed respectively through first feed path 270 second feed path 280 to adhesion device 290.

(45) Adhesion device 290 includes a pair of rollers 295.

(46) Continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320 and continuous sheet of a first protective material 330 pass through a pair of rollers 295 of the adhesion device 290 and the free surface 335 of continuous sheet of the first protective material 330 adhere to the free surface 325 of continuous sheet of homogenized tobacco material 320, in such a way to form a continuous laminated sheet 120 comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130 and one layer of a first protective material 140.

(47) The apparatus 600 further includes a cutting device 350, positioned downstream the first and second master bobbin, in a direction of unwinding of the homogenized tobacco sheet and the first protective sheet, which is adapted to cut the continuous laminated sheet 120 in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said adhesion surface 135 and provides two continuous laminated sheets 120′ and 120″, each comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material, respectively 130′ and 130″, and one layer of a first protective material, respectively 140′ and 140″.

(48) The rotatable center cores 300′, 300″ are also located downstream the blade.

(49) A first motor (not depicted in FIG. 6) rotates rotatable center core 300′ in the sense indicated by arrow 1′ and laminated sheet 120′ is wound around rotatable center core 300′, thus forming a bobbin 100′ comprising a plurality of wounds 110′ of a continuous laminated sheet 120′ comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130′ and one layer of a first protective material 140′.

(50) A second motor (not depicted in FIG. 6) rotates rotatable center core 300″ in the sense indicated by arrow 1″ and laminated sheet 120″ is wound around rotatable center core 300″, thus forming a bobbin 100″ comprising a plurality of wounds 110″ of a continuous laminated sheet 120″ comprising one layer of homogenized tobacco material 130″ and one layer of a first protective material 140″.