Method for combining segments of a smoking article and combiner for combining such segments

Abstract

A method for combining segments of a smoking article, comprises the steps of: providing a group of segments having a heat source (10; 20) and an aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) the aerosol-forming substrate (10; 20) being arranged such that a remote end (112; 212) thereof faces away from the heat source (10; 20) while a near end (112; 211) thereof abuts the heat source (10; 20), feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone (13; 23) having a widest end (131; 231) and a truncated narrowest end (130; 230) such that the truncated narrowest end (130; 230) is arranged to face the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21), and moving the truncated hollow cone (13; 23) towards the remote end (112; 212) of the aerosol-forming substrate (11; 21) to abut the remote end (112; 212) thereof or to extend into an indentation (113; 213) in the remote end (112; 212) thereof.

Claims

1. Method for combining segments of a smoking article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a group of segments, the group of segments comprising a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate which are coaxially arranged in that sequence along a common central longitudinal axis, the aerosol-forming substrate being arranged such that a remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate faces away from the heat source while a near end of the aerosol-forming substrate abuts the heat source, feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone having a widest end and a truncated narrowest end towards the group of segments in a manner such that the truncated narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone is arranged to face the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, with a central longitudinal axis of the truncated hollow cone being aligned with the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments, and moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate to abut the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate or to extend into an indentation in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an air-intake tube around the truncated hollow cone, the air-intake tube having an inner diameter which essentially corresponds to an outer diameter of the widest end of the truncated hollow cone.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the air-intake tube either abuts the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate or extends over the aerosol-forming substrate, and wherein the step of moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate comprises pushing the truncated hollow cone through a remote end of the air-intake tube towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate into a final position.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein in the final position the truncated narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone abuts the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

5. Method according to claim 3, wherein in the final position the truncated narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone extends into an indentation formed in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate comprises providing a transfer tool having a tip, inserting the transfer tool into the truncated hollow cone to an extent that the tip of the transfer tool projects from the truncated hollow cone through the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone, and moving the transfer tool together with the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate until the tip of the transfer tool forms the indentation in the aerosol-forming substrate and the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone extends into the indentation formed in the aerosol-forming substrate.

7. Method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of attaching the truncated hollow cone to the air-intake tube in an air-tight manner such that an air flow between the truncated hollow cone and the air-intake tube is prevented.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone towards the group of segments comprises feeding a continuous strand of truncated hollow cones, with adjacent truncated hollow cones of the strand being connected to each other, towards the group of segments and separating the foremost truncated hollow cone from the continuous strand of truncated hollow cones.

9. Method according to claim 2, wherein the group of segments is provided as a jointly wrapped component, the jointly wrapped component comprising a wrapper extending beyond the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, wherein either the wrapper extending beyond the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate forms the air-intake tube or the air-intake tube is a separate individual segment wrapped by that portion of the wrapper extending beyond the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, and wherein the truncated hollow cone is inserted into the air-intake tube through the remote end of the air-intake tube.

10. Method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of transferring the jointly wrapped component comprising the group of segments together with the truncated hollow cone inserted into the air-intake tube to an assembler for assembly of the jointly wrapped component with additional components of a smoking article.

11. Method according to claim 2, wherein the air-intake tube is an individual segment which is not connected to the other segments of the group, and wherein the truncated hollow cone is inserted into the air-intake tube through the remote end of the air-intake tube while the air-intake tube is not connected to the other segments of the group.

12. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of arranging the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments to extend perpendicular to a direction of transport of the group of segments, prior to aligning the central longitudinal axis of the truncated hollow cone to be moved towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate with the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments.

13. Method according to claim 2, wherein the step of moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate comprises providing a transfer tool having a tip, inserting the transfer tool into the truncated hollow cone to an extent that the tip of the transfer tool projects from the truncated hollow cone through the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone, and moving the transfer tool together with the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate until the tip of the transfer tool forms the indentation in the aerosol-forming substrate and the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone extends into the indentation formed in the aerosol-forming substrate.

14. Method according to claim 4, wherein the step of moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate comprises providing a transfer tool having a tip, inserting the transfer tool into the truncated hollow cone to an extent that the tip of the transfer tool projects from the truncated hollow cone through the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone, and moving the transfer tool together with the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate until the tip of the transfer tool forms the indentation in the aerosol-forming substrate and the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone extends into the indentation formed in the aerosol-forming substrate.

15. Method according to claim 4, wherein the step of feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone towards the group of segments comprises feeding a continuous strand of truncated hollow cones, with adjacent truncated hollow cones of the strand being connected to each other, towards the group of segments and separating the foremost truncated hollow cone from the continuous strand of truncated hollow cones.

16. Method according to claim 4, wherein the group of segments is provided as a jointly wrapped component, the jointly wrapped component comprising a wrapper extending beyond the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, wherein either the wrapper extending beyond the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate forms the air-intake tube or the air-intake tube is a separate individual segment wrapped by that portion of the wrapper extending beyond the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, and wherein the truncated hollow cone is inserted into the air-intake tube through the remote end of the air-intake tube.

17. Method for combining segments of a smoking article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a group of segments, the group of segments comprising a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate which are coaxially arranged in that sequence along a common central longitudinal axis, the aerosol-forming substrate being arranged such that a remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate faces away from the heat source while a near end of the aerosol-forming substrate abuts the heat source; feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone having a widest end and a truncated narrowest end towards the group of segments by inserting a transfer tool having a tip into a truncated hollow cone such that the tip of the transfer tool projects from the truncated hollow cone through the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone, and moving the transfer tool together with the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate until the tip of the transfer tool forms the indentation in the aerosol-forming substrate and the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone extends into the indentation formed in the aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the truncated narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone is arranged to face the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, with a central longitudinal axis of the truncated hollow cone being aligned with the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments; and moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate to abut the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate or to extend into an indentation in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

18. Method for combining segments of a smoking article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a group of segments, the group of segments comprising a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate which are coaxially arranged in that sequence along a common central longitudinal axis, the aerosol-forming substrate being arranged such that a remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate faces away from the heat source while a near end of the aerosol-forming substrate abuts the heat source; feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone having a widest end and a truncated narrowest end towards the group of segments in a manner such that the truncated narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone is arranged to face the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate, with a central longitudinal axis of the truncated hollow cone being aligned with the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments, wherein airflow directing truncated hollow cone is fed as a continuous strand of truncated hollow cones, with adjacent truncated hollow cones of the strand being connected to each other, towards the group of segments; separating the foremost truncated hollow cone from the continuous strand of truncated hollow cone; and moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate to abut the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate or to extend into an indentation in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

19. Method for combining segments of a smoking article, the method comprising the steps of: providing a group of segments, the group of segments comprising a heat source and an aerosol-forming substrate which are coaxially arranged in that sequence along a common central longitudinal axis, the aerosol-forming substrate being arranged such that a remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate faces away from the heat source while a near end of the aerosol-forming substrate abuts the heat source; arranging the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments to extend perpendicular to a direction of transport of the group of segments; feeding an airflow directing truncated hollow cone having a widest end and a truncated narrowest end towards the group of segments in a manner such that the truncated narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone is arranged to face the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate; aligning a central longitudinal axis of the truncated hollow cone with the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments; and moving the truncated hollow cone towards the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate to abut the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate or to extend into an indentation in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate.

Description

(1) The afore-mentioned embodiments of the method and combiner according to the invention will become more apparent with the aid of the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a first embodiment of a heated smoking article comprising a truncated hollow cone and a separate air-intake tube;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section of a second embodiment of a heated smoking article comprising a truncated hollow cone with no separate air-intake tube;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the method for combining segments of a smoking article according to the invention, with cone insertion being performed before wrapping;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the method for combining segments of a smoking article according to the invention, with cone insertion being performed after wrapping;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a combiner for combining segments of a smoking article according to the invention, with cone insertion being performed before wrapping; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a combiner for combining segments of a smoking article according to the invention with cone insertion being performed after wrapping.

(8) The first embodiment of a heated smoking article 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a combustible carbonaceous heat source 10 and an aerosol-forming substrate 11. Aerosol-forming substrate 11 is located immediately downstream of the combustible carbonaceous heat source and is circumscribed by filter plug wrap 110. A near end 111 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is arranged abutting the carbonaceous heat source 10. A heat-conducting element 101 consisting of a tubular layer of aluminum foil surrounds and longitudinally extends partially over carbonaceous heat source 10 and aerosol-forming substrate 11 which may comprise a plug of glycerine and tobacco material. Further downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, a separate individual hollow air-intake tube 12 is arranged in abutting relationship to a remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. Within air-intake tube 12 an air-directing truncated hollow cone 13 is arranged in a manner such that a truncated narrowest end 130 of the cone 13 abuts the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. The truncated narrowest end 130 of cone is supported in an air-permeable diffuser 120 arranged within the air-intake tube 12 in abutting relationship to the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. The widest end 131 of truncated hollow cone is air-tightly arranged in the air-intake tube 13, so that no air may leak between the widest end 131 of the cone 13 and the interior wall of air-intake tube 12. Downstream of the air-intake tube 12 there are arranged a tubular hollow expansion chamber 14 and a mouthpiece 15 comprising a filter plug 150 and a filter plug wrap 151. The entire arrangement of segments is overwrapped by an outer wrapper 16. Air inlets 161 are provided in the outer wrapper 16, and additional air-inlets 121 are provided in the air-intake tube 12.

(9) In use, when a user draws on the mouthpiece of the smoking article 1, cool air is drawn in into the smoking article 1 through the air-inlets 161, 121. The drawn air passes between an outer wall of the truncated hollow cone 13 and an inner wall of the air-intake tube 12 along a first portion of the airflow pathway upstream to the aerosol-forming substrate 11. The aerosol-forming substrate 11 is heated by conduction of heat from the combustible heat source 10 via the heat-conducting element 101. The heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 releases volatile and semi-volatile components and glycerine from the plug of tobacco material, which form an aerosol that is entrained in the drawn air as it flows along a second portion of the airflow pathway through the interior of the cone 13 into the interior of expansion chamber 14 where they cool and condense. The cooled aerosol then passes downstream through the mouthpiece 15 of the smoking article.

(10) The embodiment of the smoking article 2 shown in FIG. 2 is to some extent similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so that the corresponding segments/parts are not explained in detail again. Downstream of the heat source 20 there is arranged the aerosol-forming substrate 21 circumscribed by filter plug wrap 210, with the near end 211 of the aerosol-forming substrate abutting the heat source 20. Similarly, a heat conducting element 201 is provided surrounding and partially extending over both the heat source 20 and the aerosol-forming substrate 21. Different from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, however, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 does not comprise a separate air-intake tube. Instead, in the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 there is provided an indentation 213, into which the narrowest end 230 of the truncated hollow cone 23 extends. The front end of the wall of the tubular expansion chamber 24 abuts the widest end of cone 23 so that cone 23 is securely held in position. Further downstream of expansion chamber there is again arranged a mouthpiece 25 comprising a filter plug 250 and a plug wrap 251. The entire arrangement of segments is overwrapped by an outer wrapper 26, having air inlets 261. The mode of operation is very similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 except that the air does not have to pass through air inlets of a separate air-intake tube since there is simply no such separate air-intake tube segment in the embodiment of FIG. 2.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of the method for combining segments of a smoking article. In this first embodiment the cone is inserted before wrapping. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 1 a separate air-intake tube is provided, however, this embodiment is also conceivable without such separate air-intake tube being provided. A heat source 10 and an aerosol-forming substrate 11 are fed and arranged in a manner such that the heat source 10 and the aerosol-forming substrate 11 are arranged along a common central longitudinal axis. The near end 111 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 abuts the heat source 10. Thereafter, the separate tubular segment forming the separate air-intake tube 12 is fed and arranged in a manner such that the common central longitudinal axis of the group of segments and the central longitudinal axis of the air-intake tube 12 coincide. As a next step, a strand of truncated hollow cones 13 is fed and the foremost cone is cut from the strand. A transfer tool 3 having a tip 30 is then inserted into the cut truncated hollow cone 13, preferably to an extent that the tip 30 projects from the truncated hollow cone 13 through the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13. The transfer tool 3 together with the cone 13 is then moved through a remote end of the air-intake tube 12 towards the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 until the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 forms an indentation 113 in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, followed by the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13. In an alternative embodiment, the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 projects up to but not beyond the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13. The transfer tool 3 together with the cone 13 is then moved through a remote end of the air-intake tube 12 towards the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 until the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13 has been inserted into the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. The tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 provides support to the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13 as it forms an indentation 113 in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. Following insertion of the truncated hollow cone 13, the transfer tool 3 is then retracted so that the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13 is arranged in the indentation 113 while the widest end of the cone 13 is in air-tightly arranged in the air-intake tube (as discussed above, this can be achieved by a press-fit or with the aid of glue, etc.). The segments so combined are then transferred for either getting wrapped or for being combined with additional segments and then getting wrapped.

(12) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the method for combining segments of a smoking article. In contrast to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the cone is inserted only after wrapping. Also, in the embodiment of FIG. 4 a separate air-intake tube is not provided, however, this embodiment is also conceivable with a separate air-intake tube being provided and also being wrapped before the cone is inserted. A heat source 20 and an aerosol-forming substrate 21 are fed and arranged in a manner such that the heat source 20 and the aerosol-forming substrate 21 are arranged along a common central longitudinal axis. The near end 211 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 abuts the heat source 20. The heat source 20 and the aerosol-forming substrate 21 are wrapped by an outer wrapper 26 which longitudinally extends beyond the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 in downstream direction. As a next step, a strand of truncated hollow cones 23 is fed and the foremost cone is cut from the strand. The transfer tool 3 having a tip 30 is then inserted into the cut truncated hollow cone 23 to an extent that the tip 30 projects from the truncated hollow cone 23 through the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23. The transfer tool 3 together with the cone 23 is then moved through a remote end of the outer wrapper 26 towards the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 until the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 forms an indentation 213 in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate 21, followed by the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23. In an alternative embodiment, the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 projects up to but not beyond the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23. The transfer tool 3 together with the cone 23 is then moved through a remote end of the outer wrapper 26 towards the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 until the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23 has been inserted into the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21. The tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 provides support to the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23 as it forms an indentation 213 in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate 21. Following insertion of the truncated hollow cone 23, the transfer tool 3 is then retracted so that the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23 is arranged in the indentation 213 while the widest end of the cone 23 is in air-tightly arranged in the air-intake tube (as discussed above, this can be achieved by a press-fit or with the aid of glue, etc.). The segments so combined are then transferred for getting assembled with additional segments to finally form the smoking article 2 (FIG. 2).

(13) FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a combiner 4 for combining segments of a smoking article according to the invention which operates in accordance with the first embodiment of the method according to the invention (see FIG. 3). As can be seen in FIG. 5, combiner 4 comprises three drums 41, 42 and 43 which are arranged with their rotational axes being parallel to each other. The drums 41, 42, 43 each comprise a plurality of flutes 410, 420, 430, respectively, which are arranged on the outer surface of the respective drum 41, 42, 43. Heat sources 10 and aerosol-forming substrates 11 are fed towards the flutes 410 of drum 41, such that a heat source 10 and an aerosol-forming substrate 11 are arranged in abutting relationship such that the near end 111 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 abuts the heat source 10. The heat source 10 and the aerosol-forming substrate 11 may be held in the respective flute 410 with the aid of suction applied through the interior of the drum and through holes provided in the respective flutes 410. In addition, cones 13 are fed for example in the form of a strand towards the respective flutes 410 of the first drum 41. The foremost cone 13 is then cut from the strand and inserted into a flute 410, however, axially spaced apart from the arrangement of the heat source 10 and aerosol-forming substrate 11. The narrowest end of cone 13 is arranged to face the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate. In addition, as is shown in FIG. 5, in each flute a separate transfer tool 3 is arranged such that the respective transfer tool 3 can be inserted into the respective cone 13 through the widest end respective cone 13. During rotation of the drum 41, the respective transfer tool 3 is moved towards the remote end 112 of the aerosol forming substrate such that the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 forms an indentation 113 in the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, followed by the respective cone, or alternatively the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 provides support to the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 13 as it forms an indentation 113 in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, as explained in detail above (see uppermost flute 410 of the drum 41). The transfer tool is then retracted again leaving the narrowest end of the cone 13 inserted in the indentation 113. While the description above has not mentioned the presence of a separate air-intake tube 12 (FIG. 1), it is to be mentioned that in a preferred embodiment of the combiner a separate air-intake tube 12 may also be fed into each individual flute 410 in a manner such that it abuts the remote end 112 of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. The cone 13 is then fed through the remote end of the respective separate air-intake tube 12, as has been described above without the separate air-intake tube 12.

(14) Once the cones 13 have been inserted either directly into the indentation 113 in the remote end of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 (either with or without the separate air-intake tube 12), the arrangement of segments is then transferred from the first drum 41 to a second drum 42 and subsequently to a third drum 43. Drums 42, 43 comprise corresponding flutes 420, 430 in which the arrangement of segments can be held in a manner similar to the manner described above (i.e. by means of suction). The individual arrangements of segments may then be transferred from the third drum 43 with the aid of a transfer wheel 44 comprising gripper elements 440 having suction openings 441 for gripping and transferring the individual arrangements of segments from the third drum to a linear wrapping system (for example a garniture tongue system known in the art).

(15) A second embodiment of a combiner 5 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 6 for combining segments of a smoking article according to the invention which operates in accordance with the second embodiment of the method according to the invention (see FIG. 4). The heat source 20 and aerosol-forming substrate 21 are already wrapped by an outer wrapper 26 which extends axially beyond the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 (either with or without a separate air-intake tube 22 being wrapped by the outer wrapper 26). A plurality of such wrapped arrangements of heat source 20 and aerosol-forming substrate 21 (and eventually the separate air-intake tube 22) is then fed into respective flutes 510 arranged on the outer surface of a drum 51. Also, a strand of cones 23 is fed towards drum 51 and the foremost cone 23 of the strand is separated from the strand and inserted into a respective flute 510 on the outer surface of the drum spaced at an axial distance from the remote end of the outer wrapper 26. In each flute again, a transfer tool 3 is arranged such that the tip 30 of the respective transfer tool 3 can be inserted through the widest end of the respective cone 23, or alternatively the tip 30 of the transfer tool 3 projects up to but not beyond the narrowest end of the truncated hollow cone 23. The cone is then moved through the remote end of the outer wrapper 26 towards the remote end 212 of the aerosol-forming substrate, as this has already been explained above in connection with FIG. 5. Once the cone 23 has been moved to the final position, the transfer tool 3 is retracted again. Thereafter, the so formed arrangement of segment is transferred to an assembler to form the final smoking article.

(16) While embodiments of the invention have been described with the aid of the drawings, the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various changes and modifications are conceivable without departing from the teaching of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection is defined by the appended claims.