Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~0651Z7
This invention relates to a machine for applying
liquid to a band of absorbent material, preferably for
applying menthol to cigarette wrapping paper.
Cigarettes are marketed in menthol and non-menthol
flavors. The volatile nature of menthol tends to provide a
"cool" taste to the tobacco smoke and is preferred by many
smokers.
There are generally two procedures by which menthol- -
ation of cigarettes occurs. In the first procedure, menthol
is positioned in the tobacco itself while, in the second
procedure, the foil backed paper traditionally used to surround
hundleq of cigarettes in the package is impregnated with
menthol, the menthol then permeating the tobacco by sublima-
tion.
The second procedure is the one most widely used
due to difficulties in controlling the direct addition of
menthol to tobacco. However, the second procedure is not
totally satisfactory since the current procedures used for
impregnation of the foil-backed paper lead to inconsistent
application of menthol and non-uniform concentration of
menthol on the paper. There thus result inconsistent menthol
concentrations in the cigarettes packaged using the menthol-
impregnated foil-backed paper with consequential consumer
dissatisfaction.
The present invention provides an apparatus for
impregnation of foil-backed paper with menthol which results
in the uniform application of menthol to the paper, hence
overcomihg the prior art difficulties mentioned above. In
the present in~ention, menthol is applied to a band of foil-
backed paper from a reel thereof continuously moving past an
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applicator and the application of the menthol is controlled -~
at a uniform concentration.
While the apparatus of the invention is particularly
useful in mentholating foil-backed paper and i~ described
with particular reference thereto, the apparatus has a
variety of other uses where it is desired to achieve a uniform
application of a liquid to an absorbent material.
The invention is described further by way of illus-
tration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a menthol-
ating machine in accordance with one embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 i8 a perspective close-up of a menth~l-
applying head used in the apparatus of Figure l;
Figure 4 is a rear view of the apparatus of Figure l;
Fi~ure 5 ic a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of
Figure ~;
` Figure 6 i8 a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of
Figure 5; and
... . . .
~ Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram representation
of the electronic controls on the operation of the mentholating
machine of Fïgure 1.
Referring to the drawings, a mentholating machine
10 includes a box-like frame having an upright wall 11. A
hub 12 is mounted on an axle 13 extending through the wall
11 and receives a spool 14 of foil-backed papér. The hub
12 and axle 13 is drivably connected to a generator-~rake
motor 16 through a reduction gear mechanism 18 and a belt
connection 20.
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1065~
A second hub 22 is provided for mountin~; a take- .
up spool 24 for take up of impregnated foil-backed paper, the -
paper passing as a continuous band 25 from the spool 14 to
the take-up reel 24. The second hub 22 is drivably connected
to a drive motor 26 by an axle 27 and a belt connection 28.
Vertically-spaced stationary frame members 29 . :
and 30 are mounted to the inner surface of the upright wall
11 for supporting movable elements including a movable block
element 32 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation on ~-
guide rods 34 and 36 extending between the stationary frame - ;:
members 29 and 30.
Adjustable spacer elements 38 are mounted on the .
movable block element 32 to determine the limit of movement
of the movable block element 32 toward~ the lower frame
member 29,
Compresgion springs 40 are provided on the guide
rods 34 and 36 and in compressive engagement with the block
element 32 to provide spring-force induced downward movement
of the block element 32.
Cam elements 42 and 44 each including a -ra~p surface are
positioned on the lower frame member 28 at the lbngitudinal
ends of the block element 32 for provision of a variable
length of the cam elements under the block element 32. `
Wheels 46 and 48, constituting cam follower elements, are
mounted at the ends of the block element 32 to engage the
cam elements 42 and 44 respectively and ride up and down
the ramp surfaces thereon.
Each of the cam elements 42 and 44 has an elongate
recess 50 and 52 formed therein opening away from the block
element 32 and a lever arm 54 and 56 respectively mounted
in eac~ of the recesses 50 and 52 for pivotal movement about
1065127 ` ~
': :'.'.
vertical pivots 58 and 60 respectively.
The lever arm 56 extends forwardly from the pivot --
60 through a horizontal elongate slot 62 in the front wall
11 of the machine 10 terminating in an actuation knob 64.
The lever arm 56 extends rearwardly from the pivot 60 to
termination at a pivotal connection 66 to a further lever
arm 68 extending generally transversely of the lower frame
member 29. The lever arm 56 also is pivoted to a fixed
verti~al pivot 70 mounted to the lower frame member 29.
~he lever arm 54 has one end connected to the pivot
58 and the other end to another lever arm 72 at a vertical
pivot 74~ The lever arm 54 is pivoted to a fixed pivot 76
mounted to the lower frame member 29.
The lever arm 7Z extends generally transver~ely of
the ~ower frame member 29 and the ends of the lever arms 68
and 72 remote from the respective pivots 66 and 74 overlap and
are pi~otally connected to opposite ends o~ a lever arm 76 ~ -
which itself i9 pivotally mounted to the frame member 29 at
- its midpoint to a vertical fixed pivot 78.
The various lever arms and pivots cooperate with the
cams 4~ and 44 to raise and lower the bloc~ member 32 upon
horizontal movement of the actuation knob 64 relative to
the wall 11. As the cams 42 and 44 are moved towards each
o~her thP wheels 46 and 48 ride up the ramps thereby raising
the block member 32. As the cams 42 and 44 are moved away
from each other, the wheels 46 and 48 run down the ramps
under the influence of gravity and the springs 40 to restore
the block member 32 to its original position.
Single guide rolls 80 and 82 are free-wheelingly
rotatably mounted to the front face of the wall 11 for guiding
the band 2S of foil-ba~ked paper during its passage from the
feed reel 14 to the take-up reel 24.
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10651Z7
A pair of guide rolls 84 and a single guide roll ~
86 are located between the single guide rolls and serve to :
quide the band 25 of foil-backed paper as a smooth flat
band over a menthol application device 88. Pressure in the
nip between the pair of guide rolls 84 ensures a flat band
surface entry to the application device 88.
The lower member of each of the pair of the guide
rolls 84 is free-wheelingly rotatably mounted to the wall 11
with its axle extending through a bearing mounted to the -
undersurface of the lower stationary member 29 while the upper
member of the pair of the guide roll 84 and the guide roll
86 are free-wheelingly rotatably mounted to the block member
32 by axles which pass through vertical slots 90 and 92
respectlvely formed in the machine face 11.
Raising the block 32 by actuation of the lever knob
64 thus releases the nip between the pair of rolls 84 and the
tension in the band 25 which is necessary during start up or
on breakage of the paper band 25.
The menthol applicator device 88 is shown in
detail in Figures 2 and 3 and includeq a stationary horizontal
plate 94 affixed to the front wall 11 of the apparatus 10. :
Positioned on the plate 94 is a layer of resilient material
96 and a top layer of hard material 98 over which the paper
band 25 moves.
A menthol application head 100 is mounted to the
~lock member 32 by a spindle 102 passing through a vertical
slot 104 in the wall 11, so that raising of the block 32
releases engagement of the head 100 from the layer 98 or the
paper therebetween.
Internally of the head 100 is located a sparger
pipe 106 whi~h communicates with a series of ducts 108 to
10651~:7
feed an alcoholic solution of menthol out of the lower
rounded surface 110 of the head 100 onto the paper band 25 -
passing the head, typically as a series of parallel strips.
The sparger pipe 106 communicates with a vertical
boxe 112 in the head 100 which in turn communicates with a
hoxizontal bore 114 passing axially of the spindle 102 to the
opposite side of the block member 32. The bore 114
communicates with a menthol feed tube 115 which is connected
to a source of menthol solution and a pump for pumping
controlled quantities of menthol solution to the head 100. ~ ;
An idler roll 116 is mounted between the single
roll 86 and the single roll 82 to receive a loop of the band
25 of paper thereover. The idler roll 116 is connected at
one end of an arm 118 through a vertical slot 112 in the wall
11. The arm 118 i5 pi~otally mounted on the rear side of
the wall 11 by a pivot 122.
A compression spring 126 is connected to the arm
118 at the roll 116 and to the movable block element 32 to
provide spring resistance to downward movement of the roll 116
under tension applied by the loop of the material band 25.
The remote end of the arm 118 is connected to the
actuator rod 128 of a linear variable displacement switch
130 mounted on the upper stationary frame member 30 and
arranged to control tension in the paper band 25, as described
below.
A disc 132having circumferentially spaced apart
openings 134 adjacent the rim is mounted on the axle of the
lower of the pair of rolls 84. A photocell 136 is mounted
to the lower stationary frame element 29 in alignment with
the openings 134. The photocell 136 senses the speed of
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rotation of the disc 132 and hence the linear speed of the
paper band 25 as it passes between the nip between the pair
of xolls 84 by the frequency of openings 134 passing the
photocell 136.
The photocell 136 is electrically connected to the
menthol feed pump for control of the pump speed and hence
menthol solution flow rate in accordance with the sensed speed
of the motor 16 as described in more detail below.
An up-down sensor 138 is mounted to the upper
stationary frame e~nt 30 and an actuation element i40 is
mounted to the ~lock member 32 for actuation of the sensor 138
when in the "up" position. The sensor l38 is connected to
a visual representation display in a control panel 140 located
at the front of the machine 10.
Ea¢h of the hubs 12 and 22 is constructed as shown in
detail in Figures 5 and 6 to provide a quickly-releasable but
efficien~ly-lockable reel mounting system. This reel mountina --
system forms the subject of U.S. Patent No. 4,037,804
issued July 26, 1977.
A lever arm 142 actuates the mounting mechanism.
The lever arm 142 i~ mounted at one end of a shaft 144
rotatably mounted in the hub 12. Also mounted to the shaft
144 is a gear wheel 146 and two eccentrically-mounted metal
cylinders 148, one each axial side of the gear wheel 146.
The gear wheel 146 meshes with a central sun gear wheel 150
mounted for rotation on a shaft 152 axially mounted in the
hub 12.
Two planetary gear wheels 154 and 156 are also
mounted in the hub 12 for rotation about shafts 158 and 160
respectively in meshing engagement with the sun gear wheel 150.
In analogous manner to the eccentrically mounted metal
-
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106512~
cylinders 148, metal cylinders 162 and 164 are eccentrically
mounted on shafts 158 and 160 respectively with one each axial
side of the respective planetary gear wheels.
The eccentrically-mounted metal cylinders 148, 162
and 164 are arranged to project beyond the circumferential
periphery of the hub 12 upon rotation of the respective shafts
in one direction and to be located wholly within the
circumferential periphery of the hub 12 when the respective -`
shafts are rotated in the opposite direction. - ~
Thus, by moving the lever arm 142 in one direction, ~ -
the metal cylinders 148, 162 and 164 move outwardly to grip ;
the inner surface of the reel mount and hold the reel to the
hub, while subsequent moving of the lever arm 142 in the
opposite direction releases the metal cylinders from the reel
mount allowing ready removal of the reel from the hub.
The machine 10 is designed to provide a controlled
application o~ menthol to a paper band to obtain a uniform
application of menthol per unit length of paper. The actual
quantity of menthol applied per unit length of paper band
is controlled for the particular brand of cigarettes for
which the paper is desired.
.
In operation, a full reel of foil-backed paper is
locked to the hub 12 and, with the actuation knob 64 to the
right as seen in Figure 1 and hence with the block element
32 in its upper position, the free end of the paper is drawn
beneath roll 80, between the pair of rolls 84, between the
applicator head 100 and the plate 98, beneath roll 86, over
roll il6, beneath roll 82 and onto an empty take-up reel locked
to the hub 22, to establish a foil-backed paper movement path
as shown in Figure 1~ -
1065127
The lever knob 64 is moved to the left to lower the
block element 32 and hence the upper of the pair of rolls
84, roll 86 and the applicator head 100 into contact with
th~ paper band 25 and the motor 26 and menthol pump started up.
As the foil-backed paper is drawn past the applicator
head 100, menthol solution is applied thereto in the required
quantity to impregnate the paper band across the width there-
of through the openings 108, typically as a series of strips
in number equal to the number of said openings 108. In -
order to provide for the uniform application of menthol to
the paper along the length thereof, the operation is controlled
so that the same linear speed of the paper band past the
appIicator head 100 is maintained.
The linear speed of the paper band 25 past the
applicator head 100 is directly proportional to the rotational
speed of thé disc 132. As seen in Figure 1, thé speed
sensed by the photocell 136 is compared with a control speed
and the output signal of the comparator is used to control
the speed of the motor 26. As the diameter of the reeled-up
paper on the hub 22 increases and hence there is a tendency
for the linear speed of the band 25 to increase, the speed
of the motor 26 slows down so that a constant linear speed
~; of paper past the applicator head 100 is maintained.
The sensed rotational speed of the disc 132 also
controls the operation of the menthol pump, in this case
- providing a menthol reference signal from the quantity
selector which is fed to a comparator for comparison with
the sensed speed of the pump to give the pump drive speed
signal so that, in the event of a change of the power input,
a consequential slow down or speed up of the speed of the
paper band 25 is compensated for by a parallel slow aown
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iO651Z7
or speed up of the menthol solution ~umping rate.
As seen in Figure 7, as the diameter of the feed
reel 14 decreases and hence there is a tendency
for the tension in the paper band to decrease, the
variable linear displacement switch 130 provides an output
signal proportional to the vertical position of the roll
116 and hence the tension in the paper band 25. This output
signal is compared in a comparator with a brake reference
value which is pre-adjusted with a calibration weight. The
generator 16 receives a signal which causes the brake motor
to speed up or slow down in response to tension variations
at the roll 116 to maintain a substantially constant tension
throughout the operation. As the reel 14 of paper rotates,
the generator 16 generates electrical power which is
disaipated in a resistor. The action of electrical generator
and disgipation actg as a brake on the reel 14, 80 that as
the reel 14 decreases in diameter and hence the hub 12 rotates
faster for the constant speed of the paper band 25 past the
applicator head 100, more electricity is dissipated and the
~ame braking force is applied so that a constant tension in
the band 25 is maintained.
The present invention therefore provides an
impregnation procedure which has particular applicability
for mentholating foil-backed paper for use in packaging of
~- cigarettes. Modi~ications are possible within the scope of
the invention.
~ ~ .
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