Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
21 23974
The present inventlon relates to a cigarette,
and more particularly, to a clgarette which is
excellent in an appearance-sustaining ability, and a
method and system for manufacturing cigarettes of this
kind.
Description of the Related Art
It is most important that a cigarette is
excellent in flavor of smoking in the quality thereof;
however, other matters on the quality are also
important. For instance, it is desirable that a
cigarette is beautiful in its appearance, and is
manufactured at low costs. In order to satisfy the
conflictlng requlrement for manufacturing cigarettes
having a high quality at low costs, various cigarette
manufacturing techniques have conventionally been
invented for practical applications.
To give an example relating to manufacture of
cut tobacco, U.S. Patent No. 3,524,452 discloses
"process for increasing the filling capacity of
tobacco" in which the moisture content of tobacco is
adJusted, and the tobacco is wetted with inert organic
liquid. Further, the liquid is quickly vaporized by
passing the stream of tobacco in contact with a stream
of heated gas, thereby expandlng tobacco. This
process makes it possible to provide cigarettes
including tension in its paper web even if a filling
- 2 - 212397~
amount of tobacco is reduced.
It is also known to use a mixture of midrib
shreds and leaf-meat shreds as tobacco shreds so as to
effectively utilize tobacco leaves, the midrib shreds
being obtained by rolling and shredding midrib
portions (veins, secondary veins, etc.) of the tobacco
leaves, which are separated from leaf-meat portions of
the tobacco leaves and to which water is added (see
Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-8440, etc.).
Moreover, various improvements have been made in
cigarette manufacturing machines. In general, an
improved cigarette manufacturing machine comprises a
cut tobacco supply section, a wrapping section, and a
cutting section. The wrapping section is supplied
with a paper web, which travels in one direction in
the wrapping section. The supply section feeds cut
tobacco onto the paper web at the starting end of the
wrapping section. As the cut tobacco, along with the
paper web, passes through the wrapping section, it is
wrapped in the web to form a continuous cigarette rod.
Thereafter, the formed cigarette rod is delivered from
the wrapping section to the cutting section. As it
passes through the cutting section, the cigarette rod
is cut into individual cigarettes with a predetermined
length.
An example of the supply section of a cigarette
manufacturing machine is disclosed in Japanese Patent
Publication No. 40-14560. This conventional supply
section is provided with an endless suction band, that
is, a tobacco bànd as it is called. The tobacco band
extends toward the wrapping section, and has one
surface formed as a suction surface. Cut tobacco is
- 2 1 23974
attracted in a layer to the suction surface of the
tobacco band. As the tobacco band travels, the cut
tobacco layer is transported toward the wrapping
section. The tobacco layer is released from the
attraction at the starting end of the wrapping sec-
tion, whereupon the cut tobacco is continuously fed
from the tobacco band onto the paper web at the wrap-
ping section.
In order to maintaln a preferable appearance of
cigarette, the cigarette may be formed to have a
suitable hardness so that the clgarette has an ability
of self-sustainlng its appearance. Generally, the
hlgher the fllling density of tobacco shreds ls made,
the harder the clgarette becomes. Thus, lt is possl-
ble to manufacture a cigarette whlch has a suitable
21 23974
pearance by adjusting the filling density of cut tobacco.
However, since cigarettes must be provided at low costs even
if the cigarettes have whatever high quality, an inc'rease of
the filling density of cut tobacco to a considerable extent
causes costs to rise because cut tobacco is high-priced, and
is hence impractical.
slnuMA~Y OF T~ INVRNTION
An object of the present invention is to provide
method and system for manufacturing cigarettes, having an
improved appearance-sustaining ability, at low costs.
The present invention provides a cigarette which has
increased hardness and an improved appearance-self-sustaining
ability while permitting a filling amount of cut tobacco or
tobacco shreds per cigarette to be reduced.
According to the present invention there is provided
a cigarette manufacturing system comprising:
- a cut tobacco supply section including first
supply means having a first suction surface travelling in one
direction having means for attracting cut tobacco in a layer
to the first suction surface and delivering the attracted cut
tobacco layer continuously as the first suction surface
travels, folding means for folding the cut tobacco layer from
the first supply means into layer portions and piling the
layer portions on one another in the direction of delivery of
the cut tobacco l,ayer to form a cut tobacco train, and second
supply means having a second suction surface traveling in the
one direction having means for attracting the cut tobacco
train from the folding means to the second suction surface and
delivering the attracted cut tobacco train continuously as the
second suction surface travels;
- wrapping means for forming a continuous cigarette
rod in a manner such that the cut tobacco train from the
second suction surface is received on a paper web traveling
in the one direction and is wrapped in the paper web; and
- cutting means for cutting the formed cigarette rod
into individual cigarettes.
- 2123974
According to the present invention there is also
provided a cigarette manufacturing method comprising:
- a cut tobacco supply step including a first supply
process for forming a layer of cut tobacco by suction and
continuously delivering the formed cut tobacco layer, a
folding process for folding the delivered cut tobacco layer
into layer portions and piling the layer portions on one
another in the direction of delivery of the cut tobacco layer
to form a cut tobacco train, and a second supply process for
receiving the formed cut tobacco train by suction and
continuously delivering the attracted cut tobacco train;
- a wrapping step for forming a continuous cigarette
rod from the cut tobacco train and a paper web; and
- a cutting step for cutting the formed cigarette
rod into individual cigarettes.
A cigarette is thus obtained in which a filler
including tobacco shreds obtained by cutting tobacco leaves
is wrapped in a packing member made of paper. The cigarette
is characterized in that the tobacco shreds are arranged so
that most of the tobacco shreds have their leave surfaces
extending substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the
cigarette and most of the tobacco shreds are radially arranged
around the axis of the cigarette in a cross section
intersecting perpendicularly to the axis of the cigarette.
Preferably, the cigarette includes a cut tobacco
train as the filler. The cut tobacco train is comprised of
cut tobacco layer portions which individually extend
substantially perpendicularly to the axis of the cigarette and
which overlap with one another.
A cigarette obtained with the system and method of
the present invention is advantageous in that tobacco shreds
are arranged so that most of tobacco shreds have their
surfaces positioned perpendicularly to the axis of the
cigarette. As a result, it is possible to increase the
hardness of the resultant cigarette without increasing a
filling amount of cut tobacco, and to improve the ability to
maintain the appearance of the cigarette. Thus, even if an
,~t ~
21 23974
external force is applied to the cigarette, it is not easily
deformed. Also, the packing member, i.e., a paper web of the
cigarette is strongly tensed, so that cockles are hard to
occur in the cigarette. Further, a depression is hard to
occur in the cut tobacco situated at the tip of the cigarette
even if impact is applied to the cigarette. Therefore, the
appearance of the cigarette of the present invention is
maintained appropriately, so as to satisfy needs of customers
sufficiently. In addition, if the hardness of the cigarette
lo is permitted to be kept at the same level as that in the
conventional cigarette, the manufacturing cost can be lowered
by reducing a filling amount of the cut tobacco in the
cigarette.
In a cigarette produced according to the present
invention most of tobacco shreds are radially arranged in a
cross section intersecting perpendicularly to the axis of the
cigarette, the hardness of the resultant cigarette is uniform
in the circumferential direction thereof, and is increased in
magnitude, so that the cigarette is not easily deformed.
Therefore, this feature is highly effective to maintain a
preferable appearance of the cigarette.
Therefore, according to a preferred embodiment of
the cigarette produced by the present invention including a
cut tobacco train serving as a filler and comprised of cut
tobacco layer portions which individually extend
perpendicularly to the axis of the cigarette and which overlap
with one another, the cut tobacco train is formed by effecting
a folding process for delivering the cut tobacco layer,
obtained by arranging tobacco shreds, in one direction, and
for folding the formed cut tobacco layer into the tobacco
layer portions. In this case, most of the tobacco shreds are
arranged so that their leaf surfaces are oriented
perpendicularly to the axis of the cigarette. Therefore, the
cigarette which is excellent in ability to maintain the
appearance thereof can be provided at low cost.
A
7 2123974
Cigarette manufacturing method and system of the
present invention are advantageous in that cigarettes in each
~'
8 2 1 23974
most of tobacco shreds have their surfaces positioned
perpendicularly to the axis of each cigarette can be
securely manufactured at low costs, to thereby make it
possible to provide cigarettes which are excellent in
an appearance-sustaining ability and which are low-
priced.
These and other ob~ects and advantages will
become more readily apparent from an understanding of
the preferred embodiments described below with refer-
ence to the following drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TnE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fullyunderstood from the detailed description herein below
with reference to the accompanying figures, given by
way of illustration only and not intended to limit the
present invention, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing a state in
which tobacco shreds are sent by air toward a
traveling tobacco band;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in
which a tobacco shred, sent by air with such an
orientation that the axis of the tobacco shred crosses
at right angles to the tobacco band, is attracted by
suction onto the tobacco band at its one end, and the
whole of another tobacco shred is attracted onto the
tobacco band;
Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing a state in
which the whole of the tobacco shred, sent by air with
such an orientation that the axis of the tobacco
shreds crosses at right angles to the tobacco band, is
attracted onto the tobacco band;
9 21 23974
Fig. 4 is a view showing tobacco shreds
attracted in a layer to the tobacco band;
Fig. 5 is a view showing a paper web bent in the
shape of a U;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a filter cigar-
ette manufactured by the conventional method;
Fig. 7 is an end view of the filter cigarette
shown in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a
tobacco shred;
- Fig. 9 is a schematic longitudinal section view
showing an arrangement of tobacco shreds in a
conventional cigarette
Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing a state in
which a smoker nips a conventional cigarette between
fingers;
Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing a cigarette
manufacturing machine for manufacturing cigarettes
according to one embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing
a terminal end portion of a first tobacco band in a
supply section of Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of the part
shown in Fig. 12;
Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of a region XIV
shown in Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional view showing a
starting end portion of a second tobacco band in the
supply section;
Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line
XVI-XVI of Fig. 13;
Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of a region XVII
'r
~ .~
lo 2 1 23q74
shown in Fig. 15;
Fig. 18 is an end vlew of a cigarette manufac-
tured by means of the cigarette manufacturing machine
shown in Fig. 11;
Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section vlew of the
cigarette shown in Fig. 18;
Fig. 20 is a schematlc view showing a
measurement principle of hardness data of the
clgarette;
Fig. 21 is a graph ln which fllling density of
cut tobacco and distortion are plotted in abscissa and
ordinate, respectively, and which shows measurement
results of the hardness of clgarette; and
Fig. 22 is a schematic view showing a
measurement principle of impact resistance of
~'
11 2 1 23974
DETAIT~n D~CRIPTION OF THF PR~FE~R~n ~RODIMENT
Specifically, as shown in Fig. 1, tobacco shreds
K~ are moved toward a tobacco band 1 toget11er with the
air flow in the direction shown by an arrow C while
being directed to varlous orientations in the air
flow. Then, the tobacco shred KT~ which is sent by
air with such an orientation that the axis of the
tobacco shred crosses at right angles to the tobacco
band 1 traveling in the direction shown by an arrow D,
is attracted onto the tobacco band 1 at lts one end by
suctlon, as shown in Fig. 2. Thereurter, the entlrety
of this tobacco shred ls attracted onto the tobacco
band by suction, as shown in Fig. 3. On the other
hand, in the case of another tobacco shred Kr, which
is sent by air with such an orientation that the axis
of the tobacco shred extends in parallel with the
tobacco band 1, the whole of the tobacco sllred is
almost simultaneously attracted onto the tobacco band
by suction (Fig. 2).
As a result, as shown in Fig. 4, a cut tobacco
layer T~ is formed of individual tobacco shreds Kr
which are stacked on a suction surface of a tobacco
band 1. Therearter, thc tobacco shred Kr of the layer
is fed onto a paper web at the wrapplng section.
~?
12 21 2~974
KT~ passes through the wrapping section, it is first
bent in the shape of a U, as shown in Fig. 5. There-
after, both sides of the U-shaped web 2 are
successively bent in a circular arc, whereupon a
continuous cigarette rod is formed.
Fig. 6 shows a filter cigarette which is formed
of a cigarette obtained by cutting the cigarette rod
and a filter connected to the cigarette. Fig. 7 shows
an end face of the filter cigarette. In Figs. 6 and
7, reference numeral 3 denotes a lap portlon which
combines both side edges of the paper web 2.
As is evident from the foregoing description of
the process for forming the cigarette rod, the tobacco
shreds KT on the paper web 2 are kept substantially in
layers even though they are wrapped in the web 2.
Also, most of the tobacco shreds KT in the cigarette
are oriented in one direction.
More specifically, most of the tobacco shreds KT
are obtained by cutting tobacco leaves. As shown in
the exaggerated view of Fig. 8, these tobacco shreds
KT are rectangular fragments each having a pair of
long sides K1~ with a length L and a pair of short
sides K~ with a length S.
Most of these fragments KT tend to be attracted
to the tobacco band 1 with an orientation such that
their respective long sides K1~ extend along the
traveling directlon of the tobacco band 1. As shown
in Figs. 4 through 7, therefore, most of the stacked
fragments KT are oriented so that their short sides
30 K~ extend parallel to the cross section of the tobac-
co band 1 or the paper web 2, and their long sides K1at right angles to the cross section.
13 21 23974
As viewed from the end face of the cigarette
shown in Fig. 7, most of the individual tobacco shreds
K~ are wrapped in the paper web 2 in a manner such
that their short sides K~ extend parallel to the lap
portion 3 of the cigarette.
As described above, most of tobacco shreds KT
are attracted onto the tobacco band 1 by suction so
that their long sides K1~ are positioned along the
traveling direction of the tobacco band 1. During the
movement of the tobacco shreds KT toward the tobacco
band 1 with the air flow, however, the tobacco shreds
KT can be directed to various orientations; for this
reason, all of long sides K1~ of the tobacco shreds KT
are not always positioned parallel to the traveling
direction of the tobacco band 1. Nevertheless, in the
case where the supply of tobacco shreds and the
formation of cigarette rods are performed in the
aforementioned manner, the tobacco shreds KT are
arranged at least so that their leaf surfaces KF
extend along the axis of cigarette (see Fig. 9).
The tobacco shreds KT more easily undergo elastic
deformation when their opposite leaf surfaces KF (see
Fig. 8) are sub~ected to external forces than when
their long and short sides K1~ and K~ receive
external forces.
Thus, in the case where the tobacco shreds KT in
the cigarette take the form of a layer as described
above, in other words, in the case where the tobacco
shreds KT are arranged so that their leaf surfaces KF
extend along the axis of cigarette, if the cigarette
is subjected to external forces in the direction A-A,
as shown in Fig. 7, these forces act on the opposite
21 23~74
14
leaf surfaces of most of the tobacco shreds KT in the
cigarette, so that the outer peripheral surface of the
cigarette is easily deformed.
If the cigarette is subjected to external forces in
the direction B-B, on the other hand, these forces act on the
long sides Kle of most of the tobacco shreds KT in the
cigarette, so that the outer peripheral surface of the
cigarette cannot be easily deformed.
As described above, in the cigarette whose hardness
is higher in the direction B-B than in the direction A-A,
there is irregularity of hardness in the circumferential
direction of the cigarette. In this cage, the cigarette is
easily deformed. More specifically, when a smoker nips the
cigarette between his or her fingers, as shown in Fig. 10, if
a nipping force acts on the leaf surfaces of the tobacco
shreds KT, cockles appear in the paper web 2, so that the
cigarette is inj~red in its appearance. Further, if impact
exerting in the axial direction of the cigarette acts on the
cigarette, the tobacco shreds at the tip of cigarette retract
inwardly to form a depression. This also injures the
appearance of the cigarette.
A cigarette manufacturing machine according to the
present invention shown in Fig. 11 comprises a cut tobacco
supply section 10, wrapping section 12, and a cutting section
13. These sections 10, 12 and 13 are arranged successively
from right to left of Fig. 11.
The supply section 10 includes a chimney 14, and cut
tobacco or tobacco shreds are introduced into the chimney 14
through a supply drum (not shown). The introduced tobacco
shreds are sucked in together with air, and ascend in the
chimney 14.
A top opening of the chimney 14 is closed by a first
tobacco band 16, which extends toward the wrapping section 12.
The band 16 is formed of an endless suction belt, which is
formed having a number of
~. '
' 2123974
- 15 -
suction holes (not shown). The first tobacco band 16
is passed around and between a pair of drums 18, and
is run in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 11 at a
predetermined traveling speed Vl.
The tobacco shreds, ascending together with air
in the chimney 14, are attracted in a layer to the
underside of the first tobacco band 16, whereby a cut
tobacco layer with a predetermined thickness is formed
on the band 16. As the first tobacco band 16 travels,
the tobacco layer is transported from the chimney 14
to the wrapping section 12.
The cut tobacco layer on the first tobacco band
16 is formed in the same manner as the cut tobacco
layer T~ on the tobacco band 1 shown in Fig. 4.
However, the traveling speed Vl of the first tobacco
band 16 is N times (e.g., five times) as high as that
of the tobacco band 1 of Fig. 4. Therefore, the
tobacco band 16 moves on the chimney 14 in a shorter
period of time than the tobacco band 1, so that the
tobacco layer on the band 16 is about one-N'th as
thick as the tobacco layer T~ on the band 1.
The traveling speed of the tobacco band 1 is set
on the basis of the quantity of cut tobacco to be
supplied to a paper web 2.
A tobacco drum may be used in place of the first
tobacco band 16. In this case, the outer peripheral
surface of the tobacco drum is formed as a suction
surface.
An endless press belt 20 underlies the terminal
end portion of the first tobacco band 16. The belt
20, which is situated right under the band 16, is
passed around and between a pair of rollers 22. The
- 16 _ 2123974
roller 22 on the left of the press belt 20, as shown
in Fig. 11, is situated right under the drum 18 of the
first tobacco band 16.
The press belt 20 is run at a speed equal to the
traveling speed V1 of the first tobacco band 16. The
traveling direction of the belt 20 is opposite to that
of the band 16. Thus, those portions of the band 16
and the belt 20 which face each other travel in the
same direction and at the same speed.
The press belt 20 has a width equal to that of
the first tobacco band 16. The distance between the
belt 20 and the band 16 is a little shorter than the
thickness of the cut tobacco layer formed on the belt
16.
The press belt 20 is vertically movable with
respect to the first tobacco band 16, so that the
distance between the belt 20 and the band 16 is ad-
~ustable, and a ~am, if any, of the tobacco layer
between the belt 20 and the band 16 can be removed.
Located on the left of the combination of the
first tobacco band 16 and the press belt 20, as in
Fig. 11, is an endless second tobacco band 26 which is
connected to the wrapping section 12. The first and
second tobacco bands 16 and 26 are connected to each
other by means of a folding stack 24 for the cut
tobacco layer.
The second tobacco band 26, like the first tobac-
co band 16, is formed of a suction belt, and is passed
around and between a pair of drums 28. The traveling
speed V2 of the second tobacco band 26 is ad~usted to
one-N'th of the traveling speed Vl of the first tobac-
co band 16. As mentioned latter, the second tobacco
2123974
- 17 -
band 26 continuously receives a cut tobacco train from
the folding stack 24 and attracts the cut tobacco
train on the underside thereof.
The second tobacco band 26 is provided with a
trimming disk 30, which regulates the thickness of the
cut tobacco train attracted to the band 26 as it
rotates. Thus, trimmed cut tobacco train is fed from
the second tobacco band 26 to the wrapping section 12.
As seen from Fig. 12, the folding stack 24 in-
cludes a pair of side belts 32. Each side belt 32 is
an endless suction belt which is passed around and
between a pair of rollers 34. The respective axes of
the rollers 34, unlike those of the drums 18 and 28
and the rollers 22, extend vertically. Thus, the
paired side belts 32 extend parallel to each other
between the first and second tobacco bands 16 and 26
so as to have their respective vertical belt surfaces
facing each other.
The paired side belts 32 travel at a speed equal
to the traveling speed V2 of the second tobacco band
26 in a manner such that the aforesaid belt surfaces
move from the first tobacco band 16 toward the second
band 26, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7.
A distance equal to the width of each of the
first and second tobacco bands 16 and 26 is secured
between the paired side belts 32, and the width of
each side belt 32 is set to be about N times the
thickness of the cut tobacco layer formed on the first
tobacco band 16.
As shown in Fig. 11, a lower plate 38 and an
upper plate 39 are arranged right over and under the
side belts 32, respectively. These plates 38 and 39
212397~
- 18 -
extend from the first tobacco band 16 toward the
second tobacco band 26. More specifically, as shown
in Fig. 15, the upper plate 39 extends to the point
~ust short of the starting end portion of the second
tobacco band 26, while the lower plate 38 has an
e~tension portion 38a which underlies the starting end
portion of the band 26 with an overlap of a predeter-
mined length.
The aforesaid belt surfaces of the paired side
belts 32 and the lower and upper plates 38 and 39
define a folding passage 36 which extends between the
first and second tobacco bands 16 and 26. The passage
36 has a rectangular cross section.
The height of the folding passage 36, which
depends on the width of each side belt 32, is about N
times the thickness of the cut tobacco layer formed on
the first tobacco band 16.
A passage between the first tobacco band 16 and
the press belt 20 is situated on the level of the
upper portion of the folding passage 36.
That one of the side belts 32 which is situated
to the front side of the cigarette manufacturing
machine is movable toward and away from the other side
belt. Thus, the width of the folding passage 36 can
be ad~usted, and the ~ammed cut tobacco in the passage
36 can be removed.
The first tobacco band 16, press belt 20, second
tobacco band 26, and side belts 32 are driven by a
drive system of the cigarette manufacturing machine
with the aid of a power transmission system including
gear belts and the like, or are driven individually by
electric motors.
' 2123974
-- 19 --
The second tobacco band 26 and the folding stack
24 may be replaced individually with perforated suc-
tion drums. In this case, the suction drum for the
folding stack 24 is formed having an arcuate folding
passage on part of its outer peripheral surface.
The following is a description of a cut tobacco
supply method carried out by means of the aforemen-
tioned supply section 10.
As the first tobacco band 16 travels, a cut
tobacco layer T~H thereon is first transported to the
folding stack 24, as shown in Fig. 13. At this time,
most of tobacco shreds KT which form the tobacco layer
T~H tend to be attracted in the aforesaid manner so
that their respective long sides K1~ extend along the
traveling direction of the first tobacco band 16, as
shown in Fig. 14 which is an enlarged view of the
region XIV of Fig. 13.
After the cut tobacco layer T~H on the first
tobacco band 16 is compressed between the band 16 and
the press belt 20, it is released from the attraction
by the band 16. Thus, the cut tobacco layer T~H,
which is transported as the tobacco band 16 travels,
is delivered from between the band 16 and the belt 20
into the folding stack 24 or the folding passage 36.
Since the cut tobacco layer T~H is compressed,
its individual tobacco shreds KT are intertwined with
one another. Thus, the tobacco layer T~H are dellv-
ered into the folding passage 36 while maintaining its
shape.
As mentioned before, the height of the folding
passage 36 is about N times the thickness of the cut
tobacco layer T~H, the passage between the first
" 212397~
_ - 20 -
tobacco band 16 and the press belt 20 is situated on
the level of the upper portion of the passage 36 and
the speed of the folding passage 36 or the slde belts
32 is set to one-N'th of the traveling speed of the
first tobacco band 16. Accordlngly, the tobacco layer
T~H delivered from between the band 16 and the belt 20
dives into the foldlng passage 36 at the initial
velocity Vl and vertically vibrates like waves in the
folding passage 36, as shown in Fig. 13. However, the
amplitude of the vibration of the tobacco layer T~H is
regulated by the lower and upper plates 38 and 39
which constitute the lower and upper walls, respec-
tively, of the passage 36.
In the folding passage 36, therefore, the cut
tobacco layer T~ advances with alternate turns L~ of
a predetermined length. As shown in Fig. 15, there-
fore, these layer turns L~ securely pile In intimate
contact with one another in their advancing direction
at the terminal end portion of the folding passage 36,
whereupon the cut tobacco train L~ is formed including
the layer turns L~ continuous with one another. In
Fig. 15, for convenience of illustration, the cut
tobacco train L~ is shown by marking a large number of
the short horizontals. However, these horizontals do
not indicate the direction of the leaf surfaces of the
tobacco shreds KT. The leaf surfaces of the tobacco
shreds KT rather extend in the direction crossing at
right angles to these horizontals in the cut tobacco
train L~. The same is true for the short horizontals
in the layer turns L~ shown in Fig. 13.
Meanwhile, the respective belt surfaces of the
paired side belts 32, which form the opposite side
_ - 21 ~ 2123974
walls of the folding passage 36, attract the layer
turns L~ from both sides, as shown in Fig. 16, and
travel in the same direction as the first tobacco band
16 at the speed Vz lower than the traveling speed Vl
of the band 16. Thus, the side belts 32 prevent the
advancing speed of the layer turns L~ in the folding
passage 36 from suddenly dropping, and forms the cut
tobacco train L~ with stability. Further, the belts
32 transports the formed tobacco train L~ from the
folding passage 36 toward the second tobacco band 26.
The higher the traveling speed V1 of the first
tobacco band 16, the thinner the cut tobacco layer T~
formed on the band 16 and the individual layer turns
L~ forming the cut tobacco train L~ will be. As a
result, the number of layer turns L~ per unit length
of the tobacco train L~ can be increased. If the
tobacco layer TT H is too thin, however, the tobacco
train L~ cannot be formed. Thus, the traveling speed
V1 of the first tobacco band 16 should be set proper-
ly .
Although the traveling speed Vl of the first
tobacco band 16 and the press belt 20 is N times as
high as the traveling speed V2 of the paired side
belts 32, as mentioned before, the width of each side
belt 32, that is, the height of each side wall of the
folding passage 36, is about N times the thickness of
the cut tobacco layer T~H. Therefore, the delivery of
the tobacco layer T~H from the first tobacco band 16
is equal to the delivery of the cut tobacco train L~
from the folding passage 36. Thus, the tobacco train
L~ can be steadily supplied to the second tobacco band
26 in a manner such that it is guided by the lower
2123~74
- 22 -
plate 38 of the folding stack 24.
Since the second tobacco band 26 is run at the
traveling speed V2 which is equal to the traveling
speed of the side belts 32, the cut tobacco train L~,
delivered from the folding passage 36 and supported on
the lower plate 38, are securely attracted to the
second tobacco band 26. As the band 26 travels,
therefore, the tobacco train L~ is transported toward
the aforesaid wrapping section 12. In doing this, the
tobacco train L~ passes through the trimming disk 30,
and is trimmed as the disk 30 rotates.
As is evident from the foregoing description, the
cut tobacco train L~ is formed by piling the layer
turns L~ on one another in the advancing direction
thereof, so that the long sides K1~ of most of the
tobacco shreds KT are not parallel to the suction
surface of the second tobacco band 26, but extend
vertically, as shown in Fig. 17. Thus, the tobacco
train L~ constitutes a stack in which the respective
surfaces of most of the tobacco shreds KT pile on one
another in the traveling direction of the suction of
the second tobacco band 26.
Thereafter, the cut tobacco train L~ is trans-
ferred from the second tobacco band 26 to the paper
web 2 in the wrapping section 12. In this section 12,
a cigarette rod is continuously formed from the paper
web 2 and the tobacco train L~ in the conventional
manner.
More specifically, the wrapping section 12 is
provided with an endless garniture tape 40 which is
used for the transportation of the paper web 2 and the
formation of the cigarette rod, as shown in Fig. 11.
2123974
- 23 -
When the garniture tape 40 is run in the direction of
the arrow of Fig. 11, the paper web 2 paid out from a
web roll (not shown) passes the wrapping section 12 in
a manner such that it is put on the tape 40.
When the cut tobacco train L~ on the paper web 2
passes a rod mold 42 of the wrapping section 12, the
paper web 2 is bent in the shape of a U, and a paste
is applied to one side edge of the U-shaped paper web
2 by means of a paste applicator 44. Thereafter, both
sides of the U-shaped web 2 are successively bent in a
circular arc, and are lapped to be bonded to each
other, whereby a continuous cigarette rod is formed.
As the formed cigarette rod passes a dryer 46
located between the wrapping section 12 and a cutting
device 48 in the cutting section 13, its paste-covered
portion is dried. The cutting device 48 cuts the
cigarette rod into individual cigarettes with a prede-
termined length.
Since most of the tobacco shreds KT of the cut
tobacco train L~ on the paper web 2 extend at right
angles to the web 2, most of the tobacco shreds KT in
the cigarette rod formed in the aforesaid manner are
arranged radially on a transverse cross section of the
rod, as shown in Fig. 18.
Fig. 19 shows a longitudinal cross section of
the cigarette. As is apparent from the figure, most
of the tobacco shreds KT are arranged so that their
leaf surfaces KF cross at right angles to the axis of
the cigarette. As for the reasons why the tobacco
shreds KT are radially arranged in the transverse
cross section of rod or cigarette, first, it can be
considered that the tobacco shreds KT take different
2123~7~
- 24 -
orientations during transportation by air and at the
time when they are attracted onto the tobacco band 16.
Second, it can be considered that the angular moment
is applied to the tobacco shreds KT arranged in the
vicinity of the paper web 2 by the paper web 2 when
the paper web 2 is bent in the shape of a U, as
described above, during formation of the cigarette rod
in the wrapping section, so that the tobacco shreds KT
are radially arranged.
As described above, most of the tobacco shreds
KT are arranged so that their leaf surfaces KF cross
at right angles to the axis of the cigarette.
Preferably, the tobacco shreds KT are radially ar-
ranged in the transverse cross section of cigarette.
Accordingly, the formed cigarette rod or each
cigarette has a uniform hardness with respect to its
circumferential direction, and is harder than a con-
ventional cigarette.
Thus, the cigarettes of the present invention
manufactured by means of the aforesaid cigarette
manufacturing machine have an increased strength
against external force, and cannot be easily deformed.
Also, the external appearance of the cigarettes can be
maintained despite the execution of a process for
manufacturing filter cigarettes by attaching a filter
to each cigarette and a process for encasing the
filter cigarettes.
If a hardness substantially equal to that of the
conventional cigarettes is permitted, the fill of the
cut tobacco in each cigarette obtained according to
the present invention can be made smaller than that
for each conventional cigarette, so that the manufac-
212397~
_ - 25 -
turing cost can be reduced.
In order to obtain data indicative of the
hardness of cigarettes according to the present inven-
tion, the present inventor and others manufactured
cigarettes having different filling density of cut
tobacco by means of the aforesaid machine and method.
Then, the hardness of individual cigarettes was
measured according to the following procedures.
First, as shown in Fig. 20, a cigarette 60 was
interposed between a movable plate 50 and a stationary
plate 51. Next, a predetermined compression force was
applied to the cigarette 60 by means of a pressure
source (not shown) through the plate 50 to deform the
cigarette, and a distance between the plates 50 and 51
at that time, that is, a diameter of the cigarette
after deformation was measured. Further, an amount of
deformation of the cigarette diameter was calculated
on the basis of the thus measured diameter of the
deformed cigarette and a previously measured diameter
of the cigarette before deformation. Furthermore, the
amount of deformation thus calculated was divided by
the cigarette diameter before deformation to calculate
distortion caused in the cigarette 60 by application
of the compression force. The harder the cigarette
is, the smaller the distortion becomes: therefore, the
distortion thus calculated is indicative of a hardness
of the cigarette 60.
Fig. 21 shows results of the hardness meas-
urement according to the above procedures; taking
distortion in ordinate, and filling density of cut
tobacco in abscissa. In the figure, circular marks
denote measurement data about individual cigarettes.
2123974
- 26 -
The straight line L, showing the relation between
filling density of cut tobacco and distortion in the
cigarettes of the present invention,-was obtained
according to a regresslon analysis based on these
measurement data.
Further, in Fig. 21, a hatched square mark de-
notes measurement data about a typical cigarette, and
a filling density of cut tobacco (standard filling
density of cut tobacco) in the cigarette is shown by
the mark D1. Furthermore, a hatched circular mark is
positioned on the intersection point of a straight
line, passing through the point of the standard
filling density D1 of tobacco shreds and extending
parallel to the ordinate, and the aforesaid straight
line L. Thus, the hatched circular mark indicates
that the distortion S1 occurs in the cigarette of the
present invention having the standard filling density
D1 of cut tobacco when the aforesaid predetermined
compression force is applied to the cigarette. The
hatched square mark indicates that the distortion S2
occurs in the conventional cigarette having the
standard filling density D1 of cut tobacco when the
predetermined compression force is applied to the
cigarette. In this manner, the distortion S1 caused
in the cigarette of the present invention is smaller
than the distortion S2 caused in the conventional
cigarette under the condition that the filling density
of cut tobacco shreds is the same. In other words,
the cigarette of the present invention is harder than
the conventional one. A hardness increase rate is
about (S2 - S1)/S2%, e.g., about 10%.
As is obvious from Fig. 21, moreover, even if
21~3974
the filling density of cut tobacco is considerably
reduced, the present invention can provide a hardness
equivalent to that of the conventional cigarette.
More specifically, in the case where an occurrence of
distortion equivalent to the distortion S2 of the
conventional cigarette having the standard filling
density D1 of cut tobacco is permitted, the cigarette
of the present invention has the filling density of
D2. Therefore, in the case of obtaining the same
distortion or hardness, a reduction rate of about (Dl
- D2)/D1%, e.g., about 7% in filling density of cut
tobacco can be attained by the present invention.
That is, it is possible to reduce cut tobacco by about
7% by weight when manufacturing the cigarette
equivalent to conventional one.
In order to evaluate impact resistance of a
cigarette of the present invention, the present
inventor and others manufactured a cigarette of the
present invention with use of the same weight of cut
tobacco per cigarette as that of a conventional one,
and measured impact resistance of the cigarette of the
present invention and the conventional cigarette.
In the impact resistance measurement, the
cigarette 60 was held perpendicularly to a horizontal
surface 70 at such a height that a distance from the
lower end of the cigarette to the horizontal surface
70 is 20 cm, as shown in Fig. 22, and was then made
free fall therefrom. Further, the free fall was
repeated four times, likewise. After the free fall
was made five times in totality, measured was an
amount of concavity or depression caused in cut
tobacco of the upper end portion of the cigarette 60.
- - 28 - 2123974
Pursuant to the measurement result, a concavity of
about 2 mm occurred in the conventional cigarette. On
the contrary, no substantive concavity occurred in the
cigarette of the present invention. As is clear from
the measurement result, it was, therefore, found that
the cigarette of the present invention was excellent
in impact resistance.
It is to be understood that the present invention
is not limited to the one embodiment described above,
and that various changes and modifications may be
effected therein by one skilled in the art without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
In the above-described embodiment, for example, the
folding passage 36 of the folding stack 24 is defined
by the pair of side belts 32 and the pair of plates 38
and 39. However, these members may be replaced with a
fixed member having the folding passage 36 defined
therein. Preferably, in this case, the inner surface
of the passage 36 should be smooth enough to guide the
cut tobacco train satisfactorily in sliding motion as
the tobacco train is formed.
From the above-described embodiments of the
present invention, it is apparent that the present
invention may be modified as would occur to one of
ordinary skill in the art without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention which should
be defined solely by the appended claims. All such
modifications as would be obvious to one of ordinary
skill in the art should not be regarded as a departure
from the spirit and scope of the invention, and should
be include within the scope of the invention as de-
fined solely by the appended claims.
