Apparatus for conveying commodities of the tobacco processing industry

Abstract

The friction coefficient of the product-conveying and/or treating surface of a drum-shaped or belt-shaped conveyor can be restored or maintained at a desired value by the application thereto of a film of polyvinyl acetate or a dispersion of acrylate, preferably on top of a layer of caoutchouc of the like. The conveyor can cooperate with a stationary or mobile rolling member to convolute adhesive-coated uniting bands around groups of coaxial plain cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos and filter mouthpieces, or it can serve as a means for transporting continuous strips or webs or series of discrete bands in tobacco processing and/or other plants.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An arrangement for manipulating smokers' products, comprising: 
 at least one conveyor having a product-contacting surface exhibiting a relatively high friction coefficient; and    a substance applied to said at least one conveyor and arranged to at least retard a lowering of said friction coefficient.    
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said substance forms a protective film coating said surface and exhibiting paper-repellent characteristics.  
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein said surface has crevices and said at least one conveyor comprises a layer of elastic material defining said surface and being overlapped by said film.  
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said layer contains caoutchouc.  
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the composition of said surface conforms to regulations prescribed by authorities in charge of regulating the tobacco processing industry.  
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said film consists, at least in part, of polyvinyl acetate.  
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein said film is a dispersion of acrylate.  
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one conveyor comprises an endless band consisting, at least in part, of a material exhibiting the characteristics of caoutchouc and further comprising a second band having a surface confronting the surface of said at least one conveyor and defining therewith a path for rod-shaped smokers' products.  
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the characteristics of the surface of said second band at least approximate those of said product-treating surface.  
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 9 , further comprising a second substance applied to said second band and arranged to retard a weakening of the friction coefficient of said second surface.  
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein said path is a rolling channel, and further comprising means for moving at least one of said bands relative to the other of said bands.  
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , further comprising means for admitting into said channel a series of successive rod-shaped products each bearing a sheet-like uniting band which is convoluted around the respective product as a result of rolling movement of the product in said channel.  
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 12 , wherein said moving means includes means for moving said endless band at a speed less than the speed of said second band.  
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the smokers' products each include a plurality of rod-shaped articles disposed end-to-end and the uniting bands are arranged to connect the respective rod-shaped articles to each other as a result of rolling in said channel.  
     
     
         15 . As a novel article of manufacture, a conveyor including a layer consisting at least in part of an elastomeric material and having a transporting surface with a relatively high friction coefficient; and a film applied to said surface and arranged to at least retard a lowering of said friction coefficient due to at least intermittent frictional contact of said surface with commodities of sheet-like material including paper.  
     
     
         16 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein said elastomeric material contains caoutchouc.  
     
     
         17 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein said film contains polyvinyl acetate.  
     
     
         18 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein said film is a dispersion of acrylate.  
     
     
         19 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein the conveyor is an endless belt.  
     
     
         20 . The structure of  claim 15 , wherein the conveyor is a rotary drum-shaped conveyor having a peripheral surface constituted by said transporting surface.