Method of and apparatus for simultaneously making plural rods of smokable material

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of and to an apparatus for at least substantially simultaneously producing at least two wrapped rod-like fillers of smokable material. The fillers are advanced lengthwise along discrete paths having spaced-apart upstream portions where the fillers are draped into discrete webs of cigarette paper or the like, and downstream portions which are nearer to each other than the upstream portions and wherein the draped fillers are severed at least substantially simultaneously to yield discrete series of successive rod-shaped cigarettes or the like having desired lengths. The distance or distances between discrete paths can decrease gradually along the upstream portions of such paths, the minimum distance can be less than the width of a web, and the maximum distance can match or exceed the width of a web.

1 . Apparatus for simultaneously producing at least two wrapped rod-like fillers of smokable material, comprising: 
 means for advancing the fillers lengthwise in a predetermined direction along discrete paths having first portions disposed at a first distance from each other;    means for confining the fillers in discrete tubular wrappers in said first portions of the respective paths; and    means for subdividing the thus confined fillers into series of discrete rod-shaped smokers' products in second portions of the respective paths located downstream of the respective first portions, as seen in said direction, said second portions of the paths being disposed at a second distance from each other less than said first distance.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the mutual spacing of said paths decreases gradually as seen in said direction.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said advancing means includes discrete conveyors adjacent at least said first portions of said paths.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second distance is fixed in the region of said subdividing means.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said paths converge toward each other at least substantially gradually upstream of said second portions thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said first portions of said paths converge toward each other at least during portions of advancement of the fillers in the range of said confining means.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said confining means comprises a driven endless flexible conveyor for each of the fillers, said conveyors having elongated stretches which converge toward each other in said direction ahead of said subdividing means.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said confining means includes means for draping the fillers into discrete elongated wrappers having predetermined widths greater than said second distance.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said first distance at least equals the widths of said wrappers.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said second distance is at least substantially constant.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said paths converge toward each other within said confining means and said second distance is at least substantially constant downstream of said confining means.  
   
   
       12 . A method of at least substantially simultaneously producing at least two wrapped rod-like fillers of smokable material, comprising the steps of: 
 advancing the fillers lengthwise in a predetermined direction along discrete paths having first portions disposed at a first distance from each other;    confining the fillers in discrete wrappers in said first portions of the respective paths;    subdividing the thus confined fillers into series of discrete rod-shaped smokers' products in second portions of the respective paths downstream of the respective first portions, as seen in said direction; and    maintaining said second portions of said paths at a second distance from each other less than said first distance.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said second distance is at least substantially constant.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first distance decreases at least substantially gradually while the fillers undergo said confining step.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said confining step includes draping the fillers into webs consisting of a wrapping material and having a width less than said first distance.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said width exceeds said second distance.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said subdividing step includes repeatedly severing the confined fillers to form series of discrete plain cigarettes.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first distance has a narrowed portion at least approximating said second distance.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the wrappers consist of cigarette paper.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said advancing step includes advancing two fillers.