Apparatus and Method for Producing Paper Tubes for Cigarette Filters

Abstract

An method and apparatus for producing cigarette filter tubes are disclosed. According to the disclosed method and apparatus, a filter segment is supplied to a rotating delivery drum and a paper wrapper is supplied to the delivery drum and partially wrapped around said the filter segment. Thereafter, the paper wrapper and filter segment are transferred together from the delivery drum to a rotating wrapping drum. Folding arms on the wrapping drum subsequently fold down flaps of the paper wrapper to complete the formation of a filter tube. Wrapping assist members may be inserted into the paper wrapper as the flaps are folded down to ensure that the tube is sufficiently round in shape. Additionally, the wrapping assist members and folding arms may be heated in order to promote faster curing of glue surfaces on the paper wrapper.

1 . A method for producing paper cigarette filter tubes, comprising:
 providing a paper wrapper having glue disposed on a face thereof so as to form a first glue area located at a center region of said wrapper and a second glue area extending along a side edge of said at least one paper wrapper;   supplying at least one filter segment to a rotating delivery drum;   supplying said at least one paper wrapper to said delivery drum such that said first glue area contacts said at least one filter segment, said at least one paper wrapper is partially wrapped around said at least one filter segment and said at least one paper wrapper has first a first flap portion and a second flap portion that remain unwrapped from said filter segment;   transferring said paper wrapper and said filter segment together from said delivery drum to a rotating wrapping drum, said wrapping drum having at least one folding assembly including a first folding arm and a second folding arm;   pivoting said first folding arm to fold said first flap portion around said at least one filter segment; and   pivoting said second folding arm to fold said second flap portion around said at least one filter segment, thereby completing a filter tube.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising, prior to pivoting said first folding arm to fold said first flap portion around said at least one filter segment:
 inserting a pair of wrapping assist members into opposite ends of said paper, wherein said wrapping assist members comprise upper pins and lower pins; and   vertically separating said upper pins and said lower pins from each other such that said lower pins hold said wrapper against a holding element of said wrapping drum and said upper pins provide a backing surface for said first and second folding arms when folding said first and second flap portions.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising applying heat to said wrapping assist members to expedite curing of said glue. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , comprising, after pivoting said second folding arm to fold said second flap portion around said filter segment:
 moving said upper pins and said lower pins vertically closer to each other; and   removing said wrapping assist members from said filter tube.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising applying heat to said first and second folding arms to expedite curing of said glue. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said delivery drum comprises at least one flute, and wherein:
 transferring said at least one filter segment to said delivery drum comprises placing said filter segment in a recess in said at least one flute; and   supplying said at least one paper wrapper to said delivery drum comprises pressing said at least one wrapper onto said at least one flute from a wrapper-cutting drum.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising applying suction to said at least one filter segment and said at least one paper wrapper through vacuum holes in said at least one flute. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising rotating an alignment drum to contact said at least one paper wrapper while said at least one paper wrapper is on said at least one flute, thereby ensuring that said at least one paper wrapper is secured against said at least one flute. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising, prior to supplying said at least one paper wrapper to said delivery drum, positioning said at least one paper wrapper over at least one concave recess on said delivery drum, wherein said at least one concave recess is shaped to engage said at least one flute in order to press said at least one wrapper onto said at least one flute. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first flap portion and said second flap portion are folded such that said second glue area is located at a seam of said filter tube. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for producing paper cigarette filter tubes, comprising:
 a wrapper-cutting drum operable to cut filter paper into at least one paper wrapper having a first glue area located at a center region of said wrapper and a second glue area extending along a side edge of said at least one paper wrapper;   a rotating delivery drum, wherein said delivery drum is operable to receive at least one filter segment, and wherein said wrapper-cutting drum is operable to transfer said at least one paper wrapper to said delivery drum such that said first glue area contacts said at least one filter segment, said at least one paper wrapper is partially wrapped around said at least one filter segment and said at least one paper wrapper has first a first flap portion and a second flap portion that remain unwrapped from said filter segment; and   a rotating wrapping drum operable to receive said paper wrapper and said filter segment together from said delivery drums said wrapping drum having at least one folding assembly comprising:
 a first folding arm pivotable to fold said first flap portion around said at least one filter segment; and 
 a second folding arm pivotable to fold said second flap portion around said filter segment, thereby completing a filter tube. 
   
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , comprising a pair of wrapping assist members having upper pins and lower pins, wherein, prior to pivoting said first folding arm to fold said first flap portion around said at least one filter segment:
 said wrapping assist members are operable to be inserted into opposite ends of said at least one paper wrapper; and   said upper pins and said lower pins are operable to be vertically separated from each other such that said lower pins hold said wrapper against a holding element of said wrapping drum and said upper pins provide a backing surface for said first and second folding arms when folding said first and second flap portions.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said wrapping assist members are heated to expedite curing of said glue. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein, after pivoting said second folding arm to fold said second flap portion around said filter segment:
 said upper pins and lower pins are operable to be moved vertically closer to each other; and   said wrapping assist members are operable to be removed from said filter tube.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second folding arms are heated to expedite curing of said glue. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said delivery drum includes at least one flute comprising:
 a recess for retaining said at least one filter segment; and   an outer surface for retaining said least one paper wrapper.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one flute comprises vacuum holes which apply suction to said at least one filter segment and said at least one paper wrapper. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , comprising an alignment drum operable to contact said at least one paper wrapper while said at least one paper wrapper is on said at least one flute, thereby ensuring that said at least one paper wrapper is secured against said at least one flute. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said wrapper-cutting drum includes at least one concave recess over which said at least one wrapper is positioned when said at least one wrapper is on said wrapper-cutting drum, and wherein said at least one concave recess is shaped to engage said at least one flute in order to press said at least one wrapper onto said at least one flute. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein said first and second folding arms are operable to fold said first flap portion and said second flap portion, respectively, such that said second glue area is located at a seam of said filter tube.