Smokeable Material Recovery

Abstract

A machine for making smoking articles that include filters ( 24 ) such as filter cigarettes, has fabrication stations configured in a production line to perform sequential steps in their manufacture, and an inspection station to identify those of the smoking articles that are to be rejected as a result of not meeting a quality control criterion. A filter removal device ( 31 ) is arranged on the production line to remove the filters ( 24 ) from the smoking articles identified for rejection at the inspection station.

1 . A machine for making smoking articles that include filters, comprising a plurality of fabrication stations configured in a production line to perform sequential steps in their manufacture, an inspection station on the production line to receive the so manufactured smoking articles sequentially and to identify those of the smoking articles that are to be rejected as a result of not meeting a quality control criterion, and a filter removal device on the production line to remove the filters from the smoking articles identified for rejection at the inspection station. 
     
     
         2 . A machine according to  claim 1  configured to make smoking articles that comprise a rod of smokeable material with a filter attached at one end, and including first and second reject paths extending from the filter removal device to receive the filters and the rods of smokeable material respectively of the smoking articles identified for rejection at the inspection station. 
     
     
         3 . A machine according to  claim 2  wherein the rod of smokeable material comprises a body of smokeable material received within a cylindrical wrapper of sheet material, and including a cutter to cut the wrapper, and a separator to separate the smokeable material from the wrapper for re-use. 
     
     
         4 . A machine according to  claim 3  wherein the separator comprises a mesh to pass the smokeable material but not the wrapper. 
     
     
         5 . A machine according to  claim 3  wherein the separator comprises a centrifuge. 
     
     
         6 . A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the inspection station includes a rotary inspection drum to receive smoking articles around its periphery aligned with its axis of rotation, a detector to detect characteristic of the smoking articles, a processor to make a comparison of the detected characteristic with the predetermined criterion, and a diverter responsive to the outcome of the comparison to route the smoking articles along an accept path or a reject path selectively. 
     
     
         7 . A machine according to  claim 6  wherein the filter removal device is configured to remove the filters of smoking articles moving along the reject path. 
     
     
         8 . A machine according to any preceding claim wherein the filter removal device comprises a cutting blade. 
     
     
         9 . A machine according to any preceding claim wherein filter removal device is configured to remove filters so that they remain intact after removal. 
     
     
         10 . A device to be retrofitted to a machine for making smoking articles that include filters, the machine comprising a plurality of fabrication stations configured in a production line to perform sequential steps in the manufacture of the smoking articles with filters, and an inspection station on the production line to receive the so manufactured smoking articles sequentially and to identify those of the smoking articles that are to be rejected as a result of not meeting a quality control criterion, the device comprising:
 a filter removal device to be retrofitted to the production line such as to remove the filters from the smoking articles identified for rejection at the inspection station.   
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 10  including a rejection drum to receive the rejected smoking articles that comprise a rod of smokeable material with a filter attached, and a cutter to cut the rod of smokeable material so as to separate the filter whilst in situ on the rejection drum. 
     
     
         12 . A method of recovering smokeable material from smoking articles performed with the use of a machine as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  10 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of making smoking articles that include filters, utilising a plurality of fabrication stations configured in a production line to perform sequential steps in their manufacture, receiving the so manufactured smoking articles sequentially at an inspection station on the production line, identifying at the inspection station those of the smoking articles that are to be rejected as a result of not meeting a quality control criterion, and utilising a filter removal device on the production line to remove the filters from the smoking articles identified for rejection at the inspection station. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  including cutting the filters from the smoking articles that are to be rejected on the production line. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  including recycling smoking material from the rejected smoking articles.