Device for applying flavorings to a medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for applying preferably liquid flavorings ( 15 ), in particular menthol, to a medium ( 16 ), wherein flavoring ( 15 ) is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container ( 10 ) to an applicator unit ( 14 ) via at least one conduit ( 11, 13 ). The invention is characterized in that the applicator unit ( 14 ) has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring ( 15 ) to the medium ( 16 ).

1 . A device for applying preferably liquid flavorings ( 15 ), in particular menthol, to a medium ( 16 ), in particular to a blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring ( 15 ) is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container ( 10 ,  31 ) to an applicator unit ( 14 ) via at least one conduit ( 11 ,  13 ), wherein the applicator unit ( 14 ) has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring ( 15 ) to the medium ( 16 ), wherein flavoring ( 15 ) is supplyable to the applicator unit ( 14 ) in a pressure-controlled manner. 
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein elements of the device for handling flavoring ( 15 ) are, at least in part, heatable, wherein a heating-regulating unit ( 18 ) for controlling and/or regulating the heating of at least some elements is provided, wherein the elements preferably comprise containers ( 10 ), conduits ( 11 ,  13 ), valves ( 12 ) and the applicator unit ( 14 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 10 ) is assigned a weighing unit ( 20 ), in particular a weighing cell, for determining the amount of flavoring ( 15 ) in the container ( 10 ), wherein preferably a filling-level indication means ( 21 ) for the amount of flavoring ( 15 ) in the container ( 10 ) is provided. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the elements of the device are connected to a machine controller ( 25 ) via preferably heatable conduits ( 26 ). 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein flavoring ( 15 ) is stored in the container ( 10 ) under preferably low pressure, in particular a pressure of below 0.5 bar, and, by way of the pressure in the container ( 10 ), is directly and/or indirectly feedable to the applicator unit ( 14 ), wherein the pressure in the container ( 10 ) is preferably controllable by means of a valve, in particular a proportional valve ( 24 ). 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of, in particular two, containers ( 10 ) are provided which are in each case connected via a conduit to a switchover valve ( 12 ) for alternatingly controlling the supply of flavoring ( 15 ) from one of the two containers ( 10 ) to the applicator unit ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the elements of the device are fixedly interconnected via conduits ( 11 ,  13 ). 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the medium ( 16 ) is a material web for an inner liner of a cigarette box. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, for the application of flavoring ( 15 ), the medium ( 16 ) is movable past the applicator unit ( 14 ). 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve of the applicator unit ( 14 ) is arranged at a short distance from, or bears on, the medium ( 16 ). 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein flavoring ( 15 ) applied to the medium ( 16 ) can be preferably uniformly distributed by a distributor element ( 17 ), in particular a smoothing strip, which is arranged adjacent to the applicator unit ( 14 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in the container ( 10 ) or the containers ( 10 ) is regulatable by means of a proportional valve ( 24 ). 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, by means of a switchover valve ( 23 ), the pressure is in each case supplyable from one of a plurality of containers ( 10 ). 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 10 ) is not pressurized and flavoring ( 15 ) is supplyable to the applicator unit ( 14 ) by means of a pump unit ( 27 ). 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container ( 10 ) is not pressurized and flavoring ( 15 ) is supplyable to the applicator unit ( 14 ) by means of a conveying unit ( 29 ).