Apparatus for use in the formation of a tobacco rod

Abstract

An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of cigars. The apparatus includes a lower conveyor belt and an upper compression belt for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the lower conveyor belt and upper compression belt driven by a plurality of pulleys; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish; a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish; and a short folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco for use in the production of cigars, the short folder coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . In the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles from a tobacco having a tacky material combined therewith, a method of decreasing tobacco waste, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a plurality of components of a rod-making machine, the plurality of components coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish; and   b) reducing at least one clearance gap between at least one of the plurality of components with an adjacent component of the rod-making machine to reduce the amount of tobacco escaping through the gap.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 c) operating the rod-making machine to produce rods from the tobacco having a tacky material combined therewith, wherein tobacco wasted in the production of cigar rods is decreased.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein tobacco wasted in the production of cigar rods is decreased by at least 25%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein tobacco wasted in the production of cigar rods is decreased by at least 50%. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein tobacco wasted in the production of cigar rods is decreased by at least 80%. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of components are selected from those components having surfaces that contact the tobacco. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of components are selected from a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco, one or more pulleys for advancing transfer and/or compression belts, a tongue for guiding the tobacco, a short folder, a transition piece or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of components are selected from a vibratory waterfall feeder and/or a tobacco feed section. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of cigars from tobacco having a tacky material combined therewith, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a lower conveyor belt and an upper compression belt for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, said lower conveyor belt and upper compression belt driven by a plurality of pulleys;   (b) a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to said pair of transfer and compression belts, said pair of squeeze bars coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish;   (c) a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, said tongue coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish; and   (d) a short folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco for use in the production of cigars, said wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, said short folder coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a tobacco feed section for providing a stream of tobacco in a substantially uniform format. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a vibratory waterfall feeder positioned downstream of said tobacco feed section for receiving the stream of tobacco from said tobacco feed section. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the vibratory waterfall feeder and/or the tobacco feed section are coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of pulleys are coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a source of binder material for wrapping the compressed tobacco prior to further wrapping with the wrapper material. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a glue applicator for applying glue to the wrapper material prior to folding the wrapper material around the compressed tobacco. 
     
     
         16 . A method for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of cigars from tobacco having a tacky material combined therewith, the method comprising:
 (a) providing a stream of tobacco in a substantially uniform format;   (b) receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco between a lower conveyor belt and an upper compression belt, the lower conveyor belt and upper compression belt driven and guided by a plurality of pulleys;   (c) compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts between a pair of squeeze bars, the pair of squeeze bars coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish;   (d) conveying the compressed tobacco downstream to a tongue, the tongue coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish;   (e) providing a wrapper material from a source of wrapper material; and   (f) folding the wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco for use in the production of cigars.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said step of folding the wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco for use in the production of cigars utilizes a short folder coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of pulleys are coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing a stream of tobacco in a substantially uniform format employs a vibratory waterfall feeder and a tobacco feed section that are coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         20 . In the machine formation of a formed body from a tacky shredded material, a method of decreasing the waste of the tacky shredded material, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a plurality of forming machine components, the plurality of components coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish and characterized by a resistance to collecting the tacky shredded material and having a degree of wear resistance; and   b) reducing at least one clearance gap between at least one of the plurality of components with an adjacent component of the forming machine to reduce the possibility that the tacky shredded material escapes through the gap.   
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a rod from a shredded material and a wrapper, said shredded material including a tacky constituent, said method comprising:
 establishing a moving column of the shredded material;   compressing said column by moving said column along opposing converging guides coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish;   forming the rod by drawing said compressed column and the wrapper through a folding surface coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said establishing step includes moving a lower endless belt adjacent a feeder while guiding said lower belt with a guide plate coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said compressing step includes compressing the column with convergent, opposing endless belts. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising abating accumulation of shredded material by providing a guide piece coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish at a transition space between sets of convergent, opposing endless belts. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus capable of forming a rod from a shredded material and a wrapper, said shredded material including a tacky constituent, said apparatus comprising:
 a feeder that establishes a moving column of the shredded material;   opposing converging guides that compress said column as said column moves along said opposing converging guides, said opposing converging guides coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish;   a folding surface that forms the rod as said compressed column and the wrapper are drawn through said folding surface, said folding surface coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said feeder includes moving a lower endless belt and a guide plate that guides said lower endless belt, said guide plate coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said opposing converging guides cooperate with convergent, opposing endless belts to compress the column. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , further comprising a transition guide at a transition space between sets of convergent, opposing endless belts, said transition guide abating accumulation of shredded material and coated with a poly-condensated silicone or a polymeric silazane finish.