Garniture device and a machine and a method for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods

Abstract

A garniture device for a machine used in tobacco industry for manufacturing a continuous rod comprising a loose material wrapped with a wrapper. The garniture device has an upper garniture part having forming parts for forming the wrapper around the loose material; a lower garniture part; a garniture duct extending along at least a portion of the lower garniture part; a garniture belt movable in the garniture duct for transporting the wrapper along the garniture duct. The garniture duct further has an inlet part for transforming the garniture belt from a flat configuration into a U-shaped configuration; an outlet part for transforming the garniture belt from the U-shaped configuration into the flat configuration; and a U-shaped part disposed between the inlet part and the outlet part for guiding the garniture belt in the U-shaped configuration.

1 . A garniture device for a machine used in tobacco industry for manufacturing a continuous rod comprising a loose material wrapped with a wrapper, wherein the garniture device comprises:
 an upper garniture part comprising forming parts for forming the wrapper around the loose material;   a lower garniture part;   a garniture duct extending along at least a portion of the lower garniture part;   a garniture belt movable in the garniture duct for transporting the wrapper along the garniture duct;   the garniture duct further comprising:
 an inlet part for transforming the garniture belt from a flat configuration into a U-shaped configuration; 
 an outlet part for transforming the garniture belt from the U-shaped configuration into the flat configuration; and 
 a U-shaped part disposed between the inlet part and the outlet part for guiding the garniture belt in the U-shaped configuration, the U-shaped part having a first section disposed at the side of the inlet part and having a first diameter, a second section disposed at the side of the outlet part and having a second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, and a variable diameter transition section disposed between the first and second sections. 
   
     
     
         2 . The garniture device of  claim 1 , wherein the transition section has a conical surface. 
     
     
         3 . The garniture device of  claim 1 , wherein the first section and the second section are arranged coaxially with respect to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The garniture device of  claim 1 , wherein generating lines of the first section, of the transition section and of the second section, are located on a common plane. 
     
     
         5 . The garniture device of  claim 2 , wherein generating lines of the first section, of the transition section and of the second section are located on a common plane. 
     
     
         6 . The garniture device of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the transition section ranges from about 30 to about 100 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The garniture device of  claim 1 , wherein the second diameter is about 1% to about 5% smaller than the first diameter. 
     
     
         8 . A machine used in tobacco industry for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, comprising:
 a garniture device having an upper garniture part comprising forming parts for forming a wrapper around a loose material;   a lower garniture part;   a garniture duct extending along at least a portion of the lower garniture part;   a garniture belt movable in the garniture duct for transporting the wrapper along the garniture duct;   a feeding unit for arranging, longitudinally along an axis in a spaced-apart relationship, rod-like elements in a train on the wrapper transported on a garniture belt;   a filling unit for supplying the loose material to compartments between the rod-like elements;   a glue nozzle for gluing the wrapper around the loose material;   a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into multi-segment filter rods;   the garniture duct further comprising:
 an inlet part for transforming the garniture belt from a flat configuration into a U-shaped configuration; 
 an outlet part for transforming the garniture belt from the U-shaped configuration into the flat configuration; and 
 a U-shaped part disposed between the inlet part and the outlet part for guiding the garniture belt in the U-shaped configuration, the U-shaped part having a first section disposed at the side of the inlet part and having a first diameter, a second section disposed at the side of the outlet part and having a second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, and a variable diameter transition section disposed between the first and second sections, and wherein the transition section is located at least partially between the filling unit and the upper garniture part. 
   
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein a difference between the first diameter and second diameter is equal or less than an average grain size of the loose material. 
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein a cleaning unit is disposed, between the filling unit and the upper garniture part, for removing contaminants of the loose material from the rod-like elements, comprising at least one suction element for receiving contaminants of the loose material and covering elements displaceable to positions in which the covering elements at least partially cover compartments filled with the loose material between the rod-like elements during the movement of the train in a vicinity of the suction element. 
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein the transition section is located between the filling unit and the cleaning unit. 
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein the transition section is located within the covering elements. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein pressing surface of the covering elements is lowered with respect to the upper surface of the rod-like elements in response to pressure. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein the pressing surface of the covering elements is lowered in a range up to 1% of a height of the rod-like elements. 
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods, comprising:
 arranging rod-like elements longitudinally along an axis, in a spaced-apart relationship, in a train on a wrapper located on a garniture belt;   supplying a loose material to compartments located between the rod-like elements;   decreasing a volume of the compartments partially filled with the loose material and located between the segments;   applying glue to the wrapper and wrapping the wrapper around the rod-like elements and the loose material to form a continuous filter rod; and   cutting the continuous filter rod into multi-segment filter rods.   
     
     
         16 . A method for manufacturing multi-segment filter rods using a machine, the machine comprising:
 a garniture device having an upper garniture part comprising forming parts for forming a wrapper around a loose material;   a lower garniture part;   a garniture duct extending along at least a portion of the lower garniture part;   a garniture belt movable in the garniture duct for transporting the wrapper along the garniture duct;   a feeding unit for arranging, longitudinally along an axis in a spaced-apart relationship, rod-like elements in a train on the wrapper transported on a garniture belt;   a filling unit for supplying the loose material to compartments between the rod-like elements;   a glue nozzle for gluing the wrapper around the loose material;   a cutting head for cutting the continuous rod into multi-segment filter rods;   the garniture duct further comprising:
 an inlet part for transforming the garniture belt from a flat configuration into a U-shaped configuration; 
 an outlet part for transforming the garniture belt from the U-shaped configuration into the flat configuration; and 
 a U-shaped part disposed between the inlet part and the outlet part for guiding the garniture belt in the U-shaped configuration, the U-shaped part having a first section disposed at the side of the inlet part and having a first diameter, a second section disposed at the side of the outlet part and having a second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, and a variable diameter transition section disposed between the first and second sections, and wherein the transition section is located at least partially between the filling unit and the upper garniture part.