Drum for a Tobacco Industry Product Manufacturing Apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a drum (18) for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus. The drum (18) comprises an axis (19) about which it rotates and a seat (23) adapted to carry components of tobacco industry products during use. The seat (23) is movable in a direction towards the axis (19) of the drum (18) in response to said components being pressed against the seat during use.

1 . A drum for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus, the drum comprising an axis about which the drum rotates and a seat adapted to carry components of tobacco industry products during use, wherein the seat is movable in a direction towards the axis of the drum in response to said components being pressed against the seat during use. 
     
     
         2 . A drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises a plate adapted to deflect inwards towards the axis of the drum in response to said components being pressed against the plate during use. 
     
     
         3 . A drum according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate is pivotally mounted to a pivot so that the plate is deflected about the pivot in a direction towards the axis of the drum in response to said components being pressed against the plate during use. 
     
     
         4 . A drum according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate is slidably mounted so that the plate slides in a direction towards the axis of the drum in response to said components being pressed against the plate during use. 
     
     
         5 . A drum according to any of  claims 2  to  4 , wherein the drum further comprises a biasing member arranged to bias the plate in a direction away from the axis of the drum. 
     
     
         6 . A drum according to  claim 5 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         7 . A drum according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat is resiliently deformable such that the seat deforms in response to said components being pressed against the seat during use. 
     
     
         8 . A drum according to any preceding claim, wherein the drum comprises a circumferential surface and the seat is arranged on the circumferential surface of the drum. 
     
     
         9 . A drum according to  claim 8 , wherein the seat extends only partially across the circumferential surface of the drum in a direction parallel with the axis of the drum such that said components of tobacco industry products on the drum at least partially overlie the seat during use. 
     
     
         10 . A drum according to  claim 8 , wherein the seat extends across the circumferential surface of the drum in a direction parallel with the axis of the drum such that the full length of each component is carried on the seat. 
     
     
         11 . A drum according to any of  claims 8  to  10 , wherein the drum comprises a second seat that is aligned to the seat in the axial direction on the circumferential surface of the drum. 
     
     
         12 . A drum according to  claim 11 , wherein the seat and the second seat are spaced from each other in a direction parallel with the axis of the drum. 
     
     
         13 . A drum according to claim any preceding claim, wherein the seat comprises a surface having suction holes adapted to retain said components on said surface when suction is applied to the at least one suction hole during use. 
     
     
         14 . A drum according to  claim 13 , wherein the suction holes are arranged to retain a paper patch. 
     
     
         15 . A drum according to any preceding claim, wherein the seat comprises a flute adapted to receive elongate components of tobacco industry products. 
     
     
         16 . A drum according to  claim 15 , wherein the flute comprises at least one suction hole adapted to retain said elongate components when suction is applied to the at least one suction hole during use. 
     
     
         17 . A drum according to any preceding claim, wherein a peripheral surface of the seat is substantially level with a circumferential surface of the drum when said components are not pressed against the seat. 
     
     
         18 . A drum according to any preceding claim, wherein the drum is a transfer drum adapted to receive a paper patch in a first position and transfer said paper patch to a further drum in a second position during use, wherein the further drum is adapted to carry a collation of components and to receive a paper patch from the transfer drum during use. 
     
     
         19 . A drum according to any of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the drum is a rolling drum adapted to receive a collation of components including elongate components and a paper patch and to carry said collation of components through a rolling mechanism to roll the paper patch about the elongate components to form tobacco industry products during use, and to transfer said tobacco industry products to a further drum during use. 
     
     
         20 . A drum according to any of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the drum is a transfer drum adapted to receive components of tobacco industry products and to transfer said components to a further drum during use. 
     
     
         21 . A drum according to any of  claims 1  to  17 , wherein the drum is a transfer drum adapted to receive a collation of cylindrical components and paper patches and to transfer said components and paper patches to a further drum during use. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry products, the apparatus comprising a drum according to any of  claims 1  to  21 . 
     
     
         23 . A drum for a tobacco industry product manufacturing apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying figures. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus for manufacturing tobacco industry products substantially as described with reference to the accompanying figures.