Apparatus and method for manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles

Abstract

The object of the application is an apparatus for manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles, comprising a unit ( 4 ) for feeding a continuous strand of the filling material and a crimping unit ( 5 ) for crimping the filling material. The apparatus is characterised in that between the unit ( 4 ) for feeding the continuous strand of the filling material and the crimping unit ( 5 ) there is a cutting unit ( 23 ) for cutting the continuous strand of the filling material ( 20 ) into sections ( 22 ), and in that the crimping unit ( 5 ) is adapted to crimp the cut-off section ( 22 ) of the filling material transversely to the direction of movement of the material section ( 22 ). The apparatus is further characterised in that the forming unit ( 16 , 46 , 51 , 61 ) is adapted to form a roll ( 22 X, 22 Y) from the cut-off crimped section ( 22 ) of the filling material in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod. The object of the application is also a method for manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles.

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles, comprising
 a unit (4) for feeding a continuous strand of the filling material, and   a crimping unit (5) for crimping the filling material,   characterised in that   between the unit (4) for feeding the continuous strand of the filling material and the crimping unit (5) there is a cutting unit (23) for cutting the continuous strand of the filling material (20) into sections (22), and in that   the crimping unit (5) is adapted to crimp a cut-off section (22) of the filling material transversely to the direction of movement of the material section (22), and in that it further comprises a forming unit (16, 46, 51, 61) adapted to form a roll (22X, 22Y) from the cut-off crimped section (22) of the filling material in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod,   further characterised in that the forming unit (46, 51, 61) comprises a plurality of forming pockets (47, 52, 64);   further characterized in that the forming pockets (47, 52) are provided with swinging elements (48, 49) being cylinder sectors situated parallel to the axis of the forming pocket (47, 52).   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 2  characterised in that the forming pockets (47, 52, 64) are placed on a drum conveyor (45, 53, 62). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as in  claim 2  characterised in that the forming pocket (52) has a movable bottom (56). 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as in claim characterised in that the forming unit (61) comprises a plurality of forming pockets (64) on the drum conveyor (62), and further comprises a ring (63) situated coaxially with the drum conveyor (62), the forming pocket (64) being formed between the drum conveyor (62) and the ring (63). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as in claim characterised by further comprising a guiding unit (50) for inserting a section (22) of the filling material into the forming pocket (16, 47, 52, 64). 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as in claim characterised by further comprising a feeding unit (3) adapted to place a section (12) of a wrapping material in the pocket (16) before forming a rod-like article from the cut-off section (22) of crimped filling material and the section (12) of the wrapping material. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as in  claim 8  characterised in that the wrapping material section (12) is held in the pocket (16) by means of vacuum. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as in claim characterised by further comprising a guiding unit (50) adapted to placing the cut-off section (22) of the crimped filling material into the formed section (12) of the wrapping material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as in claim characterised in that the cutting apparatus (23) is provided with rotary knives (24) and a supporting roller (25). 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a roll of crimped filling material for rod-like articles wherein
 a continuous strand of the filling material is fed by means of a filling material feeding apparatus, characterised in that   the filling material is cut into sections by means of a cutting unit for cutting the continuous strand of the filling material into sections, then   the cut-off sections of the filling material are crimped by means of a crimping unit, and then a roll in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod is formed from the cut-off section of crimped filling material;   further comprising a step wherein:
 the rod-like article formed from the cut-off section of crimped filling material is placed in a pre formed wrapping material section. 
   
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 12  characterised by comprising a step wherein:
 sections of wrapping material are placed in the forming unit before forming the rod-like article from the cut-off section of crimped filling material, and after forming the rod-like article from the cut-off section of crimped filling material, the rod-like article is wrapped with wrapping material section. 
 
     
     
         14 . (canceled)