Suction rod conveyors for cigarette makers

Abstract

Cigarette makers and suction rod conveyors for cigarette makers are provided, as well as methods of using the same. A compacting disk of the suction rod conveyor can be configured to assist in providing drive from a suction tape during operation, minimize filler material buildup, and eject dust during use. Suction and trimmer channels and slide bushes can be configured to minimize bridging of filler material. Scrapers with serrated edges, brushes, and/or pressurized air can be provided to minimize buildup of sticky filler material during use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suction rod conveyor for a cigarette maker, comprising:
 a conveying path for a suction tape;   a convey section configured to convey filler material;   a transfer section configured to transfer the filler material to a garniture; and   a compacting disk,   wherein the compacting disk comprises a plurality of standard areas and a plurality of flat areas disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof,   wherein an outermost portion of each flat area is closer to a central axis of the compacting disk than is an outermost portion of each standard area,   wherein the compacting disk further comprises a side face having a plurality of holes disposed around the central axis of the compacting disk,   wherein the compacting disk is configured to assist in providing drive from the suction tape during use, and   wherein the suction rod conveyor does not have a dedicated drive for the compacting disk.   
     
     
         2 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the holes are circumferentially equally spaced on the side face of the compacting disk. 
     
     
         3 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the compacting disk further comprises a plurality of first slots disposed around a first edge of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk. 
     
     
         4 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 3 , wherein the compacting disk further comprises a plurality of second slots disposed around a second edge of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk, the second edge being opposite from the first edge. 
     
     
         5 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 4 , wherein the first slots are circumferentially equally spaced around the first edge,
 wherein the second slots are circumferentially equally spaced around the second edge, and   wherein the first slots are disposed to correspond to the second slots, such that each first slot is disposed on a standard area of the plurality of standard areas having a second slot disposed thereon.   
     
     
         6 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the compacting disk further comprises a tapered face disposed between the side face of the compacting disk and the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk. 
     
     
         7 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the standard areas of the plurality of standard areas are disposed alternatingly with the flat areas of the plurality of flat areas around the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk. 
     
     
         8 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk is no more than 7 millimeters (mm). 
     
     
         9 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first source of pressurized air configured to blow pressurized air on the compacting disk during use. 
     
     
         10 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a suction channel;   a plurality of first slide bushes configured to support the suction tape along the suction channel during use;   a trimmer channel comprising at least one pair of plain trimmer disks; and   a plurality of second slide bushes configured to support the suction tape along the trimmer channel during use,   wherein each first slide bush has a width of at least 7.2 mm, and   wherein each second slide bush has a width of at least 7.2 mm.   
     
     
         11 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 10 , wherein each first slide bush comprises a first step protruding from its face and into a first channel in a first curved portion of a first wall of the suction channel, and
 wherein each second slide bush comprises a second step protruding from its face and into a second channel in a second curved portion of a second wall of the trimmer channel.   
     
     
         12 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 10 , wherein a height of the suction channel is no more than 34 mm, and
 wherein a height of the trimmer channel is no more than 29.5 mm.   
     
     
         13 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 10 , further comprising a second source of pressurized air configured to blow pressurized air on the suction tape during use, before the suction tape enters the suction channel. 
     
     
         14 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of rollers; and   a plurality of scrapers, each scraper of the plurality of scrapers being disposed proximate to a roller of the plurality of rollers,   wherein each scraper of the plurality of scrapers comprises a serrated edge that is configured to come into contact with the roller to which the respective scraper is disposed proximate during use.   
     
     
         15 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one brush configured to clean the suction tape during use. 
     
     
         16 . The suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler material comprises at least one of tobacco, hemp, marijuana, and a sticky plant-based material. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming a rod during cigarette manufacture, the method comprising:
 providing the suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 ;   providing cigarette paper and the filler material to the suction rod conveyor; and   operating the suction rod conveyor to form the rod,   wherein the filler material comprises at least one of tobacco, hemp, marijuana, and a sticky plant-based material.   
     
     
         18 . A cigarette maker comprising the suction rod conveyor according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A suction rod conveyor for a cigarette maker, comprising:
 a conveying path for a suction tape;   a convey section configured to convey filler material;   a transfer section configured to transfer the filler material to a garniture;   a compacting disk;   a first source of pressurized air configured to blow pressurized air on the compacting disk during use;   a suction channel;   a plurality of first slide bushes configured to support the suction tape along the suction channel during use;   a trimmer channel comprising at least one pair of plain trimmer disks;   a plurality of second slide bushes configured to support the suction tape along the trimmer channel during use;   a second source of pressurized air configured to blow pressurized air on the suction tape during use, before the suction tape enters the suction channel;   a plurality of rollers;   a plurality of scrapers, each scraper of the plurality of scrapers being disposed proximate to a roller of the plurality of rollers; and   at least one brush configured to clean the suction tape during use,   wherein the compacting disk comprises a plurality of standard areas and a plurality of flat areas disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof,   wherein an outermost portion of each flat area is closer to a central axis of the compacting disk than is an outermost portion of each standard area,   wherein the compacting disk further comprises a side face having a plurality of holes disposed around the central axis of the compacting disk,   wherein the compacting disk is configured to assist in providing drive from the suction tape during use, and   wherein the suction rod conveyor does not have a dedicated drive for the compacting disk,   wherein the holes are circumferentially equally spaced on the side face of the compacting disk,   wherein the compacting disk further comprises a plurality of first slots disposed around a first edge of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk,   wherein the compacting disk further comprises a plurality of second slots disposed around a second edge of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk, the second edge being opposite from the first edge,   wherein the first slots are circumferentially equally spaced around the first edge,   wherein the second slots are circumferentially equally spaced around the second edge,   wherein the first slots are disposed to correspond to the second slots, such that each first slot is disposed on a standard area of the plurality of standard areas having a second slot disposed thereon,   wherein the compacting disk further comprises a tapered face disposed between the side face of the compacting disk and the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk,   wherein the standard areas of the plurality of standard areas are disposed alternatingly with the flat areas of the plurality of flat areas around the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk,   wherein a width of the outer circumferential surface of the compacting disk is no more than 7 millimeters (mm),   wherein each first slide bush has a width of at least 7.2 mm,   wherein each second slide bush has a width of at least 7.2 mm,   wherein each first slide bush comprises a first step protruding from its face and into a first channel in a first curved portion of a first wall of the suction channel,   wherein each second slide bush comprises a second step protruding from its face and into a second channel in a second curved portion of a second wall of the trimmer channel,   wherein a height of the suction channel is no more than 34 mm,   wherein a height of the trimmer channel is no more than 29.5 mm,   wherein each scraper of the plurality of scrapers comprises a serrated edge that is configured to come into contact with the roller to which the respective scraper is disposed proximate during use,   wherein the filler material comprises at least one of tobacco, hemp, marijuana, and a sticky plant-based material.   
     
     
         20 . A cigarette maker comprising the suction rod conveyor according to  claim 19 .