Tobacco Documents Online

States Patent Office3,128,773 3,128,773 CIGAIIE'I'I'E MA;~lr'JG I~;ACI|L'V~ Morehend Pallcrso.. New York, N.Y..ssh~or to Ameri- can Machine & Foundry Company, n corporaHon of New Je~y Filed Ma~. I~, 1961, ~r. No. II CIMm~ {CL 13I~2) ~i~ invention gcla~cs to an ~pp~ratus and method for making cig~rcltcs. In the pa~t various machines h~ve been devc[o~d for making clgarcttcs. Some p~ovided for threshing the t~ b~cco and thc~ employ a separator [o separate the lamina from :~ s~cms. The tobacco lam;~ arc [hcn through a shrcdding machine to produce shrcddcd t~ bzcco which ~n turn i~ m~dc into ~ cigarette rod. Othcfs have stemmed tobacco leaves first bcforc shredding. Various mechanical and clcctrical control devices have also bccn employed with such shredded tobacco to ob- tain a uniform filling of thc cigarette rod. In spite of all this complex m~chlncry and processes the dcslrcd uniformity of density and compaction o{ the cigarette fiHcr in a r~ h;~s not been attained. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a timpiificd method an~ apparatus of handling tobacco to produce a cigarette rod oi uniform dcnslty and compaction. Another object of the invcntion is to spray a tobacco slurry and form it into a cigarette rod. Another objcct of the invention is to spray a tobacco slurry and form it into a continuous stream of tobacco and thcn after removing a ptcdctcrmincd amount moisture therefrom form~ng it into a cigarette r~. Other objects and fcaturcs of the invcntlon will a~ ~ar as the description of the particular embodiments tekctcd to illustrate the invention progrc~. In the companying drawings, which form a part of this s~ci- fication, like characters of rcfcr~ncc have ~cn applied to corresponding pa~ts throughout the ~vctal views which make up the drawings. FIG. I is a schematic view Of an apparatus that can ~ employed with my invention for making cigarette rods. FIG. 2 is a view takcn on the line 2~2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified ~orm of th~ invention. In my invention, tobacco is mixed with a liquid and ~round up in a suitablc mill to form a tobacco siur~. ~is slurry may ~ made in the manner de,rind in U.S. Patent No. 2.433,877 to F. H. Wells and F. L Sown granted January 6, 1948. A suimb]e continuous sour~ at suppty of this tobacco slurry is employed in this in- vention. ~is slurry is supplied to a sprayin~ mechaMsm 10 and is sprayed out the no~]c 11. ~e slur~ 12 is subjected to a suitable electrostatic char~ before or whl]c ~ssuing from the no~c 11. ~e spray 12 passes between a p~lr of electrodes 13 which may have a negative electrostatic charge so ~at the nega- Hue charges on thc~ clectro~s ~l the negative charges ~n the slurry and thus reduce the cross ~ctlonM area of the slurry at location 14. A conveyor IS comprising a plurality of rollers and a beJt 17 trained on the rollers and moving in the direction of thc arrow is provided for receiving and con- veying the slurry. A guidc 1~ extends ~e lcng~ 10 2O 25 2 the upper run of the belt IT and has a large groove 19 and small grooves 20 which hold the ~pper run of the belt in a U shape. An electrode 21 is disposed between the bottom of the groove 19 of the guide I$ and the belt 1'7 has a positive electrostatic charge. T~c spray 12 of tobacco slurry is attracted to the belt l'/ ~nce the spray is negatively charged and the elec- trode ~1 is positively charged and unlike charges at- tract. The belt 17 should be made of cotton or linen so as not to interfere with the attraction between the negative charges in thc spray 12 and the posltlvcly charged elcctrode 21. The spray 12 of tobacco slurry is received in the U shapcd upper run of the belt 17 to form a stream of tobacco slurry. Sultablc means are provided to achieve a preliminary drying o! the stream of tobacco. In this embodiment of the invention, the stream of tobacco slurry is carried by the belt 17 over a drier 22 positioned between the upper and lower runs of the belt to remove a prcdetcr- mined amount of moisture from the tobacco slurry. ']'he stream of tobacco slurry is then carried by the belt 17 under a rotating compressor wheel 23 which rounds the upper portion of the stream of tobacco slurry. After passing the compressor wheel 23, the stream of tobacco is further dried by the drier 22 to remove more moisture from the slream of tobacco. The stream of to- bacco slurry is Ihcn conveyed by the belt 17 to a pri. mary shaper such as a compressor ro]ler 24. When the stream of tobacco reaches the end of the upper run of 30 the belt ~17, il passes from the bell onto the cigarcltc paper 31 which is supported nn a folder hell 32. Tim fnldcr hclt 32 travels over a plurality of rollers 33. The cigarette paper 31 is fed from a reel 34 onto the folder belt 32. After leaving tape 17. the tobacco slurry movcs 3.~ through a compressor tongue 25 where the tobacco rod takcs its final circular form. From the compressor tongue 25 the tobacco rod passes through the conventional rod forming mechanisms of a cigarette making machine such as a pasting section 26, a paste wheel 27, a folder block 40 28. an ironer 29 and a cutoffr 30. FIGURE 3 shows a modified form of tl~ invention. An electrode 35 is positioned between the electrodes 13 and has an ckctrostatic positive charge. Since the spray 12 of tobacco slurry has an electrostatic negative 4,~ charge, the spray will be attracted to the elcctro~tatlcally positively charged electrode 35 as like charges attract and the electrode 35 will further reduce the cross sec- tional area of the spray 12. In Ibis embodiment the upper run of the belt 17 could .~0 be flat thus eliminating the guide ]$ and the eleclrode 21 could be eliminated if desired. If the electrode 21 wcrc used it would be made ~at and would be disposed in the same position below the upper run of the belt 17. It will be appreciated a rotating drum could be sub- 55 stituled for the belt conveyor 15 without departing from the scope of the present invention. Thus it will be seen that applicant's invention dispenses with the necessity for many machines heretofore neces- sary to process tobacco. Applicant has also overcome (t0 with his apparatus and method the disadvantage of non- uniformity of density and compaction in cigarette rods which is inherited with the processes and machines pres- ently in use for making cigarcttcs. Applicant's invention also results in a cigarette rod of more uniform density and ¢3 compaction than that produced by either processes and BATCo document for Mayo Clinic 24 June 2002

3 machines /'or making cigarettes practiced prior to appli- cant's invention. While lhc ;nvcnLion has bccn disclosed by mcans of two sr, ccific illustrative embodh1~cnts thereof, it would be obvious In lllosc ski[led in the art that numerous other arrangements and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. V4hat is claimed is: I. Apparatus for making clgaretLe rods comprislnc means for sprayi.g a tobacco sl.rry having a charge of one sip.n, first and ~ccond electrodes disposed oa opposite sides of the spray :rod having a charge of the same sign as the spray to decrease the cross sectional area of the .spray, a conveyor disposed adjacent the first and second electrodes and receiving the spray, and means receiving the tobacco s)urry from the conveyor and retrain3 it into a cigarcLte rod. 2, Apparalus for making cigarette rods comprising means for spraying a tobacco slurry havln_~ a charge o}" one sign, first and .second electrodes dlsrm~ed on opposhc sides o! the spray ~nd having a charge of the same sign as the spray Lo decrease the cross sccllonal area of spray, a conveyor disposed ad~:~cent the first and second electrodes inc).~ing a p|nralily of re]lets and a bch trained on Lhc rollers, a g.idc to hold one run of the I~¢It of the conveyor in a U-.sh:~pc. said one run o[ lhc of the conveyor receiving Ibe spray, and means recelvin~ the tobacco slurry from the bch el" the conveyor and forming iL into a cigarelte rod. 3. App:~ratus for making clgareltc rods comprising means for spraying a tobacco slurry havinR a charge of one sign. first and s:cond electrodes dispo~cd on oppo~ile sldcs of the ~pray and hav~ng a charge of the same us the spray ~o d~crca~ ~hc cross ~clional area of spray, :t conveyor disposed adjacent thc first and ~cond e~cctr~cs including a p~ur~lity of rollers and a ~I~ Iraincd on the ~oHcrs. a guide tO hold one run of of the conveyor in a U-sha~, the ~It of lhc conveyor xeceivln~ lhc spray, a t~ird ~}cclr~c disposed ~twccn ~a~d one run or ;he bell of the conveyor and the nnd having a chnr.~ of op~iic sign to ihat of lhe spray to attrnct the ~pray to the ~It. and means receiving the tobacco sherry from the ~l[ of the conveyor and form- in~ ~t ~n[o a c~arctl= rod. 4. Apparatus for making ci£nrc~te r~s compris~n~ means for sprayh~ a tobacco slurry havin~ a charge o~ one sign, firs[ and ~cond clcc~r~cs dis~scd on o~ ~si~e sides of the spray and bavin~ a cbar~e of the ~m~ si~ ~s the spray '~o dccrea~ ~ cr~ ~[ional area of the spray, a convcyor ~s~d ~low [be first and ~cond elec~r~cs ~ncludin~ a plurality of rollers ~nd a lraincd on ~hc rollers, a ~uidc to hold the up~r ~n of she belt o~ lhe cenveyor in a U-shn~, she bcl~ of conveyor rcccivln~ the ~pray. a third electrode dished beiw~n the ~]t of lhc conveyor and the gu~e and h3v- ing a cbargc of up.site sign [o that of the spray Io attract [he spray [o the ~l,t, a drier dls~d ~low ~e up~r run of ~= bell of the conveyor to dry the tobacco slur~, a~ means receiving [~e tobacco slu~y from ~= ~lt conveyor and forming h into a ci~etie r~. 5. Apparatus for ma~ng cigar~He r~s comprlsin~ me~s for sprayin~ a tobacco sl~ having ~ ~£e one sign, firs~ and s~ond eleclr~es dls~ on up.site sides of the spray and having a charBe of ~e ~me sign as ~e spray to decrea~ t~ cross ~cfional ~ea o{ the spray, a third el~clr~e dispo~d cen~ally of the spray ~[ween the first and ~cond eleclrodes and havin~ a ch~e of opposile si~a [o tha~ of the spray {o al~ crea~ ~e cross sectional ~¢a of {he spray, a conveyor disused adjacent the first and ~cond and ~ird ~es and rec~ving [h~ spray, and m~ans receiv~n~ tb= ~obacco slurry from the conveyor and forming it ~nto a cigarc[l¢ r~. 6. Apparatus for makin= cig~rctle rods comprising m-"ans for spraying a tobacco s]urry having a charge of one sign, ~rs~ ~nd ~cond c]cc{rcdcs d~poscd on opposite sld:s of [h~ spray a~d havJn~ a char3: of the s~ ~ os ~hc spray ~o d:cr:a~ [I~ cross ~cctional ar~n of t~ spr:~y, a third cl~;rodc d~spos~d c:ntr~lJy of the spray ~twccn the first and ~cond eTcclrodes and having charge or opposi;e sJ£n ~o ~h~l of lh~ spray Io also cr=~sc 1h~ cro~s ~cHnnal ~rc~ of the s~r~y, a conveyor tO ~lis~oscd ~d~:~cen[ ~hc firs[ and s:cond nnd lh~rd clcclr~ inch~dln~ n pl.r~[iiy of ro]~crs end a b:It Ir~ncd on ro~lcrs v;~th the ~]l rccclv;n~ Ihc sprny, ~nd means re- cch4n~ Ihc [oh~cco slurry from lhe bc][ of ihe conveyor and form~n: it into a c~arcl~c r~. 15 Z Apparalus for makin~ c~arctte rods compr~ing means for spray~n~ a tobacco slur~ havh~ a charge one sign, firs~ end ~cond c]cclr~cs d~s~:cd on =~de~ of ,he spray an~ havJn: a charge of ~hc s~me ~gn as ihc spr=y to dccrc~ ~hc cross ~cdon~l area of the ~0 ~pray, a I]~ird cite:rode d~spo~cd ccmr~lly or lhe spray ~cn she fir~l ~nd ~cond e~c~r~cs ~ h~v~nB a ch~r~: of o~pos}tc sign ~o that of ~hc spray [o ~lso ~- crca~ ~hc cros~ scctionn] are~ of Ih~ spray, a conveyor d~po~d adjacent ~hc firsl ~nd second and fl~ird ~5 ;nc]u~}n~ a pluralily of rollers and abc][ ~ralncd on ~ rollers, n ~dc Io hohJ one run of the bch of Ihc conveyor in a U sh;~, the ~][ or Ihc conveyor rccc~vh~ ll~e spray =n~ means rccc}vin~ il~: ~obacco ~}urry from lh¢ ~l~ of the conveyor nnd formin~ ~ inlo a c~arc/te rod. 30 8. Ar, p:~r~us for m~tl:~n~ cJ:arcl~ rods compris{nB means for spr~ylnB a tobacco slurry hnvjnB a charge of one sign, fir~ nnd ~ccond cleclr~cs d~s~cd on opp~lle sides of II~c spruy and h:~vin~ a chnrBe of ihe same sign 35 sr.r~y, a Ihird clcclr~c di~pc~cd ccnlrnlly of the spray between Ih¢ first and second clcclrodcs and havJn~ charge of opposhe s~n to that of the spr~ to al~ ~- crease Ihc croxs ~ciionnl ~rca of Ihc sprny, a con~or di:~po~d adjacent fl*c first and second and Ihird clcclr~ roJlcrs, a ~ui0c ~o hold one run of the belt of [he conveyor in a U sh:~pc, the ~lt of ~ c~nv:yor rccci'v~nc the spray, a fourth clccsrodc d~spo~cd ~etwccn the ~lt of ~¢ ~n- vcyor and the gt)idc ;rod havln~ a charCc or op~sh¢ 43 io that of the spray to aHrac[ [hc spray to the ~][, and ~cans rccclvln~ the lo~acco d'u~ from the ~lt of ~ conveyor ~nd forming }[ into a ci£arc[te rod. 9. ~pparatus for making cJcurcHe r~s comp~s~g means for spray~n~ a tobacco slurW hav~n~ n char~ o( 50 one sign, firs[ ~ second ¢Iccir~cs dispored on optic sides of the spray and having a charge of ~he same as the spray to decrease t~ cro~ sectional area o{ ~ spray, a third ¢]~lrode d~sposcd ccnlral]y of the ~ray ~tw¢cn the. fi~t and second electrodes and havJn~ a 55 ch~: of opp~{te sign to that of the spray to al~ ~- cre~ Ih¢ cross ~ction:} ~ea o[ the spr=y, a ten,yet ~;s~d ~low [~ first and second and third ~ctu~n= ~ plura[ity o( rollers and a ~1[ [rained ~ the ~[len, a guide to hold Ihc upper ru~ of the ~]¢ of ~e 60 conveyor ;n a U sha~, the ~i[ o( ~¢ conveyor r¢~ivigg the ~ray, ~ {oueth ¢[~[¢~c dispo~ between the ~lt o~ the ~nvcyor and the ~uld~ and ha~ing a char~ of op~ si[~ s~n to that oE the spray to ~tt~ct the spra~ to the ~lt, s drier dispo~d below [~ upFer run of th~ ~]t 65 the conveyor to dW the Io~acco slu~, and means ~i~- Jn~ Ihc tobacco ~urry from the ~}t of ~he co,veyor a~ form;he it into ~ cigarette 10. ~e method of making ci;~clte r~s compdslng the steps of spray;no a [o~acco s[u~ h~vin~ ~ charge ~0 one sign, moving ~e spray ~nst electrically chafed e]~- tr~es of the sam= sign to decrease the cross sectional area o~ the spray, {ormin~ the spray into ~ stxc:m, and f~m- l I. The meth~ of makin~ c~garctle rods comprising 75 the steps of spray~ a tobacco slu~ hav~ng a ch~¢ of BATCo document for Mayo Clinic 24 June 2002

3,128,773 one sign, moving the spray past ¢|ectrlca||y ch~ged elec- 2,027,305 trodcs of ~e same s~n to decrease th~ cr~ ~ctional 2,191,827 a~a o~ ~e sprny, foxing ~hc spray inlo a ~am, d~ing 2,433,8~7 ~e s~e~. ~ ~o~ng ~e s~e~ into • ci~ctt~ r~. 2,734,510 ~efe~nces Cited in the file of th~ patent 354,134 UN~E~ STATES PATENS 382,633 1,117~27 Simon ................ Nov. 17. 1914 6 Schacht ................. Ian. 7, 1936 Benner et al. " Feb. 27, 1940 Wells et al ............... ~an. 6, 1948 Hungerford et a! ........ Feb. 14, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany -~ ......... -.--. June 1, 1922 Germany ................ Oct. 4, 1923 BATCo document for Mayo Clinic 24 June 2002