Method and apparatus for the production of composite filter tips

Claim 2

Apparatus for the production of filter tips which are attachable to wrapped rodlike tobacco fillers and wherein at least one charge of granular filter material is confined between gas-permeable entrainment-type filters, comprising conveyor means having at least one continuously moving receptacle for accommodating and advancing a prefabricated tube sideways; charging means for introducing a charge of granular filter material into the tube in said receptacle; and plugging means for introducing into the tube in said receptacle at least one filter so that the thus introduced filter fixes the position of the charge with reference to one end of the tube in said receptacle, said plugging means comprising continuously moving filter displacing means registering with said receptacle.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means is arranged to advance one end of the tube in said receptacle along a predetermined path and wherein said charging means comprises metering means adjacent to said path in registry with said one end of the tube in said receptacle and filling means for supplying granular material to said metering means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said metering means is arranged to share the movements of said receptacle.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of receptacles and wherein said charging means comprises a plurality of metering means each of which registers with one of said receptacles.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said metering means comprises a chamber and said filling means comprises a magazine having an outlet which communicates with said chamber during a portion of movement of the receptacle and chamber along said path.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said chamber is a bore, one end of which is adjacent to but spaced from the one end of the tube in said receptacle and further comprising means for sealing said one end of said bore during said portion of movement of said chamber along said path so that the charge of material entering said chamber is temporarily retained therein.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said sealing means comprises a stationary gate.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said charging means further comprises a duct located between said chamber and said one end of the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plugging means further comprises means for moving said displacing means axially of the tube in said receptacle toward and away from said receptacle.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the means for moving said displacing means comprises cam means and follower means tracking said cam means and arranged to move said displacing means in response to movement of said displacing means with said receptacle.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for moving said displacing means and said cam means axially of the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plugging means is mounted on said conveyor means.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plugging means further comprises holder means for filters and means for moving the filters in said holder means into and away from registry with the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said holder means is mounted on said conveyor means and wherein the filters in said holder means are movable at right angles to the axis of the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 16

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of receptacles each arranged to accommodate and to advanCe a prefabricated tube and wherein said holder means comprises means for simultaneously maintaining filters in registry with tubes in a group of said receptacles.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of receptacles each arranged to accommodate and to advance a prefabricated tube and wherein said holder means comprises discrete holders, one for each of said receptacles.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said displacing means is arranged to move filters from said holder means into a tube in said receptacle and said holder means is arranged to place the filters into registry with the tube in said receptacle intermediate said receptacle and said displacing means.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said holder means comprises pocket means for filters and wherein said pocket means is coaxial with the tube in said receptacle when a filter therein registers with the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein at least a portion of said pocket means is of circular shape.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises a group of continuously moving receptacles each of which is arranged to accommodate and advance a prefabricated tube sideways and said charging means comprises means for admitting a charge of granular filter material into a tube in each of said receptacles, said plugging means comprising a plurality of continuously moving displacing means each registering with one of said receptacles and said plugging means further comprising means for simultaneously moving all of said displacing means with reference to the corresponding receptacles.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said plugging means is mounted on said conveyor means and said charging means comprises metering means registering with the tube in said receptacle and disposed between said receptacle and said plugging means.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor and means for continuously driving said endless conveyor.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said receptacle is circular.

Claim 25

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said charging means is arranged to introduce the charge through one end of the tube in said receptacle and further comprising means for supporting the other end of the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 26

Apparatus as defined in claim 24, wherein said supporting means comprises a plunger which is coaxial with the tube in said receptacle and means for moving said plunger axially.

Claim 27

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises a drum which is rotatable about a vertical axis.

Claim 28

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising pneumatic means for assisting the admission of charge into the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 29

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pneumatic means comprises means for producing suction in the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 30

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for agitating the charge, at least upon admission of such charge into the tube in said receptacle.

Claim 31

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for deforming the tube subsequent to introduction of said charge and said filter in the region of the filter therein.

Claim 32

Apparatus as defined in claim 30, wherein said deforming means comprises needle means.

Claim 33

Apparatus as defined in claim 30, further comprising takeoff conveyor means for receiving the tube from said first mentioned conveyor means, at least a portion of said deforming means being provided on said takeoff conveyor means.

Claim 34

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for heating the tube subsequent to introduction of at least one filter.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises an endless conveyor arranged to Orbit said receptacle about a vertical axis so that the axis of the tube in said receptacle is vertical.

Claim 36

Apparatus for the production of filter tips of the type wherein at least one charge of granular filter material is confined in a tube between gas-permeable entrainment-type filters, comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of equidistant receptacles for accommodating and advancing prefabricated tubes sideways, said conveyor being arranged to orbit said receptacles about a vertical axis so that the axes of tubes in said receptacles are vertical; charging means for introducing charges of granular filter material into the tubes in said receptacles, said charging means comprising a metering chamber provided on said conveyor in registry with each of said receptacles; and plugging means for introducing into the tubes in said receptacles filters prior and subsequent to admission of said charges, said plugging means comprising holder means provided on said conveyor and having means for temporarily supporting filters therein, means for moving said holder means to place the filters therein into and out of registry with tubes in said receptacles, and displacing means provided on said conveyor for transferring filters from said holder means into the tubes in said receptacles.

Claim 37

Apparatus for the production of filter tips of the type wherein at least one charge of granular filter material is confined in a tube between gas-permeable entrainment-type filters, comprising an endless conveyor having a plurality of equidistant receptacles for accommodating and advancing prefabricated tubes sideways, said conveyor being arranged to orbit said receptacles about a vertical axis so that the axes of tubes in said receptacles are vertical; charging means for introducing charges of granular filter material into the tubes in said receptacles, said charging means comprising a metering chamber provided on said conveyor in registry with each of said receptacles; and plugging means for introducing into the tubes in said receptacles filters prior and subsequent to admission of said charges, said plugging means comprising holder means provided on said conveyor and having means for temporarily supporting filters therein, means for moving said holder means to place the filters therein into and out of registry with tubes in said receptacles, and displacing means provided on said conveyor for transferring filters from said holder means into the tubes in said receptacles.

Claim 38

Apparatus as defined in claim 35, further comprising means for simultaneously operating groups of said displacing means.

Claim 39

Apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said holder means comprises discrete holders for groups of filters.

Claim 40

Apparatus as defined in claim 35, further comprising means for severing the filters in said holder means.

Claim 41

Apparatus as defined in claim 35, wherein said charging means further comprises at least one source of granular filter material adjacent to the path of movement of said metering means to admit granular filter material into successive metering means in response to movement of said metering means about said axis.