Tobacco – Plug or compressed shape making – Packing or bundling
Patent
1999-01-11
2000-10-24
Silverman, Stanley S
Tobacco
Plug or compressed shape making
Packing or bundling
131115, 131118, 53111R, 53431, 53439, A24B 110, A24C 108
Patent
active
061351202
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for packaging finely divided, moistened tobacco material in individual portion packages. The device comprises means for feeding the tobacco material into pockets formed in a rotary portioning wheel for portioning the material in portions, at least one compression means for compressing these portions, a unit for advancing a packaging material in synchrony with the compressed portions, at least one means for discharging the portions from the pockets to the packaging material, and a unit for forming individual portion packages from the discharged portions and the packaging material. This device is intended particularly for packaging of snuff tobacco.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,703,765 discloses a device for packaging precise amounts of finely divided tobacco products, such as snuff tobacco or the like, in a tubular packaging material into which snuff portions are injected via a fill tube. Downstream from the tube, welding means are positioned for transverse sealing of the packaging material, and also cutting means for severing the packaging material in the area of the transverse seal to thus form discrete or individual portion packages. The packages are subsequently packed into snuff boxes. The most serious problem encountered with the device in accordance with this patent specification is that the moisture contents of the tobacco material being injected into the tube must not exceed 30% if one is to avoid clogging of the fill tube. Considering that the end product should have a moisture content of approximately 50%, it becomes necessary to subsequently spray the portion packages with water in order to obtain the desired moisture contents. However, this is a very difficult method of obtaining evenly moistened portion packages all of which are to have a satisfactory moisture content, without using complex systems for moisture content regulation.
In order to avoid post-moisturing of the portion packages the publication DE-41 11 786 suggests that snuff tobacco possessing the desired final moisture content be supplied to pockets formed in a rotary portioning wheel for portioning the material in portions. As the portioning wheel is being rotated, the snuff tobacco inside the pockets is compressed by means of compression pistons operating in the radial direction of the portioning wheel, forcing the snuff tobacco against an external pressure face which abuts against the pocket mouths over part of the wheel circumference. The pistons likewise serve as discharging means downstream from the pressure face, discharging snuff portions into pockets formed in a packaging material, the latter being in the shape of a tape. The packaging material tape is advanced in synchrony with the compressed snuff portions. Once the snuff has been dispensed into the pockets, the latter are sealed, whereupon the packaging material is severed intermediate the pockets.
Unfortunately it has been found that this device does not perform satisfactorily in practice, since for rheological reasons, the portioning-wheel pockets, being too small and too deep, do not allow supply of a tobacco material moistened to a moisture content of 50%. This problem is solved in accordance with this publication by adding supplementary liquid, such as water, to the portioning wheel downstream from the point of snuff feeding. Also in the case of a device designed in accordance with this publication it thus is difficult to ensure an even and high moisture content in the individual portions, unless extensive moisture-content regulating systems are provided. Furthermore, the addition of supplementary liquid also results in the very portioning wheel becoming moist, with the result that the tobacco material adheres to the wheel when next the latter is filled with tobacco material with consequential adherence problems.
Another problem encountered in the case of the device shown in the last-mentioned publication is that in practice it has proved to be difficult to discharge material into the packaging-material pockets, because the pocket walls
REFERENCES:
patent: 289397 (1883-12-01), Dietz
patent: 3565132 (1971-02-01), Lefort
patent: 4617974 (1986-10-01), Focke et al.
patent: 4987907 (1991-01-01), Townend
patent: 5174088 (1992-12-01), Focke et al.
Ek Kenneth
Gamhed Kenth
Lofman Lars Olof
Colaianni Michael P.
Silverman Stanley S
Swedish Match Sverige AB
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