METHODS AND EQUIPMENT FOR FORMING TUBES OF FIBROUS MATERIAL

• Main Authors: FALLON, Gary, HERHOLDT, Arnold, LE ROUX, Gerhard, RICHARDSON, John
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 13.09.2023
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CIGARETTES; CIGARS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCESIN A PLASTIC STATE; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SMOKERS' REQUISITES; TOBACCO; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method of forming a tubular rod of fibrous material from a plurality of fibres produced by a fibre supply module is disclosed. The method comprises gathering the fibres into a bundle by advancing them through gathering equipment including a forming cone that comprises a divider to form a cleft along the length of the bundle of fibres as it advances through the forming cone, positioning a mandrel assembly comprising a mandrel downstream of the forming cone to receive the bundle of fibres from the outlet of the forming cone and to form a central passage in the bundle of fibres, and adjusting the position of the mandrel relative to the forming cone to align the mandrel with the divider of the forming cone. Equipment for forming a tubular rod of fibrous material from a plurality of fibres produced by a fibre supply module is also disclosed.