GB2260253A

GB2260253A - A smoking commodity, in particular a ventilated cigarette,and the method of fashioning such a comodity

Info

Publication number: GB2260253A
Application number: GB9220492A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bruno Belvederi
Original assignee: GD SpA
Current assignee: GD SpA
Priority date: 1991-10-10
Filing date: 1992-09-29
Publication date: 1993-04-14
Also published as: GB9220492D0; ITBO910363A0; DE4233863A1; IT1253273B; ITBO910363A1

Abstract

The cigarette comprises two distinct portions (2, 3) cut from a continuous cigarette rod, disposed mutually coaxial and joined by an outer band of material (4) with a ring of ventilation holes (5) positioned to coincide with the area of the join between the two portions; the portions (2, 3) are preferably distanced one from the other so as to establish a ventilation chamber (6) compassed peripherally by the band (4) and communicating with the ventilation holes (5). <IMAGE>

Description

2 2.,) ') 2 -, s' 1 A smoking commodity, in particular a ventilated

cigarette, and the method of fashioning such a commodity The present invention relates to a commodity for smokers, and in particular to a cigarette. More exactly, the invention relates to a ventilated cigarette, that is to say, a length of conventional cigarette rod consisting in shredded tobacco filler enveloped by a rolled paper, of which the end held between the lips of the smoker is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes. A smoker inhaling through a cigarette embodied in this fashion draws in a stream of air both through the lighted end of the cigarette and through the aforementioned ventilation holes. The air drawn in through the holes is fresh and pure, free of smoke generated by the burning tobacco, and mingles with the flow of hot air and fumes draT..jn through the lighted end of the cigarette, thereby lowering the temperature of the fumes and reducing the quantity of harmful substances contained therein. There are currently two different r. ,,.e--lods by which to produce a ventilated cigarette, the one using a 2 paper strip already incorporating holes from which to fashion the cigarette, the other a plain strip in which holes are pierced after the cigarette has been fashioned. Both the methods in question betray drawbacks from cost and technical standpoints alike. The fact of utilizing a strip already pierced with ventilation holes signifies that the strip itself, delicate in any case by its very nature, is rendered yet more fragile and difficult to handle, especially when using automatic high speed manufacturing machines typical of the present day. The operation of piercing ventilation holes in an already formed cigarette is performed generally by means of a device with acuminate elements such as needles, or a laser device. In the case of needles, any economy gained on the initial outlay is lost subsequently by reason of the limited duration of the needles themselves, attributable to the fact that the tobacco filler functions as an abrasive, dulling the points and necessitating their frequent replacement. Laser devices, on the other hand, tend to scorch microscopic areas of the tobacco filler, the effect of which is to spoil the flavour of the cigarette.

3 The object of the present invention is to provide a smoking commodity, and in particular a ventilated cigarette, such as can be manufactured economically and without the drawbacks mentioned above. The stated object is fully realized in a ventilated cigarette according to the present invention, which is characterized in that it comprises two discrete portions of cigarette rod disposed mutually coaxial and joined by means of an external band of material affording ventilation holes positioned to coincide with the area of the join between the two portions. The present invention also relates to a method of embodying a commodity for smokers, characterized that it comprises the steps of: - feeding a continuous cigarette rod to a cutting station; - cutting the continuous cigarette rod to produce three discrete cigarette portions; - spacing the three discrete cigarette portions apart by predetermined and equal distances; enveloping the central cigarette portion and the adjacent extremities of the adjoining portions in an outer band of material affording a plurality of holes, in such a way that the holes coincide with the spaces created between the three portions; 4 effecting a median transverse cut whereby the assembled portions are divided to create two single cigarettes; rotating one of the two cigarettes end to end through 1800 in such a way that both cigarettes'aresimilarly disposed. The present invention relates also to a method of embodying a commodity for smokers characterized in that it comprises the steps of:

feeding a continuous cigarette rod to a cutting station; - cutting the continuous cigarette rod to produce three discrete cigarette portions; spacing the three discrete cigarette portions apart by predetermined and equal distances; - enveloping the central cigarette portion and the adjacent extremities of the adjoining portions in a plain outer band of material; - forming a plurality of holes in the outer band, positioned to coincide with the spaces created between the three portions; effecting a median transverse cut whereby the assembled portions are divided to create two single cigarettes; - rotating one of the two cigarettes end to end through 1800 in such a way that both cigarettes are similarly disposed. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: -fig 1 illustrates a smoking commodity according to the present invention, seen at a stage prior to its completion better to demonstrate the structure; -figs 2 to 7 illustrate successive steps in the implementation of a method according to the present invention for fashioning the commodity of fig 1. Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a commodity for smokers according to the invention, in its entirety; such a commodity, referred to more simply hereinafter as a cigarette, consists in two discrete portions 2 and 3 of a continuous cigarette rod disposed mutually coaxial and united by way of an outer band 4 of material affording a plurality of holes 5 positioned to coincide with the join between the two portions 2 and 3. The outer band 4 is wrapped around the two portions 2 and 3 in such a way as to envelop at least the two corresponding extremities. More exactly, the two cigarette rod portions 2 and 3 are of dissimilar length, and enveloped by the 6 outer band 4, entirely, in the case of the shorter portion 3, and around the adjoining extremity only in the case of the longer portion 2. The free end of the shorter portion 3 is placed and held between the lips of the smoker, whilst the free end of the longer portion 2 is that destined to be lit. The two discrete cigarette portions 2 and 3 are distanced, the one from the other, in such a way as to create a ventilation chamber or gap 6 compassed peripherally by the band 4. The vent-il-ation chamber or gap 6 thus created is in direct communication with the holes 5. With the incorporation of the ventilation chamber or gap 6, fresh air drawn in through the holes 5 can mingle with the hot air and fumes given off by the burning tobacco and inhaled through the longer portion 2 of cigarette rod. With reference to the figures numbered 2 to 7, the method according to the invention for fashioning a cigarette 1 as described above comprises the steps of: - feeding a continuous cigarette rod -1 to a cutting station; cutting the continuous cigarette rcd 7 to produce three successive discrete portions 2, 8 and 2 of 7 which the central portion 8 is twice the length of the shorter portion 3 in a finished cigarette; - spacing apart the three cigarette portions 2, 8 and 2 by identical distances equal to the width of the ventilation chamber or gap 6 as measured along the axis of the cigarette 1; - uniting the central cigarette portion 8 and the adjacent extremities of the adjoining cigarette portions 2 by means of an enveloping outer band 4 of material which may be previously pierced with holes 5 or otherwise; - effecting a median transverse cut through the composite assembly of portions in such a manner as to create two cigarettes 1 disposed coaxially and symmetrically in relation to the cut; - rotating one of the two cigarettes 1 into a position parallel with the other. In the event that the band 4 of material is not previously pierced with holes 5, such holes can be produced without scorching the tobacco, preferably by means of a conventional laser device, after the band 4 has been secured around the C...-o portions 2 and 8 of the cigarette rod. Alternatively, a previously pierced band 4 will be wrapped around the discrete cigarette portions 2, 8 8 is and 2 such that the holes 5 coincide with the two spaces created by distancing the portions 2 and 8 one from the other. Accordingly, on completion of the cigarette 1, the holes 5 will be positioned exactly in alignment with the ventilation chamber or gap 6 compassed peripherally by the band 4. The object stated at the outset is fully realized according to the invention, and to advantage, the cigarette 1 is also strengthened by the presence of the band 4, enveloping and reinforcing the end most subject to stresses, i.e. the end held between the lips of the smoker. At first glance, the method disclosed night appear similar to the conventional method of applying a filter to a cigarette. In effect, however, the step of distancing the two discrete portions 2 and 3 of cigarette rod in the method disclosed serves simply to establish a ventilation chamber or gap 6 between the two portions, which is retained even during the application of the outer band 4; the band itself, moreover, serves primarily to connect the interior of the cigarette 1 with the surrounding environment by way of the holes 5, and secondarily to unite the two cut portions 2 and 3 of cigarette rod one with the other.

9 Clairns

1) 2) A smoking commodity, in particular a ventilated cigarette, characterized in that it consists in two discrete portions of a cigarette rod disposed mutually coaxial and joined one to another by way of an outer band of material affording ventilation holes positioned to coincide with the area of the join ber-...,een the cigarette portions.

A smoking commodity as in claim 1, consisting in two discrete cigarette portions of dissimilar length disposed mutually coaxial and joined one to another with an outer band of material by which the shorter cigarette' portion is enveloped in its entirety-and the'longer portion in part, wherein the band affords ventilation holes positioned to coincide with the area of the join bet-,.,,een the cigarette portions 3) 4) A smoking commodity as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the two discrete portions of cigarette rod are distanced one from the other in such a way as to establish a ventilation chamber or gap compassed peripherally by the band.

A smoking commodity as in claim 3, wherein the ventilation chamber or gap communicates directly with the holes afforded by the band.

A method of fashioning a sr..ioking commodity, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - feeding a continuous cigarette rod to a cutting station; - cutting the continuous cigarette rod to produce three discrete cigarette portions; - spacing the three discrete cigarette portions apart by predetermined and equal distances; enveloping the central cigarette portion and the adjacent extremities of the adjoining portions in an outer band of material affording a plurality of holes, in such a way that the holes coincide with the spaces created between the three portions; effecting a median transverse cut whereby the t t assembled portions are divided to create two single cigarettes; - rotating one of the two cigarettes end to end through 1800 in such a way that both cigarettes are similarly disposed.

6) A method of fashioning a smoking commodity, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - feeding a continuous cigarette rod to a cutting station; - cutting the continuous cigarette rod to produce three discrete cigarette portions; spacing the three discrete cigarette portions apart by predetermined and equal distances; enveloping the central cigarette portion and the adjacent extremities of the adjoining portions in an outer band of material; - forming a plurality of holes in the outer band, positioned to coincide with the spaces created between the three portions; - effecting a median transverse cut whereby the assembled portions are divided to create two single cigarettes; - rotating one of the two cigarettes end to end 12 through 1800 in such a way that both cigarettes are similarly disposed.

A smoking commodity, in particular a ventilated cigarette, substantially as described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.8) A method of fashioning smoking commodities, in particular ventilated cigarettes, substantially as described with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.