METHOD OF FORMING A CONTINUOUS BAND OF NATURAL TOBACCO
United States Patent 3744498
Method of forming a continuous band of natural tobacco, primarily with a view to forming cigar wrappers to be cut from said band by cutting from tobacco leaves fragments of polygonal shape and joining said fragments together comprising the steps of constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned.
US Patent References:
Method and apparatus for forming a band of tobacco
Lindgren - November 1967 - 3352308
Method and apparatus for forming a band of tobacco
Lindgren - November 1967 - 3352308
Application Number:
05/123171
Publication Date:
07/10/1973
Filing Date:
03/11/1971
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Service, D'exploitation Industrielle De Tabacs (Paris, FR)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
A24C1/04; A24C1/00; A24B3/16
Field of Search:
131/149,148,125,124
Primary Examiner:
Michell, Robert W.
Assistant Examiner:
Pitrelli, John F.
Claims:
What I claim is
1. Method of forming a continuous band of natural tobacco, primarily with a view to forming cigar wrappers to be cut from said band by cutting from tobacco leaves fragments of polygonal shape and joining said fragments together, comprising the steps of constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and that the ribs of adjacent trapezoidal fragments are oriented in substantially the same direction, and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoids the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned.
2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the two half-leaves of each alternate leaf in a series of leaves is displaced through an angle of 180° in a movement of rotation of each half-leaf in the plane of this latter.
3. Method according to claim 1 wherein are constituted two series of leaves parallel to one another, the leaves of one series being oriented in the direction opposite to the leaves of the other series, and the half-leaves of each leave of one series are brought by translational motion between the half-leaves of the leaves of the other series.
4. Method according to claim 3 wherein the half-leaves which are located on the left-hand side of the axis of one leaf-line are brought between the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the other series, whereupon the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the first line are brought between the half-leaves located on the left-hand side of the axis of the second line.
5. Method of forming a continuous band of natural tobacco, primarily with a view to forming cigar wrappers to be cut from said band by cutting from tobacco leaves fragments of polygonal shape and joining said fragments together, comprising the steps of constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoids the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned, the trapezoidal fragments which are cut from the half-leaves having unequal angles at the ends of the long base and the largest angle corresponding to that portion of leaf which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib.
1. Method of forming a continuous band of natural tobacco, primarily with a view to forming cigar wrappers to be cut from said band by cutting from tobacco leaves fragments of polygonal shape and joining said fragments together, comprising the steps of constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and that the ribs of adjacent trapezoidal fragments are oriented in substantially the same direction, and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoids the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned.
2. Method according to claim 1 wherein the two half-leaves of each alternate leaf in a series of leaves is displaced through an angle of 180° in a movement of rotation of each half-leaf in the plane of this latter.
3. Method according to claim 1 wherein are constituted two series of leaves parallel to one another, the leaves of one series being oriented in the direction opposite to the leaves of the other series, and the half-leaves of each leave of one series are brought by translational motion between the half-leaves of the leaves of the other series.
4. Method according to claim 3 wherein the half-leaves which are located on the left-hand side of the axis of one leaf-line are brought between the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the other series, whereupon the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the first line are brought between the half-leaves located on the left-hand side of the axis of the second line.
5. Method of forming a continuous band of natural tobacco, primarily with a view to forming cigar wrappers to be cut from said band by cutting from tobacco leaves fragments of polygonal shape and joining said fragments together, comprising the steps of constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoids the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned, the trapezoidal fragments which are cut from the half-leaves having unequal angles at the ends of the long base and the largest angle corresponding to that portion of leaf which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib.
Description:
This invention relates to a method of forming a continuous band of natural tobacco, primarily with a view to forming cigar wrappers to be cut from said band.
A number of methods have already been employed for the purpose of forming a continuous band of tobacco from natural tobacco leaves.
One of these known methods consists in cutting strips of constant width from the leaves and joining said strips in end-to-end relation without considering whether said strips are derived from either the left or the right-hand side with respect to the midrib.
There is thus obtained a band having ribs which are oriented either in one direction or the other according as they are derived from the left-hand or right-hand portion of the leaf. However, this method gives rise to a substantial loss of material.
Furthermore, the shape of the leaf makes it necessary to cut-out a number of very narrow strips in order to achieve maximum economy of material. These strips which are placed end-to-end constitute a band of material which is made fragile by reason of its small width; the strips are difficult to handle, are liable to tear and consequently to make the band unfit for further use.
Another known method consists in cutting from each half-leaf in a continuous line of leaves a fragment having a geometrical shape such as a rectangle or isosceles trapezoid, for example, and in transferring in translational motion those half-leaves which are located on the right-hand side of the leaf-line axis between the half-leaves which are located on the left-hand side of said axis. The fragments which are joined together then form a band having ribs disposed in a herringbone configuration but this arrangement can be subject to disadvantages.
The method according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a continuous band of trapezoidal fragments in which all the ribs are parallel to each other.
The method as herein defined consists first of all in constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned.
By displacing the two trapezoids which have been cut from the half-leaves of the same leaf under the conditions indicated in the foregoing, that is to say in order that the long bases thereof should be aligned with the short bases of the trapezoids which are cut from the half-leaves of adjacent leaves, two bands each having parallel ribs are thus constituted.
The trapezoidal fragments which are cut from the half-leaves have unequal angles at the base and the largest angle corresponds to that portion of leaf which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib.
In consequence, losses of material are limited to a minimum value as a result of application of the method.
In accordance with a further characteristic feature of theinveion, the two half-leaves of each alternate leaf in a series of leaves is displaced through an angle of 180° in a movement of rotation of each half-leaf in the plane of this latter.
Said rotation through 180° makes it possible not only to change the orientation of the leaf ribs but to join the non-parallel sides of one trapezoid to the corresponding non-parallel sides of the preceding and following trapezoids.
Another mode of application of the method consists in displacing the half-leaves constituting a continuous series of leaves by translational motion of said half-leaves between the half-leaves constituting a second series of leaves which is parallel to the first, the leaves of the second series being oriented in the direction opposite to the leaves of the first series.
Head-to-tail orientation of the two lines of leaves maintains a parallel relation between the ribs of each half-leaf of one line and the half-leaves of the other line and thus results only in the need for translational motion of the half-leaves of one line between the half-leaves of the other line.
The half-leaves which are located on the left-hand side of the axis of one leaf-line will advantageously be displaced between the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the other series, whereupon the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the first line are brought between the half-leaves located on the left-hand side of the axis of the second line.
The description which is now given below constitutes only one non-limitative example of the invention.
Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1, 2, 3 illustrate the steps of a method according to the invention and in which FIGS. 4, 5, 6 illustrate the steps of anotehr embodiment of said method. These figures show the design solution which consists in cutting trapezoids having unequal angles at the base.
As shown in FIG. 1, a line of leaves 1, 2, 3 is formed so that the leaves are displaced with the thick end of the midrib foremost. The leaves are all disposed with the raised portions of their ribs located on the same side of the leaf plane.
As shown in FIG. 2, the leaves are stemmed and fragments 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of trapezoidal shape are cut from each half-leaf. In the case of each leaf, the two trapezoids 4, 5 are symmetrical with respect to the axis of the leaf-line. Said trapezoids have unequal angles at the base and the largest angle corresponds to that portion of the leaf which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib in order to utilize the leaf material to the maximum extent.
The two trapezoids 6 and 7 are then caused to pivot in their plane through an angle of 180° in the case of one leaf out of two by rotating the trapezoid 6 clockwise and the trapezoid 7 in the anticlockwise direction.
One extremity of each trapezoid is then coated with adhesive and the trapzeiods of successive half-leaves are then placed in overlapping realtion. One of the two bands thus formed is constituted by the framents 4, 6, 8 and the other band is constituted by the fragments 5, 7, 9.
As shown in FIG. 4, two lines of leaves are formed : the leaves 10, 11, 12 constitute the first line and the leaves 13, 14, 15 constitute the second line. The leaves are oriented in the direction of the arros. Th eleaves 10, 11, 12 are oriented with the thick end of the midrib foremost whereas the leaves 13, 14, 15 are oriented in the opposite direction so that the tips are foremost.
As shown in FIG. 5, there are cut from each leaf trapezoids 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 having unequal angles at the base and the largest angle corresponds to the portion which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib. The trapezoid 20 is displaced in translational motion and inserted between the trapezoid 17 of the leaf 10 and the trapezoid 19 of the leaf 11, whereupon the trapezoid 21 is displaced between the trapezoid 16 of the leaf 10 and the trapezium 18 of the leaf 11. Two bands are thus obtained as shown in FIG. 6, one band being made up of the trapezoids 16, 21, 18 and the other band being made up of the trapezoids 17, 20, 19.
The bands which are thus formed in accordance with one of the embodiments of the method of the invention will subsequently be cut for the manufacture of cigar-wrappers which are provided in each band with parallel ribs, the surface elevations formed by said ribs being located on the same side of the leaf plane.
A number of methods have already been employed for the purpose of forming a continuous band of tobacco from natural tobacco leaves.
One of these known methods consists in cutting strips of constant width from the leaves and joining said strips in end-to-end relation without considering whether said strips are derived from either the left or the right-hand side with respect to the midrib.
There is thus obtained a band having ribs which are oriented either in one direction or the other according as they are derived from the left-hand or right-hand portion of the leaf. However, this method gives rise to a substantial loss of material.
Furthermore, the shape of the leaf makes it necessary to cut-out a number of very narrow strips in order to achieve maximum economy of material. These strips which are placed end-to-end constitute a band of material which is made fragile by reason of its small width; the strips are difficult to handle, are liable to tear and consequently to make the band unfit for further use.
Another known method consists in cutting from each half-leaf in a continuous line of leaves a fragment having a geometrical shape such as a rectangle or isosceles trapezoid, for example, and in transferring in translational motion those half-leaves which are located on the right-hand side of the leaf-line axis between the half-leaves which are located on the left-hand side of said axis. The fragments which are joined together then form a band having ribs disposed in a herringbone configuration but this arrangement can be subject to disadvantages.
The method according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a continuous band of trapezoidal fragments in which all the ribs are parallel to each other.
The method as herein defined consists first of all in constituting at least one series of leaves in which the leaves are oriented in the same direction and the leaf ribs are raised on the same side of a plane, then cutting on each side of the midribs of said leaves trapezoidal fragments having the same height, removing the leaf fragments which project from the trapezoidal shape, then displacing the two half-leaves of one leaf in such a manner as to ensure that the long bases thereof are aligned with the short bases of the two half-leaves of an adjacent leaf and finally joining together along the non-parallel sides of the trapezoid the successive half-leaves which have thus been aligned.
By displacing the two trapezoids which have been cut from the half-leaves of the same leaf under the conditions indicated in the foregoing, that is to say in order that the long bases thereof should be aligned with the short bases of the trapezoids which are cut from the half-leaves of adjacent leaves, two bands each having parallel ribs are thus constituted.
The trapezoidal fragments which are cut from the half-leaves have unequal angles at the base and the largest angle corresponds to that portion of leaf which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib.
In consequence, losses of material are limited to a minimum value as a result of application of the method.
In accordance with a further characteristic feature of theinveion, the two half-leaves of each alternate leaf in a series of leaves is displaced through an angle of 180° in a movement of rotation of each half-leaf in the plane of this latter.
Said rotation through 180° makes it possible not only to change the orientation of the leaf ribs but to join the non-parallel sides of one trapezoid to the corresponding non-parallel sides of the preceding and following trapezoids.
Another mode of application of the method consists in displacing the half-leaves constituting a continuous series of leaves by translational motion of said half-leaves between the half-leaves constituting a second series of leaves which is parallel to the first, the leaves of the second series being oriented in the direction opposite to the leaves of the first series.
Head-to-tail orientation of the two lines of leaves maintains a parallel relation between the ribs of each half-leaf of one line and the half-leaves of the other line and thus results only in the need for translational motion of the half-leaves of one line between the half-leaves of the other line.
The half-leaves which are located on the left-hand side of the axis of one leaf-line will advantageously be displaced between the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the other series, whereupon the half-leaves located on the right-hand side of the axis of the first line are brought between the half-leaves located on the left-hand side of the axis of the second line.
The description which is now given below constitutes only one non-limitative example of the invention.
Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which FIGS. 1, 2, 3 illustrate the steps of a method according to the invention and in which FIGS. 4, 5, 6 illustrate the steps of anotehr embodiment of said method. These figures show the design solution which consists in cutting trapezoids having unequal angles at the base.
As shown in FIG. 1, a line of leaves 1, 2, 3 is formed so that the leaves are displaced with the thick end of the midrib foremost. The leaves are all disposed with the raised portions of their ribs located on the same side of the leaf plane.
As shown in FIG. 2, the leaves are stemmed and fragments 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of trapezoidal shape are cut from each half-leaf. In the case of each leaf, the two trapezoids 4, 5 are symmetrical with respect to the axis of the leaf-line. Said trapezoids have unequal angles at the base and the largest angle corresponds to that portion of the leaf which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib in order to utilize the leaf material to the maximum extent.
The two trapezoids 6 and 7 are then caused to pivot in their plane through an angle of 180° in the case of one leaf out of two by rotating the trapezoid 6 clockwise and the trapezoid 7 in the anticlockwise direction.
One extremity of each trapezoid is then coated with adhesive and the trapzeiods of successive half-leaves are then placed in overlapping realtion. One of the two bands thus formed is constituted by the framents 4, 6, 8 and the other band is constituted by the fragments 5, 7, 9.
As shown in FIG. 4, two lines of leaves are formed : the leaves 10, 11, 12 constitute the first line and the leaves 13, 14, 15 constitute the second line. The leaves are oriented in the direction of the arros. Th eleaves 10, 11, 12 are oriented with the thick end of the midrib foremost whereas the leaves 13, 14, 15 are oriented in the opposite direction so that the tips are foremost.
As shown in FIG. 5, there are cut from each leaf trapezoids 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 having unequal angles at the base and the largest angle corresponds to the portion which is adjacent to the thick end of the midrib. The trapezoid 20 is displaced in translational motion and inserted between the trapezoid 17 of the leaf 10 and the trapezoid 19 of the leaf 11, whereupon the trapezoid 21 is displaced between the trapezoid 16 of the leaf 10 and the trapezium 18 of the leaf 11. Two bands are thus obtained as shown in FIG. 6, one band being made up of the trapezoids 16, 21, 18 and the other band being made up of the trapezoids 17, 20, 19.
The bands which are thus formed in accordance with one of the embodiments of the method of the invention will subsequently be cut for the manufacture of cigar-wrappers which are provided in each band with parallel ribs, the surface elevations formed by said ribs being located on the same side of the leaf plane.