United States Patent
`Lewis et al.
`
`[19]
`
`I IIIII IIIIIIII Ill lllll lllll lllll lllll 111111111111111 lllll 111111111111111111
`US005425215A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,425,215
`Jun.20, 1995
`
`[54] APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING LOOSE
`LEAF MATERIAL
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Robert T. Lewis; Byron L. Lowe, both
`of Macon, Ga.
`
`[73] Assignee: Brown & Williamson Tobacco
`Corporation, Louisville, Ky.
`[21] Appl. No.: 48,987
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Apr. 16, 1993
`
`[51]
`
`Int. Cl.6 •••..•.•••••••••••.•••• B65B 41/16; B65B 43/60;
`B65B 63/02
`[52] U.S. Cl . ........................................ 53/170; 53/529;
`53/575
`[58] Field of Search ................. 53/253, 258, 529, 575,
`53/456, 170, 172
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,570,432 1/1926 Busse ..................................... 53/258
`2,360,846 10/1944 Bronander ........................ 53/575 X
`3,088,499 5/1963 Rieger ............................... 53/258 X
`3,910,011 10/1975 Beninger ........................... 53/258 X
`4,241,564 12/1980 Quarenghi ............................. 53/575
`4,581,004 4/1986 Nagata .............................. 53/575 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1210874 3/1960 France.
`916877 1/1963 United Kingdom .
`
`Primary Examiner-Linda B. Johnson
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Charles I. Sherman
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`The present invention comprises a device and method
`for feeding a cut loose-leaf material such as, for example
`tobacco, from a weight scale; dropping the tobacco into
`a hopper; compressing the tobacco into the desired size,
`shape, and density; and packaging the loose-leaf to(cid:173)
`bacco product. Packaging is accomplished by wrapping
`an inner foil and overwrap label around an arbor on a
`rotating arbor wheel. The package is constructed in
`various stages as the arbor wheel rotates to various
`positions. The inner foil is fed and wrapped around the
`arbor without extending the foil below the body of the
`package so that the foil does not form a bottom end.
`The foil extends above the body of the package and is
`folded to form a top end. An outer label having a suffi(cid:173)
`cient length to extend past the top and bottom of the
`arbor is overwrapped about the foil innerwrap. The
`overwrap label extending past the bottom of the arbor is
`folded and glued over the foil innerwrap to form a top
`end to the package. The loose-leaf tobacco is com(cid:173)
`pressed and pushed through the arbor into the open end
`of the package. The package of tobacco is forced off of
`the arbor wheel and the open end of the package is
`folded and glued as the package is transported there(cid:173)
`from.
`
`12 Claims, 17 Drawing Sheets
`
`20
`
`____ ,o
`
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`Page 1
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Sheet 1 of 17
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`June 20, 1995
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`U.S. Patent
`
`June 20, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 17
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`FIG. 3
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`U.S. Patent
`
`June 20, 1995
`
`Sheet 4 of 17
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`RJRV EX 1020
`Page 5
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`RJRV EX 1020
`Page 7
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Sheet 7 of 17
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`RJRV EX 1020
`Page 8
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Sheet 8 of 17
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`Page 9
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Page 10
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Sheet 10 of 17
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`Page 11
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 20, 1995
`
`Sheet 11 of 17
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`5,425,215
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`June 20, 1995
`
`Sheet 12 of 17
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`5,425,215
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`RJRV EX 1020
`Page 13
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 20, 1995
`
`Sheet 13 of 17
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`5,425,215
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`Page 14
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Sheet 14 of 17
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`Page 15
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`U.S. Patent
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`June 20, 1995
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`Sheet 15 of 17
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`Page 16
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`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 20, 1995
`
`Sheet 16 of 17
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`5,425,215
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`RJRV EX 1020
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`Page 18
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`1
`
`5,425,215
`
`APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING LOOSE LEAF
`MATERIAL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`the package containing the loose leaf material from the
`arbor.
`It is an object of the present invention to provide an
`improved method for packaging loose-leaf materials
`5 such as tea, or loose leaf tobacco such as may be used
`for pipe tobacco or roll-your-own cigarettes.
`It is another object of this invention to provide a
`The present invention relates to an apparatus for
`method of packaging cut tobacco on a continuously
`packaging cut loose leaf material such as, for example
`feed high speed machine.
`tobacco, and particularly relates to a method for fabri-
`It is another object of this invention to provide a
`eating a package and packaging cut loose leaf tobacco 10
`method for fabricating a package and packaging loose
`in the package using an arbor type machine.
`leaf tobacco in the package on an arbor type machine
`In the packaging of cut loose-leaf tobacco for either
`wherein the foil or inner seal of the package is folded
`roll your own cigarettes or for use as pipe tobacco, it
`around an outwardly projecting rectangular shaped
`has been common to use commercially available ma-
`chines which are particularly utilized for the packing of 15 tube on a rotating circular wheel, wherein the outward
`top end of the inner wrap is folded to form a rectangu-
`tea bags. These machines include a rotary dispensing
`drum having rows of circumferentially spaced pockets
`larly shaped package, an overwrap label is wrapped and
`into which the tobacco flows by gravity through outlets
`folded around the innerwrap foil, and loose leaf tobacco
`at the bottom of an overhead feed hopper. The tobacco
`is then inserted through the tube and subsequently
`is deposited in piles from the pockets on a web of pack- 20 thereto, a plunger pushes the resulting package from the
`aging material which travels in contact with the periph-
`tube.
`eral of the rotary dispensing drum. The lower portion of
`These objectives are accomplished in the present
`the hopper containing the outlets for feeding the rotary
`invention, by packaging loose-leaf tobacco using an
`arbor wheel apparatus having a plurality of outwardly
`dispensing drum is moveable in relation to the drum
`therefore varying the dispensing area of the outlets.
`25 projecting rectangular shaped tube "arbors" on a rotat-
`In the packaging art there are a number of references
`ing circular wheel. Fabrication of the package for pack-
`which teach the packaging of loosely cut or pulverized
`aging of the tobacco product is accomplished by feed-
`materials from a hopper into a package. For example,
`ing an innerwrap foil to the arbor wheel and wrapping
`U.S. Pat. No. 4,004,398 to Larson et al teaches an appa-
`the foil around an arbor tube without exten?ing the ~oil
`ratus and method of feeding pulverized material from a 30 below the body of the pac~age. The f01l extendmg
`hopper into a package formed thereby as well as the
`above the body of the arbor 1s folded to form a rectan-
`compressing and/or plunging means for inserting the
`gular shaped to~ end. As the arbor wheel rotates, a~
`pulverized material into the package. U.S. Pat. No.
`?verwrap label 1s wrapped and glued about the fo~
`4,069,349 teaches machinery and a method for packag-
`mnerwrap. The overwra~ label extend~ past the top an
`ing material such as coffee and includes the use of a 35 bottom of t~e arbor and mnerwrap foil. 'T!1e overwrap
`label exten~mg past the top of the arbor 1s_ folded and
`hopper from which coffee is directed to the package
`u s p t N
`b ·
`fi
`ed M
`glued formmg a top overwrap end covenng the top
`cl
`4 362 784
`0
`emf orm
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`· ·
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`innerwrap foil end. Packaging of the loose leaf material
`•
`'
`teatc es a pac. ahge cfiolmdedpn~mgt an tmnerNwrap anf th an
`is accomplished by feeding loose leaf tobacco from a
`ou er wrap wit a O
`m s rue °:re. one O
`~e 40 weight scale into a hopper where the tobacco is com-
`references te~ch the use o~ a cont~uously fed high
`pressed to the desired size and shape, and pushed into
`speed packagmg and wrappmg machme for loose leaf
`the open end of the wrapped arbor as the arbor wheel
`rotates. The package containing the tobacco is then
`products.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`forced off of the arbor wheel and onto a conveyor
`.
`.
`. d"
`d
`d
`45 where the open bottom end of the package is folded and
`Th
`e present mvent1on 1s 1recte
`towar an appara-
`glued together as the package is transported on a con(cid:173)
`tus for fabricating a package and packaging loose leaf
`veyor.
`material therein, comprising a rotating arbor wheel, a
`plurality of arbors each one having an inlet and an out-
`let with each one of the arbors being mounted on the 50
`arbor wheel. The present invention includes a means for
`feeding at least one sheet of wrapping material to the
`arbor wheel, means for wrapping the sheet around the
`arbor, means for folding one end of the sheet the outlet
`of the arbor forming a closed end package, a means for 55
`inserting loose leaf material into the inlet of the arbor,
`and a means for removing the package containing loose
`leaf material from the arbor.
`Moreover, the present invention provides a method
`of fabricating a package and packaging loose leaf mate- 60
`rial therein, comprising the steps of rotating an arbor
`wheel having a plurality of arbors mounted thereon
`each one of the arbors having an inlet and an outlet. The
`method includes feeding at least one sheet of wrapping
`material to the arbor wheel, wrapping the sheet around 65
`the arbor, folding one end of the sheet over the outlet of
`the arbor forming a closed end package, inserting loose
`leaf material into the inlet of the arbor, and removing
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ORA WINGS
`A better understanding of the present invention will
`be had upon reference to the following description in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which
`like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several
`views and wherein:
`FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the application
`of foil to an arbor of the loose-leaf packaging apparatus
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the application
`of an outer wrap to a foil wrapped arbor of the loose
`leaf packaging apparatus of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an
`arbor and clamping mechanism positioned with respect
`to the arbor wheel shown in phantom lines for the loose
`leaf packaging apparatus of FIG. l;
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the arbor of
`FIG. 3 attached to the arbor wheel;
`FIG. 5 is a sectional side view taken along line section
`5-5 of FIG. 1, showing the compression hopper of the
`
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`5,425,215
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`25
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`3
`loose leaf packaging apparatus in the open position for
`receiving loose leaf tobacco product;
`FIG. 6 is a sectional side view taken along line section
`6-6 ofFIG.1 showing the compression hopper for the
`loose leaf packaging apparatus in the closed position 5
`compressing the loose leaf material;
`FIG. 7 a sectional side view taken along line section
`7-7 of FIG. 6 showing a reciprocating loose-leaf
`hopper plunger mechanism for forcing compressed
`loose leaf tobacco product out of the compressor 10
`hopper into an arbor;
`FIG. 8 is a sectional side view taken along line section
`8-8 of FIG. 6 showing a reciprocating loose-leaf
`hopper plunger mechanism forcing compressed loose
`leaf tobacco product out of the compressor hopper into 15
`an arbor at the 9 o'clock position;
`FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the loose leaf packaging
`apparatus, drive unit, and index unit of the present in(cid:173)
`vention;
`FIG. 10 a sectional side view taken along line 10-10 20
`of FIG. 9, showing a cam mechanism for driving the
`compression hopper plunger of FIGS. 7 and 8;
`FIG. 11 is a cut away side view showing insertion of
`a single stage take-off plunger into an arbor simulta-
`neously compressing the loose leaf material and con(cid:173)
`tacting the interior end of the package;
`FIG. 12 is a cut away side view of the single stage
`take-off plunger of FIG. 11 showing extension of the
`plunger and removal of the package from the arbor;
`FIG. 13 is a cut away side view of the single stage
`take-off plunger of FIG. 11 showing removal of the
`plunger from the package;
`FIG. 14 is a cut away side view of the single stage
`take-off plunger of FIG. 11 showing removal of the 35
`plunger from the arbor;
`FIG. 15 is a sectional side view taken along line
`15-15 of FIG. 9, showing a cam mechanism for driv(cid:173)
`ing the reciprocating package take-off plunger for re(cid:173)
`moving the filled packages of tobacco when the pack- 4-0
`age is positioned at the 12 o'clock position on the arbor
`wheel;
`FIG. 16 is a side view taken along line section 16-16
`of FIG. 9, showing the loose leaf packaging apparatus
`and the takeoff plunger in the 12 o'clock position in 45
`cooperative relationship with the index unit;
`FIG. 17 is an enlarged side view of FIG. 16 showing
`the index conveyor;
`FIG. 18 top view of the index conveyor unit shown
`in FIG. 17;
`FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the spring loaded
`ejector shown in FIG. 9;
`FIG. 20 is a cut away side view showing an alternate
`two stage take-off plunger being inserted into the pack(cid:173)
`age and compressing the tobacco in an arbor in the 12 55
`o'clock position;
`FIG. 21 is a cut away side view of the two stage
`take-off plunger pushing the tobacco filled package out
`of the arbor;
`FIG. 22 is a cut away side view of the two stage 60
`take-off plunger of FIG. 20 showing withdrawal of the
`first stage from the package;
`FIG. 23 is a cut away side view of the two stage
`take-off plunger of FIG. 20 showing withdrawal of the
`first and second stages from the arbor;
`FIG. 24 is a side view showing a rack and pinion
`reciprocating package take-off plunger mechanism as
`an alternate to the take-off plunger of FIG. 15;
`
`50
`
`65
`
`4
`FIG. 25 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the
`loose leaf packaging apparatus of the present invention
`showing an alternate package removal mechanism;
`FIG. 26 is a side view along line section 26-26 of
`FIG. 25 showing a package take-off walking beam con(cid:173)
`veyor and showing folding of the short flaps of a pack(cid:173)
`age being removed from the loose leaf packaging appa(cid:173)
`ratus;
`FIG. 27 is a side view along line section 27-27 of
`FIG. 25 showing gluing and folding of the long flaps;
`FIG. 28 (a-q) is a plurality of perspective views
`showing the assembling of a package by the loose leaf
`packaging apparatus of FIG. 1, each step being shown
`in sequence;
`FIG. 29 is an elevated perspective view showing the
`foil innerwrap package fabricated using the loose leaf
`packaging apparatus of the present invention;
`FIG. 30 is an elevated perspective view showing an
`overwrap label wrapped around the sides of the foil
`innerwrap package of FIG. 29;
`FIG. 31 an elevated perspective view showing the
`top end of the finished package of FIG. 30; and
`FIG. 32 an elevated perspective view showing the
`bottom view of the finished package of FIG. 30.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`The present invention includes both an apparatus and
`method for packaging loose leaf material, ground, or
`fibrous materials such as tobacco, tea, coffee, or the like
`into fabricated packages. The preferred embodiment of
`the instant invention is used for packaging loose leaf
`tobacco such as is used · for roll your own cigarettes,
`pipes, or chewing tobacco. The finished tobacco prod(cid:173)
`uct to be packaged is usually cut into fine fibers and
`small particles suitable for fitting into a pipe or standard
`size cigarette wrapping paper.
`In FIG. 1, a loose-leaf packaging apparatus 10 is
`shown having an arbor wheel 12 (shown in phantom
`lines) rotating clockwise around a central shaft 14
`(shown in FIG. 3) oriented with respect to the horizon(cid:173)
`tal axis. A plurality of outwardly projecting rectangular
`shaped tubes "arbors" 16 are fixedly mounted onto the
`rotating circular arbor wheel or turret 12. As the arbor
`wheel 12 rotates, the individual arbors 16 stop momen(cid:173)
`tarily at twelve preselected positions synonymous with
`the positions of a clock.
`Fabrication of the package for packaging of the to(cid:173)
`bacco product is accomplished by feeding an innerwrap
`foil to the arbor wheel and wrapping the foil around an
`arbor tube without extending the foil below the body of
`the package. As shown in FIG. 1, an innerwrap foil 18
`from a foil roll 20 is wrapped around an arbor 12 at the
`twelve o'clock position forming an innerwrap package
`22 such as is shown in the two o'clock position. An
`overwrap label 24 having a plurality of slits formed by
`slitting rollers 26 and having an adhesive applied simul(cid:173)
`taneously by a first glue wheel 28 and a second glue
`wheel 30 is wrapped around the innerwrap package 22
`when the arbor is stationed in the three o'clock position
`forming an overwrapped package 32 such as is shown in
`the four o'clock position.
`Packaging of the loose leaf material into the fabri(cid:173)
`cated overwrapped package 32 is accomplished by
`feeding loose leaf tobacco from a weight scale (not
`shown) into a compression hopper 34 where the to(cid:173)
`bacco is compressed to a plug having the desired size
`and shape. A hopper plunger 36 pushes the loose leaf
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`tobacco plug into the open end of the wrapped arbor 16
`stationed in the nine o'clock position. As best shown in
`FIG. 2, the tobacco filled package 38 containing the
`loose leaf tobacco product is then forced from the arbor
`16 with a take-off plunger 36 and ejected onto a con- 5
`veyor where the open bottom end of the tobacco filled
`package 38 is folded and glued together as the package
`is transported along the conveyor.
`FIGS. 3 and 4 show that the arbor wheel 12 has an
`outer rim 40 or lip extending past the wheel body 42 10
`providing attachment points for a plurality of arbors 16,
`more specifically twelve arbors 16 as shown in the pre(cid:173)
`ferred embodiment. The arbors 16 are attached to the
`rim 40 on the periphery of the arbor wheel 12 to pro(cid:173)
`vide a structural support means and a holding means for 15
`containing a loose leaf tobacco product and to provide
`a frame to fabricate and shape a package for containing
`the loose leaf tobacco product.
`As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each arbor 16 in(cid:173)
`cludes an outwardly projecting tube 44 which is gener- 20
`ally rectangular in shape having four side walls: a nar(cid:173)
`row outer wall 46 (as shown in FIG. 1), a narrow inner
`wall 48, and a pair of wide side walls SO connecting the
`outer wall 46 and inner wall 48. The arbors 16 are re(cid:173)
`movably attached to the arbor wheel rim 16 by an at- 25
`tachment frame 52 which has a strip of material extend(cid:173)
`ing around the inner end of the arbor 16. Each arbor 16
`is designed having a short flared portion 54 which
`projects inward toward the arbor wheel body 42 ex(cid:173)
`tending outward past the arbor attachment frame 52. 30
`Each of the walls 46, 48, and SO are slightly flared to
`guide the plug of loose leaf tobacco into the arbor 16
`during the filling operation.
`With reference to FIGS. 1-4, the arbors 16 are ori(cid:173)
`ented in the horizontal axis, perpendicular to the arbor 35
`wheel 12. The main portion of the arbor 16 projects
`outwardly away from the arbor wheel 12. The arbors 16
`are attached to the arbor wheel rim 40 so that arbor
`outer wall 46 and outer wall 48 are oriented parallel to
`the vertical axis when the arbor 16 is in the three o' - 40
`clock position of the arbor wheel 12.
`Various stages of packaging of the loose-leaf tobacco
`product takes place as the arbor wheel 12 rotates, for
`short time intervals, stopping at twelve positions or
`stages.
`As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, fabrication of the
`package begins with an arbor 16 positioned at twelve
`o'clock. A sheet of innerwrap foil 18 is drawn from a
`foil drum 20 positioned above the arbor wheel 12. The
`foil 18 is fed through a set of idler rollers 56 where the 50
`foil 48 is lowered and centered to the right of and in
`front of the arbor 16 at the twelve o'clock position. The
`foil 18 extends outwardly beyond the distal end of the
`arbor tube 44 providing material to be folded to form a
`container package having an innerwrap foil top end 58. 55
`As the arbor 16 remains in the stationary position in the
`twelve o'clock position, a first pivotable clamp 60, (as
`shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4), holds the foil 18 to the
`wide side wall 50 of the arbor 16. A foil knife 64 cuts the
`foil 18 at a predetermined length long enough to be 60
`wrapped around the arbor 16.
`As the arbor wheel 12 turns clockwise, foil folders 62
`positioned below and above arbor 16 fold the foil 18
`around the arbor 16 perpendicular to the arbor axis,
`folding first longitudinal foil edge 64 inward and folding 65
`second longitudinal foil edge 66 inward overlapping foil
`edge 64 as best shown in FIGS. 28 (a--d). A pair of
`spring loaded rollers 68 compress the foil 18 tightly
`
`45
`
`6
`around the arbor 16. A second pivotable seam clamp 65
`holds the longitudinal foil edges 64 and 66 in position.
`As the arbor wheel 12 rotates clockwise a pair of eccen(cid:173)
`tric type fingers (not shown) fold the foil 18 extending
`outward past the arbor side walls SO around the end of
`the arbor tube 44 forming a first inner long foil end flap
`68 and a second outer long end foil flap 70 folded over(cid:173)
`lapping the first flap 68 as shown in FIG. 28(e). The
`short foil end flaps 72 form ears which extend outward.
`On the flanged portion of the arbor 16, the foil 18 is
`wrapped around the arbor tube 44 so that it does not
`extend past the flanged portion 54 of the arbor 16.
`As the arbor 16 rotates toward the three o'clock
`position the first pivotable clamp 60 pivots away from
`the arbor 16 to allow positioning of a presized overwrap
`label 24 positioned between the arbor 16 and first clamp
`60. An overwrap label 24 having a plurality of slits
`formed by slitting rollers 26 and having an adhesive
`applied simultaneously by a first glue wheel 28 and a
`second glue wheel 30 is inserted between the innerwrap
`package 22 and the first clamp 60 in the three o'clock
`position, such as shown in FIGS. 28 ({and m).
`As shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the overwrap label
`24 projects beyond both ends of the arbor 16 providing
`material to be folded forming both. a label bottom end
`adjacent the flared portion 54 of arbor 16 and an over(cid:173)
`wrapped label top end projecting outward past the
`arbor tube 44 to cover the top end of the foil innerwrap
`package 22. As the arbor wheel 12 rotates, first clamp
`60 holds the wrapper 24 against the innerwrap foil pack(cid:173)
`age 22, and second seam clamp 65 is released to provide
`space for folding the wrapper 24 around the foil pack(cid:173)
`age 22 by a pair of folders 78 positioned below and
`above arbor 16. The folders 78 fold a first longitudinal
`wrapper edge 80 inward and then fold a second longitu(cid:173)
`dinal wrapper edge 82 inward overlapping wrapper
`edge 80 as best shown in FIGS. 28 (g-i and n). A pair of
`spring loaded rollers 68 (not shown) compress the
`wrapper 24 tightly around the innerwrap package 22.
`The second pivotable seam clamp 65 is then reapplied to
`hold the longitudinal foil edges 64 and 66 in position. As
`the arbor wheel 12 rotates clockwise a pair of eccentric
`type fingers 84 fold the short wrapper flaps 85 extend(cid:173)
`ing outward pass the arbor tube 44 and the short foil end
`flaps 72 of the innerwrap foil package 22 inward as
`shown in 28 (J). A pair of long wrapper folders 86 fold
`a first inner long wrapper end flap 88 inward and a
`second outer long end wrapper flap 90 is folded inward
`overlapping the first flap 88 as shown in FIGS. 28(k-J)
`forming an overwrap package 32 having a top end 92
`such as is shown in the seven o'clock position of the
`arbor wheel 12 in FIG. 1.
`At the nine o'clock position loose-leaf tobacco is
`inserted or plunged into the open flared portion 54 of
`the arbor 16 and into the tubular main body 44 of the
`arbor 16. A predetermined amount of loose leaf tobacco
`is preweighed in a scale hopper (not shown). It is con(cid:173)
`templated that any volume measurement of weight
`device could be used to weigh the loose leaf product,
`such as a balance or weigh conveyor and load cell as(cid:173)
`sembly. The premeasured loose-leaf tobacco is dropped
`into the compressor hopper 34 for sizing and shaping
`the loose-leaf tobacco product into a cube or plug of the
`desired dimensions and density as shown in FIGS. S and
`6.
`
`The compression chamber 94 of the compression
`hopper 34 has a width slightly less than the width of the
`arbor 16. The compression means includes a rotary
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`7
`compactor 96 pivotally mounted within the compres(cid:173)
`sion chamber 94 to revolve back and forth around a
`central axle 98 attached to the side walls of the com(cid:173)
`pression chamber 94. The compactor 96 extends from
`about the center axle 98 to the compression chamber 94 5
`inner side walls 102, (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8), and the
`inner end wall 104 of the compression chamber 104.
`Furthermore, the compression chamber 94 has a sta(cid:173)
`tionary plate 100 forming a floor extending in a horizon-
`tal plane from about the center of the compression IO
`chamber 94 to the inner side walls 102 and the inner end
`wall 104 of the hopper adjacent the arbor wheel 12.
`Rotation of the arbor wheel 12 to the nine o'clock
`position aligns the bottom of the arbor 16 with the sta(cid:173)
`tionary floor plate 100 of the compression hopper 34. 15
`As shown in FIG. 5, in the open or "feed" position, the
`compactor 96 is rotated counter-clockwise and away
`from the arbor wheel 12 so that the compression cham(cid:173)
`ber 94 is open and the plate 100 forms a "floor" surface
`to contain the loose leaf tobacco product being fed to 20
`the compactor 94 from the scale hopper. As shown in
`FIG. 6, the compactor 96 is rotated clockwise toward
`the arbor wheel 12 closing the hopper 34 opening and
`compressing the loose leaf tobacco to a selected dis-
`tance above the floor plate 100 of the compression
`chamber 94. The selected distance in the preferred em(cid:173)
`bodiment is calculated so that the thickness of the com(cid:173)
`pressed tobacco product is slightly less than the thick(cid:173)
`ness of the outer arbor wall 46, inner arbor wall 48, and 30
`arbor side walls 50. The compactor 96 compresses the
`tobacco product to form a cube shaped plug having
`rectangular dimensions sized in accordance with arbor
`16.
`The compactor 96 is operated by a cam mechanism 35
`linked to the drive mechanism of the arbor wheel 12 as
`shown in FIG. 9. The compactor 96 cycle is timed to
`operate in sequence with the arbor wheel 12 which also
`rotates in a clockwise direction. When the cam mecha(cid:173)
`nism rotates the compactor 96 to the three o'clock 40
`"closed" position the arbor 16 is rotated to the nine
`o'clock position of the arbor wheel 12 compressing the
`tobacco "plug" and is aligning the compression hopper
`plate 100 with the arbor 16 of the arbor wheel 12.
`FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6, showing a 45
`hopper plunger 106 positioned to be inserted through
`the compression hopper 34 and into an arbor 16 in align(cid:173)
`ment therewith. FIG. 8 shows the hopper plunger 106
`horizontally disposed within the compression chamber
`94 between the compactor 96 of the compression 50
`hopper 34 and the stationary plate 100 of the compres(cid:173)
`sion hopper 34 forcing the tobacco plug into the arbor
`16. Since, the hopper plunger 106 is mechanically oper(cid:173)
`ated by a hopper plunger cam mechanism 108 and timed
`in sequence with the arbor wheel 12, the hopper 55
`plunger 106 is withdrawn from the arbor 16 and the
`compression chamber 94 before the arbor wheel 12
`rotates clockwise to align another arbor 16 as the com(cid:173)
`pactor 96 rotates counter-clockwise back to the three
`o'clock "fill" position and the procedure is repeated.
`FIG. 10 shows the hopper plunger cam mechanism
`108 for driving the compression hopper plunger 106 of
`the preferred embodiment linked to the main drive unit
`as shown in FIG. 9. The hopper plunger cam mecha(cid:173)
`nism 108 comprises the hopper plunger 106 formed 65
`from a block pivotally linked to a reciprocating self
`centering rod 110 connected to a scotch yoke assembly
`112. The scotch yoke assembly 112 is connected to a
`
`8
`hopper plunger cam 114 by a segmented gear assembly
`116.
`As the arbor wheel 12 rotates clockwise to the twelve
`o'clock position as shown in FIG. 2, a take off plunger
`36 package removal means, such as a single stage
`plunger assembly 118 (shown in FIGS. 11-15), or a
`double stage plunger assembly 120 (shown in FIGS.
`16-20) forces the loose leaf tobacco filled package 38
`from the arbor 16 onto a conveying means.
`The preferred embodiment of the present invention
`utilizes a single stage plunger assembly 118 as a package
`removal means. As best shown in FIG. 11, the single
`stage plunger assembly 118 includes a plunger head 121
`including a block 122 sized to fit within the arbor 16 to
`compress the loose leaf tobacco product. Attached to
`and extending outward from the block 122 is a blade 124
`which projects into the arbor 16 between the tobacco
`and the inner arbor wall 46 or the outer arbor wall 48 a
`preselected distance to contact the end of the innerwrap
`package 22 and control the penetration of the block 122
`within the arbor 16 to control the compression of the
`loose leaf tobacco within the arbor 16. FIG. 12 shows
`the plunger head 121 forcing the tobacco filled package
`38 into a pocket 126 of the conveyor means, such as an
`index unit. The plunger head 121 is then removed from
`the tobacco filled packag