Device for packing of finely divided, moistened tobacco material

• US 6,135,120 A
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Swedish Match Sverige AB (Philip Morris Limited)
• Original Assignee: Swedish Match Sverige AB (Philip Morris Limited)
• Inventors: Gamhed, Kenth, Ek, Kenneth, Lofman, Lars Olof
• Primary Examiner(s): Silverman, Stanley S
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLAIANNI, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/214,704
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 131/112, 131/115, 131/118, 53/111 R, 53/431, 53/439
• US Class Current: 131/112
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/366 about a horizontal axis of symmetry
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 29/00 Packaging of materials presenting special problems
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 37/12 of centrifugal type
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 51/16 by rotary members
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/067 the web advancing continuously B65B9/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A device (1) for packaging finely divided, moistened tobacco material in individual portion packages, comprising a means (2) for feeding the material into pockets (4) formed in a rotary portioning wheel (3) for portioning the material into portions. The device further comprises at least one compression means (10, 11, 12) for compressing these portions, a unit (23, 27) for advancing a packaging material (17) in synchrony with the compressed portions, at least one means (14, 15, 16) for discharging the portions from the pockets and advancing them the packaging material, and a unit (28, 29, 30, 31, 33) for forming individual portion packages from the discharged portions and the packaging material. At the intended point of discharge of the portions to the packaging material, said material has the form of a tape (17), the compression means (10, 11, 12) being arranged to compress the portions in a direction which differs from the discharging and the feeding directions.

Claims

1. A device for packaging finely divided, moistened tobacco material in individual portion packages, comprising:

a feeding means for feeding the tobacco material into pockets formed in a rotary portioning wheel for portioning the material into portions,

at least one compression means for compressing tobacco material portions,

a unit for advancing a packaging material in synchrony with the compressed portions,

at least one discharge means for discharging the tobacco material portions from the pockets to the packaging material, and

a forming unit for forming individual portion packages from the discharged tobacco material portions and the packaging material,

wherein at the intended point of discharge of the tobacco material portions to the packaging material, said packaging material has the form of a tape, the compression means being arranged to compress the tobacco material portions in a direction which differs from the discharging and the feeding directions,

wherein the compression is effected in a direction perpendicular to the discharging and the feeding directions, the compression being effected in the axial direction of the portioning wheel whereas the feeding and discharging are effected in the radial direction of said wheel.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the forming unit comprises a folding means for folding the packaging material about the tobacco material portions, a sealing means for transversely sealing the packaging material between the portions, and a severing means for severing the packaging material in said transverse seals for forming individual portion packages.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tobacco material to be packaged in portion packages is a finely divided tobacco material having moisture content of about 50%.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tobacco material is snuff tobacco.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packaging material tape includes a heat-sealable packaging material.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the packaging material includes viscose fibres bonded by a thermoplastic bonding agent.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tobacco material to be packaged in portion packages is a finely divided tobacco material having moisture content of about 50%.

8. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the packaging material tape consists of heat-sealable packaging material.

9. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the packaging material tape consists of heat-sealable packaging material.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the packaging material tape consists of heat-sealable packaging material.