DEVICE FOR APPLYING FLAVORINGS TO A MEDIUM

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for applying preferably liquid flavorings (15), in particular menthol, to a medium (16), wherein flavoring (15) is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container (10) to an applicator unit (14) via at least one conduit (11, 13). The invention is characterized in that the applicator unit (14) has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring (15) to the medium (16).

Description

STATEMENT OF RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2012/004530 having an International Filing Date of 30 Oct. 2012, which claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2011 118 354.3 having a filing date of 14 Nov. 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to a device for applying preferably liquid flavorings, in particular menthol, to a medium, in particular to a blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container to an applicator unit via at least one conduit.

2. Prior Art

The supply of menthol as a flavoring is known in practice in various variants. In this context, menthol may by supplied in liquid form during the formation of a tobacco strand, for example. Here, menthol is sprayed toward the tobacco strand by means of a nozzle. Accordingly, the medium in this case is the tobacco strand. However, the application of menthol to filters (filter ends) of cigarettes or to cigarette paper for wrapping the tobacco strand is also known in practice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Proceeding therefrom, the invention is based on the object of refining devices of the type mentioned at the outset.

A device for achieving this object is a device for applying preferably liquid flavorings, in particular menthol, to a medium, in particular to a blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container to an applicator unit via at least one conduit, characterized in that the applicator unit has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring to the medium, wherein flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit in a pressure-controlled manner. It is accordingly provided that the applicator unit has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring to the medium, wherein flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit in a pressure-controlled manner.

It may furthermore be provided that elements of the device for handling flavoring are, at least in part, heatable, wherein a heating-regulating unit for controlling and/or regulating the heating of at least some elements is provided, wherein the elements preferably comprise containers, conduits, valves and the applicator unit.

It is preferably provided that the container, or each of the containers, is assigned a weighing unit, in particular a weighing cell, for determining the amount of flavoring in the container, wherein preferably a filling-level indication means for the amount of flavoring in the container is provided.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the elements of the device are connected to a machine controller via conduits.

A first specialty may consist in that flavoring is stored in the container under preferably low pressure, in particular a pressure of below 0.5 bar, and, by way of the pressure in the container, is directly and/or indirectly supplyable to the applicator unit, wherein the pressure in the container is preferably controllable by means of a valve, in particular a proportional valve.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the container is not pressurized and flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit by means of a pump unit.

An alternative variant may provide that the container is not pressurized and flavoring is supplyable to the applicator unit by means of a conveying unit, preferably in such a manner that, by means of the conveying unit, flavoring is supplied from a non-pressurized storage container to a processing container situated at a higher level and, from there, is supplyable via a conduit to the applicator unit situated at a lower level. In this case, in particular, it may be provided that, in the region of the conveying unit, a conveying path is encapsulated in order to counteract any volatilization of the flavoring.

A further specialty may consist in that a plurality of, in particular two, containers having flavorings are provided which are in each case connected via a conduit to a switchover valve for alternatingly controlling the supply of flavoring from one of the two containers to the applicator unit. The advantage of this solution, in particular, may consist in that one container in each case may be filled while flavorings are being withdrawn from the other container. On account of this, continuous operation of the device is ensured.

In one preferred refinement of the invention, it is furthermore provided that the elements of the device are fixedly interconnected via conduits. In this manner, coupling elements or the like, which have proven to be susceptible to malfunctioning, can be dispensed with.

The device according to the invention is particularly suited to the cyclical, but also continuous, application of menthol to blanks for cigarette packs, for example inner liners. Here, application may take place to individual blanks, but also to a (continuous) material web for the blanks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following on the basis of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first variant of a device for applying flavorings, in a schematic illustration,

FIG. 2 shows a second variant of a device for applying flavorings, in a schematic illustration,

FIG. 3 shows a third variant of a device for applying flavorings, in a schematic illustration, and

FIG. 4 shows a fourth variant of a device for applying flavorings, in a schematic illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first variant of a device for applying flavorings is shown in the schematic illustration according to FIG. 1.

Flavorings here are kept available in two containers 10. A conduit 11 leads from each of the containers 10 to a valve 12. A further conduit 13 leads from the valve 12 to an applicator unit 14. The applicator unit 14 serves for the application of flavoring 15 to a medium 16.

For the uniform distribution of flavoring 15 on the medium 16, a distributor element 17 is provided adjacent to the applicator unit 14.

The elements of the device which have been described so far are heatable. A heating-regulating unit 18, which is connected to the mentioned elements via conduits 19, serves for controlling and/or regulating the heating.

Weighing units 20, in particular in the form of weighing cells, are assigned to each of the two containers 10. With said weighing units 20, the filling level of the containers 10 is measured. In order to indicate the filling levels of the containers 10, a filling-level indication means 21 is connected to the weighing units 20 via conduits 22.

The containers 10 are pressurized at a low pressure of <0.5 bar. Pressure control takes place by way of a switchover valve 23 and a proportional valve 24.

A machine controller 25, which, via conduits 26, is connected to the applicator unit 14, the heating-regulating unit 18, the valve 12, the valve 23, the proportional valve 24 and the filling-level indication means 21, is provided for controlling the device.

The device described so far substantially functions as follows: flavoring 15 is conveyed out of the containers 10 by means of positive pressure, wherein, by means of the valve 12, it is controlled from which of the two containers 10 flavoring 15 passes to the applicator unit 14.

The applicator unit 14 contains a controllable valve for the application of flavoring 15 to the medium 16. In the shown exemplary embodiment, the medium 16 is a blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack.

During the application of flavoring 15, the medium 16 is moved past the applicator unit 14, the valve being located at a short distance from the medium 16. Applied flavoring 15 is uniformly distributed by way of the distributor element 17, which may be configured as a smoothing strip, for example. Alternatively, the valve of the applicator unit 14 may also substantially bear on the medium 16.

The pressure in the containers 10 is regulated via the proportional valve 24 and the switchover valve 23. The proportional valve 24 serves for regulating the pressure. By means of the switchover valve 23, the pressure is directed to that container 10 which is in operation.

As soon as a low filling level is detected in preferably one of the containers 10 by means of the weighing units 20, said container 10 is accordingly swapped for a filled container 10, or the container 10 is filled in situ. Preferably, conveying is in each case performed only from one container 10 at a time. However, it is also conceivable for flavoring 15 to be conveyed simultaneously from both containers 10.

The flavoring 15, in the present case, is menthol which is preferably processed in liquid form. The use of other flavoring or aromatic substances in other states of matter is, however, also conceivable.

FIG. 2 shows a second variant of the device. From a non-pressurized container 10 for receiving flavoring 15, flavoring 15 is conveyed via a heatable conduit 11, by means of a pump unit 27 which is arranged in the conduit 11, to the applicator unit 14 and, as described above, applied to the medium 16. The pump unit 27 may be a gear pump, for example.

Again, a heating-regulating unit 18 is connected to the elements of the device via conduits 19. A machine controller 25 controls, or regulates, the applicator unit 14, the heating unit 18 and the pump unit 27 via conduits 26.

Flavoring 15 is filled into the container 10 via a filling funnel 28, is liquefied owing to the heating of the container 10, and, by means of the pump unit 27, is pumped from the container 10 to the applicator unit 14 and applied to the medium 16.

A further variant of the device is shown in FIG. 3. From a non-pressurized container 10, flavoring 15 is supplied, via a conveying unit 29, to a container 10, which is arranged at a higher level and is heatable. Flavoring 15 is supplied from the container 10 via a conduit 11 to the applicator unit 14.

As is the case in the preceding exemplary embodiments, a heating-regulating unit 18 having corresponding conduits 19 and a machine controller 25 having corresponding conduits 26 are provided.

In the present case, the conveying unit 29 is configured as a bucket conveyor which, proceeding from the lower container 10, is arranged in an encapsulated or enclosed casing 30.

When processing menthol as flavoring 15, menthol crystals are transported by means of the elevator conveyor into the container 10 which is at a higher level and heatable. The container 10, for example, may be situated 3 or 4 m above the machine or the applicator unit 14, in order to build up the corresponding pressure for transporting the menthol that has been molten or liquefied therein.

A fourth variant for applying flavorings is shown in the schematic illustration according to FIG. 4.

Flavorings here are kept available in two containers 10, 31. From a first container 31, which serves as a storage container, a conduit 11 leads, via a valve 23, to a second container 10, which serves as a processing container. A conduit 13 leads from the second container 10 to the applicator unit 14.

The elements of the device which have been described so far are heatable. A heating-regulating unit 18, which is connected to the mentioned elements via conduits 19, serves for controlling and/or regulating the heating.

Weighing units 20, in particular in the form of weighing cells, are assigned to each of the two containers 10. With said weighing units 20, the filling level of the containers 10 is measured. In order to indicate the filling levels of the containers 10, a filling-level indication means 21 is connected to the weighing units 20 via conduits 22.

Both containers 10, 31 are pressurized by positive pressure. The (storage) container 31, which is on the left in FIG. 4, when required, feeds liquid flavoring 15, or menthol, to the (processing) container 10, which is on the right in FIG. 4. The right-hand container 10 is pressurized at a low pressure of <0.5 bar. Pressure control of both containers 10, 31 takes place in each case by way of a proportional valve 24.

A machine controller 25, which, via conduits 26, is connected to the applicator unit 14, the heating-regulating unit 18, the valve 12, the valve 23, the proportional valves 24 and the filling-level indication means 21, is provided for controlling the device.

It is preferably provided in all exemplary embodiments that the conduits 11, 13, which carry menthol, or flavoring 15, are fixedly connected to the elements of the device. Alternatively, it is conceivable to employ coupling pieces, for example between the conduits 11, 13 and the container 10, 31, the valves 23 and the applicator unit. In this case, for example, the container 31 in FIG. 4 may be used for filling a plurality of containers 10, for example in different product lines.

The devices described are, of course, suitable upon the application of flavorings 15 other than menthol. The application of flavoring 15 to media other than blanks or material webs of packaging material, for example to tobacco or filter pieces, etc., is also conceivable.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10 Container

11 Conduit

12 Valve

13 Conduit

14 Applicator unit

15 Flavoring

16 Medium

17 Distributor element

18 Heating-regulating unit

19 Conduit

20 Weighing unit

21 Filling-level indication means

22 Conduit

23 Switchover valve

24 Proportional valve

25 Machine controller

26 Conduit

27 Pump unit

28 Feeding funnel

29 Conveying unit

30 Casing

31 Container

Claims

1. A device for applying preferably liquid flavorings (15), in particular menthol, to a medium (16), in particular to a blank for an inner liner of a cigarette pack, wherein flavoring (15) is supplyable from a (storage or processing) container (10, 31) to an applicator unit (14) via at least one conduit (11, 13), wherein the applicator unit (14) has a controllable valve for the application of flavoring (15) to the medium (16), wherein flavoring (15) is supplyable to the applicator unit (14) in a pressure-controlled manner.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein elements of the device for handling flavoring (15) are, at least in part, heatable, wherein a heating-regulating unit (18) for controlling and/or regulating the heating of at least some elements is provided, wherein the elements preferably comprise containers (10), conduits (11, 13), valves (12) and the applicator unit (14).

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is assigned a weighing unit (20), in particular a weighing cell, for determining the amount of flavoring (15) in the container (10), wherein preferably a filling-level indication means (21) for the amount of flavoring (15) in the container (10) is provided.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elements of the device are connected to a machine controller (25) via preferably heatable conduits (26).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein flavoring (15) is stored in the container (10) under preferably low pressure, in particular a pressure of below 0.5 bar, and, by way of the pressure in the container (10), is directly and/or indirectly feedable to the applicator unit (14), wherein the pressure in the container (10) is preferably controllable by means of a valve, in particular a proportional valve (24).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of, in particular two, containers (10) are provided which are in each case connected via a conduit to a switchover valve (12) for alternatingly controlling the supply of flavoring (15) from one of the two containers (10) to the applicator unit (14).

7. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elements of the device are fixedly interconnected via conduits (11, 13).

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medium (16) is a material web for an inner liner of a cigarette box.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for the application of flavoring (15), the medium (16) is movable past the applicator unit (14).

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve of the applicator unit (14) is arranged at a short distance from, or bears on, the medium (16).

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein flavoring (15) applied to the medium (16) can be preferably uniformly distributed by a distributor element (17), in particular a smoothing strip, which is arranged adjacent to the applicator unit (14).

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure in the container (10) or the containers (10) is regulatable by means of a proportional valve (24).

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, by means of a switchover valve (23), the pressure is in each case supplyable from one of a plurality of containers (10).

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is not pressurized and flavoring (15) is supplyable to the applicator unit (14) by means of a pump unit (27).

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container (10) is not pressurized and flavoring (15) is supplyable to the applicator unit (14) by means of a conveying unit (29).