US 12,219,989 B2
Manufacturing machine and manufacturing method for the production of a filter for a tubular element
Roberto Ghiotti, Bologna (IT); Enrico Manfredi, Bologna (IT); and Yuri Negrini, Bologna (IT)
Assigned to SASIB S.P.A., Castel Maggiore (IT)
Appl. No. 17/798,034
Filed by SASIB S.P.A., Castel Maggiore (IT)
PCT Filed Feb. 5, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/050960
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 5, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/156818, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000002419 (IT), filed on Feb. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0108165 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. A24C 5/46 (2006.01); A24D 3/02 (2006.01); B31C 5/00 (2006.01); B31C 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC A24C 5/465 (2013.01) [A24D 3/0245 (2013.01); B31C 5/00 (2013.01); B31C 11/02 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A manufacturing machine (8) for production of a filter (2) for a tubular element (1) for a smoking article; the manufacturing machine (8) comprises:
a folding conveyor (45), which moves a sheet (4) along a folding path (P5), said sheet (4) having an inner portion (5) and a sole outer portion (6);
a feeding station (S8), where the folding conveyor (45) receives the sheet (4) and engages the sole outer portion (6) of the sheet (4), leaving the inner portion (5) of the sheet (4) free;
at least one first folding station (S9), where the inner portion (5) of the sheet (4) left free by the folding conveyor (45) is folded; and
an insertion station (S6), where the folding conveyor (45) releases the sheet (4) having a folded inner portion (5);
wherein:
the folding conveyor (45) comprises at least one first pocket (47) designed to house the sheet (4), engaging the sole outer portion (6) of the sheet (4), thus leaving the inner portion (5) of the sheet (4) free; and
in the at least one first folding station (S9), the inner portion (5) of the sheet (4) left free by the at least one first pocket (47) is folded like bellows of an accordion.