US-20260123664-A1 - AN APPRATUS FOR CUTTING A SHEET OF AEROSOL-GENERATING MATERIAL AND ADJUSTMENT METHOD THEREFOR

US20260123664A1US 20260123664 A1US20260123664 A1US 20260123664A1US-20260123664-A1

Abstract

An apparatus for cutting a sheet of aerosol generating material includes a first cutting element having a cutting edge and a second cutting element. The first cutting element is rotatable about its central axis and the second cutting element that is rotatable about its central axis. The central axis of the first cutting element and the central axis of the second cutting element are spaced apart by an initial pre-defined distance. The first and second cutting elements are configured to cut a sheet of aerosol generating material as it is conveyed between the first and second cutting elements. The apparatus further includes a housing configured to support the first cutting element relative to the second cutting element. The housing includes an anti-backlash gear coupled to the first cutting element. The housing is adjustable to move the first cutting element relative to the second cutting element to set a new pre-defined distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements. The present invention also relates to a method of adjusting an apparatus for cutting a sheet of aerosol generating material.

Inventors

Daniel Bray
Jeong Hwan Park
Richard LEBBON

Assignees

Nicoventures Trading Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20231020
Priority Date: 20221021

Claims (20)

1 . An apparatus for cutting a sheet of aerosol generating material comprising: a first cutting element comprising a cutting edge and a second cutting element; wherein the first cutting element is rotatable about its central axis and the second cutting element that is rotatable about its central axis; wherein the central axis of the first cutting element and the central axis of the second cutting element are spaced apart by an initial pre-defined distance; wherein the first and second cutting elements are configured to cut a sheet of aerosol generating material as it is conveyed between the first and second cutting elements; a housing configured to support the first cutting element relative to the second cutting element; wherein the housing comprises an anti-backlash gear coupled to the first cutting element; and wherein the housing is adjustable to move the first cutting element relative to the second cutting element to set a new pre-defined distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the housing is adjustable to move the first cutting element towards the second cutting element such that the new pre-defined distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements is less than the initial pre-defined distance.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second cutting element comprises a cutting edge, the cutting edge of the second cutting element being configured to cooperate with the cutting edge of the first cutting element to shear cut a sheer of aerosol generating material as it is conveyed between the first and second cutting elements.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the housing further comprises a second anti-backlash gear coupled to the second cutting element.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the housing comprises a first housing section and a second housing section, the first housing section being configured to house the first cutting element and the second housing section being configured to house the second cutting element.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first housing section houses the first anti-backlash gear coupled to the first cutting element.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the second housing section houses the second anti-backlash gear coupled to the second cutting element.
8 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism configured to move the first and second housing sections relative to each other to adjust the distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism is configured to reduce the distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements when the diameter of the cutting edge is reduced.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises at least one shim located between the first and second housing sections, the at least one shim being configured to space the first and second housing sections by the initial pre-defined distance.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one shim is removable from between the first and second housing sections so that the first housing section can be moved closer to the second housing section to a new predefined distance with a smaller centre distance.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of shims, each of the shims being removable and/or replaceable such that the first housing section can be moved closer to the second housing section to a new predefined distance with a smaller centre distance.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a threaded bolt, the threaded bolt being configured to move the first housing section closer to the second housing section to a new predefined distance with a smaller centre distance when the threaded bolt is rotated in a first direction.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the threaded bolt comprises a head that is located on the opposite side of the first housing section to the second housing section, and a shank comprising a threaded section configured to engage with a threaded hole in the second housing section.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the head of the threaded bolt is configured to abut the first housing section to cause the first housing section to move towards the second housing section upon rotation of the threaded bolt in the first direction.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein threaded bolt and the first housing section comprise mating surfaces configured to prevent linear movement of the first housing section relative to the threaded bolt.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the threaded bolt comprises head that is located between the first and second housing sections, the threaded bolt comprising a first shank extending towards the first housing section and having a first threaded section configured to engage with a first threaded hole therein, the threaded bolt further comprising a second shank extending towards the second housing section and having a second threaded section configured to engage with a second threaded hole therein.
18 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a pneumatic ram configured to move the first housing section relative to the second housing section.
19 . The apparatus according to claim 18 , further comprising an alignment shoulder configured to ensure consistent engagement of the first and second cutting elements.
20 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the housing further comprises a support frame, wherein the first housing section is movably mounted to the frame in a channel, the frame comprising a supporting means configured to prevent linear movement of the first housing section relative to the threaded bolt.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/GB2023/052742 filed Oct. 20, 2023, which claims priority to GB Application No. 2215642.6 filed Oct. 21, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting a sheet of aerosol generating material. The present invention also relates to a method of adjusting the apparatus. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is known to provide an apparatus for cutting a sheet of aerosol generating material. Known apparatus for cutting sheet material have cutting knives that after a certain amount of use are no longer able to provide the quality of cut that is required. Replacing the cutting knives can be expensive and time consuming. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for cutting a sheet of aerosol generating material comprising: a first cutting element comprising a cutting edge and a second cutting element; wherein the first cutting element is rotatable about its central axis and the second cutting element that is rotatable about its central axis; wherein the central axis of the first cutting element and the central axis of the second cutting element are spaced apart by an initial pre-defined distance; wherein the first and second cutting elements are configured to cut a sheet of aerosol generating material as it is conveyed between the first and second cutting elements; a housing configured to support the first cutting element relative to the second cutting element; wherein the housing comprises an anti-backlash gear coupled to the first cutting element; and wherein the housing is adjustable to move the first cutting element relative to the second cutting element to set a new pre-defined distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements. In some embodiments, the housing may be adjustable to move the first cutting element towards the second cutting element such that the new pre-defined distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements is less than the initial pre-defined distance. In some embodiments, the second cutting element may comprise a cutting edge, the cutting edge of the second cutting element being configured to cooperate with the cutting edge of the first cutting element to shear cut a sheer of aerosol generating material as it is conveyed between the first and second cutting elements. In some embodiments, the housing may further comprise a second anti-backlash gear coupled to the second cutting element. In some embodiments, the housing may comprise a first housing section and a second housing section, the first housing section being configured to house the first cutting element and the second housing section being configured to house the second cutting element. In some embodiments, the first housing section may house the first anti-backlash gear coupled to the first cutting element. In some embodiments, the second housing section may house the second anti-backlash gear coupled to the second cutting element. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise an adjustment mechanism configured to move the first and second housing sections relative to each other to adjust the distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may be configured to reduce the distance between the central axes of the first and second cutting elements when the diameter of the cutting edge is reduced. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise at least one shim located between the first and second housing sections, the at least one shim being configured to space the first and second housing sections by the initial pre-defined distance. In some embodiments, the at least one shim may be removable from between the first and second housing sections so that the first housing section can be moved closer to the second housing section to a new predefined distance with a smaller center distance. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a plurality of shims, each of the shims being removable and/or replaceable such that the first housing section can be moved closer to the second housing section to a new predefined distance with a smaller center distance. In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism may comprise a threaded bolt, the threaded bolt being configured to move the first housing section closer to the second housing section to a new predefined distance with a smaller center distance when the threaded bolt is rotated in a first direction. In some embodiments, the threaded bolt may comprise a head that is located on the opposite side of the first housing section to the second housing section, and a shank comprising a threaded section configured to engage with a threaded hole in the second housing section. In some embodiments