I. Classification of Rolling & Packaging Machinery
(I) Rolling and Connecting Equipment
- Cigarette Making Machine
- Working Principle and Structure: Most modern cigarette making machines adopt the tobacco suction forming method. Taking the ZJ112 cigarette making machine as an example, tobacco cuttings are first conveyed through a tobacco feeder and a pneumatic tobacco conveying pipeline. The first quantity limitation is implemented by the measuring slot, measuring roller, and spreading roller of the feeder. Then, impurities are removed via a magnetic separation device, followed by the second quantity limitation through coarse and fine hook rollers. Subsequently, the tobacco cuttings are transported to the collecting pipe by the tobacco flicking roller and fan roller, and then enter the tobacco suction air duct. Under the action of the tobacco suction forming system, the tobacco cuttings are adsorbed on the tobacco suction belt to form a tobacco strand. After that, the tobacco strand converges with the cigarette paper (on which trademarks have been printed by the brand printing unit) at the cigarette gun. The cigarette gun consists of components such as the cigarette gun base plate, base plate cloth belt guide rollers, cloth belt wheels, cigarette tongue, small pressing plate, large pressing plate, and cloth belt guide rails. The cigarette tongue is in the shape of a semi-cone with a larger inlet and a smaller outlet; it cooperates with the cigarette gun base plate to compress the tobacco strand into a circular shape and guide both the tobacco strand and cigarette paper into the small pressing plate. The small pressing plate expands the tobacco strand to a size slightly smaller than the circumference of a cigarette, while allowing one edge of the cigarette paper to wrap around the tobacco strand and leaving the other edge for gluing. Next, at the large pressing plate, the glued edge of the paper is curled and overlapped with the other edge for bonding, and the tobacco strand is compressed for the third time to form a continuous cigarette rod that meets the circumference specifications. Finally, the cigarette rod is cut into individual cigarettes of the preset length by the cutter head device.
- Typical Models and Characteristics: The ZJ116B cigarette making and connecting unit is developed by Changde Tobacco Machinery Co., Ltd. to meet the demand for high-speed production of slim cigarettes. It has broken through seven core technologies, including fluidized bed tobacco feeding, stem cuttings separation, tobacco suction forming, rolling into rods, cigarette twisting connection, cigarette conveying, and laser perforation, creating a dual-flue rolling and connecting unit suitable for the production of Chinese-style slim cigarettes. It has developed a number of independent intellectual property technologies such as "independent stem cuttings sorting technology", "multi-channel electronic gluing technology for tipping paper", and "slim cigarette twisting connection technology", and has obtained 17 patent authorizations. Its overall technology and performance indicators have reached the advanced level of international similar models. The ZJ119 cigarette making and connecting unit has a production speed of up to 10,000 cigarettes per minute, providing support for the upgrading of high-speed rolling and packaging equipment in the industry. It marks a leap in China's domestic tobacco machinery from technology introduction, digestion, and absorption to the combination of integrated innovation and independent innovation.
- Filter Connecting Machine
- Working Principle and Structure: Represented by models such as the YJ21 filter connecting machine, its working process is roughly as follows: filter rods enter from the hopper and are arranged one by one in order through the transfer drum, filter separation drum, and filter straightening drum. At the same time, the cigarettes produced by the cigarette making machine are picked up by the cigarette catching drum and converge with the filter rods at the combination drum. Then, the tipping paper is released from the tipping paper drum, and under the action of the rolling knife and twisting plate, the cigarettes and filter segments are tightly wrapped together to form filter-tipped cigarettes. Throughout the process, the connecting machine operates in coordination with a series of drums and suction valves to ensure the accurate conveying of filters and cigarettes and the precise completion of the wrapping action.
- Role in Rolling & Packaging: The filter connecting machine is responsible for connecting filters with cigarettes, and the firmness and stability of the connection directly affect the quality and appearance of cigarette products. With the development of technology, new-type filter connecting machines have continuously improved in terms of automation level, connection precision, and adaptability to filters and cigarettes of different specifications. For example, they can accurately control the amount of glue applied, ensuring tight connection between filters and cigarettes and a smooth appearance, thereby improving product quality and production efficiency.
(II) Packaging Equipment
- Hard Pack Packaging Machine
- Working Principle and Structure: Taking the ZB45 hard pack and hard carton packaging unit as an example, cigarettes are first neatly arranged into groups by the cigarette arranging device. Then, the cigarette groups are pushed to the inner lining paper packaging station by the cigarette pushing device. The inner lining paper is released from the roll, passed through a series of guide rollers and forming mechanisms, and wrapped around the outer periphery of the cigarette groups to form an initial inner lining paper package. Next, the cigarette groups enter the trademark paper packaging station; the trademark paper is also released from the roll feeding device and tightly wrapped around the cigarette groups (already wrapped with inner lining paper) through folding, gluing, and other actions to complete the small pack packaging. Multiple small packs of cigarettes are then arranged neatly and enter the carton packaging process. The carton paper is released from the feeding device and wrapped around the multiple small packs to complete the hard carton packaging. The ZB47 packaging unit absorbs advanced technologies from Italy's G.D Company, with further optimized structure and improved production speed. The ZB416A slim cigarette packaging unit is developed by Shanghai Tobacco Machinery Co., Ltd. It has overcome key technologies such as cigarette jamming during slim cigarette feeding and pioneered a precisely heated cigarette pack output system, greatly improving packaging quality and realizing the leap from medium-speed to high-speed slim cigarette packaging.
- Packaging Process and Characteristics: Hard pack packaging machines can efficiently complete a series of packaging processes such as pack forming, filling, and sealing, with a packaging speed of 400-500 packs per minute. They feature reasonable structural design and stable operation, and perform excellently in terms of packaging quality, efficiency, and equipment stability, meeting the hard pack cigarette packaging needs of modern cigarette production enterprises.
- Soft Pack Packaging Machine
- Working Principle and Structure: The ZB25 soft pack packaging unit has laid the foundation for the horizontal packaging method, and many of its structures are similar to those of the ZB45 unit. After being arranged neatly, cigarettes are pushed to the packaging station by the cigarette pushing device. The soft pack packaging paper is released from the roll feeding device, first wrapping the bottom of the cigarettes, then wrapping the sides and top of the cigarettes through a series of folding mechanisms, and finally gluing the bottom flap to complete the soft pack small pack packaging. After multiple small packs of cigarettes are arranged neatly, they enter the carton packaging process, which is similar to that of the hard pack packaging machine, to complete the soft pack hard carton packaging. Based on the ZB25 model, the ZB28 soft pack and hard carton packaging unit has a packaging speed of up to 600 packs per minute, with significant improvements in packaging speed and efficiency, and also optimizations in packaging quality and equipment stability.
- Differences from Hard Pack Packaging Machines: Soft pack packaging machines are mainly used for packaging soft pack cigarettes. Compared with hard pack packaging machines, they differ in the material of the packaging paper and the folding method. Soft pack packaging paper is relatively thinner and more flexible, so the packaging process places more emphasis on the folding and gluing techniques of the paper to ensure the sealability and aesthetics of the soft pack. In terms of packaging structure, the small pack forming mechanism of soft pack packaging machines focuses more on the design of the bottom flap, while hard pack packaging machines need to consider the structure design of hard pack forming and flip covers.
II. Classification of Common Mechanical Accessories
(I) Accessories for Rolling and Connecting Equipment
- Cigarette Gun Accessories: As a key component of the cigarette making machine, the cigarette gun's accessories are crucial. The cigarette gun base plate is a basic supporting part, connected to the main machine surface via screws. It has a series of small holes at the bottom; during operation, high-pressure air is introduced to form an air cushion between the cloth belt and the base plate groove, reducing wear. The base plate cloth belt guide rollers and cloth belt wheels are used to support and drive the operation of the cloth belt, which functions to feed the cigarette rod into the cigarette gun and participate in the rolling and forming of the cigarette rod. The cigarette tongue is in a semi-conical shape; it cooperates with the cigarette gun base plate to compress the tobacco strand into a circular shape and is a key component for cigarette rod forming. The small pressing plate and large pressing plate are used to compress and expand the tobacco strand, as well as to curl and bond the cigarette paper.
- Paper Feeding and Printing Accessories: In the paper feeding system, the brand printing unit consists of multiple paper pulling rollers, guide rollers, and ink transfer rollers, and can print single-color or double-color brands. The bobbin paper changing device can continuously feed paper to the machine without stopping, ensuring the stable supply of cigarette paper. Accessories such as the ink transfer rollers in the printing system ensure that trademarks are printed on the cigarette paper clearly and accurately.
- Cutting Device Accessories: The cutter head cutting device includes accessories such as the cutter head, tool holder, knife grinding wheel, deburring wheel, horn mouth bracket, cam cigarette separator, and cigarette guide plate. The cutter head is used to cut the cigarette rod into individual cigarettes; the knife grinding wheel and deburring wheel ensure the sharpness of the cutter head and the cutting quality; the cam cigarette separator and cigarette guide plate are responsible for accurately conveying the cut cigarettes to the subsequent process.
(II) Accessories for Packaging Equipment
- Packaging Paper Feeding Accessories: Whether for hard pack or soft pack packaging machines, packaging paper feeding accessories play a key role. The roll packaging paper feeding device includes multiple guide rollers, tension adjustment devices, etc., which ensure that the packaging paper is fed smoothly and accurately while maintaining appropriate tension, preventing problems such as wrinkling or breaking of the packaging paper during feeding. For example, in hard pack packaging machines, the feeding devices for inner lining paper and trademark paper have a reasonable structural design, which can accurately control the feeding amount and position of the paper, ensuring packaging accuracy.
- Folding and Gluing Accessories: During the packaging process, folding and gluing accessories complete the folding and gluing actions of the packaging paper. For instance, the trademark paper folding mechanism in hard pack packaging machines uses a series of folding plates, push rods, and other accessories to accurately fold the trademark paper around the cigarette group and fix it firmly with glue. The bottom flap gluing device in soft pack packaging machines uses accessories such as glue application rollers and pressing mechanisms to ensure the gluing quality of the soft pack's bottom flap.
- Cigarette Arranging and Conveying Accessories: The cigarette arranging device includes accessories such as arranging guide rails and cigarette pushing mechanisms, which arrange cigarettes into neat groups for subsequent packaging. During the packaging process, cigarette conveying accessories such as conveyor belts and transfer rollers ensure that cigarettes are conveyed accurately and smoothly between various packaging stations, guaranteeing the smooth progress of the packaging process.