Granted Patent B2

US 12,292,087 · App. 16/966,077 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventors: Michele Del Borrello (Vasto, CH); Ivan Prestia (Calderara di Reno, IT)

Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.

F16D1/092A24B3/14

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A transmission shaft and a roller comprising a pair of connectable portions for connecting the transmission shaft and the roller to be driven by torque exerted through the transmission shaft, the transmission shaft and the roller attached by a central screw threadably engaging a central bore defined by the transmission shaft;

the pair of connectable portions comprising a male portion provided on one of the transmission shaft and roller and a complementary female portion provided on the other of the roller and transmission shaft,

the male portion having a longitudinal axis of rotation and tapering inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end by an angle of between 2.5 and 25 degrees,

wherein the male portion has a non-circular cross section, wherein the central bore extends through and along the entire length of the transmission shaft.

2. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the male portion is provided on the transmission shaft and the female portion is provided in the roller.

3. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the male portion remains constant along at least 50% of the distance from the proximal end to the distal end.

4. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the male portion has an order of rotational symmetry from 1 to 20.

5. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the male portion has an elliptical or polygonal cross section.

6. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the male portion has a polygonal cross section and wherein the vertices are curved.

7. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the male portion has a rectangular cross section.

8. A roller set comprising a transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 wherein the transmission shaft engages a first end of the roller and further comprising a second shaft for engaging a second end of the roller.

9. A roller set according to claim 8 , wherein the roller and the second shaft comprise a second pair of connectable portions having a second male portion located on one of the roller and the second shaft and a complementary second female portion located on the other of the second shaft and the roller, wherein the second male portion has a non-circular cross section.

10. A roller set according to claim 8 , wherein the roller and the second shaft comprise a second pair of connectable portions having a second male portion located on one of the roller and the second shaft and a complementary second female portion located on the other of the second shaft and the roller, wherein the second male portion has a circular cross section.

11. A pair of roller sets for passing a sheet material therebetween, the first roller set according to claim 8 .

12. A pair of roller sets according to claim 11 , wherein the second roller set comprises a pair of connectable portions according to claim 1 .

13. A pair of roller sets according to claim 12 , wherein the pair of connectable portions of the second roller set comprises a male portion with a different cross-sectional shape to that of the male portion of the pair of connectable portions of the first roller set.

14. A pair of roller sets according to claim 11 , wherein the pair of roller sets is arranged to process a cast leaf tobacco sheet between the roller of the first roller set and the roller of the second roller set.

15. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 1 , wherein the male portion has an elliptical or polygonal cross section.

16. A method of forming a connection between a transmission shaft and a roller to be driven by torque exerted through the transmission shaft, the method comprising:

axially aligning a male portion provided on one of the transmission shaft and roller with a complementary female portion provided on the other of the roller and transmission shaft;

moving the transmission shaft and roller relatively toward one another axially, such that the male portion engages within the complementary female portion; and

attaching the transmission shaft and the roller using a central screw threadably engaging a central bore defined by the transmission shaft;

wherein the male portion has a longitudinal axis of rotation, tapers inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end by an angle of between 2.5 and 25 degrees and has a non-circular cross section, wherein the central bore extends through and along the entire length of the transmission shaft.

17. A transmission shaft and a roller comprising a pair of connectable portions for connecting the transmission shaft and the roller to be driven by torque exerted through the transmission shaft,

the pair of connectable portions comprising a male portion provided on one of the transmission shaft and roller and a complementary female portion provided on the other of the roller and transmission shaft,

the transmission shaft and the roller attachable by a central screw threadably engaging a central bore defined by the transmission shaft, and

the male portion having a longitudinal axis of rotation and tapering inwardly from a proximal end to a distal end,

wherein the male portion has a non-circular cross section, and wherein the central bore extends through and along the entire length of the transmission shaft.

18. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 17 , wherein the male portion is provided on the transmission shaft and the female portion is provided in the roller.

19. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 17 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the male portion remains constant along at least 50% of the distance from the proximal end to the distal end.

20. A transmission shaft and a roller according to claim 17 , wherein the male portion has an order of rotational symmetry from 1 to 20.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (46)