U.S. patent application number 12/554109 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-10 for cigarette blank filling tube apparatus.
Invention is credited to Jacques Laplante.
Application Number | 20110056504 12/554109 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43646718 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110056504 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Laplante; Jacques |
March 10, 2011 |
CIGARETTE BLANK FILLING TUBE APPARATUS
Abstract
A tobacco filling tube having a cylindrical portion having an
outside diameter, an inside diameter, a first end and a second end
and a hollow tapered portion having a first end with an outside
diameter and a second end with an outside diameter. The first end
of the tapered portion adjoins the second end of the cylindrical
portion, the outside diameter of the first end of the tapered
portion is substantially the same as the outside diameter of the
cylindrical portion, the outside diameter of the second end of the
tapered portion is less than the outside diameter of the first end
of the tapered portion, the outside diameter of the first end of
the tapered portion is sized to fit inside a tobacco blank, and the
tapered portion is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered
portion to expand and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
Inventors: |
Laplante; Jacques; (Niles,
OH) |
Family ID: |
43646718 |
Appl. No.: |
12/554109 |
Filed: |
September 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24C 5/40 20130101; A24C
5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/70 |
International
Class: |
A24C 5/00 20060101
A24C005/00 |
Claims
1. A tobacco filling tube comprising: a cylindrical portion having
an outside diameter, an inside diameter, a first end and a second
end, a hollow tapered portion having a first end with an outside
diameter and a second end with an outside diameter, wherein the
first end of the tapered portion adjoins the second end of the
cylindrical portion, wherein said outside diameter of the first end
of the tapered portion is substantially the same as the outside
diameter of the cylindrical portion, wherein said outside diameter
of the second end of the tapered portion is less than the outside
diameter of the first end of the tapered portion, wherein the
outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is sized
to fit inside a tobacco blank, wherein said tapered portion is
flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to expand
and thereafter return to its initial outside diameter.
2. The filling tube according to claim 1, wherein said tapered
portion comprises a plurality of flexible fingers.
3. The filling tube according to claim 1, wherein said tapered
portion is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion
to expand to substantially the same diameter as the first end of
the tapered portion and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
4. The filling tube according to claim 2, wherein said tapered
portion is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion
to expand to substantially the same diameter as the first end of
the tapered portion and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
5. The filing tube according to claim 1, said filling tube further
comprising a cigarette making apparatus to which the filling tube
is mounted, said cigarette making apparatus further comprising a
tobacco loading apparatus, a cigarette plug compression apparatus,
a tobacco blank separation apparatus, and a tobacco blank loading
apparatus mounted to said cigarette making apparatus.
6. An apparatus comprising: a filling tube holder capable of
holding a plurality of filling tubes, a plurality of filling tubes
mounted to said filling tube holder, each of a plurality of filling
tubes having a cylindrical portion having an outside diameter, an
inside diameter, a first end and a second end, and a hollow tapered
portion having a first end with an outside diameter and a second
end with an outside diameter, wherein the first end of the tapered
portion adjoins the second end of the cylindrical portion, wherein
said outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is
substantially the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical
portion, wherein said outside diameter of the second end of the
tapered portion is less than the outside diameter of the first end
of the tapered portion, wherein the outside diameter of the first
end of tapered portion is sized to fit inside a tobacco blank,
wherein the tapered portion is flexible to allow the second end of
the tapered portion to expand and thereafter return to its initial
outside diameter.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tapered portion
comprises a plurality of flexible fingers.
8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said tapered portion
is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to
expand to substantially the same diameter as the first end of the
tapered portion and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said tapered portion
is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to
expand to substantially the same diameter as the first end of the
tapered portion and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the tube holder is
a drum.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the drum is
rotatable.
12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the tube holder is
a drum.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the drum is
rotatable.
14. The apparatus according to claim 6, said apparatus further
comprising a cigarette making apparatus to which the filling tube
is mounted, said cigarette making apparatus further comprising a
tobacco loading apparatus, a cigarette plug compression apparatus,
a tobacco blank separation apparatus, and a tobacco blank loading
apparatus mounted to said cigarette making apparatus.
15. A method of locating a tobacco blank on a tobacco filling tube,
said method comprising: providing at least one filling tube
comprising a cylindrical portion having an outside diameter, an
inside diameter, a first end and a second end, and a hollow tapered
portion having a first end with an outside diameter and a second
end with an outside diameter, wherein the first end of the tapered
portion adjoins the second end of the cylindrical portion, wherein
said outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is
substantially the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical
portion, wherein said outside diameter of the second end of the
tapered portion is less than the outside diameter of the first end
of the tapered portion, wherein the outside diameter of the first
end of the tapered portion is sized to fit inside a tobacco blank,
wherein the tapered portion is flexible to allow the second end of
the tapered portion to expand and thereafter return to its initial
outside diameter, and dispensing a tobacco blank over the at least
one filling tube.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the tapered portion
comprises a plurality of flexible fingers.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said tapered portion
is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to
expand to substantially the same diameter as the first end of the
tapered portion and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said tapered portion
is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to
expand to substantially the same diameter as the first end of the
tapered portion and thereafter return to its initial outside
diameter.
19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising providing
a filling tube holder wherein said at least one filling tube is
mounted to said filling tube.
20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said filling tube
holder is a drum.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said drum is
rotatable.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to an apparatus for loading
a tobacco blank onto a filling tube. The invention also relates to
methods of using a tobacco blank loading apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Prior to the invention of the electronic rolling machine,
rolling your own cigarettes was restricted to manual table top
machines, hand held machines, and attempts that have been made to
perfect personal single stick electric machines. These machines
employ a chamber for loading tobacco, a manual lever that
compresses the tobacco, and a spoon mechanism that injects the
tobacco into an empty preassembled cigarette blank. Many attempts
have been made with varying degrees of success to perfect a table
top electric machine. These basically employed the same technology,
only electronically enhanced. The shortcoming is that the spoon
mechanism shreds the tobacco. Secondly, loading the proper amount
of tobacco each time is extremely variable. The other obvious
drawback is the tedious nature of the process; each cigarette blank
must be mounted on a nozzle manually. Moreover, the empty cigarette
blanks are extremely fragile and easily damaged during the
process.
[0003] While other electronic machines for use in retail settings
have been developed, there remain drawbacks with those machines.
First, separating the cigarette blanks for individual loading onto
a filling tube remains imprecise. Secondly, loading the fragile
cigarette blanks unto filling tubes often results in damaged and
unusable cigarette blanks.
[0004] What is needed is an apparatus and method for separating and
loading the cigarette blanks on a machine in a retail setting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention relates to a tobacco filling tube comprising
a cylindrical portion having an outside diameter, an inside
diameter, a first end and a second end, a hollow tapered portion
having a first end with an outside diameter and a second end with
an outside diameter, wherein the first end of the tapered portion
adjoins the second end of the cylindrical portion, wherein said
outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is
substantially the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical
portion, wherein said outside diameter of the second end of the
tapered portion is less than the outside diameter of the first end
of the tapered portion, wherein the outside diameter of the first
end of the tapered portion is sized to fit inside a tobacco blank,
wherein said tapered portion is flexible to allow the second end of
the tapered portion to expand and thereafter return to its initial
outside diameter.
[0006] This invention also relates to an apparatus comprising a
filling tube holder capable of holding a plurality of filling
tubes, a plurality of filling tubes mounted to said filling tube
holder, each of a plurality of filling tubes having a cylindrical
portion having an outside diameter, an inside diameter, a first end
and a second end, and a hollow tapered portion having a first end
with an outside diameter and a second end with an outside diameter,
wherein the first end of the tapered portion adjoins the second end
of the cylindrical portion, wherein said outside diameter of the
first end of the tapered portion is substantially the same as the
outside diameter of the cylindrical portion, wherein said outside
diameter of the second end of the tapered portion is less than the
outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion, wherein
the outside diameter of the first end of tapered portion is sized
to fit inside a tobacco blank, wherein the tapered portion is
flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to expand
and thereafter return to its initial outside diameter
[0007] This invention further relates to a method of locating a
tobacco blank on a tobacco filling tube, said method comprising
providing at least one filling tube comprising a cylindrical
portion having an outside diameter, an inside diameter, a first end
and a second end, and a hollow tapered portion having a first end
with an outside diameter and a second end with an outside diameter,
wherein the first end of the tapered portion adjoins the second end
of the cylindrical portion, wherein said outside diameter of the
first end of the tapered portion is substantially the same as the
outside diameter of the cylindrical portion, wherein said outside
diameter of the second end of the tapered portion is less than the
outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion, wherein
the outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is
sized to fit inside a tobacco blank, wherein the tapered portion is
flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to expand
and thereafter return to its initial outside diameter, and
dispensing a tobacco blank over the at least one filling tube.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette making apparatus
of the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a tobacco input hopper of
the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3A is a section view of a tobacco conveying and
compressing device of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 3B is an enlarged section view of the compressing
device of FIG. 3A.
[0012] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of a filling tube of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of a
filling tube of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 5A is a section view of a filling tube holding drum of
the invention.
[0015] FIG. 5B is a section view of a filling tube mounted in a
drum of the invention showing further a cigarette blank being
forwarded to the filling tube.
[0016] FIG. 5C is a section view of a filling tube mounted in a
drum of the invention showing further a cigarette blank being fully
loaded on the filling tube.
[0017] FIG. 5D is a section view of a tobacco plug being injected
into a cigarette blank loaded onto a filling tube of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 5E is a section view of a completed cigarette being
ejected from a filling tube of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 5F is a section view of an improperly loaded cigarette
blank being ejected from a filling tube of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of a cigarette blank loading cartridge
of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cigarette blank separation
device of the invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a section view of a cigarette blank separation
device of the invention having a mounted cigarette blank loading
cartridge in the lowered position holding a plurality of cigarette
blanks.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a section view of a cigarette blank separation
device of the invention having a mounted cigarette blank loading
cartridge in the raised position holding a plurality of cigarette
blanks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The embodiments discussed herein describe the operation of
the invention relating to cigarette blanks and making cigarettes.
The use of other tobacco blanks in addition to cigarette blanks is
also contemplated. Other tobacco blanks include, but are not
limited to, cigar blanks and other tubes into which tobacco is
inserted.
[0025] A cigarette making apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1.
The apparatus 10 includes a tobacco input hopper 100 (rotated
upward for clarity), a tobacco conveying and compressing device
200, a cigarette blank separation device 300, a filling tube holder
400, a material and product transfer mechanism 500, and a discharge
container (not shown).
[0026] The input hopper 100, illustrated in FIG. 2, has a main body
101 with a tobacco inlet 102. The input hopper has a top end 104, a
bottom end 105, a first side 106, a second opposing side 107, a
discharge end 108, and an input end 109. A conveyor 103 may be
mounted in the bottom end 105 of main body 101 to convey the
tobacco from the input end 109 toward a strand separator 110
mounted generally on the discharge end 108. The conveyor may
include a tension adjustment mechanism 116 for adjusting the
conveyor belt tension. The strand separator 110, having a shaft 111
and a plurality of pins or combs 112 extending outwardly therefrom,
is mounted on the discharge end 108 of the main body 101. The
strand separator shaft 111 may be rotatably driven by an electric
motor 113. Depending on the desired rotational speed of the strand
separator 110, a speed reduction mechanism 114 may be employed to
communicate the electric motor 112 with the strand separator shaft
111.
[0027] In operation, cut tobacco is poured into the tobacco inlet
102 of the input hopper 100. The cut tobacco falls onto the input
end 109 of the conveyor 103 and is thereby transferred toward the
strand separator 110 and discharge end 108 of the conveyor 103.
After going through the strand separator 110, the cut tobacco is
discharged from the input hopper 100 through a discharge opening
115.
[0028] FIG. 3A illustrates a tobacco conveying and compressing
device 200. The device 200 generally has an input end 201, a
receiving hopper 215, and a tobacco conveying zone 218. A tobacco
conveyor system 210 has a first conveyor 202 having a top end 203
and a lower end 204 and a second conveyor 205 having a top end 206
and a lower end 207. The conveyors 202 and 205 are mounted between
a first side plate 217 and a second plate (not shown). Conveyor 202
has a conveyor belt 208, and conveyor 205 has a conveyor belt 209.
The conveyor belts 208 and 209 may have styrations or fingers on
them, allowing the moving belts to grip the cut tobacco. The top
end 203 of the first conveyor 202 and the top end 206 of the second
conveyor 205 communicate with the receiving hopper 215. Typically,
the conveyors 202 and 205 converge on each other as they move in
the direction of arrows 211 and 212, respectively. At lease one
electric motor (not shown) may be used to drive the first conveyor.
203 and second conveyor 205.
[0029] In operation, the receiving hopper 215 receives cut tobacco
from the discharge opening 115 of the input hopper 100 described
above. As an inward side 213 of conveyor 202 and an inward side 214
of conveyor 205 move downward, cut tobacco is received from the
receiving hopper 215, compressed by conveyors 202 and 205, and
ultimately transferred to a compressor device 250.
[0030] The tobacco compressing device 250 illustrated in FIG. 3B
has a first compression plate 251 and a second compression plate
252, which define generally a compression cone 253. The first
compression plate 251 is slidably mounted in the tobacco
compressing device 250 to allow it to move toward the second
compression plate 252. The first compression plate 251 has a first
end 254 and a second end 255, the second end defining a
semi-circular compression cavity 256 having a top edge 257. A
pneumatic cylinder 261 having a piston rod 262 may be mounted to a
frame (not shown), with the piston rod 262 of the pneumatic
cylinder 261 communicating with the first end 254 of the first
compression plate 251, thereby slidably operating the first
compression plate 251 towards and away from the second compression
plate 252. Other methods may be used to slidably move the first
compression plate 251, such as a servo motor or a hydraulic
cylinder. The second compression plate 252 has a first end 258 and
second end 259, the second end 259 defining a semi-circular
compression zone 260. The second compression plate 252 also
contains a knife 263 with a cutting edge 264 that is coplanar with
the top edge 257 of the semicircular compression cavity 256 of the
first compression plate 251 and with a top edge 266 of the
semicircular compression cavity 260 of the second plate 252. The
knife 263 may be mounted so that it is not parallel to the top edge
257 of the first compression plate 251, resulting in the first
plate 251 contacting only one portion of the knife edge 264 at a
time as the first plate 251 slidably moves towards the second plate
252.
[0031] In operation, the downwardly moving inner sides 213 and 214
of conveyors 202 and 205, respectively, partially compress cut
tobacco and deliver it to the compression cavity 253. The conveyors
202 and 205 run for a period of time to deliver an amount of cut
tobacco into the compression cavity 253, and then stop. The amount
of tobacco that is delivered into the compression cavity 253 may be
within a predetermined range, with the exact amount being
established by the operator of the machine depending on individual
preferences, which may include, among other things, the operator's
preferred "draw" of the cigarette. Then, the piston 261 pushes the
first compression plate 251, by way of piston rod 262, toward the
second compression plate 252, further compressing the tobacco in
the tobacco cavity 253. As the first compression plate 251 moves
toward the second compression plate 252, the top edge 257 of the
first compression plate 251 meets the cutting edge 264 of the knife
263. The cut tobacco in the compression cavity 253 is then sheared
from the cut tobacco in the tobacco conveying zone 214. The first
compression plate 251 continues to move toward the second
compression plate 252, thereby forming a tobacco plug 265. The
first compression plate 251 then retreats slightly away from the
second compression plate 252, allowing a tobacco plug insertion pin
501 (FIG. 1) to push the tobacco plug 265 out of the compression
cavity 253 into a filling tube 350 (described later). Typically,
the tobacco plug 265 is smaller in diameter than the inside
diameter of a filling tube and a cigarette blank to allow for easy
insertion into the filling tube and the cigarette blank.
[0032] FIG. 4A illustrates a filling tube 350 having a hollow
cylindrical portion 851 and a hollow tapered portion 852. The
cylindrical portion 851 has an inside diameter 853, an outside
diameter 854, a first end 860, and a second end 861. The tapered
portion 852 has a first end 862 with an outside diameter 863 and a
second end 864 with an outside diameter 865. The outside diameter
865 of the second end 864 of the tapered portion 852 is typically
less than the outside diameter 863 of the first end 862. The
outside diameter 854 of the cylindrical portion 851 is
substantially the same as the outside diameter 863 of the first end
862 of the tapered portion 852, thereby creating a smooth
transition from the cylindrical portion 851 to the tapered portion
852 where the first end 862 of the tapered portion 852 adjoins the
second end 861 of the cylindrical portion 851. The outside diameter
863 of the tapered portion 852 is sized to receive a tobacco blank
(not shown).
[0033] The second end 864 outside diameter 865 of the tapered
portion 852 is less than the outside diameter 854 of the
cylindrical portion 851 to guide a cigarette blank (not shown) onto
the larger cylindrical portion 851. A tobacco plug (not shown)
enters the filling tube 350 through the first end 860 of the
cylindrical portion 851, and moves forward into the tapered portion
852, which is constructed of metal, plastic or other materials that
are sufficiently flexible to expand and contract. The tobacco plug
has an outside diameter that is slightly smaller than the inside
diameter 853 of the cylindrical portion 851. Thus, when the tobacco
plug is inserted into the filling tube 350, it expands the flexible
tapered portion 852 so that the second end 864 of the flexible
tapered portion 852 has an outside diameter 865 approximately the
same as the outside diameter 854 of the cylindrical portion 851.
When a completed cigarette (not shown) is removed from the filing
tube, the outside diameter 865 of the second end 864 returns to its
initial smaller diameter. In one embodiment, the tapered portion
852 contains a plurality of flexible fingers 870 that are biased
inward at the second end 864, thereby forming an outside diameter
865. In FIG. 4A, the plurality of flexible fingers 870 also define
a plurality of longitudinal slots 872. The longitudinal slots have
a radius 874 at about the first end of the tapered portion 852 to
prevent the slots from unintentionally radiating towards and
cracking the cylindrical portion 85 1 of the filling tube 350.
Other shapes of tubes may be used as filling tubes, including
square or octagonal shaped tubes.
[0034] The filling tubes may be mounted on a filling tube drum 401
shown in FIG. 1. The first end 860 of the cylindrical portion 851
of the filling tube 350 may have a shoulder 855 for securing the
filling tube 350 to a filling tube holder (not shown).
Alternatively, a filling tube may be secured to a filling tube
holder (not shown) by other means, such as a press fit or welding.
FIG. 4B shows an embodiment of the filling tube 859 without a
shoulder that may be press fitted or welded to a filling tube
holder (not shown).
[0035] Referring to FIG. 5A, there is a filling tube holder 400
comprising a drum 401 having a first end 402 and a second end 403.
The first end 402 of the drum 401 has a plurality of holes 404 and
405 for receiving a plurality of filling tubes 350. Other holes
(not shown) for receiving filling tubes may also be disposed on the
first end 402 of the drum 401. 100361 The following describes one
embodiment of a filling tube 350 and the features in the drum 401
associated with filling tube 350. Other filling tubes mounted in
the drum will typically be mounted in a similar manner, and the
drum typically will have similar features for each of the other
filling tubes. One method of attaching a filling tube 350 to a drum
401 is a clamping device 408 against the shoulder 855 on the first
end 860 of the cylindrical portion 851 of the filling tube 350.
Alternatively, other means for attaching the filling tubes to a
filling tube holder may be used. For example, the filling tubes and
the plurality of holes in the holder for receiving the filling
tubes may be threaded. Additionally, other methods instead of a
drum may be used for holding a plurality of tubes, for instance,
the filling tubes may be mounted on a plate or on a belt.
[0036] Axially aligned with the filling tube hole 404 is a conical
directing hole 411, having a proximal end 412 and a distal end 413.
The distal end 413 of the cone shaped hole defines the larger
diameter of the cone, and the diameter of the proximal end of the
cone shaped hole is slightly larger than the outside diameter of a
cigarette blank (discussed later). FIG. 5B illustrates a cigarette
blank being loaded onto the filling tube 350. A loading pin (not
shown) induces a force on the filter end 426 of a cigarette blank
425, causing the cigarette blank 425 to move toward the filling
tube 350. In this illustration, an open end 427 of the cigarette
blank 425 has been damaged, resulting in the normal circular shape
of the end of the cigarette blank 425 becoming oblong. As the
cigarette blank 425 moves toward the filling tube 350, the smaller
diameter 412 of the conical hole 411 in the drum 401 will operate
to return the oblonged open end 427 of the cigarette blank 425 to a
more circular shape. The cigarette blank 425 continues through the
conical hole 411, over the second end 864 of the tapered portion
852, and then onto the filling tube 350.
[0037] FIG. 5C is similar to FIG. 5B, with the exception that the
cigarette blank 425 in FIG. 5C has been inserted on the filling
tube 350 by a cigarette blank insertion pin 504. The filling tube
350 and cigarette blank 425 are then ready to receive the tobacco
plug 265 prepared by the previously discussed compressing device
250.
[0038] FIG. 5D is similar to FIG. 5C, with FIG. 5D showing the
additional step of inserting the tobacco plug 265. A sensor 601
(FIG. 1) determines whether a cigarette blank 425 is present and
properly loaded onto a filling tube 350 before a tobacco plug 265
is injected into the filling tube 350. After confirming that a
filling tube 350 is ready to receive a tobacco plug, an injection
pin 501 pushes a tobacco plug 265 out of the compression chamber
and into the filling tube 350. As the tobacco plug 265 enters the
filling tube 350, the tapered portion 852 of the filling tube 350
expands to receive the tobacco plug 265. FIG. 5D illustrates that
the outside diameter 865 of the second end 864 of the tapered
portion 852 is substantially the same as the outside diameter 863
of the first end 862 of the tapered portion 852 when a tobacco plug
265 is inside the filling tube 350.
[0039] FIG. 5E illustrates an ejecting pin 503 (FIG. 1) ejecting a
completed cigarette 430, having been filled with a tobacco plug
265, from the filling tube 350. Typically, the ejection pin 503 is
hollow, and pressurized air may be introduced into the ejection pin
503 during the ejection process. Pressurized air escaping from a
forward end 591 of the ejection pin 503 further facilitates the
ejection of the completed cigarette 430. After completed cigarette
430 is ejected from the filling tube 350, the outside diameter 865
of the second end 864 of the tapered portion 852 returns to its
initial outside diameter and is then ready to receive another
cigarette blank 425 (FIG. 5B).
[0040] As noted above, the sensor 601 determines whether a
cigarette blank is loaded properly onto a filling tube before
injecting a tobacco plug into the filling tube and cigarette blank.
If an improperly loaded cigarette blank is found, the cigarette
blank is not injected with a tobacco plug and the improperly loaded
cigarette blank continues to rotate on the drum, eventually
arriving at the cigarette blank rejection location. FIG. 5F depicts
the removal of a rejected cigarette blank from a filling tube. FIG.
5F illustrates a rejection pin 502 forcing a damaged cigarette
blank 428 off of the filling tube 350 toward a collection mechanism
510 (FIG. 1). Typically, the rejection pin 502 is hollow, and
pressurized air may be introduced into the rejection pin 502 during
the rejection process. Pressurized air escaping from the forward
end 511 of rejection pin 502 further facilitates removal of the
cigarette blank 428 by blowing air against the rejected cigarette
blank 428. The collection mechanism 510, such as a vacuum, collects
the rejected cigarette blank 428.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 6, there is cigarette blank holding
cartridge 310 having a rectangular-shaped box 321 with first end
wall 311, a second end wall 312, side walls 313 and 314 (not shown)
disposed between end walls 311 and 312, and a top 322. The first
end wall 311 has a lower edge 315, to which a cartridge bottom 316
may be pivotably mounted using a hinge 317 or other similar
pivoting mounting means. The first end wall 311 has a handle 318.
Mounting tab 319, affixed to the bottom 316 of the cartridge 310,
is slideably mountable onto a base plate 326 (FIG. 8). Mounting tab
320, affixed to the second end wall 312 at the cartridge 310, is
receivable into a cartridge tab receiving area 337 (FIG. 8) of the
cigarette blank separation device 300. Typically, the cartridge 310
may hold a plurality of cigarettes, e.g., about 200 cigarette
blanks. Typically, the cartridge is of a size so that a user may
set an entire carton of cigarette blanks (200 cigarette blanks)
into the cartridge without removing the cigarette blanks from the
box before loading. The cartridge may also be of a size to hold a
carton of 100 cigarette blanks. Alternatively, if one desires to
use a carton of cigarette blanks containing less than 200 cigarette
blanks in a cartridge designed for 200 cigarette blanks, than a
block may be used to take up the extra space in the cartridge.
[0042] In operation, a user turns the cartridge 310 upside down so
that the bottom 316 is on the top, and opens fully the bottom 316.
The user then sets a full box of cigarette blanks into the
cartridge 310. Thereafter, the user may tear the top from the
cigarette carton and close the cartridge bottom 316. The loaded
cartridge is then ready for loading into the cartridge tube
separator device 300.
[0043] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the cigarette blank
separation device 300 having received cartridge 310. Also visible
is the sensing mechanism 601 and the collection mechanism 5 10 for
collecting a rejected cigarette blank (not shown).
[0044] FIG. 8 is a partial section view of the cigarette blank
separation device 300 having received a cartridge 310 holding a
plurality of blank cigarettes 325. The cigarette blank separation
device 300 has a base plate 326 that has a lower end 327, an upper
end 328, a first side 330, and an opposing second side (not shown).
A first side plate 331 is disposed on the first side 330 of the
base plate, and an opposing second side plate (not shown) is
disposed on the opposing second side of the base plate 326.
[0045] The mounting and operation of the first side plate 331 will
be described herein, and the mounting and operation of the opposing
second side plate (not shown) is substantially similar to that of
the first side plate 331. A cross bar 336 ties the first side plate
331 to the second side plate (not shown). The cross bar 336 has a
cartridge tab receiving area 337 for receiving the mounting tab 320
disposed on the second end wall 312 of the cartridge box 321. The
first side plate 331 has an upper end 332 that is pivotally mounted
at a pivot point 338 adjacent to the upper end 328 of the base
plate 326. A portion 335 of the first side plate 331 rides on an
eccentric cam 333 that rotates about a camshaft 334. The cam shaft
may be driven by a motor (not shown) or by other means available to
impart a rotational action upon the camshaft 334. FIG. 8 depicts
the first side plate 331 and the cigarette blank loading cartridge
310 in a down position, the position in which a user would insert a
cigarette blank loading cartridge 310 containing a plurality of
cigarette blanks. As the cam 333 rotates about the camshaft 334,
the first side plate 331 and opposing second side plate (not shown)
pivot about pivot point 338, thereby resulting in the lower end 339
of the first side plate 331 and the lower end of the second side
plate moving along an upward are 340. The cross bar 336, being
affixed between the first side plate 331 and the second side plate,
moves upward. The cartridge box 321 also moves upward, because the
mounting tab 320 of the cigarette blank loading cartridge 310 has
been received in the cartridge tab receiving area 337 of the cross
bar 336.
[0046] FIG. 9 is a partial section view of the cigarette blank
separation device 300 with the cartridge box 321, the first side
plate 331 and the second side plate (not shown) in the elevated
position.
[0047] The lower end 327 of the base plate 326 abuts a shaking
assembly 380. In one embodiment, the shaking assembly 380 has a
shaking plate 381 pivotably mounted a top end 383 to a frame 382.
The shaking plate 381 may be shook by a variety of methods, and one
method of shaking the plate is by an eccentric cam 384. In
operation, the rotation of the eccentric cam pivots the plate about
the top end 383 of the shaking plate 381, thereby shaking a
plurality of cigarette blanks 390. Typically, a lower end 385 of
the shaking plate 381 is at a sufficient distance above the base
plate 326 to allow a lowest plurality of cigarette blanks 396 to
pass between the base plate 326 and the lower end 385 of the
shaking plate 381.
[0048] The plurality of cigarette blanks 390 has a first row 387, a
second row 388 and upper rows 389. As the shaking plate 381
advances towards the upper end 328 of the base plate 326, because
of the rotation of the cam 384, the shaking plate 381 pushes the
plurality of cigarette blanks 390 toward the upper end 328 of the
base plate 326. The base plate 326, has a retainer 391 for
maintaining the position of the cigarette blanks once they move to
the lower end 392 of the retainer 391. By shaking the second row
388 and the upper rows 389 of a plurality of cigarettes blanks 390,
the shaking plate breaks up the pyramidal structure 393 that
ordinarily forms between successive rows of cigarettes.
Additionally, the retainer 391 keeps the lower plurality of
cigarette blanks 396 from moving toward the upper end 328 of the
base plate 326, furthering the shaker's effectiveness in breaking
the pyramidal structure 393.
[0049] The cigarette blank loading area 394 has in it a cigarette
blank 395 ready to be loaded onto a filling tube 350 as depicted in
FIG. 5B and FIG. 5C. After a cigarette blank loading pin 504 pushes
the cigarette blank 395 out of the cigarette blank loading area
394, the lowest plurality of cigarette blanks 396 advance forward,
moving another cigarette blank into the cigarette blank loading
area 394.
[0050] Referring back to FIG. 1, there is the material and product
transfer mechanism 500 that has on it the tobacco plug injection
pin 501, the completed cigarette ejection pin 503, and the
improperly loaded cigarette blank rejection pin 502. Typically, the
pins 501, 502 and 503 are linearally moved along their axis by a
plurality of pneumatic cylinders (not shown). The injection pin 501
and the pneumatic cylinder associated therewith is mounted in a
slideable fixture 507. The fixture 507, slideably mounted in a
frame 505, is slideable by a hand crank 506. The slideably mounted
injection pin 501 allows for adjustment of the pin to accommodate
various lengths of cigarette blanks.
[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates the general operation of the cigarette
making apparatus. In operation, a user fills a cigarette blank
cartridge with a plurality of cigarette blanks and loads the
cartridge 310 into the cigarette blank separation assembly 300. The
user also pours tobacco into the tobacco inlet 102 of the input
hopper 100. The user then starts the operation of the cigarette
making apparatus 10. The automatic operation of the cigarette
making apparatus is typically controlled by electronics such as a
computer or a programmable logic controller ("PLC") (not shown)
adapted to interface with the various components of the cigarette
making apparatus 10.
[0052] The cigarette blank separating device 300 separates a
cigarette blank 395 from the plurality of tubes in the cartridge
310, allowing a cigarette blank to flow into the loading area 394
as shown in FIG. 9. A filling tube 350 mounted on a drum 401 is
axially aligned with the cigarette blank 395. Thereafter, a
cigarette blank loading pin 504 pushes the cigarette blank onto the
filling tube 350. The drum 401 then rotates forward in the
direction shown by arrow 602.
[0053] Referring again to FIG. 1, when the filling tube 350 having
on it a cigarette blank reaches a position 603, a sensor 601
ensures that a cigarette blank is loaded properly. If the sensor
finds a tube properly loaded, then an injection rod 501 injects a
previously compressed tobacco plug 295 into the filling tube 350
(as discussed above regarding FIG. 5D). If the sensor 601 finds an
improperly loaded tube, then the cigarette making apparatus skips
the tobacco plug injection process, and the drum 401 continues to
index forward in the direction of arrow 602. After a tobacco plug
is successfully injecting into a filling tube 350 having on it a
cigarette blank, the drum 401 continues to index forward in the
direction of arrow 602, whereupon the filling tube 350 will arrive
at a completed cigarette ejection position 604. Once there, an
ejection rod 503 will eject the completed cigarette from the
filling tube 350, as shown in FIG. 5E. The completed cigarettes may
then fall into a collection device (not shown), where they may be
retrieved by the operator.
[0054] If the sensor 601 has found an improperly loaded cigarette
blank, then the drum 401 with the filling tube 350 holding the
improperly loaded cigarette blank will continue to index forward on
in the direction of arrow 602, skipping the tobacco injection
process and the completed cigarette ejection process, whereupon it
arrives at an improperly loaded tube rejection area 605.
Thereafter, a rejection pin 502 pushes the improperly loaded
cigarette blank off of the filling tube. (FIG. 5F).
[0055] After the above discussed process is complete and a
completed cigarette is made (or an improperly loaded cigarette
blank is rejected), the filling tube is ready to receive a new
cigarette blank. Typically, the above discussed process will
produce 25 completed cigarettes a minutes with less than 4 rejected
cigarettes per 100 completed.
[0056] The plurality of filling tubes on the drum 401 allows the
above steps to take place concurrently. For instance, a cigarette
blank may be inserted on a filling tube at the same time a tobacco
plug is being injected into another filling tube, which may be
occurring at the same time a completed cigarette is being rejected
from a filling tube, which may be occurring at the same time an
improperly loaded cigarette blank is being rejected. Additionally,
the tobacco conveying and compressing and the cigarette blank
separating may also be occurring concurrently with the above
steps.
[0057] While the present invention has been illustrated by the
description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have
been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to
restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to
such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will be
readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is
therefore not limited to the specific details, representative
apparatus and method, and illustrated examples shown and described.
Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without
departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
* * * * *