Patent Grant
7537013
The present invention relates to smoking articles, and in particular, to cigarettes. More specifically, the present invention relates to equipment and methods for manufacturing and handling relatively small quantities of cigarettes in an automated fashion.
Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped structure and include a charge, roll, or column of smokable material, such as shredded tobacco, surrounded by a paper wrapper, to form a “cigarette rod,” “smokable rod,” or a “tobacco rod.” A typical cigarette has a cylindrical filter element axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, the filter element comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by a paper material known as “plug wrap.” Certain cigarettes incorporate filter elements comprising, for example, activated charcoal particles. Typically, the filter element is attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a circumscribing wrapping material known as “tipping paper.” A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article can be provided with an optional air-dilution means, such as a series of perforations, each of which extend through the tipping material and plug wrap. Conventional automated cigarette rod making machines that have been employed for the manufacture of commercially popular packaged cigarettes are of the type commercially available from Molins PLC or Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. For example, a description of a commercially available “Protos” cigarette-making machine is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand, at col. 5, line 48 through col. 8, line 3. Types of equipment suitable for the manufacture of cigarettes also are set forth in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0129281 to Hancock et al. A cigarette-making machine for making relatively small amounts of cigarettes has been available commercially as “Hauni Baby” from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. Another type of portable cigarette-making machine has been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,229 to Hurt.
A variety of hand-operated devices for manufacturing individual cigarettes have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,376,103 to Wahl; U.S. Pat. No. 2,425,888 to Matteson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,884 to Snodgrass; U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,957 to Getts; U.S. Pat. No. 2,496,375 to Carter; U.S. Pat. No. 2,594,747 to DuLaney; U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,788 to Kastner; U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,383 to Ming Gee; U.S. Pat. No. 2,731,971 to Kastner; U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,019 to Sosa; U.S. Pat. No. 2,868,209 to Marcotte; U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,348 to Banning, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,498 to Armelin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,056 to Bryant et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,367 to Newsome; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2004/110187 to Szabo; and European Patent No. EP 1,177,731 to Tinkles et al.
Various manners and methods for filling paper cigarette tubes with tobacco have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,133 to Higgins; U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,141 to Seitter; U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,156 to Kappeler et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,245 to Asbill, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,948 to Moscovitch; U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,216 to Josuttis et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,740 to Gatschmann et al. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,768 to Paynter and U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,313 to Sexstone which set forth manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes by filling a tube or “spill” with a tobacco charge and a filter plug. One type of cigarette-making machine for the manufacture of one cigarette at a time using loose tobacco and a filtered cigarette tube has been marketed as “Bugler™” filter cigarette-making machine by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. Another type of automated machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with loose tobacco filler has been available commercially as “Cig-a-mat” from Jenkins & Ott, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,272 to Jenkins et al. Yet another type of automated device for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler is an electrically-operated cigarette-making machine that has been available commercially as Easy Roller from C.P. Rolling ApS of Denmark.
A cigarette machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler has been produced commercially by The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd. and marketed as “Premier Supermatic™.” Other types of cigarette machines for filing cigarette tubes with tobacco have been marketed as “Escort” and “Pressta Deluxe” by CTC Canada Inc. See, for example, the representative types of machines set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,900 to Kastner and U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,793 to Kastner.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,710 to Bramhill proposes manufacturing individual cigarettes by inserting a cartridge of tobacco into an empty filter-tip cigarette tube. Other manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,617 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,536 to Liebich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,830 to Brackmann et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,366 to Liebich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,000 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,248 to Ruppert al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,495 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,692 to Ruppert et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,377 to Gerding et al.
Yet other manners and methods for fabricating cigarettes have been proposed. For example, the manufacture of cigarettes using a dispensing-type machine that has been proposed, and such a machine that has the referred to as “Cigaretterie” has been marketed by National Amusement Network, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,975 to Lord.
It would be desirable to provide for the manufacture of relatively small lots of cigarettes in an efficient and effective manner. It would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within each lot are of consistent quality. That is, it also would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within a lot be substantially identical to one another in appearance, size, shape, weight and component materials, including tobacco filler materials. It also would be highly desirable that the cigarettes within a lot exhibit similar performance characteristics, such as smoking character, puff count and smoke yield.
The present invention relates to the manufacture of cigarettes in an automated fashion. Cigarette manufacture is carried out such that relatively small lots of cigarettes can be manufactured during a relevant period. Cigarette manufacture most preferably is carried out such that substantially all of the cigarettes within a lot are of consistent quality.
A first aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for manufacturing cigarettes from loose tobacco and pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. The device includes a reservoir or hopper region for receiving and containing loose tobacco filler. The device also includes, below the hopper region, several downwardly extending passageways for downward passage of loose tobacco filler from the hopper region. The device also includes several receptacles, each of predetermined size, for receiving loose tobacco filler from each respective downwardly extending passageway (e.g., each individual downwardly extending passageway provides tobacco filler to a corresponding receptacle).
Most preferably, the device incorporates one or more weights or other structures adapted to provide downward force or compression on loose tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway. Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway using the weight provides for altered arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway. Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway using the weight also provides for controlled feed of tobacco filler within each receptacle. The device most preferably incorporates at least one movable side wall for each downwardly extending passageway, thereby providing for altered arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway as well as controlled feed or introduction of tobacco filler within each receptacle. As a result of the foregoing, for a particular blend of tobacco filler, a predetermined amount of tobacco filler can be supplied to, and provided within, each receptacle.
The device further includes a compression mechanism for arranging a pre-determined amount of loose tobacco filler within each receptacle into a charge of tobacco filler of pre-determined shape and size (e.g., a cylindrical shape that is capable of filling the hollow region of a tubular wrapping portion). The device also includes a tray or cartridge for containing a plurality of pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. Each such wrapping portion has a hollow region, open at one end, for receiving tobacco filler. The cartridge is adapted to be positioned relative to the receptacles such that individual pre-formed tubular wrapping portions within the cartridge are aligned with corresponding individual receptacles. The device also includes an insertion unit including a plurality of feeding units (e.g., movable insertion arms) for delivering each charge of tobacco filler from each receptacle into the hollow region of each corresponding individual pre-formed tubular wrapping portion. That is, a tubular wrapping portion aligned with and adjacent to a corresponding receptacle is held in place while each charge of tobacco filler positioned within each receptacle is transferred from each receptacle through a nozzle into the hollow region of each corresponding tubular wrapping portion.
A representative embodiment of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus includes five downwardly extending passageways, five compression regions within the compression mechanism, five receptacles for formation of five charges of tobacco filler, five insertion arms, and a cartridge containing at least five hollow tubular wrapping portions; and, as such, five cigarettes can be manufactured substantially simultaneously by using the apparatus to fill each of five wrapping portions with a formed charge of tobacco filler. A representative lot of twenty cigarettes (e.g. a sufficient number of cigarettes to fill a traditional type of cigarette package) can be provided using such a representative cigarette manufacturing apparatus by employing at least a sufficient amount of tobacco filler to adequately fill twenty tubular wrapping portions contained within a cartridge designed to hold twenty tubular wrapping portions, and after appropriate placement of the cartridge within the apparatus, carrying out the tobacco filler filling operation four times.
A second aspect of the invention relates to removal of tobacco from ends of cigarettes. Tobacco filler extending from the end of a plurality of cigarettes can be removed by aligning a row of cigarettes and cutting that excess tobacco away from the ends of the cigarettes. Typically, after cigarettes have been manufactured using the representative apparatus of the present invention, a slight amount of tobacco filler located at the foremost lighting end of the cigarette may extend outwards from the open end of the tubular wrapper portion. That is, a slight excess amount of tobacco filler may extend beyond that region circumscribed by the tube of wrapping material. A representative embodiment of this aspect of the invention includes a circular, highly sharpened cutting blade rotating at a high speed which can be passed by the lighting end of the cigarette, at or just beyond the end of the tubular wrapper portion, in order to cut excess tobacco filler away. For example, finished cigarettes can be properly aligned in a cartridge, a highly sharpened cutting wheel configured in a general table saw type of manner can be aligned relative to the cartridge, and the cutting wheel cartridge can be rotated at a very high rate of speed and moved past the lighting ends of those cigarettes sufficiently close so as to cut excess tobacco filler away while not cutting or damaging the paper wrapping material at the lighting ends of those cigarettes. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, the ends of finished cigarettes positioned in a cartridge can be trimmed while those cigarettes are positioned within that cartridge.
A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for loading a cartridge with pre-formed hollow tubular wrapping portions useful for the manufacture of cigarettes. Such a cartridge-loading device or assembly preferably includes a region for supporting the cartridge in a manner that at least a portion of the cartridge can be loaded with tubular wrapping portions. The device optionally includes a supply mechanism for supplying tubular wrapping portions to the cartridge. Specifically, the device is configured to fill the cartridge with a pre-determined number of tubular wrapping portions. In one embodiment, the supply mechanism includes an upper reservoir for receiving and containing a plurality of tubular wrapping portions, a hopper region including a plurality of downwardly extending passageways, a lower bed or tray located below the hopper region, and a transfer mechanism that facilitates transport tubular wrappers from the bed to corresponding locations within the cartridge. The downwardly extending passageways are adapted so as to receive tubular wrapping portions. Thus, in an operation of this embodiment, an individual tubular wrapping portion within the upper reservoir falls into each passageway of the hopper, and hence, several vertically extending columns of tubular wrapping portions are provided. Tubular wrapping portions positioned at the bottom of the supply mechanism are aligned with desired locations on the cartridge, which is positioned in a predetermined location adjacent the bottom region of the supply mechanism. As a result, a series of movable rods can be used to push the series of tubular wrapping portions from the bottom bed into desired positions within the cartridge.
A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for packaging cigarettes. One embodiment of this aspect of the invention includes a device having a base that has a region for locating an open cigarette package. The device also includes an upper region or platform, above the base, adapted to support a cartridge containing finished cigarettes. Below the upper platform is located a downwardly extending passageway for the passage of cigarettes from the cartridge and into the cigarette package. Removal of cigarettes from the cartridge is accomplished by movement of the cartridge relative to the upper platform such that cigarettes within the cartridge are pushed from the cartridge and into the downwardly extending passageway, traveling thereby into the package.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the use of the various components associated with various aspects of the present invention as a system to provide a cigarette product manufacturing assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a specific tobacco filler blend can be selected. Pre-formed tubular wrapping portions also can be selected. Empty tubular wrapping portions can be loaded into a cartridge using the cartridge-loading assembly. A cartridge carrying hollow tubular wrapping portions can be suitably positioned within the cigarette-making apparatus. The cigarette-making apparatus also can be fitted with a removable hopper unit containing the selected tobacco filler blend, or alternatively, the hopper unit can be appropriately positioned within the cigarette-making apparatus and then loaded with the selected tobacco filler blend. Cigarettes are manufactured by filling tubular wrapping portions with controlled amounts of loose tobacco filler until the cartridge is filled with manufactured cigarettes. As such, numerous cigarettes of consistent quality (e.g., in terms of components, dimensions, and weight) are produced. The cartridge, filled with manufactured cigarettes, is removed from the cigarette-making apparatus. Any excess tobacco filler extending from the lighting ends of those cigarettes can be trimmed, in order that the various cigarettes have ends that are relatively uniform and aesthetically pleasing. The cigarettes are transferred from the cartridge into the cigarette packaging device, where the cigarettes are loaded into a package. As such, there is provided a manner or method for manufacturing and packaging relatively small quantities, lots, or batches of finished cigarettes of consistent quality in an automated fashion. It is particularly desirable to employ the cigarette-making machine in combination with all or certain of the foregoing devices in a commercial setting, such as a tobacco products retail establishment, in order that a customer can choose a type or blend of tobacco filler for a package of cigarettes, and view the production and handling of the cigarettes that are produced expressly for that customer by a representative of the retail establishment.
Although useful in many environments, it is particularly desirable to employ the cigarette-making machine in combination with all or certain of the foregoing devices in a commercial setting, such as a tobacco products retail establishment, in order that a customer can choose a type or blend of tobacco filler for a package of cigarettes, and view the production and handling of the cigarettes that are produced expressly for that customer by a representative of the retail establishment. The automated cigarette-making machine, the cartridge-loading device and the packaging device of the present invention each can be used, for example, for the manufacture of cigarettes for personal use (e.g., for use at home), for the manufacture of specialty type cigarettes within tobacco products retail establishments (e.g., for the production of individual packages of cigarettes at tobacco shops), for the manufacture of small lots of cigarettes for quality control or regulatory related activities, or for research and development purposes.
Referring to
The cigarette manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a lower base 31, which can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, brass or aluminum), plastic (e.g., polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, acrylate/butadiene/styrene or ABS type plastic, nylon, or other suitable polymeric material), composite material (e.g., a graphite-based ceramic), or like material; but preferably is manufactured from aluminum. Although the shape and dimensions of the base can vary, and can be a matter of design choice, a representative base is generally rectangular and is about 35 cm deep, about 25 cm wide, and about 2 cm high. A perspective view of the base 31 is described below with reference to
If desired, various components of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus 10 can be covered with an aesthetically pleasing cover (not shown). For example, portions of the base 31 can be adapted to support an optional formed plastic cover of a desired design and color.
The base 31 supports a movable tray or cartridge 38, which can be manufactured from a suitable material above, but preferably is manufactured from a metal, such as aluminum. The cartridge 38 preferably is adapted to be movable from side to side relative to the base 31, along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge 38. Movement can be facilitated manually by a machine operator. Although the dimensions of the cartridge 38 can vary, and can be a matter of design choice, a representative, generally rectangular-shaped cartridge is about 7 cm deep, about 26.5 cm long, and about 2.5 cm high. Rear and front views of the cartridge 38 are shown, respectively, in
Referring to
The cartridge 38 preferably is adapted to be removable from the base 31. Thus, a cartridge 38 loaded with empty tubular wrappers 21 can be positioned on the base 31, loaded with loose tobacco filler (not shown), and—once loaded with finished cigarettes resulting from the tubular wrappers 21 having been filled with tobacco filler—can be removed from the base 31 for packaging or use. It is highly preferred that the tubular wrappers 21 within the cartridge 38 are positioned lying on their sides (e.g., the longitudinal axis of each is parallel to, or substantially parallel to, the horizontal plane). The cartridge 38 preferably acts as a source and holder of tubular wrappers 21 that are employed during the cigarette-manufacturing process using the cigarette-making apparatus, as well as a holder for transfer of finished cigarettes 13 manufactured using that apparatus 10 to a package filling device.
The cartridge 38 preferably is adapted to be capable of being maintained firmly in place relative to the base 31 during periods when the apparatus 10 is being used to insert loose tobacco filler into selected tubular wrappers 21. Appropriate secure positioning of the cartridge within the base preferably is accomplished by any suitable means. For example, the cartridge 38 may be laterally secured to the base 31 using, for example, a pin or key type of design (e.g., a square key stock 834, such as is illustrated in
The base 31 also supports a compression assembly 75 (which is discussed in greater detail below with reference to
The tobacco hopper assembly 80 also includes a hopper unit 99. The hopper unit 99 is adapted to be maintained firmly in place relative to the compression assembly 75 during periods when the apparatus 10 is being used to insert loose tobacco filler into selected tubular wrappers 21. Such firm positioning of the hopper unit 99 preferably is accomplished by appropriately positioned coordinating locating slots and pins (not shown). As such, the hopper unit 99 functions as a source of loose tobacco filler that is processed using the apparatus 10 to produce finished cigarettes.
Various components of the hopper assembly 80 preferably are adapted to be removable from the compression assembly 75, in order that the relevant hopper assembly components can be serviced or cleaned. In a preferred embodiment of the apparatus 10, individual hopper units, each containing a different blend of loose tobacco filler, can readily be removed and substituted for one another. The desired secure positioning of each removable hopper unit 99 relative to the other components of the apparatus 10 preferably is facilitated by placement of protruding pins on the bottom of the hopper unit and complementary mating holes in the top of the compression assembly 75. By use of the pin/hole arrangement or another suitable mechanism, the hopper unit can appropriately be aligned with the other components of the apparatus.
Referring to
The dimensions of the upper reservoir region 110 may vary depending upon the amount of tobacco desired to be used with the apparatus 10. Preferably, the upper reservoir region 110 has the capability of containing about 50 g to about 100 g of loose tobacco filler (not shown). A representative upper reservoir region 110 includes outwardly sloping walls 130 that extend upwards and outwards from the top wall 114 of the intermediate hopper portion 118 to a vertical height of about 2 cm to about 5 cm. Those outwardly sloping walls can be manufactured from any suitable material and preferably include a metallic material, such as stainless steel.
The intermediate hopper portion 118 is defined by top wall 114, front wall 140, fixed left side wall 350, a rear wall 370, movable right side wall 360 and bottom wall 162. A representative intermediate hopper assembly has dimensions of about 29 cm wide, about 10.1 cm long, and about 10 cm high. Preferably, the walls of the representative intermediate hopper region are manufactured from sheets of a clear material such as polycarbonate or polymethylmethacrylate, in order that the presence or absence of loose tobacco filler in the intermediate hopper region readily can be viewed.
A series of side walls 350, 360 extend downwardly within the intermediate hopper portion 118. That is, for each opening 124, a fixed wall 350 and a movable wall 360 extend downwardly from the bottom of the top wall 114 of the intermediate hopper portion 118, thereby forming a vertically extending passageway extending downwardly from each opening 124. Each movable wall 360 is movable relative to the other components of the intermediate hopper portion 118. That is, the movable walls 360 of the intermediate hopper portion 118 can be moved back and forth along a front-to-rear axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the top wall 114. This front to back movement preferably may be effected by an operator using an appropriately connected wall-moving handle 160 that extends across the front exterior region of the intermediate hopper portion 118. An appropriate connection of the wall-moving handle 160 to the movable walls 360 may include screws or bolts combined with spacers, rivets, or any other suitable connection means. Preferably, a reciprocating motion of a wall-moving handle 160 helps tobacco filler to gently settle within each passageway, hence providing a consistent amount of tobacco filler in each tobacco charge that is used during cigarette manufacture. The wall-moving handle 160 can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, polytetrafluoroethylene, or aluminum.
The bottom region of hopper assembly 80 includes a bottom wall 162, which includes a series of bottom wall slots 395. A movable slat 165 is located below the bottom wall 162. The movable slat 165 is adapted to be movable back and forth along its longitudinal axis within the lower region of the hopper unit 99. An exemplary movable slat can be manufactured from any suitable material and preferably is manufactured from a metallic material, such as stainless steel. A representative movable slat is about 6.5 cm wide, about 29 cm long, and about 1.6 mm thick. The movable slat 165 includes a series of slat apertures 368 that, when the movable slat 165 is in an “open” position are aligned with the openings 124 of the top wall 114, the vertical passageways, and the bottom wall slots 395 of the bottom wall 162. As is described below with more specific reference to
Referring again to
Each ball slide 170 is suitably adapted so as to provide for the desired movement and positioning of a series of weights 177. For the embodiment shown, the apparatus 10 includes five weights 177. Each weight 177 is appropriately attached (e.g., using fasteners such as screws) to a corresponding ball slide 170. Each weight 177 is adapted to travel up and down with each respective ball slide 170 in an appropriate channel 197. A series of spring plungers 207, or other suitable control means, within each ball slide 170 acts to hold each respective weight and ball slide in an “up” position (as shown in
Each weight 177 includes a bottom foot 217 that preferably is adapted to fit within corresponding opening 124 below that weight 177. Preferably, each foot 217 also is adapted so as to provide for ensuring compression of the tobacco filler within each corresponding vertical passageway of the hopper unit 99. In a representative embodiment, each weight preferably has a mass of about 150 g to about 400 g, more about 200 g to about 300 g, and most preferably about 200 g. Optionally, the mass of each individual weight 177 can be changed (e.g., by adapting each weight so that smaller weights can be added and taken away, in order that the downward compressive force can be selected and controlled). For example, an optional, additional weight 220 can be positioned on top of weight 177 such that the degree of downward compressive force would be increased. In operation, a series of additional weights optionally can be positioned on top of each weight 177, and as tobacco filler is gradually removed from each vertical passageway for cigarette manufacture, the additional weights can be removed, as desired, from each larger weight to prevent a disproportionate downward pressure on a lesser volume of tobacco filler.
Most preferably, each weight 177 provides substantially identical downward compressive force. However, the amount of downward force provided to the tobacco material in each vertical passageway of the hopper unit 99 can be varied between individual vertical passageways, depending upon factors such as the relative amount of tobacco filler in each passageway. Preferably, the weight-source assembly 92 is configured such that the loose tobacco filler within each vertical passageway is consistently or uniformly positioned within each passageway, and the packing density of the tobacco filler within each passageway are comparable within each passageway. Control of the downward compressive force to the tobacco filler is desirable in order to control the amount of tobacco filler used for the manufacture of each individual cigarette. For example, a mechanism such as a set of force gauges or scales (not shown) may be positioned within each vertical passageway or attached to the top of each of the weights in order to monitor the degree of downward force applied to the tobacco filler therein.
Referring now to
For the embodiment shown in
The compression assembly 75 is located on and supported by the base 31. referably, the compression assembly 75 is attached securely to the base 31 using several screws, or other appropriate fastening means. The removable hopper unit 99 preferably is maintained in place on top of the compression assembly 75 by a suitable number of appropriately positioned locating pins (not shown). That is, several positioning pins of appropriate shape and size can be located in the bottom of the hopper unit 99, and corresponding location holes can be positioned in the top face of the compression assembly. Any other suitable structure may be used to maintain the relative positions of the hopper unit 99 and the compression assembly 75.
As shown in
Referring to
The operational arms or handles 260, 261 that are shown are each designed to be operated within a horizontal plane. The design and selection of the operational arms are such that the operational mechanism (e.g., a gear and/or spring mechanism such as, for example the compression assembly 75 or the plunger assembly 248) can provide the appropriate amount of force to readily operate the apparatus in an efficient and effective manner (i.e., the operational arms 260, 261 can be repeatedly moved back and forth to provide the desired effect of moving tobacco with relative ease of the operator). Alternatively, either or both of the operational arms can be substituted with other means for providing the desired operational effect, such as in-line toggle clamp handles.
Referring to
In the illustrated embodiment of
A movable slat 165 is positioned below the bottom wall 162. The slat 165 can be moved laterally along its longitudinal axis in such a manner that slat apertures 368 therein can alternately be aligned, or not aligned, with the corresponding bottom wall slots 395 in the bottom wall 162. Preferably, the slots 395 in the bottom wall 162 generally resemble the openings 124 in the top wall 114 in overall shape. However, it is preferred that the bottom wall slots 395 be slightly larger than the corresponding openings 124 in the top wall 114. For the manufacture of a cigarette from a hollow tubular rod having a tobacco rod section of about 56 mm in length and about 24.5 mm in circumference, a representative preferred opening in the bottom wall has dimensions of 12 mm wide by about 58 mm to about 60 mm deep. It is also preferred that the dimensions of the slots 395 in the bottom wall 162 be substantially identical to those of the corresponding apertures 368 in the slat 165. Controlled movement of the slat 165 is allowed by tracking slots 411 being moveable about corresponding shoulder pins 412 or other suitable means. The slat 165 can include an optional handle aperture 415 that provides a type of handle for grasping and sliding the slat 165 back and forth.
In one embodiment, the major surfaces of the fixed and movable side walls 350, 360 are all substantially vertical and parallel to each other. In certain preferred embodiments, each of the fixed and movable side walls 350, 360 is broader near its top end and tapers narrower near its bottom end. This configuration provides a vertical passage between the side walls 350, 360 that is slightly broader at its bottom than at its top. For example in one preferred configuration, the major faces of each side wall each taper about 0.5° to about 1° from vertical. Alternatively, the side walls are slightly tilted toward each other at the top to achieve this effect. A vertical passage of such a shape is preferred in that downward movement of tobacco filler of a tobacco filler column within that passage is facilitated or promoted.
For the embodiment shown in
In the assembled apparatus 10, a plunger assembly 248 (shown in
The backstop wall 68 defines the front end of the base 31 and extends above its upper surface. The main base 31 includes several guidance grooves 346 within its upper face. The guidance grooves 346 extend longitudinally across the base 31. For the embodiment shown in
The base 31 also includes a front platform portion 382 immediately rear of the backstop wall 68. The front platform portion 382 provides a region configured to support a cartridge 38 in a proper position and location for making cigarettes with the apparatus 10. The main base 31 includes an broad recess 354 at the front edge of the guidance grooves 346. The dimensions of a representative opening region 354 are about 6 cm deep and about 22 cm wide. A plurality of spaced tension arms 365 is positioned within the broad recess 354. For the embodiment shown in
In the assembled apparatus 10, tension arms 365 are located beneath filling nozzles 230 of the compression assembly 75 (see
Referring to
The tension arms 365 each include an upper arm surface 385. Each upper arm surface 385 is located in front of the axle 369. As a result, a downward movement of the front arm portion 379 of each tension arm also results in a downward movement of each respective upper arm surface 385. A representative upper arm surface has a generally concave shape and is designed to act as a support for the open end of a tubular wrapper. A representative upper arm surface corresponds to about one third of the circumference of the open end region of the tubular wrapper that is cradled thereon. Each representative upper portion extends upwards about 5 mm to about 10 mm above the upper surface of the base 31. Representative tension arms, and particularly the upper faces of those tension arms, are manufactured from nylon, or another suitable material. Representative tension arms, and particularly the upper surface of the those tension arm, also can be manufactured from metal coated with an elastomer in order to provide a surface exhibiting some friction, and thereby improving the ability of the tension arm to clamp and hold a tubular wrapper to a nozzle of the compression assembly.
The tension arms 365 each include a rear arm portion 390. In a representative embodiment, each rear arm portion extends rearwards about 28 mm from of the center of the axle. Each rear arm portion 390 of each tension arm 365 preferably is located adjacent the front end of each corresponding guidance groove 346. During an operation of the apparatus 10, the tension arms interact with the plunger arm assembly, which is described below with reference to
In
The front platform portion 382 preferably includes a key stock 410 extending upwards therefrom. The key stock 410 provides for a convenient manner of positioning of a cartridge securely in a desired position relative to the base 31. For the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The cartridge 38 preferably also includes at least one optional coordinating slot 535 on its bottom face at a predetermined location that is a distance apart from the location of slots 515. The coordinating slot 535 can be used in order to provide for a desired positioning of the cartridge within one or more other devices, such as, for example, an apparatus designed to fill an empty cartridge with pre-formed tubular wrappers, a device to trim the ends of tobacco charges in cigarettes on the cartridge, or a device to transfer cigarettes from the cartridge to a container. A representative device for trimming cigarette ends is described below with reference to
The cartridge 38 includes a raised region 540 on the front thereof. The raised region 540 facilitates capture and control of the filter ends of the tubular wrappers 21 within a series of preferably semi-cylindrical grooves 48 on the cartridge. As such, desired positioning of the tubular wrappers on the cartridge is promoted. When the cartridge 38 is loaded with pre-formed tubular wrappers 21, the filtered ends of those tubular wrappers 21 are situated at least partially within a series of cavities 541 within the raised region 540 of the cartridge, and the open ends of those tubular wrappers 21 are oriented toward the rear of the cartridge 38.
Referring to
In
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment of
The compression assembly 75 includes a set of compression assembly channels 638 that run transverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembly 75. The compression assembly channels 638 provide for passage of a series of plunger insertion arms 251 from the plunger assembly 248 therethrough. As is described in greater detail below, the plunger insertion arms 251 function to push compressed charges of tobacco filler from the lower receptacle area 641 into tubular wrappers 21.
During an operation of the compression assembly 75, a charge of tobacco filler is allowed to pass from the hopper unit 99 above into the receptacle area 641. The compression arm 260 is moved so as to move each compression bar 621 to the right, such that the compression plates 630 simultaneously move toward the right. As a result, the tobacco filler in each lower receptacle 641 is formed into a cylindrical charge.
When the compression assembly is in open position, as is shown in
A representative compression plate has a length of about 6 cm, a width of about 24.5 mm and a thickness of about 6.3 mm. For one preferred embodiment, the compression plates are equally spaced from one another at a distance of about 2.5 cm. The manner that the compression plates 630 communicate with the compression bar 621 can vary. In some embodiments, the compression bar and compression plates extending upward therefrom can be of unitary construction. However, it is preferred that each compression plate includes a downwardly extending pin that fits into a corresponding hole within the compression plate; and as such, compression plates can be removed for servicing of the apparatus, and compression plates of desired sizes can be substituted within the apparatus.
Several filling nozzles 230 are positioned on the front of the compression assembly 75. Representative nozzles preferably are manufactured from brass or stainless steel. For the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Referring to
As shown in
When the plunger assembly 248 is assembled to the compression assembly 75, the right/leading face of each compression plate 630 and the inner/left surface of each respective plunger semi-tube 695 cooperate to form a generally cylindrical region. That is, the right/leading face of each compression plate 630 is sufficiently concave to form the general shape of a semi-circle, and each cooperating plunger semi-tube 695 has the general open shape of a semi-circle. As such, movement of these two components together and into proper alignment results in the receptacle 641 taking on a generally cylindrical shape with a generally circular cross-section. As such, for each cooperating plunger semi-tube and compression plate compressed into close alignment, a generally cylindrical charge of tobacco filler is formed.
For the hopper unit 99, each fixed wall 350 of each vertical passageway 675 is shown so as to be substantially vertical. Each movable wall 360 is positioned at a slight angle relative to vertical, such that the width of the vertical passageway 675 is slightly greater near the bottom than near the top. For example, each movable wall 360 is positioned at an angle of 1 ° off vertical, tapering outwards toward its bottom. In different embodiments, any or all of the walls 350, 360 may be vertical or slightly angled, but in preferred embodiments, the movable walls 360 are at least slightly angled. The weights 177 of the hopper assembly 80 are shown in a lowered position, such that each weight 177 extends within the corresponding vertical passageway 675 of the hopper unit 99.
Referring to
Protrusions from the lower edge of the cross-member 257 support several forward-extending guides 728. The guides 728 may be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably are manufactured from aluminum. A tension release wedge 740 is positioned at the front face of each guide. Each tension release wedge 740 is designed to cooperate with a corresponding tension arm located on the base 31 (as described above). A representative forward facing guide and release wedge assembly extends forward from the cross-member 257 by about 10 cm, and a representative wedge is about 7 mm high and about 9 mm wide. The front face of a representative release wedge is configured such that the face slopes downward from back to front. That is, the shape of each tension release wedge can be designed to cooperate with a corresponding shape of the rear arm portion 390 of each tension control arm 365. In essence, the forward movement of the release wedge 740 acts as a cam to move the rear arm portion 390, which acts as a cam follower. The result when the wedge 740 is moved forward is an upward movement of the rear arm portion 390 of the tension arm 365.
A plunger arm 251 is positioned above each guide arm 728, such that each plunger arm 251 extends essentially parallel to each guide arm 728 and is supported by the cross-member 257. For the embodiment shown in
Extending from the front face of each plunger arm 251 is a plunger partial tube or semi-tube 695, or other suitable means for insertion of tobacco filler into a tubular wrapper portion. The plunger semi-tube 695 is securely attached to the front end of the plunger arm 251, using any suitable fastening means, such as, for example, unitary construction, spot weld, recessed rivets, adhesive, or recessed nuts and bolts. As another example, the plunger semi-tube 695 can include a tube portion that fits over the front end of a cooperating plunger arm 251 and is crimped thereabout.
The design of each plunger semi-tube 695 can vary. One preferred design for a plunger semi-tube 695 is a generally semi-cylindrical tube with a generally cylindrical base portion 760 attaching it to a corresponding plunger insertion arm 251. A representative plunger semi-tube is about 67 mm long; about 15 mm thereof is a generally tubular region that fits over the front end of the plunger insertion arm, and about 52 mm thereof is a generally semi-cylindrical region. A preferred semi-tube 695 incorporates a plurality of teeth 765 on each side edge thereof (i.e., the semi-tubular section includes two rows of teeth making the two sides serrated). In a representative embodiment each row of teeth located about 8 mm from the extreme front end of the semi-tubular section and extends about 28 mm along its length. Preferably the teeth are angled toward the tip or front of the plunger arm assembly 248. A plunger semi-tube having serrated side edges facilitates effective forward movement of tobacco filler into a tubular wrapper portion, and also facilitates ready removal of the plunger semi-tube from the tubular wrapper portion while minimizing the likelihood of tobacco filler being pulled out of the tubular wrapping portion.
Each plunger semi-tube 695 can be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably is manufactured from a metallic material, such as stainless steel. For example, a stainless steel tube of appropriate size (e.g., having a circular cross-section of about 5.5 mm inner diameter and about 6.35 mm outer diameter) can be machined to provide a plunger semi-tube of appropriate shape. Representative plunger semi-tube designs are incorporated in those types of cigarette-making devices that have been commercially available as “Premier Supermatic”™ from The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Referring to
During an operation of the apparatus 10, loose tobacco filler material is placed in the upper reservoir region 110 of the hopper assembly 80. Most preferably, the tobacco filler has the form of cut filler of a desirable particle size, and the tobacco filler is substantially absent of tobacco dust or fines. The tobacco filler is gently moved over each opening 124 in the top wall 114 of the hopper unit 99 so that the tobacco filler falls into each corresponding vertical passageway 675, and into the lower region of the hopper unit 99. Preferably, for the embodiment shown, sufficient loose tobacco filler is introduced into the hopper assembly 99 to provide for adequate manufacture of more than twenty cigarettes. Manipulation of the ball slides 170 to effect downward movement of each weight 177 into each respective opening 124 provides a desired compression of the tobacco filler in the lower region of the hopper assembly 99. Reciprocating movement of the wall-moving handle 160 moves the movable walls 360 and preferably promotes settling of tobacco filler within each vertical passageway. As such, consistent or uniform filling of the relevant region with a consistent or uniform amount of tobacco filler is promoted.
Counter-clockwise movement of the compression arm 260 provides for formation of cylindrical charges of tobacco filler in the receptacle areas 641 of the compression assembly 75, as is described above with reference to
Explanation of an operation of the tension arms and other components is best made with reference to
This forward movement of the cartridge 38 away from the tension arms 365 results in release of downward force thereupon. As a result, each tension arm spring 400 uncompresses and forces pivoting of each tension arm 365 rearward such that each upper arm surface 385 thereof moves upward and pushes a portion of the tubular wrapping portion against the nozzle (i.e., applies a clamping force to the tubular wrapping portion). That is, release of downward force on the front portion of each tension arm 365 results in an upward movement of each upper arm surface 385, which clamps the lower inner surface of a corresponding tubular wrapper 21 against the lower outer surface of a corresponding nozzle 230. As such, each tubular wrapper 21 is held securely in place so that a cylindrical charge of tobacco filler may be transferred from the compression assembly 75 into the open end of the tubular wrapper 21.
Movement of the plunger arm 261 works through the gears of the insertion mechanism 300 to cause forward movement of the of the plunger insertion arms 251 of the plunger assembly 248. That is, each plunger insertion arm 251 travels forward parallel to and above each corresponding guidance groove 346 as the forward-extending guides 728 extending from the underside of the plunger arm cross-member 257 track through the guidance grooves 346. The plunger arm assembly is explained in greater detail with reference to
When the plunger assembly 248 has been moved forward sufficiently to fill the tubular wrapper portion 21 with a charge of tobacco filler, the front face of each tension release wedge 740 at the forward end of each forward-extending guide arm 728 reaches and contacts the rear arm portion 390 of each corresponding tension arm 365. This contact causes a slight upward movement of the rear arm portion 390 of each tension arm 365. As a result, the upper arm surface 385 of each tension arm 365 is moved downwards. This downward movement of each upper arm surface 385 results in release of the clamping force on the tubular wrapping portion 21 to each corresponding nozzle 230, and each resulting finished cigarette is released from the corresponding nozzle. Rearward movement of the plunger assembly 248 results in release of the upward pressure on the rear arm portion 390 of each tension arm 365, and each tension arm 365 is allowed to move freely back to its original position. This completes a single manufacturing operation cycle for one sub-lot of cigarettes (five cigarettes in the illustrated apparatus 10).
The cartridge 38 then can be moved on the base 31 to either the left or right to align five more empty tubular wrapping portions 21 with the corresponding nozzles 230 of the compression assembly 75. The manufacturing operation cycle of filling five more tubular wrapping portions 21 with five corresponding charges of tobacco filler, preferably of consistent density, can then be repeated. It is highly preferred that the cigarettes are manufactured without damaging (e.g., tearing) the wrapping material at their lighting ends.
Referring to
A clockwise movement of the plunger arm 261 results in rearward movement of the plunger assembly 248. A clockwise movement of the compression arm 260 results in leftward movement of the compression plates 630 within the compression assembly 75. When the compression plates 630 are moved to the open position (i.e., to the left) another portion of tobacco filler from each corresponding vertical passageway is allowed to fall into each respective receptacle. Typically, the amount of tobacco filler within each receptacle is controlled such that the tobacco filler fills the height of the receptacle (e.g., the approximate height/thickness of the compression plate), as well as the width and depth of the receptacle area 641.
Weight applied to tobacco filler (not shown) in each vertical passageway of the hopper unit 99, and movement of the wall-moving handle 160 located on the front of the hopper unit, act to promote control of a consistent amount of tobacco filler within each receptacle. In a preferred operation, the cartridge 38 is moved to the right, backward and forward movement of the cartridge (to affix a set of tubular wrappers 21 to corresponding nozzles 230, as described above) is repeated, and the movement of each of the compression arm 260 and plunger arm 261 is repeated, and as such, five more tubular wrappers 21 are filled with tobacco filler. The weight 177 that has been dropped into each vertically extending passageway can be lifted in order to allow additional tobacco filler to be introduced into each passageway. In this manner, an adequate supply of tobacco filler within each receptacle for formation of a tobacco filler charge of the desired density is facilitated. However, in a highly preferred embodiment of using the apparatus, sufficient tobacco filler will already have been positioned within each vertically extending passageway to provide for successive filling of each receptacle with an adequate and consistent amount of tobacco filler during preparation of further finished cigarettes.
With the illustrated embodiment, the above-described process can be repeated a total of four times, with the preferred result being that a lot of twenty substantially identical cigarettes are manufactured and contained within the cartridge. For each cigarette manufactured in accordance with the foregoing process, it is highly desirable to have sufficient tobacco filler in each vertically extending passageway above each receptacle to ensure supply of an adequate amount of tobacco filler within each receptacle, and hence to provide for consistent filling of each pre-formed tubular wrapper with the desired amount of tobacco filler. That is, it is highly desirable that whenever tobacco filler within a receptacle is compressed into a first cylindrical charge, there be adequate tobacco filler positioned in the vertically extending passageway above the tobacco filler in that receptacle to provide for at least three more tobacco charges substantially similar in volume and density the first charge.
When complete, the cartridge 38 containing manufactured cigarettes can be removed from the cigarette-making apparatus 10. In addition, the slat 165 located on the bottom of the hopper unit can be shifted to the closed position, the weights 170 can be raised, and the hopper unit 99 can be refilled with tobacco filler, or removed from the cigarette-making apparatus 10 and replaced with another hopper unit 99. When the loose tobacco filler is handled and used to manufacture cigarettes in accordance with the present invention, it is highly preferred that the various pieces of tobacco material that make up that tobacco filler undergo an extremely low degree of breakage or degradation. That is, it is highly preferred that the cigarette-making device be operated so as to cause an extremely low degree of degradation of the tobacco filler.
For the embodiments described with reference to
For a preferred cigarette manufacturing apparatus 10, and components thereof, described with reference to
For a preferred cigarette manufacturing apparatus, and components thereof, described with reference to
Other manners or methods can be employed in order to ensure that a controlled amount of tobacco filler is distributed within each vertically extending passageway and each cooperating receptacle. For example, in an alternative embodiment (that is not illustrated), the bottom region of each receptacle of the compression assembly can be adapted so as to be composed of a fine mesh screen or foraminous material. That porous region can be adapted so as to be in communication with a slight vacuum (e.g., as can be provided by appropriate connection to a vacuum source, such as a laboratory vacuum source). As such, the negative air pressure applied to the bottom region of each receptacle can act to pull tobacco filler material downward, and hence adequately fill each receptacle with a uniform and controlled amount of tobacco filler. The degree of vacuum pulled on each column of tobacco filler within each respective vertical passageway and receptacle can be altered depending upon factors such as the amount of tobacco filler within each vertical passageway.
Another manner or method for ensuring that a controlled amount of tobacco filler is distributed within each vertically extending passageway and each cooperating receptacle involves the use of a hydraulic plunger or spring mechanism. For example, for an embodiment that is not shown, a hydraulically-operated plunger can be used to apply downward force to the tobacco filler in each vertical passageway, and the amount of force applied to the tobacco filler can be decreased as the amount of tobacco filler in the vertical passageway decreases. As another example of an embodiment that is not shown, a resistance spring can be positioned so as to vertically extend around an appropriately configured weight such that the weight can extend into the vertical passageway and the spring rests on the top wall of the hopper unit. As such, as tobacco filler is removed from each vertical passageway as a result of cigarette manufacture, the weight falls further into the vertical passageway, and the resulting compression of the spring results in the application of less downward compressive force by the weight to the tobacco filler.
Referring to
The rear face of the cartridge 38 abuts a static lower ledger bar 808 of a ledger that extends across the rear of the cartridge-holding platform 794. The grooved upper face of the lower ledger bar 808 is adapted to be aligned with the grooves 48 in the upper face of the cartridge. Thus, when the cartridge is placed on the trimming device 790, each cigarette 13 rests in a groove 48 on the cartridge 38 and a corresponding groove in the lower ledger bar 808. A movable upper ledger bar 806 has a bottom face that is configured to complement the shape of the cigarettes resting in the lower ledger bar 808. The movable upper ledger bar 806 can be removable so as to be placed by hand over the lower ledger bar 808, and thereby form the top of the ledger 804. The upper ledger bar 806 can be attached in place by clips, or another suitable fastening means. The upper ledger bar 806 also can be attached in place but movable relative to the lower ledger bar 808 by use of an appropriately positioned hinge, or other suitable means. Preferably, the ledger 804 is manufactured from a suitable metallic material, such as brass. Preferably, the back faces of the lower ledger bar 808 and the upper ledger bar 806 are vertically aligned with one another. Most preferably, when the cartridge 38 is in place and the ledger 804 is closed, the preferred lighting tips of the cigarettes 13 (as defined by the ends of the tubular wrappers 21) are aligned with the back faces of each of the lower and upper ledger bars 808, 806.
During an operation of the trimming device 790, a circular cutting blade 810 is rotated at a very high rate of speed (e.g., 1200-2000 rpm) by a motor 812. The circular cutting blade/cutter 810 optionally is covered by a blade housing 814. The motor 812 also may be covered by an optional motor housing 816. A representative motor is available as an induction motor 25 W (1/30 HP), 115V P/N 41K25A-AWU from Oriental Motor USA Corp. A representative cutter constructed of tungsten carbide, and has a diameter of about 62 mm and a thickness of about 0.3 mm. The blade and motor assembly preferably is securely mounted on a bar 818, or other suitable support means, such that the rotating cutter can be moved back and forth. A representative bar is a ground and polished stainless steel rod of about 12 mm diameter.
The cutter 810 preferably is mounted perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes 13 in the cartridge 38, and so that it rotates in a vertical plane. The cutter 810 also is positioned so as pass very close to the lighting ends of the cigarettes 13. That is, the cutter 810 is positioned so as to pass very close to the rear face of the ledger 804, and hence, very close to the lighting ends of the cigarettes (as defined by the ends of the tubular wrappers 21).
In use, the cartridge 38, containing cigarettes 13, is placed on the trimming device 790, and the ends of the cigarettes 13 extending from the rear of the cartridge 38 rest in the corresponding grooves of the lower ledger bar 808. The upper ledger bar 806 is positioned over the cigarettes 38 to hold them in place. The motor 812 is started by activating at switch 819, and the cutter 810 is rotated at a very high rate of speed (e.g., at about 1450 rpm). The cutter 810 is moved from one end of the trimming device 790 to the other such that the cutter trims away tobacco filler extending from the ends of the cigarettes 13. As such, the lighting end of each cigarette 13 preferably resembles in appearance the lighting end of a mass-produced cigarette manufactured using high-speed automated cigarette-making equipment, such as the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand.
Referring to
Referring to
The cartridge-loading platform 832 includes a key stock 834 for maintaining a suitably configured cartridge (e.g., a cartridge 38, as shown in
The supply assembly 833 includes a movable upper reservoir 845 adapted to hold a container 848 of tubular wrappers (box shown as empty). A representative container 848 is a paperboard box containing two hundred pre-formed filtered tubular wrappers, each of which is about 24 mm in circumference and about 86 mm in length; and a representative box is about 85 mm in height, about 90 mm in width, and about 145 mm in length. For the embodiment shown, the paperboard box 848 and the upper reservoir 845 each are shown in an open position.
The supply assembly 833 also includes a hopper 851 that provides for alignment of a plurality of tubular wrappers. For the embodiment shown in
A tray 870 having a plurality of tray grooves 873 in its upper face is positioned beneath the hopper 851. The tray grooves 873 are aligned that corresponds to and lies beneath a vertical passageway 862. In the embodiment shown in
Referring to
As illustrated, the slider system 880 includes ten generally cylindrical pusher rods 895. During an operation of the slider system 880, (i) one tubular wrapper 21 is allowed to fall into each of the tray grooves when the slider handles 881 are positioned toward the rear of the cartridge-filling device 830, with the filter ends of the tubular wrappers preferably oriented toward the front of the device 830 (ii) a forward movement of the slider handles 881 moves the pusher rods 895 forward against the tubular wrappers within corresponding tray grooves 873 such that they are ejected from the tray 870 onto the cartridge 38, (iii) the next tubular wrapper 21 in the vertical passageway 862 is prevented by one or both of the previous tubular wrapper 21 and pusher rod 895 from falling into the tray 870 prior to ejection of that previous tubular 21 wrapper from the tray 870 to the cartridge 38; and (iv) the slider handles 881 are moved back to the rear of the device 830 so that the process can be repeated. The diameter and end surface configuration of each pusher rod 895 preferably is such that it will push against the open end of a tubular wrapper 21 sufficient to move the wrapper without a substantial portion of the pusher rod 895 entering or damaging the open end.
In operation, the cartridge-filling device 830 is positioned firmly in place on a table, bench, counter, or the like. Alternatively, the device 830 can be permanently affixed to components of a work station. When the upper reservoir 845 is moved to an open position, a box of pre-formed tubular wrappers may be placed in the reservoir 845, or tubular wrappers may otherwise be loaded into the reservoir 845 (e.g., by hand). The upper reservoir then may be rotated into a closed position. When the reservoir 845 is in the closed position, the tubular wrappers within the upper reservoir 845 fall into the hopper 851, and each tubular wrapper preferably falls into a vertical passageway 862. Thus, for the embodiment shown in
During continuation of a preferred operation described above, the cartridge 38 is moved on the cartridge-loading platform 832 such that the tray grooves of the device 830 are aligned with the remaining ten empty grooves 48 of the cartridge 38. The slider system 880 is moved forward to push ten more tubular wrappers 21 into the cartridge 38, and the slider handles 881 of the slider system 880 are moved to the rear of the device 830 for later use. Thus, the cartridge may be loaded with twenty tubular wrappers 21 in an efficient and effective two-step manner. The cartridge 38 containing the tubular wrappers 21 is removed from the cartridge-loading platform 832, and is introduced into a cigarette-making apparatus, such as the type set forth previously with reference to
Referring to
The bottom frame 1054 supports an upper platform 1058. The upper platform 1058 is suspended above the base by left and right side walls 1060. In a representative embodiment, the clearance between the upper face of the bottom frame and the lower surface of the upper platform 1058 is about 3 cm. A representative upper platform may be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably is manufactured from aluminum.
The upper platform 1058 includes an upwardly extending ejection rod-supporting cross-member 1064 that extends thereacross. Extending generally horizontally forward from the cross-member 1064 is a plurality of ejection rods 1067. For the embodiment shown, the device includes twenty forwardly-extending ejection rods 1067, each with a substantially circular cross-section. A representative ejection rod has a length of about 7.2 cm and a diameter of about 4 mm and is manufactured from steel. The package-filling device 1051 preferably is adapted such that in a region forward of the ejection rods 1067, there a positioning platform region 1073 for a cartridge 38 filled with twenty cigarettes. It is highly preferred that the cigarettes within the cartridge are positioned on their sides (e.g., the longitudinal axis of each cigarette is parallel to, or substantially parallel to, the horizontal plane, and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the package-filling device 1051). The central portion of the positioning platform region 1073 includes a broad space open to the structures below, as is explained hereafter.
Below the front portion of the cartridge positioning platform region 1073 are an inwardly sloping left panel 1076 and an inwardly sloping right panel 1077 that define the sides of an open center region 1079. Representative sloping panels are manufactured from sheets of highly polished stainless steel. A representative open center region is generally rectangular with a width of about 8 cm and a length of about 9 cm.
The upper face of the bottom frame 1054 includes a broad groove 1083, channel, or other means for providing for controlled movement of a carriage 1086 from the back of the base 1054 to the front of the device 1051. A representative groove has a vertical depth of about 4 mm to about 6 mm, a width of about 9 cm, and a length such that the groove extends to within about 1 cm of the front end of the device. The arrangement of the carriage 1086 and groove 1083 preferably are such that the carriage 1086 is easily movable within the groove 1083. Typically, selection of the respective shapes and dimensions of the carriage and the groove define the arrangement of the carriage in the groove. For example, the sides of the carriage and the sides of the groove may be designed so as to cooperate in a tongue-in-groove type of arrangement.
The carriage 1086 includes an upwardly extending handle 1089, such that the carriage 1086 can be moved back and forth. Within a recess 1093 in the upper face of the carriage is positioned a cigarette package 1095 in an open position. A representative package 1095 includes a bottom component 1098 for holding twenty cigarettes (not shown), and a top cover 1102 that is designed to close over the bottom component 1098. A representative recess has a vertical depth of about 4 mm to about 6 mm; and a representative recess having a length of about 19 cm and a width of about 9 cm can readily accommodate a package with a bottom component having outer dimensions of about 8.2 cm wide, about 8.9 cm long and about 18 mm high (such dimensions being measured when the box is in a closed or sealed configuration).
In operation, the apparatus 1051 preferably is positioned firmly in place on a table, bench, counter, or the like. Alternatively, the apparatus can be permanently affixed to components of a work station. Optionally, a pre-cut inner package wrapping paper, foil/paper laminate or paper-lined foil (not shown) is placed into the package 1095. A typical foil sheet has a width that approximately the width of the inner portion of the package, and a length of about 16 cm. A forming block (not shown) having stamp face dimensions approximating those of the inner bottom face area of the package is used to push the foil into the box. As such, the foil is creased within the bottom portion of the box. The forming block then is removed from the box so as to provide a box having a type of inner liner (not shown) positioned therein. In addition, the foil most preferably is of such a length that tabs (not shown) extend from both of bottom front and back of the package.
A backstop 1110 located at the front of the carriage 1086 assists in maintaining the package 1095 in place during operation of the apparatus 1051. On the top face of the backstop 1110 is positioned a slot 1115. The slot 1115 preferably is designed such that inner package wrapping paper or paper-lined foil (not shown) extending from the front bottom of the package 1095 can be fed into the slot 1115 in order that the foil is positioned out of the way when the cigarette package 1095 is filled with cigarettes.
Referring to
For a representative device for filling a cigarette package with manufactured cigarettes described with reference to
Referring to
The package 1095 includes a generally rectilinear top 1102 that opens about a hinge 1190 that extends along the back side of the box. The cigarettes are contained in the bottom component 1098 of the box 1095. The bottom component 1098 also holds a foil front flap 1192 and a foil back flap 1194 that can close over the cigarettes 13, or that can be opened to expose the cigarettes (as is shown). Representative types of shoulder box packages have been commercially available, and the selection thereof is a matter of choice. If desired, the shoulder box and associated wrapping materials can be embossed, printed with indicia, or the like. If desired, the package of cigarettes can be wrapped in a plastic or other film (e.g., a clear polypropylene film).
Other representative types of cigarette packages suitable for use with the present invention includes those of the types set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,353 to Focke et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,463 to Bouchard; U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,734 to Allen et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,140 to Burrows et al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0217023 to Fagg et al. and 2004/0256253 to Henson et al.; and German Pat. App. DE 10238906 to Marx.
Referring to
Representative pre-formed tubular wrapper portions include those types of filtered cigarette tubes that have been available commercially as “Premier Filter Tip Tubes” from C.T.C. Canada Inc.; “MacDonald Export ‘A’ Express Kit Medium Regular Size Cigarettes Tubes” from RJR-MacDonald Inc.; and “Escort King Size Filter Tip Tubes” from C.T.C. Canada Inc.
Pre-formed tubular wrapper 21 can include filter and empty paper tube components that remain upon removal of tobacco from existing cigarettes. For example, filter cigarettes can be manufactured using conventional automated cigarette-making techniques, and the tobacco can be ejected therefrom using, for example, the type of apparatus set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,673 to Barnes et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, or using other suitable means. As such, components used for the manufacture of commercial grade filter cigarettes can be processed to remove the tobacco blend therefrom, and the resulting pre-formed tubular wrapper can be filled with a different tobacco blend in the fashion described above with reference to
Referring to
The dimensions of a representative cigarette can vary. Preferred cigarettes are substantially rod shaped, with diameters of about 7.5 mm (e.g., circumferences of about 22.5 mm to about 25 mm); and total lengths of about 80 mm to about 100 mm. The length of the filter element can also vary. Typical filter elements can have lengths of about 20 mm to about 40 mm. In one preferred embodiment, the length of the filter element is about 27 mm and the length of the tobacco rod is about 56 mm. Preferably the tipping paper circumscribes the entire filter element and extends about 4 mm of the length of the tobacco rod in the region adjacent to the filter element.
Preferred wrapping materials of the cigarettes described herein encompass a wide range of compositions and properties. The selection of a particular wrapping material will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. The most preferred cigarettes have a single layer of wrapping material. Exemplary types of wrapping materials, wrapping material components and treated wrapping materials are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0129281 to Hancock et al. and 2005/0039764 to Barnes et al.; and PCT Application Pub. Nos. WO 2004/057986 to Hancock et al. and WO 2004/047572 to Ashcraft et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Tobacco materials useful within cigarettes of the present invention may vary significantly. Tobacco materials can be derived from various types of tobacco, such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark-fired tobacco and Rustica tobaccos, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos, or blends thereof. Descriptions of various types of tobaccos, growing practices, harvesting practices and curing practices are set for in Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999). Most preferably, the tobaccos used with the present invention are those that have been appropriately cured and aged.
Tobacco materials for cigarette manufacture can be used in a “single strain” form. That is, the tobacco material used to manufacture the cigarette is composed of one type of tobacco (e.g., all of the tobacco filler is a flue-cured tobacco). Typically, tobacco materials for cigarette manufacture are used in a so-called “blended” form. For example, certain popular tobacco blends, commonly referred to as “American blends,” comprise mixtures of flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco and Oriental tobacco. Such blends, in many cases, contain tobacco materials that have a processed form, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut-rolled or cut-puffed stems), volume expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET), preferably in cut filler form). Tobacco materials also can have the form of reconstituted tobaccos (e.g., reconstituted tobaccos manufactured using paper-making type or cast sheet type processes). The precise amount of each type of tobacco within a tobacco blend used for the manufacture of a particular cigarette brand varies from brand to brand. See, for example, Tobacco Encyclopedia, Voges (Ed.) p. 44-45 (1984), Browne, The Design of Cigarettes, 3rd Ed., p.43 (1990) and Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, Davis et al. (Eds.) p. 346 (1999). Other representative tobacco types and types of tobacco blends also are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,224 to Lawson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,023 to Blakley et al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2002/0000235 to Shafer et al.; 2004/0084056 to Lawson et al.; 2004/0255965 to Perfetti et al; 2004/0261807 to Dube et al.; and 2005/0066986 to Nestor et al; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2002/37990; and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 39, p. 11-17 (1997).
Tobacco materials employed for manufacture of cigarettes in accordance with the present invention typically have forms, and are used in manners, that are traditional for the manufacture of smoking articles, such as cigarettes. The tobacco normally is used in cut filler form (e.g., shreds or strands of tobacco filler cut into widths of about 1/20 inch to about 1/60 inch, often about 1/25 inch to about 1/50 inch, frequently about 1/30 inch to about 1/45 inch, and in lengths of about ¼ inch to about 3 inches). One preferred form of cut filler has a cut width of about 40 cuts per inch. Tobacco cut filler is used in a loose form; that is, as a mixture of pieces of tobacco filler.
The amount of tobacco filler normally used within the tobacco rod of a cigarette of the present invention preferably ranges from about 0.6 g to about 1 g. The tobacco filler normally is employed so as to fill the tobacco rod at a packing density of about 100 mg/cm3 to about 300 mg/cm3, and preferably about 150 mg/cm3 to about 275 mg/cm3.
If desired, the tobacco materials of the tobacco rod can also include other components. Other components may include casing materials (e.g., sugars, glycerin, cocoa and licorice) and top dressing materials (e.g., flavoring materials, such as menthol). The selection of particular casing and top dressing components is dependent upon factors such as the sensory characteristics that are desired, and the selection of those components will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. See, Gutcho, Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products (1972).
It is desirable that the moisture content of the tobacco filler be sufficiently high so that the tobacco filler does not undergo an undesirable degree of degradation during handling and processing associated with cigarette manufacture in accordance with the present invention. It also is desirable that the moisture content of the tobacco filler not be so high that the tobacco filler would exhibit undesirable clumping during handling and processing associated with cigarette manufacture in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, cigarettes are manufactured using tobacco filler having a moisture content of about 12 weight percent to about 13 weight percent. Tobacco filler most preferably is purchased immediately prior to use, and stored and handled in a manner such that moisture is not lost. For example, tobacco filler can be stored in sealed plastic bags, in sealed metal drums, or the like. Typically, for normal situations of tobacco filler handling, tobacco filler can be shipped, handled and stored in sealed containers or plastic bags in amounts of about 5 kilograms.
Tobacco filler can be provided using techniques familiar in the art of tobacco blend formulation and preparation. Tobacco filler can be provided using blending drums, air transport devices, or other suitable means that provides adequate physical mixing of pieces of tobacco filler material. It is highly desirable that the tobacco filler, whether as single strain or blended form, have the form of a consistent mixture in terms of distribution of particle size, density of components and composition of components.
A small lot of cigarettes can be manufactured in accordance with the present invention as described above during a relatively short time period. Typically, for a lot of cigarettes numbering approximately twenty, an appropriate amount of tobacco filler is selected, blended—if multiple tobacco types are selected—and loaded into a cigarette-making machine. Approximately twenty pre-formed tubular wrapper portions that have been loaded within a cartridge are introduced to the cigarette-making machine, and those wrapper portions within the cartridge are loaded with tobacco filler such that approximately twenty finished cigarettes are be manufactured. Excess tobacco filler can be trimmed from those cigarettes, and those cigarettes can be packaged. All of the foregoing, can be carried out in less than about three minutes, and most preferably can be carried out in less than about two minutes.
A tobacco rod in a cigarette of the present invention preferably exhibits good firmness and good integrity. Specifically, when measured at 76° F. and 60 percent relative humidity using a Cigarette Firmness Tester Model No. CFTA supplied by Fairchild Industries, Winston-Salem, N.C., typical rods of 24.5 mm circumference and made by a conventional high-speed cigarette-making machine yield firmness values of about 2 to about 7 units. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,773 to White et al. at col. 5, lines 10-24. Cigarettes manufactured in accordance with the present invention typically are firmer than comparable cigarettes (in terms of comparable component materials, sizes, formats and weights) that are manufactured using conventional automated cigarette manufacturing techniques, such as the type of cigarette-manufacturing machine available as “Protos” from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. For example, cigarettes manufactured in accordance with the present invention typically are firmer than comparable cigarettes manufactured using a “Protos”-type of cigarette-manufacturing machine by as much as about 5 to about 7 units.
The selection of a particular filter element, including or in addition to a desired degree of air dilution, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. Properties such as the composition and size of the filter element, and the format and configuration of the filter element, can be a matter of design choice. Preferred filter elements are composed of plasticized cellulose acetate tow. Filter elements also can be composed of materials such as polypropylene tow, gathered polypropylene web, gathered cellulose acetate web or gathered paper. Filter elements can be segmented in nature. Filter elements can incorporate flavors, flavored pellets, breakable capsules, resin particles, activated carbon particles, and the like. Preformed tubular wrapping portions incorporating filter elements containing volatile flavoring agents can be used promptly after production, or stored in sealed containers until use is desired.
Preferred cigarettes of the present invention exhibit desirable resistance to draw. For example, an exemplary cigarette exhibits a pressure drop of between about 50 and about 200 mm water pressure drop at 17.5 cc/sec. air flow. Preferred cigarettes exhibit pressure drop values of between about 70 mm and about 180, more preferably between about 80 mm to about 150 mm, water pressure drop at 17.5 cc/sec. air flow. Typically, pressure drop values of cigarettes are measured using a “Filtrona Filter Test Station” (CTS Series) available from Filtrona Instruments and Automation Ltd.
Preferably, each tobacco rod is uniformly filled with tobacco filler. That is, it is highly preferred that each tobacco rod of each cigarette of the present invention (i) include a sufficient amount of tobacco filler, (ii) not contain tobacco fines that fall from the cigarette, (iii) not include what can be characterized as a “loose end,” (iv) have good integrity throughout, and (v) not include low density or void regions.
Preferably, cigarettes are manufactured such that substantially all of the cigarettes within a lot are of consistent quality. It is highly preferred that cigarettes of a particular lot are comparable to one another in terms of appearance, size, shape, component materials, weight, tobacco filler particle size distribution, tobacco rod firmness, smoking properties, puff count, smoke yield, and the like. Preferred cigarettes within a lot each incorporate tobacco filler from a comparable source, and the weight of tobacco filler within each cigarette differs by not more that 10 percent, more preferably by not more than about 5 percent, and most preferably by not more than about 2.5 percent. In a preferred cigarette-making operation using each of the above-described devices, an operator never touches the tubular wrappers directly with her hands. This preferred mode of operation prevents moisture, skin oils, or other materials on the operator's hands from soiling or marring the aesthetic appearance of the tubular wrappers.
In another aspect, the invention includes a method comprising the steps of: providing a selection of tobacco appropriate for use in cigarettes; allowing a customer to select a tobacco or blend of several tobaccos; assembling the selected tobacco or blend of tobaccos substantially simultaneously into a plurality of cigarettes having substantially consistent quality (including at least density and tobacco mass); and providing at least some of the plurality of cigarettes to the customer. The method may further include packaging the plurality of cigarettes.
It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.
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