Device and Method for Filling Tubular Sleeves with Cut Vegetal Material

Abstract

A device for filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material includes a hopper; a nozzle; an auger arranged between the hopper and the nozzle such that rotation of the auger results in transportation of contents of the hopper into the nozzle; and a drive means coupler configured to operatively couple the auger to a detachable drive means such that the auger is rotated by the drive means. A method for use of the device is also provided.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to consumer filling of smoking articles. For example, the devices and methods disclosed herein may be used by smokers to fill cigarette tubes with tobacco.

More specifically, one aspect relates to a device for filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material. A further aspect relates to a method of filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material.

BACKGROUND

Some smokers choose to construct their own smoking articles from papers which they fill with tobacco and roll, or from tubes which they fill with tobacco. They may also incorporate other elements such as filters and flavourings. Various devices are known to assist with such constructions, including electric mains-powered devices for use in the home which employ augers to transport tobacco into a tubular sleeve. However such home use auger fillers are generally too large to be easily transportable, require availability of a mains outlet for power and a flat surface to operate on. What is needed is a device which provides the user with filling assistance in a wider range of circumstances.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect, there is provided a device for filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material, the device comprising: a hopper; a nozzle; an auger arranged between the hopper and the nozzle such that rotation of the auger results in transportation of contents of the hopper into the nozzle; and a drive means coupler configured to operatively couple the auger to a detachable drive means such that the auger is rotated by the drive means.

The device can further comprise said detachable drive means. The detachable drive means can be a manual drive means, for example comprising or operated by a handle.

The handle can comprise a hinge configured to allow it to be folded away when not in use.

The device can further comprise the detachable drive means. The detachable drive means can comprise one or both of a battery-powered motor and a mains-powered motor. The detachable drive means could comprise a motor configured to be powered by a mains connection when available, and otherwise by a battery.

The drive means coupler can comprise a driven shaft operatively coupled to the auger and configured to engage with a drive shaft of a drive means during use such that the drive shaft rotates the driven shaft and the auger rotates with the driven shaft.

The driven shaft can be keyed to the drive shaft.

The drive means coupler can comprise an external surface having one or more recessed features and/or one or more protruding features configured to engage with corresponding features of a drive means to hold the drive means and the drive means coupler together in an interference fit during use.

The drive means coupler can comprise a magnet configured to attract a corresponding magnet of a drive means to hold the drive means and drive means coupler together during use. The magnet comprised in the drive means coupler can be a recessed feature configured to receive the corresponding magnet of the drive means in an interference fit during use.

The drive means coupler can comprise a planetary gear train comprising a ring gear and a sun gear connected by a plurality of planet gears. The device can have three planet gears. The device can have a sun:planet:ring tooth ratio of 7:29:65.

The auger can be an anticlockwise auger. The auger can be a hollow auger. The auger can have a circular section.

The hopper can comprise a lid configured to reversibly close the hopper.

The hopper can comprise a ceiling arranged to be located vertically above the auger in use. The ceiling can be arched.

At least a part of the hopper can be transparent or translucent, such that contents of the hopper can be viewed externally.

The device can further comprise a sliding agitator configured to agitate contents of the hopper. The sliding agitator can comprise a track and a spar descending from the track, the spar having a flange configured to slide along the track. The spar can comprise a distal bulb portion configured to extend into the hopper. The spar can comprise a grip portion ascending from the flange, configured to be slid along the track by hand.

The device can further comprise a sprung hammer configured to grip a tubular sleeve onto the nozzle. The sprung hammer can be a wishbone spring hammer. The wishbone spring hammer can be formed of plastic configured to flex within its elastic range of material deformation. The plastic can be acetyl or nylon. The wishbone spring hammer can comprise a spring arm 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm thick. The spring arm can be 0.7 mm thick.

The device can further comprise clamp means configured to grip a tubular sleeve onto the nozzle, wherein said clamp means are configured such that the grip can be adjusted to provide different fill weights.

The clamp means can comprise: the sprung hammer; and a manually rotatable collar having an internal cam profile configured to be followed by the sprung hammer to, in use, adjust the grip provided by the sprung hammer. The cam profile can be a spline tangential to the sprung hammer at at least three points, one of those points being a neutral point of the sprung hammer.

The device can further comprise a nozzle housing arranged in spaced relation surrounding the nozzle such that a tubular sleeve can be fitted onto the nozzle between the nozzle and the nozzle housing.

The auger can be operatively coupled to the drive means coupler via a trunk portion configured to rotate with the auger, the trunk portion extending into the hopper and presenting a substantially smooth outer surface, configured to slide past cut vegetal material without trapping it, to an interior of the hopper.

The device can further comprise a guard configured to prevent tobacco egress out of the hopper through the drive means coupler.

The auger can be operably coupled to the drive means coupler through an axial aperture in a back wall of the hopper; and the guard can comprise a backstop configured to plug into said aperture from the drive means coupler side and having a rim extending radially out beyond edges of said aperture.

The auger can be operably coupled to the driven shaft through an axial aperture in a back wall of the hopper; and the guard can comprise a baffle configured to rotate with the driven shaft, the baffle extending radially out beyond the edges of said aperture.

The backstop can be located between the hopper and the baffle; and the baffle can extend radially out beyond the rim of the backstop.

The nozzle can have a length between 20 and 40 mm, preferably a length of 30 mm. The nozzle can have a diameter between 5 and 10 mm, preferably a diameter of 7 mm.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a method of filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material, using the device of the first aspect, the method comprising:

1. a) introducing cut vegetal material into the hopper;1. b) fitting an empty tubular sleeve onto the nozzle;1. c) fitting a drive means to the drive means coupler; and2. following completion of all of steps 1. a) to c), causing the drive means to rotate the auger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example device absent any drive means;

FIG. 1B details a coupler end of the device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example manual drive means;

FIG. 3 illustrates and example battery powered drive means;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example mains powered drive means;

FIG. 5 illustrates components of an example device;

FIG. 6A illustrates an example manual auger filler with a handle folded in;

FIG. 6B illustrates the example manual auger filler of FIG. 6A with the handle folded out;

FIG. 6C illustrates components of the manual drive means of the example manual auger filler of FIGS. 6A and 6B;

FIG. 6D is an axial cross section through the example manual auger filler of FIGS. 6A and 6B;

FIG. 6E illustrates an example planetary gear train which can be used in the example manual auger filler of FIGS. 6A and 6B;

FIG. 6F illustrates components of the example planetary gear train of FIG. 6E;

FIG. 7A illustrates an example battery powered auger filler;

FIG. 7B details a charging port of the example batter powered auger filler of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 illustrates an example mains powered auger filler;

FIG. 9A illustrates example nozzle end components;

FIG. 9B illustrates an example wishbone spring hammer;

FIG. 9C illustrates an internal cam profile of an example adjustable collar;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example hopper and associated housing;

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 11E illustrate example lid profiles;

FIG. 11F illustrates an example sliding agitator;

FIG. 12 illustrates an example nozzle;

FIG. 13A illustrates an example auger;

FIG. 13B is an axial cross section through the example auger of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14A illustrates components of an example guard;

FIG. 14B is an axial cross section through the example guard of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an example method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the system, and is provided in the context of a particular application. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

The terms “top”, “bottom”, “side”, “front”, “back”, “forward”, “rear” and other terms describing the orientation of features are not intended to be limiting and, where used, are purely included in order to facilitate the description of the relative location of these features in the context of the accompanying drawings. In use, or during storage, the features may be disposed in other orientations.

An auger filler for smoking articles is provided in a modular format, suitable for connection to a plurality of different kinds of drive means. Manual drive means, for example in the form of a rotatable handle, can be attached to create a portable filler. A battery-powered electric motor can be attached to create an alternative portable filler. The filler device could also be connected to a mains-powered electric motor for use in the user's home, or other base location.

FIG. 1A illustrates an example of such a modular auger filler device 1100, absent any drive means. FIG. 1A shows the device 1100 in a perspective view from its nozzle end, with a nozzle 1120 visible, onto which a cigarette tube or similar can be fitted to be filled. Tobacco and/or other filler material can be loaded by opening a lid 1111. Alternatively, the hopper which the lid 1111 closes could be left open with no lid present. However, providing a lid reduces the chance of loss of filler material during use, making use of the device less messy. It also allows the device to act as a tobacco store which can for example hold sufficient filler material to construct a day's worth of smoking articles for a single user, so that they only need take the device, a portable drive means and sufficient tubes with them each day in order to construct their smoking articles as and when desired.

FIG. 1B illustrates an end of the device 1100 opposite the nozzle end, comprising a drive means coupler 1140. The drive means coupler 1140 is configured to operably connect an auger within the device 1100 (not shown) to a drive means. In the example shown in FIG. 1B, the drive means coupler 1140 comprises two recessed magnets 1141 and a driven shaft 1142. The driven shaft 1142 is free to rotate with the auger, with respect to the device 1100's main body.

FIGS. 2 to 4 respectively illustrate example manual drive means 2200, battery powered drive means 3200 and mains powered drive means 4200, each configured to drive the example auger filler device 1100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Each of the drive means 2200, 3200, 4200 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 comprises protruding magnets 2241, 3241, 4241 corresponding to the recessed magnets 1141 of the device 1100. In this way the protruding magnets 2241, 3241, 4241 of the drive means 2200, 3200, 4200 can be fitted into the recesses of the recessed magnets 1141 so that the drive means 2200, 3200, 4200 is held onto the device 1100 in an interference fit. The polarities of the magnets 1141, 2241, 3241, 4241 are arranged so as to attract the drive means 2200, 3200, 4200 to the device 1100, increasing the strength of the connection between them. The strength of the magnets 1141, 2241, 3241, 4241 can be configured such that the connection can be broken by hand, but is strong enough to be maintained against the weight of the device 1100 or drive means 2200, 3200, 4200 if only the other is supported. This strength of connection is particularly advantageous for the manual drive means 2200 and battery drive means 3200, since they are portable and may be used in the absence of any supporting surface. In alternative examples the connection could be formed solely using an interference fit, solely using magnets, and/or in some other way such as using a clamp mechanism.

Each of the drive means 2200, 3200, 4200 illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 further comprises a drive shaft 2242, 3242, 4242 configured to engage with the driven shaft 1142 of the device 1100 such that they rotate together. The drive shaft 2242, 3242, 4242 can be keyed to the driven shaft 1142 as shown, splined to it or configured to engage with it in some other way.

The drive shaft 2242 of the manual drive means 2200 of FIG. 2 is rotated by means of a handle 2210. The handle 2210 in this example is a fold-out handle, allowing the drive means 2200 to be kept compact, as shown in FIG. 2, for easy portability when not in use.

The drive shaft 3242 of the battery powered drive means 3200 of FIG. 3 is rotated by means of a battery powered electric motor (not shown) switched on and off using a button 3210.

The drive shaft 4242 of the mains powered drive means 4200 of FIG. 4 is rotated by means of a mains powered electric motor (not shown) switched on and off using buttons 4210 and 4211. One of the buttons 4210 and 4211 could be an on button and the other an off button. Alternatively, each of the buttons 4210 and 4211 could be on/off buttons, like the button 3210 of the battery powered drive means 3200 of FIG. 3, but operative to actuate the drive means 4200 at different speeds. For example, a high speed button 4210 could be actuated initially to fill the majority of a tube, then a low speed button 4211 could be actuated to complete the fill more accurately to the desired level. As another alternative, one button 4210 could be a small tube button, triggering a short burst of power for filling a small tube, while the other button 4211 could be a large tube button, triggering a longer burst of power for filling a large tube.

The mains powered drive means 4200 of FIG. 4 further comprises a rest 4260 configured to support the device 1100 in use. The mains powered drive means 4200 has a flat base so that it can be easily stored in a base location, and can be used on a supporting surface such as a table, for example when the user wishes to fill many tubes in a single session. In contrast, the manual drive means 2200 of FIG. 2 and the battery powered drive means 3200 of FIG. 3 are substantially barrel-shaped for portability, allowing them to be comfortably carried in a user's pocket or easily slipped in and out of a handbag.

FIG. 5 illustrates components of an example device 5100 like the device 1100 of FIG. 1. A nozzle 5120, lid 5111 and driven shaft 5142 are all shown and are similar to the corresponding components shown in FIG. 1, discussed above.

The lid 5111 functions to provide and prevent access to a hopper 5110 into which tobacco or other cut vegetal material can be loaded. An auger 5130 runs through the hopper 5110 and into the nozzle 5120 to transport hopper contents into and through the nozzle 5120. The auger 5130 has a trunk portion 5131 whose function will be described below in relation to FIG. 6D.

A nozzle housing 5180 is also provided substantially coaxially around the nozzle 5120 so that a cigarette tube or similar can be guided axially onto the nozzle and held there for filling, the nozzle housing 5180 acting to prevent the tube becoming tilted with respect to a central axis of the nozzle 5120, and consequently becoming unevenly filled.

A rotatable collar 5170 is provided substantially coaxially around the nozzle housing 5180. The collar 5170 cooperates with a wishbone spring hammer 5160 to allow the user to adjust the fill weight the device 5100 provides to their smoking articles in a manner which will be described in more detail below in relation to FIGS. 9A to 9C.

Turning to the drive means coupler end of the device 5100, a backstop 5191 and baffle bushing 5192 are provided to separate the driven shaft 5142 from the hopper 5110, preventing backflow of hopper contents into the drive mechanism in a manner which will be described in more detail below in relation to FIGS. 14A and 14B.

Finally body housing parts 5112 are fitted together around the other components to hold them together in a compact manner for easy portability, but with the collar 5170, auger 5130, backstop 5191, baffle bushing 5192 and driven shaft 5142 free to rotate with respect to the body housing 5112. The lid 5111 is located so as to provide and prevent access to an opening in the body housing 5112 over an open top of the hopper 5110 in use.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an example manual auger filler comprising a device 6100 similar to the device 1100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B coupled to manual drive means 6200 similar to the manual drive means 2200 of FIG. 2. FIG. 6A is a perspective view from the nozzle end showing a nozzle 6120, collar 6170, lid 6111 and handle 6210 folded in for storage. FIG. 6B is a perspective view from the handle end with the handle 6210 shown folded out for use. Operation of the filler is achieved by fitting a tube to be filled onto the nozzle 6120 and turning the handle 6210.

FIG. 6C illustrates components of the manual drive means 6200 of FIGS. 6A and 6B. A gear system is used to multiply the rotations input via the handle 6210, reducing user effort. The handle 6210 is operably connected to a ring gear 6251 of a planetary gearing system such that the ring gear 6251 rotates with the handle 6210. The ring gear 6251 meshes with a plurality of planet gears 6253 supported by a carrier 6254, in this example three planet gears 6253, which in turn mesh with a sun gear 3252. The sun gear 6252 is operably connected to a drive shaft 6242 such that the drive shaft 6242 rotates with the sun gear 6252, for example the sun gear 6252 can be keyed to the drive shaft 6242. Also visible in FIG. 6C are two protruding magnets 6241 similar to the protruding magnets 2241 described above in relation to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6D is a vertical axial cross section of the auger filler illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, with the handle folded in as in FIG. 6A. In addition to the nozzle 6120, collar 6170, lid 6111, handle 6210, ring gear 6251, planet gears 6253, sun gear 3252 and drive shaft 6242, FIG. 6D shows a driven shaft 6142, wishbone spring hammer 6160, body housing 6112, backstop 6191 and baffle bushing 6192. In this example the gearing is all provided in the drive means 6200 but in other example some or all of it could be provided in the device 6100.

A helical auger 6130 is also shown in FIG. 6D, extending from a substantially smooth trunk portion 6131 which is rotated by the driven shaft 6142. The trunk portion 6131 passes from the driven shaft 6142 through a hole in a back wall of a hopper 6110 and some way into the hopper 6110. This means that the auger 6130 does not extend all the way to the back of the hopper 6110, so the chances of filler material trapped in coils of the auger 6130 being carried backwards out of the hopper 6110 into the gearing system if the handle is rotated in the wrong direction are reduced, thus reducing the risk of filler material clogging the gearing system.

FIG. 6E illustrates meshing of the ring gear 6251, planet gears 6253 and sun gear 6252 to form the planetary gearing system 6250. In this example the sun:planet:ring tooth ratio is 7:29:65, providing a 9.3:1 advantage. Thus a single 360° rotation of the handle 6210 and ring gear 6251 connected thereto drives nine full rotations of the sun gear 6252 and auger connected thereto, providing a very high filling efficiency to the filling device 1100 of the invention.

FIG. 6F illustrates the components of the planetary gear system 6250: the ring gear 6251, planet gears 6253, sun gear 6252 and planet carrier 6254.

FIG. 7A illustrates an example battery powered auger filler comprising a device 7100 similar to the device 1100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B coupled to battery powered drive means 7200 similar to the batter powered drive means 3200 of FIG. 3. The battery could for example be lithium ion. The battery could for example power a brush motor. FIG. 7B is a detail on the rear of the battery powered drive means 7200, illustrating a charging port 7270 which can be coupled to a charging cable 7300. For example a micro-USB cable could be used. Alternatively the battery powered drive means 7200 could be configured with access to its batteries to remove and replace them when run down.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example mains powered auger filler comprising a device 8100 similar to the device 1100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B coupled to a main powered drive means 8200, which is connected to a mains electricity supply via a power cable 8300.

FIG. 9A illustrates components found towards the nozzle end of a device such as the device 1100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B. A nozzle 9120 is shown together with a nozzle housing 9180, a wishbone spring hammer 9160 and a collar 9170. Hinge holes 9162, 9182 are provided in the wishbone spring hammer 9160 and nozzle housing 9180 respectively so that they can be connected to one another via a sprung hinge, wherein a helical coiled spring (not shown) is arranged between them, one end face of which sits in a recess 9163 of the wishbone spring hammer 9160.

FIG. 9B is a vertical cross section through the cantilevered wishbone spring hammer 9160, showing the thickness t of its spring arm 9161, which can for example be 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm, e.g. 0.7 mm. The spring arm 9161 can for example be formed of plastic, e.g. acetyl or nylon, configured to flex within its elastic range of material deformation to avoid permanent deformation, and consequent need for tightening adjustments, when the collar 9170 is rotated as will be described below in relation to FIG. 9C.

Returning to FIG. 9A, the wishbone spring hammer 9160 is arranged pivotably about a pivot 9162 into collar 9170 to exert a holding pressure force against the nozzle 9120 and a filling cigarette paper tube inserted thereabout during filling operations. This holding pressure from the wishbone spring hammer 9160, and more specifically its ball-shaped pressing head 9164 at the free end of the spring arm 9161 prevents such a paper tube from sliding away from the nozzle 9120 during filling operations, freeing a user from holding the paper tube permanently during filling operations. Further, the wishbone spring hammer 9160 pressure can be adjusted manually by a user thanks to an internal cam profile of the collar 9170 against which a distal portion 9165 of the wishbone spring hammer 9160 opposite its pivot 9162 rests and is able to slide upon rotation of the collar as will now be described in relation to FIG. 9C.

FIG. 9C illustrates the internal cam profile of the collar 9170 configured to be followed by the wishbone spring hammer 9160 to adjust the grip provided by the wishbone spring hammer 9160. Turning the collar 9170 180° transitions the wishbone spring hammer 9160 from a neutral zero position for insertion of a tube, into which the ball-shaped head 9164 does not touch the nozzle 9120 and a filling tube can be slid about the nozzle freely, through increasing grip levels to a maximum grip level, whereby the ball-shaped head 9164 of the hammer presses the tube against the nozzle 9120 in a firm holding manner. The auger is then turned by the drive means to start introducing tobacco into the tube. Once tobacco has filled level with the end of the nozzle the tube starts to push off from the nozzle axially, and continues pushing off the nozzle until it is completely full, at which point it drops off the end to be receive by the user. The tighter the grip of the wishbone spring hammer 9160 on the tube, the slower it pushes off and thus the denser the fill and the higher the total fill weight achieved in the smoking article; thus rotation of the collar 9170 varies the fill weight setting of the device 9100.

The device 9100 can be provided with markers to indicate predetermined fill weights to the user, though they can choose fill weights intermediate those marked if desired. Such markers can be visual, for example painted tick marks, and/or can provide haptic feedback to the user, e.g. if provided as bobbles or other raised or recessed features. The device could alternatively or additionally be configured to click to provide aural and/or haptic feedback to the user when the collar is rotated past each of the markers.

A first fixed marker can for example be provided centrally on the top of the body housing of the device 9100, towards the edge which abuts the collar 9170, and second and third fixed markers can be provided around that edge, for example 90° from the first fixed marker, and directly opposite the first fixed marker. A pointer 9171 can be provided on the collar 9170 as illustrated in FIG. 9A.

When the pointer 9171 aligns with the first fixed marker, point P₀ of the cam profile is topmost and the wishbone spring hammer 9160 is in its neutral position so that a tube can easily be inserted between the nozzle 9120 and nozzle housing 9180. When the collar 9170 is turned so that the pointer 9171 aligns with the second fixed marker, point P₁ is topmost and the wishbone spring hammer 9160 is held in a predetermined intermediate position which will result in a first predetermined fill weight, for example approximately 0.4 g. When the collar 9170 is turned so that the pointer 9171 aligns with the third marker, point P₂ is topmost and the wishbone spring hammer 9160 is held in a maximum tension position which will result in a maximum fill weight, for example approximately 0.6 g.

The internal cam profile of the collar 9170 is a spline tangential to the wishbone spring hammer at points P₀, P₁ and P₂, progressing from an outer diameter D₀ at point P₀, in through an intermediate diameter D₁ at point P₁ to an inner diameter D₂ at point P₂. The difference between the intermediate and inner diameters, D₁-D₂, can for example be 0.5 mm.

Other designs of sprung hammer than a wishbone spring hammer could be used with a manually rotatable collar having an internal cam profile to provide fill weight adjustment in other example devices in a similar way. For example, a foam, plastic or rubber block could be provided in place of the wishbone spring arm 9161. The lower friction between the tube and the wishbone spring arm 9161 than between the tube and such blocks does however reduce the risk of the tube tearing if a wishbone spring arm 9161 is used. The tendency of blocks to tear the tubes can be reduced by providing the blocks with a convex profile. If a block is used then rubber and plastic provide a more durable solution than foam, increasing the longevity of the device.

FIG. 10 illustrates how the hopper of a device such as device 1100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B can be housed.

The hopper 10110 has a substantially v-shaped internal profile to funnel filler material down towards the auger, which is located towards the bottom of the hopper 10110.

The hopper 10110 is provided between first and second body housing parts 10112a and 10112b. The body housing parts 10112a, 10112b comprise channels arranged to receive various other components so that they are positioned correctly with respect to one another.

Each of the body housing parts 10112a, 10112b has an upper cut-out portion so that when they are closed together around the hopper 10110 an opening is provided above the hopper 10110. That opening can be covered by a lid 10111 which is attached to the first housing part 10112a via hinges 10113.

The lid 10111 has a grip portion 10114 which, when the lid 10111 is closed, overlies a recess 10115 in the second housing part 10115 such that a space is provided between the grip portion 10114 and the recess 10115 into which a user can hook their finger to open the lid 10111.

The lid 10111 is arched into a tunnel cavity to provide space for filler material to circulate and self-agitate, resulting in an even fill. A flat lid could alternatively be provided in place of the concave lid 10111, or a lid with a profile angled to funnel filler material down towards the auger. Angled lid profiles provide increased flow consistency initially, but tend to result in compression of the filler material which can cause jams, requiring manual agitation to clear. This is demonstrated by the test results shown in Table 1, produced using a manually driven device such as that shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B by filling the hopper level with tobacco, attaching the lid to be tested, then turning the handle 100 times.

TABLE 1
	Figure
	shown	Tobacco ejected/g	Flow
Lid profile	in	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3	Mean	observations
Flat	11A	0.31	0.28	0.25	0.28	Full: 0-40 turns
						Medium: 40-60
						turns
						Slow &
						inconsistent:
						60-80 turns
						Zero: 80+ turns
Trapeziurn	11B	0.29	0.23	0.23	0.25	Full: 0-55 turns
block						Medium: 55-70
						turns
						Slow &
						inconsistent:
						70-80 turns
						Zero: 80+ turns
Angled	11C	0.26	0.34	0.27	0.29	Full: 0-60 turns
block						Medium: 60-80
						turns
						Slow &
						inconsistent:
						80-90 turns
						Zero: 90+ turns
Angled	11D	0.54	0.52	0.51	0.52	Full: 0-60 turns
tunnel						Medium: 60+
cavity						turns
Flat	11E	0.59	0.60	0.64	0.61	Full & fast:
tunnel						0-70 turns
cavity						Medium: 70+
						turns

The lid 10111 and/or one or both of the body housing parts 10112a, 10112b, can be transparent or translucent, at least in part, so that the user can see the contents of the hopper 10110. This allows them to monitor whether the hopper 10110 needs to be refilled, and see if the auger mechanism has become jammed.

Jamming of the auger mechanism can result if the filler material comprises excessively large particles, for example unusually long strands of tobacco. FIG. 11F illustrates an example sliding agitator 11150 which can be added to a body housing of the example devices described above to allow the user to agitate and/or cut the hopper contents to unclog the mechanism without having to open the lid. Such a slider could for example be used approximately every 50 to 60 turns of the handle if using a manually driven device such as that of FIGS. 6A and 6B. The sliding agitator 11150 comprises a vertical flanged spar 11151 and a horizontal track 11152 provided substantially parallel to but both horizontally and upwardly vertically offset from the auger. The flange 11153 of the flanged spar 11151 is configured to sit on the track 11152 with the spar hanging below, extending into the hopper so that its contents can be agitated by sliding the flanged end of the flanged spar 11151 along the track 11152 substantially parallel to the auger. The flange end of the flanged spar 11151 can be provided with an upwardly protruding portion 11154 to act as a handle for the user to grasp or push. The distal end of the flanged spar 11151 can be provided with a bulb portion 11155 wider than the main body of the spar to hook hopper contents onto the spar 11151 as it is slid along the track 11152, increasing the chances that the hopper contents will be dispersed by action of the agitator 11150.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example nozzle 12120 having a length l, diameter d and leading edge angled at θ to the nozzle's axis. θ could for example be 55°.

The longer the nozzle the greater the fill density and more even the distribution of filler material in filled tubes. This is demonstrated by the test results shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2
	Fill/g
//mm	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3	Mean	Observations
10	0.16	0.18	0.18	0.17	Many air gaps
15	0.24	0.26	0.24	0.25	Some air gaps, slight uneven
					distribution
20	0.26	0.28	0.29	0.28	Some air gaps, slight uneven
					distribution
25	0.29	0.30	0.31	0.30	Few air gaps, mostly even
					distribution
30	0.34	0.30	0.34	0.33	Even distribution
35	0.34	0.36	0.34	0.35	Dense and even distribution
40	0.37	0.36	0.34	0.36	Dense and even distribution

Nozzle lengths from 30 to 40 mm have been found to result in tubes being filled along their full length. However, the shorter the nozzle the more compact, and thus more easily portable, the device. To achieve a suitable balance between these considerations, l could for example be 30 mm.

The narrower the nozzle, the easier it is to fit tubes to it. However, the wider the nozzle, the higher the fill weight achievable. This is demonstrated by the test results shown in Table 3, for filling an 8 mm diameter tube.

TABLE 3
	Fill/g
d/mm	Test 1	Test 2	Test 3	Mean
7.00	0.46	0.50	0.47	0.48
7.75	0.65	0.56	0.53	0.58

d could for example be 7 mm to achieve a suitable balance between ease of fitting of common tube sizes to the nozzle and fill weight.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate an example auger 13130 which can be used in any of the example devices described above. It can be a hollow auger as shown in the side view of FIG. 13A, with a circular section as shown in the axial cross section of FIG. 13B. It can for example be made of metal. The auger can be of anticlockwise design. This is beneficial for right-handed users when coupled to the example manual drive means described above in relation to FIG. 6A to 6F, as tubes can then be filled by turning the handle clockwise.

An auger with a central bar could be used instead of a hollow auger. This reduces the risk of jamming but has been found to be less efficient, requiring a higher number of rotations to transport the same weight of filler material.

An auger having a square section could be used instead of one with a circular section. Square section augers empty the hopper more effectively by cutting through filler material caught there, but tend to jam more easily within the nozzle. The small filler material cuttings can also fall from the open end of the filled tube quite easily.

Further alternative auger designs include drill bit style augers and cupped Archimedes screw style augers. The circular section hollow auger 13130 of FIGS. 13A and 13B has however been found to be more efficient than either of these.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an example guard 14190 to prevent filler material such as tobacco passing backwards out of the hopper of devices such as those described above, for example if the auger is turned in the wrong direction. FIG. 14A illustrates components of the guard 14190: a backstop 14191 and a baffle 14192. In this example the baffle 14192 is formed as part of the driven shaft 14142, though they could be provided separately.

FIG. 14B is a close up on these components shown in vertical axial cross-section through a device such as the device 6100 of FIG. 6D. The backstop 14191 is plugged into the aperture in the back wall of the hopper 14110 through which the auger 14130 is coupled to the driven shaft 14142. The backstop 14191 has a rim extending out beyond the edges of the aperture to prevent hopper contents escaping the aperture through the interface between the hopper 14110 and the backstop 14191. The baffle 14192 is located behind the backstop 14191. The baffle 14192 extends radially outwards even further than the backstop 14191. It therefore blocks backwards progress of any hopper contents which has escaped through the interface between the hopper 14110 and the backstop 14191, or through the interface between the auger 14130 and the backstop 14191. The only possible path for filler material to travel from the hopper 14110 out the back end of the device is indicated by the dashed line, with a first line of defence being provided by the backstop 14191 and a second by the baffle 14192, making any such transport of filler material highly unlikely. Alternative guards may employ only a backstop or only a baffle.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart setting out a method 15000 of filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material such as tobacco, using a device such as any of the example devices described above. At step 15010, cut vegetal material is introduced into the hopper. At step 15020, an empty tubular sleeve is fitted onto the nozzle. At step 15030, a drive means is operably coupled to the drive means coupler. Following completion of all of steps 15010, 15020 and 15030, which can be performed in any order, at step 15040 the drive means is activated to rotate the auger.

Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.

In addition, where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it could be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claims set forth herein not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claim. That is, the operations/steps may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments may include additional or fewer operations/steps than those disclosed herein. It is further contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation/step before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is in accordance with the described embodiments.

Claims

1. A device for filling tubular sleeves with cut vegetal material, the device comprising: a hopper;a nozzle;an auger arranged between the hopper and the nozzle such that rotation of the auger results in transportation of contents of the hopper into the nozzle; anda drive means coupler configured to operatively couple the auger to a detachable drive means such that the auger is rotated by the detachable drive means.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a detachable drive means, wherein the detachable drive means is a manual drive means comprising a handle.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the handle comprises a hinge configured to allow the handle to be folded away when not in use.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a detachable drive means, wherein the detachable drive means comprises one or both of a battery-powered motor and a mains-powered motor.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive means coupler comprises a driven shaft operatively coupled to the auger and configured to engage with a drive shaft of a drive means during use such that the drive shaft rotates the driven shaft and the auger rotates with the driven shaft.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the driven shaft is keyed for connection to the drive shaft.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive means coupler comprises an external surface having one or more recessed features and/or one or more protruding features configured to engage with corresponding features of a drive means to hold the drive means and the drive means coupler together in an interference fit during use.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive means coupler comprises a magnet configured to attract a corresponding magnet of a drive means to hold the drive means and drive means coupler together during use.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive means coupler comprises a planetary gear train comprising a ring gear and a sun gear connected by a plurality of planet gears.

10. The device of claim 9, having a sun:planet:ring tooth ratio of 7:29:65.

11-13. (canceled)

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the hopper comprises a lid configured to reversibly close the hopper.

15-17. (canceled)

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sliding agitator configured to agitate contents of the hopper.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the sliding agitator comprises a track and a spar descending from the track, the spar having a flange configured to slide along the track.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the spar comprises a distal bulb portion configured to extend into the hopper.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the spar comprises a grip portion ascending from the flange, configured to be slid along the track by hand.

22. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sprung hammer.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the sprung hammer is a wishbone spring hammer formed of plastic configured to flex within an elastic range of material deformation of the plastic.

24-27. (canceled)

28. The device of claim 1, further comprising clamp means configured to grip a tubular sleeve onto the nozzle, wherein said clamp means are configured such that the grip can be adjusted to provide different fill weights.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the clamp means comprise: a sprung hammer configured to grip a tubular sleeve onto the nozzle; anda manually rotatable collar having an internal cam profile configured to be followed by the sprung hammer to, in use, adjust the grip provided by the sprung hammer.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the cam profile is a spline tangential to the sprung hammer at least three points, one of the at least three points being a neutral point of the sprung hammer.

31. The device of claim 1, further comprising a nozzle housing arranged in spaced relation surrounding the nozzle such that a tubular sleeve can be fitted onto the nozzle between the nozzle and the nozzle housing.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the auger is operatively coupled to the drive means coupler via a trunk portion configured to rotate with the auger, the trunk portion extending into the hopper and presenting a substantially smooth outer surface, configured to slide past cut vegetal material without trapping the cut vegetal material, to an interior of the hopper.

33. The device of claim 1, further comprising a guard configured to prevent tobacco egress out of the hopper through the drive means coupler.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein: the auger is operably coupled to the drive means coupler through an axial aperture in a back wall of the hopper; andthe guard comprises a backstop configured to plug into said axial aperture from a side nearer to the drive means coupler and having a rim extending radially out beyond edges of said axial aperture.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein: the drive means coupler comprises a driven shaft operatively coupled to the auger and configured to engage with a drive shaft of a drive means during use such that the drive shaft rotates the driven shaft and the auger rotates with the driven shaft;the auger is operably coupled to the driven shaft through an axial aperture in a back wall of the hopper; andthe guard comprises a baffle configured to rotate with the driven shaft, the baffle extending radially out beyond edges of said axial aperture.

36. The device of claim 34, wherein: the drive means coupler comprises a driven shaft operatively coupled to the auger and configured to engage with a drive shaft of a drive means during use such that the drive shaft rotates the driven shaft and the auger rotates with the driven shaft;the auger is operably coupled to the driven shaft through the axial aperture in the back wall of the hopper;the guard comprises a baffle configured to rotate with the driven shaft, the baffle extending radially out beyond edges of said axial aperture;the backstop is located between the hopper and the baffle; andthe baffle extends radially out beyond the rim of the backstop.

37-39. (canceled)