MX2012000773A - Cigarette blank loading apparatus. - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for loading a cigarette blank onto a filling tube. The apparatus comprises a filling tube having a first end, a second end, an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a pin sized to fit within the filling tube. The pin has a first end and a second end comprising a guide head. When the filling tube receives the second end of the pin, at least a portion of the guide head of the pin extends beyond the second end of the filling tube for guiding the cigarette blank on said filling tube. Also disclosed is a method for loading a cigarette blank onto a filling tube and an apparatus for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine. The apparatus comprises a base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a shaker communicating with the base. The base also comprises a retainer for retaining at least one cigarette blank. Also disclosed is a method for separating and dispensing cigarette blanks.

Description

APPARATUS FOR FILLING EMPTY CIGARILLOS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube. This invention also relates generally to an apparatus for dispensing unfinished part of cigarettes from cigarettes in a cigarette making machine. More particularly, the invention relates to a filling tube and a guide pin for guiding an unfinished piece of cigarette in a filling tube. Furthermore, more particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for separating unfinished cigarette pieces from a plurality of unfinished cigarette pieces of the cigarette and dispensing the unfinished pieces of cigarette separated to a charging zone. The invention also relates to methods of using an apparatus for loading unfinished pieces of cigarette. The invention also relates to the methods of using an apparatus for dispensing unfinished cigarette parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Before the invention of the electronic rolling machine, rolling your own cigarettes was restricted to table machines, manual machines and attempts that have been made to perfect personal electrical machines. These machines use a loading chamber for tobacco, a manual lever that compresses the tobacco, and a ladle mechanism that injects the tobacco into an unfinished piece of pre-assembled cigarette. Many attempts have been made with varying degrees of success to perfect an electric desktop machine. Basically the same is used technology, will only be improved electronically. The drawback is that the mechanism of the spoon destroys the tobacco. Secondly, the burden of the right amount of tobacco each time is extremely variable. The other obvious disadvantage is the tedious nature of the process, each blank cigarette must be mounted on a mouthpiece manually. On the other hand, empty cigarette spaces are extremely fragile and easily damaged during the process.

Although other electronic equipment for use in retail environments has been developed, there remain disadvantages with these machines. First, the separation of unfinished pieces of cigarette to load them individually in a filling tube is kept inaccurate. Secondly, loading the fragile unfinished cigarette pieces into the filling tubes often results in unfinished parts of damaged and unusable cigarettes.

An apparatus and method is needed to separate and load the unfinished pieces of cigarette in a machine in a retail environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a charging tube, said apparatus comprising a filling tube with a first end, a second end, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a pin sized for fitting into said filling tube, said bolt having first and second ends, said second end comprising a guide head, where said filling tube receives said second end of said bolt, at least a portion of the bolt guide head it extends beyond the second end of the fill tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette in the filling tube.

This invention also relates to an apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube, said apparatus comprising a support for the filling tube capable of supporting a plurality of filling tubes, a plurality of filling tubes mounted on said filling tube holder, each filling tube having a first, a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter, and at least one pin sized to fit said filling tube, said at least one pin having a first and a second Qxtres comprising said second end a guide head, wherein when each of said filling tubes receives said second end of said bolt, at least a portion of the guide head of said bolt extends beyond the second end of said bolt. filling tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette to the filling tube.

This invention further relates to a method for locating an unfinished piece of cigarette in a filling tube for receiving tobacco, comprising providing a filling tube with a first end, a second end, an inner diameter and an outer diameter, providing a bolt dimensioned to fit said filling tube, said bolt having first and second ends, said second end comprising a guide head, said bolt inserting said filling tube so that at least a portion of the guide head of said bolt extends beyond the second end of said filling tube, dispensing an unfinished piece of cigarette over said guide head and into said filling tube, and retracting said pin from said filling tube.

Furthermore, this invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing unfinished pieces of cigarette in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising a base having an upper end, a lower opposite end of said upper end, a first side and a second side opposite, said first side, and an agitator in communication with said base, wherein said base comprises a retainer for retaining at least one unfinished piece of cigarette.

This invention also relates to an apparatus for dispensing unfinished cigarette parts in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising a base having an upper end, a lower opposite end of said upper end, a first side and a second opposite side , said first side, and an agitator in communication with said base, wherein said base comprises a retainer for retaining at least one unfinished piece of cigarette, a stirrer in communication with said base, and a cartridge for receiving a plurality of pieces. unfinished cigarette, wherein said cartridge is mountable in said base.

This invention further relates to a method for dispensing unfinished pieces of cigarette in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising providing a base comprising a retainer for retaining at least one unfinished piece of cigarette, said base having an upper end, an end lower opposed of said upper end, a first side and a second side opposite, said first side, and a stirrer in communication with said base, holding a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette in said base, shaking said unfinished pieces of cigarette , retaining with said retainer at least one unfinished piece of cigarette, and dispensing an unfinished piece of cigarette to a loading area.

This invention also relates to an apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube, said apparatus comprising a filling tube having a first end, a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter, a tube hollow dimensioned to fit within said filling tube, said hollow tube having a first end and a second end, said second end comprising a guide head, and where when said filling tube receives said second end of said hollow tube, at least a portion of the hollow tube guide head extending beyond the second end of the filling tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette to the filling tube.

This invention also relates to an apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube, said apparatus comprising a filling tube having a first end, a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter, a tube hollow dimensioned to fit in said filling tube, said hollow tube has a first end, and a second end, said second end comprises a guide head, a bolt arranged in said hollow tube, the bolt has a first and a second end, in wherein when the filling tube receives said second end of said hollow tube, at least a part of the guide head of said hollow tube extends beyond the second end of said filling tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette to the tube of filling, and wherein said guide head I purchased a conical portion, the conical portion defining an internal cavity to receive the second end of the pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an entrance hopper of the invention.

Figure 3A is a sectional view of a tobacco transport and compression device of the invention.

Figure 3B is an enlarged sectional view of the device of • compression of the figure. 3A.

Figure 4A is a perspective view of a filling tube of the invention.

Figure 4B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling tube of the invention.; . . ··,, Figure 5A is a perspective view of a guide head and bolt of the invention.

Figure 5B is a perspective view of another embodiment of the guide head and bolt of the invention.

Figure 6A is a sectional view of the support drum of the filling tube of the invention.

Figure 6B is a sectional view of a filling tube mounted on a drum partially receiving a guide head of the invention.

Figure 6C is a sectional view of a filling tube mounted on a drum fully receiving a guide head of the invention.

Figure 6D is a sectional view of a filling tube mounted on a drum receiving completely a guide head of the invention further showing an unfinished piece of cigarette being taken to the filling tube.

Figure 6E is a sectional view of a filling tube mounted on a drum fully receiving a guide head of the invention further showing an unfinished piece of cigarette being fully charged in the filling tube.

Figure 6F is a sectional view of a tobacco plug being injected into an unfinished piece of cigarette loaded in a filling tube of the invention.

Figure 6G is a sectional view of a completed cigarette being ejected from a filling tube of the invention.

Figure 6H is a sectional view of an improperly loaded cigarette being ejected from a filling tube of the invention.

Figure 7 is a side view of an unfinished cigarette part loading cartridge of the invention.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a device for separating unfinished cigarette parts of the invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of an unfinished part separation device of the invention having an unfinished part separation cartridge mounted in a low position holding a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of an unfinished cigarette part separation device of the invention having an unfinished cigarette part separation cartridge mounted in the raised position holding a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette.

Figure 1 1 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the guide head and bolt of the invention.

Figure 12 is a sectional view of the guide head and bolt of Figure 11 with a portion of the guide head collapsed and having left the filling tube.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of the guide head and bolt of the figure 1 1 with a portion of the guide head expanded and having left the filling tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An apparatus for the manufacture of cigarettes 10 is illustrated in Figure 1, the apparatus 10 includes a tobacco loading hopper 100 (rotated upwards for clarity), a tobacco transport and compression device 200, a separation device of unfinished pieces of cigarette 300, a support for filling tubes 400, a material and product transfer mechanism 500, and a discharge container (not shown).

The loading hopper 100, illustrated in Figure 2, has a main body 101 with a tobacco inlet 102. The loading hopper has an upper end 104., a lower end 05, a first side 06, a second opposite side 107, a discharge end 108, and an intake end 109. A conveyor 103 can be mounted on the lower end 105 of a main body 101 for transporting the tobacco from the inlet end 109 to a strand separator 1 10 mounted generally on the discharge end 108. The conveyor may include a tension adjusting mechanism 1 16 for adjusting the tension of the conveyor belt. The strand separator 1 10 has a shaft 1 1 1 and a plurality of bolts or combs 1 12 extended outwardly from it, is mounted on the discharge end 108 of the main body 101. The shaft 1 1 1 of the strand separator it can be driven rotationally by an electric motor 1 3. Depending on the desired rotational speed of the strand separator 1 10, a speed reduction mechanism 1 14 can be used to communicate the electric motor 1 12 with the axis of the strand separator 1 eleven.

During the operation, the chopped tobacco is poured into the tobacco inlet 102 of the inlet hopper 100. The chopped tobacco falls into the inlet end 109 of the conveyor 103 and thereby is transferred to the strand separator 1 10 and the end Discharge 108 of the conveyor 103. After passing through the strand separator 1 10, the chopped tobacco is discharged from the inlet hopper 100 through a discharge opening 1 15.

Figure 3A illustrates a tobacco conveyor and compressor device 200. The device 200 generally has an inlet end 201, a reception hopper 215, and a tobacco transport zone 218. A tobacco conveyor system, 210 has a first conveyor 202 with an upper end 203 and a lower end 204 and a second conveyor 205 with an upper end 206 and a lower end 207. The conveyors 202 and 205 are mounted between a plate of the first face 217 and a second plate (not shown). ). The conveyor 202 has a conveyor belt 208, and the conveyor 205 has a conveyor belt 209. The conveyor belts 208 and 209 may have striations or topples therein, allowing the moving belts to grip the chopped tobacco. The upper end 203 of the first conveyor 202 and the upper end 206 of the second conveyor 205 communicate with the receiving hopper 215. Typically, the conveyors 202 and 205 converge with each other as they move in the direction of the arrows 21 1 and 212, respectively. At least one electric motor (not shown) can be used to drive the first conveyor 203 and second conveyor 205.

During operation, the receiving hopper 215 receives chopped tobacco from the discharge opening 1 5 of the ingress hopper 100 described above. As an inner side of the conveyor belt 213 202 and an inner side 214 of the conveyor belt 205 move downward, the chopped tobacco is received from the receiving hopper 215, compressed by the conveyors 202 and 205, and finally transferred to the conveyor belt. a 250 compressor device.

The device for compressing tobacco 250 illustrated in Figure 3B has a first compression plate 251 and a second compression plate 252, which generally define a compression cone 253. the first compression plate 251 is slidably mounted on the compressor device of tobacco 250 to allow it to move towards the second compression plate 252. The first compression plate 251 has a first end 254 and a second end 255, the second end defining a semi-circular compression cavity 256 having an upper edge 257. A pneumatic cylinder 261 with a piston rod 262 can be mounted in a frame (not shown), with the piston rod 262 of the air cylinder 261 communicating with the first end 254 of the first compression plate 251, so both slidably operating the first compression plate 251 against and away from the second compression plate 252. Other methods can be used for slidingly over the first compression plate 251, such as a servo motor or a hydraulic cylinder. The second compression plate 252 has a first end 258 and a second end 259, the second end 259 defining a semi-circular compression zone 260. The second compression 252 also contains a knife 263 with a cutting edge 264 that is coplanar with the upper edge 257 of the semicircular compression cavity 256 of the first compression plate 251 and with an upper edge 266 of the semicircular compression cavity 260 of the second plate 252. The knife 263 can be mounted so that it is not parallel to the upper edge 257 of the first compression plate 251, resulting in the first plate 251 f contacting only a portion of the edge of the knife 264 while the first plate 251 slides towards the second plate 252.

During operation, the downwardly moving inner sides 213 and 214 of the conveyors 202 and 205, respectively, partially compress the chopped tobacco and deliver it to the compression cavity 253. The conveyors 202 and 205 operate for a time to deliver an amount of chopped tobacco to the compression cavity 253, and then they stop. The amount of tobacco that is delivered in the compression cavity 253 may be within a range default, with the exact amount being established by the operator of the machine depending on individual preferences, which may include, among other things, the "draft" of the operator's preferred cigarette. Then, the piston 261 pushes the first compression plate 251, by means of the piston rod 262, towards the second compression plate 252, further compressing the tobacco in the compression cavity 253. While the first compression plate 251 moves towards the second compression plate 252, the upper edge 257 of the first compression plate 251 encounters the cutting edge 264 of the knife 263. The chopped tobacco in the compression cavity 253 is then cut from the tobacco in the tobacco transport zone 214. The first compression plate 251 continues to move towards the second compression plate 252, thereby forming a tobacco plug 265. The first compression plate 251 then backs away slightly from the second compression plate 252, allowing an insertion pin in the tobacco plug 501 (FIG. 1) for pushing the tobacco plug 265 out of the compression cavity 253 into a filling tube 350 (described below). Typically, the tobacco plug 265 is smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of a filling tube and an unfinished piece of cigarette to allow easy insertion into the filling tube and the blank cigarette.

Figure 4A illustrates a filling tube 350 with a first end 351, a second end 352, an internal diameter 353, and an external diameter 354. These tubes are mounted in the filling tube drum 401 shown in Figure 1 Other forms of tubes can be used as filling tubes, including tobos of square or octagonal shapes. The first end 351 of the filling tube may have a shoulder 355 for securing the filling tube 350 to a filling tube holder (not shown). Alternatively, a filling tube can be secured to a holder of the filling tube (not shown) by other means, such as a pressure adjustment or welding. Figure 4B shows one embodiment of the filling tube.359 without a shoulder that can be press fit or welded to a filling tube holder (not shown). The inner diameter of the first end 351 may have a taper 358 from the first end 351 outer diameter 356 to the inner diameter 353 to receive a guide head 370. Also, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the second end 356 may be tapered to facilitate reception with respect to an unfinished piece of cigarette.

Figure 5A illustrates a guide head embodiment 370. The guide head 370 has a distal end 371 and a proximal end 372 and is dimensioned to fit the inner diameter 353 of the fill tube 350. The proximal end 372 of the guide head 370 it has fastening means 373 for attaching the guide head 370 to a bolt 374 with complementary fastening means 375. The fastening means 374 and 375 may be a threaded connection, a snap fit, or other methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. the art. Additionally, the guide head 370 and the pin 374 can be manufactured from a single piece of material. The distal end 371 of the guide head 370 has a substantially conical head 376. The largest diameter 377 of the conical head 376 is typically equal to or greater than the outer diameter 354 of the filling tube 352. Thus, the conical head 376 it is collapsible to allow it to pass through the filling tube 350 and exit through the second end 352 of the filling tube 350.

Various means can be used to provide a collapsible guide head. In the embodiment 370 shown in Fig. 5A, a plurality -of. longitudinal grooves 365 are cut from the tip 378 of the conical head 376 to a groove termination location 367. The grooves typically end at a radius of 366 to reduce the stress that the grooves can induce in the guide head material and thus preventing self-propagation of the slots towards the proximal end 372 of the guide head 370. The guide head 370 may be made of a variety of materials, including plastics and metals. Typically, we can use hardened steel, such as steel 01 hardened to 58-60 Rockwell C, for the guide head. Other means, such as a flexible rubber guide head, a polymer guide head, or an inflatable guide head can be used to produce a collapsible guide head.

Figure 5B illustrates an embodiment of a bolt 362 with guide head 363 in which the outer diameters of the bolt 362 and the guide head 363 are equal to or less than the inside diameter 353 of the fill tube 350. In that embodiment, the head Guide 363 does not need to collapse to pass through the fill tube 350.

With reference to Figure 6A, there is a filling tube holder 400 comprising a drum 401 with a first end 402 and a second end 403. The first end 402 of the drum 401 has a plurality of holes 404 and 405 for receiving a plurality of holes. filling tubes 350 other holes (not shown) for receiving filling tubes may also have been arranged at the first end 402 of the chip 401.

This description describes the filling tube 350 and the characteristics on the drum 401 associated with filling tubes 350. Other filling tubes mounted on the drum will typically be assembled in a similar manner, and the drum will typically have similar characteristics for each of the tubes. other filling tubes. One method for attaching a filling tube 350 to a drum 401 is a shoulder securing device 408 at a first end 351 of the filling tube 350. Alternatively, other means for attaching the filling tubes to a tube holder filling can use. For example, the filling tubes and the plurality of holes in the holder for receiving the plurality of filling tubes may be threaded. Additionally *., Other methods instead of a drum can be used to hold a plurality of tubes, for example, the filling tubes can be mounted on a plate or on a belt.

Axially aligned with the fill tube hole 404 is a conical steerer hole 41 1, having a proximal end 412 and a distal end 413. The distal end 413 of the cone-shaped opening defines the largest diameter of the cone, and the diameter The proximal end of the cone-shaped opening is slightly larger than the outer diameter of an unfinished piece of cigarette (discussed below). .

Figure 6B is a partial sectional view of the drum 401 having the filling tube 350 in which the guide head 370, typically attached to a bolt 374 (not shown), is passing. While the conical head 376 of the guide head 370 passes to the first end 351 of the filling tube 350, the filling tube 350 compresses the guide head 370, thus collapsing the guide head 370 and allowing the largest diameter 377 of the guide head 370 to be made smaller than the inner diameter 353 of the filling tube 350.

Figure 6C is a partial sectional view of the drum 401 with the filling tube 350 through which the conical head 376 of the guide head 370, typically attached to a pin 374 (not shown), has passed. The conical head 376, having passed through the guide tube 350, can be observed in its relaxed state with the diameter length 377 of the guide head 370 now equal to or greater than the outer diameter 354 of the filling tube 350.

Figure 6D illustrates an unfinished piece of cigarette being loaded in the filling tube 350. The conical head 376 extends beyond the filling tube 350. A loading pin (not shown) induces a force at the end of the filter 426 one piece unfinished 425 cigarette, causing the blank cigarette 425 to move towards the conical head 376 of the guide head 370. In that illustration, an open end 427 of the blank cigarette 425 has been damaged, resulting in the circular shape normal cigarette end blank 425 accrue in oblong. As the blank cigarette 425 moves toward the guide head 370, the smaller diameter 412 of the tapered opening 41 1 in the drum 401 will operate to return the oblong open end 427 of the blank cigarette 425 to a more circular shape. The blank cigarette 425 continues through the conical opening 411, over the conical head 376, and then into the filling tube 350.

Figure 6E is similar to Figure 6D, with the exception that the blank cigarette 425 has been fully inserted into the filling tube 350 by an unfinished cigarette insertion pin 504 (Figure 1). After that, the guide head 370 is removed from the filling tube 350 by withdrawing it through the first end 351 of the filling tube 350. The filling tube 350 and the blank cigarette 425 are then ready to receive the tobacco plug 265 prepared by the compression device 250 previously discussed.

Figure 6F is similar to Figure 6E, with the additional step of removing the guide head (not shown) and inserting the tobacco plug 265. A sensor 601 (figure 1) determines whether an unfinished piece of cigarette 425 is present. and suitably loaded in a filling tube 350 before a tobacco plug 265 is injected into the filling tube 350. After confirming that a filling tube 350 is ready to receive a tobacco plug, an injection bolt 501 pushes a tobacco plug 265 outside the compression chamber and in the filling tube 350. After that, the injection bolt is removed.

Figure 6G illustrates an ejection pin 503 (figure 1) ejecting a completed cigarette tube 430, having been filled with a tobacco plug 265, from the fill tube 350. Typically, an ejection pin 503 is hollow, and air under pressure can be introduced into the ejection pin 503 during the ejection process. Pressurized air escaping from the front end 510 of the ejection pin 503 further facilitates the ejection of the completed cigarette tube 430.. ^ As mentioned above, sensor 601 determines if an unfinished piece of cigarette is properly loaded in the filling tube before injecting a tobacco plug into the filling tube and cigarette tube. If an unfinished piece of cigarette is found to be inappropriately loaded, the blank cigarette is not injected with a tobacco plug and the improperly loaded white cigarette continues to rotate in the drum, eventually coming to the rejection location of cigarette tubes. Figure 6H describes the removal of a rejected cigarette tob from a filling tube. Figure 6H illustrates a reject pin 502 forcing an unfinished part of damaged cigarette 428 out of the fill tube 350 to a picking mechanism 510 (Figure 1). Typically, the reject bolt 502 is hollow, and pressurized air can be introduced into the reject bolt 502 during the rejection process. Pressurized air escaping from the front end 51 1 of a reject pin 502 further facilitates the removal of the blank cigarette 428 by blowing air against the rejected blank cigarette 428. The picking mechanism 510, as a vacuum, collects the rejected blank cigarette 428 Referring now to Figure 7, there is an unfinished cigarette part holding cartridge 310 having a rectangular shaped box 321 with a final wall 31, a second end wall 312, side walls 313 and 314 (not shown) arranged between the end walls 31 1 and 312, and a lid 322. The first end wall 31 1 has a bottom edge 315, to which a bottom cartridge 316 can be pivotally mounted using a hinge 317 or other similar means of. -pivot. The first end wall 311 has a handle 318. A mounting flange 319, fixed to the bottom 316 of the cartridge 310, is slidably mountable on a base plate 326 (figure 9). A mounting flange 320, fixed to the second end wall 312 to the cartridge 310, is admissible in a reception area of the cartridge 337 (FIG. 9) of the separation apparatus 300 of unfinished pieces of cigarette. Typically, the cartridge 310 may contain a plurality of cigarettes, e.g., about 200 cigarette tubes. Typically, the cartridge is of such size that the user can establish. a full carton of unfinished pieces of cigarette (200 unfinished pieces of cigarette) in the cartridge without removing the unfinished pieces of cigarette from the box before loading. The cartridge can also be of a size to contain a 100-piece unfinished cigarette carton. Alternatively, if one wishes to use a carton of unfinished pieces of cigarette containing less than 200 unfinished pieces of cigarette in a cartridge designed for 200 unfinished pieces of cigarette, therefore a block can be used to take extra space in the cartridge.

During the operation, a user rotates the cartridge 310 downwards so that the bottom 316 is up, and completely opens the bottom 316. Then the user adjusts a box filled with unfinished pieces of cigarette in the cartridge 310.

After that, the user can break the top of the cigar box and close the lower part of the cartridge 316. The loaded cartridge is then ready to load the tube separating device 300 into the cartridge.

Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of the unfinished part separation device 300 having received the cartridge 310. The sensing mechanism 601 and the collecting mechanism 510 for collecting and rejecting unfinished pieces of cigarette (not shown) are also visible. ).

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of the unfinished part separation apparatus 300 having received a cartridge 310 maintaining a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette 325. The unfinished parting apparatus 300 has a plate base 326 having a lower end 327, an upper end 328, a first side 330, and a second opposite side. A first side plate 331 is disposed on the first side 330 of the base plate, and a second plate of the opposite side (not shown) is disposed on the second opposite side of the base plate 326.

The assembly and operation of the first face plate 331 are described herein, and the assembly and operation of the opposite side plate of the second side (not shown) is substantially similar to that of the first face plate. 331; A cross bar 336 connects the plate of the first side 331 to the plate of the second side (not shown). The cross bar 336 has a cartridge flange receiving area 337 for receiving the mounted flange 320 disposed on the wall of the second end 312 of the cartridge case 321. The plate of the first side 331 has an upper end 332 which is pivotally mounted at a pivot point 338 adjacent the upper end 328 of the base plate 326. A portion 335 of the plate of the first side 331 mounts on an eccentric cam 333 that rotates around a cam handle 334. The cam handle can be driven by a motor (not shown) or by other means available to impart rotational action to the cam shaft 334. FIG. 9 describes the plate of the first side 331 and the unfinished cigarette part loading cartridge 310 in the lowered position, the position at which a user could insert a unfinished cigarette part loading cartridge 310 containing a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette.

While the cam 333 rotates about the cam shaft 334, the plate of the first side 331 and the opposite plate of the second side (not shown) pivots on the pivot point 338, thereby resulting in the lower end 339 of the The first side plate 331 and the lower end of the second side plate move along and up an arch 340. The cross bar 336, being fixed between the plate of the first side 331 and the plate of the second side, is move up. The cartridge case 321 also moves up, because the assembled flange 320 of the unfinished cigarette part loading cartridge 310 has been received in the cartridge flange replenishment area 337 of the cross bar 336.

Figure 10 is a partial sectional view of the unfinished part separation device of cigarette 300 with the cartridge case 310, the plate of the first side 331 and the plate of the second side (not shown) in the raised position.

The lower end 327 of the base plate 326 abuts on a stirring assembly 380. In one embodiment, the stirring assembly 380 has a stir plate 381 mounted in the form of a pivot at the upper end 383 to a frame 382. agitation 381 can be shaken by a variety of methods, and a method for stirring the plate is by an eccentric 384. During the operation, rotation of the eccentric cam pivots the plate on the upper end 383 of the stir plate 381, shaking therefore a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette 390. Typically, the lower end 385 of the stir plate 381 is at a sufficient distance above the base plate 326 to allow a smaller plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette 396 pass between the base plate 326 and the lower end 385 of the agitation plate 381.

The plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette 390 have a first row 387, a second row 388 and upper rows 389. while the agitation plate 381 advances towards the upper end 328 of the base plate 326, as a result of the rotation of the cam 384, the stir plate 381 pushes the plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette 390 towards the upper end 328 of the base plate 326. The base plate 326 has a retainer 391 to maintain the position of the unfinished pieces of cigarette once they move to the lower end 392 of the retainer 391. The retainer may be a step, stops, or other item used to retain the position of the unfinished pieces of cigarette. By agitating the second row 388 and the upper rows 389 of a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette 390, the agitating plate breaks the pyramidal structure 393 which is usually formed between successive rows of cigarettes. Additionally, the retainer 391 prevents the lower plurality of unfinished cigarette pieces 396 from moving toward the upper end 328 of the base plate 326, promoting the effectiveness of the agitator to break the pyramid structure 393.

The unfinished cigarette part loading area 394 has therein an unfinished piece of cigarette 395 ready to be loaded into a filling tube 350 as described in Figure 6D and Figure 6E. After an unfinished piece loading bolt 504 pushes the blank cigarette 395 out of the unfinished cigarette loading area 394, the lowest plurality of pieces without rolling cigarette 396 advances forward, moving to another blank cigarette at the end of unfinished pieces of cigarette 394.

With reference to Figure 1, it is the material and product transfer mechanism 500 having in the tobacco plug injection bolt 501, the completed cigarette ejection pin 503, and the cigarette reject pin inappropriately loaded 502. Typically, bolts 501, 502 and 503 are linearly moved along their axes by a plurality of pneumatic cylinders (not shown). The injection bolt 501 and the pneumatic cylinders associated therewith are mounted on a slidable device 507. The device 507, slidably mounted on a frame 505, is slidable by a crank 506. The sliding bolt 501 is slidably mounted. the adjustment of the bolt to accommodate several lengths of unfinished pieces of cigarette.

Figure 1 illustrates the general operation of the cigarette making apparatus. During the operation, a user fills a cartridge of unfinished pieces of cigarette with a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette and loads the cartridge 310 into the unfinished part separation assembly of cigarette 300. The user also pours tobacco into the carton. of tobacco 102 from the feed hopper 100. The user then begins operation of the cigarette making apparatus 10. The automatic operation of the cigarette making apparatus is typically controlled by electronics such as a computer or a programmable logic controller ("PLC"). ) (not shown) adapted to interface with the various components of the cigarette making apparatus 10.

The unfinished cigarette parting device 300 separates an unfinished piece of cigarette 395 from the plurality of tubes in the cartridge 310, allowing the blank cigarette to flow to the loading area 394 as shown in Figure 10. A tube of filling 350 with a portion of the guide head 370 extended beyond the second end 352 of the filling tube 350 (FIG. 6C) mounted on a drum 401 is axially aligned with the blank cigarette 395. After that, a bolt of loading of unfinished pieces of cigarette 504 pushes the blank cigarette into the filling tube 350, and the guide head 370 is removed from the filling tube 350 (as indicated in the discussion on Figure 6D and Figure 6E). Drum 401 then rotates forward in the direction indicated by arrow 602.

Referring again to Figure 1, when the filling tube 350 having in the one unfinished piece of cigarette reaches a position 603, a sensor 601 ensures that the blank cigarette is properly loaded. If the sensor finds a properly loaded tube, then an injection rod 501 injects a pre-compressed tobacco plug 295 into the filling tube 350 (as discussed above in relation to Figure 6F). If the sensor 601 finds an improperly loaded tube, then the cigarette making apparatus skips the injection process of the tobacco plug, and the drum 401 continues to rotate forward in the direction of the arrow 602.

After a tobacco plug is successfully injected into a filling tube 350 with a cigarette in it, the drum 401 continues to rotate forward in the direction of the arrow 602, after which the filling tube 350 will arrive at a full cigarette ejection position 604. Once there, an ejection rod 503 will eject the entire cigarette from the filling tube 350, as shown in Figure 6G. The entire cigarette can then fall into a collection device (not shown), where it can be recovered by the operator.

If the sensor 601 has found an unfinished piece of improperly loaded cigarette, then the drum 401 with the filling tube 350 holding the improperly loaded blank cigarette will continue to rotate forward in the direction of the arrow 602, skipping the injection process of the cigarette. tobacco and the process of ejecting the entire cigarette, after which it arrives at a reject area of improperly loaded tubes 605. After which, a reject pin 502 pushes the improperly loaded blank cigarette out of the filling tube, ( figure 6H).

After the process discussed above is complete and a complete cigarette is made (an unfinished piece of improperly loaded cigarette is rejected), the filling tube is ready to receive a new blank 'cigarette'. Typically, the process discussed above will produce 25 completed cigarettes per minute with less than 4 cigarettes rejected per 100 completed cigarettes.

The plurality of drum filling tubes 401 allows the above steps to take place concurrently. For example, an unfinished piece of cigarette can be inserted into a filling tube at the same time a tobacco plug, being injected into another filling tube, which may be occurring at the same time that a completed cigarette is being rejected from a filling tube, which may be occurring at the same time that an unfinished piece of improperly loaded cigarette is being rejected. Additionally, the transport and compression of the tobacco and the separation of unfinished pieces of cigarette may also be occurring concurrently with the previous steps.

Another embodiment of a guide head and a bolt is shown in Fig. 1 1. The expander head system 700 comprises a guide head 701, a hollow tube 702, a spring shaft 703 having a collar 704, a spring 705, and a body 706.

As illustrated in Figure 12, the body 706 has an inner diameter 708 at a leading end 709 for receiving the spring shaft 703. The spring shaft 703 is slidably mounted on the inner diameter 708 of the body 706. The members of friction reduction 713 and 714 may be arranged in the inner diameter 708 between the spring shaft 703 and the body 706 to guide the spring shaft 703. The spring 705 is disposed in the spring shaft 703, and the spring shaft 703 is retained in the inner diameter 708 by a stop 735 mounted on a rear end 710 of the spring shaft 703. The spring 705 is compressed and is retained between a front face 71 1 of the body 706 and the collar 704 of the spring shaft 703 A washer 712 may be located on the spring shaft 703 and against the front face 71 1 of the body 706 to receive an end 732 of the spring 705.

A first end 720 of the hollow tube 702 is attached to the collar 704. of the spring shaft 703, and a second end 733 of the hollow tube 702 receives the guide head '70? . An internal diameter 719 of the spring shaft 703 communicates with a hollow central portion 721 of the hollow tube 702. A bolt 707 has a first end 715 which is fixed to the rear end 718 of the body 706. The pin 707 passes through the inner diameter 719 of the spring shaft 703, through the hollow tube 702, and ends at the guide head 701. The friction reduction members 722 and 723 can be located in the inner diameter 719 of the spring shaft 703 to guide the shaft 707. -; , \ A second end 724 of the pin 707 terminates in a conical head portion 725 of the guide head 701. The conical head portion 725 has a conical internal cavity 726 that is dimensioned to receive the second end 724 of the pin 707 when the conical head portion is in collapsed configuration and beyond it has an internal cavity 727 that is smaller than the second end 724 of the pin 707. The guide head 701 may have a plurality of longitudinal grooves similar to the embodiment of a guide head shown in Figure 5A.

Figure 12 illustrates the conical portion of the head 725 of the guide head 701 having passed through the second end 352 of the fill tube 350 with the pin 707 in the retracted position. Figure 12 shows the distal end of the expandable head system 700 enlarged to illustrate the details. With the pin 707 in the retracted position, the conical head is collapsed, whereby a long diameter 728 of the conical head portion 725 is equal to or smaller in diameter than the inner diameter 353 of the fill tube 350. The expansive force of the spring 705 holds the bolt in the retracted position and maintains the position of the guide head 701 in relation to the bolt 707 until sufficient force to overcome the expansive force of the spring is induced to the bolt 707.

Figure 13 illustrates the conical portion of the head 725 of the guide head 701 having passed through the second end 352 of the fill tube 350 with the pin 707 in the extended position. Figure 13 shows the distal end of the expandable head system 700 enlarged to illustrate details. With the pin 707 in the extended position, the second end 724 of the pin 707 has passed into the internal cavity 727 of the conical portion of the head 725, thereby expanding the conical portion of the head 725 to a diameter 729 which is typically greater than the inner diameter 353 of the fill tube 350, and more typically is larger than the outer diameter 354 of the fill tube 350. In that position, the conical portion of the head 725 is positioned to receive and guide an unfinished part. of cigarette to the filling tube.

During operation, the guide head 701 passes through the filling tube until the conical portion of the head 725 passes through the second end 352 of the filling tube 350, at which time the means for stopping the spring shaft 703 act to stop the forward movement of the spring shaft 703, the hollow tube 702, and the guide head 701. After that, the body 706 continues to move forward a distance 730 to extend a second end 724 of the pin 707 into the internal cavity 727 of the conical portion of the head 725, thereby expanding the conical portion of the head 725 of the guide head 701 . An unfinished piece of cigarette can then be inserted into the conical part of the head 725 and into the filling tube 350. The body 706 is then retracted, thus retracting the second end 724 of the pin 707 from the internal cavity 727 and allowing the the conical portion of the head 725 return to its collapsed configuration. The retraction of the body 706 continues, removing the tube 702 and the guide head 701 from the filling tube 350.

Although the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and although the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or limit in any way the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatuses and methods, and illustrated examples shown and described. Accordingly, it is possible to depart from said details without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims (45)

1. CLAIMS 1. An apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube, said apparatus comprising: a filling tube with a first end, a second end, an internal diameter, and an external diameter, and a bolt dimensioned to fit said filling tube, said bolt with a first end and a second end, said second end comprising a guide head, characterized in that when said filling tube receives said second end of said bolt, at least a portion of the bolt guide head extends beyond the second end of the filling tube to guide an unfinished part of the cigarette to the filling tube. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide head is collapsible to a diameter at least as small as the inner diameter of said filling tube. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the diameter of said guide head is greater than the inner diameter of said filling tube when said guide head is in the relaxed state. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the diameter of said guide head is equal to or greater than the outer diameter of said filling tube when said guide head is in a relaxed state. 5. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the diameter of said guide head comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said bolt comprises an axis dimensioned to fit inside said filling tube and a removable guide head mounted on said shaft. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide head has a substantially conical shape. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said second end of said filling tube is tapered. 9. An apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube, said apparatus comprising: a filling tube holder capable of supporting a plurality of filling tubes, a plurality of filling tubes mounted on said filling tube holder, each filling tube with a first end, a second end, an internal diameter, and an outer diameter, and at least one bolt sized to fit within said tubes of filled, said, at least one pin, having a first and a second end, said second end comprising a guide head, characterized in that when each of said filling tubes receives said second end of said bolt, at least a portion of the guide head of said bolt extends beyond the second end of said filling tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette to the filling tube. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said tube support is a drum. eleven . The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that said drum is rotary. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said guide head of said bolt is collapsible to a diameter at least as small as the internal diameter of said filling tube. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the diameter of said pin guide head is greater than the internal diameter of the filling tube when said guide head is in relaxed state 14. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the diameter of said guide head of the pin is equal to or greater than the external diameter of said tube when said guide head is in relaxed state 15. The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that said guide head comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves. 16. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said bolt comprises an axis having a maximum transverse measurement no greater than said internal diameter of said tube and a removable guide head mounted on said shaft. 17. The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that said guide head has a substantially conical shape. 18. A method for locating an unfinished piece of cigarette in a filling tube for receiving tobacco, characterized in that it comprises: provide a filling tube with a first end, a second end, an internal diameter, and an external diameter, providing a bolt dimensioned to fit within said filling tube, said bolt having at a first end a second end, said second end comprising a guide head, inserting said bolt into said filling tube so that at least a portion of the guide head of said bolt extends beyond the second end of said filling tube, dispensing an unfinished piece of cigarette over said guide head and into said filling tube, and retracting said bolt from said filling tube. 19. The method according to claim 18, characterized in that it also ejects a tobacco cylinder in said filling tube. 20. The method according to claim 19, characterized in that it also ejects a completed cigarette from said filling tube. twenty-one . The method according to claim 20, characterized in that said method produces cigarettes at a rate of at least 25 cigarettes per minute and with at least 95% of the unfinished pieces of cigarette being transformed into completed cigarettes. 22. An apparatus for dispensing unfinished pieces of cigarette in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising: a base with an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side, and an agitator communicating with said base, characterized in that said base comprises a retainer for retaining at least one unfinished piece of cigarette. 23. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said retainer comprises a step. 24. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said retainer comprises stops. 25. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said agitator is located at said lower end of said base. 26. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that said agitator is a plate. 27. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterized in that said agitator is driven by an eccentric cam. 28. The apparatus according to claim 22, characterized in that said apparatus is configured to support a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette. 29. An apparatus for dispensing unfinished cigarette parts to a cigarette manufacturing machine, characterized in that it comprises: a base don an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, a second side opposite said first side, wherein said base comprises a retainer for retaining at least one unfinished piece of cigarette, an agitator communicated with said base, and a cartridge for receiving a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette, wherein said cartridge is mountable on said base. 30. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said retainer comprises a step. 31 The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said retainer comprises stops. 32. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said agitator is located at said lower end of said base. 33. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said agitator is a plate. 34. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said agitator is driven by an eccentric cam. 35. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said cartridge is configured to receive a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette in box without having to remove the unfinished pieces of cigarette from the box. 36. The apparatus according to claim 29, characterized in that said cartridge can be mechanically opened, allowing the unfinished pieces of cigarette to be dispensed from said cartridge after mounting said cartridge in said base. 37. A method for dispensing unfinished pieces of cigarette in a cigarette manufacturing machine, characterized in that it comprises: providing a base comprising a retainer for retaining at least one unfinished piece of cigarette, said base having an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side, provide an agitator in communication with said base, hold a plurality of unfinished pieces of cigarette in said base,: "· '·'" 'shake said unfinished pieces of cigarette, retaining with said retainer at least one unfinished piece of cigarette, and dispensing an unfinished piece of cigarette to a loading area. 38. The method according to claim 37, characterized in that it also comprises: providing a cartridge for receiving a plurality of unfinished pieces of boxed cigarette without having to remove the unfinished pieces of cigarette from the box. 39. The method according to claim 38, characterized in that It also includes: mechanically opening said cartridge to allow the flow of unfinished pieces of cigarette after mounting said cartridge in said base. 40. An apparatus for loading a blank cigarette into a filling tube, said apparatus characterized in that it comprises: a filling tube with a first end, a second end, an inner diameter, and an outer diameter, a hollow tube sized to fit within said filling tube, said hollow tube having a first end and a second end, said second end comprising a guide head, and wherein when said filling tube receives said second end of said hollow tube, at least a portion of the hollow tube guide head extends beyond the second end of the filling tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette to the filling tube . 41 The apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that the diameter of said guide head is smaller than the internal diameter of said filling tube when said guide head is in the relaxed state. 42. The apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that said guide head comprises a plurality of longitudinal grooves. 43. The apparatus according to claim 40, characterized in that it further comprises a bolt disposed inside the hollow tube. 44. An apparatus for loading an unfinished piece of cigarette into a filling tube, characterized in that said apparatus comprises: a filling tube with a first end, a second end, an internal diameter, and an external diameter, a hollow tube dimensioned to fit inside said filling tube, said hollow tube having a first end, a second end, said second end comprising a guide head, a bolt disposed in said hollow tube, the bolt having a first and a second end, wherein when the filling tube receives said second end of said hollow tube, at least a portion of the guide head of said hollow tube extends beyond the second end of said filling tube to guide an unfinished piece of cigarette in the filling tube, and wherein said guide head comprises a conical portion, the conical portion defining an internal cavity for receiving the second end of the pin. 45. The apparatus according to claim 44, characterized in that the diameter of said guide head is equal to or less than is greater than the internal diameter of the filling tube when said guide head is in the relaxed state.