WO2012075559A1

WO2012075559A1 - Cigarette manufacturing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012075559A1
Application number: PCT/CA2010/001984
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Thiry
Original assignee: Philippe Thiry
Priority date: 2010-12-10
Filing date: 2010-12-10
Publication date: 2012-06-14

Abstract

A cigarette making apparatus (10) for manufacturing a relatively low quantity of cigarettes comprising a cigarette tube holder (64), a moveable carriage (14) mounted on a frame (12), a loose tobacco storage bin (56), a forming die (30) stationary with respect to the moveable carriage (14), the forming die (30) designed to receive tobacco from the storage bin (56), a transition tube (74) mounted to receive an empty cigarette tube from the cigarette tube holder (64), a pusher rod (90) mounted on the moveable carriage (14) being operative to compact tobacco in the forming die (30) and to transfer the tobacco to the transition tube (74) from where it is ejected, and a drive motor (16) for moving the moveable carriage (14) in a linear reciprocal motion.

Description

CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cigarette manufacturing apparatus and more particularly, relates to a cigarette manufacturing apparatus which is designed for home use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The manufacture of cigarettes is conventionally carried out on high capacity machines operating in factories. These cigarettes are distributed through local stores conventionally in packages of 20 or 25 cigarettes. The cigarettes are expensive as they are subject to high taxes.

Some individuals prefer to roll their own cigarettes from tobacco and empty tubes which can be purchased at a price substantially less than commercially manufactured cigarettes. The original roll-your-own cigarettes comprised tobacco and cigarette papers, the tobacco was placed on the paper and then the paper was rolled to form the cigarette.

Subsequently, some machines appeared on the market and which machines were designed to utilize empty cigarette tubes with the tobacco subsequently being inserted therein. However, such machines are limited to a single cigarette at a time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cigarette manufacturing apparatus which would be inexpensive enough for the average consumer to buy and which can manufacture multiple cigarettes on a single charge or cycle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cigarette making apparatus comprising a cigarette tube holder for holding a plurality of empty cigarette tubes, a moveable carriage mounted on a frame, a loose tobacco storage bin, a forming die stationary with respect to the moveable carriage, the forming die being designed to receive tobacco from the storage bin, the forming die having two half dies, at least one of the half dies being moveable between open and closed positions, a transition tube mounted to receive an empty cigarette tube from the cigarette tube holder, a pusher rod mounted on the moveable carriage, the pusher rod being operative to contact tobacco in the forming die and to transfer the tobacco to the transition tube and thereafter eject the cigarette tube from the transition tube, and a drive motor for moving the moveable carriage in a linear reciprocal motion.

The cigarette tube holder for holding a plurality of empty cigarette tubes may be of any desired capacity although it will generally be limited to a relatively small number of tubes. Typically, one could utilize between 5 and 20 tubes with a preferred range being approximately 10 tubes.

The moveable carriage of the invention is mounted on any suitable type of frame. In the preferred embodiment, the moveable carriage is reciprocally moveable in a longitudinal direction. The moveable carriage will function to remove a single cigarette tube from the cigarette tube holder. The moveable carriage will then position the empty tube on a transition tube for later filling with the tobacco.

Preferably, the transition tube has a tapered end so as to ensure easy placement of the empty cigarette tube thereon. This is particularly a requirement for out-of-round tubes which can occur when cheaper, less well made tubes are utilized.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the transition tube is made of a plurality of elements or fingers. The elements or fingers can be secured at one end thereof with the other end being allowed to move inwardly to provide an overall conical configuration. Preferably, two or three fingers are utilized. An embodiment of the same will be illustrated in the drawings appended hereto.

Preferably, the carriage and the forming die are operative such that movement of the carriage will cause the forming die to open and close. In the open position, the die will receive tobacco from the loose tobacco storage bin and will subsequently close to compact the tobacco and cut any loose tobacco strands. Preferably, the tobacco strands have a relative humidity of between 12% and 16%.

The loose tobacco storage bin is preferably situated above the forming die such that when the dies are in the open position, tobacco will fall between the dies. In order to assist in the placement of the tobacco, a weighted member is utilized in one embodiment. The weighted member will sit on top of the loose tobacco.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the weighted member may be designed to accept additional weights. This may be desirable when, for example, a person

manufacturing the cigarettes prefers a somewhat more dense tobacco plug within the cigarette tube.

In a preferred embodiment, the dies are moveable between the open and closed positions by the movement of the carriage. In this respect, the carriage and dies preferably each have an element which interface together to cause the opening and closing of the die.

Following the compaction of the tobacco, the carriage preferably reverses direction and at this point a pusher rod will contact the tobacco in the mold and push the tobacco into the transition tube and subsequent movement will cause the ejection of the filled cigarette tube from the transition tube. A suitable discharge element may be provided to allow the cigarette to roll downwardly to be collected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette making machine according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating movement of the carriage to transfer a cigarette tube to a transition tube;

Figure 3 illustrates the further movement of the carriage and opening of the die to receive tobacco strands therein;

Figure 4 illustrates filling the tobacco tube with tobacco and ejection of the tube;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cigarette making machine from the side opposite that shown in Figure 1 ;

Figures 6A, 6B and 6C are a perspective view of the drive arrangement in different positions;

Figures 7A, 7B and 7C are views of the carriage and its positioning corresponding to views 6A to 6C of the drive arrangement;

Figure 8 is a view illustrating opening of the two half dies;

Figure 9 is a view illustrating the closing of the die;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the transition tube; and

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view illustrating the transition tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a cigarette making machine which is generally designated by reference numeral 10.

Cigarette making machine 10 is mounted on support members 12. Additional support members and/or a housing may be utilized if so desired.

A moveable carriage 14 is designed to perform the various sequential operations to form the cigarette and eject the same. Carriage 14 is moveable longitudinally and may conveniently be driven by any suitable electric motor 16. Motor 16 is operative to drive sprocket wheel 18. A second sprocket wheel 20 is provided and a chain 22 is entrained about sprocket wheels 18 and 20. A pin 24 extends upwardly from chain 22 in order to drive carriage 14. To provide for the longitudinal movement, there is provided a plate 26 connected to the underside of carriage 14 and which plate 26 has an aperture 28. Aperture 28 is deep enough to receive pin 24; the aperture 28 may comprise a recess formed in plate 26.

Mounted centrally of cigarette making machine 10 is a die structure generally designated by reference numeral 30. Die assembly 30, as best seen in Figures 7 and 8, includes a first half die 32 and a second half die 34. Half die 34 includes a projection 36 which fits within a recess 38 on half die 32. Projection 36 forms a base to receive the tobacco strands as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. Cutting edges 40 and 42 are associated with half dies 32, 34 respectively.

Half die 32 includes a pair of off-set pins 44 (only one shown) while half die 34 includes a pair of off-set pins 46 (only one shown). Pins 44, 46 are used for opening and closing the half dies 32, 34 as will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow. As may be seen in Figure 1, die assembly 30 is supported by a first pair of shafts 48 on one side of die assembly 30 and a second pair of shafts 50 on the other side thereof.

Carriage 14 has two sets of guide grooves. On a first side, there are guide grooves 52 which are designed to engage with pins 44 on the underside of half die 32. On the other side of carriage 14, there are provided a second pair of guide grooves 54 designed to receive pins 46 on half die 34.

As may be seen, both sets of guide grooves 52, 54 move from a parallel section wherein the die is maintained close to a spaced apart section wherein the half dies 32, 34 are moved apart as shown in Figure 8. During the opening and closing, it will be noted that the guide grooves are not perfectly parallel as each set of the pins 44, 46 are off-set with respect to each other.

Mounted above die assembly 30 is a tobacco receptacle 56 into which tobacco strands are manually placed. A weight 58 is deigned to sit on top of the tobacco strands in tobacco receptacle 56. In a preferred embodiment, and as may be seen in Figure 3, weight 58 may include pockets 60 to receive additional weights (not shown). These additional weights may be utilized to achieve a more compact denser cigarette.

Carriage 14 is supported and moves along a main support shaft 62 which is mounted in a frame member at either end thereof.

Located at one extremity of cigarette making machine 10 is a cigarette tube holder generally designated by reference numeral 64. Cigarette tube holder 64 is designed to manually receive a certain number of empty cigarette tubes. A retaining member 66 is designed to retain the cigarette tubes within the holder 64 except when carriage 14 is situated thereunder. At that point, an actuator 68 on carriage 14 will release or move retaining member 66 such that a single cigarette tube is dripped within receptacle 70. After the dispensing of a single cigarette tube into receptacle 70, retaining member 66 will move back into a retaining position by its own weight.

Mounted on the central die assembly 30 is a transition tube 74 which is best seen in Figures 10 and 1 1. Transition tube 74 comprises a base portion 76 into which is mounted one end of a pair of fingers 78 and 80. Each of fingers 78, 80 has a substantially semi circular form and taper inwardly towards each other to produce a pointed end. This enables the transition tube 74 to receive an empty cigarette tube thereon. At the end proximate base 76, each finger 78, 80 is provided with a groove 82 and 84 respectively. An O-ring 86 fits within groves 82, 84 to bias the fingers inwardly towards each other.

Mounted on carriage 14 is a pusher rod 90 for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow. Pusher rod 90 is mounted in a block 94 and there is provided an adjustment member 96 retaining the pusher rod 90 in block 94. The overall length of pusher rod 90 can thus be varied to accommodate different size filters. If desired, a further adjustment member could be located directly in the end of block 94.

A discharge chute 92 is located centrally of the carriage and is designed to receive finished cigarettes and discharge the same.

In operation, the carriage initially is located through the left as seen in Figures 1 to 4. In this position, actuator 68 moves retaining member 66 to permit a single empty cigarette tube to fall from cigarette tube holder 64 into receptacle 70.

Upon further movement, the empty cigarette tube is placed on transition tube 74. The movement of carriage 14 also causes half dies 32 and 34 to move apart from each other so as to receive tobacco strands therein. Further movement will cause the half-dies 32 and 34 to come together to cut any loose tobacco strands by means of cutting edges 40 and 42 and to compact the tobacco.

Following compaction, the carriage 14 moves in a reverse direction such that pusher rod 90 will engage the tobacco between half dies 32, 34 and to place the tobacco plug in the cigarette tube held on transition tube 74. Continued movement will then cause the pusher rod to eject the filled tobacco tube to discharge chute 92.

In one arrangement, the apparatus may include an authorization module 100.

Module 100 is designed to receive a card or other device which would authorize the machine to produce a predetermined number of cigarettes. In order to produce more, the user would have to purchase a card or other device to permit the machine to continue to manufacture the cigarettes.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A cigarette making apparatus (10) comprising:

a cigarette tube holder (64) for holding a plurality of empty cigarette tubes;

a moveable carriage (14) mounted on a frame (12);

a loose tobacco storage bin (56);

a forming die (30) stationary with respect to said moveable carriage, said forming die being designed to receive tobacco from said storage bin (56), said forming die having two half dies (32, 34), at least one of said half dies (32, 34) being moveable between open and closed positions;

a transition tube (74) mounted to receive an empty cigarette tube from said cigarette tube holder (64);

a pusher rod (90) mounted on said moveable carriage (14), said pusher rod being operative to contact tobacco in said forming die (30) and to transfer said tobacco to said transition tube (74) and thereafter eject said cigarette tube from said transition tube (74); and a drive motor (16) for moving said moveable carriage (14) in a linear reciprocal motion.

2. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said transition tube (74) has a tapered

configuration to permit easy placement of an empty cigarette tube thereon, said transition tube (74) being formed of a plurality of fingers (78, 80).

3. The apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said transition tube (76) comprises three sections, said three sections being biased to a closed position by an O-ring (84) mounted thereabout.

4. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said cigarette tube holder (64) retains a plurality of empty cigarette tubes in a horizontal position, a discharge mechanism (66) being designed to discharge a single cigarette tube onto said moveable carriage.

5. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said loose tobacco storage bin (56) is situated above said forming die (30), a weight (58) being placed on top of said tobacco in said tobacco hopper.

6. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein each of said half dies (32, 34) is moveable between open and closed positions.

7. The cigarette making apparatus of Claim 1 further including a discharge chute (92) for receiving filled cigarettes.

8. The cigarette making apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said cigarette tube holder (64) has a discharge mechanism comprising a member (66) moveable between a retaining position and a second position, permitting the discharge of an empty cigarette tube on said moveable carriage (14), an actuator (68) being mounted on said moveable carriage (14) for moving said member from said retaining position to said second position.

9. The cigarette making apparatus of Claim 8 wherein said forming die (30) and said moveable carriage (14) have cooperating elements (52, 54, 35, 37) that cause said first and second half dies to move between said open and closed position.

10. The cigarette making apparatus of Claim 9 wherein said moveable carriage has channels (52, 54) formed therein and wherein at least one of said half dies (32, 34) has a pin (35) guided by one of said channels when said moveable carriage moves.

11. The apparatus of Claim 10 wherein each of said half dies has a pair of pins (35, 37) each pin engageable in one of said channels (52, 54) formed in said moveable carriage.

12. The apparatus of Claim 1 further including means (96) for adjusting the position of said pusher rod.

13. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said drive motor (16) drives a chain (22) around first and second sprockets (18, 20) lying in a horizontal plane, said chain (22) having a pin (24) extending upwardly, said pin engaging said carriage to thereby drive said carriage in a reciprocal fashion.

14. The apparatus of Claim 5 wherein said weight (58) is designed to receive additional weights.

15. The apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said apparatus further includes a circuit to pre- authorize a limited number of uses.