- 1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH Actual Inventors: Dirk Minkner and Michael Kuepper and Tsuyoshi Ogihara and Alexander Schlag and Horst Drieling Address for Service is: SHELSTON IP 60 Margaret Street Telephone No: (02) 9777 1111 SYDNEY NSW 2000 Facsimile No. (02) 9241 4666 CCN: 3710000352 Attorney Code: SW Invention Title: HOME PRODUCTION OF CIGARETTES FROM A TOBACCO CUBOID The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: File: 55091AUP00 -2 HOME PRODUCTION OF CIGARETTES FROM A TOBACCO CUBOID The invention relates to a device, a method, a system and a tobacco cuboid for home production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes, by the consumer. In particular the 5 invention relates to home production which is to be regarded as an alternative to the production of cigarettes by rolling them from loose tobacco (roll your own), home stuffing of cigarettes from loose tobacco or the known production of cigarettes from pre manufactured tobacco strands from tobacco rolls or stix (make your own). 10 Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. EP 0 647 411 BI describes a multitude of tobacco cuboids which are held in shape by 15 internal and external substances. Pre-portions are provided in these tobacco cuboids. Different sleeves are also described. EP 0 584 805 BI describes a tobacco cuboid which has greatly rounded longitudinal sides and a porous outer sleeve. Furthermore it describes a device which is used for 20 home production of cigarettes from the tobacco cuboids in sleeves also described therein. The sleeve is not removed upon use of the described device, which can have negative effects upon taste for the consumer. Furthermore, the use of a knife to separate a portion of tobacco from the tobacco cuboid is necessary, the limited shelf life of which also limits the use of the whole device. 25 It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. It is the object of the invention in its preferred form to facilitate optimised home 30 production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes.
-3 According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for home production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes, from a tobacco cuboid as a starting material, the device including: a tobacco cuboid receiving area, a separating device for separating a tobacco portion from the tobacco cuboid, a strand forming device for 5 forming a strand-like tobacco portion and with a conveying device for conveying the formed tobacco portion into a cigarette tube, wherein the separating device and the strand forming device each comprises a concave forming/receiving area which cooperate to define at least one lateral separating edge for separating the tobacco portion from the cuboid. 10 According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for home production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes, from a tobacco cuboid as a starting material, wherein the tobacco cuboid is arranged on or in a tobacco cuboid receiving area, a tobacco portion is separated from the tobacco cuboid with a separating device 15 comprising a concave forming/receiving area, and is fed to a strand forming device comprising a concave forming/receiving area for forming a strand-like tobacco portion, wherein the forming/receiving areas of the separating device and the strand forming device cooperate to define at least one lateral separating edge for separating the tobacco portion from the cuboid and wherein the formed tobacco portion is conveyed into a 20 cigarette tube with a conveying device. According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for home production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes, with a device according to the first aspect of the invention, and with a tobacco cuboid which comprises a quantity of 25 tobacco for several tobacco portions, whereby each tobacco portion is suitable for producing a cigarette. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a tobacco cuboid as a starting material for home production of cigarettes, in particular filter cigarettes, 30 whereby the tobacco cuboid is defined by the features which are indicated by the description herein relating to the tobacco cuboid.
-3A Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise", "comprising", and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of 5 "including, but not limited to". A fundamental idea of the invention consists in providing a device which uses a quantity of tobacco including several portions for cigarette production, whereby each portion is -4 sufficient to produce one cigarette. This multi-portion quantity of tobacco should be essentially in the shape of a cuboid, which is why the term tobacco cuboid is used. As will become clearer below, the definition of the tobacco cuboid is significant for the 5 processability of the tobacco cuboid with the different embodiments of the device according to the invention. The tobacco cuboid has a density, particularly being homogenous, which does not substantially deviate from that of the finished cigarette. In particular the density of the 10 tobacco cuboid is not more than twice that of the finished cigarette and not less than half that of the finished cigarette. A tobacco cuboid is preferred with a density which is close to that of the finished cigarette. The tobacco cuboid has a height and width which correspond to the dimensions of the 15 finished cigarette, i.e. the height of the tobacco block corresponds to the diameter and the width of the tobacco block corresponds to the length of the tobacco strand of the finished cigarette. With virtually identical density of the tobacco block and the finished cigarette, the corresponding dimensions are also virtually identical accordingly. Should the density of the tobacco cuboid, however, deviate upwardly or downwardly from that 20 of the finished cigarette, this is compensated by the corresponding adaptations of the height or the width of the tobacco cuboid in order to be able to produce a cigarette of high quality. The length of the tobacco cuboid corresponds to the number of the portions of the multi-portion quantity of tobacco in the tobacco cuboid. The length is preferably orientated so that a whole number of tobacco portions is contained in the tobacco 25 cuboid. In particular the number of tobacco portions should be greater than 5. The tobacco cuboid comprises a homogenous, loose mass of tobacco which preferably has no defined structure. In particular there are no strand-form pre-portions. However, it is also conceivable for the tobacco cuboid to have perforations on the corresponding 30 parts of the length of the tobacco cuboid without dividing the tobacco cuboid. Such perforations can be introduced through different methods. In particular, knives, circular knives or water jet cutting methods are conceivable. These perforations serve to facilitate the separation of a tobacco portion from the rest of the tobacco cuboid.
-5 The tobacco cuboid is preferably held together by inherent forces. With long fibre tobacco sections this is easily achieved through the length of the fibres. With short fibre tobacco sections, this can be achieved through the adaptation of the casing materials. In 5 case of need, the surface of the tobacco cuboid can also be correspondingly treated, in particular being sprayed. Irrespectively of a further re-packaging, the tobacco cuboid can have a sleeve which guarantees the freshness of the tobacco cuboid, facilitates the handling of the tobacco 10 cuboid in home production of cigarettes and also ensures the form stability of the tobacco cuboid. This sleeve can enclose all sides of the tobacco cuboid or only a few, in particular a single side. It is, however, also conceivable that such a sleeve is unnecessary. 15 For home production of cigarettes the sleeve is opened or completely removed in order that the device according to the invention can process the loose tobacco cuboid. It is provided that as few parts of the sleeve as possible are involved in the process of home production of the cigarettes, in particular no parts thereof being involved. 20 Paper and cardboard are just as conceivable for sleeve materials as plastic, in particular film materials. The invention is described in greater detail with the aid of several embodiments by 25 reference to the attached drawing. It can include all features described herein individually or in any meaningful combination and be realised both as a device or a product (tobacco cuboid) or also as a system of devices / products or as a method. In particular the method features and the features for a tobacco cuboid according to the invention follow from the complete disclosure provided herein, in particular from the 30 described or logically consistent use of the parts of the device. The drawing shows the following: Fig. I shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention, -6 Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows a third embodiment of the device according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the device according to the invention, 5 Fig. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the device according to the invention, Fig. 7 shows a further arrangement of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, Fig. 8 shows a seventh embodiment of the device according to the invention. 10 The devices according to the invention can be divided into two groups. Devices which separate individual tobacco portions from the tobacco cuboid will be described first of all. Devices which separate several tobacco portions from the tobacco cuboid through one process, preferably processing the whole tobacco cuboid in one process, will follow. If no further details are given concerning the conveying of the tobacco strand thus 15 formed, this will be achieved through known method steps and device components such as tappet elements or spoon-like sliding elements. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the device according to the invention, schematically, wherein three work stages can be seen, one below the other. 20 A tobacco cuboid I lies on a receiving area 3 of a base body 2 of the device. Since a cutting die 5 is located outside of a tobacco portion receiving area 7, the tobacco cuboid 1 can be pushed as far as a portioning stop 9. If the cutting die 5 is pushed downwards, a tobacco portion I I is cut off. The cutting can thereby take place simultaneously over the 25 whole length of the tobacco cuboid or through a joint element in the manner of a pair of scissors. The form of the cutting die provides concave forming means for the tobacco strand and two separating edges 4 which, together with the edge of the tobacco portion receiving area 7, form the cutting edge for the tobacco portion 11. A knife for separating the tobacco portion from the tobacco cuboid is not necessary. The formed tobacco 30 portion I 1 can now be conveyed out of the drawing plane by means which are not shown into the cigarette tube.
-7 In the further figures, components which are the same or have the same effect have the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, 5 schematically, wherein three work stages can be seen, one beside the other. This differs from the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in that the tobacco is supplied vertically, i.e. in accordance with gravity. In both embodiments, however, a mechanical conveying aid can also be provided which supports, for example through prestressing of a spring, the transport of the tobacco block into the stop position. 10 Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, schematically, wherein three work stages can be seen, one beside the other. The tobacco cuboid I is again brought through a receiving area 3 into the device and pushed against the portioning stop 9. The portioning takes place in this device, however, through a 15 clamping mechanism with two clamping halves 13 which are arranged on a joint 14, in particular being force-locking (for example closing through spring force). In the closed state of the clamping mechanism the tobacco portion 11 is formed whereby the portioning stop 9 together with the two clamping mechanism halves 13 defines the tobacco portion receiving area 7. The conveying of the tobacco portion 11 (of the 20 tobacco strand) into a cigarette paper tube can take place as described above. Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, schematically, wherein three work stages can be seen, one beside the other. The tobacco cuboid I is portioned between two forming wheels 15, here, which comprise round, 25 concave forming means 16 (notches) with separating edges 4 on their outer periphery. By rotating (mechanically) the forming wheels 15 the tobacco is pre-portioned by means of 2 or 3 notches, cut and conveyed into the tobacco portion receiving area 7. Here, the portioning stop 9, together with the notches 16 of the forming wheels 15, forms the tobacco portion 11. The conveying of the tobacco portion 11 (of the tobacco strand) into 30 a cigarette paper tube can take place as described above. Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, schematically, wherein four work stages can be seen, one beside the other. In particular - 8 there is a deviation from the embodiment in Fig. 4. In this embodiment the tobacco cuboid I is fed to a single forming wheel 15 in a housing 20 and the tobacco cuboid 1 is divided into portions in that the tobacco cuboid I is separated through the separating edges (4) (webs) of the forming wheel 15 and formed with the housing wall 18 as a 5 counter bearing. As in the embodiment according to Fig. 4, the forming wheel 15 is further rotated mechanically. In position 7 the tobacco portion has reached the receiving area and can be conveyed as described above. Fig. 6 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, 10 schematically, wherein four work stages can be seen, one below the other. It is an embodiment wherein the tobacco cuboid I is simultaneously divided into several tobacco portions. This device consists essentially of two forming halves 17 which can receive the complete tobacco cuboid 1 and are connected at an edge by a hinge element 19 or similar. Stops or markers can be provided in the forming halves 17 in order to 15 correctly position the tobacco cuboid 1 (not shown here). The forming halves 7 have, alternately, dies 5 with separating edges 4 and tobacco portion receiving areas 7, whereby these elements are longitudinally offset in the two halves. By folding together the two forming halves 17, the individual tobacco portions I I are divided in one movement but nonetheless partially offset in time, and finished through the preformed 20 semi-circles of the tobacco portion receiving areas 7 in the forming halves 17. After the complete edging in the penultimate stage, the tobacco portions I I are formed which are indicated in the last stage, whereby only two of them are indicated. In this embodiment the formed tobacco portions 11 are arranged in two planes, one more in the upper forming half and one more in the lower forming half of the device. 25 Fig. 7 shows the embodiment of a device according to the invention which can be formed for example according to Fig. 6, schematically, in a closed state and with filter cigarette tubes 22 placed on it. In Fig. 7, above, an upper view is shown, below are two work stages in a sectional representation for the arrangement of the tobacco portion I I in 30 the sleeve 22. For each formed tobacco portion I I a slide element 21 is provided, with which the tobacco portion 11 can be conveyed into the cigarette tube 12 and which comprises a contact head which projects through a slot 24 out of the top of the device. It is obviously clear to the person skilled in the art that the corresponding slide elements 21 -9 can also be arranged as rods on the side lying opposite the cigarette tubes. It is also possible for all slide elements 21 to be connected and all tobacco portions 1 to be simultaneously conveyed. 5 Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment of the device according to the invention, schematically, wherein three work stages can be seen, one beside the other. This constitutes in turn a variant of the embodiment in Fig. 6. In particular, the upper forming half 17 is not connected to the lower half by a hinge here. The tobacco cuboid I is thereby separated at all separating points simultaneously through partially lengthened 10 separating edges 4 of the upper half which can travel in the lower counter element (lower forming half) into receiving slots 25. In this respect, great force application is necessary and separating webs 23 are thus provided. It is likewise preferable for the tobacco cuboid 1 to consist of comparatively few tobacco portions in order to reduce the force application. The conveying of the tobacco portions 11 (the tobacco strands) into a 15 cigarette paper tube can take place as described above. As the tobacco cuboid 1, as described, can have a higher or lower density than the finished cigarette, means can be provided in these embodiments which achieve a change in the tobacco stuffing density during conveying. For example there may be a reduction 20 of the diameter in the manner of a truncated cone which thus leads to an increase in the stuffing density. On the other hand surface structures in the conveying channel may lead to the tobacco portion breaking up and hence a reduction of the tobacco stuffing density. It is 25 preferable, however, for the tobacco cuboid to have a density which lies only negligibly below that of the finished tobacco strand, and the desired small increase is achieved by compressing the tobacco portion during conveying.