CA2110885A1 - Cigarow - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a set of nine (9) half-cylinders on the bottom or lower portion of the machine, into which loose tobacco is placed, another set of nine (9) half cylinders immediately adjacent to the cylinders described above holding the tobacco, into which cigarette paper shells are placed, and a third set of nine (9) half-cylinders opposite the tobacco receptacles, which contain push rods connected to an electric motor capable of pulling the rods along the length of the machine, compacting the loose tobacco into the cigarette paper shells, repeatedly until the desired amount of tobacco is loaded into the paper tubes.

Description

The CIGAROW machine by Moncef Trabelsi Description:
The CIGAROW machine consists of:
Firstly: 9 or 10 pushers Secondly: 9 or 10 half cylinders Thirdly: 9 or 10 tubes where the paper tubes of cigarettes are inserted except the filters.
Fourthly: The papers tubes are held in place by 9 or 10 cones that are operated manually.
Fifthly: First the tobacco is put in the centre of the machine then the lid which CO~ i of 9 or 10 half cylinders is closed; when it is closed on the tobacco it will form 9 or 10 tubes. Then the electric motor is switched on, pulling the pushers on the track. The wheels will go half way down the length of the machine and stop; the action is then reversed and the pushers pull back to their original place and come to a stop.
During this action the tobacco is being inserted and pushed into the paper tubes and action is completed.

-APPARATUS FOR FILLING CIGAREl~ PAPERS VVll~I TOBACCO

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for filling prepared cigarette papers, prerel~bly filter-cigarette paper shells, with cigarette tobacco.
With this type of apparatus it is necessary to form a skein or strand from a fine-fibred tobacco supply and insert this into the cigarette paper shell. The buLk tobacco which is initially in a conlinuous form has to first be dispersed and then reformed into a colllilluous thing strand or skein, in order to plcvent the burning tobacco from crumbling when the cigarette is smoked.
Manual cigarette filling devices are known, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,509,887, in which the tobacco supply is first corrected by hand and then the amount needed for one cigarette inserted in an elongated forming device. Subsequently, a contact pressure dish is pressed onto the ~lcro,ll,ed tobacco strand and the tobacco pressed together to form a round tobacco strand. By means of a manual lever device the ~lefolllled tobacco strand is then pressed into a cigarette paper shell which is positioned on a mounting device and held by a contact ~ ,s~ule device.
An additional disadvantage of the kno~-vn devices consists in the fact that in order to manufacture cigarettes, several manual processes have to be carried out, which makes the manufacture of a larger number, for example the daily need of a smoker of optimally filled cigarettes complicated and difficult.
It is therefore the object of this invention to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of known devices and to product an apparatus for filling tobacco into premanufactured cigarette paper shells, which avoids manual steps and provides amech~ni~m whereby the operator may determine the precise amount of tobacco to beformed an inserted into the cigarette paper shell.
This object is accomplished by providing a series of half cylinders into which tobacco is placed. Immediately adjacent to these receptacles for loose tobacco are an equal number of similar cylinders which contain push rods displaying at the end thereof a cone-shaped head to permit the p~cking of the tobacco and having a lateral outlet for the formed tobacco strand and with a cigarette shell-receiving or filling tube arranged laterally to the tobacco strand outlet.
The principal advantage of the invention is that it provides a structure or mech~ni~m in which a firmly coherent tobacco strand is formed and automatically pushed into the cigarette paper shells.
The drive of the apparatus ~lcrel~bly consists of a single motor so that following the filling of the tobacco and the starting of the motor, an optimally filled cigarette, ready to be smoked, is elected. Additional advantageous embodiments of the invention provide for the automatic manufacture of large numbers of cigarettes.
Other feature which are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described in relationship to specific embodiments, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since ~ 211088~

various mo-lifir~tions and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The con~Lluction and operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a top-view of the device showing the switch for operating the motor assembly.
FIGURE 2 is a view of the interior of the device showing the cylinders holding loose tobacco for packing in the filler tubes.
FIGURE 3 is FIGURE 4 is a view of the cylinders housing the push rods used to COmpleSS the tobacco in the paper tubes.
FIGURE 5 shows the devices incorporated in the cylinders to hold the paper tubes in place.
FIGURE 6 shows the motor and drive mech~ni~m which operates to move the push rods along the length of the half-cylinders to accommodate the packing motion; with a spring return.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 for the filling of tobacco into filter-~igal~ lle paper shells has for clarity's sake been shown without an outer housing with only the parts which are essential for the understanding of the invention having been shown.
The invention mainly Collsi~l~ of the motorized pushers and rods which when activate will repeatedly move to pack or tamp the tobacco into the paper tubes, more efficiently and effectively than the existing art.

The CIGAROW machine: Details;
1. The pushers are the same length as the half cylinders (figure 2). It consii,Ls of a round tip (figure la). They are held in place by one rod with runs across the length of the pushers.

2. The half cylinders which have numbers the same as the pushers will hold the tobacco in place and is hollow in both ends.

3. The lid consi~Ls of the same number of half cylinders covering the bottom cylinders (figure 2) and form tubes full of tobacco previously placed.

4. The tube where the cigarette tubes are placed are shorter then the cigarette by the length of the filters. These tubes are transparent in order to view the placement of the cigarette and the operation of the machine.
S. The cigarette holders are shaped like cones. They will be inserted in the cigarette paper tubes. When the rod (figure Sa) is pushed forward, it will open up the mech~ni~m (figure 5c) and hold the cigarette tubes in place. The rod (figure 5b)will release the mech~ni~m when pushed forward.
6. The track and wheel run along the cigarette machine half way the length of the half cylinders (figure 2). The track and wheel are placed on both side of the Cigarow machine. (Figure 6(s)) The mchine also contains a spring that will contract and retract the wheel on the track after every movement ro~w~rd.
(Figure 6(s)) These springs are placed on both sides of the cigarow m~clline.
(Figure 7)The operating basis of the Cigarrow Machine is a mech~ni~m that consist of a wheel (figure 7a) and a cord to (figure 7b), as the motor turn (figure 7a) the cord will react and turn (figure 7b) and turn the wheel on the track (figure 6).

31'11.112

Claims (6)

1. An electric cigarette making machine consisting of a:
3 rectangular shaped compartments, including a push button on the first compartment and a lid in the middle which covers the tobacco placement position consist of half cylindrical grooves at the bottom.

2. Claim 2 is for the middle compartment where the tobacco will be placed, it consist of 9 half cylindric grooves;when covered by the lid it form 9 cylindrical tubes filled with tobacco.

3. Situated in the first compartment Fig 1 9 pushers of fine cylindrical shape and a half a sphere at the front, they are slightly smaller than the cylinders in claim 2. These pushers will slide on track and push the tobacco towards the 3rd compartment.

4.Third compartment consist of 9 cylindrical transparent tubes where the cigarette papers tubes are placed. Those are held by:-

5. The holders placed adjacently to claim 4 consist of 9 cones shaped devices.These are operated manually in a scissors like fashion; its cones open inside the papers tubes and hold it in place when the rod Fig 5a is pushed forward. To close the cones the rod Fig 5b is pushed forward.

6. The push button when pushed will start the electric motor Fig 7, that is connected to 3 wheels on claim 3 by way of cord.
The track and wheel run along the cigarette machine half way of the half cylinders of the middle compartment of claim 2;the motor stops and the pushers in claim 3 are pulled back by way of spring Fig 7s and come to rest at the starting position.