CA2603616C - T0bacco packet with moving guide adapter and system comprising tobacco packet and filling machine - Google Patents
T0bacco packet with moving guide adapter and system comprising tobacco packet and filling machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2603616C CA2603616C CA002603616A CA2603616A CA2603616C CA 2603616 C CA2603616 C CA 2603616C CA 002603616 A CA002603616 A CA 002603616A CA 2603616 A CA2603616 A CA 2603616A CA 2603616 C CA2603616 C CA 2603616C
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tobacco
- packet
- guide
- filling machine
- dispensing opening
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D77/00—Packages formed by enclosing articles or materials in preformed containers, e.g. boxes, cartons, sacks or bags
- B65D77/10—Container closures formed after filling
- B65D77/20—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers
- B65D77/2024—Container closures formed after filling by applying separate lids or covers, i.e. flexible membrane or foil-like covers the cover being welded or adhered to the container
- B65D77/2028—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab
- B65D77/2032—Means for opening the cover other than, or in addition to, a pull tab by peeling or tearing the cover from the container
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
- A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
- A24C5/40—Hand-driven apparatus for making cigarettes
- A24C5/42—Pocket cigarette-fillers
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
- Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
- Manufacturing Of Cigar And Cigarette Tobacco (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a tobacco packet (1) for accommodating tobacco for the self--production of cigarettes, which packet (1) has a tobacco dispensing opening, and a guide adapter (7) is disposed in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide (11) of a filling machine (9). It further relates to a tobacco packet-filling machine system with such a tobacco packet and with a cigarette filling machine which has a complementary counter-guide (11) for the guide adapter of the tobacco packet on the filling machine--tobacco filling portion.
Description
Tobacco packet with moving guide adapter and system comprising tobacco packet and filling machine The invention relates to a tobacco packet as well as a system comprising a tobacco packet and a filling machine. The technical field to which this invention relates is the field of Make-Your-Own (MYO) smoking articles, in other words smoking articles for making cigarettes or filter cigarettes in particular. Such MYO smoking articles are made by the consumer himself, who takes a portion of what is usually loose tobacco by hand, distributes it as homogeneously as possible in the housing compartment of a filling device (filling machine) and converts it into a pre-prepared filter cigarette. The cigarettes produced as a result necessarily vary considerably from the quality of a factory cigarette; packing densities fluctuate and the quantities of tobacco within the cigarette vary with each cigarette. In view of the fact that the tobacco has to be manually handled, it is also not made with the same level of hygiene and there is no avoiding the loss of tobacco crumbs.
Patent specification WO 02/056714 Al discloses a device by means of which one or a plurality of cigarette sleeves can be filled with loose tobacco simultaneously. To this end, a support for the cigarette sleeves is provided in the device with the open end at the top on a shaking machine. Disposed above the support with the cigarette sleeves is a container for accommodating the tobacco. The entire device is shaken so that the tobacco drops into the open cigarette sleeves, where it is compacted due to the acceleration of the shaking machine. The main disadvantage of this system is that the natural weight of the tobacco is so low that it is barely possible to achieve a correct packing density; furthermore, the device is of a very complicated construction.
Patent specification WO 02/056714 Al discloses a device by means of which one or a plurality of cigarette sleeves can be filled with loose tobacco simultaneously. To this end, a support for the cigarette sleeves is provided in the device with the open end at the top on a shaking machine. Disposed above the support with the cigarette sleeves is a container for accommodating the tobacco. The entire device is shaken so that the tobacco drops into the open cigarette sleeves, where it is compacted due to the acceleration of the shaking machine. The main disadvantage of this system is that the natural weight of the tobacco is so low that it is barely possible to achieve a correct packing density; furthermore, the device is of a very complicated construction.
The objective of some embodiments of this invention is to propose a tobacco packet as well as a system comprising a tobacco packet and filling machine, which at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and optimise the process of self-producing cigarettes. In particular, the intention is to enable cigarettes of a high quality to be produced hygienically.
In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco packet for accommodating tobacco for the self-production of cigarettes, which packet has a tobacco dispensing opening, the tobacco packet comprising: a guide adapter in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide of a filling machine; wherein the guide adapter is a sliding guide adapter that is a track guide adapter with any one of web portions, web profiled portions, or track portions, and track profiled portions.
In accordance with another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco packet-filling machine system with the tobacco packet described herein.
With the tobacco device proposed by some embodiments of the invention, a guide adapter is disposed in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide of a filling machine. In other words, the tobacco 2a packet is already designed so that a controlled and predefined movement can be made by means of it as the tobacco is being placed on the filling machine. By permitting such a controlled and guided movement, the tobacco is also moved out of the tobacco packet in a regular and controllable manner and this helps to produce reproducible cigarettes of a good quality. Since the movement of the guide adapter of the tobacco packet may be of various different designs and can also be adapted to the requirements of transferring the tobacco out of the packet, there is no need to touch the tobacco with the hand when removing it from the packet or not too much tobacco is lost as a result of the invention.
The guide adapter advantageously has at least one guide element, which is oriented in the direction in which the packet is moved relative to the filling machine.
It may be a sliding guide adapter, in which case it may be designed as a track guide adapter, which has web portions respectively web profiled portions or track portions respectively track profiled portions. It may naturally also extend across the entire length of the packet in the direction of movement, or it may likewise suffice if it is provided at only certain points, which also applies to the guide adapter as a whole.
In one embodiment of the invention, the guide adapter has- laterally disposed, in particular laterally projecting, guide elements on two sides; however, it may have only a single guide element, in particular disposed at the side or in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening. In the latter case, where the guide adapter is disposed in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening, for example underneath this opening, it may be designed so that it is slim enough to avoid obstructing emptying of the tobacco. In the region of the tobacco dispensing opening, it is possible to provide a rim, in particular of a plate-shaped design, which incorporates the guide element or elements. Such a rim, which may also continue along the sides of the edges which lie transversely to the direction of movement or guide direction, increases the strength of the tobacco packet as a whole. In one design variant, the guide adapter has a shaker element. Such a shaker element may superimpose a shaking effect on the smooth or uniform movement of the guide, which simplifies the process of emptying and in particular completely emptying the tobacco.
In one advantageous embodiment, the tobacco packet has what is in particular a carton-shaped tobacco housing body, in which two peripheral walls, in particular extending parallel and lying in the direction opposite the movement bend out in an arcuate shape towards their middle portion or converge to a point. During the emptying process, this design will push the tobacco to the side edges during the movement, thereby ensuring that the ends of the cigarette to be produced are also sufficiently filled with tobacco. Furthermore, the forces needed to move the tobacco packet in such a guide will be lower as a result.
The latter also applies to another design, in which a tobacco packet has an edge on the tobacco dispensing opening, which, together with the guide adapter, curves outwards towards its middle portion in particular and bends outwards in the tobacco emptying direction. Here too, the sliding surface is improved, which in turn reduces the forces which need to be applied, and the shaft depth of the shaft receiving he tobacco is also varied across the length so that a relatively large amount of tobacco can be placed at the ends. The packing density is increased there, which reduces any falling out at the ends.
The edge of the tobacco dispensing opening of a tobacco packet proposed by the invention may have shearing edges, which may specifically comprise inwardly projecting pointed edges. Such effective shearing elements specifically help to reduce the loss of crumbs.
It is also possible to provide the tobacco dispensing opening of a tobacco packet proposed by some embodiments of the invention with a removable closure, in particular a closure which provides an air-tight seal for the packet. This wiil preserve the quality of the tobacco in the packet. If the closure is also provided with a gripping tab and is designed so that it can be pulled off essentially parallel with the surface of the tobacco dispensing opening, it can be removed with the guide fitted. As a result, it will be severed or torn open at its peripheral regions.
A tobacco packet-filling machine system proposed by an embodiment of the invention comprises a tobacco packet based on one of the designs described above, as well as a cigarette filling machine, which has a complementary counter-guide for the guide adapter of the tobacco packet on the filling machine tobacco filling portion. In other words, in the region where it receives the tobacco as it is transferred from the tobacco packet, the filling machine is of a design whicp complements that of the tobacco packet, and the system proposed by some embodiments of the invention therefore also offers all the advantages described above in respect of the packet.
A system proposed by some embodiments of the invention has at least one, in particular several tobacco shafts disposed one after the other, for example the counter-guide extends acros-s the shafts. Specifically in the case of the latter option, the system proposed by some embodiments of the invention enables several high quality tobacco products to be produced and does so simultaneously whilst involving few manipulations and without having to touch the tobacco or resulting in unacceptable losses of tobacco.
In one design variant, the counter-guide engages the guide adapter so that an essentially closed moving or sliding connection is obtained between the tobacco packet and the tobacco filling portion, which prevents tobacco from failing out.
It should be pointed out that, in the context of an embodiment of the invention, any packet element of the type mentioned above may naturally be of a design which complements a design of the filling machine, in other words incorporates a complementary counter-element.
For example, the counter-guide may have a shaker contour, in particular a shaker contour co-operating with the. shaker element described above, and the tobacco portion of the filling machine may bend inwards complementing the outward bend of ~
the edge of the tobacco dispensing opening in the emptying direction. Any appropriate complementary designs between filling machine and tobacco packet described above will simplify use, improve hygiene and reduce tobacco losses.
The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings. It may incorporate all the features described here, both individually and in any practical combination, and may also be defined as a method and as a use. Of the drawings:
Figure 1 shows several views of a tobacco packet proposed by the invention;
Figure 2 shows a tobacco packet proposed by the invention in conjunction with a filling machine proposed by the invention as a system;
Figure 3 illustrates a tobacco packet proposed by the invention being opened on the filling machine with an appropriate closure;
Figure 4 illustrates the shafts of the filling machine being filled as well as a shaker mechanism;
Figure 5 shows the design of the tobacco dispensing opening of the packet with shearing edges;
Figure 6 illustrates the system proposed by the invention from the point of introducing the tobacco to the point of transferring into a cigarette;
and Figure 7 illustrates an advantageous design of the guide and the contact surface between the packet edge and the top tobacco shaft plane of the filling machine.
A first embodiment of a packet proposed by the invention is illustrated in Figure 1. It shows several views of a tobacco packet 1. The tobacco packet 1 essentially comprises a carton-shaped body 3 which is closed off by a removable closure 5 which is preferably air-tight. Disposed in the region of the removable closure 5 are web-type elements on the carton rim, which form a guide adapter of the packet and may thus serve as guide webs 7 when they are introduced into the guide system of a filling machine.
As clearly illustrated, the tobacco packet 3 is designed with a special shape.
Figure 2 illustrates the tobacco packet 1 together with a filling machine 9 proposed by the invention, which is designed to produce several cigarettes simultaneously.
By means of the guide webs 7, the tobacco packet 1 may be introduced into the complementary counter-guide 11 of the filling machine 9 (diagrams a and b), where it can be moved backwards and forwards in a linear movement. This being the case, the open tobacco packet can be guided several times above open shafts 13 in the filling machine, as illustrated in Figures 2 c and d. In this case, 6 open shafts are illustrated, thereby enabling 6 cigarettes to be produced simultaneously. The counter-guide 11 and the guide adapter may be of different designs. They may be simple webs or tracks, or alternatively dovetail guides or more complex profiled shapes would also be conceivable.
Figure 3 illustrates how a tobacco packet 1 is opened. To this end, the tobacco packet 1 is introduced with the removable closure 5 so far into the guide 11 of the filling machine 9 that a gripping tab 15 can still be taken hold of in order to open the tobacco packet 1, but far enough so that the loose tobacco 17 which falls out drops only onto the housing of the filling machine and remains "trapped" underneath the tobacco packet (diagram b).
If the opened tobacco packet 1 is now pushed over the shafts 13 of the filling machine 9, the shafts 9 are filled with loose tobacco 17, as may be seen from Figure 4a, for example. It is possible that this operation will not be finished with the first movement of the tobacco packet, in other words, the shafts will not be completely filled until after several forward and backward movements. In order to assist this process, it would be conceivable to provide structures such as ridges, nubs, webs, etc., in the region of the guide 11 on the filling machine and/or the guide webs 7 on the tobacco packet, which shake both the tobacco packet and the loose tobacco contained in it, thereby making it easier to fill the shafts (see Figure 4b).
As the tobacco packet 1 is being moved forward and backward, the edges of the tobacco packet 1 together with the top edges of the shafts 13 serve as shearing edges 16, as illustrated in Figure 5a, in order to shear off protruding tobacco fibres and thus completely fill the shafts 13 but without any protrusions. Since high forces would be necessary in the case of a design of tobacco packet 1 with edges parallel with the shaft edges, it is of advantage in mechanical terms to provide the tobacco packet with oblique edges. These may have the wedge shape illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 5b, for example, although it would also be conceivable to opt for arcuate shapes or rhombus shapes.
Figures 6 a-e illustrate the transfer operation. Accordingly, the drawings show sections through the filling machine exactly in the region of a tobacco shaft.
Due to the forward and backward movement of the tobacco packet, the shafts of the filling machine have been filled as homogeneously as possible. In this respect, one embodiment is such that the exact contents of the tobacco packet 1 are emptied, as illustrated in Figure 6b. However, it would also be conceivable for the tobacco packet to contain enough for more cigarettes than can be produced with one use of the filling machine (in this instance 6 cigarettes). The tobacco packet is then pushed back into the position illustrated in Figure 2d and used again for producing the next batch of cigarettes. However, the quantity of loose tobacco in the tobacco packet is preferably exactly enough to produce a whole-number multiple of a production process, i.e. in this instance for 6, 12, 18 cigarettes or more. The filling machine lid 19 is then closed and the pressing webs 21 penetrate the shafts 13 of the filling machine 9 and thus compact the loose tobacco 17 to tobacco sticks 23 (Figure 6c). As this happens, all the tobacco sticks are formed simultaneously. Once cigarette sleeves 25 have been placed on the device in a manner known per se, the tobacco sticks can then be transferred into the cigarette sleeves with known means, e.g. spoons, either individually or together, in a manner known per se (Figures 6d and 6e).
At this point, it is clear that the depth of the shafts 13 is of major importance. Loose tobacco accumulates in these shafts with a certain packing density, which will also essentially depend on the type of tobacco used. In order to transfer the volume of the loose tobacco quantity with its filling density into a tobacco stick with the compacted density of a conventional cigarette and transfer it to the associated pulling mechanism, the tobacco and filling machine geometry must be adapted to one another. Otherwise, a tobacco product of lower quality will be produced.
Figure 7 shows three diagrams a-c illustrating yet another embodiment which increases the quality of the tobacco product. Both the bottom edge 19 of the tobacco packet 1 and the edges of the shafts, and hence also the sliding surface 20 of the packing device across which the tobacco packet is moved, are shaped for this purpose. In particular, it is of practical advantage to use a complementary arcuate shape. In this manner, the shaft depth is varied across its length and hence more tobacco is packed in at the ends, i.e. at the points 18, thereby creating a high packing density at the ends of the finished cigarettes. This minimises any falling out from the ends of the finished cigarette. However, it would also be conceivable for an end packing density to be made higher at one end only, e.g. at the right-hand end.
List of reference numbers 1: Tobacco packet 3: Beaker-shaped body 5: Removable closure 7: Guide complementary elements 9: Filling machine 11: Guide 13: Shafts 15: Gripping tab 17: Loose tobacco 18: Ends with more tobacco 19: Filling machine lid 20: Filling machine sliding surface 21: Pressing webs 23: Tobacco sticks 25: Cigarette sleeves
In accordance with a broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco packet for accommodating tobacco for the self-production of cigarettes, which packet has a tobacco dispensing opening, the tobacco packet comprising: a guide adapter in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide of a filling machine; wherein the guide adapter is a sliding guide adapter that is a track guide adapter with any one of web portions, web profiled portions, or track portions, and track profiled portions.
In accordance with another broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tobacco packet-filling machine system with the tobacco packet described herein.
With the tobacco device proposed by some embodiments of the invention, a guide adapter is disposed in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide of a filling machine. In other words, the tobacco 2a packet is already designed so that a controlled and predefined movement can be made by means of it as the tobacco is being placed on the filling machine. By permitting such a controlled and guided movement, the tobacco is also moved out of the tobacco packet in a regular and controllable manner and this helps to produce reproducible cigarettes of a good quality. Since the movement of the guide adapter of the tobacco packet may be of various different designs and can also be adapted to the requirements of transferring the tobacco out of the packet, there is no need to touch the tobacco with the hand when removing it from the packet or not too much tobacco is lost as a result of the invention.
The guide adapter advantageously has at least one guide element, which is oriented in the direction in which the packet is moved relative to the filling machine.
It may be a sliding guide adapter, in which case it may be designed as a track guide adapter, which has web portions respectively web profiled portions or track portions respectively track profiled portions. It may naturally also extend across the entire length of the packet in the direction of movement, or it may likewise suffice if it is provided at only certain points, which also applies to the guide adapter as a whole.
In one embodiment of the invention, the guide adapter has- laterally disposed, in particular laterally projecting, guide elements on two sides; however, it may have only a single guide element, in particular disposed at the side or in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening. In the latter case, where the guide adapter is disposed in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening, for example underneath this opening, it may be designed so that it is slim enough to avoid obstructing emptying of the tobacco. In the region of the tobacco dispensing opening, it is possible to provide a rim, in particular of a plate-shaped design, which incorporates the guide element or elements. Such a rim, which may also continue along the sides of the edges which lie transversely to the direction of movement or guide direction, increases the strength of the tobacco packet as a whole. In one design variant, the guide adapter has a shaker element. Such a shaker element may superimpose a shaking effect on the smooth or uniform movement of the guide, which simplifies the process of emptying and in particular completely emptying the tobacco.
In one advantageous embodiment, the tobacco packet has what is in particular a carton-shaped tobacco housing body, in which two peripheral walls, in particular extending parallel and lying in the direction opposite the movement bend out in an arcuate shape towards their middle portion or converge to a point. During the emptying process, this design will push the tobacco to the side edges during the movement, thereby ensuring that the ends of the cigarette to be produced are also sufficiently filled with tobacco. Furthermore, the forces needed to move the tobacco packet in such a guide will be lower as a result.
The latter also applies to another design, in which a tobacco packet has an edge on the tobacco dispensing opening, which, together with the guide adapter, curves outwards towards its middle portion in particular and bends outwards in the tobacco emptying direction. Here too, the sliding surface is improved, which in turn reduces the forces which need to be applied, and the shaft depth of the shaft receiving he tobacco is also varied across the length so that a relatively large amount of tobacco can be placed at the ends. The packing density is increased there, which reduces any falling out at the ends.
The edge of the tobacco dispensing opening of a tobacco packet proposed by the invention may have shearing edges, which may specifically comprise inwardly projecting pointed edges. Such effective shearing elements specifically help to reduce the loss of crumbs.
It is also possible to provide the tobacco dispensing opening of a tobacco packet proposed by some embodiments of the invention with a removable closure, in particular a closure which provides an air-tight seal for the packet. This wiil preserve the quality of the tobacco in the packet. If the closure is also provided with a gripping tab and is designed so that it can be pulled off essentially parallel with the surface of the tobacco dispensing opening, it can be removed with the guide fitted. As a result, it will be severed or torn open at its peripheral regions.
A tobacco packet-filling machine system proposed by an embodiment of the invention comprises a tobacco packet based on one of the designs described above, as well as a cigarette filling machine, which has a complementary counter-guide for the guide adapter of the tobacco packet on the filling machine tobacco filling portion. In other words, in the region where it receives the tobacco as it is transferred from the tobacco packet, the filling machine is of a design whicp complements that of the tobacco packet, and the system proposed by some embodiments of the invention therefore also offers all the advantages described above in respect of the packet.
A system proposed by some embodiments of the invention has at least one, in particular several tobacco shafts disposed one after the other, for example the counter-guide extends acros-s the shafts. Specifically in the case of the latter option, the system proposed by some embodiments of the invention enables several high quality tobacco products to be produced and does so simultaneously whilst involving few manipulations and without having to touch the tobacco or resulting in unacceptable losses of tobacco.
In one design variant, the counter-guide engages the guide adapter so that an essentially closed moving or sliding connection is obtained between the tobacco packet and the tobacco filling portion, which prevents tobacco from failing out.
It should be pointed out that, in the context of an embodiment of the invention, any packet element of the type mentioned above may naturally be of a design which complements a design of the filling machine, in other words incorporates a complementary counter-element.
For example, the counter-guide may have a shaker contour, in particular a shaker contour co-operating with the. shaker element described above, and the tobacco portion of the filling machine may bend inwards complementing the outward bend of ~
the edge of the tobacco dispensing opening in the emptying direction. Any appropriate complementary designs between filling machine and tobacco packet described above will simplify use, improve hygiene and reduce tobacco losses.
The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings. It may incorporate all the features described here, both individually and in any practical combination, and may also be defined as a method and as a use. Of the drawings:
Figure 1 shows several views of a tobacco packet proposed by the invention;
Figure 2 shows a tobacco packet proposed by the invention in conjunction with a filling machine proposed by the invention as a system;
Figure 3 illustrates a tobacco packet proposed by the invention being opened on the filling machine with an appropriate closure;
Figure 4 illustrates the shafts of the filling machine being filled as well as a shaker mechanism;
Figure 5 shows the design of the tobacco dispensing opening of the packet with shearing edges;
Figure 6 illustrates the system proposed by the invention from the point of introducing the tobacco to the point of transferring into a cigarette;
and Figure 7 illustrates an advantageous design of the guide and the contact surface between the packet edge and the top tobacco shaft plane of the filling machine.
A first embodiment of a packet proposed by the invention is illustrated in Figure 1. It shows several views of a tobacco packet 1. The tobacco packet 1 essentially comprises a carton-shaped body 3 which is closed off by a removable closure 5 which is preferably air-tight. Disposed in the region of the removable closure 5 are web-type elements on the carton rim, which form a guide adapter of the packet and may thus serve as guide webs 7 when they are introduced into the guide system of a filling machine.
As clearly illustrated, the tobacco packet 3 is designed with a special shape.
Figure 2 illustrates the tobacco packet 1 together with a filling machine 9 proposed by the invention, which is designed to produce several cigarettes simultaneously.
By means of the guide webs 7, the tobacco packet 1 may be introduced into the complementary counter-guide 11 of the filling machine 9 (diagrams a and b), where it can be moved backwards and forwards in a linear movement. This being the case, the open tobacco packet can be guided several times above open shafts 13 in the filling machine, as illustrated in Figures 2 c and d. In this case, 6 open shafts are illustrated, thereby enabling 6 cigarettes to be produced simultaneously. The counter-guide 11 and the guide adapter may be of different designs. They may be simple webs or tracks, or alternatively dovetail guides or more complex profiled shapes would also be conceivable.
Figure 3 illustrates how a tobacco packet 1 is opened. To this end, the tobacco packet 1 is introduced with the removable closure 5 so far into the guide 11 of the filling machine 9 that a gripping tab 15 can still be taken hold of in order to open the tobacco packet 1, but far enough so that the loose tobacco 17 which falls out drops only onto the housing of the filling machine and remains "trapped" underneath the tobacco packet (diagram b).
If the opened tobacco packet 1 is now pushed over the shafts 13 of the filling machine 9, the shafts 9 are filled with loose tobacco 17, as may be seen from Figure 4a, for example. It is possible that this operation will not be finished with the first movement of the tobacco packet, in other words, the shafts will not be completely filled until after several forward and backward movements. In order to assist this process, it would be conceivable to provide structures such as ridges, nubs, webs, etc., in the region of the guide 11 on the filling machine and/or the guide webs 7 on the tobacco packet, which shake both the tobacco packet and the loose tobacco contained in it, thereby making it easier to fill the shafts (see Figure 4b).
As the tobacco packet 1 is being moved forward and backward, the edges of the tobacco packet 1 together with the top edges of the shafts 13 serve as shearing edges 16, as illustrated in Figure 5a, in order to shear off protruding tobacco fibres and thus completely fill the shafts 13 but without any protrusions. Since high forces would be necessary in the case of a design of tobacco packet 1 with edges parallel with the shaft edges, it is of advantage in mechanical terms to provide the tobacco packet with oblique edges. These may have the wedge shape illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 5b, for example, although it would also be conceivable to opt for arcuate shapes or rhombus shapes.
Figures 6 a-e illustrate the transfer operation. Accordingly, the drawings show sections through the filling machine exactly in the region of a tobacco shaft.
Due to the forward and backward movement of the tobacco packet, the shafts of the filling machine have been filled as homogeneously as possible. In this respect, one embodiment is such that the exact contents of the tobacco packet 1 are emptied, as illustrated in Figure 6b. However, it would also be conceivable for the tobacco packet to contain enough for more cigarettes than can be produced with one use of the filling machine (in this instance 6 cigarettes). The tobacco packet is then pushed back into the position illustrated in Figure 2d and used again for producing the next batch of cigarettes. However, the quantity of loose tobacco in the tobacco packet is preferably exactly enough to produce a whole-number multiple of a production process, i.e. in this instance for 6, 12, 18 cigarettes or more. The filling machine lid 19 is then closed and the pressing webs 21 penetrate the shafts 13 of the filling machine 9 and thus compact the loose tobacco 17 to tobacco sticks 23 (Figure 6c). As this happens, all the tobacco sticks are formed simultaneously. Once cigarette sleeves 25 have been placed on the device in a manner known per se, the tobacco sticks can then be transferred into the cigarette sleeves with known means, e.g. spoons, either individually or together, in a manner known per se (Figures 6d and 6e).
At this point, it is clear that the depth of the shafts 13 is of major importance. Loose tobacco accumulates in these shafts with a certain packing density, which will also essentially depend on the type of tobacco used. In order to transfer the volume of the loose tobacco quantity with its filling density into a tobacco stick with the compacted density of a conventional cigarette and transfer it to the associated pulling mechanism, the tobacco and filling machine geometry must be adapted to one another. Otherwise, a tobacco product of lower quality will be produced.
Figure 7 shows three diagrams a-c illustrating yet another embodiment which increases the quality of the tobacco product. Both the bottom edge 19 of the tobacco packet 1 and the edges of the shafts, and hence also the sliding surface 20 of the packing device across which the tobacco packet is moved, are shaped for this purpose. In particular, it is of practical advantage to use a complementary arcuate shape. In this manner, the shaft depth is varied across its length and hence more tobacco is packed in at the ends, i.e. at the points 18, thereby creating a high packing density at the ends of the finished cigarettes. This minimises any falling out from the ends of the finished cigarette. However, it would also be conceivable for an end packing density to be made higher at one end only, e.g. at the right-hand end.
List of reference numbers 1: Tobacco packet 3: Beaker-shaped body 5: Removable closure 7: Guide complementary elements 9: Filling machine 11: Guide 13: Shafts 15: Gripping tab 17: Loose tobacco 18: Ends with more tobacco 19: Filling machine lid 20: Filling machine sliding surface 21: Pressing webs 23: Tobacco sticks 25: Cigarette sleeves
Claims (27)
1. Tobacco packet for accommodating tobacco for the self-production of cigarettes, which packet has a tobacco dispensing opening, the tobacco packet comprising:
a guide adapter in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide of a filling machine;
wherein the guide adapter is a sliding guide adapter that is a track guide adapter with any one of web portions, web profiled portions, track portions, and track profiled portions.
a guide adapter in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening for guiding a movement of the tobacco packet on a complementary guide of a filling machine;
wherein the guide adapter is a sliding guide adapter that is a track guide adapter with any one of web portions, web profiled portions, track portions, and track profiled portions.
2. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide adapter has at least one guide element which is oriented in the direction in which the packet is moved relative to the filling machine.
3. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide adapter has laterally disposed guide elements on two sides.
4. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guide elements are laterally projecting.
5. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 3, wherein the guide adapter has a single guide element.
6. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 5, wherein the single guide element is disposed at the side or in the region of the tobacco-dispensing opening.
7. Tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, further comprising: a rim in the region of the tobacco dispensing opening which incorporates the guide element or elements.
8. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rim is of a plate-shaped design.
9. Tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the guide adapter comprises a shaker element.
10. Tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a carton-shaped tobacco housing body, in which two peripheral walls are bent outwards in an arcuate shape or converge to a point towards their middle portion.
11. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two peripheral walls extend parallel and in the direction lying opposite the direction of movement.
12. Tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: a carton-shaped tobacco housing body, in which an edge of the tobacco dispensing opening is bent outwards towards its middle portion and in a tobacco dispensing direction.
13. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide adapter is bent outwards towards its middle portion and in the tobacco dispensing direction with the tobacco dispensing opening.
14. Tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the edge of the tobacco dispensing opening has shearing edges.
15. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 14, wherein the shearing edges comprise inwardly projecting pointed edges.
16. Tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising: a removable closure on the tobacco dispensing opening.
17. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 16, wherein the closure provides an air-tight seal for the packet.
18. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 16 or 17, wherein the closure has a gripping tab and can be pulled off essentially parallel with the surface of the tobacco dispensing opening.
19. Tobacco packet as claimed in claim 18, wherein the closure is severed or torn open at its peripheral regions.
20. Tobacco packet-filling machine system with said tobacco packet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 and with the filling machine wherein the filling machine is a cigarette filling machine which has the complementary guide wherein the complementary guide is a complementary counter-guide for a guide adapter of the tobacco packet on a tobacco filling portion of the filling machine.
21. System as claimed in claim 20, wherein the filling machine has at least one tobacco shaft and the counter-guide extends across the at least one tobacco shaft.
22. System as claimed in claim 21, wherein the at least one tobacco shaft comprises several tobacco shafts disposed one after the other.
23. System as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 22, wherein the counter-guide is able to engage the guide adapter so that an essentially closed moving or sliding connection is established between the tobacco packet and the tobacco filling portion, thereby preventing tobacco from falling out.
24. System as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the counter-guide has a shaker contour.
25. System as claimed in claim 24, wherein the guide adapter comprises a shaker element, and the shaker contour co-operates with the shaker element.
26. System as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the packet has a contour-shaped tobacco housing body, in which an edge of the tobacco dispensing opening is bent outwards towards its middle portion and in a tobacco dispensing direction, wherein the tobacco filling portion of the filling machine bends inwards complementing the outward bend of the edge of the tobacco dispensing opening.
27. System as claimed in claim 26, wherein the tobacco dispensing opening, together with the guide adaptor, is bent towards its middle portion and in the tobacco dispensing direction.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE102006047903A DE102006047903A1 (en) | 2006-10-10 | 2006-10-10 | Tobacco packaging with motion guide adapter and system of tobacco packaging and tamping machine |
| DE102006047903.3-23 | 2006-10-10 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2603616A1 CA2603616A1 (en) | 2008-04-10 |
| CA2603616C true CA2603616C (en) | 2009-12-01 |
Family
ID=38924402
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002603616A Expired - Fee Related CA2603616C (en) | 2006-10-10 | 2007-09-21 | T0bacco packet with moving guide adapter and system comprising tobacco packet and filling machine |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1911360B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE459255T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2007219376B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2603616C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE102006047903A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2340428T3 (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ562088A (en) |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US1084374A (en) * | 1913-01-30 | 1914-01-13 | Charles F Stewart | Cigarette-molding device. |
| US2030061A (en) * | 1932-02-23 | 1936-02-11 | Frank T Gracey | Device for making cigarettes |
| US1929581A (en) * | 1932-05-24 | 1933-10-10 | Milton T Green | Cigarette maker |
| US2281861A (en) * | 1940-12-26 | 1942-05-05 | Herman F Richter | Cigarette making device |
| DE3914669C2 (en) * | 1989-05-03 | 1999-07-15 | Max Liebich | Device and method for the self-production of cigarettes by the consumer |
| DE4233213C2 (en) * | 1992-10-02 | 1994-09-22 | Umbrecht Klaus Dieter | Device and method for the non-industrial manufacture of cigarettes |
| DE4400192C2 (en) * | 1993-12-23 | 1999-01-28 | Efka Werke Kiehn Gmbh Fritz | Method and device for filling or stuffing cigarette paper tubes with tobacco |
-
2006
- 2006-10-10 DE DE102006047903A patent/DE102006047903A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2007
- 2007-09-19 DE DE502007002983T patent/DE502007002983D1/en active Active
- 2007-09-19 ES ES07116767T patent/ES2340428T3/en active Active
- 2007-09-19 EP EP07116767A patent/EP1911360B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2007-09-19 AT AT07116767T patent/ATE459255T1/en active
- 2007-09-21 CA CA002603616A patent/CA2603616C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-09-27 AU AU2007219376A patent/AU2007219376B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2007-09-28 NZ NZ562088A patent/NZ562088A/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE502007002983D1 (en) | 2010-04-15 |
| ATE459255T1 (en) | 2010-03-15 |
| CA2603616A1 (en) | 2008-04-10 |
| DE102006047903A1 (en) | 2008-04-17 |
| NZ562088A (en) | 2008-09-26 |
| AU2007219376B2 (en) | 2009-05-28 |
| EP1911360A3 (en) | 2008-04-30 |
| ES2340428T3 (en) | 2010-06-02 |
| EP1911360A2 (en) | 2008-04-16 |
| EP1911360B1 (en) | 2010-03-03 |
| AU2007219376A1 (en) | 2008-04-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |