US3746011A

US3746011A - Manually operable cigarette making device

Info

Publication number: US3746011A
Application number: US00134998A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Kappeler; R Messner
Original assignee: Efka Werke Fritz Kiehn GmbH
Current assignee: Efka Werke Fritz Kiehn GmbH
Priority date: 1968-05-16
Filing date: 1971-04-19
Publication date: 1973-07-17
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-17
Also published as: BE733016A; FR2008635A1; NL6907529A

Abstract

A manually operable device for making cigarettes. Loose tobacco is compressed into a rod, which can subsequently be stuffed into a cigarette tube. Positive and non-yielding linkage is provided not only for performing the tobacco compressing motion, with concentrated and properly directed power, but also for required return motion of the compression members, thereby avoiding trouble due to hanging up of compression members on accumulation of loose tobacco in the operating mechanism.

Description

United States Patent `1191 I Kappeler et al. [45] July 17, 1973 [54] MANUALLY OPERABLE CIGARETTE 3,202,156 8/1965 Kappeler et al. l31/70 MAKING DEVICE 3,127,900 4/964 2,731,971 l/l956 [75] lnventOrSr Otto Kappeler; Rudolf Messner, both 3,124,141 3/1964 seiner 1311/711 of Trossingen, Germany l [73] Assignee: EfKa-Werke Fritz Kiehn GmbH,

Przmary [Lxammer-Rohert W. Mrchell Tmhbmgen/Wurtt" Germany Assistant Examiner- John F. Pitrclli [22] Fled API- 19 1971 Attorney-Nolte and Nolte App1. No.; 134,998

Related U.S. Application Data Continuation-inpart of Ser. No. 824,529, May I4, 1969, abandoned.

Foreign Application Priority Data May 16, 1968 Germany P 17 57 504.1 May 16, 1968 Germany P 17 57 503,0

, [52] U.S. Cl. 131/70, l3l/72 [5 l] lnt. Cl. A24c 05/42 [58] Field of Search 131/70, 75, 72

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 700,040 5/ 1902 Hansen-Ellehammer 131/70 14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTE] .Il l 7 U73 muon FIG.4

INVENTORS OTTO KAPPELER RUDOLF MESSNER BY 77% 4f 77% FIG.5

AT TORNE YS Pmmwm ma SHEET 2 UF 4 /NvENTORs OTTO KA PPELER RUDOLF MESSNER BY 77% FIGS A T TORNE YS Pmmfnw 1w laglaufig g' mvE/vToRs oTro KAPPELER RUDOLF MESSA/ER FIGB ATTORNEYS MANUALLY OPERABLE CIGARETTE MAKING DEVICE This is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 824,529, filed May 14, 1969 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND NATURE OF THE INVENTION Manual cigarette making devices have generally used slidingly reciprocable pressure plates, advanced into tobacco compressing position by lever and cam action and retracted by spring action. The springs have not always been able to return the pressure plate with certainty, as shreds of tobacco are likely to be caught in the guides of the pressure plate, interfering with proper return of this plate.

In other known devices, a pin, mounted on a tobacco plunger, was engaged in an angular slot, formed in an operating lever. In such cases the operators finger, or part of his clothing, could be caught in the slot. Also, the mechanism was apt to jam or bend when the tobacco plunger was withdrawn by an inexperienced operator.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. It is a more specific object to provide a cigarette making device wherein the tobacco compressing plate is moved both forward and rearward by positive and nonyielding linkage, although possibly with lost motion at certain points. All slotted levers and similar structures are to belocated in positions where there operation is safe and effective.

The mechanism according to the invention `also provides instrumentalities, of conventional nature if desired, for stuffing the cigarette tube.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the linkage for compression of the tobacco provides for lost motion between direct acting and indirect acting levers, while providing positive, non-yielding return of these levers and of the tobacco compressing plate. In

' another preferred embodiment, even the lost motion is substantially avoided. Also, provision is made for varying the length of the tobacco rod to be stuffed into the tube, in order to provide for the making of filter-tip cigarettes, and of cigarettes having tobacco rods of different length.

DRAWINGS FIG. l is a perspective view of one preferred device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device as seen after removal of an upper portion thereof.

FIG. 4 is a detailed plan view of a sector-shaped link, forming part of the linkage in this device.

FIG. 5 is a detailed plan view of a swivel lever forming part of that linkage.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the swivel lever of FIG. 5. c

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the device.

FIG. 8 is a view generally similar to FIG. 3 but showing the use of a swivel lever construction as shown in FIG. 6.

FIGS. 7a, 8a and 8b are respectively: a side elevational view corresponding to FIG. 7 but showing a different position of the device; a plan view of the device in position for stuffing a filter type cigarette tube; and

a plan view of the device in position for stuffing a filterless tube.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. l TO 5 A housing for the cigarette making device is provided, which has a lower and normally horizontal part l made for example of colored and opaque synthetic material. The housing has an upper part 2 mountable on and parallel to the lower part and made for example of clear colorless synthetic material. In upper part 2 an aperture A is formed, on top, for the admission of loose tobacco. In lower part 1 a slot 3 extends horizontally between a lowermost portion lA and an upper portion 1B of this part, to allow the manual operation, which will now be described.

A shaft 4 extends vertically between lower and

upper parts

1 and 2 and a horizontal operating lever 5 is rigidly keyed to this shaft. The lever extends from shaft 4 through a considerable portion of the housing, and then through slot 3, tothe outside for manual operation. The outer end of operating lever 5 has a handle 6 thereon, whereby the operator can swing lever 5 in either clockwise or counter clockwise direction. Within the housing a generally horizontal sector-:shaped link member or curved piece 7 is rigidly secured to the same rotatable shaft 4, between upper and lower housings l, 2.

The sector-shaped link 7, as best shown in FIG. 4, has a peripheral lip 8 with a lateral tip 9 thereon, for engagement of an intermediate swivel lever I0, best shown in FIG. 5. This intermediate swivel lever is entirely contained within housing l, 2. This swivel lever serves to move pressure plate ll, whereto it is also connected by a pin and slot linkage including pin l2 on the plate and slot 13 in the swivel lever. In addition, projection 14 is formed on the swivel lever, opposite a vertical surface 14a on compression plate 1l and normally in contact with that surface.

Swivel lever l0 is pivoted in housing l, 2 on a vertical pin 38, and extends from that point in a direction approximately parallel to and larger co-extensive with the normal or rest position of operating lever 5, shown in FIG. 3. Thereby this swivel lever constitutes in effect a follower of the operating lever, entirely contained in the housing and capable of motion, controlled by the operating lever and specially adapted to the control of the tobacco compressing plate.

To operate the device, as described up to this point, enough tobacco for one cigarette is introduced into slot A and thereby into the tobacco compressing chamber P in front of pressure plate ll, for compression into a rod by means of this pressure plate. The operator grips handle 6 of operating lever 5 which he normally finds in the rest position, shown in FIGS. l and 3. He rotates this lever in a clockwise direction, as shown in the drawing, and thereby rotates sector 7. The tip 9 on lip 8 of thissector then presses against an opposite surface 30 on swivel lever l0 and thereby urges the curved projection 14 of .that lever against surface 14a of pressure plate I l, thereby moving that plate to the right as seen in FIG. 3 and compressing the tobacco in chamber P. The operator can then continue to turn the operating lever by handle 6 in the original clockwise direction, thereby now actuating a cigarette stuffing mechanism, known by itself and which can be briefly described hereinafter. In this operation, the operating handle reaches the approximate position 6a in FIG. 1.

Thereafter the operator manually, in a counterclockwise motion, returns the handle from position 6a to the original withdrawn position d. ln this process he positively and non-yieldingly returns pressure plate )l l to its original and withdrawn position in the housing, shown in FlG. 3. ln this connection, it is to be noted that projection i4, alone, would not effect the return motion of the pressure plate, and that springs attached to that plate, in accordance with earlier practice, have been found to be inadequate because of the yielding character of their operation; also the use of springs greatly added to the operating effort, required in compressing the tobacco and thereby in turn added to the needed strength of the needed parts and the cost of the entire device. ln the new device, a clockwise return motion of swivel lever lll is effected by the counter-clockwise return motion of the operating lever and its sector link '7. This in tum effects the return motion of the pressure plate, by the pin and slot connection l2, i3. For these purposes, an additional slot and

pin connection

26, 27 is provided in sector and swivel lever lill, the slot 26 being advantageously formed in lip 8 as shown.

In order to minimize the extension of surfaces on which loose tobacco particles can accumulate, lip 8 is made of thin, although rigid, material and is arranged to have tip 9 overlie a thin and recessed portion 29 of swivel lever l0, adjacent projection l. The recess can be made for example by a milling cutter. In this recess, pin 27 extends vertically, which is engageable in slot 26 of flange 8 and can slide in this slot. Incident to the return motion, one end 9-A of slot 26 engages pin 27 and thereby positively and non-yieldingly swings swivel lever l0 in clockwise direction, which in turn leads to i leftward return of pressure plate lll by pin and slot l2, 13.

Referring now briefly to the cigarette stuffing portion of the new device, which portion can be conventional: FlG. 3 shows the usual horizontal drag lever 15, mounted between lower and upper parts ll-A, l-B of housing base il. This lever is disposed above operating lever 5, is loosely swingable about shaft d, and is disposed so that its entire swinging motion occurs inside housing l, 2. That motion begins at a certain point of the clockwise motion of operating lever 5, when a suitable pin lo on that lever engages one surface 11S-A of the drag lever. On its free end the drag lever has an oblong slot 17', which receives a pin R8, secured to a guide, not shown, slidable in a guide slot )1Q-A formed in the housing. By this guide a tobacco plunger 119-B is reciprocated in tobacco compression chamber P. At the end of this chamber a nipple 25 is attached to the housing. lt will be seen that during the motion of operating lever 5, before pin lo engages drag lever surface l5-A, tobacco is compressed in chamber P by the principal linkage described above. From then on, drag lever l5 moves with operating lever 5 and in turn moves slide mechanism lib and tobacco plunger lf3-B, expelling the compressed tobacco from chamber l through nipple 115 into a cigarette tube which has been previously pushed over this nipple.

There is still another pin and slot mechanism 20, 2l, provided between sector 7 and drag lever l5. The drag lever can be rotated clockwise by direct action of pin lo on operating lever l5, as noted above, and counterclockwise by engagement of the pin and slot connection 2l), 2l, as will be obvious by inspection of FlG. 3. Both slots 2l and 26 have suitable angular extension to allow the initial tobacco compressing operation, followed by lost motion of

pins

20 and 27 while the compressed tobacco is expelled into the cigarette tube, and finally causing positive return motion of pressure plate and tobacco plunger, as already indicated.

lt will be seen that necessarily appreciable space is available behind pressure plate ll wherein loose tobacco can accumulate incident to operation of the device. Even if substantial quantities of such tobacco are accumulated in this space, the positive operation provided by the new linkage safely overcomes any returnresisting forces caused by accumulated tobacco. The problems of yielding return springs are overcome thereby.

THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 6 TO 8 The modified embodiment resembles the form of FIG. 3 in that it dispenses with spring means for the return of pressure plate ll from its forward position- It comprises a bifurcate lever 23, in lieu of swivel lever 10. A bracket 24 lever 23, in lieu of swivel lever l0. A bracket 24 connects the two tines of the bifurcate lever, which have inner surfaces 23-A, 23-B tightly encompassing corners 7-B, 7C of sector-shaped link 7-A, so that either clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of that piece about its shaft 4 causes bifurcate lever 23 to pivot about its point of support 38. Forward rotation of this lever 23 pushes pressure plate 1l toward the right, by projection i4, whereas return rotation of this lever entrains the pressure plate backwardly by pin and slot coupling 13.

FIG. 7 and 8a show a slide 40, on housing l, 2, providing a clamp and release mechanism for the cigarette tube pushed over nipple 2S. A double-ended lever 3l is pivoted to the outside of the housing, by a suitable shaft. As shown in FIGS. 7a and 8b lever 31 can be4 rocked along the outside surface of the housing subject to friction against this surface, and particularly against the surface of a shallow recess 34 therein. One end of double lever 3l has a milled handle 33 thereon and is movable between two positions, denoted respectively by the letters O and F. To make filter tip cigarettes T, as shown in FIG. 8a; handle 33 is moved to the F position, whereby the opposite end 32 of lever 3l swings away from engagement with nipple 25 and allows the cigarette tube to be mounted thereon and pushed inwardly into the housing for insertion of a tobacco rod of corresponding length, wherein a filter tip can be added later. To make cigarettes T' without filter tips, handle 33 is moved to the position wherein end 32 of lever 31 is brought to bear against nipple 25. ln this position, only a shorter length of the tube can be drawn over nipple 25, so that substantially the entire tube length is available for stuffing.

Finally, FIG. 8 shows means for adjusting the new ap` paratus for cigarette tubes of different lengths. The adjusting means comprises an oblong slot 35 in sector '7-A, and an adjustment screw 36 threadedly received in operating lever 5 and aixed at predetermined location relative to slot 35. In this case, sector '7-A is otherwise loose on shaft 4. Screw 36 can be loosened and reset at different locations in slot 35, thereby changing the position of sector 7-A relative to operating lever 5 and correspondingly changing the angularity between sector 7-A and drag lever l5 and the corresponding motions of pressure plate il and drag lever l5. When sector 7a is fixed to shaft 4 in the position shown in FIG. 8 in one case and with screw 36 fixed in slot 35 farther to the left in another case, and when cigarette tubes C and T of different lengths are slipped over nipple 25 as shown in FlGS. 3 and 8a, respectively,

adjustment mechanism

36, 35 through shaft 4 and lever 15a (FIG. 3) adjusts the lengths of the stroke of tobacco plunger 1% (while also slightly altering the compactness and firmness of the tobacco pressed by this plunger).

What is claimed is:

l. In a manually operable device for t'llling a tube with tobacco, which device has a pressure plate mounted for sliding motion into a pressure chamber to compress tobacco into a column in that chamber, a swivel lever pivoted about a. first axis and having a slidable surface engagement with a rear surface of the pressure plate for such compressing, a plunger mechanism for pushing the tobacco column from the pressure chamber into the tube, and a manual operating lever pivoted about a second axis for controlling the swivel and the plunger mechanism, the improvement of which comprises: non-yielding linkage between said swivel lever and said pressure plate, in addition to such surface engagement; a segment lever normally rigid and movable with said operating lever about said second axis and having slidable surface engagement with a surface of said swivel lever for pushing said swivel lever, and thereby said pressure plate, on motion of said operating lever in one direction about said second axis; and non-yielding means connecting said segment lever with said swivel lever, in addition to the surface engagement therebetween, whereby, on movement of said operating lever in opposite direction, said non-yielding linkage and nonyielding connection means withdraws said pressure plate from said tobacco compressing chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-yielding linkage between the pressure plate and the swivel lever comprises a pin on said plate and a slot in said lever.

Il. The device of claim l,wherein the nonyielding connection means between the swivel lever and the segment lever comprises a pin on the swivel lever and a slot in the segment lever.

4. The device of claim l, wherein the plunger mechanisrn comprises a drag lever controlled by the operating lever, a pin on the plunger and slot on the drag lever, as well as a pin on the operating lever and a surface for sliding engagement of the pin on the drag lever.

5. The device of claim l, in which said nonyielding connection means between said swivel lever and said segment lever comprises pin and slot mechanism providing for lost motion of the pin in the slot and providing for non-yielding motion of the pin, with the segment lever, at one end of the slot.

6. The device of claim ll, wherein said segment lever has an arcuate recess and a projection provided on said plunger mechanism engaging said recess.

7. The device of claim l, further including a nipple for mounting said tube, a lever swingable on said device between a rst position engaging said nipple and a second position releasing said nipple, whereby predetermined lengths of said tube can be mounted on said nipple.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said lever is frictionally l'leld against said device.

9. The device of claim l, wherein said swivel lever has means for said slidable surface engagement with a pressure plate near the free end ot' the lever and wherein said non-yielding linkage engages said swivel lever between said first axis and said free end, relatively close to said free end.

10. The device of claim l, wherein the non-yielding connection means between said segment lever and said swivel lever includes a slotted part of the segment lever, thinner than the swivel lever and directly partly overlying the latter, and a pin on the swivel lever engaging the slotted element.

ll. The device of claim l, wherein the non-yielding linkage between said pressure plate and said swivel lever includes a slotted part of that lever, thinner than said plate and directly partly overlying the mme, and a pin on said plate engaging said slotted part.

12. In a manually operable device for filling a tube with tobacco which device includes a pressure plate mounted for sliding motion into a pressure chamber to compress tobacco into a column in that chamber, a swivel lever pivoted about a first axis and having slidable engagement with the rear oli said plate for such compressing, a plunger mechanism for pushing the tobacco coiumn from the pressure chamber into the tube, a manual operating lever pivoted about a second axis for controlling said swivel lever and said plunger mechanism, a segment normally rigid with and movable with said operating lever about said second axis for moving said swivel lever, and non-yielding linkage between said swivel lever and said pressure plate for returning the plate by the lever, after said compressing, the improvement which comprises a non-yielding connection between said segment and swivel levers, including a bifurcate end of said swivel lever and a surface portion on said segment lever for ultimate sliding engagement with the two forks of said bifurcate end whereby rotation of the segment lever by the operating lever, ineither direction, non-yieldingly rotates the swivel lever for the control of the pressure plate.

13. The device of claim l2, wherein said bifurcate end of said swivel lever partially encompasses the segment lever with substantially no lost motion between them.

ll4. The device of claim i3, also including means for variably securing the segment lever to the operating lever to provide different angularities therebetween.

* if il! ill It:

Claims

1. In a manually operable device for filling a tube with tobacco, which device has a pressure plate mounted for sliding motion into a pressure chamber to compress tobacco into a column in that chamber, a swivel lever pivoted about a first axis and having a slidable surface engagement with a rear surface of the pressure plate for such compressing, a plunger mechanism for pushing the tobacco column from the pressure chamber into the tube, and a manual operating lever pivoted about a second axis for controlling the swivel and the plunger mechanism, the improvement of which comprises: non-yielding linkage between said swivel lever and said pressure plate, in addition to such surface engagement; a segMent lever normally rigid and movable with said operating lever about said second axis and having slidable surface engagement with a surface of said swivel lever for pushing said swivel lever, and thereby said pressure plate, on motion of said operating lever in one direction about said second axis; and non-yielding means connecting said segment lever with said swivel lever, in addition to the surface engagement therebetween, whereby, on movement of said operating lever in opposite direction, said non-yielding linkage and nonyielding connection means withdraws said pressure plate from said tobacco compressing chamber.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the nonyielding connection means between the swivel lever and the segment lever comprises a pin on the swivel lever and a slot in the segment lever.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plunger mechanism comprises a drag lever controlled by the operating lever, a pin on the plunger and slot on the drag lever, as well as a pin on the operating lever and a surface for sliding engagement of the pin on the drag lever.

5. The device of claim 1, in which said nonyielding connection means between said swivel lever and said segment lever comprises pin and slot mechanism providing for lost motion of the pin in the slot and providing for non-yielding motion of the pin, with the segment lever, at one end of the slot.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said segment lever has an arcuate recess and a projection provided on said plunger mechanism engaging said recess.

7. The device of claim 1, further including a nipple for mounting said tube, a lever swingable on said device between a first position engaging said nipple and a second position releasing said nipple, whereby predetermined lengths of said tube can be mounted on said nipple.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said lever is frictionally held against said device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said swivel lever has means for said slidable surface engagement with a pressure plate near the free end of the lever and wherein said non-yielding linkage engages said swivel lever between said first axis and said free end, relatively close to said free end.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-yielding connection means between said segment lever and said swivel lever includes a slotted part of the segment lever, thinner than the swivel lever and directly partly overlying the latter, and a pin on the swivel lever engaging the slotted element.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-yielding linkage between said pressure plate and said swivel lever includes a slotted part of that lever, thinner than said plate and directly partly overlying the same, and a pin on said plate engaging said slotted part.

12. In a manually operable device for filling a tube with tobacco which device includes a pressure plate mounted for sliding motion into a pressure chamber to compress tobacco into a column in that chamber, a swivel lever pivoted about a first axis and having slidable engagement with the rear of said plate for such compressing, a plunger mechanism for pushing the tobacco column from the pressure chamber into the tube, a manual operating lever pivoted about a second axis for controlling said swivel lever and said plunger mechanism, a segment normally rigid with and movable with said operating lever about said second axis for moving said swivel lever, and non-yielding linkage between said swivel lever and said pressure plate for returning the plate by the lever, after said compressing, the improvement which comprises a non-yielding connection between said segment and swivel levers, including a bifurcate end of said swivel lever and a surface portion on said segment lever for ultimate sliding engagement with the two forks of said bifurcate end whereby rotation of the segment lever by the operating lever, in either direction, non-yieldingly rotates the swivel lever for the control of the pressure plate.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said bifurcate end of said swivel lever partially encompasses the segment lever with substantially no lost motion between them.

14. The device of claim 13, also including means for variably securing the segment lever to the operating lever to provide different angularities therebetween.