WO2012167369A1

WO2012167369A1 - Cigarette manufacturing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012167369A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/000564
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Thiry
Original assignee: Philippe Thiry
Priority date: 2011-06-08
Filing date: 2012-06-08
Publication date: 2012-12-13

Abstract

A cigarette manufacturing apparatus (10) which comprises a tobacco receiving container (14), a cigarette tube holder (48), a tobacco compactor (28) and a cutter (30, 32) to receive tobacco, the cutter including first and second half dies (30, 32) having cutting edges (36), the half dies being moveable between open and closed positions, a pusher rod (38) operative to push compacted tobacco from the dies (30, 32) into a cigarette tube (50), a rotatable plate (54), a shaft (74) connected to the pusher rod (38) and to the rotatable plate (54), and a connecting device (82) extending between the rotatable plate and the tobacco cutter and compactor to move the half die (32) to come back and cut tobacco between the dies. The apparatus is designed for residential use.

Description

CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to cigarette manufacturing machines and more particularly, relates to cigarette manufacturing machines designed for residential use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, cigarette manufacturing is carried out on high capacity machines operating in factories. The cigarettes are typically manufactured for packages which contain 20 or 25 cigarettes although other quantities are also utilized. The packages are distributed through local stores to be purchased by smokers. The packaged cigarettes are relatively expensive as they are subject to high taxes.

Some individuals prefer to roll their own cigarettes from tobacco and empty tubes which can be purchased at a price substantially less than commercially manufactured cigarettes as they are not subject to the same taxes. The original roll your own cigarettes comprised cut tobacco and cigarette papers. The tobacco was placed on the paper and then the paper was rolled to form a cigarette. One side of the paper had an adhesive which permitted gluing of the paper to itself.

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

Although some of these machines function satisfactorily, there are problems associated therewith. Typically, one of the problems is achieving a cigarette having a desired amount of tobacco therein. Frequently, the cigarette is formed to have too dense a tobacco inserted therein or to the contrary, to have less tobacco than desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide cigarette manufacturing machines and accessories therefor suitable for use in low volume cigarette manufacturing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cigarette manufacturing apparatus comprising a tobacco receiving container, a cigarette tube holder, a tobacco compactor and cutter adapted to receive tobacco from the tobacco receiving container, the cutter including first and second half dies, one of the half dies having cutting edges, the half dies being moveable between open and closed positions, a pusher rod operative to push compacted tobacco from the dies into a cigarette tube held by the cigarette tube holder, a rotatable plate, a shaft, a first end of the shaft being connected to the pusher rod and a second end of the shaft being pivotably connected to the rotatable plate, and a connecting device extending between the rotatable plate and the tobacco cutter and compactor to move the half die to thereby compact and cut tobacco between the dies.

In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cigarette

manufacturing machine as set forth above, and which includes a connecting member extending between the dies and the rotatable plate. The rotatable plate is functioning to both move the cutting dies to form tobacco plugs and also to move the pusher rods which will push the tobacco from between the dies to a cigarette tube. The cigarette tube is placed on a transition tube wherein it is held in place. Continued movement of the pusher rod will place the tobacco in the cigarette tube and eject the same.

There are also disclosed improvements for a loose tobacco container wherein a weight is used to compact a predetermined amount of tobacco.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an arrangement wherein a drive arrangement in the form of a parallelogram is utilized. Again, a single rotating plate will both move the cutting dies and the pusher rods.

There are also disclosed automatic tube feeding arrangements which may be utilized with different embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of one embodiment of a cigarette

manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective exploded view of the tobacco container and associated cutting tool of the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a compacting and cutting tool used in the above described embodiments;

Figure 4 is an end view of the cutting tool;

Figures 5A, 5B and 5C are sectional views illustrating the compacting of the tobacco and the cutting thereof;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pusher rod assembly;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the upper portion of the rotating plate of Figure 1 ;

Figures 9A and 9B are top plan views illustrating the sequential operation of the apparatus;

Figure 10 is a top plan view illustrating the placement of a cigarette tube on the transition tube; Figure 1 1 is an exploded view of the transition tube components;

Figure 12 is an exploded view of the transition tube and retaining ring;

Figure 13 is an exploded view of the fingers forming a transition tube;

Figure 14 is a sectional view illustrating movement of the fingers when tobacco is inserted therein;

Figure 15 is an enlarged view illustrating the retaining device for retaining a cigarette tube on the fingers;

Figures 16 to 20 are top plan views illustrating operation of the device with only a single cigarette being illustrated for purposes of clarity;

Figure 21 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a cigarette manufacturing machine according to the present invention;

Figure 22 is a top plan view of the rotating plate of the embodiment of Figure 20;

Figures 23 to 28 illustrate operation of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Figure 21 ;

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a loading device for cigarette tubes as used in the present invention;

Figure 30 is a side elevational view of a conveyor belt for transferring tobacco;

Figure 31 is a sectional view illustrating the loading of cigarette tubes;

Figure 32 is a side elevational view of a tool used for loading cigarette tubes into a receptacle;

Figure 33 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the tool for picking up of cigarette tubes; and Figure 34 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the tool to place the cigarette tubes in a cigarette tube container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in Figure 1 an apparatus 10 which is used for manufacturing cigarettes.

Apparatus 10 has a base 12 upon which there is mounted a tobacco container generally designated by reference numeral 14 and which is illustrated in greater detail in Figure 2. Tobacco container 14 has a rear wall 16, a pair of side walls 18, and a pivotal front wall 20. As may be seen in Figure 2, front wall 20 may be pivoted downwardly in order to receive a predetermined amount of tobacco 26 therein. A weight 22 having a handle 24 is utilized to exert a continued downward pressure on tobacco 26 and aid in ensuring that the tobacco is sufficiently compacted.

A compactor and cutting device is generally designated by reference numeral 28 and includes a first fixed half die 30 and a second moveable half die 32. In the illustrated embodiment, there are three half dies 30 and three cutting dies 32. Naturally, other numbers of sets of dies from one upwards may be utilized.

As may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, each moveable cutting die includes a body 34 and blades 36. It will be noted that blades 36 are angled longitudinally so as to provide a superior cutting action (like scissors).

The operation of the cutting is illustrated in Figures 5A to 5C with the cutter dies 32 moving through tobacco 26 until they mate with half dies 30 to form a full circular plug.

Tobacco manufacturing apparatus 10 also includes pusher rods 38, pusher rods 38 being mounted on a base 42. Pusher rods 38 are utilized to push tobacco 26, after being formed into a plug, from dies 30, 32 into a cigarette tube. To this end, there are provided transition tubes 42. Transition tubes 42 are best seen in Figures 12 to 14. Only a single transition tube 42 is illustrated. Transition tube 42 is formed of a plurality (three) of fingers 44 which are held together by a retainer ring 46. Cigarette tubes 50 are held on cigarette tube holder 48 by means of a spring member 52 which will exert pressure on element 53 and the cigarette tube 50 when it is placed over fingers 44.

The movement of fingers 44 is illustrated in Figure 13 when tobacco is pushed by pusher rod 38 into the transition tube.

Cigarette manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a rotatable plate 54 which has an upper portion 56 and a lower portion 58. Upper portion 56, as illustrated in Figure 8, has a first upwardly extending pin 60 on the upper surface thereof. Upper portion 56 also includes an open slot generally designated by reference numeral 64. Slot 64 has an initial straight section generally designated by reference numeral 66 followed by an arcuate section 68 and an arcuate closed end 70. As may be seen in Figure 8, arcuate closed end section 70 is of a slightly larger diameter than arcuate section 68 for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow. Rotatable plate 54 is rotatably driven about pivot point 72.

Mounted on lower portion 58 of rotatable plate 54 is a second upwardly extending pin 62.

As may be seen in Figures 9A and 9B, a shaft 74 is also mounted about pivot point 72. Shaft 74 includes a slot 78. Slot 78 is designed to receive a pin 80 on pusher rod base 40. A connecting member 82 extends between cutting die 32 and lower portion 58 of rotatable plate 54. Connecting member 82 is pivotably mounted about pivot point 84.

Connecting member 82 includes a closed slot 86 to receive a pin 87 on cutting die 32 and also includes an upwardly extending pin 88 and a straight open slot 90. As shown in Figure 1, rotatable movement may be achieved through an electric motor 92 or a manual drive generally designated by reference numeral 94 and which would include a rocker arm 96.

Operation of the device is illustrated in Figures 1 to 19. Only a single cigarette tube is shown as being manufactured with each cycle. Naturally, as shown in the previous drawings, a plurality of cigarettes may be manufactured in a single cycle of the machine.

Initially, upon rotation of rotatable plate 54, pin 62 which is engaged in slot 90 will cause connecting member 82 to move as may be seen by the location of pin 87 in slot 86. Continued rotation, as may be seen in Figure 17, will cause slot 64 to engage with pin 88. This will cause rotation of connecting member 82 as shown in Figures 17 and 18. The action will result in movement of connecting member 82 and cutting die 32.

The provision of an enlarged portion 70 of slot 64 causes a slight relaxation of the pressure on the plug of tobacco which has been cut. This will allow movement of the plug of tobacco when contacted by pusher rod 38.

A continued rotation, as shown in Figure 19, will cause pin 60 to contact shaft 74. This in turn will cause pusher rod 38 to extend through the die and push tobacco into cigarette tube 50. Continued movement will then cause the ejection of the complete cigarette as shown in Figure 19. Turning to the embodiment of Figures 21 to 27, there is illustrated a tobacco manufacturing apparatus which includes a tobacco receiving container 100. Tobacco receiving container 100 will include a weight 102 with handle 104 secured thereto for compacting the tobacco in tobacco receiving container 100. The apparatus also includes a cigarette tube containing a plurality of cigarette tubes 106. Cigarette tube container 106 is mounted on a shaft 1 10 and is moveable therealong.

The apparatus is mounted on a base 112. In this embodiment, there is provided a drive rod 1 14, second rod 1 16 and third rod 1 18 which are mounted on opposite sides of drive rod 1 14. A first set of linking arms 120 interconnect first ends of second rod 1 16 and third rod 1 18 with drive rod 1 14. Similarly, at the other end, there are provided a second set of linking arms 122 interconnecting drive rod 1 14 with drive rods 1 16, 1 18.

A half cutting die 124 has a pin 126 extending upwardly therefrom. Tobacco 128 is present in tobacco receiving container 100. A transition tube 130 (similar to that in the previously described embodiment) is mounted proximate the dies. A cigarette tube 108 is placed on transition tube 130 and is held in place by element 132 functioning as a cigarette tube holder and spring member 134.

Similar to the previously described embodiment, there is also provided a pusher rod 136 connected to a pusher rod base 138 which has a pusher rod base pin 40 extending upwardly therefrom.

A rotatable plate 142 has a pin 144 extending upwardly therefrom. There is also provided a stopper 146. Similar to the previously described embodiment, there is also provided a shaft 148 connected through pivot point 150. A first end of the shaft has a spring W 201

- 9 - attachment element 152 which is connected to a spring 154. The other end of spring 154 is connected to element 156.

A slot 158 is formed in rotatable plate 142. A shaft 160 has a slot 162 formed at the end proximate pusher rod base 138 and pusher rod base pin 140 extends within slot 162. Shaft 160 is connected by pivot point 164.

The operation of the apparatus is illustrated in Figures 22 through 26. As will be seen, initial rotational movement will cause drive rod 1 14 to push to the left. This will cause rod 1 16 and pin 126 to engage cutting half die 124 and cut the plug of tobacco between the two half dies. As shown in Figures 24 and 25, a continued movement will cause pin 115 to enter a slightly larger portion of the groove to thereby permit relaxation of the pressure on the plug of tobacco. Subsequently, pin 144 will engage shaft 160 to move pusher rod base 138 and pusher rod 136. This will push the tobacco through transition tube 130 and into cigarette tube 108. Continued movement will result in the ejection of the cigarette as shown in Figure 26.

Figures 28 and 30 illustrate an automatic tube feeder which may be utilized with different embodiments of the present invention. In this arrangement, there is provided a cigarette tube container 188 having a chute 190. There is provided an outlet 192 wherein the cigarette tubes may enter a device such as shown in Figure 20. A shaker motor 194 provides a vibration to the cigarette tube container 188 to ensure that the cigarette tubes are evenly dispensed.

Figure 29 illustrates a conveyor feed arrangement which comprises a conveyor belt 170 entrained about wheels 172 and guide wheels 174 and 176. A predetermined amount of tobacco 178 is placed on conveyor belt 170. There is provided a further belt 182 entrained about support wheels 184. Conveyor belt 170 is designed to transfer cut tobacco downwardly through 90 ° to dies for forming and cutting the loose tobacco. Belt 182 is flexible and there is provided a back plate 186 to limit the movement of belt 182.

A device for transferring cigarette tubes directly from a box to a holder is illustrated in Figures 31, 32 and 33. Device 198 is used in conjunction with a cigarette tube

container 200. Device 198 has a handle 202 and a base 204. Located on base 204 is an adhesive strip 206 which is of the re-adherable type containing a low tack adhesive. It would generally be the type of adhesive used in repositionable notes which can be placed on a surface, removed and placed back on a further surface. Such adhesives are well known in the art and are commercially available.

The above described embodiments provide an example of various components which can be combined together in different ways. Thus, each of the embodiments can have either manual or electrical arrangement and as well, different types of feeders may be utilized.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A cigarette manufacturing apparatus ( 10) comprising:

a tobacco receiving container (14);

a cigarette tube holder (48);

a tobacco compactor (28) and cutter (30, 32) adapted to receive tobacco from said tobacco receiving container (14), said cutter including first and second half dies (30,32), one of said half dies (32) having cutting edges (36), said half dies (30, 32) being moveable between open and closed positions;

a pusher rod (38) operative to push compacted tobacco from said half dies (30, 32) into a cigarette tube (50) held by said cigarette tube holder (48);

a rotatable plate (54);

a shaft (74), a first end of said shaft being connected to said pusher rod (38) and a second end of said shaft being pivotably connected to said rotatable plate (54); and

a connecting device (82) extending between said rotatable plate and said tobacco cutter and compactor to move said half die (32) to thereby compact and cut tobacco between said dies (30, 32).

2. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said first half die (32) includes a pin (87) mounted thereon, said connecting device (82) having a slot (86) formed therein, said pin (87) being engaged within said slot (86) and being moveable therein.

3. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 2 wherein said rotatable plate has an upper portion (56) and a lower portion (58), said upper portion having an upper portion open end slot (64), said connecting device (82) having an upwardly extending pin (88) formed thereon, said pin (88) being engageable within said upper portion open end slot (64).

4. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 further including a spring member (52) mounted proximate said cigarette tube holder (48), said spring member (52) being designed to retain a cigarette tube on said cigarette tube holder.

5. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said pusher rod (38) has a pusher rod pin (80), said first end of said shaft (74) having a longitudinally extending closed slot (78) therein, said pusher rod pin (80) being engageable within said longitudinally extending closed slot (78).

6. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said upper portion (56) has an upwardly extending pin (60), said upwardly extending pin (60) being arranged to contact said shaft (74) upon rotational movement of said rotatable plate (54) to thereby cause movement of said shaft (74) and said pusher rod (38).

7. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 3 wherein said slot (64) formed on said upper portion of said rotatable plate has an initial straight section (66) followed by an arcuate portion (68), a closed end (70) of said arcuate portion having a slightly wider width than an initial portion (68) thereof.

8. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 1 wherein said connecting device comprises first, second and third parallel bars (1 12, 1 14, 1 16), said second bar (114) being located on a first side of said first bar (112) and said third bar (1 16) being located on an opposite side of said first bar, a first pair of connecting links (120) extending between said first bar and respective first ends of said second and third bars, a second pair of connecting links (122) extending between said first bar and respective second ends of said second and third bars, all of said links being rotatably mounted.

9. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 8 wherein said rotatable plate (142) has an open end arcuate slot (158) formed therein, said first bar having a pin (1 15) extending upwardly proximate one end thereof, said pin being engageable within said arcuate slot (158).

10. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 9 further including an upwardly extending pin (144) mounted on said rotatable plate (142), said pin (144) being designed to contact said shaft to thereby cause movement of said shaft (160) and said pusher rod.