| Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettesRelated Patent Categories: Tobacco, Cigar Or Cigarette Making, Wrapping Devices, Tube Filling TypeThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070107738. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to smoking articles, and in particular, to cigarettes. More specifically, the present invention relates to equipment and methods for manufacturing and handling relatively small quantities of cigarettes in an automated fashion. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped structure and include a charge, roll, or column of smokable material, such as shredded tobacco, surrounded by a paper wrapper, to form a "cigarette rod," "smokable rod," or a "tobacco rod." A typical cigarette has a cylindrical filter element axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, the filter element comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by a paper material known as "plug wrap." Certain cigarettes incorporate filter elements comprising, for example, activated charcoal particles. Typically, the filter element is attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a circumscribing wrapping material known as "tipping paper." A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article can be provided with an optional air-dilution means, such as a series of perforations, each of which extend through the tipping material and plug wrap. Conventional automated machines for making cigarette rods that have been employed for the manufacture of commercially popular packaged cigarettes are of the type commercially available from Molins PLC or Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. For example, a description of a commercially available "Protos" cigarette-making machine is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand. Other types of equipment suitable for the manufacture of cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0129281 to Hancock et al. A cigarette-making machine for making relatively small amounts of cigarettes has been available commercially as "Hauni Baby" from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG. Another type of portable cigarette-making machine has been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,229 to Hurt. [0003] A variety of hand-operated devices for manufacturing individual cigarettes have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,376,103 to Wahl; U.S. Pat. No. 2,425,888 to Matteson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,884 to Snodgrass; U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,957 to Getts; U.S. Pat. No. 2,496,375 to Carter; U.S. Pat. No. 2,594,747 to DuLaney; U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,788 to Kastner; U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,383 to Ming Gee; U.S. Pat. No. 2,731,971 to Kastner; U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,019 to Sosa; U.S. Pat. No. 2,868,209 to Marcotte; U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,348 to Banning, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,498 to Armelin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,056 to Bryant et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,367 to Newsome; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2004/110187 to Szabo; and European Patent No. EP 1,177,731 to Tinkles et al. [0004] Various methods for filling paper cigarette tubes with tobacco have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,133 to Higgins; U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,141 to Seitter; U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,156 to Kappeler et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,245 to Asbill, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,948 to Moscovitch; U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,216 to Josuttis et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,740 to Gatschmann et al. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,768 to Paynter and U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,313 to Sexstone which set forth manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes by filling a tube, or "spill," with a tobacco charge and a filter plug. One type of cigarette-making machine for the manufacture of one cigarette at a time using loose tobacco and a filtered cigarette tube has been marketed as "BUGLER.TM." filter cigarette-making machine by Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation. Another type of automated machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with loose tobacco filler has been available commercially as "Cig-a-mat" from Jenkins & Ott, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,272 to Jenkins et al. Yet another type of automated device for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler is an electrically-operated cigarette-making machine that has been available commercially as "Easy Roller" from C. P. Rolling ApS of Denmark. [0005] Another cigarette machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler has been produced commercially by The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd. and marketed as "PREMIER SUPERMATIC.TM.." Other types of cigarette machines for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco have been marketed as "Escort" and "Pressta Deluxe" by CTC Canada Inc. See, for example, the representative types of machines set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,900 to Kastner and U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,793 to Kastner. [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,710 to Bramhill proposes manufacturing individual cigarettes by inserting a cartridge of tobacco into an empty filter-tip cigarette tube. Other manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,617 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,536 to Liebich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,830 to Brackmann et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,366 to Liebich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,000 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,248 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,495 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,692 to Ruppert et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,377 to Gerding et al. [0007] Yet other manners and methods for fabricating cigarettes have been proposed. For example, the manufacture of cigarettes has been proposed using a dispensing-type machine, such as the machine referred to as "Cigaretterie," marketed by National Amusement Network, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,975 to Lord. [0008] It would be desirable to provide for the manufacture of relatively small lots of cigarettes in an efficient and effective manner. It would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within each lot are of consistent quality. That is, it would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within such a lot be substantially identical to one another in appearance, size, shape, weight, and component materials, including tobacco filler materials. It also would be desirable that the cigarettes within such a lot exhibit similar performance characteristics, such as smoking character, puff count, and smoke yield. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention relates to the manufacture of cigarettes in an automated fashion. Cigarette manufacture can be carried out such that relatively small lots of cigarettes are manufactured during a relevant period, for example, while a customer is shopping in a retail setting. Cigarette manufacture can be carried out such that substantially all of the cigarettes within a lot are of consistent quality. [0010] A first aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for manufacturing cigarettes from loose tobacco and pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. The device includes a reservoir, or hopper, for receiving and containing loose tobacco filler. A plurality of receptacles can be positioned beneath the hopper. Each receptacle is adapted to receive a portion of the tobacco filler. The device may include a tray, or cartridge, for containing a plurality of pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. Each such wrapper has a hollow region, open at one end, for receiving tobacco filler. The cartridge is adapted to be positioned relative to the receptacles such that individual pre-formed tubular wrappers within the cartridge are aligned with a corresponding one of the receptacles. The device includes a means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the plurality of receptacles into the hollow region of each of the wrappers. The device may further include a means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered from each receptacle into each of the wrappers. [0011] In an illustrative embodiment, the hopper may include several downwardly extending passageways for downward passage of loose tobacco filler from an upper hopper region. One of the receptacles can be aligned beneath each of the plurality of downwardly extending passageways for receiving a portion of the tobacco filler from that passageway. Such a device can incorporate one or more weights or other structures adapted to provide downward force or compression on loose tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway. Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway using the weight provides for altered arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway. Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway using the weight also provides for a controlled feed of tobacco filler to and within each receptacle. Accordingly, such a weight system can be utilized to control the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers. [0012] Such a device can incorporate at least one movable side wall for each downwardly extending passageway, thereby providing for altering the arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway, as well as for controlling feed or introduction of a portion of tobacco filler within each receptacle. As a result of such a movable side wall, a pre-determined amount of tobacco filler can be supplied to, and provided within, each receptacle and wrapper. In an embodiment, the device can further include a compression mechanism for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers. Such a compression mechanism can provide for arranging a pre-determined amount of loose tobacco filler within each receptacle into a charge of tobacco filler. The charge of tobacco can have a pre-determined shape and size, for example, a cylindrical shape that is capable of filling the hollow region of a tubular wrapper. [0013] The means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the tubular wrappers may comprise an insertion unit including a plurality of slidable plunger rods. Each rod is positioned for sliding movement through one of the receptacles into one of the wrappers for delivering a charge of tobacco filler from the receptacle through a nozzle into the hollow region of a corresponding tubular wrapper aligned with and adjacent to the receptacle. When the plurality of plunger rods is moved substantially simultaneously through the plurality of receptacles, a charge of tobacco filler from the receptacles is delivered substantially simultaneously into each of a pre-determined number of the wrappers aligned with the receptacles. [0014] A representative embodiment of a such cigarette manufacturing apparatus includes five downwardly extending passageways, five compression regions within the compression mechanism, five receptacles for formation of five charges of tobacco filler, five insertion units, and a cartridge containing at least five hollow tubular wrappers. As such, five cigarettes can be manufactured substantially simultaneously by using the apparatus to fill each of five wrappers with a formed charge of tobacco filler. A representative lot of twenty cigarettes (e.g., a sufficient number of cigarettes to fill a traditional type of cigarette package) can be provided using such a representative cigarette manufacturing apparatus. In operation, at least a sufficient amount of tobacco filler is employed to adequately fill twenty tubular wrapping portions contained within a cartridge designed to hold twenty tubular wrapping portions. After appropriate placement of the cartridge within the apparatus, repeating the tobacco filler filling operation four times would result in manufacture of a lot of twenty cigarettes. [0015] In another illustrative embodiment, the hopper may include four walls in the form of a rectangle, a bottom, and an open top. The receptacles may comprise a plurality of wells in the bottom of the hopper. In such an embodiment, the means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the wrappers may include a plurality of auger conveyors. Each auger conveyor is capable of spiral movement and extends from one of the receptacles into one of the wrappers. Rotation of the auger conveyors causes a portion of the tobacco filler in each well to be delivered into the hollow region of each aligned wrapper. Such a hopper may further include a mechanism for detangling the tobacco filler. [0016] In an embodiment, a delivery passageway, such as a nozzle, can be connected to each of the receptacles for guiding delivery of a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into the aligned wrappers. Each of a pre-determined number of the wrappers can be mounted on the outside surface of the nozzles. The means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers may include an adjustable tension arm in contact with an outer surface of a wrapper mounted on a nozzle. In this manner, the rate of movement of the wrappers can be controlled as a portion of tobacco filler is being delivered into the wrappers. A pressure adjustment arm may also be connected to a plurality of the adjustable tension arms. A weight can be moved along the pressure adjustment arm for applying varying degrees of pressure to the plurality of the adjustable tension arms. As such, the pressure adjustment arm and weight provide additional control of the rate of movement of the wrappers and of the portion of tobacco filler being delivered into the wrappers. [0017] In another embodiment, the means for delivering a portion of tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the wrappers may include a plurality of toothed blades. Each blade is capable of reciprocating movement and extends from one of the receptacles into one of the wrappers. Reciprocation of the blades causes a portion of the tobacco filler in each well to be delivered into the hollow region of each aligned wrapper. [0018] A second aspect of the invention relates to removal of tobacco from ends of cigarettes. Tobacco filler extending from the ends of a plurality of cigarettes can be removed by aligning a row of cigarettes and cutting that excess tobacco away from the ends of the cigarettes. After cigarettes have been manufactured using a representative embodiment of the present invention, a slight amount of tobacco filler located at the foremost lighting end of the cigarette may extend outwards from the open end of the tubular wrapper portion. That is, a slight excess amount of tobacco filler may extend beyond that region circumscribed by the tube of wrapping material. A representative embodiment of the invention can include a circular cutting blade rotating at a high speed that can be passed by the lighting end of the cigarette, at or just beyond the end of the tubular wrapper portion, in order to cut excess tobacco filler away. For example, finished cigarettes can be properly aligned in a cartridge, and a highly sharpened cutting wheel configured in a the general manner of a table saw can be aligned relative to the cartridge. The cutting wheel can be rotated at a very high rate of speed and moved past the lighting ends of those cigarettes sufficiently close so as to cut excess tobacco filler away, while not cutting or damaging the paper wrapping material at the lighting ends of those cigarettes. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, the ends of finished cigarettes positioned in a cartridge can be trimmed while those cigarettes are positioned within that cartridge. [0019] A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for loading a cartridge with pre-formed hollow tubular wrapping portions useful for the manufacture of cigarettes. Such a cartridge-loading device or assembly may include a region for supporting the cartridge in such a manner that at least a portion of the cartridge can be loaded with tubular wrapping portions. The device optionally includes a supply mechanism for supplying tubular wrapping portions to the cartridge. The device can be configured to fill the cartridge with a pre-determined number of tubular wrapping portions. In one embodiment, the supply mechanism includes an upper reservoir for receiving and containing a plurality of tubular wrapping portions, a hopper region including a plurality of downwardly extending passageways, a lower bed or tray located below the hopper region, and a transfer mechanism that facilitates transport of tubular wrappers from the bed to corresponding locations within the cartridge. The downwardly extending passageways are adapted so as to receive tubular wrapping portions. Thus, in an operation of such an embodiment, an individual tubular wrapping portion within the upper reservoir falls into each passageway of the hopper, and hence, several vertically extending columns of tubular wrapping portions are provided. Tubular wrapping portions positioned at the bottom of the supply mechanism are aligned with desired locations on the cartridge, which is positioned in a predetermined location adjacent the bottom region of the supply mechanism. A series of movable rods can be used to push the series of tubular wrapping portions from the lower bed into desired positions within the cartridge. [0020] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for packaging cigarettes. For example, one embodiment of the invention can include a device having a base that has a region for locating an open cigarette package. The device includes an upper region or platform, above the base, adapted to support a cartridge containing finished cigarettes. Below the upper platform is located a downwardly extending passageway for the passage of cigarettes from the cartridge and into the cigarette package. Removal of cigarettes from the cartridge can be accomplished by movement of the cartridge relative to the upper platform such that cigarettes within the cartridge are pushed from the cartridge and into the downwardly extending passageway, traveling thereby into the package. [0021] A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the use of the various components associated with various aspects of the present invention as a system to provide a cigarette product manufacturing assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a specific tobacco filler blend can be selected. In addition, particular pre-formed tubular wrapping portions can be selected. Empty tubular wrapping portions can be loaded into a cartridge using a cartridge-loading assembly. A cartridge carrying hollow tubular wrapping portions can be suitably positioned within the cigarette-making apparatus. Such a cigarette-making apparatus also can be fitted with a removable hopper unit containing the selected tobacco filler blend, or alternatively, the hopper unit can be appropriately positioned within the cigarette-making apparatus and then loaded with the selected tobacco filler blend. Cigarettes can be manufactured by filling tubular wrapping portions with controlled amounts of loose tobacco filler until a desired number of cigarettes are manufactured or until the cartridge is filled with manufactured cigarettes. As such, numerous cigarettes of consistent quality (e.g., in terms of components, dimensions, and weight) are produced. The cartridge, filled with manufactured cigarettes, can be removed from the cigarette-making apparatus. Any excess tobacco filler extending from the lighting ends of those cigarettes can be trimmed, in order that the various cigarettes have ends that are relatively uniform and aesthetically pleasing. The cigarettes can be transferred from the cartridge into the cigarette packaging device, where the cigarettes are loaded into a package. As such, embodiments of the present invention provide a manner or method for manufacturing and packaging relatively small quantities, lots, or batches of finished cigarettes of consistent quality in an automated fashion. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Nasal cannula Next Patent Application: Straight conveying device for vacuum Industry Class: Tobacco ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.66943 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers |
||
