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Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes

a technology of apparatus and cigarettes, applied in the field of cigarettes, can solve the problems of time, inconvenience, and/or some specialized equipment, and achieve the effects of reducing the risk of smoking, and improving the quality of cigarettes

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-01-11
R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about an apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes automatically. The apparatus includes a device for manufacturing cigarettes from tobacco and pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. The device has a hopper region for receiving and containing loose tobacco filler, and downwardly extending passageways for the tobacco filler to pass through. The device also includes a compression mechanism for arranging the tobacco filler in a consistent and controlled manner. The apparatus can produce cigarettes with consistent quality and can manufacture a large number of cigarettes simultaneously. Additionally, the invention includes a device for removing excess tobacco filler from the ends of cigarettes and a cartridge-loading device for pre-formed tubular wrapping portions.

Problems solved by technology

While this approach allows a consumer to produce a variety of his own cigarettes, the making process requires a certain degree of skill, time, inconvenience, and / or some specialized equipment.

Method used

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  • Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes
  • Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes
  • Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0052] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an automated device or apparatus 10 for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes 13 by filling pre-formed filtered tubular wrappers 21 with loose tobacco filler (not shown). For the embodiment shown, the automated cigarette-making apparatus is designed to concurrently manufacture five cigarettes by simultaneously filling the hollow portions of five pre-formed tubular wrappers with five cylindrical charges formed from loose tobacco filler. (The terms “tubular wrapper” and “tubular wrapping portion” may be used interchangeably)

[0053] The cigarette manufacturing apparatus 10 includes a lower base 31, which can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, brass or aluminum), plastic (e.g., polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, acrylate / butadiene / styrene or ABS type plastic, nylon, or other suitable polymeric material), composite material (e.g., a graphite-based ceramic), or like material; but preferably is ma...

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PUM

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Abstract

Small quantities of cigarettes may be manufactured in a substantially simultaneous fashion while maintaining consistent quality between the cigarettes using the disclosed apparatus and methods. The apparatus and method include features for simultaneously inserting charges of tobacco into pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers. In another aspect, a system enables making cigarettes from pre-formed tubular cigarette wrappers and pre-packaged charges of tobacco.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11 / 143,888; 11 / 143,889; 11 / 143,923; and 11 / 143,930; each filed Jun. 1, 2005; and Ser. No. 11 / 375,700, filed Mar. 14, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] 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 [0003] 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 rel...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A24C5/00
CPCA24C5/06A24C5/12B65B19/20B26D1/18B26D3/161A24C5/40
Inventor HICKS, DOUGLAS R.THOMAS, TIMOTHY FREDERICKBARNES, VERNON BRENTNELSON, JOHN LARKIN
Owner R J REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY
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