Cigar Mold Tamping Device for Air Draw and Shape Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for forming cigar-shaped smoking articles from loose materials, such as tobacco or cannabis, face challenges in achieving the right density for air draw and maintaining shape, as they often result in inconsistent products due to manual winding and compression techniques.
Innovation Solution
A molding device comprising a mold with a pocket and a tamping device that allows for the compression of smoking materials into a cigar shape while creating a through-bore for air flow, using a rod and handle mechanism to ensure consistent density and shape retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If smoking material is tightly compressed within a mold to maintain shape, form and size, then shape retention is improved, but air draw capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the compressed smoking material into two functional zones: an outer shell layer that maintains shape and structure, and an inner core material that provides air permeability. This segmentation allows the outer layer to be densely packed for shape retention while the inner core remains sufficiently loose to enable air draw through the article.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different compression densities to different regions of the smoking material. The outer shell is compressed to high density for structural integrity and shape maintenance, while the inner core is maintained at lower density to preserve air permeability characteristics necessary for proper air draw and combustion.
2Ease of operation
If manual winding and wrapping methods are used to form cigar-shaped articles, then flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the manual mechanical winding and wrapping process with a mold-based compression system. The mold provides precise geometric constraints that ensure consistent cigar shape, dimensions, and density across all produced articles, eliminating the variability inherent in manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention controls critical parameters such as compression force, material density, and dimensional specifications through the mold design and compression process. This parameter control ensures that each produced article meets consistent specifications for shape, size, and density, significantly improving manufacturing precision compared to manual methods.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If loose smoking material is used to facilitate air draw, then air draw capability is improved, but shape retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the smoking material into an outer shell layer and an inner core. The outer shell is densely compressed to maintain shape and structure, while the inner core is kept looser to provide adequate air permeability. This segmentation resolves the conflict between shape retention and air draw capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure within the single article, combining densely packed outer shell material with looser inner core material. This composite approach allows different regions to fulfill different functions: the outer shell provides structural integrity while the inner core ensures proper air flow and combustion characteristics.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the creation of cigar-shaped smoking articles with optimal air draw and consistent shape, addressing the issues of manual winding and compression variability by providing a precise method for forming and compressing materials within a mold.
Implementation Method 1
tightly pack it within a mold... substantially compress it with a tamping device
Implementation Method 2
creating a through-bore or channel through the product to facilitate air draw through the final cigar product
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device and method for forming a cigar shaped object. A mold is provided having at least one cigar shaped pocket, a rod aligned within the pocket and a separate tamping device. The tamping device has a stem and handle with a bore in the stem larger than the diameter of the rod. Tobacco or other smoking material is placed in the pocket and the tamping device is used to compress the material which forms a cigar-shaped tube by placing the tamping device onto the rod and repeatedly moving it up and down to tamp or compress the material. The rod, when removed, creates a bore through the smoking material to improve and control air draw. After removal from the mold, the packed smoking material may be wrapped in any appropriate wrapper material.