WO2012051694A1

WO2012051694A1 - High speed cigarette manufacturing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2012051694A1
Application number: PCT/CA2010/001659
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Thiry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-19
Filing date: 2010-10-19
Publication date: 2012-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2013-04-19

Abstract

A method and apparatus for manufacturing "roll your own" cigarettes at a relatively high speed. The apparatus is able to produce a higher quantity of cigarettes as at least two at a time are placed on a transfer wheel (52) from which they are moved to transition tubes (68). Tobacco is ejected into the transition tubes (68) and causes the cigarette tube to be filled with tobacco. A sensor is provided to reject cigarettes which are not properly filled.

Description

HIGH SPEED CIGARETTE MANUFACTURING MACHINE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus and more particularly, relates to a method of fabricating cigarettes at a high through-put and to an apparatus for producing cigarettes at a high through-put.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The manufacture of cigarettes is well known in the art and naturally, specialized equipment is utilized by large cigarette manufacturers. However, there still exists a market for what is known as "roll your own" which is popular with some smokers as a separate purchase of the tobacco and cigarette tube is substantially cheaper than the purchase of pre- manufactured cigarettes due to the taxes imposed on the pre-manufactured cigarettes.

Typically, in the past, "roll your own" users would buy prepared cigarette papers or tubes which are well known in the art. Subsequently, the person must form a strand or a plug of tobacco which is inserted into the cigarette tube. Since the tobacco comes in bulk, it is generally separated into strands and then reformed into a continuous thin strand in order to prevent the burning tobacco from crumbling when the cigarette is smoked.

In order to overcome the problems, there have been a number of small machines which are adapted for "roll your own" users. Generally, the tobacco supply is inserted into a cavity or holding cell and the machine or apparatus will press the pre-formed tobacco strand to form a rounded tobacco strand. Subsequently, the pre-formed tobacco strand is then pressed into a cigarette tube which is positioned to receive the same.

The method for doing the above is time consuming and the quality of the cigarette is not guaranteed. Also, it becomes somewhat of a chore when each cigarette is done individually. A heavy smoker soon tires of performing the operation for each cigarette.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to manufacture "roll your own" cigarettes which can do so at a relatively high through-put.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for the manufacture of "roll your own" cigarettes, the apparatus being capable of through putting a high volume of cigarettes.

The teachings of PCT Application PCT/CA2009/000788 are hereby incorporated by reference.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of

manufacturing cigarettes comprising the steps of placing cut tobacco in a hopper, feeding the cut tobacco from the hopper to first and second forming dies each having first and second die portions, closing the first and second die portions of each of the first and second forming dies to compact the cut tobacco into first and second plugs, feeding first and second cigarette tubes from a cassette onto a rotatable transfer wheel having recesses formed therein, the cigarette tubes being retained by a vacuum, transferring the first and second cigarette tubes from the transfer wheel to first and second transition tubes respectfully, releasing slightly the first and second die portions of each of the first and second forming dies, pushing each of the first and second tobacco plugs from the first and second forming dies into a respective transition tube, detecting whether there is sufficient tobacco in each cigarette tube, and ejecting the cigarette tubes into an accepted or rejected receptacle as appropriate.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a - J - cigarette manufacturing apparatus comprising an input hopper for receiving cut tobacco strands, a first set of compacting conveyors, the first and second conveyors arranged to progressively compact tobacco which is fed therebetween, first and second forming dies, each of the forming dies having first and second portions, the forming dies being located at an output of the compacting conveyors, a door located beneath the forming dies, the door being moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein the door is adjacent the forming dies, a cigarette tube holder, the cigarette tube holder having a feed outlet therefrom, a rotatable transfer wheel located adjacent the feed outlet, the rotatable transfer wheel having a plurality of pairs of recesses formed on a circumferential surface thereof, at least some of the recesses being connected to a vacuum source through apertures in the recesses, a rotatable transfer tube wheel having a plurality of transition tubes extending outwardly therefrom, a pair of pushing rods for transferring a pair of cigarette tubes to the transition wheel, a further pair of pushing rods for pushing tobacco from the forming dies to a transition tube, and a third pair of pushing rods for ejecting filled tobacco tubes from the transition tube.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is also provided a loading mechanism for transferring empty cigarette tubes to a retaining wheel, the loading mechanism comprising a cassette for holding a plurality of cigarette tubes, an outlet opening from the cassette, the outlet opening being located proximate the retaining wheel, the outlet opening being sized to prevent a single cigarette tube to pass therethrough, a moveable member adjacent the outlet opening, the moveable member being moveable linearly from adjacent the outlet opening to a position adjacent the retaining wheel, the moveable member having a plurality of recesses formed therein, each recess being designed to receive a single cigarette tube, and a shaker mechanism to shake the cassette to prevent blockage of the opening.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, there is also provided a cigarette manufacturing apparatus comprising a loading station for receiving tobacco strands, a die formed of two half dies, at least one of the half dies being moveable between open and closed position, a transfer device to transfer tobacco from the loading station to the die, a first wheel having a plurality of transition tubes extending outwardly from a first face thereof, each of the transition tubes being hollow and having open ends, a second wheel having a plurality of recesses formed therein, a cigarette dispenser mounted adjacent the second wheel for dispensing cigarette tubes into the recesses, a first moveable member having a plurality of elongated members mounted facing a second face of the first wheel, a second moveable member having at least one elongated rod attached thereto, a drive mechanism for moving the first and second moveable member towards each other.

As aforementioned, the method and apparatus of the present invention are directed to a high through put of "roll your own" cigarettes. As such, the apparatus is not primarily intended for a single user, but rather is intended for multiple users. Typically, this would be the situation where the apparatus is located in a store or a similar environment and the user desiring the cigarettes can enter the store and either have a clerk prepare the cigarettes "to order" or alternatively the purchaser may prepare the cigarettes.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the purchaser would enter the store and there would be one or more bins of tobacco. Frequently, the nature of the tobacco is a personal preference and therefore, there might be several different types of tobacco available. The tobacco will be stored under controlled conditions so as to have a desired humidity. Typically, the humidity would be in the order of 12 to 16 percent.

Similarly, there may be a choice of tubes available to the purchaser. Such cigarette tubes are well known in the art and need not be described herein. The apparatus according to the present invention will include a container for receiving empty cigarette tubes. While a number of different arrangements may be utilized, a preferred embodiment will utilize a receptacle which may receive empty cigarette tubes and dispense them on an individual basis. To do so, the dispenser may include an opening for the cigarette tubes to be fed to the apparatus and a vibratory arrangement to ensure that they are properly fed.

The apparatus includes an input hopper into which cut tobacco strands may be placed. Since the tobacco is in bulk, it is preferably dethatched and fed to an input area for compaction. For compacting the tobacco, there can be provided a door which is moveable at the output prior to being fed to the input area for further compaction. In other words, the tobacco undergoes a first compaction prior to entering the input area. The tobacco is preferably fed to an input area which includes two conveyors which include a converging section. The two conveyors may converge throughout their length or alternatively, only one of the conveyors may be set at an angle with respect to the other. Many such arrangements may be employed.

As the conveyors converge, they tend to compact the tobacco which is then fed between two molds, at least one of which is moveable and which are arranged to form a plug of tobacco in a cylindrical configuration.

In a preferred arrangement, there is a moveable platform beneath the molds. As the tobacco is initially loaded and the conveyor belts are run to draw the tobacco downwardly and compact the same, the moveable platform is open. Once a sensor at the base of the die senses tobacco, the platform is closed. Subsequently, the belts continue to run for a predetermined period of time to supply sufficient tobacco for a pair of cigarette tubes.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the steps and components are arranged such that two cigarettes may be formed at the same time. Thus, there will be provided two molds, each of which will be fed sufficient tobacco to form a single cigarette. The cigarette tubes are fed from a container of the same. In one embodiment, the tubes are fed onto a turret or rotating transfer cylinder which retains the cigarette tubes in position by means of a vacuum. From the rotating transfer cylinder, the tubes are advanced onto a transition tube which is hollow and with a plurality of transition tubes being mounted on a transition wheel. The transition tube will include a guide end to properly guide the cigarette tube and allow for out of round cigarette tubes to be utilized.

A pair of pusher rods are then employed to transfer the molded tobacco from the mold or dies to the cigarette tubes on the transition tubes. To this end, a pusher rod will compact the tobacco in the transition tube with the cigarette tube being retained in position. Subsequently, the pusher rods will eject the filled cigarette tubes by continued pressure on the tobacco.

Should one of the transition tubes not have enough tobacco to fully fill the cigarette, there is a detector which, in one instance, will detect whether the cigarette has remained on the transition tube due to lack of tobacco. If such is the case, the pusher rod is then instructed to push for a longer stroke to eject the faulty cigarette into a separate pile for rejection.

A loading mechanism is utilized to transfer the empty cigarette tubes to a transfer or retaining wheel. In one preferred embodiment, the loading mechanism includes a cassette for holding the plurality of cigarette tubes with an outlet opening being located at a corner of the cassette. The outlet opening is designed to permit a single cigarette tube to pass therethrough. A moveable member is situated adjacent the outlet opening, the moveable member being moveable linearly from adjacent the outlet opening to a position adjacent a retaining wheel. The retaining wheel may be similar to those described above; alternatively, the retaining wheel may have recesses formed internally thereof.

In preferred embodiments, there is provided a shaker which is arranged to continually jog or shake the cassette to prevent any bridging of the cigarette tubes within the cassette. A conveyor may be utilized for conveying the cigarette tubes to the moveable member. The moveable member will have a plurality of recesses formed therein, each recess being designed to receive a single empty cigarette tube. The moveable member will then transfer the cigarette tubes to the transfer or retaining wheel.

After the cigarettes have been formed (as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow), a conveyor situated below the transition tubes will take the finished cigarettes after they are ejected to load them into a suitable container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the cigarette tube cassette mounted in position;

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating transfer of the empty cigarette tubes from the cassette to a transfer wheel; Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a transfer to the transfer wheels; Figure 5 illustrates the transfer of the empty cigarette tubes from the transfer wheel to a transition wheel;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the transfer;

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating rotation of the transfer wheel containing cigarette tubes to a filling station;

Figure 8 illustrates the position for transfer of the formed tobacco to the cigarette tubes;

Figure 9 is a larger perspective view illustrating the transfer of tobacco into the cigarette tubes;

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating rotation of the transition wheel to an ejection station; and

Figure 11 illustrates the ejection of the cigarette from the transition wheel to a container.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 13 is a side elevational view illustrating the die arrangement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 14 is a sectional view illustrating an adaptation to accommodate different length cigarettes; and

Figures 15 to 18 are side elevational views illustrating a loading mechanism for the loading of empty cigarette tubes from a cassette to a wheel; and

Figure 19 illustrates the loading mechanism and transfer wheel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated a cigarette manufacturing machine which includes a hopper generally designated by reference numeral 10 for receiving cut tobacco from a source thereof.

Situated below hopper 10 is a conveyor assembly 12 which comprises a pair of belt conveyors which converge from a wider opening at the top where it receives tobacco to a lower output. The arrangement is best seen in Figure 9 wherein hopper 10 comprises a pair of side walls 80 (only one shown), a rear wall 82 and a front wall 84. A dethatcher 88 is rotatably driven as the tobacco strands are advanced by conveyor 86.

A pair of conveyors 90, 92 converge towards the bottom and are designed to feed the tobacco strands in a compressed relationship to die assembly 14.

A die assembly 14 is situated below conveyor assembly 12 and is designed to receive the cut tobacco. Die assembly 14 includes a top die 16 and a lower die 18, each of dies 16, 18 is designed to receive tobacco from the conveyor assembly 12. The dies are formed of a first die portion 20 and a second die portion 22 having a cutting edge 24 which will cut excess tobacco in a scissor like fashion since cutting edge 24 is angled.

Situated below lower die 18 is a door 26 which is moveable between an open and a closed position. As the tobacco is initially loaded in dies 16 and 18, door 26 is in an open position distant from lower die 18. Once a sensor at the base senses the tobacco, door 26 is closed by means of hydraulic cylinder 25. A second door 15 is located at the input of conveyor assembly 12 and has a cylinder 17 for moving the door 15.

It will be noticed that there is a cylinder 28 and piston 29 for effectuating movement of die portion 20. A cylinder 30 has a pair of pistons 32, 34 which are aligned with top die 16 and lower die 18 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.

A cigarette tube feeder cassette is generally designated by reference numeral 40. Cassette 40 has a front wall 42 and a bottom wall 44 which are slightly spaced apart to permit the egress of tobacco tubes. A cam 46 is arranged to contact pin 48 on cassette 40 to impart a continual vibration thereto. Suitable drive means (not shown) are used to drive cam 46. A cover 1 is opened to permit insertion of a box of cigarette tubes

Cigarette tubes 50 are fed to a transfer wheel 52 which comprises a plurality of first recesses 54 and adjacent second recesses 56 on a circumferential surface thereof. Apertures 58 are provided in recesses 54, 56, for allowing a vacuum generated interiorly of recesses 54, 56 to hold cigarette tubes 50 on the recesses 54, 56. As previously stated, only one cigarette tube at a time is placed on transfer wheel 52 into recess 54. After a first cigarette tube has been placed in recess 54, transfer wheel 52 is quickly rotated a few degrees to allow a second tube to enter recess 56. The transfer wheel is then indexed to the next station.

As transfer wheel 52 is rotated (see Figure 3), it comes to a transfer station wherein a cylinder 60 has a pushing rod 62 for transferring a pair of cigarette tubes 50.

A transition wheel 66 has pairs of transition tubes 68, 70 as may be seen in Figure 7. As seen in Figures 5 and 6, cylinder 60 is operated such that pushing rods 62 will transfer cigarette tubes 50 from transfer wheel 52 to transition tubes 68, 70. A cylinder 71 has a pair of guide rods 73 and 75 which are designed to extend through transition tubes 68, 70. Rods 73, 75 will have a pointed end so that they will guide cigarette tubes 50 when placed on transition tubes 68, 70. Transition wheel 66 is then rotated or indexed to a filling station as shown in Figure 7. At this point, cylinder 30 is activated and pistons 32, 34 transfer tobacco from dies 16, 18 to transition tube 68,70. In order to smoothly achieve the same, first die portion 20 and second die portion 22 are "backed off a slight distance to permit the easy pushing of the tobacco plugs into cigarette tubes 50.

Subsequently, and as shown on Figures 10 and 1 1, transition wheel 66 is indexed or rotated to an ejection station where cylinder 72 will push ejection rods 74 to eject the completed cigarettes.

As previously stated, at the ejection station, the cigarettes are removed from transition tubes 68, 70. Assuming that the tubes are completely filled, they will be removed from transition tube 68, 70 and collected at a collecting device (not shown). If, however, there is not enough tobacco in one of the cigarette tubes 50, it will remain on the transition tube. A sensor 100 will then communicate with cylinder 72 to cause ejection rods 74 to extend further and to send the malformed cigarette tube to a rejection station.

Turning to the embodiment of Figures 12 to 14, there is illustrated a cigarette manufacturing apparatus generally designated by reference numeral 110. Apparatus 1 10 has many similar components to that of the previously described embodiment and thus not all portions are described in detail although like references numerals are utilized.

Apparatus 1 10 includes frame 1 12 and a hopper 1 14 similar to that described with respect to the embodiment of Figure 1. Hopper 114 feeds a conveyor assembly 116 also similar to the previously described embodiment. A servo motor 1 18 serves as a drive mechanism for many of the components described herein. As may be seen, there is a plate 120 with a plurality of transition tubes 122 extending outwardly therefrom. A first set of pusher rods 124 are designed to transfer empty cigarette tubes to transition tubes 122 while a second set of pusher rods 126 are designed to transfer the tobacco into transition tubes 122.

There is also provided a wheel 128 which has a plurality of recesses 130 therein, each recess being designed to receive an empty cigarette tube in the manner set forth with respect to the first embodiment. Thus, recesses 130 may be provided with apertures with a vacuum being supplied to retain the cigarette tubes within recesses 130.

A cigarette tube cassette 132 is also provided as described in the first embodiment and is arranged to feed empty cigarette tubes to recesses 130.

The die of this embodiment is illustrated in Figure 13 and includes a pair of half dies 134, 136. As will be seen from Figure 13, half die 134 has a pair of cutting edges 138 and 140 for cutting the tobacco which is fed thereto from conveyor assembly 1 16. A motor 142 is connected to an arm 144 having a pivot point 146 to open and close half die 136. As in the previously described arrangement, a door 148 is moveable from a position underneath the die to an open position to permit discharge of any left over tobacco.

In the embodiment of Figure 12, a first moveable member 149 has mounted thereon a first pair of elongated members or rods 150. Rods 150 are aligned with a pair of transition tubes 122 and are designed to act as a guide when the transition tube receives a cigarette tube thereon. Thus, rods 150 will extend past the end of transition tubes 122 and will have a conical end. A second pair of rods 151 are aligned with the recesses in dies 134, 136 to push the tobacco into cigarette tubes.

A third set of rods 152 are also mounted on moveable member 149 and are designed to reject any cigarette tubes which do not have a full allotment of tobacco. As they are required to extend further, there is provided a rack and pinion gear arrangement 153 which will cause rods 152 to move at twice the speed of the other rods which rely only on the movement of plate 149. In other words, with the rack and pinion gear arrangement 153 as shown in Figure 12, the movement of the rack will cause the two gear wheels to rotate and which gear wheels control the pusher rods 152 and the distance they travel. By proper sizing of the rack gears, the desired length of movement can easily be achieved.

At the other end, there is provided a second moveable member 154 which will move a first set of elongated members which will push cigarette tubes from recesses 130 onto the transition tubes. A second set of rods 155 will act as a back up for the filter of the cigarette tubes while the tubes are being filled with tobacco. Servo motor 51 drives both moveable members 149 and 154.

The above arrangement may also use a still further set of elongated members for purposes of cleaning the transition tubes as was described in the previous embodiment. It will also be understood that many of the frame components and the like are not illustrated in the drawings for purposes of clarity. As shown in Figure 14, springs 161 may be used to accommodate different length tubes 162. Thus, the cigarettes typically come with one of two preset lengths for the filter. The compacted springs 161 shown in the lower portion of Figure 14 are utilized when tubes 1 2 have a longer filter.

The latterly described embodiment is useful in that it does not require the use of multiple cylinders and the like. Rather, by mounting the components on a moveable walllike member, fewer components are utilized. It will be understood that the use of terms like wheel, moveable member, are merely for purposes of description. Thus, instead of wheel per se, other similar members of different shapes may be employed.

A different version of an empty cigarette tube loader is broadly illustrated in

Figures 16 to 19 and reference will now be had thereto. The cigarette tube loader of Figure 19 is designed to load four tubes at once to a wheel 156. To this end, in wheel 156 there are provided sets of four apertures 158 which are fed from a cigarette tube cassette 160. A plurality of cigarette tubes 162 are mounted within cassette 160 with a discharge opening 164 being located at the bottom. For purposes of clarity, some of the elements shown in Figures 16 to 19 are not shown.

A conveyor 166 is provided in this instance to ensure the proper discharge of the cigarette tubes 162. Conveyor 166 comprises a belt 168 entrained about shafts 170, 171. On shaft 171 there is mounted a drive wheel 172 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.

A transfer arm 174 is linearly driven by a shaft 176 connected to cylinder 178.

Transfer arm 174 includes a plurality of recesses (four) 180 which are partially defined by a hooked portion 182 to thereby define a somewhat U-shaped recess 180.

Transfer arms 174 also include a plurality of undulations 184 at a proximal end thereof. The undulations 184 are designed to act as a shaker in conjunction with rocker 186. Member 185 ensures proper placement of tubes 162.

As will be seen, transfer am 174 is designed to align with apertures 158 in wheel 156 from where they can be transferred thereto by means of a pusher rod arrangement. On the return to its original position, transfer arm 174 is moved outwardly from a pivot point 188 by member 190.

Transfer arm 174 is substantially linearly driven and while it is moving, it will contact drive wheel 172 to thereby impart movement to conveyor belt 168. As previously noted, the movement of transfer arm 174 will also cause undulations 184 to move rocker 186 and thereby act as a shaker for cassette 160. As shown in the drawings, wheel 156 may have apertures 158 formed therein.

Alternatively, apertures 158 may be formed on the outer surface or rim of the wheel as in the previously described embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four cigarette tubes which are transferred in a single motion. It will be understood that the arrangement could be utilized for fewer or greater numbers of cigarette tubes.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1. A method of manufacturing cigarettes comprising the steps of:

placing cut tobacco in a hopper (10);

feeding said cut tobacco from said hopper (10) to first and second forming dies (20, 22) each having first and second die portions (16, 18);

closing said first and second die portions of each of said first and second forming dies (20, 22) to compact said cut tobacco into first and second plugs;

feeding first and second cigarette tubes (50) from a cassette (40) onto a rotatable transfer wheel (52) having recesses (54, 56) formed therein, said cigarette tubes (50) being retained by a vacuum;

transferring said first and second cigarette tubes (54, 56) from said transfer wheel (52) to first and second transition tubes (68) respectfully;

releasing slightly said first and second die portions of each of said first and second forming dies (20, 22);

pushing each of said first and second tobacco plugs from said first and second forming dies into a respective transition tube (68);

detecting whether there is sufficient tobacco in each cigarette tube; and

ejecting said cigarette tubes into an accepted or rejected receptacle as appropriate.

2. The method of Claim lwherein the step of feeding said cut tobacco from said hopper comprises feeding said cut tobacco between a first conveyor assembly, said conveyor pair comprising first and second conveyors (90, 92) in a converging configuration to compact said cut tobacco.

3. The method of Claim 2 further including the step of sensing when said tobacco is present at said forming dies and operating said pair of conveyors (90, 92) for a predetermined period of time following said sensing of tobacco.

4. The method of Claim 2 further comprising the step of closing a door (26) beneath said forming dies when said tobacco is sensed.

5. The method of Claim 1 further including the step of placing a stop against said cigarette tubes when pushing said first and second plugs from said first and second forming dies into a respective transition tube.

6. A cigarette manufacturing apparatus comprising:

an input hopper (10) for receiving cut tobacco strands;

a first set of compacting conveyors (90, 92), said first and second conveyors arranged to progressively compact tobacco which is fed therebetween;

first and second forming dies (18, 20), each of said forming dies having first and second recesses (16, 18), said forming dies being located at an output of said compacting conveyors (90, 92);

a door (26) located beneath said forming dies, said door being moveable between an open position and a closed position wherein said door is adjacent said forming dies (18, 20); a cigarette tube holder (40), said cigarette tube holder having a feed outlet therefrom; a rotatable transfer wheel (52) located adjacent said feed outlet, said rotatable transfer wheel having a plurality of pairs of recesses (54, 56) formed on a circumferential surface thereof, at least some of said recesses (54, 56) being connected to a vacuum source through apertures (58) in said recesses;

a rotatable transition wheel (66) having a plurality of transition tubes (68) extending outwardly therefrom; a pair of pushing rods (62) for transferring a pair of cigarette tubes to said transition wheel from said transfer wheel;

a further pair of pushing rods (32, 34) for pushing tobacco from said forming dies to a transition tube (68) and to said cigarette tubes; and

a sensor to detect when said tobacco does not fill a cigarette tube.

7. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 6 further including a second sensor located adjacent said first and second forming dies to sense the presence of tobacco.

8. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said input hopper includes a dethatcher (88) for separating tobacco strands prior to entering said compacting

conveyors (90, 92).

9. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 6 wherein said plurality of transition tubes (68) are arranged in pairs, said transition tubes being parallel and vertical with respect to each other when receiving tobacco from said forming dies.

10. A loading mechanism for transferring empty cigarette tubes to a retaining

wheel (156), the loading mechanism comprising:

a cassette (160) for holding a plurality of cigarette tubes (162) , an outlet opening from said cassette, said outlet opening being located proximate the retaining wheel (156), the outlet opening being sized to prevent a single cigarette tube to pass therethrough;

a moveable member (174) adjacent said outlet opening, said moveable member being moveable linearly from adjacent the outlet opening to a position adjacent the retaining wheel (156), the moveable member having (174) a plurality of recesses (180) formed therein, each recess (180) being designed to receive a single cigarette tube; and

a shaker mechanism (186) to shake the cassette to prevent blockage of the opening.

1 1. The loading mechanism of Claim 10 wherein said cassette has a rocker member (186), said moveable member (174) being designed to contact said rocker member (186) to thereby jog said cassette (160).

12. The loading mechanism of Claim 11 wherein said moveable member has said recesses (180) at a distal end thereof, said moveable member having undulations (184) at a proximal end thereof, said undulations (184) contacting said rocker member (186) during movement of said moveable member.

13. The transfer mechanism of Claim 10 wherein said moveable member (174) is moveable to a position wherein said recesses (180) line up with recesses (158) in said retaining wheel (156).

14. The loading mechanism of Claim 10 further including a conveyor (166) mounted proximate said cassette.

15. The loading mechanism of Claim 14 wherein said conveyor (166) has a pair of axles (170, 171), a friction wheel (172) mounted on one of said axles (171), said friction wheel (1 2) contacting said moveable member during movement thereof.

16. A cigarette manufacturing apparatus comprising:

a loading station (10) for receiving tobacco strands;

a die formed of two half dies (18, 20), at least one of said half dies being moveable between open and closed position;

a transfer device (12) to transfer tobacco from said loading station to said die;

a first wheel (66) having a plurality of transition tubes (68) extending outwardly from a first face thereof, each of said transition tubes (68) being hollow and having open ends; a second wheel (52) having a plurality of recesses (54, 56) formed therein; a cigarette dispenser (40) mounted adjacent said second wheel for dispensing cigarette tubes into said recesses;

a first moveable member (149) having a plurality of elongated members (150, 151) mounted facing a second face of said first wheel;

a second moveable member (154) having at least one elongated rod (155) attached thereto;

a drive mechanism for moving said first and second moveable member towards each other.

17. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 16 wherein a first pair of elongated members (150) are designed to align with a first pair of transition tubes (68) at a first station, said first pair of elongated members extending past an end of said transition tubes to act as a guide for placing empty cigarette tubes thereon.

18. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 17 wherein a second pair (151) of elongated members function to push tobacco from said die into said transition tubes (68).

19. The cigarette manufacturing apparatus of Claim 18 wherein a third pair (152) of elongated members are aligned with a pair of transition tubes to eject cigarette tubes remaining on said transition tubes.