Device for filling a cigarette tube with a metered amount of tobacco

Abstract

Devices for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco are disclosed. In one aspect, the devices contain separate metering, compression, and injection mechanisms, which may be manual, partially automatic, or fully automatic. The metering mechanisms move a proper amount of tobacco to a compression chamber, where the tobacco is thereafter compressed for eventual injection. In some embodiments, means are provided for assessing whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been metered into the compression chamber, and if not, further metering is accomplished prior to injection. In another aspect, the metering and compression mechanisms are combined into a single mechanism to the same effect. In yet another aspect, a loader for holding cigarette tubes is provided that can be manually operated or fully automated.

1 . A device for filling a plurality of cigarette tubes with tobacco, comprising: 
 a hopper for holding loose tobacco;    a loader for holding a plurality of cigarette tubes, the loader being movable to position each of the cigarette tubes in communication with a compression chamber of the device;    a movable assembly for moving loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber and for compressing the loose tobacco in the compression chamber; and    an injector for moving the compressed tobacco from the compression chamber to a cigarette tube held in the loader and positioned in communication with the compression chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for automating the movement of the loader.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a moveable arm for moving the moveable loader, the moveable arm being moveable in a first direction by movement of the moveable assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the moveable loader is rotatable, and wherein movement of the moveable arm in the first direction rotates the loader.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the moveable arm comprises a releasable catch holding the moveable arm in the first direction.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein movement of the moveable injector releases the releasable catch.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable loader is manually operated.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator moving the moveable loader to position the cigarette tubes in communication with the compression chamber.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the loader comprises a cylinder having one end positioning adjacent the compression chamber and defining a plurality of chambers for holding the cigarette tubes.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the end of the loader positioning adjacent the compression chamber defines a circumferential groove, and wherein the device comprises a plurality of wheels attached to the device and engaging the circumferential groove of the loader to hold the loader on the device.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the wheels is movable for removal of the loader from the device.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for ensuring alignment of a chamber of the loader with the injector.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable assembly comprises: 
 a movable metering member for moving loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber, and    a moveable compression member for compressing the loose tobacco in the compression chamber.    
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable assembly comprises a first moveable member for both moving loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber and compressing the loose tobacco in the compression chamber.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the movable assembly comprises: 
 a first plate coupled to a motor for moving the movable assembly along a first axis to a compression position, and    a second plate coupled to the first plate by a biasing member which allows the compression position of the second plate to vary along the first axis in response to a load produced by tobacco in the compression chamber.    
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the biasing member comprises a leaf spring coupled to the second plate, and wherein the first plate comprises tabs to engage the leaf spring on the second plate.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a switch for determining the variance in the compression position of the second plate in response to the load.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism for varying the location of the switch, comprising: 
 a pivotable linkage having the switch attached thereto and having a cam surface, and    a rotatable knob having an eccentric surface for engaging the cam surface,    wherein a portion of the second plate is capable of engaging the switch to change the status of the switch.    
     
     
         19 . A device for filling at least one cigarette tube with tobacco, comprising: 
 a hopper for holding loose tobacco;    a movable assembly for moving loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber and for compressing the loose tobacco in the compression chamber, the movable assembly comprising a first plate and a second plate stacked adjacent one another, the second plate being movable relative to the first plate; and    an injector for moving the compressed tobacco from the compression chamber to the cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber.    
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a loader for holding the at least one cigarette tube, the moveable loader being moveable to position the cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein movement of the movable assembly moves the moveable loader.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the movable assembly and the injector are respectively automated in their movement by a first motor and an injection motor.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the first plate is coupled to a motor for moving the movable assembly along a first axis to a compression position, and    the second plate is coupled to the first plate by a biasing member which allows the compression position of the second plate to vary along the first axis in response to a load produced by tobacco in the compression chamber.    
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the biasing member comprises a leaf spring coupled to the second plate, and wherein the first plate comprises tabs to engage the leaf spring on the second plate.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , comprising a scotch yoke coupling the first plate to the motor.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the scotch yoke defines a delay causing the movable assembly to linger in the compression position.  
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising a first switch for determining whether the moveable assembly has moved to the compression position.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , further comprising a second switch for determining the variance in the compression position of the second plate in response to the load.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism for varying a location of the second switch, the adjustment mechanism comprising: 
 a pivotable linkage having the second switch attached thereto and having a cam surface, and    a rotatable knob having an eccentric surface for engaging the cam surface,    wherein a portion of the second plate is capable of actuating the second switch to change the status of the second switch.    
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , further comprising a control unit for querying the second switch only after the first switch has been actuated.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a control unit for automating movement of the moveable assembly and the injector in sequence in accordance with an algorithm.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , wherein the control unit provides for additional metering by the moveable assembly if an insufficient quantity of tobacco has been assessed.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the moveable assembly reciprocates through a plurality of strokes to move the loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber.