Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes

Abstract

A device and method for trimming tobacco filler from the ends of cigarettes that are supported by a cartridge. The device provides a blade for cutting the tobacco filler.

1 . A device for cutting tobacco filler from the ends of cigarettes, the device comprising: 
 (a) a platform configured for holding a cigarette-containing cartridge; and    (b) a cutting mechanism including a blade and configured for trimming tobacco filler extending from lighting ends of cigarettes supported by the cigarette-containing cartridge.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a grooved ledger that is configured for holding cigarettes on the cigarette-containing cartridge substantially parallel during an operation of the device.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the ledger comprises a grooved upper ledger bar configured to align with a grooved lower ledger bar.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the grooved upper ledger bar is hingedly connected to the grooved lower ledger bar.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a motor for moving the blade, the motor being mechanically connected to the blade.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a slide mechanism configured to allow the motor to be moved parallel to a longitudinal axis of the platform, 
 the slide mechanism comprising 
 at least one sleeve bearing attached to the motor;  
 at least one rod mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform; and  
 the sleeve bearing being in slidable mechanical communication with the rod such that the motor is slidably movable along a length of the rod.  
   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the slide mechanism is configured such that, during an operation of the device when a cigarette-containing cartridge is in place on the platform, the blade will cut tobacco filler of cigarettes supported by the cigarette-containing cartridge without cutting wrapping material of the cigarettes.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the platform comprises a grooved ledger that is configured for holding cigarettes on the cigarette-containing cartridge substantially parallel during an operation of the device.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the ledger comprises a grooved upper ledger bar configured to align with a grooved lower ledger bar.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the grooved upper ledger bar is hingedly connected to the grooved lower ledger bar.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein, the slide mechanism is configured such that, during an operation of the device the blade maintains a pre-determined minimum distance away from the ledger.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the pre-determined distance is about 1 mm.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the pre-determined distance is about 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the blade is a circular cutting blade and, during an operation of the device, the motor rotates the blade.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a removable receptacle below the platform.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , comprising a blade housing configured to cover a portion the blade without interfering with an operation of the blade.  
     
     
         17 . A method for cutting tobacco filler from the ends of cigarettes, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a cigarette-trimming device, the device comprising: 
 (i) a platform configured to support a cigarette-containing cartridge;  
 (ii) a rotatable blade actuated by a motor, the blade being configured to travel parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cigarette-containing cartridge;  
   (b) positioning a cigarette-containing cartridge upon a device, the cigarettes being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette-containing cartridge and oriented such that tobacco filler protruding from the lighting ends of those cigarettes extends across a path of the rotatable blade; and    (c) actuating the blade and moving the blade to trim the tobacco filler.