Cigarette-making machine

Abstract

In one embodiment, a cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type includes an improvement being a handgrip that provides improved ergonomics to a user of the machine. The handgrip is configured to project upward from a top surface of the housing of the machine to position the user's hand distal from the compacting chamber and the hollow nipple, thereby preventing potential user injuries. Furthermore, the handgrip is configured on the top surface to provide the user with a convenient location to apply a downward force to the machine to prevent the machine from sliding on a surface without damaging components of the machine. In another embodiment, a cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type includes an improvement being an adjustable volume compacting chamber. The cigarette-making machine may include a volume-adjusting member that is configured to axially partition the compacting chamber into a tobacco-receiving portion and a vacant portion.

1 . A cigarette-making machine comprising: 
 a housing including a top surface having an aperture;    an actuator that moves in an arcuate path above the top surface;    a compacting chamber within the housing, the compacting chamber in communication with the aperture;    a compacting member disposed in the compacting chamber and coupled with the actuator, the compacting member translating according to movement of the actuator;    a hollow nipple configured on the housing proximate the aperture, the hollow nipple in communication with the compacting chamber; and    a handgrip affixed to the housing, the handgrip configured distal from the arcuate path, the compacting chamber and the hollow nipple.    
   
   
       2 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 1  wherein the handgrip is configured on a left, rear portion of the top surface.  
   
   
       3 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 1  wherein the handgrip projects upward from the top surface.  
   
   
       4 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 1  wherein the handgrip comprises a generally D-shaped handle.  
   
   
       5 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 1  further comprising a volume-adjusting member insertable into the compacting chamber, the volume-adjusting member configured to partition the compacting chamber into a vacant volume and a tobacco-receiving volume proximate the hollow nipple.  
   
   
       6 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 5  further comprising a securing mechanism configured to retain the volume-adjusting member at a position along a length of the compacting chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 6  wherein the compacting member comprises: 
 a compacting surface extending along a length of the compacting chamber; and    at least one slot extending generally perpendicular from the compacting surface, wherein the volume-adjusting member includes a partition portion configured to be received in the at least one slot.    
   
   
       8 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 7  wherein the volume-adjusting member includes at least one notch configured to cooperate with the securing mechanism to align the partition portion in the at least one slot.  
   
   
       9 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 6  wherein the securing mechanism comprises: 
 a fastener configured to project through the housing proximate an end of the aperture, the fastener including a threaded portion and a head at one end of the threaded portion within the housing; and    a nut disposed on the threaded portion, the nut configured to clamp the volume-adjusting member to the housing.    
   
   
       10 . A cigarette-making machine comprising: 
 a housing including a top surface having an aperture;    an actuator that moves in an arcuate path above the top surface;    a compacting chamber within in the housing, the compacting chamber in communication with the aperture;    a compacting member disposed in the compacting chamber and coupled with the actuator, the compacting member translating according to movement of the actuator;    a hollow nipple configured on the housing proximate the aperture, the hollow nipple in communication with the compacting chamber; and    a volume-adjusting member insertable into the compacting chamber, the volume-adjusting member configured to partition the compacting chamber into a vacant volume and a tobacco-receiving volume proximate the hollow nipple.    
   
   
       11 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 10  further comprising a securing mechanism configured to retain the volume-adjusting member at a position along a length of the compacting chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 11  wherein the compacting member comprises: 
 a compacting surface extending along a length of the compacting chamber; and    at least one slot extending generally perpendicular from the compacting surface, wherein the volume-adjusting member includes a partition portion configured to be received in the at least one slot.    
   
   
       13 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 12  wherein the volume-adjusting member includes at least one notch configured to cooperate with the securing mechanism to align the partition portion in the at least one slot.  
   
   
       14 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 11  wherein the securing mechanism comprises: 
 a fastener configured to project through the housing proximate an end of the aperture, the fastener including a threaded portion and a head at one end of the threaded portion within the housing; and    a nut disposed on the threaded portion, the nut configured to clamp the volume-adjusting member to the housing.    
   
   
       15 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 14  wherein the head is configured to provide a stop to prevent movement of the actuator past an end of the arcuate path.  
   
   
       16 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 10  further comprising a handgrip affixed to the housing, the handgrip configured distal from the arcuate path, the compacting chamber and the hollow nipple.  
   
   
       17 . The cigarette-making machine of  claim 16  wherein the handgrip is configured on a left, rear portion of the top surface.  
   
   
       18 . A method of making a cigarette with an injector-type cigarette-making machine including a housing including a top surface having an aperture, an actuator that rotates in an arcuate path above the top surface, a compacting chamber within in the housing and in communication with the aperture, a compacting member disposed in the compacting chamber and coupled with the actuator for translating movement relative to rotation of the actuator, a hollow nipple in communication with the compacting chamber and configured on a side of the housing proximate the aperture, and a handgrip affixed to the housing, the handgrip configured distal from the arcuate path, the compacting chamber and the hollow nipple, the method comprising: 
 preparing the machine to accept a portion of tobacco;    disposing a portion of tobacco in the compacting chamber;    disposing a paper cigarette tube on the hollow nipple;    grasping the actuator with a first hand;    grasping the handgrip with a second hand;    applying a downward force to the handgrip with the second hand; and    moving the actuator with the first hand.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the steps of: 
 determining a size of the paper cigarette tube that is disposed on the hollow nipple;    adjusting a volume of the compacting chamber relative to the size of the paper cigarette tube determined from the determining step; and    filling the adjusted volume with tobacco.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the adjusting step comprises: 
 disposing a volume-adjusting member in the compacting chamber; and    moving the volume-adjusting member along a length of the compacting chamber to partition the compacting chamber into a vacant volume and a tobacco-receiving volume proximate the hollow nipple.