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

Abstract

A device that can be designed and used manually, partially automatically or fully automatically for packing a cigarette tube with a metered, precise amount of tobacco that leads to a consistent filling of the tube to an even and complete density such that the burning rate and continuity are consistently the same, regardless of the cut of tobacco being used, and independent of operator control variables.

1 . A device for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco, comprising: a hopper for holding loose tobacco; a movable metering member for moving loose tobacco from the hopper to a compression chamber; a moveable compression member for compressing the loose tobacco in the compression chamber; and a movable injection member for injecting the compressed tobacco from the compression chamber to a cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber. 
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member, the compression member, and the injection member are respectively automated in their movement by a metering motor, a compression motor, and an injection motor. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first switch actuatable by the compression member for determining whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been compressed in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a second switch for determining whether the compression member has moved to a compression position. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , further comprising a control unit for querying the first switch only after the second switch has been engaged. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein compression member is moveable along a first axis to a compression position, and wherein the compression member is coupled to the compression motor by a spring which allows compression position to vary along the first axis in response to a load provided by the tobacco in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the variance in the compression position in response to the load selectively changes the status of a first switch. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a second switch for determining whether the compression member has moved to a compression position. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising a control unit for querying the first switch only after the second switch has been engaged. 
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for determining whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been compressed in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the metering member reciprocates through a plurality of strokes to move the loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a control unit for automating the movement of the metering member, the compression member, and the injection member in sequence in accordance with an algorithm. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the algorithm is further capable of assessing whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been compressed in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the algorithm provides for additional metering by the metering member if an insufficient quantity of tobacco has been assessed. 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member is automated in its movement by a first motor, and wherein the compression and injection members are automated in their movement by a second motor. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the second motor drives an arm which moves the injection member after moving the compression member. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member is automated in its movement by a metering motor. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the compression member and injection member are manually moveable. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the compression member and injection member are manually moveable by a rotatable crank arm. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein rotation of the crank arm moves the injection member after moving the compression member. 
   
   
       21 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member, compression member, and injection member are manually moveable. 
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the compression member and injection member are manually moveable by a rotatable crank arm. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein rotation of the crank arm moves the injection member after moving the compression member. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member reciprocates through a plurality of strokes to move the loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the metering member is moveable by a motor. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the metering member is moveable by a rotating crank arm. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the metering member, the compression member, and the injection member are moveable along axes that are all orthogonal to each other. 
   
   
       28 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the compression member is coupled to a gripping member for firmly holding the cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber. 
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a gripping member for firmly holding the cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the injection member is coupled to a shuttle. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the shuttle is spring biased, and injecting the compressed tobacco from the compression chamber to a cigarette tube comprises stretching the spring. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein the shuttle is coupled to a motor to move the injection member. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising means for biasing the loose tobacco downward in the hopper. 
   
   
       34 . A device for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco, comprising: a hopper for holding loose tobacco; a movable first member for moving loose tobacco from the hopper to a compression chamber and for compressing the loose tobacco in the compression chamber; and a movable injection member for injecting the compressed tobacco from the compression chamber to a cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first member and the injection member are respectively automated in their movement by a first motor and an injection motor. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a first switch actuatable by the first member for determining whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been compressed in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 36 , further comprising a second switch for determining whether the first member has moved to a compression position. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 37 , further comprising a control unit for querying the first switch only after the second switch has been engaged. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein first member is moveable along a first axis to a compression position, and wherein the first member is coupled to the first motor by a spring which allows compression position to vary along the first axis in response to a load provided by the tobacco in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the variance in the compression position in response to the load selectively changes the status of a first switch. 
   
   
       41 . The device of  claim 40 , further comprising a second switch for determining whether the first member has moved to a compression position. 
   
   
       42 . The device of  claim 41 , further comprising a control unit for querying the first switch only after the second switch has been engaged. 
   
   
       43 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising means for determining whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been compressed in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       44 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the first member reciprocates through a plurality of strokes to move the loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber. 
   
   
       45 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a control unit for automating the movement of the first member and the injection member in sequence in accordance with an algorithm. 
   
   
       46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein the algorithm is further capable of assessing whether a sufficient quantity of tobacco has been compressed in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein the algorithm provides for additional metering by the first member if an insufficient quantity of tobacco has been assessed. 
   
   
       48 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first member and injection member are manually moveable. 
   
   
       49 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first member reciprocates through a plurality of strokes to move the loose tobacco from the hopper to the compression chamber. 
   
   
       50 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the first member and the injection member are moveable along axes that are orthogonal to each other. 
   
   
       51 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising a gripping member for firmly holding the cigarette tube in communication with the compression chamber. 
   
   
       52 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the injection member is coupled to a shuttle. 
   
   
       53 . The device of  claim 34 , further comprising means for biasing the loose tobacco downward in the hopper. 
   
   
       54 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the compression chamber is essentially cylindrical and has a gap on its upper surface, and wherein the first member has an edge which interfaces with the compression chamber at the gap. 
   
   
       55 . The device of  claim 54 , wherein the edge of the first member is semicircular. 
   
   
       56 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the metering motor includes a gear, and wherein the metering member includes a rack coupled to the gear for automated movement of the metering member. 
   
   
       57 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the metering motor includes an eccentrically located pin, and wherein the metering member includes a slot coupled to the eccentrically located pin for automated movement of the metering member. 
   
   
       58 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the compression motor includes a cam member, and wherein the compression member is coupled to the cam member for automated movement of the compression member. 
   
   
       59 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the compression motor includes a drive screw, and wherein the compression member includes a threaded member coupled to the drive screw for automated movement of the compression member. 
   
   
       60 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the injection motor includes a gear, and wherein the injection member includes a rack coupled to the gear for automated movement of the injection member. 
   
   
       61 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first motor includes a gear, and wherein the metering member includes a rack coupled to the gear for automated movement of the metering member. 
   
   
       62 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first motor includes an eccentrically located pin, and wherein the metering member includes a slot coupled to the eccentrically located pin for automated movement of the metering member. 
   
   
       63 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the second motor includes a cam member, wherein the compression member is coupled to the cam member for automated movement of the compression member. 
   
   
       64 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the first motor includes a gear, and wherein the first member includes a rack coupled to the gear for automated movement of the first member. 
   
   
       65 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the first motor includes an eccentrically located pin, and wherein the first member includes a slot coupled to the pin for automated movement of the first member. 
   
   
       66 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the injection motor includes a gear, and wherein the injection member includes a rack coupled to the gear for automated movement of the injection member