Abstract: A system and method for closing and sealing a cone is provided. One embodiment extends a first closing head in a first downward slant onto an open top of the cone filled with the smokable material to form a first fold on the top of the cone; extends a sealing head downward onto the first fold; extends a second closing head in a second downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a second fold on the top of the cone; extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold and the second fold; extends a third closing head in a third downward slant onto the open top of the cone to form a third fold on the top of the cone; and extends the sealing head downward onto the first fold, the second fold, and the third fold.

Abstract: A system and method for closing and sealing a cone filled with a smokable material provides a cone filler control system, a plurality of cone inserts each including a tapered inner wall defining a taper lock area for holding a cone filled with smokable material, and an insert ring provided at a lower end of each cone insert, each of the plurality of cone inserts removably inserted in corresponding cone receptacles residing in a cone carousel, a cone tamper actuator for compacting smokable material in a filled cone, a cone closer system including a gripper actuator for closing the cone top of the filled cone, and a cone sealing drive system including a motor with a drive wheel operated to impart a rotational force on the insert ring of each cone insert to rotate both the cone insert and a filled cone to form a wick seal at the end of the filled cone.

Abstract: A system and method for dispensing cones comprises a cone filler control system; a cone stack feed tube that receives a cone stack; a roller drive motor; a roller coupled to the roller drive motor and that is located below the cone stack feed tube outlet, wherein the roller is rotated for a predefined duration by the roller drive motor when the roller drive motor is actuated by the cone filler control system; and a cone chute located below the roller and above a cone receptacle, wherein the roller rotates to draw the leading cone out from the cone stack feed tube outlet and into the cone chute inlet in response to actuation of the roller drive motor, and wherein the leading cone travels through the cone chute into the cone receptacle after the leading cone has entered into the cone chute.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically preparing ground consumable plant material for smoking, wherein the apparatus can repeat the method quickly. The apparatus comprises an outer shell which protects the separating unit which is configured to hold the raw consumable material while simultaneously pushing micro bits of ground consumable material through small apertures, thus extracting all unwanted raw material. The separation unit further comprises a screen which the ground consumable material rolls over to aid in the collection of the consumable pollen. While the outer shell further comprises a funnel to aid in the delivery of the ground consumable material to a smoking device.

Abstract: An herb dispenser is provided. The herb dispenser includes a housing. A receptacle is secured to the housing and includes an inlet and an outlet. An herb may be placed within the receptacle. At least one electronic scale may weigh the herb. The present invention further includes a grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism includes a motor and an herb grinder disposed within the housing. The grinding mechanism includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is positioned to receive an herb from the outlet of the receptacle. The herb dispenser further includes an onboard computer to receive commands from a user and automate the electronic scale and the grinding mechanism to dispense an amount of ground herb from a first delivery port of the housing.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing inductively heatable tobacco products comprises the steps of providing a tobacco product, providing a susceptor segment and positioning the susceptor segment in the tobacco product by moving the susceptor segment and the tobacco product relative to each other. Thereby the susceptor segment is pushed into the tobacco product.

Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.

Abstract: Packing tools and systems and methods for using a packing tool to hand-make smoking products are disclosed. In some embodiments, the packing tool may include an elongate body having a first tamping end and a second tamping end opposite the first tamping end, and a handle attached to, or formed with, the elongate body. The handle may be disposed between the first and second tamping ends. The first tamping end may have a first width sized to fit within a filter end of a smoking product. The second tamping end may have a second width sized to fit within an ignition end of a smoking product. The packing tool may additionally include a single row of troughs configured to distribute material of a smoking product, a set of ruler markings proximate the first tamping end, and a paper curling portion disposed between the handle portion and second tamping end.

Abstract: This invention concerns a tube filling apparatus (10). The apparatus includes a base (40) and a filling assembly (20) mountable on the base (40). The filling assembly (20) has a number of tube receiving recesses wherein tubes may, in use, be received. The apparatus (10) further includes a vibration plate (32) which is locatable between the base (40) and the filling assembly (20). In use, the tubes rest on the vibration plate (32) when they are located in the recesses. The apparatus (10) may also include transducer such as a speaker which is connected to the vibration plate (32) for, in use, vibrating the vibration plate (32), which is capable of moving independently from the filling assembly (20). This invention also concerns a method of filling tubes.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a housing, a mandrel extending from the housing, and a movable member operably coupled to the housing and adapted to carry a first cigarette tube. The movable member is movable, relative to each of the housing and the mandrel, in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing cigarettes includes loading a first cigarette tube on a mandrel, holding the first cigarette tube on the mandrel, and inserting a push rod and a carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves into the first cigarette tube, the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves having a generally cylindrical shape. An offset distance is defined between the first cigarette tube and the mandrel after the push rod and the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves are inserted into the first cigarette tube.

Abstract: A cigarette tobacco compacting mechanism for making cigarettes in two or more different lengths having a compacting chamber for receiving loose tobacco, a compacting member mounted for reciprocal motion in the compacting chamber to compact the loose tobacco, and one or more retractable sizing members each having a tab mounted for movement across the compacting chamber for shortening the effective width of the compacting chamber to enable the compacting chamber to accommodate hollow cigarette tubes of varying lengths.

Abstract: A system for preparing smokeable material comprising a wall providing an upper chamber and a lower chamber with a grate between the chambers. Feed smokeable material in the upper chamber has its size reduced with a size reducer a sufficient amount that it can pass through the grade into the lower chamber as fill smokeable material. A support below the lower chamber is provided for supporting a wrapper. There is an opening in the lower chamber for fill smokeable material to pass into the wrapper. An axially moveable tamper can tamp the fill smokeable material in the wrapper. Biasing means bias the wall and tamper into the upper position. A mechanism is provided for moving the tamper from its upper position to its lower position against the biasing means for tamping the smokeable material in the wrapper.

Abstract: A cigarette tube injector includes a pocket casing and a cigarette filling arrangement. The pocket casing has a tobacco cavity defining a top opening for disposing tobacco leaves at the tobacco cavity, and a feeding opening for a cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat. The cigarette filling arrangement includes a feeding pusher slidably supported at the pocket casing to move along a transverse direction thereof for pushing the tobacco leaves at the tobacco cavity, and a slide spoon slidably coupled at the pocket casing at an injection direction to align with the feeding opening, wherein the feeding pusher is moved toward the slide spoon for pushing the tobacco leaves to the slide spoon, such that the slide spoon is slid for feeding the tobacco leaves at the tobacco cavity into the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening.

Abstract: A self-cleaning cigarette tobacco compacting mechanism with a compacting member mounted for reciprocal up and down motion between top and bottom plates and either a single self-cleaning slot or multiple slot portions extending across one of the plates to engage the compacting member during its up and down motion between the plates.

Abstract: A cigarette tobacco filler device includes a casing having an outlet for holding a cigarette tube in position, a plunger movably supported in said casing for delivering tobacco into the cigarette tube, and a plunger actuation unit which includes a power shaft rotatably supported in the casing to couple with the plunger and an operation handle which is pivotally extended above the top side of the casing and is arranged in such a manner that when the operation handle is pivotally moved down to the top side of the casing, the power shaft is driven to rotate so as to actuate the plunger for inserting the tobacco to the cigarette tube at the outlet.

Abstract: A self-cleaning cigarette tobacco compacting mechanism with a compacting member mounted for reciprocal up and down motion between top and bottom plates and a self-cleaning slot extending across one of the plates to engage at least one of the plates during its up and down motion between the plates.

Abstract: Embodiments provide cigarette rolling and forming devices that include parallel cylinders extending between a pair of support plates, and a looped belt trained therearound. One cylinder is moveable relative to the other via a pair of curvilinear slots, and the device is configured for alternately receiving and compressing loose tobacco into a tobacco rod with the belt. In some devices, a nozzle is provided to allow longitudinal displacement of the formed tobacco rod into a pre-formed cigarette tube, and some devices include a pushing device to effect this longitudinal displacement. Some devices include a support trough disposed to prevent sections of the belt from contacting each other, and some devices include a clamping device configured to clamp a pre-formed cigarette tube on the nozzle to prevent its dislodging during use.

Abstract: A device for filling cigarette tubes that can be designed and used manually, partially automatically, or, fully automatically for packing cigarette tubes 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, or of moisture content of the tobacco, and, independent of operator control variables.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes includes a housing, a mandrel extending from the housing, and a movable member operably coupled to the housing and adapted to carry a first cigarette tube. The movable member is movable, relative to each of the housing and the mandrel, in a first direction and a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing cigarettes includes loading a first cigarette tube on a mandrel, holding the first cigarette tube on the mandrel, and inserting a push rod and a carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves into the first cigarette tube, the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves having a generally cylindrical shape. An offset distance is defined between the first cigarette tube and the mandrel after the push rod and the carrot of pre-cut tobacco leaves are inserted into the first cigarette tube.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco comprises a base (10), a magazine chamber (2) adapted to receive a supply of tobacco (T), a lid (20) adapted to close a top of the magazine chamber (2), a filling chamber (4) adapted to receive the tobacco to be filled into a cigarette tube, a stamp (30) adapted to shape the tobacco of the filling chamber (4), and a slider arranged in the filling chamber (4) which transfers the tobacco of the filling chamber (4) into a cigarette tube supported in front of the filling chamber (4). A press-down lever (6) is connected to the stamp (30) and to a coupling mechanism in order to move the slider after actuation of the stamp (30). A pusher for forwarding the tobacco in the magazine chamber can also be coupled to the press-down lever.

Abstract: A method of transferring a portion (12) of smokable material from a casing (11) into a smokable tube (202), the method comprising advancing at least one of the casing and the portion of smokable material toward the other to advance the casing and the portion into the tube by a first distance less than the length of the space within the tube, at least partially withdrawing the casing from the tube, while holding the portion in the tube, and further driving the tobacco portion into the tube, as well as a corresponding device.

Abstract: In general, the present invention is directed to the manufacture of tobacco products, and more specifically to a common device and method to manufacture cylindrical tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and therapeutic medical products with varying diameters and geometries.

Abstract: A semi-automatic cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type including a housing with an aperture and a compacting chamber in communication with the aperture for receiving loose tobacco, a compacting member mounted for manual reciprocal up and down motion from an initial position adjacent the top of the compacting chamber toward the bottom of the compacting chamber in response to the rotation of a pair of opposed gears, and an injection spoon mounted for automatic powered reciprocal lateral movement from a rest position within the compacting chamber across the compacting chamber to transport rod-like compacted tobacco shapes past the ejection side of the compacting chamber and into a hollow cigarette tube.

Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.

Abstract: A tool that includes a handle and a head extending from the handle. A stationary shoe portion of the head levels tobacco as the tool pulls the tobacco down a chute of a cigarette-packing device and into a chamber of the cigarette-packing device. A pair of movable arm portions of the head eliminate dust of the tobacco from being pulled into the chamber of the cigarette-packing device by skipping over the dust of the tobacco being pulled down the chute of the cigarette-packing device, and packs the ends of the tobacco in the chamber of the cigarette-packing device more densely so as to form end plugs that prevent the tobacco from leaving a paper tube to thereby prevent collapsing of a finished cigarette.

Abstract: A system for self-assembly of cigarettes includes a stuffing device (50) and a tobacco package (1). The tobacco package (1) has a first end side (2) and a second end side (3), and comprises on both end sides (2, 3) a cover that protrudes for the distance. The tobacco package (1) is filled with tobacco (6). The stuffing device (50) comprises a pressing chamber (54) having a longitudinal direction, into which the tobacco (6) can be filled via a longitudinal filling opening (56), the tobacco being able to be formed into a tobacco strand by means of a pressing bar (58) that can be moved laterally to the longitudinal direction of the pressing chamber (54), and a pushing device (62) that can be transferred from the pressing chamber (54) into a cigarette paper wrap disposed in front of the pressing chamber (54) by means of a sliding device (62) that can be moved in a longitudinal direction of the pressing chamber (54).

Abstract: A self-cleaning cigarette tobacco compacting mechanism with a compacting member mounted for reciprocal up and down motion between top and bottom plates and a self-cleaning slot extending across one of the plates to engage at least one of the plates during its up and down motion between the plates.

Abstract: A cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type including a housing with an aperture and a compacting chamber in communication with the aperture for receiving loose tobacco, a compacting member mounted for reciprocal up and down motion from an initial position adjacent the top of the compacting chamber toward the bottom of the compacting chamber, an injection spoon mounted for reciprocal lateral movement from a rest position within the compacting chamber across the compacting chamber to transport rod-like compacted tobacco shapes past the ejection side of the compacting chamber, through the nipple and into a hollow cigarette tube, an electrically powered motor, and a dual purpose control disk adapted to be rotated about its axis by the motor to initially move the compacting member up and down in the compacting chamber and then to move the injection spoon across the compacting chamber as the control disk is rotated by the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a prefabricated cigarette tube includes a housing, a tobacco chamber with a tobacco holder, and a movable pressing bar configured so as to form tobacco introduced into the tobacco chamber into a tobacco strand. An abutment for an end of the tobacco strand is assigned to the tobacco holder, wherein a first length of the to be formed tobacco strand is adjustable to prefabricated cigarette tubes having different filling-cavity lengths by adjusting a second length of the pressing bar. A slider is configured to be moved relative to the housing so as to fill the prefabricated cigarette tube with the tobacco strand. The tobacco holder is displacably arranged relative to the abutment in a movement direction of the slider by a distance which approximately corresponds to the different filling-cavity lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for forming a filter rod member of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is provided. The apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit is configured to insert an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member. The method comprises forming a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member, and inserting an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member such that the adsorbent material is disposed within the rod member.

Abstract: A cigarette tobacco filler device includes a casing having an outlet for holding a cigarette tube in position, a plunger movably supported in said casing for delivering tobacco into the cigarette tube, and a plunger actuation unit which includes a power shaft rotatably supported in the casing to couple with the plunger and an operation handle which is pivotally extended above the top side of the casing and is arranged in such a manner that when the operation handle is pivotally moved down to the top side of the casing, the power shaft is driven to rotate so as to actuate the plunger for inserting the tobacco to the cigarette tube at the outlet.

Abstract: A cigarette making machine is provided with an improved securement of the nozzle member to the casing of the machine. Another improvement is through the retraction of the internally disposed tobacco compactor which is slightly retracted in the final movement position of the operating handle so as to alleviate pressure or friction on the compacted tobacco by the compactor during movement of the compacted tobacco into the cigarette paper/sleeve disposed on the nozzle.

Abstract: A device for automatically filling cigarette tubes meters out a dose of loose tobacco, feeds the dose to a press unit that presses the dose into a roll of tobacco corresponding in size to the size of a pre-manufactured paper cigarette tube. The roll is automatically injected into a paper tube. The various assemblies and units are mounted on a support structure and enclosed in a housing, so the device is safe to operate.

Abstract: Cigarette-making machines that provide improved safety and improved user ergonomics are disclosed. A disclosed example cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type includes a faceted handgrip that projects upward from a top surface of the machine and partially encloses a pivot axis of an actuator. The faceted handgrip being configured to enable a user to apply a counter-rotational force to the machine to prevent the machine from sliding on a surface as the actuator is operated. In a disclosed embodiment, the faceted handgrip includes a knob having a plurality of facets and a semi-circular riser integrally formed between the knob and the top surface, an axis of the knob substantially coinciding with the pivot axis of the actuator. The semi-circular riser may circularly extend around or partially enclose an end of a shaft and a nut that couples an end of the actuator to the shaft.

Abstract: Cigarette rolling and forming devices include parallel cylinders extending between a pair of support plates, and a looped belt trained therearound. One cylinder is moveable relative to the other for alternately receiving and compressing loose tobacco into a tobacco rod with the belt. In some devices, a pair of slots allows movement of the cylinder, and guard plates are disposed to prevent tobacco from the belt from entering the slots. Some devices include two pairs of slots and two moveable cylinders. Some devices include a support trough disposed to prevent sections of the belt from contacting each other. Some devices include a folding device configured to engage and fold the edge of a piece of paper received between the cylinders and rolled around the tobacco rod. Some devices include a nozzle to retain a pre-formed tube and a pushing device adapted to push a formed tobacco rod into the tube.

Abstract: A crank type cigarette tube injector, for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube, includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the housing, and a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than two cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and improved portability.

Abstract: A crank type cigarette tube injector, for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube, includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the housing, and a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than two cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and improved portability.

Abstract: A cigarette injector for loading tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing, an electric motor having an output shaft and a cigarette filling arrangement. The cigarette filling arrangement includes an elongated injection tube having a supplying end communicating with the tobacco cavity and a dispensing end for the cigarette paper tube encircling therewith, and an elongated tobacco feeder, which has a helicoid shape, having a driving end being driven to rotate via the output shaft of the electric motor and a feeding end extended within the injection tube through the tobacco cavity, wherein the tobacco feeder is driven to rotate for loading the tobacco leaves within the tobacco cavity into the cigarette paper tube through the injection tube.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for forming a filter rod member of a smoking article, such as a cigarette, is provided. The apparatus comprises a rod-forming unit configured to form a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member. An insertion unit is configured to insert an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member. The method comprises forming a continuous supply of a filter material into a continuous cylindrical rod member, and inserting an adsorbent material carried by a carrier material into the rod member such that the adsorbent material is disposed within the rod member.

Abstract: A cigarette-making machine of the tobacco-injecting type is provided that includes a tamper-holding mechanism. In one aspect, the tamper-holding mechanism provides for positively holding the tamper in its fully-retracted position. The tamper-holding mechanism includes a tamper-engaging member with a tamper-engaging portion and a bias. The side of the tamper includes a shoulder or projection that releasably interference couples with the tamper-engaging portion. In a first embodiment, the tamper-holding mechanism includes a tamper-engaging portion with a generally triangular-shaped body having a vertex that is urged against the side to releasably interference couple with the shoulder or projection on the side of the tamper. In another embodiment, the tamper-holding mechanism includes a tamper-engaging portion with a generally pentagonal-shaped body which is retained by a generally square U-shaped or C-shaped retaining portion that biases a vertex of the tamper-engaging portion to contact the side of the tamper.

Abstract: A device for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco, wherein the device comprises at least one separating means adapted to detach a tobacco portion from a tobacco block and at least one portioning means adapted to portion the tobacco block, at least one transport means adapted to transport the tobacco block towards the separating means, wherein the portioning means and the transport means are coupled such that the transport means transports the tobacco block in a number of transport steps, and at least one filling means adapted to fill a cigarette tube with the detached tobacco portion. The device further comprises at least one blocking means adapted to block the transport means after each transport step until the at least one filling means has been operated.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a compact electrical cigarette rolling machine. The machine is particularly suitable for easily and quickly rolling tobacco into a cigarette. The tobacco is placed into a holding reservoir having tapered walls which help guide the tobacco into a rotating coil located near the bottom of a holding reservoir. The rotating coil then forces the tobacco through a hollow tube and into a pre-rolled paper cigarette in a compact and efficient manner. The machine has a support bar which allows the tobacco to become easily compacted within the paper of the cigarette without the pre-rolled paper becoming accidentally dislodged. The user may control how tightly the tobacco is packed within the cigarette by use of a control knob.

Abstract: A tobacco filling tube having a cylindrical portion having an outside diameter, an inside diameter, a first end and a second end and a hollow tapered portion having a first end with an outside diameter and a second end with an outside diameter. The first end of the tapered portion adjoins the second end of the cylindrical portion, the outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is substantially the same as the outside diameter of the cylindrical portion, the outside diameter of the second end of the tapered portion is less than the outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion, the outside diameter of the first end of the tapered portion is sized to fit inside a tobacco blank, and the tapered portion is flexible to allow the second end of the tapered portion to expand and thereafter return to its initial outside diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading a cigarette blank onto a filling tube. The apparatus comprises a filling tube having a first end, a second end, an inside diameter, an outside diameter, and a pin sized to fit within the filling tube. The pin has a first end and a second end comprising a guide head. When the filling tube receives the second end of the pin, at least a portion of the guide head of the pin extends beyond the second end of the filling tube for guiding the cigarette blank on said filling tube. Also disclosed is a method for loading a cigarette blank onto a filling tube.

Abstract: A method of forming tobacco rods comprises providing an endless bead of tobacco, creating regularly spaced apart gaps (14) with no tobacco along the length of the bead, wrapping the bead in an endless length of paper wrapper (16), and cutting through the paper wrapper where it overlays the gaps in order to divide the wrapped bead into individual tobacco rods. The gaps may be created using an ecreteur with trimmer discs configured to trim away the full width of the tobacco rod (10), or by using a rotating screw thread extending into the tobacco.

Abstract: A crank type cigarette tube injector, for injecting tobacco leaves into a hollow cigarette paper tube, includes a housing having a tobacco cavity for the tobacco leaves disposing thereat, and a feeding opening for the cigarette paper tube alignedly supporting thereat, an electric motor, having an output shaft, received in the housing, and a cigarette filling arrangement, which is driven by the electric motor via the output shaft for feeding the tobacco leaves to the cigarette paper tube through the feeding opening of the housing. The crank type cigarette tube injector not only can make a tight and evenly injection to have a better quality of cigarettes, but also has a length lesser than two cigarette lengths of the cigarette paper tube such that it has a reduce dimension and improved portability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cigarette making apparatus 10 which may comprise a housing 12 with mechanical and electrical features. Cigarette apparatus 10 has a solenoid-assisted hopper 14 for accepting loose tobacco 15, a cigarette tube filling cassette 16 with nozzles 30 and a hinged lid 34 for assisting in maintaining cigarette tubes 24 in a predetermined alignment for loading tobacco 15, a filling area 17 with a indexing means for aligning cigarette tubes with a tobacco pushing means inside the apparatus, a cigarette tube loading and tobacco packing means 18 with guide pins 20 for guiding the cassette 16 in engagement with flattened tip pins 22 that compress tobacco 15 into cigarette tubes 24 after tobacco 15 has been inserted, and an electronic control area 26, which may include an electronic display for controlling the cigarette tube filling and packing apparatus.

Abstract: Filter rods for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements are provided, with each rod having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a generally longitudinally extending filter material and a generally longitudinally extending strand within that filter material. A filter making unit receives a continuous supply of a filter material, and forms the filter material into a gathered composite having a continuous cylindrical shape. A continuous supply of a strand (e.g., colored thread) is provided and is introduced into the filter material gathered composite in the tongue of the filter making unit. The filter material and continuous strand positioned therein are formed into a continuous rod having the strand material laterally positioned within that rod, and the continuous rod is subdivided at pre-determined longitudinal intervals to provide a plurality of rod portions.

Abstract: This is a device to pack cigarettes into a standard cigarette pack. It is designed to be portable and is comprised of a series of wheels, which are located in the interior of the casing. A handle on the outside of the device rotates a wheel, which in turn rotates another wheel and allows the device to operate.

Abstract: A tobacco taster comprising an inner tube and an outer tube, the inner tube having a slightly smaller diameter than the outer tube, so that inner tube slides into outer tube with a frictional fit, inner tube having a hole, a basket shaped screen having a lip, the screen fitting into the hole in the inner tube, the lip of the screen overlapping the edge of hole, the outer tube having a hole, so that when the inner tube and the outer tube are connected by sliding the outer tube over the inner tube, the two holes are concentric.