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.

IPC Classes  ?

• A24C 5/42 - Pocket cigarette-fillers
• A24C 5/54 - Folding the ends of cigarette paper tubes after filling them with tobacco
• A24C 5/00 - Making cigarettesMaking tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes

Abstract

A braking apparatus and a sensing apparatus for locating the position of and for positioning a filling tube holder. The apparatus comprises a movable filling tube holder capable of holding a plurality of filling tubes and a filling tube having a first end, a second end, an inside diameter, and an outside diameter disposed in said filling tube holder. A braking body having a contact portion communicates with the filling tube holder and provides a resistance to the movement of the filling tube holder. Also disclosed is a sensing apparatus that determines the position of a filling tube holder.

IPC Classes  ?

• A24C 5/02 - Cigarette-filling machines
• A24C 5/42 - Pocket cigarette-fillers
• A24C 5/00 - Making cigarettesMaking tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes

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 and an apparatus for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine. The apparatus comprises a base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a shaker communicating with the base. The base also comprises a retainer for retaining at least one cigarette blank. Also disclosed is a method for separating and dispensing cigarette blanks.

IPC Classes  ?

• A24C 5/02 - Cigarette-filling machines
• A24C 5/42 - Pocket cigarette-fillers
• A24C 5/00 - Making cigarettesMaking tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes