Apparatus for filling cigarette tube with tobacco

Abstract

An apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco includes a base, on which a hopper and a compression chamber are provided. A cutter is provided on the base to be driven to cut the tobacco. A compression member is provided on the base to be driven to compress the tobacco in the compression chamber. A sensor detects a counter force on the compression member when the compression member compresses the tobacco. A sending device has an end received in the compression chamber to be driven to push the tobacco out of the compression chamber, and a central controller is connected to the cutter, the compression member and the sending device respectively to drive the cutter, the compression member and the sending device for movement according to a predetermined procedure.

1 . An apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco, comprising: 
 a base, on which a hopper and a compression chamber are provided, wherein the hopper receives tobacco, and the compression chamber is communicated with the hopper;    a cutter provided on the base to be driven for movement toward the hopper to cut the tobacco;    a compression member provided on the base to be driven for movement toward the compression chamber to compress the tobacco in the compression chamber;    a sending device having an end received in the compression chamber to be driven for movement to push the tobacco out of the compression chamber, and    a central controller connected to the cutter, the compression member and the sending device respectively to drive the cutter, the compression member and the sending device for movement according to a predetermined procedure.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a motor provided on the base to drive the central controller for rotation.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sending device is kept still when the central controller drives the cutter and the compression member moving, and the cutter and the compression member are kept still when the central controller drives the sending device moving.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a linkage with a middle pivoted on the base and opposite ends connected to the central controller and the cutter respectively.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the linkage has a pin, and the central controller has a rail to be engaged with the pin of the linkage, such that when the central controller rotates, the pin moves along the rail, and the cutter is moved via the linkage.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the rail has a first rail and a second rail communicated with the first rail, further wherein opposite ends of the first rail has different distance to a center of rotation of the central controller, such that the linkage is moved when the pin is engaged with the first rail and the central controller is rotating, and the second rail has the same curvature relative to the center of rotation of the central controller, such that the linkage is kept still when the pin is engaged with the second rail and the central controller is rotating.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the rail further has a third rail communicated with the first rail, which has the same curvature relative to the center of rotation of the central controller, such that the linkage is kept still when the pin is engaged with the third rail and the central controller is rotating.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sending device has two parallel rails provided on the base, a driving base engaged with the rails to be driven for movement along the rails and connected to the central controller, a bar fixed to the driving base, and a shovel fixed to the bar, which is received in the compression chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the driving base has at least a stop portion, and the central controller has a pin associated with the stop portion, so that the pin rests on the stop portion and drives the driving base for movement when the central controller rotates.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a counter force of the tobacco in the compression chamber exerted on the compression member, wherein when the counter force is greater than a predetermined value, the central controller stops the cutter and the compression member sending tobacco to the compression chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the sensor has a cover connected to the compression member and a spring urging the cover, such that the cover is moved when the counter force is greater than a force of the spring urging the cover.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 11 , wherein sensor further comprises a bolt to be screwed to compressed the spring, such that a spring force of the spring is adjusted by turning the bolt.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the spring, the cover and the bolt are provided on a linkage that connects the central controller and the cutter, and the linkage has a slot to receive a post on the cutter therein and a recess communicated with the slot, and the cover masks the recess when the counter force is smaller than the spring force, and the post moves the cover away and enters the recess when the counter force is greater than the spring force.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the compression member has a slot, and the cutter has a pin received in the slot, such that the cutter moves the compression member when the cutter moves a predetermined distance with the pin against an end of the slot.  
   
   
       15 . A method for filling a cigarette tube with tobacco, comprising the steps of: 
 a) driving a cutter cut tobacco off;    b) driving a compression member compressing the tobacco in a compression chamber;    c) detecting a counter force on the compression member from the tobacco when the compression member compresses the tobacco, wherein repeating the step a and the step b until the counter force is greater than a predetermined value, and    d) driving a sending device to send the tobacco in the compression chamber to a cigarette tube.    
   
   
       16 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the cutter, the compression member and the sending device are connected to a central controller, which is driven by a motor, to process the steps.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the compression member is kept at a position of the compression member compressing the tobacco in the step d.  
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 15 , further comprising a cleaning step of driving the sending device into the compression chamber to move residual tobacco out of the compression chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the compression member is kept at a position away from the compression chamber in the cleaning step.