Self-service cigarette rolling machine

Abstract

A self-service cigarette rolling apparatus is described herein. The machine may be modular and can roll a carton of cigarettes in 8 to 10 minutes. To use, an operator loads tobacco into a hopper, whereby the tobacco is filled into tubes. Once filled, completed cigarettes roll down and out of the machine. The modular components are easily secured to and removed from the machine, which provides easy serviceability. Neither the operator nor the owner of the machine ever needs to open or get into any of the modules. Each module is easily serviced or replaced within a 24 hour period. The machine owner pays a monthly maintenance fee to permit the owner to use the machine in their store. This fee includes costs associated with replacing modules. If the owner does not pay their monthly maintenance fee, the manufacturer can shut down the machine so it will not operate.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed: 
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of modules comprising:
 at least one processing module associated with the apparatus, wherein the at least one processing module comprises at least one input device, and wherein the at least one processing module is operative to control the plurality of modules of the apparatus; 
 an upper hopper module associated with the at least one processing module, wherein the upper hopper module is configured to receive tobacco; 
 a tube dispensing module associated with the at least one processing module, wherein the tube dispensing module is configured to dispense tubes; and 
 a tube filling module associated with the at least one processing module, wherein the tube filling module comprises a nipple and a plunger, and wherein the tube filling module is operative to insert tobacco into the tubes; 
   wherein the tube filling module is configured to move tobacco received from the upper hopper module into a plurality of tubes received from the tube dispensing module; and   wherein each module is configured to be independently removable from the apparatus without the disassembly of any other module.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lower hopper module located adjacent to the upper hopper module, wherein the lower hopper module is operative to sift tobacco received from the upper hopper module into a plurality of tubes received from the tube dispensing module. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the nipple is configured to be inserted within the tube at an angle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the angle of entry of the tube onto the nipple is approximately 14 degrees to approximately 18 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the plunger is operative to be inserted into the nipple and the tube to push the tobacco into the tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising an ejection module associated with the at least one processing module, wherein the ejection module is located adjacent to the tube dispensing module, and wherein the ejection module comprises a stripper plate. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the stripper plate is configured to push the cigarette off of the nipple. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the ejection module further comprises a sensor in operative connection with the at least one processing module. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor of the ejection module is operative to indicate that a tube is out of position within the tube filling module. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processing module is operative to keep track of how many tubes have been used and how many cigarettes have been made. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processing module further comprises a display screen. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a chute located adjacent to the ejection module, wherein the chute is configured to permit cigarettes to slide out from the ejection module. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the chute comprises a pin, wherein the pin is operative to direct the cigarettes into a particular direction as each cigarette exists the ejection module. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one input device is a touch screen. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the apparatus weighs less than approximately 75 pounds. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus comprising:
 at least one component that is operative to move tobacco into a plurality of tubes to produce a plurality of cigarettes;   at least one input device; and   at least one processor in operative connection with the at least one component and the at least one input device;   wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one component to operate to produce cigarettes during a predetermined time period responsive at least in part to a manual input received through the at least one input device of at least one code;   wherein the at least one processor is operative to not cause the at least one component to operate to produce cigarettes after the predetermined time period has elapsed until after the at least one processor receives a manual input through the at least one input device of at least one additional code that is different than the at least one previously manually inputted code that enabled the at least one component to previously operate to produce cigarettes; and   wherein the at least one processor is operative to cause the at least one component to operate again to produce cigarettes during a predetermined time period responsive at least in part to the manual input received through the at least one input device of the at least one additional code.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine whether each manually inputted at least one code is valid to cause further operation of the at least one component to operate to produce cigarettes without previously receiving the at least one code through manual operation of the at least one input device. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the number of cartons of filled cigarettes that have been made within a certain amount of time. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the number of cartons of filled cigarettes that have been made since the at least one code was last entered. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is operative to determine the number of cartons of filled cigarettes that have been made since the at least one additional code was last entered.