Tobacco composite cigarette tube

Abstract

A cigarette blank comprising a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the tube is made of reconstituted leaf sheet, and a filter disposed in the second end of the tube.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cigarette blank comprising
 a. a tube having a first end and a second end, wherein the tube is made of reconstituted leaf sheet, and   b. a filter disposed in the second end of the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The cigarette blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the reconstituted leaf sheet contains at least 50% tobacco by weight. 
     
     
         3 . The cigarette blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the reconstituted leaf sheet contains between 60% and 80% tobacco by weight. 
     
     
         4 . The cigarette blank according to  claim 1 , wherein the reconstituted leaf sheet contains between 65% and 75% tobacco by weight. 
     
     
         5 . A method of making a cigarette comprising
 a. providing a cigarette blank having a tube with a first end and a second end, a filter disposed in the second end of the tube, wherein the tube is made of reconstituted leaf sheet,   b. providing a filling tube having a first end, a second end, an inside diameter, and an outside diameter,   c. providing a pin sized to fit within said filling tube, said pin having a first end and a second end, said second end comprising a guide head,   d. inserting said pin into said filling tube so at least a portion of the guide head of said pin extends beyond the second end of said filling tube,   e. dispensing the cigarette blank over said guide head and onto said filling tube, and   f. retracting said pin from said filling tube.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , further comprising ejecting a cylinder of tobacco into the filling tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising ejecting a completed cigarette from said filling tube. 
     
     
         8 . A method of making a cigarette comprising the steps of
 delivering an amount of tobacco to a tobacco compaction area,   compacting the tobacco,   inserting a cigarette blank made of reconstituted leaf sheet over a filling tube, and   injecting a plug of compacted tobacco into a filling tube with an injection pin affixed to a slideable pin carrier.   
     
     
         9 . The method of making a cigarette according to  claim 8 , wherein the compacting step further comprises moving the force multiplying linkage to an over center position and maintaining that position for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of making a cigarette according to  claim 8  wherein the inserting step comprises guiding the blank cigarette tube onto a filling tube with a guide head.