System for simulating ash removal from a smoking article and a related method

Abstract

A system for simulating ash removal from a smoking article and a related method are provided. The system includes a support arrangement supporting at least a portion of a smoking article to form a cantilever with respect to the support arrangement. The system also includes a suction device in fluid communication with the first longitudinal end of the smoking article, the suction device being configured to apply suction to the first longitudinal end to simulate a draw or puff on the smoking article. The system further includes an ignition device configured to ignite an ignitable material of the smoking article about the second longitudinal end thereof, the ignited ignitable material being transformed to an ash in response to successive draws or puffs applied by the suction device. The system still further including an ash-dislodging mechanism configured to selectively impact the cantilevered smoking article to periodically remove the ash.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for simulating ash removal from a smoking article, the system comprising:
 a support arrangement configured to support at least a portion of a smoking article about a first longitudinal end thereof such that an opposing second longitudinal end of the smoking article forms a cantilever with respect to the support arrangement;   a suction device in fluid communication with the first longitudinal end of the smoking article, the suction device being configured to apply suction to the first longitudinal end to simulate a draw or puff on the smoking article;   an ignition device associated with the second longitudinal end of the smoking article, the ignition device being configured to ignite an ignitable material of the smoking article about the second longitudinal end thereof, the ignited ignitable material being transformed to an ash extending from the second longitudinal end toward the first longitudinal end in response to successive draws or puffs applied by the suction device; and   an ash-dislodging mechanism configured to selectively impact the cantilevered smoking article to periodically remove the ash.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the ash-dislodging mechanism comprises a selectively actuatable member configured to impact the cantilevered smoking article, upon actuation thereof, between the first and the second longitudinal ends of the smoking article to periodically remove the ash. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the selectively actuatable member comprises a pivotable lever, at least a portion of the pivotable lever being configured to pivot into and out of contact with the smoking article, upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the selectively actuatable member comprises an elongated tamping bar extending over the support arrangement, a bottom surface of the tamping bar being configured to be brought into and out of contact with the smoking article, upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the selectively actuatable member comprises a movement generating device configured to selectively generate vibrations upon actuation thereof, the vibrations interacting with the smoking article to cause the smoking article to vibrate. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the support arrangement further comprises a biasing member configured to support the cantilevered smoking article in a supported position and to oppose the impact of the ash-dislodging mechanism to maintain the smoking article in the supported position. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an ash receptacle disposed about the second longitudinal end of the smoking article and configured to receive the ash removed from the smoking article by the ash-dislodging mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the support arrangement is configured to longitudinally translate the smoking article with respect to the ash receptacle such that the ash transformed from the ignited ignitable material associated with the second longitudinal end of the smoking article is maintained over the ash receptacle to receive the ash removed from the smoking article by the ash-dislodging mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the suction device, the ignition device, or the ash-dislodging mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a smoke reservoir operably engaged between the first longitudinal end of the smoking article and the suction device, the smoke reservoir being configured to receive smoke generated by the draws or puffs applied by the suction device to the ignited smoking article and to prevent the generated smoke from being received by the suction device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for simulating ash removal from a smoking article, the method comprising:
 supporting at least a portion of a smoking article about a first longitudinal end thereof with a support arrangement such that an opposing second longitudinal end of the smoking article forms a cantilever with respect to the support arrangement;   applying suction to the first longitudinal end with a suction device in fluid communication therewith so as to simulate a draw or puff on the smoking article;   igniting an ignitable material associated with the second longitudinal end of the smoking article with an ignition device associated with the second longitudinal end, the ignited ignitable material being transformed to an ash extending from the second longitudinal end toward the first longitudinal end in response to successive draws or puffs applied by the suction device; and   selectively impacting the smoking article with an ash-dislodging mechanism to periodically remove the ash.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein selectively impacting the smoking article with the ash-dislodging mechanism comprises impacting the cantilevered smoking article with a selectively actuatable member, upon actuation thereof, between the first and the second longitudinal ends of the smoking article to periodically remove the ash. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein impacting the cantilevered smoking article with a selectively actuatable member comprises pivoting at least a portion of a pivotable lever into and out of contact with the smoking article, upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein impacting the cantilevered smoking article with a selectively actuatable member comprises bringing a bottom surface of an elongated tamping bar, the tamping bar extending over the support arrangement, into and out of contact with the smoking article, upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein impacting the cantilevered smoking article with a selectively actuatable member comprises selectively generating vibrations, by a movement generating device, that the vibrations interacting with the smoking article and causing the smoking article to vibrate, upon actuation thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein supporting the smoking article about the first longitudinal end thereof with the support arrangement comprises supporting, by a biasing member, the cantilevered smoking article in a supported position, the biasing member opposing the impact of the ash-dislodging mechanism to maintain the smoking article in the supported position. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, by an ash receptacle disposed about the second longitudinal end of the smoking article, the ash removed from the smoking article by the ash-dislodging mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising longitudinally translating, by the support arrangement, the smoking article with respect to the ash receptacle such that the ash transformed from the ignited ignitable material associated with the second longitudinal end of the smoking article is maintained over the ash receptacle so as to receive the ash removed from the smoking article by the ash-dislodging mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising controlling, by a controller, the suction device, the ignition device, or the ash-dislodging mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising operably engaging a smoke reservoir between the first longitudinal end of the smoking article and the suction device, and further comprising receiving, by the smoke reservoir, smoke generated by the draws or puffs applied by the suction device to the ignited smoking article and preventing the generated smoke from being received by the suction device.