A method of constructing a cigar includes the providing of a plurality of frusto-conically shaped tubes, each tube being of a smokable material such as a spirally wrapped layer of tobacco material. The tubes are nested, one tube inside the other tube. The nested tubes are then attached to a mouthpiece having a socket that is internally threaded. The nested tubes and mouthpiece are packaged either filled with tobacco filler material, partially filled, or unfilled in a container.

A method of forming a wrapped article, comprising the steps of: forming a continuous stream of material such as an agricultural product; moving the continuous stream of material along an elongated path; compressing the continuous stream of material to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof until a predetermined cross-sectional dimension is achieved; drawing the compressed continuous stream of material through a rod-forming arrangement, the rod-forming arrangement having a non-contact displacement transducer associated therewith; folding at least one web longitudinally around the compressed continuous stream of material to form a continuous rod of material; and detecting variations in rod density within the rod-forming arrangement from a signal obtained from the non-contact displacement transducer.

A method of forming a wrapped article, comprising the steps of: forming a continuous stream of material such as an agricultural product; moving the continuous stream of material along an elongated path; compressing the continuous stream of material to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof until a predetermined cross-sectional dimension is achieved; drawing the compressed continuous stream of material through a rod-forming arrangement, the rod-forming arrangement having a non-contact displacement transducer associated therewith; folding at least one web longitudinally around the compressed continuous stream of material to form a continuous rod of material; and detecting variations in rod density within the rod-forming arrangement from a signal obtained from the non-contact displacement transducer.

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for forming a cigar shaped object. A mold is provided having at least one cigar shaped pocket, a rod aligned within the pocket and a separate tamping device. The tamping device has a stem and handle with a bore in the stem larger than the diameter of the rod. Tobacco or other smoking material is placed in the pocket and the tamping device is used to compress the material which forms a cigar-shaped tube by placing the tamping device onto the rod and repeatedly moving it up and down to tamp or compress the material. The rod, when removed, creates a bore through the smoking material to improve and control air draw. After removal from the mold, the packed smoking material may be wrapped in any appropriate wrapper material.

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for forming a cigar shaped object. A mold is provided having at least one cigar shaped pocket, a rod aligned within the pocket and a separate tamping device. The tamping device has a stem and handle with a bore in the stem larger than the diameter of the rod. Tobacco or other smoking material is placed in the pocket and the tamping device is used to compress the material which forms a cigar-shaped tube by placing the tamping device onto the rod and repeatedly moving it up and down to tamp or compress the material. The rod, when removed, creates a bore through the smoking material to improve and control air draw. After removal from the mold, the packed smoking material may be wrapped in any appropriate wrapper material.

A cigar fabricating apparatus, comprising of a container having a bottom panel, one or more side walls, an interior and an open top above said bottom panel. Said container supports an elevated panel that is positioned in between said bottom panel and said open top, said elevated panel dividing said interior into upper and lower sections with an upper closure that enables the open top to be closed. The interior has a shell holder above the elevated panel, the shell holder having multiple separate loading stations and a plurality of shells, each shell sized and shaped to removably fit and occupy a loading station. Multiple shells can be filled with smokable filler material. Panel openings in the elevated panel enable any misdirected tobacco filler that is dispensed to the shells via the open top to fall below the elevated panel and to said lower section. Smokable filler material that is dispensable into said container and shells via said open top, wherein the divider and elevated panel openings are so positioned that the shells occupying the shell holder do not block smokable filler flow through the openings.

A cigar fabricating apparatus, comprising of a container having a bottom panel, one or more side walls, an interior and an open top above said bottom panel. Said container supports an elevated panel that is positioned in between said bottom panel and said open top, said elevated panel dividing said interior into upper and lower sections with an upper closure that enables the open top to be closed. The interior has a shell holder above the elevated panel, the shell holder having multiple separate loading stations and a plurality of shells, each shell sized and shaped to removably fit and occupy a loading station. Multiple shells can be filled with smokable filler material. Panel openings in the elevated panel enable any misdirected tobacco filler that is dispensed to the shells via the open top to fall below the elevated panel and to said lower section. Smokable filler material that is dispensable into said container and shells via said open top, wherein the divider and elevated panel openings are so positioned that the shells occupying the shell holder do not block smokable filler flow through the openings.

a The present invention provides an improved shaker device for directing loose solid material (e.g., leafy material, such as tobacco) into a cylindrical or tapered receptacles (e.g., a cigar skin, collection tubes such as a tube flask, etc.). The shaker device offers significant advancements to filling such receptacles of varying length and width. The shaker device may include a housing, an oscillating or oscillating motor for automated shaking, and an easily removable cover to prevent loss of the loose material while the motor is on or if the device is tipped over. The shaker device may have a top plate with downward facing cone-shaped holes, each with a lower extension to direct loose material into the open ends of a plurality of receptacles, and receivers and/or additional plates to support the receptacles.

a The present invention provides an improved shaker device for directing loose solid material (e.g., leafy material, such as tobacco) into a cylindrical or tapered receptacles (e.g., a cigar skin, collection tubes such as a tube flask, etc.). The shaker device offers significant advancements to filling such receptacles of varying length and width. The shaker device may include a housing, an oscillating or oscillating motor for automated shaking, and an easily removable cover to prevent loss of the loose material while the motor is on or if the device is tipped over. The shaker device may have a top plate with downward facing cone-shaped holes, each with a lower extension to direct loose material into the open ends of a plurality of receptacles, and receivers and/or additional plates to support the receptacles.

An apparatus for the formation of machine-made tobacco rods for use in the production of smoking articles, such as cigars, from tobacco comprising a tacky material. The apparatus includes a pair of transfer and compression belts for receiving and compressing the stream of tobacco, the transfer and compression; a pair of squeeze bars for compressing the tobacco in a direction perpendicular to the pair of transfer and compression belts, the pair of squeeze bars produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); a tongue for receiving the compressed tobacco, the tongue produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone); and a folder for folding a wrapper material around the compressed tobacco so as to form a continuous rod of tobacco, the wrapper material provided from a source of wrapper material, the folder produced from a material comprising a poly(aryl ether ketone).