Method of making a tobacco product

Abstract

A tobacco product is formed by rolling a sheet of material supplied by a roll or rolls (e.g. moistened tobacco leaves) and/or homogenized sheet tobacco about a slit mandrel to form a shaped tube. The shaped tube is then packaged for shipment to an end user or consumer. The shaped tube remains in the rolled, shaped tube form inside the package. After the shaped tube is removed from the package, a consumer can fill the tube with crushed tobacco leaves or other tobacco filler material of a favorite blend, thereby eliminating some steps in the making of a roll-your-own tobacco product. A liquid can be added to the sheet or to the finished tube to moisturize same. The liquid can include flavoring. The tubes are unfilled when packaged and sent to a consumer/end user in tube form so that they have a memory that helps hold a tubular cigar shape after they are filled with selected tobacco fill material.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a finished smoking product comprising the steps of: a) obtaining a smokable shaped tube that includes; i) a smokable shell that is a shaped tube for a tobacco product and has a shell wall, a longitudinal bore and first and second tube edges with a gap in between the first and second tube edges, wherein the first and second edges are enabled to be moved apart to provide access to the longitudinal bore for adding smokable fill material to the longitudinal bore; ii) the smokable shell being contained in packaging for sale to a consumer and without the tube bore being filled with a smokable fill material, the packaging being separable to remove the smokable shell therefrom to define an unpackaged configuration for the smokable shell; iii) the shell wall having a memory and retaining the tube shape after the smokable shell is removed from the packaging; b) removing the smokable shell from the packaging; c) moving the first and second tube edges apart to expose the longitudinal bore for filling of the bore with a smokable fill material, wherein the memory of the shell wall tends to move the first and second tube edges closer together; d) after step c filling the longitudinal bore with the smokable fill material; and e) after step d constructing a finished smoking product from the shaped tube by rolling wherein the memory of the shell wall assists in the rolling, wherein the memory of the shell wall tends to move the first and second tube edges to closer together.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein in step e the first and second tube edges are brought together, wherein the memory of the shell wall tends to move the first and second tube edges to closer together.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein in step a a plurality of shaped tubes are included in the packaging for sale to a consumer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein in step a the smokable shell is comprised of tobacco.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the smokable shell is comprised of tobacco leaf that is not homogenized tobacco.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the smokable shell is comprised of homogenized tobacco.

7. A method of providing a kit for constructing a cigar comprising the steps of: a) rolling a smokable shell into a shaped tube for a tobacco product that has a memory that retains a generally tubular shape and a longitudinal bore, the tube having a plurality of edges, including two edges with a gap between the edges, wherein the edges that can be moved apart so that smokable fill material can be added to the bore; b) packaging the shaped tube in a packaging for sale to a consumer and without filling the tube bore with smokable fill material, wherein the packaging can be opened to define an open position for the tube; and c) wherein the memory of the shaped tube of step bafter removal of the shaped tube from the packaging tends to move the plurality of edges closer together after being moved apart facilitating the rolling of the shaped tube into a finished cigar.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the shaped tube has a generally cylindrical shape.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein in step a the smokable shell is comprised of tobacco.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the smokable shell is comprised of tobacco leaf that is not homogenized tobacco.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein in step a, wherein there is a gap between the edges brought together.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of moistening the smokable shell with liquid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of a shell in accordance with the present invention wrapped about a form casing.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a form casing for use in the method of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shell made in accordance with the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 prior to rolling, illustrating the sheet material portion;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing fabrication of the tube;

(9) FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are schematic views illustrating yet another alternate embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

(10) FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a method of manufacturing the product of the present invention;

(11) FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 11;

(12) FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a shaped tube that is formed using the method shown in FIG. 11;

(13) FIGS. 14-15 are perspective views of another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention and showing an alternate method of the present invention;

(14) FIG. 16 is a schematic view illustrating the product that is formed in FIGS. 14 and 15;

(15) FIG. 17 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention;

(16) FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of yet another embodiment of the apparatus and method of the present invention;

(17) FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view illustrating the method of FIG. 18;

(18) FIG. 20 is a schematic view taken along lines 20-20 of FIG. 22;

(19) FIG. 21 is a schematic view taken along lines 21-21 of FIG. 23;

(20) FIG. 22 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method of the present invention that is shown in FIG. 18 and showing insertion of a sheet of material into the slit of the tube;

(21) FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view showing the method of FIG. 18 and particularly the step of wrapping the sheet of material about the slit tube; and

(22) FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of the method of FIG. 18 illustrating placement of a roll-shaped tube into a package using the slit tube;

(23) FIG. 25 is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of a single shell in a wrapper and boxed with the shell partially pulled from the box and the box itself being wrapped;

(24) FIG. 26 is a perspective, partially cross-sectional view of multiple shells in a single zip-wrapper and boxed with the zip-wrapper partially pulled from the box with one shell partially pulled from the zip wrapper and the box itself being wrapped;

(25) FIG. 27 is a perspective view of multiple shells individually wrapped and placed in a single carton opening at the top;

(26) FIG. 28 shows a perspective view of an embodiment showing a shell packaged in wrapper with a pull string to open the wrapper;

(27) FIG. 29 is an exploded view of the embodiment in FIG. 28;

(28) FIG. 30 is a partial sectional view of the shell in FIG. 28 with the form casing partially removed; and

(29) FIG. 31 is a perspective view of multiple shells individually wrapped and placed in a single carton opening at the side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(30) Turning now to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, numeral 110 designates a tobacco product shell of the present invention. The shell 110 is formed as a generally cylindrical hollow body with a central opening 112 extending along the shell's longitudinal axis. The shell 110 can be made in any desired length and with a predetermined diameter. A longitudinal slit or slit 114 extends through a wall of the shell body; the purpose of the slit or slit 114 will be explained in more detail hereinafter.

(31) A form casing 116 is provided for the practice of the invention. The form casing 116 is formed from a substantially rigid material in a form of a cylinder of a predetermined length and outer diameter. The form casing 116 can be made either hollow, with a central opening 117, or as a solid body. It is desirable that the form casing 116 be substantially inflexible and strong enough to withstand forces applied to the form casing 116 when a shell 110 is rolled.

(32) To form a shell 110, an operator selects the appropriate form casing 116 from a set of casings that may be available in the shop. Tobacco leaves are prepared for rolling by application of a small amount of moisture to the leaves in order to make them more pliable. The operator carefully wraps the tobacco leaves about the outer surface of the form casing 116, slightly compressing the leaves to cause them to adhere together.

(33) The next step involves rolling of the form casing 116 with a tobacco leaf wrapped about it on a hard level surface, such a worktable. The steps of wrapping and rolling continue until the necessary layers of tobacco leaves have been rolled to form a shell 110 of a desired thickness.

(34) It is known that wet tobacco leaves tend to adhere to each other. Therefore, subsequent application of moisture, in many cases, may not be necessary. Still, if the leaves become brittle and there exists a danger of breaking the shell 110, the operator applies moisture to the leaves to retain their pliability.

(35) Once the shell 110 has been created, the operator allows the shell to remain wrapped around the form casing 116 until dry. Cutting through the wall of the shell 110 with a sharp knife or a razor then makes the slit 114. A finished shell 110 is then removed from the form casing 116 and can be wrapped either in cellophane or another similar type of outer wrapper.

(36) To facilitate disengagement of the shell 110 from the form casing 116, an outer surface of the form casing 116 may be pre-coated with a non-stick material. In this manner, the danger of an operator damaging the shell 110 is minimized. The non-stick coating may be of a permanent type or applied immediately before wrapping of the tobacco leaves. It is important to select a coating material that would not leave an undesirable taste or odor on the tobacco leaves. A polytetrafluoroethylene (such as that sold under the trademark Teflon) coating may serve well for this purpose.

(37) The finished shells 110 can be packaged in conventional containers and sold directly to customers who desire to roll their own cigars, but do not have the required finger dexterity. An ultimate user will remove the shell 110 from its outer wrapper (not shown) and prying the shell 110 open by forcing the shell apart along the slit 114. The user will then fill the opening 112 with any desired blend of the favorite tobacco and seal the slit 114 by applying a small amount of moisture to the edges of the slit 114 and bringing the edges together. A small amount of pressure may be applied to the shell 110 to cause sealing of the slit 114. In this manner, a custom-tailored cigar is made, answering all requirements of a connoisseur as to the tobacco blend, size and length of a cigar.

(38) If desired, a kit for roll-your-own tobacco products can be manufactured and sold through tobacconists and specialty shops. The kit would contain a set of form casings 116, an initial supply of tobacco wrapping leaves for the making of the shell 110 and a set of instructions. The user will be able to make individual shells in privacy, at the most convenient time for the user. In this way, the formed shells 110 will be freshest.

(39) In the alternative, a special wrapping material may be used for making shells 110. This material is available on the market; it is made of homogenized tobacco paper that can be wrapped about form casing 116.

(40) It is also possible to make form casings 116 disposable. With this method, shell 110 will remain wrapped about form casing 116 until such time as a smoker desires to make a cigar. Wrapped shell 110 is then peeled off form casing 116 and used in a conventional manner. The benefit of such a method is elimination of the danger of a shell collapsing during shipment.

(41) Still another approach uses a substantially rigid core form casing 116 with a non-stick coating on the outer surface and a secondary form casing made of a material such as cardboard that is slipped over the first form casing. The tobacco leaves are wrapped about the secondary form casing to make a shell. A cellophane sleeve is slipped over the finished shell and the first inner form casing is removed. The shells wrapped about the secondary form casing are shipped for sale. In that case, the finished product would look similar to the view shown in FIG. 1, except that form casing 116 will be made of a material such as cardboard.

(42) Another method of constructing a cigar includes a sheet of material containing tobacco material. The sheet of material can be for example tobacco leaves that have been formed into a sheet and/or laminated together.

(43) The sheet of material is moistened with a liquid that can be, for example, water, alcohol, ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol, glycerin, or benzyl alcohol. This liquid is preferably flavor containing. The flavored liquid can include for example vanillian, ethyl vanillian, maltol, strawberry furanone, maple furanone, cyclotene, rum ether, honey keytone, pyruvic acid, a liquid that contains lactones, pyrazines, aromatic acids, or various alcohols. These flavored liquids thus provide for the end user a shaped tube with a flavor of, for example, vanilla, honey, berry, chocolate, cognac, peach, and/or champagne.

(44) With the method of the present invention, the tube that is formed preferably has a generally cylindrical shape. The sheet of material can be a single layer or multiple layers and can be comprised entirely of tobacco leaves, or can be a combination of tobacco leaves and other combustible material. While not preferred, the sheet of material can omit tobacco entirely.

(45) In FIGS. 4-7, a sheet of material 118 is shown that can be, for example, generally rectangular or square in shape. Other shapes for the sheet of material 118 can be provided such as, for example, triangular, trapezoidal, circular or oval. The sheet of material 118 preferably includes tobacco, and preferably tobacco leaves. The sheet of material 118 preferably comprises a laminated composite of two layers, one inner layer 141 preferably made of homogenized tobacco material and the other outer layer 142 preferably made of tobacco leaf material, inner layer 141 and outer layer 142 preferably bonded together with cigar glue. Preferably, the outer layer 142 extends beyond the inner layer to provide for better adhesion of the edge 122 of sheet 118 to the outside of the cigar when rolled. The homogenized tobacco material of inner layer 141 can be reconstituted tobacco sheet material commercially available from Nuway of Connecticut. Outside layer 142 can be tobacco leaf material commercially available from Nuway of Connecticut.

(46) Alternatively, inner layer 141 can be reconstituted tobacco binder material, and outer layer 142 can be reconstituted tobacco wrapper material. In the alternative, inner layer 141 can be reconstituted tobacco binder material, and outer layer 142 can be tobacco leaves bonded thereto.

(47) The sheet of material 118 is rolled to form a shaped tube 120 as shown in FIG. 4. Sheet of material 118 preferably has a serrated edge 122 that is generally opposite straight edge 128. A pair of spaced apart sides 124, 126 are provided as shown in FIG. 6. The sheet of material 118 provides a surface 140 to which selected tobacco filler material 130 can be added by a consumer/end user. The purpose of serrating edge 122 is to make the edge bond better. Instead of serrations, edge 122 could be otherwise frayed, or along edge 122 one could roughen the inner portion of the sheet 118 to enable the edge 122 to better bond to the outside of the cigar when rolled.

(48) Sheet of material 118 can be a single layer, in which case it is preferably made of tobacco leaf material, though it can be made of homogenized tobacco material. Sheet of material 118 need not have a serrated edge, but can simply have a straight edge on each end. Sheet 11 can be wrapped in a spiral as shown in FIG. 5, such that the length of material sheet 118 (the distance from edge 128 to edge 122) is several times the diameter of the spiral wrap shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This longitudinal spiral will have an open volume along its longitudinal axis between layers of sheet of material 118. This open volume may be partially filled with a tobacco filler material or may be unfilled.

(49) As part of the method of the present invention, the sheet of material 118 is first rolled into a generally cylindrically shaped tube 120. The shaped tube 120 can be cylindrically shaped and can be a spiral wrap 136 (see FIGS. 4-5). As part of the method, the sheet of material 118 can be sprayed with a liquid that includes preferably flavor and then rolled into a generally cylindrically shaped tube 120. The sheet of material 118 can be rolled (see arrow 134) into the shaped tube 120 and then sprayed with a liquid material that includes flavoring.

(50) In FIG. 7, a cylindrical form roller 132 can be provided for rolling the sheet of material 118 into a cylindrically shaped, tube 120. The sheet of material 118 can simply be rolled without the use form roller 132 into a spiral wrap indicated as 136 in FIG. 5. The shaped tube 120 is allowed to dry somewhat but retains some moisture and flavor when it is packaged and shipped without any tobacco filler material (or with only a partial fill of tobacco material). In other words, the tube shaped shell 110 or 120 can be completely empty or partially filled. Therefore, the present invention enables consumers or end users to construct a cigar that is unique and personal by enabling the end user to add his or her own favorite tobacco to tube or shell bore 47, 117 or 138.

(51) In FIG. 6, shaped tube 120 has been unrolled to a position exposing surface 140 and allowing tobacco filler material 130 to be added along edge 128. Because shaped tube 120 is pre-rolled into a cylinder (FIGS. 1-3) or pre-wrapped into spiral wrap 136 (FIG. 5), the sheet of material 118 has a memory and will attempt to again assume the cylinder shape of tube 120 or spiral wrap 136 after tobacco filler material 130 has been added to surface 140. Central bore 138 of shaped tube 120 thus can carry a tobacco filler material 130 that is added by a user. A slot or slit is formed in between the edges 122, 128 after tobacco filler material 130 is added because edges 122, 128 will come together at the slit due to the memory of the sheet of material 118.

(52) FIGS. 8 and 9 show a sheet of material 143 similar to sheet 118 except that it has a straight edge 144 instead of a serrated edge. Sheet of material 143 is preferably otherwise the same as sheet 118. The sheet of material 143 preferably comprises a laminated composite of two layers, one inner layer 145 made of homogenized tobacco material and the other outer layer 146 made of tobacco leaf material, bonded together with cigar glue. Preferably, the outer layer 146 extends beyond the inner layer 145 to provide for better adhesion of the edge 144 to the remaining portion of a custom rolled cigar. Sheet 143 includes sides 147 and 148. It includes a surface 140 for receiving tobacco filler material 130. It includes an edge 150. Sheet of material 143 can be wound into a spiral wrap 151 as shown in FIG. 8. Sheet of material 143 can also be packaged with cylindrical form roller 132, for example as shown in FIGS. 27 through 31.

(53) FIG. 10 shows a sheet of material 152 similar to sheet 118 except that it has a straight edge 153 instead of the serrated edge 122 of FIGS. 4-7 and is of a single layer of tobacco material. Sheet of material 152 is preferably otherwise the same as sheet 118. The sheet of material 152 preferably comprises a single layer 154 made of tobacco leaf material, though it could be made of homogenized tobacco material. Preferably, there is a roughened area 155 along edge 153 to provide for better adhesion of the edge 153 to the remaining portion of the custom rolled cigar. The roughened area 155 could be made by a rotating roughening wheel to fray the fibers of layer 154. Sheet 152 includes sides 156 and 157. It includes a surface 158 for receiving tobacco filler material. It includes a straight edge 159. Sheet of material 152 can be wound into a spiral wrap as shown in FIG. 8. Sheet of material 152 could be made into a spiral wrap by winding it upon a form roller such as 132, or it could be spiral wrapped without the use of a form roller.

(54) FIGS. 11-13 show an alternate construction of the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating a method for manufacturing shaped tube 44 shown in FIG. 13. FIGS. 11-13 provide a cigar tube fabricating apparatus 10 that begins with a binder layer of material 11 and a wrapper layer of material 12. Arrows 13, 14 in FIG. 11 show schematically the travel of layers 11, 12 toward a perforated gluing roller 19. Layers 11, 12 are preferably tobacco material such as tobacco leaf material or reconstituted tobacco material that has been formed into sheet material. The layers 11, 12 are glued together at roller 19 and with the pair of rollers 20, 21.

(55) A suitable glue or adhesive is contained in container 15. The contained glue product flows through flowline 16 to perforated gluing roller 19. The roller 19 can be powered with motor 18. Valve 17 can be used to regulate the amount of glue that is flowing through flowline 16 so that sufficient glue but not an excessive amount is applied to the interface between the layers 11, 12.

(56) The rollers 20, 21 press the layers 11, 12 together with glue therebetween so that the combined layers 11, 12, as shown in FIG. 12, move toward the remaining part of the apparatus 10. The roller 20 can be an idler roller. The roller 21 is preferably a driven roller that is powered by motor 22 and its drive shaft 23.

(57) A container 24 is provided for holding flavoring material, that is preferably in liquid form. The container 24 communicates with flowline 26 having valve 25. Manifold 27 is provided with a plurality of dispensing nozzles 28 that enable the flavoring material to drip upon the combined layers 11, 12. Arrow 29 indicates that the layers 11, 12 move toward additional rollers 30 and 31 before being curled by rollers 32, 33 and 34. The rollers 30 and 31 can be idler rollers.

(58) The rollers 32, 33 are larger diameter rollers that engage the bottom or binder layer 11 portion of the combined sheet. The roller 34 is a smaller diameter roller that engages the upper layer 12, namely the wrapper layer. This configuration of rollers 32, 33, 34 causes the combined layers 11, 12 to curl as shown in FIG. 11. A knife blade 37 is used to cut through the combined layers 11, 12 to produce a shaped tube or shell 44 that is in a spiral shape as shown in FIG. 13. Tube 44 provides a longitudinal and preferably empty bore 47. This shaped tube or shell 44 can then be used by consumers or end users to make a cigar. The end users or consumers can add tobacco of their choosing to bore 47. It should be understood, however, that a small amount of tobacco fill material can be added to the bore 47 if desired before tube 44 is placed in container 45.

(59) The knife blade 37 is moved in a transverse direction using cylinder or piston 35 with pushrod 36. The knife blade 37 is connected to the pushrod 36. A knife blade guide 38 ensures that the blade 37 travels in a clean transverse path that is basically 90 degrees with respect to the direction of travel indicated by arrow 29. Arrow 39 indicates schematically that the cut shaped tube 44 falls upon the conveyor plate 40 and rolls toward stop 41. Stop 41 is simply a curved portion of plate 40 that catches the shaped tubes 44 as they are formed and cut. Piston 42 is provided with pushrod 43 for transferring a selected number such as 1, 2, 3 or more shaped tubes 44 into a package or container 45. It should be understood that the package or container 45 is preferably of a material that enables the end user or consumer to see the contained shaped tubes 44. For example, a cellophane material can be used in the construction of a suitably configured container 45. Arrow 46 in FIG. 11 schematically indicates the insertion of one or more shaped tubes 44 into container or package 45.

(60) In FIGS. 14-16, a method that is similar to the method shown in FIGS. 11-13 is illustrated. However, in FIGS. 14-16, one of the layers 11A is wider than the other layer 12A. The lower, binder layer 11A is of a wider dimension indicated by arrow 48. The upper or wrapper layer 12A is of a slightly smaller width, indicated schematically by the arrow 49 in FIG. 14. This difference in widths produces a small strip of material indicated by dimension arrow 50 in FIG. 14 that is basically a single layer portion. Once the shaped tubes 44 are wrapped using the plurality of rollers 32A, 33A, 34A, a single layer portion of layer 11A extends the dimension line 50 beyond the width dimension 49 of upper layer 12A. That strip of material 95 is shown in FIG. 15. Strip 95 presents an edge that can be moistened to help close tube 44A after a selected volume of a user's tobacco fill material has been added to bore 47.

(61) FIG. 17 shows an alternate construction of the apparatus that can be used for manufacturing shaped tubes. In FIG. 17, the same general components used in FIGS. 11-16 are provided. The provided layer of material 51 in FIG. 17 is of a single layer as opposed to the two layers shown in FIGS. 11-16. The shaped tube formed of a single layer is designated by the numeral 44B in FIG. 17.

(62) In FIGS. 18-24, yet another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is shown for forming shaped tubes, that apparatus being designated in FIG. 18 by the numeral 60. Cigar tube fabricating apparatus 60 includes a pair of rollers 61, 62 that receive layers of material 11, 12 as with the earlier described embodiments. Further, adhesive can be applied to the layers 11, 12 for adhering them together as was shown and described with respect to FIG. 11, that portion of the apparatus not being shown in FIG. 18 for purposes of clarity.

(63) A manifold 63 can be provided with dispensing nozzle 64 for adding flavoring to the combined layers 11, 12. Arrow 65 in FIG. 18 indicates the direction of travel of the combined sheets 11, 12. A knife blade 67 having guide 66, pushrod 69 and piston 68 can be provided for cutting the combined sheets 11, 12 and forming cut sections 76, 77. The knife blade guide 66 ensures that the cuts will be basically 90 degree cuts with respect to the direction of travel 65. Arrow 70 schematically indicates the transverse movement of the knife blade 67 during use.

(64) An upper roller 71 and a lower roller 72 can be driven rollers that advance each cut sheet 76, 77 toward rollers 74, 75 and then to slit tube 78. Arrow 73 indicates schematically the travel of a cut sheet 77 from the pair of rollers 71, 72 to the pair of rollers 74, 75. Each cut sheet 76, 77 feeds into slit 79 of slit tube 78. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a cut sheet 77 inserts through slit 79 of slit tube 78. The slit tube 78 is then rotated in the direction of arrow 82 producing a shaped tube 80 that is wrapped about the slit tube 78 as shown in FIG. 21. The edge 81 shown in FIG. 21 provides an edge that can be opened by end users or consumers when they want to add a selected tobacco fill material to the bore 96 of shaped tube 80.

(65) For inserting each shaped tube 80 into a package or wrapper 93, a pair of tracks 83, 84 are provided that support a carriage 85, as depicted in FIG. 18. Motor 86 provides a pinion gear that engages toothed track 83 and teeth on the upper surface thereof. The motor 86 is a reversible motor that enables the carriage 85 to be moved toward packages 93 or away from packages 93. Motor 87 is the motor that generates rotation for wrapping each cut sheet such as 77 about slit tube 78. The motor drive 87 has a gear 89 that engages gear 90 of transmission 88. Transmission 88 produces a desired slower rotation of tube 78 during a wrapping operation as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. Arrow 91 indicates schematically the fore and aft travel of carriage 85. When the carriage 85 moves towards packages 93, the slit tube inserts a shaped tube 80 into a package 93. Pressure plate 94 applies enough friction to hold shaped tube 80 inside the package 93 so that when the carriage 85 returns to the position shown in FIG. 18, the shaped tube 80 slips off the end of the slit tube 78 and remains with the package or wrapper 93. A conveyor 92 can be provided for conveying a sequence of packages 93 toward the shaped tube 80 so that the delivery of shaped tubes 80 to the packages 93 is automated.

(66) The shells can be packaged in any appropriate manner. FIGS. 25 through 31 show various examples of packaging. FIG. 25 is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of a single shell in a wrapper being boxed with the shell partially pulled from the box and the box itself being wrapped. This figure shows packaging that can be used for any shell embodiment disclosed in this application including shaped tube 44, slit tube 78, shaped tube 80, shell 110, shaped tube 120, spiral wrap 136, and spiral wrap 151; all of which embodiments will generically be referred to as a shell. The shell is shown covered in wrapper 160 which are both enclosed in box 161. Box 161 can itself be covered by wrapper 163. Flap 162 encases shell and wrapper 160 in box 161.

(67) FIG. 26 is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of multiple shells in a single zip-wrapper all of which being boxed and with the zip-wrapper partially pulled from the box with one shell partially pulled from the zip wrapper and the box itself being wrapped. This figure also shows packaging that can be used for any shell embodiment disclosed in this application including shaped tube 44, slit tube 78, shaped tube 80, shell 110, shaped tube 120, spiral wrap 136, and spiral wrap 151. The shells and zip-wrapper 164 can be enclosed in box 165. Box 165 can itself be covered by wrapper 166 and include window 169 for viewing the shells. Flaps 167, 168 close respective ends of box 165.

(68) FIG. 27 is a perspective view of multiple shells individually wrapped and placed in a sing carton 172 opening at the top through lid 173. The shells are individually packaged in wrapper 175 and wrapper 175 can have indicia 176 which provides consumers with information concerning the shell, such as flavoring or other information. Carton 172 can itself be covered by wrapper 174.

(69) FIGS. 28 through 30 show an embodiment of shell 143 packaged in wrapper 170. Wrapper 170 includes pull 171 which facilitates separation of wrapper portions 170A and 170B. Removing either wrapper portion provides access to shell 143. FIGS. 27 through 30 show shell 143 packaged with form casing 116 which embodiment resists bending or folding of shell 143 before use by consumers.

(70) FIG. 31 is a perspective view of multiple shells individually wrapped and placed in a single carton 180 opening at the side through lid 181. The shells 143 are individually packaged in wrapper 175 and wrapper 175 can include indicia 176 which provides consumers with information concerning the shell, such as flavoring or other information. Carton 180 can itself be covered by wrapper 182.

(71) Those skilled in the art will understand that various materials for wrapping can be used to enclosed the tubes or shells. These include, but are not limited to, Low & High Density Polyethylene with EVA additive, Linear Low Density Poly, Polypropylene, Orientated Polypropylene, Cast Polypropylene, PVC, Polyester, Vaper Barrier packaging, Moisture Barrier packaging, Laminated packaging, Shrink film, Stretch Film, Foil Films (which can be translucent or opaque), Metalized Film, Cellophane, and Polyethylene Terephthalate. In addition to an EVA additive a barrier foil lamination can be used being either coated or metallized. The packaging of the present invention, whether plastic, aluminum, or glass, keeps moisture in or dramatically slows down moisture loss from the tubes or shells. It is preferable that the wrapping material have adequate moisture resistant properties so that the tubes or shells do not dry out before use by consumers.

(72) Beta cyclodextrine (BCD) can be added to homogenized tobacco paper by adding it to the slush to make the homogenized paper. This is so because the BCD powder ignites at about 450 degrees F. and the homogenized tobacco paper only reaches about 180 degrees F. during processing. Other methods of adding BCD to the homogenized tobacco paper could also be used. The homogenized tobacco paper with BCD powder therein can be used to make the tobacco shells of the present invention.

(73) TABLE-US-00001 PARTS LIST PART NO DESCRIPTION 10 cigar tube fabricating apparatus 10A cigar tube fabricating apparatus 11 binder layer 11A binder layer 12 wrapper layer 12A wrapper layer 13 arrow 14 arrow 15 container 16 flowline 17 valve 18 motor 19 perforated gluing roller 20 idler roller 21 drive roller 22 motor 23 drive shaft 24 container 25 valve 26 flowline 27 manifold 28 dispensing nozzle 29 arrow 30 idler roller 31 idler roller 32 large roller 32A large roller 33 large roller 33A large roller 34 small roller 34A small roller 35 piston 36 pushrod 37 knife blade 38 knife blade guide 39 arrow 40 conveyor plate 41 stop 42 piston 43 pushrod 44 shaped tube 44A shaped tube 44B shaped tube 45 container 46 arrow 47 longitudinal bore 48 dimension arrow 49 dimension arrow 50 dimension arrow 51 layer of material 60 cigar tube fabricating apparatus 61 roller 62 roller 63 manifold 64 dispensing nozzle 65 direction of travel 66 knife blade guide 67 knife blade 68 piston 69 pushrod 70 arrow 71 upper roller 72 lower roller 73 arrow 74 roller 75 roller 76 cut section 77 cut section 78 slit tube 79 slit 80 shaped tube 81 edge 82 arrow 83 toothed track 84 track 85 carriage 86 motor 87 motor 88 transmission 89 gear 90 gear 91 arrow 92 conveyor 93 package 94 pressure plate 95 strip of material 96 bore 110 shell 112 central opening 114 slit or slot 116 form casing 117 central opening 118 sheet of material 120 shaped tube 122 edge 124 side 126 side 128 edge 130 tobacco filler material 132 cylindrical form roller 134 arrow 136 spiral wrap 138 central bore 140 flat surface 141 inner layer 142 outer layer 143 sheet of material 144 straight edge 145 inner layer 146 outer layer 147 side 148 side 150 edge 151 spiral wrap 152 sheet of material 153 edge 154 single layer 155 roughened area 156 side 157 side 158 surface 159 edge 160 wrapper 161 box (e.g., paperboard) 162 flap 163 wrapper 164 zip-wrapper 165 box (e.g., paperboard) 166 wrapper 167 flap 168 flap 169 window 170 wrapper 171 pull 172 carton (open top) 173 lid 174 wrapper 175 wrapper 176 printing 180 carton(side open) 181 lid 182 wrapper

(74) Many changes and modifications can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention will be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.