Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine. The apparatus comprises a base having an upper end, a lower end opposite the upper end, a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a shaker communicating with the base. The base also comprises a retainer for retaining at least one cigarette blank. Also disclosed is a method for separating and dispensing cigarette blanks.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention related generally to an apparatus for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus for separating cigarette blanks from a plurality of cigarette blanks and dispensing the separated cigarette blanks to a loading area. The invention also relates to methods of using a cigarette blank dispensing apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Prior to the invention of the electronic rolling machine, rolling your own cigarettes was restricted to manual table top machines, hand held machines, and attempts that have been made to perfect personal single stick electric machines. These machines employ a chamber for loading tobacco, a manual lever that compresses the tobacco, and a spoon mechanism that injects the tobacco into an empty preassembled cigarette blank. Many attempts have been made with varying degrees of success to perfect a table top electric machine. These basically employed the same technology, only electronically enhanced. The shortcoming is that the spoon mechanism shreds the tobacco. Secondly, loading the proper amount of tobacco each time is extremely variable. The other obvious drawback is the tedious nature of the process; each cigarette blank must be mounted on a nozzle manually. Moreover, the empty cigarette blanks are extremely fragile and easily damaged during the process. 
         [0003]    While other electronic machines for use in retail settings have been developed, there remain drawbacks with those machines. First, separating the cigarette blanks for individual loading onto a filling tube remains imprecise. Secondly, loading the fragile cigarette blanks unto filling tubes often results in damaged and unusable cigarette blanks. 
         [0004]    What is needed is an apparatus and method for separating and loading the cigarette blanks on a machine in a retail setting. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising a base having an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side, and a shaker communicating with said base, wherein said base comprises a retainer for retaining at least one cigarette blank. 
         [0006]    This invention also relates to an apparatus for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising a base having an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side, wherein said base comprises a retainer for retaining at least one cigarette blank, a shaker communicating with said base, and a cartridge for receiving a plurality of cigarette blanks, wherein said cartridge is mountable on said base. 
         [0007]    This invention further relates to a method for dispensing cigarette blanks in a cigarette manufacturing machine, comprising providing a base comprising a retainer for retaining at least one cigarette blank, said base having an upper end, a lower end opposite said upper end, a first side, and a second side opposite said first side, providing a shaker communicating with said base, holding a plurality of cigarette blanks on said base, shaking said cigarette blanks, retaining with said retainer at least one cigarette blank, and dispensing a cigarette blank to a loading area 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cigarette making apparatus of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a tobacco input hopper of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a section view of a tobacco conveying and compressing device of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  is an enlarged section view of the compressing device of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a filling tube of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filling tube of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a guide head and pin of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the guide head and pin of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6A  is a section view of the filling tube holding drum of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6B  is a section view of a filling tube mounted in a drum partially receiving a guide head of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6C  is a section view of a filling tube mounted in a drum fully receiving a guide head of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6D  is a section view of a filling tube mounted in a drum fully receiving a guide head of the invention showing further a cigarette blank being forwarded to the filling tube. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6E  is a section view of a filling tube mounted in a drum fully receiving a guide head of the invention showing further a cigarette blank being fully loaded on the filling tube. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6F  is a section view of a tobacco plug being injected into a cigarette blank loaded onto a filling tube of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6G  is a section view of a completed cigarette being ejected from a filling tube of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6H  is a section view of an improperly loaded cigarette blank being ejected from a filling tube of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a cigarette blank loading cartridge of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a cigarette blank separation device of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a section view of a cigarette blank separation device of the invention having a mounted cigarette blank loading cartridge in the lowered position holding a plurality of cigarette blanks. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a section view of a cigarette blank separation device of the invention having a mounted cigarette blank loading cartridge in the raised position holding a plurality of cigarette blanks. 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the guide head and pin of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is a section view of the guide head and pin of  FIG. 11  with a portion of the guide head collapsed and having exited the filling tube. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a section view of the guide head and pin of  FIG. 11  with a portion of the guide head expanded and having exited the filling tube. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    A cigarette making apparatus  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The apparatus  10  includes a tobacco input hopper  100  (rotated upward for clarity), a tobacco conveying and compressing device  200 , a cigarette blank separation device  300 , a filling tube holder  400 , a material and product transfer mechanism  500 , and a discharge container (not shown). 
         [0032]    The input hopper  100 , illustrated in  FIG. 2 , has a main body  101  with a tobacco inlet  102 . The input hopper has a top end  104 , a bottom end  105 , a first side  106 , a second opposing side  107 , a discharge end  108 , and an input end  109 . A conveyor  103  may be mounted in the bottom end  105  of main body  101  to convey the tobacco from the input end  109  toward a strand separator  110  mounted generally on the discharge end  108 . The conveyor may include a tension adjustment mechanism  116  for adjusting the conveyor belt tension. The strand separator  110 , having a shaft  111  and a plurality of pins or combs  112  extending outwardly therefrom, is mounted on the discharge end  108  of the main body  101 . The strand separator shaft  111  may be rotatably driven by an electric motor  113 . Depending on the desired rotational speed of the strand separator  110 , a speed reduction mechanism  114  may be employed to communicate the electric motor  112  with the strand separator shaft  111 . 
         [0033]    In operation, cut tobacco is poured into the tobacco inlet  102  of the input hopper  100 . The cut tobacco falls onto the input end  109  of the conveyor  103  and is thereby transferred toward the strand separator  110  and discharge end  108  of the conveyor  103 . After going through the strand separator  110 , the cut tobacco is discharged from the input hopper  100  through a discharge opening  115 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a tobacco conveying and compressing device  200 . The device  200  generally has an input end  201 , a receiving hopper  215 , and a tobacco conveying zone  218 . A tobacco conveyor system  210  has a first conveyor  202  having a top end  203  and a lower end  204  and a second conveyor  205  having a top end  206  and a lower end  207 . The conveyors  202  and  205  are mounted between a first side plate  217  and a second plate (not shown). Conveyor  202  has a conveyor belt  208 , and conveyor  205  has a conveyor belt  209 . The conveyor belts  208  and  209  may have styrations or fingers on them, allowing the moving belts to grip the cut tobacco. The top end  203  of the first conveyor  202  and the top end  206  of the second conveyor  205  communicate with the receiving hopper  215 . Typically, the conveyors  202  and  205  converge on each other as they move in the direction of arrows  211  and  212 , respectively. At lease one electric motor (not shown) may be used to drive the first conveyor  203  and second conveyor  205 . 
         [0035]    In operation, the receiving hopper  215  receives cut tobacco from the discharge opening  115  of the input hopper  100  described above. As an inward side  213  of conveyor  202  and an inward side  214  of conveyor  205  move downward, cut tobacco is received from the receiving hopper  215 , compressed by conveyors  202  and  205 , and ultimately transferred to a compressor device  250 . 
         [0036]    The tobacco compressing device  250  illustrated in  FIG. 3B  has a first compression plate  251  and a second compression plate  252 , which define generally a compression cone  253 . The first compression plate  251  is slidably mounted in the tobacco compressing device  250  to allow it to move toward the second compression plate  252 . The first compression plate  251  has a first end  254  and a second end  255 , the second end defining a semi-circular compression cavity  256  having a top edge  257 . A pneumatic cylinder  261  having a piston rod  262  may be mounted to a frame (not shown), with the piston rod  262  of the pneumatic cylinder  261  communicating with the first end  254  of the first compression plate  251 , thereby slidably operating the first compression plate  251  towards and away from the second compression plate  252 . Other methods may be used to slidably move the first compression plate  251 , such as a servo motor or a hydraulic cylinder. The second compression plate  252  has a first end  258  and second end  259 , the second end  259  defining a semi-circular compression zone  260 . The second compression plate  252  also contains a knife  263  with a cutting edge  264  that is coplanar with the top edge  257  of the semicircular compression cavity  256  of the first compression plate  251  and with a top edge  266  of the semicircular compression cavity  260  of the second plate  252 . The knife  263  may be mounted so that it is not parallel to the top edge  257  of the first compression plate  251 , resulting in the first plate  251  contacting only one portion of the knife edge  264  at a time as the first plate  251  slidably moves towards the second plate  252 . 
         [0037]    In operation, the downwardly moving inner sides  213  and  214  of conveyors  202  and  205 , respectively, partially compress cut tobacco and deliver it to the compression cavity  253 . The conveyors  202  and  205  run for a period of time to deliver an amount of cut tobacco into the compression cavity  253 , and then stop. The amount of tobacco that is delivered into the compression cavity  253  may be within a predetermined range, with the exact amount being established by the operator of the machine depending on individual preferences, which may include, among other things, the operator&#39;s preferred “draw” of the cigarette. Then, the piston  261  pushes the first compression plate  251 , by way of piston rod  262 , toward the second compression plate  252 , further compressing the tobacco in the tobacco cavity  253 . As the first compression plate  251  moves toward the second compression plate  252 , the top edge  257  of the first compression plate  251  meets the cutting edge  264  of the knife  263 . The cut tobacco in the compression cavity  253  is then sheared from the cut tobacco in the tobacco conveying zone  214 . The first compression plate  251  continues to move toward the second compression plate  252 , thereby forming a tobacco plug  265 . The first compression plate  251  then retreats slightly away from the second compression plate  252 , allowing a tobacco plug insertion pin  501  ( FIG. 1 ) to push the tobacco plug  265  out of the compression cavity  253  into a filling tube  350  (described later). Typically, the tobacco plug  265  is smaller in diameter than the inside diameter of a filling tube and a cigarette blank to allow for easy insertion into the filling tube and the cigarette blank. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a filling tube  350  having a first end  351 , a second end  352 , an inside diameter  353 , and an outside diameter  354 . These tubes are mounted on the filling tube drum  401  shown in  FIG. 1 . Other shapes of tubes may be used as filling tubes, including square or octagonal shaped tubes. The first end  351  of the filling tube may have a shoulder  355  for securing the filling tube  350  to a filling tube holder (not shown). Alternatively, a filling tube may be secured to a filling tube holder (not shown) by other means, such as a press fit or welding.  FIG. 4B  shows an embodiment of the filling tube  359  without a shoulder that may be press fit or welded to a filling tube holder (not shown). The inside diameter of the first end  351 , may have a taper  358  from the first end  351  outside diameter  356  to the inside diameter  353  for receiving a guide head  370 . Also, as shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 4B , the second end  356  may be tapered to facilitate the reception thereon of a cigarette blank. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5A  illustrates an embodiment of a guide head  370 . The guide head  370  has a distal end  371  and a proximal end  372  and is sized to fit within the inside diameter  353  of the filling tube  350 . The proximal end  372  of the guide head  370  has fastening means  373  for attaching the guide head  370  to a pin  374  having a complimentary fastening means  375 . The fastening means  374  and  375  can be a threaded connection, a press fit, or other methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the guide head  370  and the pin  374  may be fabricated form a single piece of material. The distal end  371  of the guide head  370  has a substantially conical head  376 . The largest diameter  377  of the conical head  376  is typically equal to or greater than the outer diameter  354  of the filling tube  352 . Therefore, the conical head  376  is collapsible to enable it to pass through the filling tube  350  and exit out the second end  352  of the filling tube  350 . 
         [0040]    Various means may be used to provide a collapsible guide head. In the embodiment  370  shown in  FIG. 5A , a plurality longitudinal slots  365  are cut from the tip  378  of the conical head  376  to a slot termination location  367 . The slots typically terminate at a radius  366  to reduce stresses that the slots may induce into the guide head material and thereby prevent self propagation of the slots toward the proximal end  372  of the guide head  370 . The guide head  370  may be made from a variety of materials, including plastics and metals. Typically, one may use a hardened steel, such as 01 steel hardened to 58-60 Rockwell C, for the guide head. Other means, such as a flexible rubber guide head, a polymer guide head, or an inflatable guide head may be used to produce a collapsible guide head. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5B  illustrates an embodiment of a pin  362  with guide head  363  in which the outside diameters of the pin  362  and the guide head  363  are equal to or less then the inside diameter  353  of the filling tube  350 . In this embodiment, the guide head  363  does not need to collapse to pass through the filling tube  350 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 6A , there is a filling tube holder  400  comprising a drum  401  having a first end  402  and a second end  403 . The first end  402  of the drum  401  has a plurality of holes  404  and  405  for receiving a plurality of filling tubes  350 . Other holes (not shown) for receiving filling tubes may also be disposed on the first end  402  of the drum  401 . 
         [0043]    This description describes filling tube  350  and the features in the drum  401  associated with filling tube  350 . Other filling tubes mounted in the drum will typically be mounted in a similar manner, and the drum typically will have similar features for each of the other filling tubes. One method of attaching a filling tube  350  to a drum  401  is a clamping device  408  against the shoulder  355  on a first end  351  of the filling tube  350 . Alternatively, other means for attaching the filling tubes to a filling tube holder may be used. For example, the filling tubes and the plurality of holes in the holder for receiving the filling tubes may be threaded. Additionally, other methods instead of a drum may be used for holding a plurality of tubes, for instance, the filling tubes may be mounted on a plate or on a belt. 
         [0044]    Axially aligned with the filling tube hole  404  is a conical directing hole  411 , having a proximal end  412  and a distal end  413 . The distal end  413  of the cone shaped hole defines the larger diameter of the cone, and the diameter of the proximal end of the cone shaped hole is slightly larger than the outside diameter of a cigarette blank (discussed later). 
         [0045]      FIG. 6B  is a partial section view of the drum  401  having the filling tube  350  into which the guide head  370 , typically attached to a pin  374  (not shown), is passing. As the conical head  376  of the guide head  370  passes into the first end  351  of the filling tube  350 , the filling tube  350  squeezes the guide head  370 , thereby collapsing guide head  370  and allowing the largest diameter  377  of the guide head  370  to be less than the inside diameter  353  of the filling tube  350 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 6C  is a partial section view of the drum  401  having the filling tube  350  through which the conical head  376  of the guide head  370 , typically attached to a pin  374  (not shown), has passed. The conical head  376 , having passed through the guide tube  350 , can be observed in its relaxed state with the large diameter  377  of the guide head  370  now equal to or greater than the outside diameter  354  of the filling tube  350 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 6D  illustrates a cigarette blank being loaded onto the filling tube  350 . The conical head  376  extends beyond the filling tube  350 . A loading pin (not shown) induces a force on the filter end  426  of a cigarette blank  425 , causing the cigarette blank  425  to move toward the conical head  376  of the guide head  370 . In this illustration, an open end  427  of the cigarette blank  425  has been damaged, resulting in the normal circular shape of the end of the cigarette blank  425  becoming oblong. As the cigarette blank  425  moves toward the guide head  370 , the smaller diameter  412  of the conical hole  411  in the drum  401  will operate to return the oblonged open end  427  of the cigarette blank  425  to a more circular shape. The cigarette blank  425  continues through the conical hole  411 , over the conical head  376 , and then onto the filling tube  350 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 6E  is similar to  FIG. 6D , with the exception that the cigarette blank  425  has been fully inserted on the filling tube  350  by a cigarette blank insertion pin  504  ( FIG. 1 ). Thereafter, the guide head  370  is removed from the filling tube  350  by withdrawing it out through the first end  351  of the filling tube  350 . The filling tube  350  and cigarette blank  425  are then ready to receive the tobacco plug  265  prepared by the previously discussed compressing device  250 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 6F  is similar to  FIG. 6E , with the additional step of removing the guide head (not shown) and inserting the tobacco plug  265 . A sensor  601  ( FIG. 1 ) determines whether a cigarette blank  425  is present and properly loaded onto a filling tube  350  before a tobacco plug  265  is injected into the filling tube  350 . After confirming that a filling tube  350  is ready to receive a tobacco plug, an injection pin  501  pushes a tobacco plug  265  out of the compression chamber and into the filling tube  350 . Thereafter, the injection pin  501  is withdrawn. 
         [0050]      FIG. 6G  illustrates an ejecting pin  503  ( FIG. 1 ) ejecting a completed cigarette tube  430 , having been filled with a tobacco plug  265 , from the filling tube  350 . Typically, the ejection pin  503  is hollow, and pressurized air may be introduced into the ejection pin  503  during the ejection process. Pressurized air escaping from forward end  511  of the ejection pin  503  further facilitates the ejection of the completed cigarette tube  430 . 
         [0051]    As noted above, the sensor  601  determines whether a cigarette blank is loaded properly onto a filling tube before injecting a tobacco plug into the filling tube and cigarette tube. If an improperly loaded cigarette blank is found, the cigarette blank is not injected with a tobacco plug and the improperly loaded cigarette blank continues to rotate on the drum, eventually arriving at the cigarette tube rejection location.  FIG. 6H  depicts the removal of a rejected cigarette tube from a filling tube.  FIG. 6H  illustrates a rejection pin  502  forcing a damaged cigarette blank  428  off of the filling tube  350  toward a collection mechanism  510  ( FIG. 1 ). Typically, the rejection pin  502  is hollow, and pressurized air may be introduced into the rejection pin  502  during the rejection process. Pressurized air escaping from the forward end  511  of rejection pin  502  further facilitates removal of the cigarette blank  428  by blowing air against the rejected cigarette blank  428 . The collection mechanism  510 , such as a vacuum, collects the rejected cigarette blank  428 . 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is cigarette blank holding cartridge  310  having a rectangular-shaped box  321  with first end wall  311 , a second end wall  312 , side walls  313  and  314  (not shown) disposed between end walls  311  and  312 , and a top  322 . The first end wall  311  has a lower edge  315 , to which a cartridge bottom  316  may be pivotably mounted using a hinge  317  or other similar pivoting mounting means. The first end wall  311  has a handle  318 . Mounting tab  319 , affixed to the bottom  316  of the cartridge  310 , is slideably mountable onto a base plate  326  ( FIG. 9 ). Mounting tab  320 , affixed to the second end wall  312  at the cartridge  310 , is receivable into a cartridge tab receiving area  337  ( FIG. 9 ) of the cigarette blank separation device  300 . Typically, the cartridge  310  may hold a plurality of cigarettes, e.g., about 200 cigarette tubes. Typically, the cartridge is of a size so that a user may set an entire carton of cigarette blanks (200 cigarette blanks) into the cartridge without removing the cigarette blanks from the box before loading. The cartridge may also be of a size to hold a carton of 100 cigarette blanks. Alternatively, if one desires to use a carton of cigarette blanks containing less than 200 cigarette blanks in a cartridge designed for 200 cigarette blanks, than a block may be used to take up the extra space in the cartridge. 
         [0053]    In operation, a user turns the cartridge  310  upside down so that the bottom  316  is on the top, and opens fully the bottom  316 . The user then sets a full box of cigarette blanks into the cartridge  310 . Thereafter, the user may tear the top from the cigarette carton and close the cartridge bottom  316 . The loaded cartridge is then ready for loading into the cartridge tube separator device  300 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of the cigarette blank separation device  300  having received cartridge  310 . Also visible is the sensing mechanism  601  and the collection mechanism  510  for collecting a rejected cigarette blank (not shown). 
         [0055]      FIG. 9  is a partial section view of the cigarette blank separation device  300  having received a cartridge  310  holding a plurality of blank cigarettes  325 . The cigarette blank separation device  300  has a base plate  326  that has a lower end  327 , an upper end  328 , a first side  330 , and an opposing second side. A first side plate  331  is disposed on the first side  330  of the base plate, and an opposing second side plate (not shown) is disposed on the opposing second side of the base plate  326 . 
         [0056]    The mounting and operation of the first side plate  331  will be described herein, and the mounting and operation of the opposing second side plate (not shown) is substantially similar to that of the first side plate  331 . A cross bar  336  ties the first side plate  331  to the second side plate (not shown). The cross bar  336  has a cartridge tab receiving area  337  for receiving the mounting tab  320  disposed on the second end wall  312  of the cartridge box  321 . The first side plate  331  has an upper end  332  that is pivotally mounted at a pivot point  338  adjacent to the upper end  328  of the base plate  326 . A portion  335  of the first side plate  331  rides on an eccentric cam  333  that rotates about a camshaft  334 . The cam shaft may be driven by a motor (not shown) or by other means available to impart a rotational action upon the camshaft  334 .  FIG. 9  depicts the first side plate  331  and the cigarette blank loading cartridge  310  in a down position, the position in which a user would insert a cigarette blank loading cartridge  310  containing a plurality of cigarette blanks. 
         [0057]    As the cam  333  rotates about the camshaft  334 , the first side plate  331  and opposing second side plate (not shown) pivot about pivot point  338 , thereby resulting in the lower end  339  of the first side plate  331  and the lower end of the second side plate moving along an upward arc  340 . The cross bar  336 , being affixed between the first side plate  331  and the second side plate, moves upward. The cartridge box  321  also moves upward, because the mounting tab  320  of the cigarette blank loading cartridge  310  has been received in the cartridge tab receiving area  337  of the cross bar  336 . 
         [0058]      FIG. 10  is a partial section view of the cigarette blank separation device  300  with the cartridge box  310 , the first side plate  331  and the second side plate (not shown) in the elevated position. 
         [0059]    The lower end  327  of the base plate  326  abuts a shaking assembly  380 . In one embodiment, the shaking assembly  380  has a shaking plate  381  pivotably mounted a top end  383  to a frame  382 . The shaking plate  381  may be shook by a variety of methods, and one method of shaking the plate is by an eccentric cam  384 . In operation, the rotation of the eccentric cam pivots the plate about the top end  383  of the shaking plate  381 , thereby shaking a plurality of cigarette blanks  390 . Typically, the lower end  385  of the shaking plate  381  is at a sufficient distance above the base plate  326  to allow a lowest plurality of cigarette blanks  396  to pass between the base plate  326  and the lower end  385  of the shaking plate  381 . 
         [0060]    The plurality of cigarette blanks  390  has a first row  387 , a second row  388  and upper rows  389 . As the shaking plate  381  advances towards the upper end  328  of the base plate  326 , because of the rotation of the cam  384 , the shaking plate  381  pushes the plurality of cigarette blanks  390  toward the upper end  328  of the base plate  326 . The base plate  326 , has a retainer  391  for maintaining the position of the cigarette blanks once they move to the lower end  392  of the retainer  391 . By shaking the second row  388  and the upper rows  389  of a plurality of cigarettes blanks  390 , the shaking plate breaks up the pyramidal structure  393  that ordinarily forms between successive rows of cigarettes. Additionally, the retainer  391  keeps the lower plurality of cigarette blanks  396  from moving toward the upper end  328  of the base plate  326 , furthering the shaker&#39;s effectiveness in breaking the pyramidal structure  393 . 
         [0061]    The cigarette blank loading area  394  has in it a cigarette blank  395  ready to be loaded onto a filling tube  350  as depicted in  FIG. 6D  and  FIG. 6E . After a cigarette blank loading pin  504  pushes the cigarette blank  395  out of the cigarette blank loading area  394 , the lowest plurality of cigarette blanks  396  advance forward, moving another cigarette blank into the cigarette blank loading area  394 . 
         [0062]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , there is the material and product transfer mechanism  500  that has on it the tobacco plug injection pin  501 , the completed cigarette ejection pin  503 , and the improperly loaded cigarette blank rejection pin  502 . Typically, the pins  501 ,  502  and  503  are linearally moved along their axis by a plurality of pneumatic cylinders (not shown). The injection pin  501  and the pneumatic cylinder associated therewith is mounted in a slideable fixture  507 . The fixture  507 , slideably mounted in a frame  505 , is slideable by a hand crank  506 . The slideably mounted injection pin  501  allows for adjustment of the pin to accommodate various lengths of cigarette blanks. 
         [0063]      FIG. 1  illustrates the general operation of the cigarette making apparatus. In operation, a user fills a cigarette blank cartridge with a plurality of cigarette blanks and loads the cartridge  310  into the cigarette blank separation assembly  300 . The user also pours tobacco into the tobacco inlet  102  of the input hopper  100 . The user then starts the operation of the cigarette making apparatus  10 . The automatic operation of the cigarette making apparatus is typically controlled by electronics such as a computer or a programmable logic controller (“PLC”) (not shown) adapted to interface with the various components of the cigarette making apparatus  10 . 
         [0064]    The cigarette blank separating device  300  separates a cigarette blank  395  from the plurality of tubes in the cartridge  310 , allowing a cigarette blank to flow into the loading area  394  as shown in  FIG. 10 . A filling tube  350  with a portion of the guide head  370  extending beyond the second end  352  of the filling tube  350  ( FIG. 6C ) mounted on a drum  401  is axially aligned with the cigarette blank  395 . Thereafter, a cigarette blank loading pin  504  pushes the cigarette blank onto the filling tube  350 , and the guide head  370  is withdrawn from the filling tube  350  (as addressed in the discussion regarding  FIG. 6D  and  FIG. 6E ). The drum  401  then indexes forward in the direction shown by arrow  602 . 
         [0065]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , when the filling tube  350  having on it a cigarette blank reaches a position  603 , a sensor  601  ensures that a cigarette blank is loaded properly. If the sensor finds a tube properly loaded, then an injection rod  501  injects a previously compressed tobacco plug  295  into the filling tube  350  (as discussed above regarding  FIG. 6F ). If the sensor  601  finds an improperly loaded tube, then the cigarette making apparatus skips the tobacco plug injection process, and the drum  401  continues to index forward in the direction of arrow  602 . 
         [0066]    After a tobacco plug is successfully injecting into a filling tube  350  having on it a cigarette blank, the drum  401  continues to index forward in the direction of arrow  602 , whereupon the filling tube  350  will arrive at a completed cigarette ejection position  604 . Once there, an ejection rod  503  will eject the completed cigarette from the filling tube  350 , as shown in  FIG. 6G . The completed cigarettes may then fall into a collection device (not shown), where they may be retrieved by the operator. 
         [0067]    If the sensor  601  has found an improperly loaded cigarette blank, then the drum  401  with the filling tube  350  holding the improperly loaded cigarette blank will continue to index forward on in the direction of arrow  602 , skipping the tobacco injection process and the completed cigarette ejection process, whereupon it arrives at an improperly loaded tube rejection area  605 . Thereafter, a rejection pin  502  pushes the improperly loaded cigarette blank off of the filling tube. ( FIG. 6H ). 
         [0068]    After the above discussed process is complete and a completed cigarette is made (or an improperly loaded cigarette blank is rejected), the filling tube is ready to receive a new cigarette blank. Typically, the above discussed process will produce 25 completed cigarettes a minutes with less than 4 rejected cigarettes per 100 completed. 
         [0069]    The plurality of filling tubes on the drum  401  allows the above steps to take place concurrently. For instance, a cigarette blank may be inserted on a filling tube at the same time a tobacco plug is being injected into another filling tube, which may be occurring at the same time a completed cigarette is being rejected from a filling tube, which may be occurring at the same time an improperly loaded cigarette blank is being rejected. Additionally, the tobacco conveying and compressing and the cigarette blank separating may also be occurring concurrently with the above steps. 
         [0070]    Another embodiment of a guide head and a pin is shown in  FIG. 11 . The expandable head system  700  comprises a guide head  701 , a hollow tube  702 , a spring shaft  703  having a collar  704 , a spring  705 , and a body  706 . 
         [0071]    As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the body  706  has an internal bore  708  in a forward end  709  for receiving the spring shaft  703 . The spring shaft  703  is slidably mounted in the internal bore  708  of the body  706 . Friction reduction members  713  and  714  may be disposed in the internal bore  708  between the spring shaft  703  and the body  706  to guide the spring shaft  703 . The spring  705  is disposed on the spring shaft  703 , and the spring shaft  703  is retained in the internal bore  708  by a stop  735  mounted to a back end  710  of the spring shaft  703 . The spring  705  is compressed and is retained between a front face  711  of the body  706  and the collar  704  of the spring shaft  703 . A washer  712  may be disposed on the spring shaft  703  and against the front face  711  of the body  706  for receiving an end  732  of the spring  705 . 
         [0072]    A first end  720  of the hollow tube  702  is affixed to the collar  704  of the spring shaft  703 , and a second end  733  of the hollow tube  702  receives the guide head  701 . An internal bore  719  of the spring shaft  703  communicates with a hollow central portion  721  of the hollow tube  702 . A pin  707  has a first end  715  that is affixed to a back end  718  of the body  706 . The pin  707  passes through the internal bore  719  of the spring shaft  703 , through the hollow tube  702 , and terminates in the guide head  701 . Friction reduction members  722  and  723  may be disposed in the internal bore  719  of the spring shaft  703  to guide the pin  707 . 
         [0073]    A second end  724  of the pin  707  terminates in a conical head portion  725  of the guide head  701 . The conical head portion  725  has a conical internal cavity  726  that is sized to receive the second end  724  of the pin  707  when the conical head portion is in a collapsed configuration and further has an internal cavity  727  that is smaller than the second end  724  of the pin  707 . The guide head  701  may have a plurality of longitudinal slots similar to the embodiment of a guide head shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         [0074]      FIG. 12  illustrates the conical head portion  725  of the guide head  701  having passed through the second end  352  of the filling tube  350  with the pin  707  in the retracted position.  FIG. 12  shows the distal end of the expandable head system  700  enlarged to illustrate detail. With the pin  707  in the retracted position, the conical head is collapsed, whereby a large diameter  728  of the conical head portion  725  is equal to or smaller in diameter than the inside diameter  353  of the filling tube  350 . The expansive forces of the spring  705  maintain the pin in the retracted position and maintain the position of the guide head  701  relative to the pin  707  until a force sufficient to overcome the expansive spring force is induced on the pin  707 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 13  illustrates the conical head portion  725  of the guide head  701  having passed through the second end  352  of the filling tube  350  with the pin  707  in the extended position.  FIG. 13  shows the distal end of the expandable head system  700  enlarged to illustrate detail. With the pin  707  in the extended position, the second end  724  of the pin  707  has passed into the internal cavity  727  of the conical head portion  725 , thereby expanding the conical head portion  725  to a diameter  729  that is typically greater than the inside diameter  353  of the filling tube  350 , and more typically is greater than the outside diameter  354  of the filling tube  350 . In that position, the conical head portion  725  is positioned to receive and guide a cigarette blank onto the filling tube. 
         [0076]    In operation, the guide head  701  is passed through the filling tube until the conical head portion  725  passes through the second end  352  of the filling tube  350 , at which time means for stopping the spring shaft  703  acts to stop the forward movement of the spring shaft  703 , the hollow tube  702 , and the guide head  701 . Thereafter, the body  706  continues to move forward a distance  730  to extend the second end  724  of the pin  707  into the internal cavity  727  of the conical head portion  725 , thereby expanding the conical head portion  725  of the guide head  701 . A cigarette blank may then be inserted over the conical head portion  725  and onto the filling tube  350 . The body  706  is then retracted, thereby retracting the second end  724  of the pin  707  from the internal cavity  727  and allowing the conical head portion  725  to return to its collapsed configuration. The retraction of the body  706  continues, extracting the tube  702  and the guide head  701  from the filling tube  350 . 
         [0077]    While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrated examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.