Patent Publication Number: US-2007107738-A1

Title: Apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to smoking articles, and in particular, to cigarettes. More specifically, the present invention relates to equipment and methods for manufacturing and handling relatively small quantities of cigarettes in an automated fashion.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, have a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped structure and include a charge, roll, or column of smokable material, such as shredded tobacco, surrounded by a paper wrapper, to form a “cigarette rod,” “smokable rod,” or a “tobacco rod.” A typical cigarette has a cylindrical filter element axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, the filter element comprises plasticized cellulose acetate tow circumscribed by a paper material known as “plug wrap.” Certain cigarettes incorporate filter elements comprising, for example, activated charcoal particles. Typically, the filter element is attached to one end of the tobacco rod using a circumscribing wrapping material known as “tipping paper.” A ventilated or air-diluted smoking article can be provided with an optional air-dilution means, such as a series of perforations, each of which extend through the tipping material and plug wrap. Conventional automated machines for making cigarette rods that have been employed for the manufacture of commercially popular packaged cigarettes are of the type commercially available from Molins PLC or Hauni-Werke Korber &amp; Co. KG. For example, a description of a commercially available “Protos” cigarette-making machine is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand. Other types of equipment suitable for the manufacture of cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0129281 to Hancock et al. A cigarette-making machine for making relatively small amounts of cigarettes has been available commercially as “Hauni Baby” from Hauni-Werke Korber &amp; Co. KG. Another type of portable cigarette-making machine has been set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,229 to Hurt.  
      A variety of hand-operated devices for manufacturing individual cigarettes have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,376,103 to Wahl; U.S. Pat. No. 2,425,888 to Matteson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,884 to Snodgrass; U.S. Pat. No. 2,427,957 to Getts; U.S. Pat. No. 2,496,375 to Carter; U.S. Pat. No. 2,594,747 to DuLaney; U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,788 to Kastner; U.S. Pat. No. 2,714,383 to Ming Gee; U.S. Pat. No. 2,731,971 to Kastner; U.S. Pat. No. 2,850,019 to Sosa; U.S. Pat. No. 2,868,209 to Marcotte; U.S. Pat. No. 3,006,348 to Banning, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,498 to Armelin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,056 to Bryant et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,367 to Newsome; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2004/110187 to Szabo; and European Patent No. EP 1,177,731 to Tinkles et al.  
      Various methods for filling paper cigarette tubes with tobacco have been proposed. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,133 to Higgins; U.S. Pat. No. 3,124,141 to Seitter; U.S. Pat. No. 3,202,156 to Kappeler et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,245 to Asbill, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,948 to Moscovitch; U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,216 to Josuttis et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,740 to Gatschmann et al. See, also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,491,768 to Paynter and U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,313 to Sexstone which set forth manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes by filling a tube, or “spill,” with a tobacco charge and a filter plug. One type of cigarette-making machine for the manufacture of one cigarette at a time using loose tobacco and a filtered cigarette tube has been marketed as “BUGLER™” filter cigarette-making machine by Brown &amp; Williamson Tobacco Corporation. Another type of automated machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with loose tobacco filler has been available commercially as “Cig-a-mat” from Jenkins &amp; Ott, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,272 to Jenkins et al. Yet another type of automated device for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler is an electrically-operated cigarette-making machine that has been available commercially as “Easy Roller” from C. P. Rolling ApS of Denmark.  
      Another cigarette machine for filling pre-formed cigarette tubes with tobacco filler has been produced commercially by The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd. and marketed as “PREMIER SUPERMATIC™.” Other types of cigarette machines for filling cigarette tubes with tobacco have been marketed as “Escort” and “Pressta Deluxe” by CTC Canada Inc. See, for example, the representative types of machines set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,900 to Kastner and U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,793 to Kastner.  
      U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,710 to Bramhill proposes manufacturing individual cigarettes by inserting a cartridge of tobacco into an empty filter-tip cigarette tube. Other manners and methods for manufacturing individual cigarettes are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,617 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,536 to Liebich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,830 to Brackmann et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,366 to Liebich; U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,000 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,248 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,495 to Ruppert et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,692 to Ruppert et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,377 to Gerding et al.  
      Yet other manners and methods for fabricating cigarettes have been proposed. For example, the manufacture of cigarettes has been proposed using a dispensing-type machine, such as the machine referred to as “Cigaretterie,” marketed by National Amusement Network, Inc. A device representative of such a machine is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,666,975 to Lord.  
      It would be desirable to provide for the manufacture of relatively small lots of cigarettes in an efficient and effective manner. It would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within each lot are of consistent quality. That is, it would be desirable that all of the cigarettes within such a lot be substantially identical to one another in appearance, size, shape, weight, and component materials, including tobacco filler materials. It also would be desirable that the cigarettes within such a lot exhibit similar performance characteristics, such as smoking character, puff count, and smoke yield.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to the manufacture of cigarettes in an automated fashion. Cigarette manufacture can be carried out such that relatively small lots of cigarettes are manufactured during a relevant period, for example, while a customer is shopping in a retail setting. Cigarette manufacture can be carried out such that substantially all of the cigarettes within a lot are of consistent quality.  
      A first aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for manufacturing cigarettes from loose tobacco and pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. The device includes a reservoir, or hopper, for receiving and containing loose tobacco filler. A plurality of receptacles can be positioned beneath the hopper. Each receptacle is adapted to receive a portion of the tobacco filler. The device may include a tray, or cartridge, for containing a plurality of pre-formed tubular wrapping portions. Each such wrapper has a hollow region, open at one end, for receiving tobacco filler. The cartridge is adapted to be positioned relative to the receptacles such that individual pre-formed tubular wrappers within the cartridge are aligned with a corresponding one of the receptacles. The device includes a means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the plurality of receptacles into the hollow region of each of the wrappers. The device may further include a means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered from each receptacle into each of the wrappers.  
      In an illustrative embodiment, the hopper may include several downwardly extending passageways for downward passage of loose tobacco filler from an upper hopper region. One of the receptacles can be aligned beneath each of the plurality of downwardly extending passageways for receiving a portion of the tobacco filler from that passageway. Such a device can incorporate one or more weights or other structures adapted to provide downward force or compression on loose tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway. Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway using the weight provides for altered arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway. Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway using the weight also provides for a controlled feed of tobacco filler to and within each receptacle. Accordingly, such a weight system can be utilized to control the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers.  
      Such a device can incorporate at least one movable side wall for each downwardly extending passageway, thereby providing for altering the arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway, as well as for controlling feed or introduction of a portion of tobacco filler within each receptacle. As a result of such a movable side wall, a pre-determined amount of tobacco filler can be supplied to, and provided within, each receptacle and wrapper. In an embodiment, the device can further include a compression mechanism for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers. Such a compression mechanism can provide for arranging a pre-determined amount of loose tobacco filler within each receptacle into a charge of tobacco filler. The charge of tobacco can have a pre-determined shape and size, for example, a cylindrical shape that is capable of filling the hollow region of a tubular wrapper.  
      The means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the tubular wrappers may comprise an insertion unit including a plurality of slidable plunger rods. Each rod is positioned for sliding movement through one of the receptacles into one of the wrappers for delivering a charge of tobacco filler from the receptacle through a nozzle into the hollow region of a corresponding tubular wrapper aligned with and adjacent to the receptacle. When the plurality of plunger rods is moved substantially simultaneously through the plurality of receptacles, a charge of tobacco filler from the receptacles is delivered substantially simultaneously into each of a pre-determined number of the wrappers aligned with the receptacles.  
      A representative embodiment of a such cigarette manufacturing apparatus includes five downwardly extending passageways, five compression regions within the compression mechanism, five receptacles for formation of five charges of tobacco filler, five insertion units, and a cartridge containing at least five hollow tubular wrappers. As such, five cigarettes can be manufactured substantially simultaneously by using the apparatus to fill each of five wrappers with a formed charge of tobacco filler. A representative lot of twenty cigarettes (e.g., a sufficient number of cigarettes to fill a traditional type of cigarette package) can be provided using such a representative cigarette manufacturing apparatus. In operation, at least a sufficient amount of tobacco filler is employed to adequately fill twenty tubular wrapping portions contained within a cartridge designed to hold twenty tubular wrapping portions. After appropriate placement of the cartridge within the apparatus, repeating the tobacco filler filling operation four times would result in manufacture of a lot of twenty cigarettes.  
      In another illustrative embodiment, the hopper may include four walls in the form of a rectangle, a bottom, and an open top. The receptacles may comprise a plurality of wells in the bottom of the hopper. In such an embodiment, the means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the wrappers may include a plurality of auger conveyors. Each auger conveyor is capable of spiral movement and extends from one of the receptacles into one of the wrappers. Rotation of the auger conveyors causes a portion of the tobacco filler in each well to be delivered into the hollow region of each aligned wrapper. Such a hopper may further include a mechanism for detangling the tobacco filler.  
      In an embodiment, a delivery passageway, such as a nozzle, can be connected to each of the receptacles for guiding delivery of a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into the aligned wrappers. Each of a pre-determined number of the wrappers can be mounted on the outside surface of the nozzles. The means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers may include an adjustable tension arm in contact with an outer surface of a wrapper mounted on a nozzle. In this manner, the rate of movement of the wrappers can be controlled as a portion of tobacco filler is being delivered into the wrappers. A pressure adjustment arm may also be connected to a plurality of the adjustable tension arms. A weight can be moved along the pressure adjustment arm for applying varying degrees of pressure to the plurality of the adjustable tension arms. As such, the pressure adjustment arm and weight provide additional control of the rate of movement of the wrappers and of the portion of tobacco filler being delivered into the wrappers.  
      In another embodiment, the means for delivering a portion of tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the wrappers may include a plurality of toothed blades. Each blade is capable of reciprocating movement and extends from one of the receptacles into one of the wrappers. Reciprocation of the blades causes a portion of the tobacco filler in each well to be delivered into the hollow region of each aligned wrapper.  
      A second aspect of the invention relates to removal of tobacco from ends of cigarettes. Tobacco filler extending from the ends of a plurality of cigarettes can be removed by aligning a row of cigarettes and cutting that excess tobacco away from the ends of the cigarettes. After cigarettes have been manufactured using a representative embodiment of the present invention, a slight amount of tobacco filler located at the foremost lighting end of the cigarette may extend outwards from the open end of the tubular wrapper portion. That is, a slight excess amount of tobacco filler may extend beyond that region circumscribed by the tube of wrapping material. A representative embodiment of the invention can include a circular cutting blade rotating at a high speed that can be passed by the lighting end of the cigarette, at or just beyond the end of the tubular wrapper portion, in order to cut excess tobacco filler away. For example, finished cigarettes can be properly aligned in a cartridge, and a highly sharpened cutting wheel configured in a the general manner of a table saw can be aligned relative to the cartridge. The cutting wheel can be rotated at a very high rate of speed and moved past the lighting ends of those cigarettes sufficiently close so as to cut excess tobacco filler away, while not cutting or damaging the paper wrapping material at the lighting ends of those cigarettes. Thus, in one aspect of the present invention, the ends of finished cigarettes positioned in a cartridge can be trimmed while those cigarettes are positioned within that cartridge.  
      A third aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for loading a cartridge with pre-formed hollow tubular wrapping portions useful for the manufacture of cigarettes. Such a cartridge-loading device or assembly may include a region for supporting the cartridge in such a manner that at least a portion of the cartridge can be loaded with tubular wrapping portions. The device optionally includes a supply mechanism for supplying tubular wrapping portions to the cartridge. The device can be configured to fill the cartridge with a pre-determined number of tubular wrapping portions. In one embodiment, the supply mechanism includes an upper reservoir for receiving and containing a plurality of tubular wrapping portions, a hopper region including a plurality of downwardly extending passageways, a lower bed or tray located below the hopper region, and a transfer mechanism that facilitates transport of tubular wrappers from the bed to corresponding locations within the cartridge. The downwardly extending passageways are adapted so as to receive tubular wrapping portions. Thus, in an operation of such an embodiment, an individual tubular wrapping portion within the upper reservoir falls into each passageway of the hopper, and hence, several vertically extending columns of tubular wrapping portions are provided. Tubular wrapping portions positioned at the bottom of the supply mechanism are aligned with desired locations on the cartridge, which is positioned in a predetermined location adjacent the bottom region of the supply mechanism. A series of movable rods can be used to push the series of tubular wrapping portions from the lower bed into desired positions within the cartridge.  
      A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus or device for packaging cigarettes. For example, one embodiment of the invention can include a device having a base that has a region for locating an open cigarette package. The device includes an upper region or platform, above the base, adapted to support a cartridge containing finished cigarettes. Below the upper platform is located a downwardly extending passageway for the passage of cigarettes from the cartridge and into the cigarette package. Removal of cigarettes from the cartridge can be accomplished by movement of the cartridge relative to the upper platform such that cigarettes within the cartridge are pushed from the cartridge and into the downwardly extending passageway, traveling thereby into the package.  
      A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the use of the various components associated with various aspects of the present invention as a system to provide a cigarette product manufacturing assembly. In an exemplary embodiment, a specific tobacco filler blend can be selected. In addition, particular pre-formed tubular wrapping portions can be selected. Empty tubular wrapping portions can be loaded into a cartridge using a cartridge-loading assembly. A cartridge carrying hollow tubular wrapping portions can be suitably positioned within the cigarette-making apparatus. Such a cigarette-making apparatus also can be fitted with a removable hopper unit containing the selected tobacco filler blend, or alternatively, the hopper unit can be appropriately positioned within the cigarette-making apparatus and then loaded with the selected tobacco filler blend. Cigarettes can be manufactured by filling tubular wrapping portions with controlled amounts of loose tobacco filler until a desired number of cigarettes are manufactured or until the cartridge is filled with manufactured cigarettes. As such, numerous cigarettes of consistent quality (e.g., in terms of components, dimensions, and weight) are produced. The cartridge, filled with manufactured cigarettes, can be removed from the cigarette-making apparatus. Any excess tobacco filler extending from the lighting ends of those cigarettes can be trimmed, in order that the various cigarettes have ends that are relatively uniform and aesthetically pleasing. The cigarettes can be transferred from the cartridge into the cigarette packaging device, where the cigarettes are loaded into a package. As such, embodiments of the present invention provide a manner or method for manufacturing and packaging relatively small quantities, lots, or batches of finished cigarettes of consistent quality in an automated fashion.  
      Although useful in many environments, a cigarette-making machine of the present invention may be utilized in combination with all or certain of the foregoing devices in a commercial setting, such as a tobacco products retail establishment. In this way, a customer can choose a type or blend of tobacco filler for a package of cigarettes, and view the production and handling of the cigarettes that are produced expressly for that customer by a representative of the retail establishment.  
      An automated cigarette-making machine, a cartridge-loading device, and a packaging device according to the present invention each can be used, for example, for the manufacture of cigarettes for personal use (e.g., for use at home), for the manufacture of specialty type cigarettes within tobacco products retail establishments (e.g., for the production of individual packages of cigarettes at tobacco shops), for the manufacture of small lots of cigarettes for quality control or regulatory related activities, or for research and development purposes.  
      Embodiments of the present invention can include a method for manufacturing cigarettes utilizing the various embodiments of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus described herein.  
      As will be realized by those of skill in the art, many different embodiments of an apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes according to the present invention are possible. Additional uses, objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention are set forth in the detailed description that follows and will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or by practice of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes by filling pre-formed tubular wrappers with loose tobacco filler.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of various components of the hopper assembly of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 2A  is a cut-away perspective view of a movable wall of the hopper assembly shown in  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the base and various components of the plunger mechanism of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, perspective view of a tension arm of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the cartridge of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the cartridge of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the compression assembly of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the upper portion as partially cut away, and showing the compression plates in open positions.  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a compression assembly showing the upper portion as partially cut away, and showing the compression plates in closed positions.  
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  taken along lines  9 - 9  in  FIG. 1 , and showing the compression plates in closed positions.  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the plunger assembly of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 11  is a rear perspective view the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of an apparatus for trimming tobacco filler strands from the ends of cigarettes.  
       FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 12 .  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an apparatus for filling a cartridge with pre-formed tubular wrappers, the apparatus shown in the open position.  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 14 , the apparatus shown in the closed position.  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the base portion of the apparatus shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 .  
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of an apparatus for filling a cigarette package with manufactured cigarettes.  
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 17 , showing the cigarette package beneath the open region of the positioning platform.  
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a package of cigarettes.  
       FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of a pre-formed tubular wrapper representative of the type used for the manufacture of a cigarette.  
       FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of a finished cigarette.  
       FIG. 22  is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes by filling pre-formed tubular wrappers with loose tobacco filler.  
       FIG. 23  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes by filling pre-formed tubular wrappers with loose tobacco filler shown in  FIG. 22 .  
       FIG. 24  is an enlarged, perspective view of the hopper assembly shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , having part of the front wall removed and showing the plurality of auger conveyors and nozzles.  
       FIG. 25  is a front view of the embodiment of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 .  
       FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus shown in  FIG. 22 , taken along lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 25 .  
       FIG. 27  is an enlarged, front perspective view of another embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes by filling pre-formed tubular wrappers with loose tobacco filler.  
       FIG. 28  is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the apparatus for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes by filling pre-formed tubular wrappers with loose tobacco filler shown in  FIG. 27 .  
       FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the blade assembly shown in the embodiment of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus in  FIGS. 27 and 28 , showing the plurality of reciprocating blades. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an embodiment of an automated device or apparatus  10  of the present invention for manufacturing a plurality of cigarettes  13  by filling pre-formed filtered tubular wrappers  21  with loose tobacco filler (not shown). For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the automated cigarette-making apparatus is designed to simultaneously manufacture five cigarettes by simultaneously filling the hollow portions of five pre-formed tubular wrappers with five cylindrical charges formed from loose tobacco filler. The embodiments of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1-21 , are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/143,889, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
      The cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  includes a lower base  31 , which can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, brass or aluminum), plastic (e.g., polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, acrylate/butadiene/styrene or ABS type plastic, nylon, or other suitable polymeric material), composite material (e.g., a graphite-based ceramic), or like material. Preferably, the lower base  31  is manufactured from aluminum. Although the shape and dimensions of the base can vary, and can be a matter of design choice, a representative base is generally rectangular and is about 35 cm deep, about 25 cm wide, and about 2 cm high. A perspective view of the base  31  is described below with reference to  FIG. 3 .  
      If embodiments of the present invention, various components of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  can be covered with an aesthetically pleasing cover (not shown). For example, portions of the base  31  can be adapted to support an optional formed plastic cover of a desired design and color.  
      The base  31  supports a movable tray or cartridge  38 , which can be manufactured from a suitable material as described herein for the base  31 . Preferably, the cartridge  38  is manufactured from a metal, such as aluminum. The cartridge  38  can be adapted to be movable from side to side relative to the base  31 , along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge  38 . Movement can be accomplished manually by a machine operator. Although the dimensions of the cartridge  38  can vary, and can be a matter of design choice, a representative, generally rectangular-shaped cartridge is about 7 cm deep, about 26.5 cm long, and about 2.5 cm high. Rear and front views of the cartridge  38  are shown, respectively, in  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1, 5 , and  6 , the cartridge  38  includes a series of parallel rounded grooves  48  in its upper face, with the grooves  48  being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge  38 . The size and shape of the grooves can vary, and generally depend upon factors such as the size of a preformed tubular wrapper  21  that is properly positioned in each respective groove  48 . That is, each groove  48  acts like a cradle for a pre-formed tubular wrapper  21 . A representative groove is designed to hold a pre-formed tubular wrapper that is about 86 mm long with a circumference of about 24.5 mm. The representative groove has a generally semi-circular shape of about 4.4 mm radius and is about 60 mm long. As such, each tubular wrapper can extend about 30 mm beyond the rear face of the cartridge. For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1, 5  and  6 , the cartridge  38  includes twenty grooves  48 , and thus the cartridge  38  can hold twenty pre-formed tubular wrappers  21  for the manufacture of twenty cigarettes.  
      The cartridge  38  can be adapted to be removable from the base  31 . Thus, a cartridge  38  loaded with empty tubular wrappers  21  can be positioned on the base  31 , loaded with loose tobacco filler (not shown), and—once loaded with finished cigarettes resulting from the tubular wrappers  21  having been filled with tobacco filler—can be removed from the base  31  for packaging or for use without packaging. It is preferred that the tubular wrappers  21  within the cartridge  38  are positioned lying on their sides (that is, the longitudinal axis of each tubular wrapper  21  is parallel to, or substantially parallel to, the horizontal plane). The cartridge  38  can serve as a source and holder of tubular wrappers  21  that are employed during the cigarette-manufacturing process using the cigarette-making apparatus, as well as a holder for transfer of finished cigarettes  13  manufactured using that apparatus  10  to a package filling device.  
      The cartridge  38  can be adapted to be capable of being maintained firmly in place relative to the base  31  during periods when the apparatus  10  is being used to insert loose tobacco filler into selected tubular wrappers  21 . Appropriate secure positioning of the cartridge within the base  31  can be accomplished by any suitable means. For example, the cartridge  38  may be laterally secured to the base  31  using, for example, a pin or key type of design (e.g., a square key stock  834 , such as is illustrated in  FIG. 14 ) whereby a protrusion located at a predetermined position in the base  31  cooperates with a coordinating hole or slot located at a predetermined location in the bottom face of the cartridge  38 . In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a backstop wall  68 , or other suitably designed backstop means, protruding upwardly across the length of the front end of the base  31 , acts to hold the cartridge (and pre-formed tubular wrappers carried thereby) in place relative to the base  31 . Use of the backstop wall  68  and/or other securing means may thus minimize or prevent undesirable effects of movement (whether side-to-side or back-and-forth) during normal operation of the apparatus  10 .  
      The base  31  also supports a compression assembly  75  (which is discussed in greater detail below with reference to  FIGS. 7-8 ). The compression assembly  75 , in turn, supports a hopper assembly  80 . Extending upwards and supported by the base  31  is a support frame  85 , which can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as aluminum. The support frame  85  is connected to the remainder of the apparatus  10  using screws. The support frame  85  provides a means by which various components of the apparatus  10  can be secured in place. For example, screws may be threaded through the compression assembly  75  and into the bottom face of the support frame  85 . The support frame  85  can be adapted to support an upper weight-source assembly  92 .  
      The tobacco hopper assembly  80  also includes a hopper unit  99 . The hopper unit  99  is adapted to be maintained firmly in place relative to the compression assembly  75  during periods when the apparatus  10  is being used to insert loose tobacco filler into selected tubular wrappers  21 . Such firm positioning of the hopper unit  99  can be accomplished by appropriately positioned coordinating locating slots and pins (not shown). The hopper unit  99  functions as a source of loose tobacco filler that is processed using the apparatus  10  to produce finished cigarettes.  
      Various components of the hopper assembly  80  can be are adapted to be removable from the compression assembly  75 , in order that the relevant hopper assembly components can be serviced or cleaned. In an embodiment of the apparatus  10 , individual hopper units, each containing a different blend of loose tobacco filler, can readily be removed and substituted for one another. The desired secure positioning of each removable hopper unit  99  relative to the other components of the apparatus  10  can be facilitated by placement of protruding pins on the bottom of the hopper unit and complementary mating holes in the top of the compression assembly  75 . By use of the pin/hole arrangement or another suitable mechanism, the hopper unit  99  can be appropriately aligned with the other components of the apparatus.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the hopper unit  99  includes an open upper reservoir region  110  into which loose tobacco filler (not shown) can be deposited. A top wall  114  of an intermediate hopper portion  118  defines the bottom of the upper reservoir region. The top wall  114  can be manufactured from any suitable metallic material, such as aluminum. The top wall  114  includes a series of openings  124 . For the embodiment shown, the top wall  114  includes five openings  124 . The longitudinal axis of the top wall  114  preferably is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge  38 . Each opening  124  extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the top wall  114 . Each opening  124  provides access to a vertical passageway or channel through the intermediate hopper portion  118  for the controlled transport of tobacco filler (not shown) from the upper reservoir region  110  to the bottom of the intermediate hopper portion  118 . For example, for the manufacture of a cigarette having a tobacco rod length of about 56 mm, each opening preferably is about 10 mm to about 12 mm wide by about 55 mm to about 60 mm long. Each vertical passageway in the intermediate hopper portion  118  can have a volume sufficient to provide for passage of a charge of tobacco sufficient to fill about four or about five individual tubular wrappers. For the manufacture of a cigarette from a hollow tubular rod having a tobacco rod section of about 56 mm in length and about 24.5 mm in circumference, a representative preferred opening  124  has dimensions of 10.25 mm wide by about 58 mm long.  
      The dimensions of the upper reservoir region  110  may vary depending upon the amount of tobacco desired to be used with the apparatus  10 . For example, the upper reservoir region  110  may have the capability of containing about 50 g to about 100 g of loose tobacco filler (not shown). A representative upper reservoir region  110  includes outwardly sloping walls  130  that extend upwards and outwards from the top wall  114  of the intermediate hopper portion  118  to a vertical height of about 2 cm to about 5 cm. Those outwardly sloping walls can be manufactured from any suitable material and preferably include a metallic material, such as stainless steel.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the intermediate hopper portion  118  is defined by top wall  114 , front wall  140 , fixed left side wall  350 , a rear wall  370 , movable right side wall  360  and bottom wall  162 . A representative intermediate hopper portion  118  has dimensions of about 29 cm wide, about 10.1 cm long, and about 10 cm high. Preferably, the walls of the representative intermediate hopper portion are manufactured from sheets of a clear material such as polycarbonate or polymethylmethacrylate, so that the presence or absence of loose tobacco filler in the intermediate hopper region  118  can be readily viewed.  
      A series of side walls  350 ,  360  extend downwardly within the intermediate hopper portion  118 . That is, for each opening  124 , a fixed wall  350  and a movable wall  360  extend downwardly from the bottom of the top wall  114  of the intermediate hopper portion  118 , thereby forming a vertically extending passageway extending downwardly from each opening  124 . Each movable wall  360  is movable relative to the other components of the intermediate hopper portion  118 . That is, the movable walls  360  of the intermediate hopper portion  118  can be moved back and forth along a front-to-rear axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the top wall  114 . This front to back movement may be effected by an operator using an appropriately connected wall-moving handle  160  that extends across the front exterior region of the intermediate hopper portion  118 . An appropriate connection of the wall-moving handle  160  to the movable walls  360  may include screws or bolts combined with spacers, rivets, or any other suitable connection means. A reciprocating motion of a wall-moving handle  160  may help tobacco filler to gently settle within each vertical passageway, hence providing a consistent amount of tobacco filler in each tobacco charge that is used during cigarette manufacture. The wall-moving handle  160  can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as wood, plastic, polytetrafluoroethylene, or aluminum.  
      The bottom region of hopper assembly  80  includes a bottom wall  162 , which includes a series of bottom wall slots  395 . A movable slat  165  is located below the bottom wall  162 . The movable slat  165  is adapted to be movable back and forth along its longitudinal axis within the lower region of the hopper unit  99 . An exemplary movable slat can be manufactured from any suitable material and preferably is manufactured from a metallic material, such as stainless steel. A representative movable slat is about 6.5 cm wide, about 29 cm long, and about 1.6 mm thick. The movable slat  165  includes a series of slat apertures  368  that, when the movable slat  165  is in an “open” position are aligned with the openings  124  of the top wall  114 , the vertical passageways, and the bottom wall slots  395  of the bottom wall  162 . As is described below with more specific reference to  FIG. 2 , movement of the slat  165  to one side (e.g., to the right) allows alignment of each vertical passageway and its corresponding bottom wall slot  395  with each respective slat aperture  368  in the slat  165 , thus allowing tobacco filler to fall through the hopper unit  99  and into the compression assembly  75 . Movement of the slat  165  to the other side (e.g., to the left) allows closure of the passageways through the hopper unit  99 . As such, when the slat  165  is moved to a “closed” position tobacco filler is retained within the hopper unit  99 , which can then be removed from the apparatus  10  without a resulting spillage of significant quantities of tobacco filler. Embodiments of the present invention can include other suitable configurations of the hopper assembly  80  for receiving tobacco filler and arranging the tobacco filler for delivery into the tubular wrapper portions  21 .  
      Referring again to  FIG. 1 , above the upper region of the hopper assembly  80  is positioned a weight-source assembly  92 . The weight-source assembly  92  includes several ball slides  170  or other suitable means for supplying compressive force to tobacco filler (not shown) within the intermediate hopper portion  118 . A representative ball slides is available as “Del-Tron SA1-8” from Del-Tron, Inc. Each ball slide  170  is suitably connected to the support frame  85  so as to maintain the weight-source assembly  92  appropriately positioned above the hopper unit  99 .  
      Each ball slide  170  is suitably adapted so as to provide for the desired movement and positioning of a series of weights  177 . For the embodiment shown, the apparatus  10  includes five weights  177 . Each weight  177  is appropriately attached (e.g., using fasteners such as screws) to a corresponding ball slide  170 . Each weight  177  is adapted to travel up and down with each respective ball slide  170  in an appropriate channel  197 . A series of spring plungers  207 , or other suitable control means, within each ball slide  170  acts to hold each respective weight and ball slide in an “up” position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The spring plungers  207  are releasable to allow the weight into a “down” position providing downward force to compress or compact tobacco filler in the hopper assembly  80  and provide for a generally consistent flow of the tobacco to the receptacles  641  below the hopper assembly  80 .  
      Each weight  177  includes a bottom foot  217  that is adapted to fit within corresponding opening  124  below that weight  177 . Preferably, each foot  217  is adapted so as to provide for ensuring compression of the tobacco filler within each corresponding vertical passageway of the hopper unit  99 . In a representative embodiment, each weight preferably has a mass of about 150 g to about 400 g, more preferably about 200 g to about 300 g, and most preferably about 200 g. Optionally, the mass of each individual weight  177  can be changed (e.g., by adapting each weight so that smaller weights can be added and taken away, in order that the downward compressive force can be selected and controlled). For example, an optional, additional weight  220  can be positioned on top of weight  177  such that the degree of downward compressive force would be increased. In operation, a series of additional weights  220  optionally can be positioned on top of each weight  177 , and as tobacco filler is gradually removed from each vertical passageway for cigarette manufacture, the additional weights can be removed, as desired, from each larger weight  177  to prevent a disproportionate downward pressure on a lesser volume of tobacco filler.  
      Each weight  177  can provide substantially identical downward compressive force. However, the amount of downward force provided to the tobacco material in each vertical passageway of the hopper unit  99  can be varied between individual vertical passageways, depending upon factors such as the relative amount of tobacco filler in each passageway. The weight-source assembly  92  can be configured such that the loose tobacco filler within each vertical passageway is consistently or uniformly positioned within each passageway, and the packing density of the tobacco filler within each passageway is comparable to the packing density in each other passageway. Control of the downward compressive force to the tobacco filler is desirable in order to control the amount of tobacco filler used for the manufacture of each individual cigarette. For example, a mechanism such as a set of force gauges or scales (not shown) may be positioned within each vertical passageway or attached to the top of each of the weights in order to monitor the degree of downward force applied to the tobacco filler therein.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the compression assembly  75  includes a plurality of nozzles  230 . For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-11 , the apparatus  10  includes five nozzles  230 . Each nozzle  230  preferably is designed such that the open end of a hollow pre-formed tubular wrapper  21  fits over that nozzle  230  such that tobacco filler (not shown) can be transported through that nozzle  230  and into a corresponding tubular wrapper  21 . Representative nozzles can be manufactured from a metallic material, such as stainless steel. Each nozzle can be generally cylindrical in shape. A representative nozzle (for use in conjunction with a pre-formed tubular wrapper  21  having a circumference of about 24.5 mm) has an inner diameter of about 6.75 mm and an outer diameter of about 7.25 mm.  
      For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , each tubular wrapper  21  is axially aligned with a corresponding nozzle  230  and is positioned so as to be inclined at a slight angle (e.g., inclined at about a 5° angle relative to horizontal). In an embodiment, the tubular wrappers  21  located on the cartridge  38  can rest in a horizontal plane that is slightly below a central plane of the nozzles  230 . Thus, when the open end of a tubular wrapper  21  extends around a nozzle  230 , it (the open end) is raised slightly higher than the other (e.g., filtered) end.  
      The compression assembly  75  is located on and supported by the base  31 . The compression assembly  75  can be attached securely to the base  31  using several screws, or other appropriate fastening means. The removable hopper unit  99  can be maintained in place on top of the compression assembly  75 , preferably by a suitable number of appropriately positioned locating pins (not shown). That is, several positioning pins of appropriate shape and size can be located in the bottom of the hopper unit  99 , and corresponding location holes can be positioned in the top face of the compression assembly. Any other suitable structure may be used to maintain the relative positions of the hopper unit  99  and the compression assembly  75 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , a plunger assembly  248  is located in the back region of the apparatus  10 . The plunger assembly  248  includes several plunger arms  251  that extend forward, and are mounted on a plunger arm cross-member  257 . When an operator moves the plunger assembly  248  forward, each plunger arm  251  moves correspondingly to push a charge of tobacco filler (not shown) from each corresponding receptacle area  641  located within the compression assembly  75  into each corresponding tubular wrapper  21 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the apparatus  10  includes two operational arms: a compression arm  260  and a plunger arm  261 . The compression arm  260  is located on the left side of the apparatus. The compression arm  260  is used to arrange tobacco filler within the compression assembly  75  so as to form a plurality of cylindrical charges of tobacco filler for insertion into corresponding pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 , and thereby form several cigarettes. The function of the compression arm  260  is described below with reference to  FIG. 7 . The plunger arm  261  is located on the right side of the apparatus. The plunger arm  261  is used to facilitate movement of the plunger assembly  248 , and hence facilitate insertion of a formed cylindrical charge of tobacco filler within a corresponding pre-formed tubular wrapper  21 . The function of the compression arm  260  is described below with reference to  FIG. 3 . Representative operational arms may be manufactured from any suitable material, and preferably are manufactured from aluminum.  
      The operational arms or handles  260 ,  261  that are shown are each designed to be operated within a horizontal plane. The design and selection of the operational arms are such that the operational mechanism (e.g., a gear and/or spring mechanism such as, for example the compression assembly  75  or the plunger assembly  248 ) can provide the appropriate amount of force to readily operate the apparatus in an efficient and effective manner. That is, the operational arms  260 ,  261  can be repeatedly moved back and forth to provide the desired effect of moving tobacco with relative ease of the operator. Alternatively, either or both of the operational arms can be substituted with other means for providing the desired operational effect, such as in-line toggle clamp handles.  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown an exploded view of various components of a portion of the hopper unit  99  of the cigarette-making apparatus  10  previously described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The upper reservoir region  110  is positioned over the top wall  114 . The top wall includes a series of openings  124 . Beneath the top wall  114 , and positioned to the left side of each respective opening  124  is fixed wall  350 . Beneath the top wall  114 , and positioned to the right side of each respective opening  124  is movable wall  360 . The desired location of the fixed walls  350  relative to the other components of the hopper unit  99  can be accomplished by attaching the fixed walls  350  to predetermined positions on the rear wall  370  and the front wall  140  of the hopper unit, using screws or other suitable fastening means.  
      In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the movable side walls  360  each have a tongued front and rear edge  361 ,  362 . This is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2A , which shows an enlarged cut-away perspective view along line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 . The tongued rear edges  362  fit into complementary rear wall grooves  376 , and the tongued front edges  361  fit into complementary front wall grooves  377 . The movable walls  360  are sized and positioned between front and rear walls  140 ,  370  such that—with the aforementioned tongue and groove configuration—the walls  360  are movable back and forth along a front-to-rear axis. The tongued edges  361 ,  362  and grooves  376 ,  377  are sized and positioned such that, even as the walls  360  move back and forth, the tongue-and-groove maintains a patent separation of spaces on either side of each wall  360 . The tolerance between each tongue and groove can be sufficiently close that tobacco is substantially prevented from getting into the space between each tongue and its corresponding groove. The front edge  361  of each movable wall  360  is attached to a wall-moving handle  160 . The configuration is such that a repeated movement of the wall-moving handle  160  provides corresponding movement of each movable wall, resulting in a convenient manner or method for providing a type of reciprocating movement of each movable wall. The movable walls  360  can be attached to the wall-moving handle  160  using screws, or other suitable fastening means, that extend slidably through the front wall  140 . The hopper unit  99  also includes a bottom wall  162 .  
      A movable slat  165  is positioned below the bottom wall  162 . The slat  165  can be moved laterally along its longitudinal axis in such a manner that slat apertures  368  therein can alternately be aligned, or not aligned, with the corresponding bottom wall slots  395  in the bottom wall  162 . The slots  395  in the bottom wall  162  can generally resemble the openings  124  in the top wall  114  in overall shape. However, it is preferred that the bottom wall slots  395  be slightly larger than the corresponding openings  124  in the top wall  114 . For the manufacture of a cigarette from a hollow tubular rod having a tobacco rod section of about 56 mm in length and about 24.5 mm in circumference, a representative preferred opening in the bottom wall has dimensions of 12 mm wide by about 58 mm to about 60 mm deep. It is also preferred that the dimensions of the slots  395  in the bottom wall  162  be substantially identical to those of the corresponding apertures  368  in the slat  165 . Controlled movement of the slat  165  is allowed by tracking slots  411  being moveable about corresponding shoulder pins  412  or other suitable means. The slat  165  can include an optional handle aperture  415  that provides a type of handle for grasping and sliding the slat  165  back and forth.  
      In one embodiment, the major surfaces of the fixed and movable side walls  350 ,  360  are all substantially vertical and parallel to each other. In another embodiment, each of the fixed and movable side walls  350 ,  360  is broader near its top end and tapers narrower near its bottom end. This configuration provides a vertical passage between the side walls  350 ,  360  that is slightly broader at its bottom than at its top. For example, in one configuration, the major faces of each side wall each taper outwardly about 0.5 0  to about 1 0  from vertical from top to bottom. Alternatively, the side walls can be slightly tilted toward each other at the top to achieve this effect. A slightly less than vertical passage of such a shape is preferred in that downward movement of a column of tobacco filler within that passage is facilitated or promoted.  
      For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the major face or inner surface of each wall  350 ,  360  that makes up the right and left inner face of each vertical, or substantially vertical, passageway is generally flat; and hence the gradual increase in width of each passageway from top to bottom is linear in nature. However, in alternative embodiments, the major face of each panel may be modified so as to be slightly curved, and thereby provide a non-linear downward increase in the width of each passage.  
       FIG. 3  depicts the main base  31  of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  previously described with reference to  FIG. 1 . The base  31  supports a tobacco filler insertion mechanism  300 . The mechanism  300  includes a horizontally extending generally triangular-shaped base  310  that is, in turn, mounted on and slightly above the main base  31 . The triangular base  310  can be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably is manufactured from aluminum. A representative triangular base is about 20 cm in length, about 13 cm in width, and about 1.3 cm in height. The triangular base  310  supports three gears  316 ,  317 ,  318 . The first gear  316  may be larger and the second and third gears  317 ,  318  are smaller than the first gear  316 , but about the same size as each other. The first gear  316  is operably attached to the plunger arm  261 . Representative gears can be manufactured from any suitable material, such as steel or aluminum. The gears  316 ,  317 ,  318  are substantially coplanar and each is positioned so as to rotate about a vertical axis. A representative larger gear includes 48 teeth, each of 5 mm pitch. Representative smaller gears each include 32 teeth, and each tooth has a pitch of 5 mm. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the three gears support a belt  325  that is adapted to move in a generally horizontal plane in response to a rotation of the gears  316 ,  317 ,  318 . A representative belt is a slightly elastic belt composed of neoprene, rubber, or another suitable material. A representative belt has length of about 61 cm, and includes one hundred twenty two grooves each of 5 mm pitch. Also supported by triangular-shaped base  310  is a belt tensioner  328 , or other suitable means for facilitating removal, tightening and operation of the belt  325 .  
      In the assembled apparatus  10 , a plunger assembly  248  (shown in  FIGS. 1 and 11 ) is located beneath the triangular-shaped base  310 , and supported above the main base  31 . The base  31  includes a first plunger arm stop  335  located near the rear edge of the base  31 . The first plunger arm stop  335  extends upwards, and acts to limit the rearward movement of the plunger arm cross-member  257  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) of the plunger assembly  248 . The base  31  also includes a second plunger arm stop  338  located forward of the first plunger arm stop  335 . The second plunger arm stop  338  extends upwards, and acts to limit the forward movement of the plunger arm cross-member  257  (see  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) of the plunger assembly  248 .  
      The backstop wall  68  defines the front end of the base  31  and extends above its upper surface. The main base  31  includes several guidance grooves  346  within its upper face. The guidance grooves  346  extend longitudinally across the base  31 . For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper face of the main base  31  includes five guidance grooves  346 . The guidance grooves  346  serve as a track for the guides  728  of the plunger arm assembly  248  (see  FIG. 10 ). A representative guidance groove design provides grooves each having a width of about 9.5 mm and a length of about 8.8 cm. Another representative guidance groove design provides grooves each having a width of about 12 mm and a length of about 9.4 cm.  
      The base  31  also includes a front platform portion  382  immediately rear of the backstop wall  68 . The front platform portion  382  provides a region configured to support the cartridge  38  in a proper position and location for making cigarettes with the apparatus  10 . The main base  31  includes an broad recess  354  at the front edge of the guidance grooves  346 . The dimensions of a representative recess  354  are about 6 cm deep and about 22 cm wide. A plurality of spaced tension arms  365  is positioned within the broad recess  354 . For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the main base  31  includes five tension arms  365 . The tension arms  365  are mounted on an axle  369  that extends transversely across the broad recess  354 , with its ends secured rotatably in the sides of the base  31 . Each of a plurality of spacers  372  is individually positioned about the axis between adjacent tension arms  365 . The tension arms  365  are designed to pivot on the axle  369 .  
      In the assembled apparatus  10 , tension arms  365  are located beneath filling nozzles  230  of the compression assembly  75  (see  FIG. 7 ), and each is designed to hold a corresponding tubular wrapper  21  in position during the tobacco filling operation. This holding function helps ensure complete and consistent filling of the wrapper  21  with tobacco filler during operation of the apparatus  10 . As is explained below with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , each tension arm  365  exerts force upon a corresponding tubular wrapper  21  during the time when the tubular wrapper  21  is being filled with tobacco filler, and facilitates maintenance of the tubular wrapper in place relative to the nozzle during that period. A representative tension arm  365  has a height of about 3 cm, a width of about 9 mm, and a length of about 7.4 cm. Representative spacers  372  each are cylindrical in shape and are about 13 mm outer diameter, about 6.5 mm inner diameter, and about 4 cm long. Representative spacers  372  can be manufactured from aluminum.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the tension arms  365  each include a front arm portion  379 . Each front arm portion  379  is located in front of the axle  369 . For example, a representative front arm portion  379  extends forward about 46 mm from the center of the axle. Each front arm portion  379  can be adapted and positioned so as to have the ability to extend slightly above the upper surface of the front platform portion  382  of the base  31  (e.g., about 2 mm above the base). Each front arm portion  379  is of a size and shape, and is positioned, such that it will be pushed downward when a cartridge  38  is positioned on the upper surface of the front platform portion  382  of the base  31 .  
      The tension arms  365  each include an upper arm surface  385 . Each upper arm surface  385  is located in front of the axle  369 . As a result, a downward movement of the front arm portion  379  of each tension arm also results in a downward movement of each respective upper arm surface  385 . A representative upper arm surface  385  has a generally concave shape and is designed to act as a support for the open end of a tubular wrapper. A representative upper arm surface  385  corresponds to about one third of the circumference of the open end region of the tubular wrapper  21  that is cradled thereon. A representative upper portion extends upwards about 5 mm to about 10 mm above the upper surface of the base  31 . Representative tension arms  365 , and particularly the upper faces  385  of those tension arms  365 , may be manufactured from nylon, or another suitable material. Representative tension arms  365 , and particularly the upper surface  385  of those tension arms  365 , can be manufactured from metal coated with an elastomer in order to provide a surface exhibiting some friction, thereby improving the ability of the tension arms  365  to clamp and hold a tubular wrapper  21  to a nozzle  230  of the compression assembly  75 .  
      The tension arms  365  each include a rear arm portion  390 . In a representative embodiment, each rear arm portion extends rearwards about 28 mm from of the center of the axle  369 . Each rear arm portion  390  of each tension arm  365  preferably is located adjacent the front end of each corresponding guidance groove  346 . During operation of the apparatus  10 , the tension arms  365  interact with the plunger arm assembly  248 , which is described below with reference to  FIG. 10 .  
      In  FIG. 3 , the foremost tension arm  365  is illustrated with a tension arm spring  400  extending upward from the upper face of the rear arm portion  390 . In a preferred embodiment, each of the tension arms  365  includes a tension arm spring  400 . When the tension arm  365  is assembled to the apparatus  10 , each of the tension arm springs  400  extends up against the underside of the compression assembly  75  that rests thereabove. A representative spring  400 , when at rest, has a diameter of about 2 mm and a length of about 15 mm. When at rest, the springs  400  hold the tension arms  365  in a “rocked-back” position. That is, the tension arm spring  400  acts to maintain the rear portion  390  of the tension arm  365  in a down position when (i) upward force is not being applied to the rear portion  390 , or (ii) when downward force is not being applied to the front portion  379 .  
      The front platform portion  382  can include a key stock  410  extending upwards therefrom. The key stock  410  provides for a convenient manner of positioning of a cartridge  38  securely in a desired position relative to the base  31 . For the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the key stock  410  is a longitudinal protrusion with a square cross-section that extends from front to rear of the front platform portion  382 . That is, the stock is designed to align with each of a series of mating grooves  515  located at pre-determined locations on the bottom face of a cartridge  38  (see  FIG. 5 ). As such, there is provided a precise and desired alignment of a set of five tubular wrappers  21  with five corresponding nozzles  230  extending from the compression assembly  75  of the apparatus  10  (see  FIGS. 1 and 4 ).  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a tension arm  365  that is representative of the design of the type of tension arm  365  described previously with reference to  FIG. 3 . The tension arm  365  includes a axle passage  416  extending transversely therethrough, in order to provide a region for the axle  369  of the main base  31  to pass and hence provide a pivot axis. The top of the rear arm portion  390  includes a divot  418  that acts as a seat for a tension arm spring  400 . The tension arm  365  also includes a front arm portion  379  that extends slightly upwards relative to the rear arm portion  390 . The upper surface portion  385  that extends upwards relative to the forward and back regions preferably has an arcuate shape (e.g., covering about 120° to about 180°). The arcuate shape can be employed to support the end of a tubular wrapper portion  21  and apply pressure that holds the wrapper  21  against the lower outer surface region of a nozzle  230 . This function is described below in greater detail, with reference to an operation of the apparatus  10 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there are shown rear and front views of a cartridge  38 . As is shown in  FIG. 5 , the cartridge  38  can be configured to be maintained laterally in place relative to the base  31  of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10 . Appropriate secure positioning of the cartridge  38  relative to the base  31  is accomplished in the illustrated embodiment by engaging one of the mating grooves  515  with the raised key stock  410  (see  FIG. 3 ) located on the front platform portion  382  of the base  31 . Other structures and/or methods for adjusting the location of a cartridge  38  on or within the cigarette manufacturing apparatus, and for securing the cartridge  38  at a desired location within the apparatus  10 , can be employed (e.g., through the use of clamps, adjustable threaded nuts, or the like). For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the cartridge  38  includes four mating grooves  515 . With this configuration, a base  31  including a single protruding, cooperating key stock  410  allows for the secure alignment or registration of the cartridge  38  in at least four independent positions on the base  31  of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10 .  
      The cartridge  38  may include at least one optional coordinating slot  535  on its bottom face at a predetermined location that is a distance apart from the location of slots  515 . The coordinating slot  535  can be used to provide for a desired positioning of the cartridge within one or more other devices, such as, for example, an apparatus designed to fill an empty cartridge with pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 , a device to trim the ends of tobacco charges in cigarettes on the cartridge, or a device to transfer cigarettes from the cartridge to a container. A representative device for trimming cigarette ends is described below with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 . A representative apparatus for filling a cartridge  38  with empty tubular wrappers  21  is described in greater detail below with reference to  FIG. 14  through  FIG. 16 .  
      The cartridge  38  includes a raised region  540  on the front thereof. The raised region  540  facilitates capture and control of the filter ends of the tubular wrappers  21  within a series of preferably semi-cylindrical grooves  48  on the cartridge. As such, desired positioning of the tubular wrappers  21  on the cartridge  38  is promoted. When the cartridge  38  is loaded with pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 , the filtered ends of those tubular wrappers  21  are situated at least partially within a series of cavities  541  within the raised region  540  of the cartridge, and the open ends of those tubular wrappers  21  are oriented toward the rear of the cartridge  38 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a front view of the cartridge  38 . A series of cylindrical push-through openings  550  is aligned across the front face  548  of the cartridge  38 . Each opening  550  extends through the raised front region  540  of the cartridge  38  to a corresponding cavity  541 , and is aligned with a corresponding groove  48 . In a representative embodiment, for a cartridge  38  adapted to contain tubular wrappers having circumferences of about 7 mm to about 8.5 mm, the passageway has a diameter of about 5 mm. That is, each push-through opening is not so large as to allow a wrapper cigarette to pass therethrough. The openings  550  allow for cigarettes positioned on the cartridge  38  to be removed from the cartridge by inserting appropriately sized rods into the openings  550  so as to push the cigarettes  13  from the cartridge  38 . A device for facilitating this operation is described below with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18 .  
      In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is shown a tobacco filler rod-forming compression assembly  75 . During operation of the compression assembly  75 , loose tobacco filler is arranged into a charge of tobacco, which can be rod-shaped. The embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8  are substantially similar, except that the embodiment of  FIG. 8  incorporates an alternative handle design. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the compression assembly  75  includes a top plate  600  that is shown as partially cut away. The compression assembly  75  also includes a bottom plate  605 . Each of the top and bottom plates  600 ,  605  are connected by bolts  606 , rivets, or another suitable connector means so as to remain in position relative to one another. The plates  600 ,  605  are also configured to be held consistently in a desired position on the main base  31  of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10 . The top plate  600  and the bottom plate  605  each can be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably are manufactured from brass.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the top plate  600  includes five fill slots  608  in its top plate, and each fill slot  608  extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the compression assembly  75 . The middle three fill slots  608  are in the cutaway portion of the top plate  600  and are therefore not shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ; however, the entire leftmost fill slot  608  and the interior right-side portion of the rightmost fill slot  608  are shown therein. Each fill slot  608  serves as a passageway for filling a lower receptacle area  641  with a charge of tobacco filler. For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the compression assembly  75  has the capability of providing five tobacco filler charges at a given time. The size and shape of each lower receptacle area  641 , and the ability of the other components of the apparatus  10  to supply tobacco filler to each lower receptacle area  641 , can be such that the lower receptacle  641  can be readily filled with tobacco filler in a complete, uniform, and reproducible manner.  
      In the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , a compression arm  260  is positioned at the left side of the compression assembly  75 . The compression arm  260  is in operable communication with a movable compression bar  621 . The compression bar  621  is movable back and forth along the longitudinal axis of the base of the compression assembly, and defines a bottom surface of each receptacle  641 . Five compression plates  630  are mounted to the top of the compression bar  621  and are movable with the compression bar. A counter-clockwise movement of the compression arm  260  moves the compression bar  621  and the compression plates  630  to the right. A representative compression bar is about 32 mm wide, about 33 cm long, and about 3.5 mm thick. A representative compression bar  621  may be manufactured from any suitable metallic material, such as steel. The compression plates  630  may be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably are manufactured from aluminum, steel, or stainless steel.  
      The compression assembly  75  includes a set of compression assembly channels  638  that run transverse to the longitudinal axis of the assembly  75 . The compression assembly channels  638  provide for passage of a series of plunger insertion arms  251  from the plunger assembly  248  therethrough. As is described in greater detail below, the plunger insertion arms  251  function to push compressed charges of tobacco filler from the lower receptacle area  641  into tubular wrappers  21 .  
      During operation of the compression assembly  75 , a charge of tobacco filler is allowed to pass from the hopper unit  99  above into the receptacle area  641 . The compression arm  260  is moved so as to move the compression bar  621  to the right, such that the compression plates  630  simultaneously move toward the right. As a result, the tobacco filler in each lower receptacle  641  is formed into a cylindrical charge.  
      When the compression assembly  75  is in open position, as is shown in  FIG. 7 , a receptacle  641  can have a height that approximates that of each compression plate  630 . The length of the receptacle  641  can approximate the length of a corresponding opening in the top face of the compression assembly  75 . The width of the receptacle area  641  can be greater than that of the width of the corresponding fill slot  608  in the top plate  600  of the compression assembly  75 . Preferably, the right wall of each receptacle area  641  is generally concave in shape in order to accommodate the forward and backward travel of the front semi-cylindrical extension portion  695  of a plunger insertion arm  251  of the plunger assembly  248  that is used to transfer the cylindrical tobacco filler charges or rods from the receptacle area  641  to the tubular wrappers  21 . For the manufacture of a representative cigarette  13  from a hollow tubular rod having a tobacco rod section of about 56 mm in length and about 24.5 mm in circumference, a representative receptacle area  641  can have dimensions of at least about 12 mm wide, at least about 58 mm long and about 6 mm high. Larger size receptacle areas can be used for the production of cigarettes having larger tobacco rods.  
      A representative compression plate  630  can have a length of about 6 cm, a width of about 24.5 mm, and a thickness of about 6.3 mm. In an embodiment, the compression plates  630  are equally spaced from one another at a distance of about 2.5 cm. The manner that the compression plates  630  communicate with the compression bar  621  can vary. In an embodiment, the compression bar  621  and compression plates  630  extending upward therefrom can be of unitary construction. In a preferred embodiment, each compression plate  630  includes a downwardly extending pin that fits into a corresponding hole within the compression bar  621 . As such, compression plates  630  can be removed for servicing of the apparatus  10 , and compression plates  630  of desired sizes can be substituted within the apparatus  10 .  
      Several filling nozzles  230  are positioned on the front of the compression assembly  75 . Representative nozzles  230  preferably are manufactured from brass or stainless steel. For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the front of the compression assembly  75  includes five filling nozzles  230 . Each filling nozzle  230  (shown as partially cut away) is adapted to receive the open end of a tubular wrapping portion  21  (several of which are shown as partially cut away in order to show a preferred positional relationship of the nozzles  230  relative to the tubular wrapping portions  21 ). The tubular wrappers  21  preferably have a round cross-section such that the wrappers  21  fit easily about the nozzles  230 . Each filling nozzle  230  can be adapted to position the tubular wrapper  21  in place about the nozzle  230  and to act as a passageway for a cylindrical charge of tobacco filler from a receptacle area  641  to within a corresponding tubular wrapping portion  21 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a compression assembly  75  of the type described previously with reference to  FIG. 7 . However, the compression assembly  75  is shown with the compression plates  630  in a closed position. In closed position, the leading edge of each compression plate  630  (which preferably is concave to facilitate formation of a cylindrical tobacco filler charge) is substantially flush with the left edge of the corresponding channel  638 . In addition, the compression assembly  75  shown in  FIG. 8  includes an alternate handle mechanism  645  for moving the compression applying compressive force to the tobacco filler material within each receptacle  641 . A representative compression handle mechanism  645  is commercially available from De-Sta-Co Industries as “Straight Line Toggle Clamp” Model  603 . The use of the compression mechanism embodiments of  FIGS. 7 and 8  are particularly suited for use with a cigarette-making apparatus that is bolted or otherwise affixed to a bench top.  
      Referring to  FIG. 9 , there is shown a cross-sectional partial view (taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 1 ) of the cigarette-making apparatus  10 , as viewed from the front and showing the inner regions of the hopper unit  99  and the compression assembly  75 . The hopper unit  99  includes the upper reservoir region  110 , the top wall  114  having openings  124  extending therethrough, vertical passageways  675 , bottom wall  162  having bottom wall slots  395 , and the bottom slat  165  (which is shown such that the slat apertures  368  thereof are aligned with the bottom wall slots  395 ). The compression assembly  75  includes the top plate  600  with fill slots openings  608  that are aligned with the bottom wall slots  395  of the bottom wall  162  of the hopper unit  99 . The compression assembly  75  is supported by base  31 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , the compression assembly  75  is in a closed position. As such, each compression plate  630  is shown as having been moved to the right. As described above with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , movement of the compression plates  630  to the right is accomplished by movement of the compression arm  260 , which in turn causes movement to the right of the lower compression bar  621  to which the compression plates  630  are secured. As a result, tobacco filler that has fallen into the receptacle areas  641  of the compression assembly  75  when the compression assembly  75  was in the open position is pushed to the right by movement of each respective compression plate  630 .  
      When the plunger assembly  248  is assembled to the compression assembly  75 , the right/leading face of each compression plate  630  and the inner/left surface of each respective plunger semi-tube  695  cooperate to form a generally cylindrical region. That is, the right/leading face of each compression plate  630  is sufficiently concave to form the general shape of a semi-circle, and each cooperating plunger semi-tube  695  has the general open shape of a semi-circle. As such, movement of these two components together and into proper alignment results in the receptacle  641  taking on a generally cylindrical shape with a generally circular cross-section. As such, for each cooperating plunger semi-tube  695  and compression plate  630  compressed into close alignment, a generally cylindrical charge of tobacco filler is formed.  
      For the hopper unit  99 , each fixed wall  350  of each vertical passageway  675  is shown so as to be substantially vertical. Each movable wall  360  is positioned at a slight angle relative to vertical, such that the width of the vertical passageway  675  is slightly greater near the bottom than near the top. For example, each movable wall  360  is positioned at an angle of approximately 1° off vertical, tapering outwards toward its bottom. In other embodiments, any or all of the walls  350 ,  360  may be vertical or slightly angled. In a preferred embodiment, the movable walls  360  are at least slightly angled. The weights  177  of the hopper assembly  80  are shown in a lowered position, such that each weight  177  extends within the corresponding vertical passageway  675  of the hopper unit  99 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 10 , there are shown components of the plunger assembly  248 . The plunger assembly  248  includes a clamp or bracket  706 , or other suitable means, for secure attachment of the assembly to the belt  325  of the tobacco filler insertion/plunger mechanism  248 . Any suitable clamp or other attachment means may be used to attach the plunger assembly  248  to the belt  325 . In the embodiment in  FIG. 10 , the clamp  706  can be secured to a cross-member  257  using screws, bolts, spot weld, or other fastening means, or through a unitary construction design.  
      Protrusions from the lower edge of the cross-member  257  support several forward-extending guides  728 . The guides  728  may be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably are manufactured from aluminum. A tension release wedge  740  is positioned at the front face of each guide  728 . Each tension release wedge  740  is designed to cooperate with a corresponding tension arm  365  located on the base  31  (as described above). A representative forward facing guide  728  and release wedge  740  assembly extends forward from the cross-member  257  by about 10 cm. Such a representative wedge is about 7 mm high and about 9 mm wide. The front face of a representative release wedge  740  is configured such that the face slopes downward from back to front. That is, the shape of each tension release wedge can be designed to cooperate with a corresponding shape of the rear arm portion  390  of each tension control arm  365 . In essence, the forward movement of the release wedge  740  acts as a cam to move the rear arm portion  390 , which acts as a cam follower. Movement of the wedge  740  is moved forward causes an upward movement of the rear arm portion  390  of the tension arm  365 .  
      A plunger arm  251  is positioned above each guide arm  728 , such that each plunger arm  251  extends essentially parallel to each guide arm  728  and is supported by the cross-member  257 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the plunger assembly  248  includes five plunger arms  251 . A representative plunger arm can be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably are manufactured from stainless steel. A representative plunger arm has dimensions of about 6.35 mm in diameter and about 15 cm in length.  
      Extending from the front face of each plunger arm  251  is a plunger partial tube or semi-tube  695 , or other suitable means for insertion of tobacco filler into a tubular wrapper portion  21 . The plunger semi-tube  695  is securely attached to the front end of the plunger arm  251 , using any suitable fastening means, such as, for example, unitary construction, spot weld, recessed rivets, adhesive, or recessed nuts and bolts. In another embodiment, the plunger semi-tube  695  can include a tube portion that fits over the front end of a cooperating plunger arm  251  and is crimped thereabout.  
      The design of a plunger semi-tube  695  can vary. In an embodiment, the plunger semi-tube  695  can be a generally semi-cylindrical tube with a generally cylindrical base portion  760  attaching it to a corresponding plunger insertion arm  251 . A representative plunger semi-tube is about 67 mm long; about 15 mm thereof is a generally tubular region that fits over the front end of the plunger insertion arm, and about 52 mm thereof is a generally semi-cylindrical region. A preferred semi-tube  695  incorporates a plurality of teeth  765  on each side edge thereof (i.e., the semi-tubular section includes two rows of teeth making the two sides serrated). In a representative embodiment, each row of teeth is located about 8 mm from the extreme front end of the semi-tubular section and extends about 28 mm along its length. Preferably, the teeth are angled toward the tip or front of the plunger arm assembly  248 . The plunger semi-tube  695  having serrated side edges facilitates effective forward movement of tobacco filler into a tubular wrapper portion  21 , and also facilitates ready removal of the plunger semi-tube  695  from the tubular wrapper portion  21  while minimizing the likelihood of tobacco filler being pulled out of the tubular wrapping portion  21 .  
      Each plunger semi-tube  695  can be manufactured from any suitable material, and preferably is manufactured from a metallic material, such as stainless steel. For example, a stainless steel tube of appropriate size (e.g., having a circular cross-section of about 5.5 mm inner diameter and about 6.35 mm outer diameter) can be machined to provide the plunger semi-tube  695  of appropriate shape. Representative plunger semi-tube designs are incorporated in cigarette-making devices that have been commercially available as PREMIER SUPERMATIC™ from The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd. The present invention can include embodiments of other suitable means for delivering tobacco filler from the hopper assembly  80  into the tubular wrappers  21 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a rear view of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  described previously with reference to  FIG. 1 . In operation, the apparatus  10  can be positioned firmly in place on a table, bench, counter, or the like. If desired, the bottom of the base  31  can be equipped with non-skid components (not shown), such as rubber legs, or the like. Alternatively, the apparatus  10  can be permanently affixed to components of a work station. For example, the apparatus can be bolted, clamped, or otherwise secured, to a bench top.  
      During operation of the apparatus  10 , loose tobacco filler material is placed in the upper reservoir region  110  of the hopper assembly  80 . The tobacco filler can have the form of cut filler of a desirable particle size. Preferably, the tobacco filler is substantially absent of tobacco dust or fines. The tobacco filler is gently moved over each opening  124  in the top wall  114  of the hopper unit  99  so that the tobacco filler falls into each corresponding vertical passageway  675 , and into the lower region of the hopper unit  99 . In the embodiment shown  FIGS. 1 and 11 , sufficient loose tobacco filler can be introduced into the hopper assembly  99  to provide for adequate manufacture of more than twenty cigarettes. Manipulation of the ball slides  170  to effect downward movement of each weight  177  into each respective opening  124  provides a desired compression of the tobacco filler in the lower region of the hopper assembly  99 . Reciprocating movement of the wall-moving handle  160  moves the movable walls  360  and can promote settling of tobacco filler within each vertical passageway  675 . Accordingly, consistent or uniform filling of the relevant region with a consistent or uniform amount of tobacco filler is promoted.  
      Counter-clockwise movement of the compression arm  260  provides for formation of cylindrical charges of tobacco filler in the receptacle areas  641  of the compression assembly  75 , as is described above with reference to  FIGS. 7, 8 , and  10 . As such, components of the compression assembly  75  alter the arrangement of tobacco filler within each receptacle  641  within the compression assembly  75  to form tobacco filler charges.  
      Explanation of an operation of the tension arms  365  and other components is best made with reference to  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  5 ,  10 , and  11 . In operation, a cartridge  38  is placed on the front platform portion  382  of the base  31 . Alignment of a tubular wrapper portion  21  with each nozzle  230  of the compression assembly  75  is such that the longitudinal axes of the nozzles  230  and the longitudinal axes of the tubular wrapper portions  21  are essentially parallel to one another. Such alignment is facilitated by fitting the mating groove  515  located on the bottom face of the cartridge  38  with the key stock  410  protruding from the forward upper face  382  of the base  31 . However, it is preferred that, for a nozzle  230  having its bottom region protruding relative to its top region, the bottom region of a corresponding tubular wrapping portion  21  rests about 2 mm to about 3 mm below the bottom portion of the nozzle  230 . The cartridge  38  is moved rearward toward the tension arms  365 . Preferably, the movement of the cartridge is performed manually by an operator, and the cartridge is moved about 2 cm toward the rear of the base  31 . As the cartridge  38  is moved toward the tension arms  365 , each corresponding tubular wrapper portion  21  will ride up and fit over the corresponding nozzle  230 . Simultaneously, movement of the cartridge  38  against the front arm portions  379  of the tension arms  365  causes the front arm portion  379  of each arm  360  to move downward. Downward movement of the front arm portion  379  of each tension arm  365  results in formation of a space between the upper arm surface  385  of each tension arm  365  and a corresponding nozzle  230 , and hence provides clearance to allow the tubular wrapper portion  21  to slide over the nozzle  230 . That is, as each tension arm  365  rocks forward, each corresponding concave upper arm surface  385  cradles and lifts a tubular wrapper end from the cartridge  38  and allows the open end of each tubular wrapper  21  to ride over each cooperating nozzle  230 . The forward rocking movement of the tension arms  365  also compresses the tension arm springs  400 . The cartridge  38  is then moved forward, away from the tension arms  365 . Preferably, movement of the cartridge  38  is performed manually by the operator, such that the cartridge is moved slightly, for example, about 2 cm, toward the front of the base  31  and rests against the backstop wall  68 .  
      This forward movement of the cartridge  38  away from the tension arms  365  results in release of downward force thereupon. As a result, each tension arm spring  400  uncompresses and forces pivoting of each tension arm  365  rearward such that each upper arm surface  385  thereof moves upward and pushes a portion of the tubular wrapping portion  21  against the nozzle  230  (i.e., applies a clamping force to the tubular wrapping portion). That is, release of downward force on the front portion of each tension arm  365  results in an upward movement of each upper arm surface  385 , which clamps the lower inner surface of a corresponding tubular wrapper  21  against the lower outer surface of a corresponding nozzle  230 . As such, each tubular wrapper  21  is held securely in place so that a cylindrical charge of tobacco filler may be transferred from the compression assembly  75  into the open end of the tubular wrapper  21 .  
      Movement of the plunger arm  261  works through the gears of the insertion mechanism  300  to cause forward movement of the of the plunger insertion arms  251  of the plunger assembly  248 . That is, each plunger insertion arm  251  travels forward parallel to and above each corresponding guidance groove  346  as the forward-extending guides  728  extending from the underside of the plunger arm cross-member  257  track through the guidance grooves  346 . The plunger arm assembly  248  is explained in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 10 . Forward movement operation of the plunger assembly  248  causes the tubular wrapper portion  21  that is clamped to a nozzle  230  of the compression assembly  75  to be filled with a formed charge of tobacco filler. (Operation of the compression assembly  75  to form charges of tobacco filler is explained in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 .)  
      When the plunger assembly  248  has been moved forward sufficiently to fill the tubular wrapper portion  21  with a charge of tobacco filler, the front face of each tension release wedge  740  at the forward end of each forward-extending guide arm  728  reaches and contacts the rear arm portion  390  of each corresponding tension arm  365 . This contact causes a slight upward movement of the rear arm portion  390  of each tension arm  365 . As a result, the upper arm surface  385  of each tension arm  365  is moved downwards. This downward movement of each upper arm surface  385  results in release of the clamping force on the tubular wrapping portion  21  to each corresponding nozzle  230 , and each finished cigarette  13  is released from the corresponding nozzle  230 . Rearward movement of the plunger assembly  248  results in release of the upward pressure on the rear arm portion  390  of each tension arm  365 , and each tension arm  365  is allowed to move freely back to its original position. This completes a single manufacturing operation cycle for one sub-lot of cigarettes  13  (five cigarettes in the illustrated apparatus  10 ).  
      The cartridge  38  can then be moved on the base  31  to either the left or right to align five more empty tubular wrapping portions  21  with the corresponding nozzles  230  of the compression assembly  75 . The manufacturing operation cycle of filling five more tubular wrapping portions  21  with five corresponding charges of tobacco filler, of a density consistent with the densities of the tobacco charges of the previous sub-lot, can then be repeated. Preferably, the cigarettes  13  are manufactured without damaging (e.g., tearing) the wrapping material at their lighting ends.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  10 , and  11 , the gears  316 ,  317 ,  318  and the belt  325  are arranged on the triangular-shaped base  310  so as to undergo movement in response to movement of plunger arm  261 . A counter-clockwise movement of the plunger arm  261  results in movement the larger gear  318 , which consequently causes movement by the belt  325  of the plunger insertion assembly  248 . Movement of the belt  325  results in forward movement of the plunger mechanism  300 , which in turn, results in the transfer or injection of each respective tobacco filler charge into each respective tubular wrapper  21  as described above. As a result, substantially all of the tobacco filler contained within each receptacle area  641  formed into cylindrical charges is evacuated from the receptacle areas  641 . As such, several finished cigarettes  13  are provided on the cartridge  38 . A complete forward movement of the plunger arm  261  also causes release of each formed cigarette  13  from each respective nozzle  230  as the plunger insertion arms  251  push the cigarettes off. Preferably, that the extreme front end of each plunger semi-tube  695  moves forward a sufficient distance so as to very closely approach, or contact, the filter element of the tubular wrapping portions  21 . As such, uniform filling of the tubular wrapper  21  with tobacco filler is facilitated.  
      A clockwise movement of the plunger arm  261  results in rearward movement of the plunger assembly  248 . A clockwise movement of the compression arm  260  results in leftward movement of the compression plates  630  within the compression assembly  75 . When the compression plates  630  are moved to the open position (i.e., to the left) another portion of tobacco filler from each corresponding vertical passageway is allowed to fall into each respective receptacle  641 . Typically, the amount of tobacco filler within each receptacle  641  is controlled such that the tobacco filler fills the height of the receptacle  641  (e.g., the approximate height/thickness of the compression plate  630 ), as well as the width and depth of the receptacle area  641 .  
      Weight applied to tobacco filler (not shown) in each vertical passageway  675  of the hopper unit  99 , and movement of the wall-moving handle  160  located on the front of the hopper unit  99 , act to promote control of a consistent amount of tobacco filler within each receptacle  641 . In operation, the cartridge  38  is moved to the right, backward and forward movement of the cartridge (to affix a set of tubular wrappers  21  to corresponding nozzles  230 , as described above) is repeated, and the movement of each of the compression arm  260  and plunger arm  261  is repeated. As a result, five more tubular wrappers  21  are filled with tobacco filler. The weight  177  that has been dropped into each vertically extending passageway  675  can be lifted in order to allow additional tobacco filler to be introduced into each passageway  675 . In this manner, an adequate supply of tobacco filler within each receptacle  641  for formation of a tobacco filler charge of the desired density is facilitated. In an embodiment of using the apparatus, sufficient tobacco filler will be positioned within each vertically extending passageway  675  to provide for successive filling of each receptacle with an adequate and consistent amount of tobacco filler during preparation of further finished cigarettes  13 .  
      In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-11 , the above-described process can be repeated a total of four times, with the result being that a lot of twenty substantially identical cigarettes  13  are manufactured and contained within the cartridge  38 . It is desirable to have sufficient tobacco filler in each vertically extending passageway  675  above each receptacle  641  to ensure supply of an adequate amount of tobacco filler within each receptacle  641  for a desired sub-lot of cigarettes  13 , and hence to provide for consistent filling of each pre-formed tubular wrapper  21  with the desired amount of tobacco filler. That is, it is desirable that whenever tobacco filler within a receptacle  641  is compressed into a first cylindrical charge, there be adequate tobacco filler positioned in the vertically extending passageway  675  above the tobacco filler in that receptacle  641  to provide for at least three more tobacco charges substantially similar in volume and density as the first charge.  
      When complete, the cartridge  38  containing manufactured cigarettes  13  can be removed from the cigarette-making apparatus  10 . In addition, the slat  165  located on the bottom of the hopper unit  99  can be shifted to the closed position, the weights  170  can be raised, and the hopper unit  99  can be refilled with tobacco filler, or removed from the cigarette-making apparatus  10  and replaced with another hopper unit  99 . When the loose tobacco filler is handled and used to manufacture cigarettes  13  in accordance with the present invention, it is preferable that the various pieces of tobacco material that make up that tobacco filler undergo an extremely low degree of breakage or degradation. Accordingly, embodiments of the cigarette-making device  10  be operated so as to cause an extremely low degree of degradation of the tobacco filler.  
      For the embodiments described with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 , exemplary materials and designs for compression assembly components, tension arms, nozzles for tobacco filler transport and plunger assembly components also are of the type that have been incorporated in those types of cigarette-making devices that have been commercially available as “Premier Supermatic” from The Central Tobacco Mfg. Co. Ltd., and “Escort” and “Pressta Deluxe” by CTC Canada Inc. See, also, those component materials, component designs, and component operation descriptions set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,900 to Kastner and U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,793 to Kastner, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
      In an embodiment of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10 , and components thereof, described with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 , that apparatus  10  is designed to produce five cigarettes  13  substantially simultaneously, and the cartridge  38  thereof is designed to hold twenty cigarettes  13 . Suitable alterations to the apparatus  10  and its components can be made to produce any number of cigarettes  13  at a given time (e.g., two, four, ten, twenty, or more). Suitable alterations also can be made to provide the cartridge  38  capable of supporting any number of cigarettes  13  at a given time (e.g., three, five, ten, thirty, forty, or more). Exemplary embodiments of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  may include (a) at least two receptacle areas  641  and including cartridges  38  capable of holding at least ten tubular wrapping portions  21 ; (b) at least four receptacles  641  and cartridges  38  capable of holding at least twenty tubular wrapping portions  21 ; (c) at least five receptacles  641  and cartridges  38  holding at least ten tubular wrapping portions  21 ; (d) at least five receptacles  641  and cartridges  38  holding no more than forty tubular wrapping portions  21 ; or (e) no more than five receptacles  641  and cartridges  38  holding no more than twenty tubular wrapping portions  21 . Furthermore, the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  can be designed and adapted to introduce tobacco filler into tubular wrapping portions  21  of larger or smaller size (e.g., the plunger arms  251  and receptacles  641  can be made longer to fill hollow tubular wrapper portions  21  of longer length).  
      In an embodiment of the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10 , and components thereof, described with reference to  FIGS. 1-11  and  22 - 29 , that apparatus  10  may be designed to produce small lots or batches of cigarettes  13  having consistent quality. For a particular selection of tobacco filler (e.g., as determined by factors such as composition, particle size, moisture content, and the like), and for pre-formed tubular wrappers  21  of a particular size (e.g., as determined by factors such as the length and circumference of the hollow region), a plurality of cigarettes  13  can be made to specification by appropriate control of the operation of various components of the apparatus. The size of the tobacco filler charge used to fill each hollow tubular wrapper portion  21  can be controlled, for example, by selecting appropriate dimensions of each vertical passageway  675 , of each lower receptacle  641 , of the compression bars  621  and associated components, and of the insertion arms  251  and associated components. The dimensions of the various nozzles  230  of the compression assembly  75  can be appropriately altered in order to produce cigarettes  13  of desired circumference. The components of the compression and insertion mechanisms  75 ,  248 , respectively, are designed to be set and operated in order that tobacco filler charges are formed and inserted into hollow tubular wrapper portions  21  consistently and in a controlled manner. Each compression chamber can be filled with tobacco filler in an automated fashion; and hence, precise control of the amount of tobacco filler supplied to each compression chamber is achieved. Thus, supply of a consistent amount of tobacco filler within each tobacco filler charge is accomplished by controlling the density of the tobacco filler in each compression region prior to the time that the tobacco filler is compressed into the form of a cylindrical charge for insertion into the hollow tubular wrapper portion  21 .  
      Other manners or methods can be employed in order to ensure that a controlled amount of tobacco filler is distributed within each vertically extending passageway  675  and each cooperating receptacle  641 . For example, in an alternative embodiment (not illustrated), the bottom region of each receptacle  641  of the compression assembly  75  can be adapted so as to be composed of a fine mesh screen or foraminous material. That porous region can be adapted so as to be in communication with a slight vacuum (e.g., as can be provided by appropriate connection to a vacuum source, such as a laboratory vacuum source). As such, the negative air pressure applied to the bottom region of each receptacle can act to pull tobacco filler material downward, and hence adequately fill each receptacle with a uniform and controlled amount of tobacco filler. The degree of vacuum pulled on each column of tobacco filler within each respective vertical passageway  675  and receptacle  641  can be altered depending upon factors such as the amount of tobacco filler within each vertical passageway  675 .  
      Another manner or method for ensuring that a controlled amount of tobacco filler is distributed within each vertically extending passageway  675  and each cooperating receptacle  641  involves the use of a hydraulic plunger or spring mechanism. For example, in an embodiment (not shown), a hydraulically-operated plunger can be used to apply downward force to the tobacco filler in each vertical passageway  675 , and the amount of force applied to the tobacco filler can be decreased as the amount of tobacco filler in the vertical passageway  675  decreases. In another embodiment (not shown), a resistance spring can be positioned so as to vertically extend around an appropriately configured weight such that the weight can extend into the vertical passageway  675  and the spring rests on the top wall of the hopper unit. As such, as tobacco filler is removed from each vertical passageway  675  as a result of cigarette manufacture, the weight falls further into the vertical passageway  675 , and the resulting compression of the spring results in the application of less downward compressive force by the weight to the tobacco filler.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , there is shown a trimming device  790  for trimming tobacco filler from the ends of finished cigarettes  13 . The various components of the frame and chassis  791  of that device  790  preferably are manufactured from a metallic material, such as aluminum. A cartridge  38  with finished cigarettes  13  lying in its grooves  48  is positioned on a cartridge-holding platform  794  in the top, front region of the device  790 . The filter ends of the cigarettes  13  can, and preferably would, all extend into the cavities  541  of the inner front face of the cartridge, such that the lighting ends  796  are all aligned across the back of the cartridge  38 . The ends of the cigarettes  13  in the cartridge  38  extend beyond the back edge of the cartridge. A removable tray  799  is located beneath the cutting region  800  and is used to collect tobacco particles trimmed from the lighting ends of the cigarettes  13 .  
      The rear face of the cartridge  38  abuts a static lower ledger bar  808  of a ledger  804  that extends across the rear of the cartridge-holding platform  794 . The grooved upper face of the lower ledger bar  808  is adapted to be aligned with the grooves  48  in the upper face of the cartridge. Thus, when the cartridge is placed on the trimming device  790 , each cigarette  13  rests in a groove  48  on the cartridge  38  and a corresponding groove in the lower ledger bar  808 . A movable upper ledger bar  806  has a bottom face that is configured to complement the shape of the cigarettes  13  resting in the lower ledger bar  808 . The movable upper ledger bar  806  can be removable so as to be placed by hand over the lower ledger bar  808 , and thereby form the top of the ledger  804 . The upper ledger bar  806  can be attached in place by clips, or another suitable fastening means. The upper ledger bar  806  also can be attached in place, but movable relative to the lower ledger bar  808  by use of an appropriately positioned hinge, or other suitable means. The ledger  804  can be manufactured from a suitable metallic material, such as brass. The back faces of the lower ledger bar  808  and the upper ledger bar  806  can be vertically aligned with one another. When the cartridge  38  is in place and the ledger  804  is closed, the lighting ends  796  of the cigarettes  13  (as defined by the ends of the tubular wrappers  21 ) are aligned with the back faces of each of the lower and upper ledger bars  808 ,  806 , respectively.  
      During an operation of the trimming device  790 , a circular cutting blade  810  is rotated at a very high rate of speed (e.g., 1200-2000 rpm) by a motor  812 . The circular cutting blade/cutter  810  optionally is covered by a blade housing  814 . The motor  812  also may be covered by an optional motor housing  816 . A representative motor  812  is available as an induction motor 25 W ( 1/30 HP), 115 V P/N 41K25A-AWU from Oriental Motor USA Corp. A representative cutter  810  may be constructed of tungsten carbide, and has a diameter of about 62 mm and a thickness of about 0.3 mm. The blade and motor may be securely mounted on a bar  818 , or other suitable support means, such that the rotating cutter  810  can be moved back and forth. A representative bar can be ground and polished stainless steel rod of about 12 mm diameter.  
      The cutter  810  can be mounted perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes  13  in the cartridge  38 , and so that it rotates in a vertical plane. The cutter  810  can be positioned so as to pass very close to the lighting ends  796  of the cigarettes  13 . That is, the cutter  810  is positioned so as to pass very close to the rear face of the ledger  804 , and hence, very close to the lighting ends  796  of the cigarettes  13  (as defined by the ends of the tubular wrappers  21 ).  
      In use, the cartridge  38 , containing cigarettes  13 , is placed on the trimming device  790 , and the ends of the cigarettes  13  extending from the rear of the cartridge  38  rest in the corresponding grooves of the lower ledger bar  808 . The upper ledger bar  806  is positioned over the cigarettes  38  to hold them in place. The motor  812  is started by activating at switch  819 , and the cutter  810  is rotated at a very high rate of speed (e.g., at about 1450 rpm). The cutter  810  is moved from one end of the trimming device  790  to the other such that the cutter  810  trims away tobacco filler extending from the ends of the cigarettes  13 . As a result, the lighting end  796  of each cigarette  13  preferably resembles in appearance the lighting end of a mass-produced cigarette manufactured using high-speed automated cigarette-making equipment, such as the type set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,190 to Brand.  
      Referring to  FIG. 13 , there is shown a rear view of the cigarette trimming device  790  described previously with reference to  FIG. 12 . The cutter blade  810  and motor  812  are shown without coverings or housings of the type shown in  FIG. 12 . The trimming device  790  includes a connection  820  for attachment to an electrical power source. The lower ledger bar  808  is positioned such that the cutter  810  passes closely across its rear face. The assembly  815 , including both the motor  812  and cutter  810 , is mounted on a frame support  822  equipped with a pair of sleeve bearings  824 ,  825 , preferably having a 12 mm inner diameter. The sleeve bearings  824 ,  825  of the frame support  822  travel along the support bar  818  (not visible in  FIG. 13 , see  FIG. 12 ). The sleeve bearings  824 ,  825  allow the cutter and motor assembly  815  to slide back and forth across a relevant region of the device  790 . If desired, the cutter and motor assembly  815  alternatively can be mounted on a rail mechanism, ball slides, or other suitable movable support means. The cutting edge of the cutter blade  810  can be positioned so as to be spaced no more than about 0.5 mm from the rear face of the lower ledger bar  808 . The device  790  may include a support region for a cartridge  38 . A longitudinal waste aperture  826  is located just rear of the lower ledger bar  808  on the top face of the device, and is employed such that tobacco particles trimmed from the ends of cigarettes (not shown) can fall into the lower tray  799  of the device  790  for disposal. Other mechanisms or methods for ensuring that the tobacco filler of the tobacco rod does not extend beyond the end of the rod defined by the paper wrapper  21  to any significant degree, within the scope of the present invention, will be apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette manufacture.  
      Referring to  FIG. 14 , there is shown a cartridge-filling device  830  for filling a cartridge with empty pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 . The cartridge-filling device  830  includes a base  831  that supports a cartridge-loading platform  832  and a tubular wrapper supply assembly  833 . These components can be manufactured from any suitable material, and preferably are manufactured from a metallic material, such as aluminum. A representative preferred cartridge-loading platform includes polytetrafluoroethylene.  
      The cartridge-loading platform  832  includes a key stock  834  for maintaining a suitably configured cartridge (e.g., a cartridge  38 , as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 ) in place, and an upwardly extending backstop  839  for preventing undesirable forward movement of the cartridge during use of the cartridge-filling device  830 . Preferably, tubular wrapper portions  21  being loaded onto the cartridge are positioned on their sides, substantially parallel to each other, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge-loading platform  832 . The cartridge-loading platform  832  can be disposed at a slight rear-to-front incline such that its front edge with the backstop  839  is lower than its rear edge.  
      The supply assembly  833  includes a movable upper reservoir  845  adapted to hold a container  848  of tubular wrappers (box shown as empty). A representative container  848  may be a paperboard box sized to contain a pre-determined number, for example, two hundred pre-formed filtered tubular wrappers  21 . The container  848  can be sized for particular dimensions of tubular wrappers  21 , for example, tubular wrappers  21  of about 24 mm in circumference and about 86 mm in length. A representative container  848  for such tubular wrappers  21  may be is about 85 mm in height, about 90 mm in width, and about 145 mm in length. For the embodiment shown, the paperboard box  848  and the upper reservoir  845  each are shown in an open position.  
      The supply assembly  833  also includes a hopper  851  that provides for alignment of a plurality of tubular wrappers  21 . For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the hopper  851  provides for the linear alignment of ten tubular wrappers  21 . The hopper  851  is adapted to receive tubular wrappers  21  from an open container  848  when the upper reservoir  845  is rotated about a hinge  854  so as to mate the bottom face  857  of the upper reservoir  845  with the top face  858  of the hopper  851  and thereby provide the supply assembly  833  in a closed position (see  FIG. 15 ). The bottom face  857  of the upper reservoir  845  and the top face  858  of the hopper  851  are complementary in size and shape such that tubular wrappers  21  can be readily emptied from the container  848  into the hopper  851 . Each tubular wrapper  21  entering the upper region of the hopper  851  preferably falls into one of a plurality of vertical passageways  862 . The walls of the passageways  862 , as well as the front and side walls of the hopper  851 , may be manufactured from a clear material, such as, for example, a clear plastic, so that the supply of wrappers  21  in each passageway  862  can be readily viewed. Alternatively, the inner walls can be manufactured from stainless steel, the side and back walls can be manufactured from aluminum, and the front wall can be manufactured from a clear material. Other materials and combinations of materials may be used for the construction as well. In an embodiment, the dimensions of the vertical passageways  862  are such that the tubular wrappers  21  are stored as a single-file stack, or column, within each passageway  862 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  includes ten vertical passageways  862 . A representative vertical passageway  862  may have a width of about 11 mm. Representative walls that provide for the various vertical passageways  862  each have a width of about 1.7 mm, a height of about 6 cm, and a length of about 8.5 cm.  
      A tray  870  having a plurality of tray grooves  873  in its upper face is positioned beneath the hopper  851 . Each tray groove  873  is aligned so as to correspond to and lie beneath a vertical passageway  862 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14-16 , the tray  870  includes ten tray grooves  873 , each of which extends longitudinally between the front and rear of the tray  870 . The tray  870  is spaced below the hopper  851  at a distance that approximates the outer diameter of the tubular wrappers  21  that ultimately rest within each tray groove  873 . Preferably, such a distance is about 7 mm to about 10 mm.  
      Referring to  FIG. 15 , the upper reservoir  845  of the cartridge filling apparatus  830  is shown rotated into a closed position, and the cartridge-filling device  830  is shown having a cartridge  38  appropriately positioned thereon, with a plurality of wrappers  21  placed in grooves  48  of the cartridge  38 . A slider system  880  is positioned to move along the front-to-rear axis of the tray  870 . The slider system illustrated in  FIGS. 14-16  includes two slider handles  881 . The slider system  880  includes a sliding chassis  885  that slides along a track  888  supported by the base  831 . The slider system  880  also includes a pusher-rod-supporting cross-bar  891 , or other suitable attachment means between the slider handles  881  to support a series of generally cylindrical pusher rods  895 . The components of the slider system  880  can be manufactured from any suitable material, and preferably are manufactured from a metal, such as aluminum.  
      As illustrated, the slider system  880  includes ten generally cylindrical pusher rods  895 . During operation of the slider system  880 , one tubular wrapper  21  is allowed to fall into each of the tray grooves  873  when the slider handles  881  are positioned toward the rear of the cartridge-filling device  830 , with the filter ends of the tubular wrappers  21  preferably oriented toward the front of the device  830 . A forward movement of the slider handles  881  moves the pusher rods  895  forward against the tubular wrappers  21  within corresponding tray grooves  873  such that they are ejected from the tray  870  onto the cartridge  38 . The next tubular wrapper  21  in the vertical passageway  862  is prevented by one or both of the previous tubular wrapper  21  and pusher rod  895  from falling into the tray  870  prior to ejection of that previous tubular  21  wrapper from the tray  870  to the cartridge  38 . The slider handles  881  are moved back to the rear of the device  830  so that the process can be repeated. The diameter and end surface configuration of each pusher rod  895  preferably is such that it will push against the open end of a tubular wrapper  21  sufficient to move the wrapper without a substantial portion of the pusher rod  895  entering or damaging the open end.  
      In operation, the cartridge-filling device  830  is positioned firmly in place on a table, bench, counter, or the like. Alternatively, the device  830  can be permanently affixed to components of a work station. When the upper reservoir  845  is moved to an open position, a box of pre-formed tubular wrappers  21  may be placed in the reservoir  845 , or tubular wrappers  21  may otherwise be loaded into the reservoir  845  (e.g., by hand). The upper reservoir  845  may then be rotated into a closed position. When the reservoir  845  is in the closed position, the tubular wrappers  21  within the upper reservoir  845  fall into the hopper  851 , and each tubular wrapper  21  preferably falls into a vertical passageway  862 . Thus, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14-15 , the hopper  851  includes ten vertically aligned stacks of pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 . Using the cartridge-filling device  830  as described, a plurality of tubular wrappers  21  can be transferred from the container  848  to the cartridge  38  and then on to a manufacturing assembly without the necessity of touching any of the tubular wrappers by hand.  
      During continuation of the operation described above, the cartridge  38  is moved on the cartridge-loading platform  832  such that the tray grooves  873  of the device  830  are aligned with the remaining ten empty grooves  48  of the cartridge  38 . The slider system  880  is moved forward to push ten more tubular wrappers  21  into the cartridge  38 , and the slider handles  881  of the slider system  880  are moved to the rear of the device  830  for later use. Thus, the cartridge  38  may be loaded with twenty tubular wrappers  21  in an efficient and effective two-step manner. The cartridge  38  containing the tubular wrappers  21  is removed from the cartridge-loading platform  832 , and is introduced into the cigarette-making apparatus  10 , as set forth herein with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 . Another empty cartridge  38  can be introduced into the cartridge filling apparatus  830 , and the process can be repeated. After a requisite number of cartridges  38  have been filled, the upper reservoir  845  can be opened and reloaded with a new supply of tubular wrappers  21 .  
       FIG. 16  shows the base  831  and the slider system  880  of the cartridge-filling system  830  illustrated in  FIGS. 14 and 15 . Preferably, each of the cylindrical pusher rods  895  has a generally cone-shaped end  900 . Each cone-shaped end  900  facilitates the ability to eject a tubular wrapper  21  by pushing on the hollow end of that tubular wrapper  21 . A representative cylindrical plunger rod, suitable for use for ejecting a filter tubular wrapper portion having a total length of about 83 mm and a circumference of about 24.5 mm, has a length of about 80 mm and a diameter of about 8.2 mm. The rear portion of each plunger rod  895  can be manufactured from any appropriate material such as, for example, aluminum. The cone-shaped front end  900  of each rod  895  preferably is manufactured from a soft material, such as nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, synthetic rubber, or the like. A representative front end  900  of a plunger rod  895  covers and/or provides about 2.5 cm of the forwardmost length of that rod  895 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 17 , there is shown a schematic illustration of a package-filling device  1051  for filling a cigarette package with manufactured cigarettes. The apparatus  1051  includes a bottom frame, or base  1054 . A representative bottom frame can be about 27.5 cm wide and about 56 cm long. A representative bottom frame may be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably is manufactured from aluminum.  
      The bottom frame  1054  supports an upper platform  1058 . The upper platform  1058  is suspended above the base by left and right side walls  1060 . In a representative embodiment, the clearance between the upper face of the bottom frame and the lower surface of the upper platform  1058  is about 3 cm. A representative upper platform may be manufactured from any suitable material, but preferably is manufactured from aluminum.  
      The upper platform  1058  includes an upwardly extending ejection rod-supporting cross-member  1064  that extends thereacross. Extending generally horizontally forward from the cross-member  1064  is a plurality of ejection rods  1067 . In the embodiment shown, the device includes twenty forwardly-extending ejection rods  1067 , each with a substantially circular cross-section. A representative ejection rod has a length of about 7.2 cm and a diameter of about 4 mm and can be manufactured from steel. The package-filling device  1051  preferably is adapted such that in a region forward of the ejection rods  1067 , there is a positioning platform region  1073  for a cartridge  38  filled with twenty cigarettes  13 . It is preferred that the cigarettes  13  within the cartridge  38  are positioned on their sides (that is, the longitudinal axis of each cigarette  13  is parallel to, or substantially parallel to, the horizontal plane, and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the package-filling device  1051 ). The central portion of the positioning platform region  1073  includes a broad space open to the structures below, as is explained hereafter.  
      Below the front portion of the cartridge positioning platform region  1073  are an inwardly sloping left panel  1076  and an inwardly sloping right panel  1077  that define the sides of an open center region  1079 . Representative sloping panels can be manufactured from sheets of highly polished stainless steel. A representative open center region is generally rectangular with a width of about 8 cm and a length of about 9 cm.  
      The upper face of the bottom frame  1054  includes a broad groove  1083 , channel, or other means for providing for controlled movement of a carriage  1086  from the back of the base  1054  to the front of the device  1051 . A representative groove can have a vertical depth of about 4 mm to about 6 mm, a width of about 9 cm, and a length such that the groove  1083  extends to within about 1 cm of the front end of the device  1051 . The arrangement of the carriage  1086  and groove  1083  preferably are such that the carriage  1086  is easily movable within the groove  1083 . Typically, selection of the respective shapes and dimensions of the carriage  1086  and the groove  1083  define the arrangement of the carriage  1086  in the groove. For example, the sides of the carriage  1086  and the sides of the groove  1083  may be designed so as to cooperate in a tongue-in-groove type of arrangement.  
      The carriage  1086  includes an upwardly extending handle  1089 , such that the carriage  1086  can be moved back and forth. Within a recess  1093  in the upper face of the carriage  1086  is positioned a cigarette package  1095  in an open position. A representative package  1095  can include a bottom component  1098  for holding twenty cigarettes (not shown), and a top cover  1102  that is designed to close over the bottom component  1098 . A representative recess can have a vertical depth of about 4 mm to about 6 mm; and a representative recess having a length of about 19 cm and a width of about 9 cm can readily accommodate a package with a bottom component  1098  having outer dimensions of about 8.2 cm wide, about 8.9 cm long and about 18 mm high (such dimensions being measured when the box is in a closed or sealed configuration).  
      In operation, the apparatus  1051  can be positioned firmly in place on a table, bench, counter, or the like. Alternatively, the apparatus can be permanently affixed to components of a work station. Optionally, a pre-cut inner package wrapping paper, foil/paper laminate or paper-lined foil (not shown) can be placed into the package  1095 . A typical foil sheet may have a width that approximates the width of the inner portion of the package  1095 , and a length of about 16 cm. A forming block (not shown) having stamp face dimensions approximating those of the inner bottom  1098  face area of the package  1095  can be used to push the foil into the box. In this manner, the foil can be creased within the bottom portion of the box  1095 . The forming block then is removed from the box  1095  so as to provide the box  1095  having a type of inner liner (not shown) positioned therein. In addition, the foil may be of such a length that tabs (not shown) extend from both of bottom  1098  front and back of the package  1095 .  
      A backstop  1110  located at the front of the carriage  1086  assists in maintaining the package  1095  in place during operation of the apparatus  1051 . On the top face of the backstop  1110  is positioned a slot  1115 . The slot  1115  can be designed such that inner package wrapping paper or paper-lined foil (not shown) extending from the front bottom  1098  of the package  1095  can be fed into the slot  1115  in order that the foil is positioned out of the way when the cigarette package  1095  is filled with cigarettes  13 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the package-filling apparatus  1051  is shown with a cartridge  38  containing twenty cigarettes  13  appropriately positioned on the positioning region of the upper platform  1073 . The carriage  1086  has been moved forward, such that a package  1095  carried thereby is positioned below the open center region  1079  beneath the cartridge. The device  1051  is designed such that the cartridge  38  can be slid on the upper surface of the upper platform  1058  towards the rear of the device  1051 . When the cartridge  38  is moved rearward, each ejection rod  1067  remains still such that each rod  1067  passes through the openings  550  in the front surface of the cartridge  38  (see  FIG. 6 ) and resists the cigarettes&#39;  13  rearward motion by pushing against the rear face of each filter element of each respective cigarette  13 . Effectively, as the cartridge  38  is moved rearward, each rod  1067  passes through the corresponding opening  550  in the front face of the cartridge  38 , hence pushing the cigarettes  13  out of the cartridge  38 . As such, cigarettes  13  can be removed from the cartridge  38  without the necessity of turning the cartridge  38  over to dump cigarettes  13  therefrom or of tipping the cartridge  38  upwards so that cigarettes  13  fall therefrom. The cigarettes  13  are pushed from the cartridge  38  and fall through the open center region  1079 . The cigarettes  13  consequently fall into, and fill, the open package  1095  that is positioned below the open center region  1079 . An operator can use his/her finger to align the cigarettes  13  within the package, but preferably the cigarettes  13  are aligned without being touched, or are moved into alignment within the package  1095  using a tool (e.g., a nylon probe) that will not mar the cigarettes  13 . The handle  1089  then can be used to move the carriage  1086  rearwards in order to expose the package  1095  filled with cigarettes  13 . The filled package  1095  can be removed from the carriage  1086  and closed. A new empty package  1095  can then be inserted into the carriage  1086 . Meanwhile, the empty cartridge  38  can be moved forward and removed from the device  1051 . A new cartridge  38  filled with cigarettes  13  can be placed into the device  1051 . As such, the package filling process can be repeated. In the representative device  1051  for filling a cigarette package  1095  with manufactured cigarettes  13  described with reference to  FIGS. 17-18 , that device  1051  is designed to fill the package  1095  with twenty cigarettes  13 . Suitable alterations to the apparatus and its components can be made to hold or transfer a greater or lesser number of cigarettes  13  contained in the cartridge  38 . For example, a package  1095  designed to contain ten cigarettes  13  can be filled with the embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 17-18  by loading ten cigarettes  13  into the cartridge  38  and using the device  1051  to fill that package  1095 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 19 , there is shown a perspective view of a representative package  1095  for cigarettes  13 . The illustrated package embodiment  1095  is of the type that has been referred to as a “shoulder box.” The package  1095  is shown in an open position and is designed to contain twenty cigarettes  13 . As illustrated, the cigarettes  13  are aligned within the package  1095  in two rows of ten cigarettes  13 , with one row positioned over the second row. The packaged cigarettes  13  are preferably manufactured using the previously described equipment and materials. The package  1095  preferably is manufactured from folded paperboard material, and can be of any type useful for the packaging of cigarettes  13 . The package  1095  includes a generally rectilinear top  1102  that opens about a hinge  1190  that extends along the back side of the box. The cigarettes  13  are contained in the bottom component  1098  of the box  1095 . The bottom component  1098  also holds a foil front flap  1192  and a foil back flap  1194  that can close over the cigarettes  13 , or that can be opened to expose the cigarettes  13  (as is shown). Representative types of shoulder box packages  1095  have been commercially available, and the selection thereof is a matter of choice. If desired, the shoulder box  1095  and associated wrapping materials can be embossed, printed with indicia, or the like. If desired, the package  1095  of cigarettes  13  can be wrapped in a plastic or other film (e.g., a clear polypropylene film).  
      Other representative types of cigarette packages  1095  suitable for use with the present invention includes those of the types set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,353 to Focke et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,463 to Bouchard; U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,734 to Allen et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,140 to Burrows et al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0217023 to Fagg et al. and 2004/0256253 to Henson et al.; and German Pat. App. DE 10238906 to Marx.  
      Referring to  FIG. 20 , there is shown a longitudinal cross-section of a pre-formed tubular wrapping portion  21 . Such a wrapper portion has the general shape of a cigarette  13 , but is substantially devoid of the smokable filler material that makes up a finished cigarette  13 . The tubular wrapper  21  includes a hollow generally cylindrical region  1200  defined by cigarette paper wrapping material  1205  into which tobacco cut filler is inserted. That is, the tubular wrapper  21  is configured for receiving tobacco filler, and hence, for providing a wrapped, smokable tobacco rod. The tubular wrapping  21  preferably also includes a filter element  1210  positioned at one end thereof. The filter element  1210  preferably is attached to the wrapping material  1205  using a circumscribing tipping material  1215 . The filter element  1210  includes filter material  1220  wrapped in a circumscribing plug wrap material  1225 . The tipping material  1215  and plug wrap  1225  may optionally include a line of perforations  1230 , so that during use of the cigarette  13 , mainstream smoke can be air diluted. The perforations  1230  may be provided during or after cigarette manufacture using on-line laser perforation techniques, or the relevant wrapping materials may be pre-perforated.  
      Representative pre-formed tubular wrapper portions  21  include those types of filtered cigarette tubes that have been available commercially as “Premier Filter Tip Tubes” from C.T.C. Canada Inc.; “MacDonald Export ‘A’ Express Kit Medium Regular Size Cigarettes Tubes” from RJR-MacDonald Inc.; and “Escort King Size Filter Tip Tubes” from C.T.C. Canada Inc.  
      Pre-formed tubular wrapper  21  can include filter  1220  and empty paper tube components that remain upon removal of tobacco from existing cigarettes  13 . For example, filter cigarettes can be manufactured using conventional automated cigarette-making techniques, and the tobacco can be ejected therefrom using, for example, the type of apparatus set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,673 to Barnes et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, or using other suitable means. As such, components used for the manufacture of commercial grade filter cigarettes can be processed to remove the tobacco blend therefrom, and the resulting pre-formed tubular wrapper  21  can be filled with a different tobacco blend in the fashion described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-11 . As such, it is possible to prepare lots of substantially identical cigarettes  13 , except for a difference in a chosen smokable material within those cigarettes.  
      Referring to  FIG. 21 , there is shown a representative cigarette  13 . The cigarette  13  includes cigarette wrapping material  1205  that surrounds strands or pieces of tobacco cut filler  1240 , which is the smokable filler material that makes up a core of the cigarette  13 . The lighting end  1245  of the cigarette  13  preferably is configured such that the cut filler  1240  does not extend to any significant extent beyond the end of the wrapping material  1205 . Preferably, cut filler  1240  extends about 1 mm or less and, most preferably, about 0.5 mm or less beyond the lighting end  1245  of the wrapping material  1205  of the tubular wrapper  21 .  
      Other illustrative embodiments of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention may include alternative configurations of the hopper assembly, the means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the tubular wrappers, and the means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers. As shown in the embodiments in  FIGS. 22-26 , the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  includes a support platform  1310  supported by four legs  1311 . The support platform  1310  can be manufactured from a suitable material, such as metal (e.g., stainless steel, brass, or aluminum), plastic (e.g., polycarbonate, polymethylmethacrylate, acrylate/butadiene/styrene or ABS type plastic, nylon, or other suitable polymeric material), composite material (e.g., a graphite-based ceramic), or like material. Preferably, the support platform  1310  is manufactured from aluminum. The hopper assembly  1380  may include four walls in the form of a rectangle, including a back wall  1381  and a front wall  1382 , a bottom, and an open top. The bottom of the hopper  1380  is configured to contain a plurality of receptacles, or wells  1383 . An auger conveyor  1384  extends through each well  1383  for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the well  1383  into one of the tubular wrappers  21  aligned with the auger conveyor  1384 .  
      As shown in  FIGS. 22, 23 , and  26 , a vertical motor mount structure  1397  is attached underneath the support platform  1310  adjacent a drive belt opening  1392 . A drive roller support wall  1390  is attached to the top of the support platform  1310  adjacent the drive belt opening  1392 . A motor  1396  for powering movement of the auger conveyors  1384  is mounted to the motor mount structure  1397 . The hopper assembly  1380 , motor mount structure  1397 , and drive roller support wall  1390  can be attached securely to the support platform  1310  using several screws, or other appropriate fastening means. The hopper unit  1380  may be removable, and can be maintained in place on top of the support platform  1310  by a suitable number of appropriately positioned locating pins (not shown). That is, several positioning pins of appropriate shape and size can be located in the bottom of the hopper unit  1380 , and corresponding location holes can be positioned in support platform  1310 . Any other suitable structure may be used to maintain the relative positions of the hopper unit  1380  and the cartridge  38 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 22 , the means for delivering a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the tubular wrappers  21  comprises an auger drive system. The auger drive system includes a plurality of auger drive rollers  1393  rotatably attached to the drive roller support wall  1390 . A corresponding number of idler rollers  1394  are rotatably attached above the auger drive rollers  1393  on the drive roller support wall  1390 . An auger drive belt  1391  is routed in serpentine fashion about the series of auger drive rollers  1393  and idler rollers  1394 , and is routed through the drive belt opening  1392  to its connection with the motor  1396  underneath the support platform  1310 . An auger drive connector shaft  1395  is connected to each drive roller  1393 . One of the plurality of auger conveyors  1384  is operably connected to the end of each of the auger drive connector shafts  1395  opposite the drive rollers  1393 .  
      The auger drive system is configured such that actuation of the motor  1396  causes movement of the auger drive belt  1391 , which powers rotation of the auger drive rollers  1393  and thus rotation of the auger drive connector shafts  1395  and the connected auger conveyors  1384 . The motor  1396  can be an electrical motor. The motor  1396  can include a variable speed control mechanism for rotating the auger conveyors  1384  at different desired speeds. Rotating speed of the auger conveyors  1384  can be preset for optimal movement of the tobacco filler into the tubular wrappers  21 . In an alternative embodiment, the auger conveyors  1384  can be operated manually with a rotary handle (not shown) engaged with the auger drive belt  1391 .  
      An auger is defined generally as a tool having a twisted configuration capable of spiraling motion for boring into an object. For purposes herein, an auger conveyor  1384  is defined as an element having a twisted configuration capable of spiraling motion for arranging tobacco filler within an auger well  1383  so as to form a cylindrical charge of the tobacco filler and conveying that tobacco charge into a corresponding pre-formed tubular wrapper  21 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22-24 , there is a plurality of auger conveyors  1384  such that in a corresponding number of auger wells  1383  tobacco filler can be arranged to form cylindrical charges and those tobacco charges can be delivered into corresponding pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 , thereby forming a plurality of cigarettes  13 . Each auger conveyor  1384  extends from one of the drive connector shafts  1395  through the hopper  1380  and inside the length of the nozzle  230  connected to the hopper  1380 . The rotary motion of the auger conveyor  1384  creates a generally rounded rod, or charge, of tobacco. Rotation of the auger conveyor  1384  causes the charge of tobacco filler to be delivered through the nozzle  230  into the tubular wrapper  21 . As the tubular wrapper  21  is filled with the tobacco filler, the wrapper  21  gradually advances off the nozzle  230  and into the rounded groove  48  of the cartridge  38  from where the wrapper  21  was initially transferred.  
      The auger conveyors  1384  can be made of any suitable material, such as stainless steel, for moving tobacco filler from the hopper  1380  into the tubular wrappers  21 . The auger conveyors  1384  preferably have a round cross-section; that is, the auger conveyor  1384  material itself is round. A round cross-section may be optimal for movement of tobacco filler in a smooth manner that minimizes degradation of tobacco strands. Alternatively, the auger conveyor  1384  cross-section may include sides having angles optimized for moving tobacco filler. The outside diameter of the auger conveyor  1384  spiral is determined by the inside diameter of the tubular wrappers  21  into which the auger conveyor  1384  will deliver tobacco filler. Generally, the outside diameter of the auger conveyor  1384  spiral will be slightly less, for example, 1 mm less, than the inside diameter of the tubular wrappers  21  to be filled. In embodiments, the diameter of the auger conveyor  1384  spiral can be substantially the same along the length of the auger conveyor  1384 . As such, the cylindrical tobacco charge formed within each auger conveyor  1384  can be delivered into corresponding tubular wrappers  21  without further modification.  
      In an embodiment, each of the auger wells  1383  can have a “V” shape. That is, the walls of the auger wells  1383  along the longitudinal axes of the auger conveyors  1384  can be configured to have about a 90 degree angle in which the auger conveyors  1384  operate. The angle of the auger conveyor  1384  walls can have more or less than a 90 degree relationship as desired for particular sizes and shapes of tobacco charges and for particular types of tobacco.  
      In an embodiment, the apparatus  10  may further include a mechanism for detangling the tobacco filler. For example, the hopper assembly  1380  may include a detangling mechanism such as a rotary baffle (not shown). A rotary baffle can be configured as a sheet of rigid material having an axle rod through the center of the sheet and mounted between opposing end walls of the hopper  1380  parallel to the back and front walls  1381 ,  1382 , respectively. A small electric motor can be attached to one end of the axle rod, on the outside of one of the end walls of the hopper  1380 . When this motor is actuated, the blade rotates to move tobacco filler in the hopper  1380  above the wells  1383  so as to detangle the tobacco filler. Other types of detangling mechanisms may be suitable in a cigarette manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention.  
      Other hopper assemblies may be utilized in the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  shown in  FIGS. 22-26 . For example, the hopper assembly  80  as described and shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  9 , and  11 , may be adapted for use with the apparatus  10  shown in  FIGS. 22-26 . The hopper  80  comprising several downwardly extending passageways  675  for downward passage of loose tobacco filler from an upper hopper region  110  may be disposed on top of the hopper assembly  1380 . Alternatively, the outer walls of the hopper assembly  80  may be integrally formed with the walls of the hopper assembly  1380 . In such arrangements, one of the downwardly extending passageways  675  would be aligned above each auger well receptacle  1383  such that a portion of the tobacco filler in the upper reservoir region  110  would be delivered to each auger well  1383 .  
      In such a hopper arrangement, one or more weights  177  or other structures may be adapted to provide downward force or compression on loose tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway  675 . Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway  675  using the weight  177  provides for altered arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway  675 . Application of force to the tobacco filler within each downwardly extending passageway  675  using the weight  177  also provides for a controlled feed of tobacco filler to and within each auger well receptacle  1383 . Accordingly, such a weight system can be utilized to control the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers  21 .  
      In such a hopper arrangement, each downwardly extending passageway  675  may include at least one movable side wall  360 , thereby providing for altering the arrangement of tobacco filler within each passageway  675 , as well as for controlling introduction of a portion of tobacco filler within each auger well  1383 . As a result of such a movable side wall  360 , a pre-determined amount of tobacco filler can be supplied to, and provided within, each auger well  1383  and correspondingly aligned wrapper  21 .  
      As described herein with reference to  FIGS. 1, 5 ,  6 , and  11 , the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22-23  and  25 - 26  can utilize the cartridge  38  for containing a plurality of pre-formed tubular wrappers  21 . The cartridge  38  includes a series of parallel rounded supports, or grooves,  48  in its upper face, with the grooves  48  being oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cartridge  38 . That is, each semi-circular groove  48  acts as a cradle for one of the tubular wrappers  21 . For the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22-23  and  25 - 26 , the cartridge  38  includes twenty grooves  48 , and thus the cartridge  38  can hold twenty tubular wrappers  21  for the manufacture of twenty cigarettes  13 .  
      The cartridge  38  filled with tubular wrappers  21  can be positioned on the upper surface of the support platform  1310  such that empty tubular wrappers  21  are aligned with corresponding nozzles  230 . The nozzles, or delivery passageways,  230  can be connected to each of the auger well receptacles  1384  for guiding delivery of a portion of the tobacco filler from the receptacles  1384  into the wrappers  21 . When the wrappers  21  and nozzles  230  are aligned, the wrappers  21  can be mounted onto the corresponding nozzles  230 . Preferably, the cartridge  38  is moved along the grooves  515  in the bottom surface of the cartridge  38  on a support on the support platform  1310  toward the nozzles  230 . In this manner, the empty wrappers  21  can be manually slid over the nozzles  230  for filling with tobacco filler. Once the wrappers  21  are in position on the nozzles  230 , the cartridge  230  is moved away from the nozzles  230 .  
      The tubular wrappers  21  can be transferred from the cartridge  38  and mounted onto the nozzles  230  in other manners. For example, in an alternative embodiment (not shown), a platform of ejection rods, similar to the upper platform  1058  and ejection rods  1067  shown in  FIGS. 17-18 , can be positioned on the upper surface of the support platform  1310  adjacent to the front face  548  of the cartridge  38 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22-23 , a platform of ten ejection rods can be utilized. The ten ejection rods can be aligned with the push-through openings  550  in the front face  548  of the cartridge corresponding to the ten tubular wrappers  21  to be mounted onto nozzles  230 . The ten ejection rods may then be simultaneously inserted through the push-through openings  550  to slide the tubular wrappers  21  over corresponding nozzles  230  for filling with tobacco filler.  
      Once a sub-lot of the tubular wrappers  21  has been transferred to the nozzles  230 , filled with a portion of tobacco filler, and returned to the cartridge  38 , the cartridge  38  can be moved laterally to align another sub-lot of tubular wrappers  21  with the nozzles  230 . This may be accomplished by lifting the cartridge  38  from the support in the support platform  1310  slidingly mated with one of the grooves  515  in the bottom surface of the cartridge  38 . The cartridge  38  can be moved laterally so as to align another one of the grooves  515  with the support in the support platform, which, in turn, aligns another sub-lot of the wrappers  21  with the nozzles  230 . As such, the cartridge  38  may be suitably adapted to move laterally with respect to the longitudinal axes of the tubular wrappers  21  so as to align multiple sets of tubular wrappers  21  with corresponding nozzles  230 .  
      The cartridge  38  can be positioned to receive finished cigarettes  13  when they are pushed from the nozzles  230 . Once the cartridge  38  is loaded with finished cigarettes  13  resulting from the tubular wrappers  21  being filled with tobacco filler, the cartridge  38  can be removed from the support platform  1310  for packaging the cigarettes  13 . Thus, the cartridge  38  can serve as a source and holder of tubular wrappers  21  that are employed during the cigarette-manufacturing process using the cigarette-making apparatus  10 , as well as a holder for transfer of finished cigarettes  13  manufactured using that apparatus  10  to a package filling device.  
      Embodiments of the present invention provide tobacco filler deposited into tubular wrappers  21  in a controlled manner. As a result, a cigarette manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention provides consistently-formed, uniformly-made cigarettes. Manufacturing a lot, for example, a lot of twenty, cigarettes  13  in a retail setting, for example, in which each cigarette  13  has substantially the same density overcomes the disadvantage of producing cigarettes individually, whereby individual cigarettes  13  may have non-uniformly packed tobacco rods of varying densities.  
      In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22-26 , the means for controlling the portion of the tobacco filler delivered into the wrappers  21  may include a plurality of adjustable tension arms  1323  in contact with the outer surfaces of the wrappers  21  mounted on the nozzles  230 . The plurality of tension arms  1323  are mounted onto a tension arm support rod  1320  by means of a tension arm mount  1322 . A first screw  1324  is threaded through the tension arm mount  1322  and the tension arm  1323  and into the tension arm support rod  1320  to secure the tension arm  1323  to the support rod  1320 . The tension arm support rod  1320  extends across the support platform  1310  in front of the front wall  1382  of the hopper assembly  1380  perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the nozzles  230 . The tension arm support rod  1320  is rotatably supported on each end by a mounting block  1321 . Each mounting block  1321  is secured to the support platform  1310  with an appropriate fastener. A tension arm ball  1326  is connected near the end of the tension arm  1323  adjacent the nozzle  230 . The tension arm ball  1326  is connected to the tension arm  1323  with a second screw  1334 . The tension arm ball  1326  may comprise a material to apply resistance to movement of the tubular wrapper  21 , yet allowing the wrapper  21  to move smoothly along the nozzle  230  as it is being filled with tobacco filler. A fine adjustment screw  1325  is threaded through the front of the tension arm mount  1322  so that it can contact the tension arm  1323 .  
      The tension arm  1323  can control the rate of movement of the wrappers  21  as a portion of tobacco filler is being delivered into the wrappers  21 . The tension arm  1323  controls the rate of movement of the wrapper  21  by providing resistance to movement of the wrapper  21  as it advances off the nozzle  230 . The tension arm  1323  may be adjusted so as to vary the pressure directly on the outside of the tubular wrapper  21  itself and provide more or less resistance on the tubular wrapper  21  as it advances off the nozzle  230 . Varying the resistance to movement, and thus the rate of movement, of the tubular wrapper  21  as it is being filled provides the advantage of controlling the density, or tobacco weight, of the finished cigarette  13 . Providing pressure directly on the outside of the wrapper  21  itself allows for greater control of the movement of the wrapper  21 , and thus greater control of the density of the tobacco charge inside the finished cigarette  13 . Tension, or pressure, on the tension arm  1323  can be adjusted with the fine adjustment screw  1325  in the tension arm  1323 . Rotating the fine adjustment screw  1235  downward so that the screw exerts more pressure on the tension arm  1323  causes the tension arm  1323  to exert more pressure on the tubular wrapper  21  as it advances off the nozzle  230 . Rotating the fine adjustment screw  1325  upward so that the screw  1325  exerts less pressure on the tension arm  1323  causes the tension arm  1323  to exert less pressure on the tubular wrapper  21  as it advances off the nozzle  230 . Pressure on the tension arm  1323  may need to be relaxed and the tension arm ball  1326  lifted slightly from the surface of the nozzle  230  in order to transfer a tubular wrapper  21  to the nozzle  230 .  
      The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 22-26  may further include a pressure adjustment arm  1330  connected to a plurality of the adjustable tension arms  1323 . A weight  1331  can be moved along the pressure adjustment arm  1330  for applying varying degrees of pressure to the plurality of the adjustable tension arms  1323 . As such, the pressure adjustment arm  1330  and weight  1331  provide additional control of the rate of movement of the wrappers  21  and of the portion of tobacco filler being delivered into the wrappers  21 .  
      The weight  1331  can be moved along the pressure adjustment arm  1330  away from the tension arm support rod  1320  to rotate the tension arm support rod  1320  and tension arms  1323  slightly in the direction of the nozzles  230  and the tubular wrappers  21  positioned around the nozzles  230 . In this manner, the pressure of the tension arms  1323  on the tubular wrappers  21  can be increased, thereby causing an increased resistance to movement of the tubular wrappers  21  as they are being filled and thereby an increased density of the tobacco filler in the formed tobacco charge, or rod, inside the wrapper  21  of the finished cigarette  13 . The weight  1331  can include a knob  1333  having a threaded shaft (not shown) for movably securing the weight  1331  to the pressure adjustment arm  1330 . The threaded shaft of the knob  1333  extends through the weight  1331  to a groove  1332  along the length of the pressure adjustment arm  1330 . By loosening and tightening the knob  1333 , the weight  1331  can be movably secured in the groove  1332  in the pressure adjustment arm  1330  in a range of desired locations. Likewise, the weight  1331  can be moved along the pressure adjustment arm  1330  toward the tension arm support rod  1320  to decrease the pressure of the tension arms  1323  on the tubular wrappers  21  positioned about the nozzles  230 . As a result, resistance to movement of the tubular wrappers  21  as they are being filled is decreased and the density of the tobacco filler in the formed tobacco rod inside the wrapper  21  of the finished cigarette  13  is decreased. The pressure adjustment arm  1330  can have a scale (not shown) designated along its length to gauge the relative rate of movement of the tubular wrapper  21  as it is being filled. As such, a relative density of the tobacco charge inside the finished cigarette  13  can be gauged.  
      In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the support platform  1310  adjacent the nozzles  230  can have a plurality of parallel slots aligned with the nozzles  230 . Once the wrappers  21  have been transferred from the cartridge  38  to corresponding nozzles  230 , the cartridge  38  is removed from the support platform  1310 . A slidable weight can then be placed in each slot, or channel, behind tubular wrapper  21 . As the rotational movement of the auger conveyor  1384  causes tobacco filler to fill the tubular wrappers  21 , the wrappers  21  are advanced off the nozzles  230  against the slidable weights in the channel behind the wrappers  21 . The movement of tobacco filler by the auger conveyor  1384  against the filter elements of the tubular wrappers  21  must overcome the frictional pressure of the slidable weights in the channels. The slower the movement of the tubular wrapper  21 , the more dense would be the resulting tobacco charge inside the tubular wrapper  21 .  
      The auger feed means for delivering tobacco filler into tubular wrappers  21  according to the present invention can be utilized in other configurations of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus. For example, in one embodiment (not shown), the hopper assembly  1380  can be configured to move relative to a stationary supply of the tubular wrappers  21 . For example, the back wall  1381  of the hopper  1380  can be attached to the front of the drive roller support wall  1390 , and the motor  1396  can be attached to the rear of the drive motor support wall  1390  and above the plurality of augers  1384 . That is, rather than the motor  1396 , auger drive belt  1391 , and rollers  1393 ,  1394  being positioned below the plurality of auger conveyors  1384  as shown in the embodiment in  FIGS. 22-26 , the motor and drive mechanism would be positioned above the augers conveyors  1384 . The entire hopper unit-motor assembly can be movably mounted on a carriage above the top surface of the support platform  1310 . This embodiment further includes a hopper of tubular wrappers  21  positioned apart from, and in line with, the hopper unit-motor assembly along the longitudinal axes of the auger conveyors  1384  and nozzles  230 . The hopper of tubular wrappers  21  is in alignment with the hopper unit-motor assembly such that the nozzles  230  at the bottom of the hopper  1380  would align with the bottom of the hopper of tubular wrappers  21 . A tubular wrapper  21  corresponding to each nozzle  230  is positioned in the bottom of the hopper of tubular wrappers  21 .  
      In operation, the hopper unit-motor assembly can be moved along its carriage toward the hopper of wrappers  21 , and the tubular wrappers  21  in the bottom of the wrapper hopper are guided onto the outside of the corresponding nozzles  230 . As the hopper unit-motor assembly moves toward the hopper of wrappers, the nozzles  230  aligned with the bottom row of wrappers  21  are inserted inside the hollow portion of that row of wrappers  21 . The back of the hopper of wrappers  21  provides a means by which movement of the bottom row of wrappers  21  is stopped as the nozzles  230  are inserted into the wrappers  21 . The hopper of wrappers  21  can have a capacity to contain multiple rows of tubular wrappers  21  stacked in vertical relationship. In this manner, once the bottom row of wrappers  21  is placed on corresponding nozzles  230 , the next above row of wrappers  21  is dropped by gravity down to the position of the bottom row of wrappers  21 , whereby subsequent rows of wrappers  21  become properly positioned to receive the nozzles  230  during further operation of the apparatus. A stop plate can be affixed to the top of the support platform  1310  adjacent the hopper of wrappers such that movement of the hopper unit-motor assembly stops at a point when the tubular wrappers  21  are in position on the outside of the nozzles  230 .  
      Once the tubular wrappers  21  are in the appropriate position on the nozzles  230 , the hopper unit-motor assembly can be moved away from the hopper of wrappers  21 . The auger drive mechanism can then be actuated to rotate the auger conveyors  1384  such that a portion of tobacco filler is delivered from each auger well  1383  through the corresponding nozzle  230  and into the hollow portion of each tubular wrapper  21  on the nozzle  230 . As the tubular wrappers  21  on the nozzles  230  are filled with tobacco filler, those tubular wrappers  21  are pushed off the nozzles  230 .  
      A receptacle for receiving the finished cigarettes  13  is positioned on the top of the support platform  1310  between the hopper unit-motor assembly and the hopper of wrappers  21 . The receiving receptacle is positioned such that as the finished cigarettes  13  are pushed off the nozzles  230 , the cigarettes  13  drop into the receptacle. The receiving receptacle can be the cartridge  38  having rounded grooves  48 . In this embodiment, each finished cigarette  13  is dropped off the nozzle  230  to a rounded groove  48  in the cartridge  38 . In other embodiments, the receiving receptacle can be any other container suitable for receiving the finished cigarettes  13 . For example, the container for receiving the finished cigarettes  13  can be a package for containing a lot of cigarettes  13  for use by a customer. However, when the cartridge  38  is utilized to receive the finished cigarettes  13  in this manner, the cartridge  38  can be used in conjunction with the trimming device  790  and with the packaging apparatus  1051 , as described herein.  
      In another embodiment, the means for delivering a portion of tobacco filler from the receptacles into each of the wrappers  21  may include a plurality of reciprocating toothed blades  1450 . As shown in  FIGS. 27-29 , the cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  includes the support platform  1310 , the cartridge  38 , and tension arms  1323  as in  FIGS. 22-26 , and a hopper assembly  1380  similar to the hopper assembly  1380  in  FIGS. 22-26 . In the embodiment in  FIGS. 27-29 , the hopper assembly  1380  includes a plurality of hopper wells  1440 , each of which is configured as a rectangular channel in alignment with one of the nozzles  230 . A blade assembly  1400  including a blade assembly carriage  1410  connected to a blade support bar  1420  is disposed behind the back wall  1381  of the hopper  1380 . A plurality of the reciprocating blades  1450  extends from the blade support bar  1420  through openings in the back wall  1381  of the hopper  1380 . Each of the reciprocating blades  1450  extends through one of the hopper wells  1440  and into one of the nozzles  230 . Each blade  1450  includes a plurality of teeth  1451  angled toward one of the nozzles  230 . Reciprocation of the blades  1450  causes a portion of the tobacco filler in each hopper well  1440  to be delivered into the hollow region of each aligned wrapper  21 .  
      In this embodiment, the motor  1396  is mounted through the support platform  1310  to a first gear  1470 . A second gear  1480  is rotatably mounted to the support platform  1310  adjacent the blade assembly  1400 . A drive belt  1490  connects the first and second gears  1470 ,  1480 , respectively, such that rotation of the motor  1396  causes rotation of the first gear  1470  and, in turn, rotation of the second gear  1480 . The blade assembly carriage  1410  includes an arcuate gear guide  1430  in the form of a curved opening in the rear of the blade assembly carriage  1410 . The second gear  1480  includes a downwardly projecting pin (not shown) that is eccentric with respect to the rotary motion of the second gear  1480 . As the motor  1396  rotates, the rotary motion of the pin in the arcuate gear guide  1430  thereby causes the blade assembly carriage  1410  to move back and forth in a reciprocating manner. Accordingly, the reciprocating blades  1450  reciprocate through the hopper wells  1440  into each nozzle  230 , pushing the tobacco filler in each respective hopper well  1440  into the tubular wrappers  21  positioned around the nozzles  230 . The reciprocatory blades  1450  comprises teeth  1451  that are designed so as to convey the tobacco filler in only one direction, that is, in the direction of the tubular wrappers  21 .  
      In this embodiment, an agitator pin  1460  on each side of each reciprocating blade  1450  is attached at its base to the blade support bar  1420 . The agitator pins  1460  are attached to the blade support bar  1420  such that they can rotate slightly upward in a “camming” motion. As the blade assembly carriage  1410  moves back and forth in a reciprocatory manner, the agitator pins  1460  cause agitation of the loose tobacco filler within the hopper  1380 . Such “camming” motion of the agitator pins  1460  helps prevent “bridging” of tobacco filler over individual hopper wells  1440  and to guide a continuous flow of tobacco filler into the hopper wells  1440 .  
      The embodiments described and shown in  FIGS. 22-26  and in  FIGS. 27-29  can utilize the same cartridge  38  as shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 ,  6 , and  11 . Accordingly, these embodiments of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  can be utilized with the trimming apparatus  790  (shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 ), with the cartridge-filling apparatus  830  (shown in  FIGS. 14-16 ), and with the packaging apparatus  1051  (shown in  FIGS. 17-18 ).  
      In the embodiments described and shown in  FIGS. 22-26  and in  FIGS. 27-29 , multiple cigarettes  13  can be manufactured simultaneously. For example, in the embodiment shown, a first sub-lot of up to ten cigarettes  13  can be manufactured simultaneously, the cartridge  38  can be move laterally to align the remaining unfilled tubular wrappers  21  with corresponding nozzles  230 , and a second sub-lot of up to ten cigarettes  13  can be manufactured simultaneously. As a result, a lot of 20 consistently-formed cigarettes  13  can be manufactured to fill a typical consumer package in a relatively short time. The cartridge  38  is designed to hold twenty cigarettes  13 . Suitable alterations to the apparatus  10  and its components can be made to produce any number of cigarettes  13  at a given time (e.g., two, four, ten, twenty, or more). Suitable alterations also can be made to provide the cartridge  38  capable of supporting any number of cigarettes  13  at a given time (e.g., three, five, ten, thirty, forty, or more).  
      The present invention can include a method for manufacturing cigarettes utilizing the various embodiments of a cigarette manufacturing apparatus  10  described herein. In one illustrative method, at least one loose tobacco filler can be introduced into the hopper  80  or  1380 . A plurality of receptacles  641 ,  1384 , or  1440  is provided beneath the hopper  80  or  1380 . Each receptacle  641 ,  1384 , or  1440  is adapted to receive a portion of the tobacco filler. The cartridge  38  capable of supporting a plurality of pre-formed tubular wrappers  21  is positioned relative to the receptacles  641 ,  1384 , or  1440  such that a pre-determined number of the wrappers  21  is aligned with and adjacent to one of the receptacles  641 ,  1384 , or  1440 . A portion of the tobacco filler is then delivered from the receptacles  641 ,  1384 , or  1440  into the hollow region of each of the pre-determined number of the wrappers  21 . The steps of positioning the cartridge  38  to align wrappers  21  with the receptacles  641 ,  1384 , or  1440  and delivering a portion of the tobacco filler into the wrappers  21  can be repeated to form a desired plurality of cigarettes  13 .  
      The dimensions of a representative cigarette  13  can vary. Cigarettes  13  may be substantially rod shaped, with, or example, diameters of about 7.5 mm (e.g., circumferences of about 22.5 mm to about 25 mm), and total lengths of about 80 mm to about 100 mm. The length of the filter element  1210  can also vary. Typical filter elements  1210  can have lengths of about 20 mm to about 40 mm. In one preferred embodiment, the length of the filter element  1210  is about 27 mm and the length of the tobacco rod is about 56 mm. Preferably the tipping paper  1215  circumscribes the entire filter element  1210  and extends about 4 mm of the length of the tobacco rod in the region adjacent to the filter element  1210 .  
      Preferred wrapping materials  1205  of the cigarettes  13  described herein encompass a wide range of compositions and properties. The selection of a particular wrapping material  1205  will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. The most preferred cigarettes  13  have a single layer of wrapping material  1205 . Exemplary types of wrapping materials  1205 , wrapping material components, and treated wrapping materials  1205  are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2004/0129281 to Hancock et al. and 2005/0039764 to Barnes et al.; and PCT Application Pub. Nos. WO 2004/057986 to Hancock et al. and WO 2004/047572 to Ashcraft et al.; each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.  
      Tobacco materials useful within cigarettes  13  of the present invention may vary significantly. Tobacco materials can be derived from various types of tobacco, such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark-fired tobacco and Rustica tobaccos, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos, or blends thereof. Descriptions of various types of tobaccos, growing practices, harvesting practices and curing practices are set for in  Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology , Davis et al. (Eds.) (1999). Most preferably, the tobaccos used with the present invention are those that have been appropriately cured and aged.  
      Tobacco materials for cigarette manufacture can be used in a “single strain” form. That is, the tobacco material used to manufacture the cigarette  13  is composed of one type of tobacco (e.g., all of the tobacco filler is a flue-cured tobacco). Typically, tobacco materials for cigarette manufacture are used in a so-called “blended” form. For example, certain popular tobacco blends, commonly referred to as “American blends,” comprise mixtures of flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, and Oriental tobacco. Such blends, in many cases, contain tobacco materials that have a processed form, such as processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut-rolled or cut-puffed stems), volume expanded tobacco (e.g., puffed tobacco, such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET), preferably in cut filler form). Tobacco materials also can have the form of reconstituted tobaccos (e.g., reconstituted tobaccos manufactured using paper-making type or cast sheet type processes). The precise amount of each type of tobacco within a tobacco blend used for the manufacture of a particular cigarette brand varies from brand to brand. See, for example,  Tobacco Encyclopedia , Voges (Ed.) p. 44-45 (1984), Browne,  The Design of Cigarettes,  3 rd  Ed., p. 43 (1990) and  Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology , Davis et al. (Eds.) p. 346 (1999). Other representative tobacco types and types of tobacco blends also are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,836,224 to Lawson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,888 to Perfetti et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,930 to Gentry; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,023 to Blakley et al.; U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2002/0000235 to Shafer et al.; 2004/0084056 to Lawson et al.; 2004/0255965 to Perfetti et al; 2004/0261807 to Dube et al.; and 2005/0066986 to Nestor et al; PCT Application Pub. No. WO 2002/37990; and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 39, p. 11-17 (1997).  
      Tobacco materials employed for manufacture of cigarettes  13  in accordance with the present invention typically have forms, and are used in manners, that are traditional for the manufacture of smoking articles, such as cigarettes  13 . The tobacco normally is used in cut filler form (e.g., shreds or strands of tobacco filler cut into widths of about 1/20 inch to about 1/60 inch, often about 1/25 inch to about 1/50 inch, frequently about 1/30 inch to about 1/45 inch, and in lengths of about ¼ inch to about 3 inches). One preferred form of cut filler has a cut width of about 40 cuts per inch. Tobacco cut filler is used in a loose form, that is, as a mixture of pieces of tobacco filler.  
      The amount of tobacco filler normally used within the tobacco rod of a cigarette  13  of the present invention preferably ranges from about 0.6 g to about 1 g. The tobacco filler normally is employed so as to fill the tobacco rod at a packing density of about 100 mg/cm 3  to about 300 mg/cm 3 , and preferably about 150 mg/cm 3  to about 275 mg/cm 3 .  
      If desired, the tobacco materials of the tobacco rod can also include other components. Other components may include casing materials (e.g., sugars, glycerin, cocoa and licorice) and top dressing materials (e.g., flavoring materials, such as menthol). The selection of particular casing and top dressing components is dependent upon factors such as the sensory characteristics that are desired, and the selection of those components will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. See, Gutcho,  Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods , Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al.,  Tobacco Flavoring for Smoking Products  (1972).  
      It is desirable that the moisture content of the tobacco filler be sufficiently high so that the tobacco filler does not undergo an undesirable degree of degradation during handling and processing associated with cigarette manufacture in accordance with the present invention. It also is desirable that the moisture content of the tobacco filler not be so high that the tobacco filler would exhibit undesirable clumping during handling and processing associated with cigarette manufacture in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, cigarettes  13  are manufactured using tobacco filler having a moisture content of about 12 weight percent to about 13 weight percent. Tobacco filler most preferably is purchased immediately prior to use, and stored and handled in a manner such that moisture is not lost. For example, tobacco filler can be stored in sealed plastic bags, in sealed metal drums, or the like. Typically, for normal situations of tobacco filler handling, tobacco filler can be shipped, handled, and stored in sealed containers or plastic bags in amounts of about 5 kilograms.  
      Tobacco filler can be provided using techniques familiar in the art of tobacco blend formulation and preparation. Tobacco filler can be provided using blending drums, air transport devices, or other suitable means that provides adequate physical mixing of pieces of tobacco filler material. It is highly desirable that the tobacco filler, whether as single strain or blended form, have the form of a consistent mixture in terms of distribution of particle size, density of components and composition of components.  
      A small lot of cigarettes  13  can be manufactured in accordance with the present invention as described above during a relatively short time period. For example, for a lot of cigarettes  13  numbering approximately twenty, an appropriate amount of tobacco filler is selected, blended—if multiple tobacco types are selected—and loaded into a cigarette-making machine  10 . Approximately twenty pre-formed tubular wrapper portions  21  that have been loaded within the cartridge  38  are introduced to the cigarette-making machine  10 , and those wrapper portions  21  within the cartridge  38  are loaded with tobacco filler such that approximately twenty finished cigarettes  13  are be manufactured. Excess tobacco filler can be trimmed from those cigarettes  13 , and those cigarettes  13  can be packaged. All of the foregoing, can be carried out in less than about three minutes, and preferably can be carried out in less than about two minutes.  
      A tobacco rod in a cigarette  13  of the present invention preferably exhibits good firmness and good integrity. Specifically, when measured at 76° F. and 60 percent relative humidity using a Cigarette Firmness Tester Model No. CFTA supplied by Fairchild Industries, Winston-Salem, N.C., typical rods of 24.5 mm circumference and made by a conventional high-speed cigarette-making machine yield firmness values of about 2 to about 7 units. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,773 to White et al. at col. 5, lines 10-24. Cigarettes  13  manufactured in accordance with the present invention typically are firmer than comparable cigarettes  13  (in terms of comparable component materials, sizes, formats and weights) that are manufactured using conventional automated cigarette manufacturing techniques, such as the type of cigarette-manufacturing machine available as “Protos” from Hauni-Werke Korber &amp; Co. KG. For example, cigarettes  13  manufactured in accordance with the present invention typically are firmer than comparable cigarettes  13  manufactured using a “Protos”-type of cigarette-manufacturing machine by as much as about 5 to about 7 units.  
      The selection of a particular filter element  1210 , including or in addition to a desired degree of air dilution, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. Properties such as the composition and size of the filter element  1210 , and the format and configuration of the filter element  1210 , can be a matter of design choice. Preferred filter elements  1210  are composed of plasticized cellulose acetate tow. Filter elements  1210  also can be composed of materials such as polypropylene tow, gathered polypropylene web, gathered cellulose acetate web or gathered paper. Filter elements  1210  can be segmented in nature. Filter elements  1210  can incorporate flavors, flavored pellets, breakable capsules, resin particles, activated carbon particles, and the like. Preformed tubular wrapping portions  21  incorporating filter elements  1210  containing volatile flavoring agents can be used promptly after production, or stored in sealed containers until use is desired.  
      Preferred cigarettes  13  of the present invention exhibit desirable resistance to draw. For example, an exemplary cigarette  13  exhibits a pressure drop of between about 50 and about 200 mm water pressure drop at 17.5 cc/sec. air flow. Preferred cigarettes  13  exhibit pressure drop values of between about 70 mm and about 180, more preferably between about 80 mm to about 150 mm, water pressure drop at 17.5 cc/sec. air flow. Typically, pressure drop values of cigarettes  13  are measured using a “Filtrona Filter Test Station” (CTS Series) available from Filtrona Instruments and Automation Ltd.  
      Preferably, each tobacco rod is uniformly filled with tobacco filler. That is, it is preferred that each tobacco rod of each cigarette  13  of the present invention (i) include a sufficient amount of tobacco filler, (ii) not contain tobacco fines that fall from the cigarette  13 , (iii) not include what can be characterized as a “loose end,” (iv) have good integrity throughout, and (v) not include low density or void regions.  
      Preferably, cigarettes  13  are manufactured such that substantially all of the cigarettes  13  within a lot are of consistent quality. It is preferred that cigarettes  13  of a particular lot are comparable to one another in terms of appearance, size, shape, component materials, weight, tobacco filler particle size distribution, tobacco rod firmness, smoking properties, puff count, smoke yield, and the like. Preferred cigarettes  13  within a lot each incorporate tobacco filler from a comparable source, and the weight of tobacco filler within each cigarette  13  differs by not more that 10 percent, more preferably by not more than about 5 percent, and most preferably by not more than about 2.5 percent. In a preferred cigarette-making operation using each of the above-described devices, an operator never touches the tubular wrappers  21  directly with her hands. This preferred mode of operation prevents moisture, skin oils, or other materials on the operator&#39;s hands from soiling or marring the aesthetic appearance of the tubular wrappers  21 .  
      In another aspect, the invention includes a method comprising the steps of: providing a selection of tobacco appropriate for use in cigarettes  13 ; allowing a customer to select a tobacco or blend of several tobaccos; assembling the selected tobacco or blend of tobaccos substantially simultaneously into a plurality of cigarettes  13  having substantially consistent quality (including at least density and tobacco mass); and providing at least some of the plurality of cigarettes  13  to the customer. The method may further include packaging the plurality of cigarettes  13 .  
      Although the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it should be recognized that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that an apparatus and methods for manufacturing cigarettes of the present invention may be constructed and implemented in other ways and embodiments. Accordingly, the description herein should not be read as limiting the present invention, as other embodiments also fall within the scope of the present invention.