Patent Description:
The present invention also concerns a cigarette-making installation comprising a cigarette-making machine and such a recycling device.

Different types of smoking articles, as notably conventional cigarettes or articles for using with heat-not-burn devices, are known in the art. Generally, such articles comprise a storage portion for storing a smokable material comprising for example a tobacco substrate. This storage portion is designed to be burnt in case of a conventional cigarette or only be heated when it is used with an aerosol generating device. In this last case, a heating system is formed at least partially inside the aerosol generating device and comprises one or more electrically activated heating elements arranged to heat said storage portion to generate aerosol. The aerosol is released into a flow path extending between an inlet and outlet of the article. The outlet may be arranged as a mouthpiece for delivery of the aerosol.

Smoking articles, as notably conventional cigarettes, are produced by cigarette-making machines from raw tobacco. Said raw tobacco is generally in the form of tobacco leaves. Such tobacco leaves comprise stems, veins and lamina. To produce cigarettes, said tobacco leaves are typically crushed in cigarette-making machines. Tobacco leaves are thus transformed into a mix of finely divided tobacco material and larger particles, such as entire tobacco stems or parts of tobacco stems which resisted the crushing. The finely divided tobacco material is suitable for producing cigarettes of satisfactory quality. However, larger particles like the tobacco stems have usually too high dimensions so that they are not fit for cigarette production.

<CIT> discloses a recycling device comprising the features mentioned in the preamble of the present claim <NUM>, wherein the device described in said document is configured for gathering the tobacco stems cutting the tobacco stems into pieces and feeding the cut tobacco stems back to the cigarette-making machine.

However, such a recycling device is not entirely satisfactory since it only provides a poor synergy between the recycling device and the cigarette-making machine.

<CIT> discloses a shredded tobacco supplying device for a cigarette making machine.

<CIT> discloses a method for processing tobacco.

One of the aim of the invention is to provide a recycling device for a cigarette-making machine allowing an improved synergy between the recycling device and the cigarette-making machine.

For this purpose, the invention provides a recycling device, as defined in the present claim <NUM>, i.e. a recycling device for a cigarette-making machine, wherein said machine configured for:.

Advantageously, thanks to these features, a throughput that is adapted to the cigarette-making machine can be achieved depending on the needs of the cigarette-making machine. This improves the recycling of the oversized tobacco particles and improves the quality of the cigarettes produced by the cigarette-making machine.

According to some embodiment, the receiving element of the cutting mechanism comprises a hopper and at least one flap separating the hopper and the cutter.

By implementing these features, it is possible to control the flow of oversized tobacco particles that enter the cutting mechanism.

According to some embodiment, the cutter comprises at least one cutting wheel mounted with blades.

Thanks to these features, the oversized tobacco particles received by the cutting mechanism are cut in an easy and efficient way.

According to some embodiment, the cutter further comprises at least a scraper configured to push the supplementary finely divided tobacco towards the collector.

By implementing these features, the recycling yield is improved since the scraper makes it possible to reduce the amount of supplementary finely divided tobacco that would be stuck in the cutter.

According to some embodiment, the collector of the cutting mechanism comprises a hopper connected to the inlet of the dosing mechanism by a conduit.

By implementing these features, an efficient transfer of the supplementary finely divided tobacco between the cutter and the dosing mechanism is carried out. Loss of supplementary finely divided tobacco during this transfer is reduced.

According to some embodiment, the dosing mechanism further comprises a vacuum source, the inlet of the dosing mechanism being connected to the vacuum source, the supplementary finely divided tobacco being drawn from the collector to the inlet by the vacuum.

By implementing these features, the supplementary finely divided tobacco is transferred in a simple manner from the cutter to the dosing mechanism. Vacuum is indeed easy to implement and is efficient regarding the transfer of finely divided materials.

According to some embodiment, the inlet of the dosing mechanism is connected to the conveyor via a cyclone system.

By implementing these features, the supplementary finely divided tobacco is easily and efficiently separated from the air that is drawn by the vacuum.

According to some embodiment, the conveyor comprises a screw conveyor.

According to some embodiment, the dosing mechanism further comprises at least one actuator configured to actuate the screw conveyor.

By implementing these features, a precise throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco is provided.

According to some embodiment, the at least one actuator comprises at least one motor configured to power the screw conveyor, the drive system being configured to drive said at least one motor with variable speeds.

By implementing these features, the recycling device enables adapting the throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco that is added back into the cigarette-making machine, for example depending on the need of the cigarette-making machine.

According to some embodiment, the dosing mechanism further comprises an auxiliary outlet configured to evacuate excessive quantities of the supplementary finely divided tobacco.

By implementing these features, clogging of the dosing mechanism is avoided in case of excessive input of supplementary finely divided tobacco.

According to some embodiment, the drive system is configured to control the operation of the cutting mechanism and the dosing mechanism according to an operational state of the cigarette-making machine.

By implementing these features, the operation of the recycling device is synchronized with the operation of the cigarette-making machine. This improves ease of use of the recycling device and the synergy between the recycling device and the cigarette-making machine.

According to some embodiment, the cutter of the cutting mechanism is configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles in supplementary finely divided tobacco particles of length comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

By implementing these features, the oversized tobacco particles that were too large to be used for cigarette-making are now cut into particles that have an optimal size for cigarette-making.

The invention also relates to a cigarette-making installation comprising a cigarette-making machine and a recycling device as previously described,.

As used herein, the term "aerosol generating device" or "device" may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of aerosol generating unit (e.g. an aerosol generating element which generates vapor which condenses into an aerosol before delivery to an outlet of the device at, for example, a mouthpiece, for inhalation by a user). The device may be portable. "Portable" may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating a heater system for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapor to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking device such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapor. Aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

As used herein, the term "smokable material" is used to designate any material that is vaporizable in air by burning or heating to form aerosol and/or smoke. Vaporization is generally obtained by a temperature increase up to the boiling point of the vaporization material, such as at a temperature up to <NUM>, preferably up to <NUM>. The smokable material may, for example, comprise or consist of an aerosol-generating liquid, gel, or wax or the like or an aerosol -generating solid that may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips or randomly dispersed shreds of reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or any combination of these. The smokable material may comprise one or more of: nicotine; caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerin.

A schematic illustration of a cigarette-making installation <NUM> according to the invention is shown on <FIG>. The cigarette-making installation <NUM> is configured for producing cigarettes (not shown) from raw tobacco leaves. The cigarettes contain a smokable material.

For example, a cigarette, also called conventional cigarette, produced by the cigarette-making installation <NUM> is designed to be operated independently from any external device by burning a smokable material contained in a storage portion of the cigarette. According to another embodiment, the cigarette is configured to operate with an aerosol generating device (not shown on the Figures), notably with a heat-not burn device, called HNB device. The aerosol generating device comprises for example a cavity able to receive at least a part, notably the storage portion, of the cigarette, and heat the smokable material contained in the storage portion.

For example, the cigarette (conventional or for an HNB device) comprises the storage portion, a mouthpiece portion and in some embodiments, a tubular support. The mouthpiece portion, the tubular support and the storage portion are arranged sequentially along an axis of the cigarette and are advantageously wrapped by a wrapper to form the cigarette. For example, the cigarette is a stick or a tobacco rod having a cylindrical shape and a circular or elliptical cross-section. The stick may have a length comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and a diameter comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>. As a variant, the cigarette may have a different shape. For example, the cigarette can present a flat-shape and a rectangular cross-section.

The storage portion of the cigarette is arranged at an end of the cigarette along the cigarette axis. The storage portion stores a smokable material able to generate smoke or aerosol during burning or heating.

When the cigarette is a conventional cigarette, its storage portion is designed to be burnt.

The mouthpiece portion is designed to be in contact with the user's mouth. The mouthpiece portion is arranged at the end of the cigarette along the cigarette axis, opposite to the storage portion. The mouthpiece portion comprises a filter. The filter may comprise a single segment or several segments amongst a monoacetate segment, a centre hole filter segment, a capsule filter segment, charcoal filter segment and combinations thereof. The filter may further comprise a tubular cavity, e.g. at the mouth end or between two filter segments.

For example, the tubular support extends along the cigarette axis between the storage portion and the mouthpiece portion. The tubular support comprises an outer wall defining an outer surface facing the outside of the cigarette or being in contact with the wrapper, and an inner surface facing the inner volume of the tubular support. The outer wall presents advantageously a cylindrical form, extending along the cigarette axis.

Turning back to <FIG>, the cigarette-making installation <NUM> comprises a cigarette-making machine <NUM> and a recycling device <NUM>.

The cigarette-making machine <NUM> is designed to be fed with raw tobacco leaves. For example, the cigarette-making machine <NUM> comprises a feed hopper (not shown) in which the tobacco leaves are to be put. Said tobacco leaves comprise stems, veins and lamina. The cigarette-making machine <NUM> is configured for grinding the raw tobacco leaves into ground tobacco. Said ground tobacco comprises finely divided tobacco, in particular primary finely divided tobacco in comparison to supplementary finely divided tobacco that will be introduced later in the description, and oversized tobacco particles. The primary finely divided tobacco is considered as suitable to produce cigarettes with. In comparison, oversized tobacco particles are considered as undesired side-products and are considered as waste. Generally, veins and lamina of the tobacco leaves are made up of soft material. By "soft", it is meant that the veins and lamina are soft enough to be easily ground by the cigarette-making machine <NUM> into primary finely divided tobacco. Also, generally, the stems of the tobacco leaves are made up of harder material. By "harder", it is meant the stems are excessively hard to the point that it cannot be correctly ground by the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. Consequently, the stems are ground (or not) into oversized particles that are not fit for cigarette production. In other words, the oversized tobacco particles are oversized non-ground tobacco stems and/or oversized ground tobacco stems, for example.

The cigarette-making machine <NUM> is configured for producing cigarettes from finely divided tobacco and other supporting materials (like paper, wrapper, filter, etc.). The cigarette-making machine <NUM> is further configured for rejecting the oversized tobacco particles. The finely divided tobacco comprises primary finely divided tobacco ground by the cigarette-making machine <NUM> and supplementary finely divided tobacco cut by the recycling device <NUM> as it will be described in more detail below. To do so, the cigarette-machine machine <NUM> advantageously comprises a sieve intended to be fed with the ground tobacco, and designed to separate the primary finely divided tobacco and the oversized tobacco particles.

The cigarette-making machine <NUM> advantageously comprises a recycling inlet and a recycling outlet that are designed to be in communication with the recycling device <NUM>.

The recycling device <NUM> is configured for receiving the oversized tobacco particles rejected by the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. The recycling device <NUM> is further configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles into supplementary finely divided tobacco and for conveying a specific throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco to the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. Advantageously, the recycling device <NUM> is removably connectable to the recycling inlet and the recycling outlet of the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. Thus, the recycling device <NUM> can easily be connected to the cigarette-making machine <NUM> when it is needed or easily be disconnected from the cigarette-making machine <NUM> when it is not needed. The recycling device <NUM> can also be easily disconnected from a cigarette-making machine <NUM> and subsequently connected to another separate cigarette-making machine <NUM>.

As shown on <FIG>, the recycling device <NUM> comprises a cutting mechanism <NUM>, a dosing mechanism <NUM> and a drive system <NUM>.

The cutting mechanism <NUM> communicates with the cigarette-making machine <NUM>, notably with the recycling outlet of the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. The cutting mechanism <NUM> is configured to receive the oversized tobacco particles from the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. The cutting mechanism <NUM> is advantageously configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles into supplementary finely divided tobacco. The cutting mechanism <NUM> communicates with the dosing mechanism <NUM> so that the supplementary finely divided tobacco can be transferred to the dosing mechanism <NUM>. As shown on <FIG>, the cutting mechanism <NUM> comprises a receiving element <NUM>, a cutter <NUM> and a collector <NUM>. Advantageously, the cutting mechanism <NUM> further comprises an actuator <NUM>.

The receiving element <NUM> is configured for receiving the oversized tobacco particles rejected by the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. Notably, it is connected to the recycling outlet of the cigarette-making machine <NUM> and receives the oversized tobacco particles via the recycling outlet. The receiving element <NUM> is further connected to the cutter <NUM>. As shown on the example of <FIG>, the receiving element <NUM> comprises a hopper <NUM> and at least one flap <NUM> separating the hopper <NUM> and the cutter <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates an example in which the receiving element <NUM> comprises two flaps <NUM>. Alternatively, the receiving element <NUM> comprises one and only flap <NUM>.

Advantageously, the hopper <NUM> of the receiving element <NUM> is designed to receive the oversized tobacco particles and to guide them towards the cutter <NUM>. For example, the hopper <NUM> is placed below the recycling outlet of the cigarette-making machine <NUM> so that the oversized tobacco particles can fall down into the hopper <NUM> by gravity when they exit the recycling outlet.

The at least one flap <NUM> of the receiving element <NUM> is movable between a closed position (shown on <FIG>) in which it prevents the oversized tobacco particles from flowing to the cutter <NUM> and an open position (not shown) in which it allows the oversized tobacco particles to flow from the hopper <NUM> to the cutter <NUM>. The at least one flap <NUM> enables controlling the flow of oversized tobacco particles flowing through the cutter <NUM>.

The cutter <NUM> is configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles into supplementary finely divided tobacco. For example, the cutter <NUM> is configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles in supplementary finely divided tobacco particles of length comprises between <NUM> and <NUM>. Advantageously, the cutter <NUM> is located below the receiving element <NUM>. For example, the cutter <NUM> comprises at least a cutting wheel <NUM> and at least a scraper <NUM>. As shown on the example of <FIG>, the cutter <NUM> comprises two cutting wheels <NUM> forming two intermeshing gears and two scrapers <NUM>.

Advantageously, the at least one cutting wheel <NUM> of the cutter <NUM> is located below the hopper <NUM> and below the at least one flap <NUM> of the receiving element <NUM>. When the at least one flap <NUM> is in the open position, the oversized tobacco particles fall down onto the at least one cutting wheel <NUM> by gravity. The at least one cutting wheel <NUM> is advantageously rotatably mounted on a support of the recycling device <NUM> around a rotation axis A-A'. In particular, the at least one cutting wheel <NUM> is configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles when it is driven in rotation around the rotation axis A-A'. Notably, the at least one cutting wheel <NUM> is mounted with blades <NUM>. During rotation of the at least one cutting wheel <NUM>, the blades <NUM> collide with the oversized tobacco particles and cut them into supplementary finely divided tobacco.

The at least one scraper <NUM> of the cutter <NUM> is configured to push the supplementary finely divided tobacco towards the collector <NUM>. For example, as shown on <FIG>, the cutter <NUM> comprises a scraper <NUM> for each cutting wheel <NUM>. Each scraper <NUM> is designed to detach the supplementary finely divided tobacco from the blades <NUM> of the associated wheel <NUM>. Each scraper <NUM> is for example made up of a part comprising a curved surface, the blades <NUM> of the associated wheel <NUM> brushing said curved surface when said wheel <NUM> is driven in rotation.

The collector <NUM> is configured for collecting the supplementary finely divided tobacco. Advantageously, the collector <NUM> is connected to the cutter <NUM> and to the dosing mechanism <NUM>. As shown on the example of <FIG>, the collector <NUM> comprises a hopper <NUM> and a conduit <NUM>.

The hopper <NUM> of the collector <NUM> is located below the cutter <NUM>. The supplementary finely divided tobacco fall down from the cutter <NUM> into the hopper <NUM> by gravity. The hopper <NUM> is connected to the conduit <NUM>, and is connected to an inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM> by the conduit <NUM>.

The conduit <NUM> connects the hopper <NUM> and the dosing mechanism <NUM>, notably the hopper <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> is configured for actuating the receiving element <NUM> and the cutter <NUM>. Notably, the actuator <NUM> is configured for actuating the at least one flap <NUM> of the receiving element <NUM> and the at least one cutting wheel <NUM> of the cutter <NUM>. For example, the actuator <NUM> comprises at least one motor, advantageously at least one three phase motor, for controlling the at least one flap <NUM> between its open and closed positions and for controlling the at least one cutting wheel <NUM> in rotation.

The dosing mechanism <NUM> communicates with the cutting mechanism <NUM> and the cigarette-making machine <NUM>, notably with the recycling inlet of the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. The dosing mechanism <NUM> is configured to feed the cigarette-making machine <NUM> with the supplementary finely divided tobacco. As shown on <FIG>, the dosing mechanism <NUM> comprises the inlet <NUM> and a conveyor <NUM>. Advantageously, the dosing mechanism <NUM> further comprises a vacuum source <NUM> for drawing the supplementary finely divided tobacco from the collector <NUM> of the cutting mechanism <NUM>, a cyclone system <NUM>, an auxiliary outlet <NUM> and at least an actuator <NUM>.

The inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM> is configured to receive the supplementary finely divided tobacco from the collector <NUM> of the cutting mechanism <NUM>. For instance, the inlet <NUM> is connected to the conduit <NUM>. Advantageously, the inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM> is connected to the vacuum source <NUM> and is further connected to the conveyor <NUM> via the cyclone system <NUM>.

The conveyor <NUM> is configured to convey a specific throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco to the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. For example, the specific throughput of supplementary divided tobacco is comprised between <NUM>/min and <NUM>/min. This specific throughput can be adapted according to the needs of the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. For instance, the conveyor <NUM> comprises a screw conveyor <NUM>. Notably, the screw conveyor <NUM> comprises a hollow tube extending along an axis. The screw conveyor <NUM> further comprises a rotating helical screw blade extending within said tube along an axis coinciding with the tube's axis. The rotating helical screw blade is rotatable along its axis. When it is driven in rotation around its axis, the rotating helical screw blade displaces the supplementary finely divided tobacco towards the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. In particular, the throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco depends on the rotational speed of the rotating helical screw blade of the screw conveyor <NUM>.

The vacuum source <NUM> creates vacuum for drawing the supplementary finely divided tobacco from the collector <NUM> to the inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM>. In particular, the vacuum source <NUM> creates vacuum in the conduit <NUM> of the cutting mechanism <NUM> and in the inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM>. For example, the vacuum source <NUM> comprises at least an air pump (not shown).

The cyclone system <NUM> (also called "cyclone separator") connects the inlet <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM> and the conveyor <NUM>. The cyclone system <NUM> is configured for separating the supplementary finely divided tobacco from the air pumped by the vacuum source <NUM>. The cyclone system <NUM> is further configured to transfer the separated supplementary finely divided tobacco to the conveyor <NUM>.

The auxiliary outlet <NUM> is configured to evacuate excessive quantities of the supplementary finely divided tobacco. For example, the auxiliary outlet <NUM> comprises a conduit <NUM> connected to the conveyor <NUM>. When the conveyor overflows with supplementary finely divided tobacco, the excess divided tobacco falls down into the conduit <NUM> and is evacuated.

The at least one actuator <NUM> is configured to actuate the conveyor <NUM>, in particular to actuate the screw conveyor <NUM>. For example, the at least one actuator <NUM> comprises at least one motor <NUM>, advantageously at least one three phase motor <NUM>, configured to power the screw conveyor <NUM>. In particular, the at least one motor <NUM> is able to drive the rotating helical screw blade of the screw conveyor <NUM> in rotation about its axis. Notably, the throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco depends on the power generated by the at least one motor <NUM> and transmitted to the screw conveyor <NUM>.

For example, the dosing mechanism <NUM> comprises another actuator comprising at least a motor configured to power the vacuum source <NUM>. In particular, said actuator powers the vacuum source <NUM> independently from the drive system <NUM>.

The drive system <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the cutting mechanism <NUM> and the dosing mechanism <NUM>. The drive system <NUM> is electronically connected to the cutting mechanism <NUM> and the dosing mechanism <NUM>. Notably, the drive system <NUM> is further electronically connected to the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. In particular, the drive system <NUM> is electronically connected to the actuator <NUM> of the cutting mechanism <NUM>, to the actuator <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM>. Advantageously, the drive system <NUM> receives from the cigarette-making machine <NUM> information related to its operational state (the cigarette-making machine <NUM> is on or off), information related to the amount of supplementary finely divided tobacco it needs, etc. For example, the drive system <NUM> is configured to drive the at least one motor <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> of the dosing mechanism <NUM>, the at least one motor of the actuator <NUM> of the cutting mechanism <NUM>, the at least one flap <NUM>. Advantageously, the drive system <NUM> drives these elements based on the information it receives from the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. For example, the drive system <NUM> is configured to drive said at least one motor <NUM> of the conveyor <NUM> with variable speeds. The drive system <NUM> thus controls the screw conveyor <NUM> and adapts the throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco by adapting the speed of the motor <NUM>, and thus the rotational speed of the rotating helical screw blade of the screw conveyor <NUM>, for example based on the needs of the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. Advantageously, the drive system <NUM> is further configured to control the operation of the cutting mechanism <NUM> and the dosing mechanism <NUM> according to the operational state of the cigarette-making machine <NUM>. For instance, when the cigarette-making machine <NUM> is off, the drive system <NUM> turns off the cutting mechanism <NUM>, notably the cutter <NUM>, and the dosing mechanism <NUM>, notably the conveyor <NUM>. When the cigarette-making machine <NUM> is on, the drive system <NUM> turns on the cutting mechanism <NUM>, notably the cutter <NUM>, and the dosing mechanism <NUM>, notably the conveyor <NUM>. To perform its different functionalities, the drive system <NUM> can comprise a control logic programmed for example in a control circuit and/or a in processor.

In the following, the use of the cigarette-making installation <NUM> is described. The recycling device <NUM> is connected to the cigarette-making machine <NUM>.

First, the cigarette-making machine <NUM> is fed with raw tobacco leaves. The cigarette-making machine <NUM> grinds the raw tobacco leaves into ground tobacco comprising primary finely divided tobacco and oversized tobacco particles. The cigarette-making machine <NUM> produces cigarettes with the primary finely divided tobacco and rejects the oversized tobacco particles.

The recycling device <NUM> receives the rejected oversized tobacco particles. The cutting mechanism <NUM> cuts the oversized tobacco particles into supplementary finely divided tobacco. The dosing mechanism <NUM> then conveys a specific throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco to the cigarette-making machine <NUM>.

The cigarette-making machine <NUM> then produces cigarettes with the supplementary finely divided tobacco.

Claim 1:
A recycling device (<NUM>) for a cigarette-making machine (<NUM>),
wherein the cigarette-making machine (<NUM>) is configured for:
- grinding raw tobacco leaves into ground tobacco, said ground tobacco comprising primary finely divided tobacco and oversized tobacco particles;
- producing cigarettes from finely divided tobacco; and
- rejecting the oversized tobacco particles;
the recycling device (<NUM>) comprising:
- a cutting mechanism (<NUM>) comprising a receiving element (<NUM>) for receiving the oversized tobacco particles rejected by the cigarette-making machine (<NUM>) and a cutter (<NUM>) configured for cutting the oversized tobacco particles into supplementary finely divided tobacco and;
characterized in that:
- the cutting mechanism (<NUM>) further comprises a collector (<NUM>) configured for collecting the supplementary finely divided tobacco; and
- the recycling device (<NUM>) further comprises:
- a dosing mechanism (<NUM>) comprising an inlet (<NUM>) configured to receive the supplementary finely divided tobacco from the collector (<NUM>) and a conveyor (<NUM>) configured to convey a specific throughput of supplementary finely divided tobacco to the cigarette-making machine (<NUM>); and
- a drive system (<NUM>) configured to control the operation of the cutting mechanism (<NUM>) and the dosing mechanism (<NUM>).