Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for making cigarettes and reclaiming tobacco from rejected cigarettes and rejected cigarette packs are disclosed. A system and method is disclosed for making and packing cigarettes in which tobacco is recovered from individual rejected cigarettes and rejected cigarette packs and then recycled to the maker for inclusion in new cigarettes. Included in the system and method is an apparatus and method for removing cigarettes from cigarette packs to facilitate individual cigarette recovery and tobacco reclamation, in which individual packs of cigarettes are conveyed to an opener stage which removes both end panels of a cigarette pack, and then to an extraction stage which increases the cross-sectional area of the pack, thereby loosening the packed cigarette matrix, applies a nonintrusive removal force, removing the cigarettes from the pack and separating the empty pack from the removed cigarettes. The cigarettes are transported to further processing which may include repacking of intact and otherwise acceptable individual cigarettes or, alternatively, separation of the tobacco from the filter and paper of the cigarettes. Optionally, the filters and the end panel at the filter end of the pack may be cut off, thereby eliminating the likelihood of filter material contamination of the tobacco, such as charcoal contamination. Two embodiments of the opener stage apparatus are disclosed, namely, apparatus for the simultaneous cutting off of pack end panels or the staggered serial cutting off of pack end panels. Four embodiments of the extraction stage are disclosed which, include apparatus for: extraction by gravity forces; extraction by centrifugal forces (two embodiments); and extraction by an air jet. It is also contemplated that in certain circumstances, the cigarette matrix in the pack can be altered sufficiently to assist in removal so that only one end panel of the pack need be cut off.

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First Claim