(19)
(11) EP 1 844 668 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.11.2007 Bulletin 2007/48

(43) Date of publication A2:
17.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/42

(21) Application number: 07250609.0

(22) Date of filing: 14.02.2007
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A24C 5/42(2006.01)
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
Designated Extension States:
AL BA HR MK YU

(30) Priority: 10.04.2006 US 401126

(71) Applicant: Republic Tobacco L.P.
Glenview, IL 60025 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Lin, Mei
    Glenview Illinois 60026 (US)

(74) Representative: Wilson, Alan Stuart 
Barker Brettell, 138 Hagley Road Edgbaston
Birmingham B16 9PW
Birmingham B16 9PW (GB)

   


(54) Cigarette-making machine


(57) In one embodiment, a cigarette-making machine (100) of the tobacco-injecting type includes an improvement being a handgrip (160) that provides improved ergonomics to a user of the machine. The handgrip (160) is configured to project upward from a top surface (112) of the housing of the machine to position the user's hand distal from the compacting chamber and the hollow nipple, thereby preventing potential user injuries. Furthermore, the handgrip (160) is configured on the top surface (112) to provide the user with a convenient location to apply a downward force to the machine to prevent the machine from sliding on a surface without damaging components of the machine. In another embodiment, a cigarette-making machine (100) of the tobacco-injecting type includes an improvement being an adjustable volume compacting chamber. The cigarette-making machine may include a volume-adjusting member (170) that is configured to axially partition the compacting chamber into a tobacco-receiving portion and a vacant portion.







Search report