CIGARETTE CLOSURE DEVICE AND METHOD
It is the object of the present invention to reduce the amount of labor that is required for distal closure of a cigarette or joint by providing a device and related method for folding and dimpling the distal tip of a joint through single actuation.
1 . A cigarette distal tip closure device comprising:
a cigarette positioning feature having a major axis,
said cigarette position feature being adapted to locate a cigarette in an axial direction and a radial direction;
a depression mechanism comprising a first shaped depressor having a first depression surface, a second shaped depressor having a second depression surface, and a dimpler having a dimpling surface, wherein said first depression surface, said second depression surface, and said dimpling surface are located at differing positions in the axial direction;
said depression surface being adapted to form an arcuate fold of paper upon an axial actuation of said depression surface toward said cigarette positioning feature;
said dimpling surface being adapted to depress said arcuate fold of paper toward said cigarette positioner
said cigarette positioning feature and said depression mechanism having a mechanical connection such that said depression mechanism is displaceable in the axial direction and substantially rigid in the radial direction with respect to the positioning feature.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein said cigarette positioning feature and said depression mechanism mechanical connection is a slidable connection providing linear motion.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein said cigarette positioning feature and said depression mechanism mechanical connection provides substantially axial motion during the formation of said arcuate fold and depression thereof.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein said depression surfaces are elastically displaceable in the outward radial direction.
5 . The system of claim 4 wherein a leaf spring resists said elastic displacement of said depression surfaces.
6 . The system of claim 4 wherein said cigarette positioner comprises a distal tip positioner ring.
7 . The system of claim 6 wherein said cigarette positioning feature has a groove adapted for receipt of said depression surface during actuation, said groove being shaped and adapted to cause said depression surface to displace radially outward upon contact.
8 . A method for cigarette distal tip closure comprising:
Inserting a cigarette into a cigarette positioning feature;
actuating a depression mechanism to begin axial translation of said depression mechanism toward the cigarette distal tip;
a first shaped depressor forms a first fold of excess paper at the cigarette distal tip;
retract first shaped depressor radially away from the cigarette;
a second shaped depressor forms a second fold of excess paper at the distal tip;
retract the second shaped depressor radially away from the cigarette;
and a dimpler depresses the center of the distal tip.