R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Bain C McConnell

John Larkin Nelson

Philip Andrew Deal

Kenneth W White

Robert J Fix, Sr

Calvin Wayne Henderson

Wallace R Lassiter

William R Jarvis

Timothy A Hobbs

William Robert Collett

Sydney Keith Seymour

Luis Mayan Dominguez

Clifford R Marritt

Samuel Mark Debusk

Larry S Jordan

Michael A Warren

C Fred Demey, Iii

Nancy Harmon Hawley

Nancy Carol Huettel

James G Madding, Jr

David L Wright

Jannell Mills Rowe

Shannun W Clark

Harold L Steelman

Wayne M Furin

John W Thompson

James T Atkins

James G Maddrey, Jr

Richard F Walsh

Charles F deMey, Iii

Guy B Oldaker, Iii

An automated microwave sample digestion system is disclosed in which a focused microwave digestion system is operated under computer control in association with a computer controlled robotic positioning system such that sample tubes containing samples to be digested are loaded and unloaded into and out from the cooking cavities of the microwave digestion oven in a preprogrammed manner in order to both increase the efficiency of the processing of samples as well as to produce consistent operating conditions for each sample being digested. An additional pump and syringe line is provided for both washing the tube condenser utilized during the digestion process as well as for diluting the digested sample.

Automated focused microwave sample digestion system

A method of, and apparatus for, a robotic filter weighing system for weighing filters stored in sample holders which includes a sample cabinet which holds a carousel having a plurality of filter samples contained in a like plurality of sample holders and in which a robotic system is used for removing in turn each of the sample holders and sequentially placing each of the sample holders in a filter extraction station for removing the filter from its respective holder. The robot system then moves the extracted filter to a weighing system which calculates the weight of the particulate matter contained on the filter and then replaces the filter in its sample holder and replaces the sample holder back in the sample cabinet.

Robotic filter weighing system

A cigarette density profile measurement system which utilizes a hopper system for storing a large number of cigarette rods whose density is to be measured which hopper system is used to feed one cigarette rod at a time to a fixed cigarette holder which incorporates a beta gauge system which sequentially irradiates a slice of the cigarette rod with beta particles for measurement of the mass of tobacco contained in that slice of the cigarette rod. By measuring the number of beta particles which pass through each slice of the cigarette rod, the cigarette density profile measurement system is able to determine the density of the tobacco contained in the cigarette rod being measured. A programmed microcomputer is utilized to control the cigarette density profile measurement system and is also provided with additional software for analyzing the density data.

Cigarette density profile measurement system

A method of and a robotic system for preparing product samples to be analyzed at a later time has a plurality of processing stations in different locations. Each station performs a different function of a process for preparing a product sample for later chemical analysis. A robot moves a first container between a container storage area and a prepared sample area for storing in a second container a product sample which has been prepared for analysis and in which the robot moves the first container from the container storage area to each of the processing stations in a predetermined sequence and then removes some of the prepared product sample from the first container and dispenses it into the second container which is located in the prepared sample area. A specific application of such a robotic sample preparation system is disclosed for use in preparing tobacco samples for analysis of nicotine and sugar content.

Robotic sample preparation system and method

The system includes a linear array of mutually spaced weighing devices. Each weighing device has a weighing platform having an article-receiving seat and a sloping cam surface for directing articles onto such seat. During each weighing operation, a group of articles to be weighed are moved in unison with each other to successive different locations longitudinally of the array of weighing devices. In each of the locations a plurality but less than all of the articles are weighed substantially simultaneously by associated underlying ones of the weighing devices. Articles weighed at each location are separated from each other by other articles that are not weighed at such location. An article support member supports the articles for movement longitudinally of the array of weighing devices, and also for limited vertical movement relative to the support member. Relative vertical movement between the support member and an article supported thereby occurs as the article's longitudinal movement brings it into and out of engagement with the sloping cam surface of the weighing platform of one of the weighing devices. Upward movement of the article raises it to the elevation of the article-receiving seat of the weighing platform. The weighing devices are enclosed within a substantially draft-free housing. A control mechanism controls longitudinal movement of the articles relative to the weighing devices, and automatically records the weights of the articles. The articles weighed may be Cambridge units used in ascertaining the 'FTC tar' content of cigarettes.

Weighing system

The invention provides package inspection systems which are capable of high speed sensing and evaluation of package integrity as packages are continuously conveyed in the manufacturing process. The systems are capable of measuring predetermined parameters of packages, e.g. cigarette packages, comparing the measured parameters with predetermined values, evaluating from the measured parameters the integrity of the packages and determining whether such packages are acceptable or, alternatively, should be rejected. The system can additionally obtain and store data on sensed package parameters for evaluating long-term and short-term manufacturing trends. In various embodiments of the invention, the system can inspect a single or plural package side(s), employing a single or plural line scan or area array camera(s) and may employ special optics to enable plural package side images to be obtained using a single camera. The invention also provides improved conveying systems for package inspection and master part detect systems which can be employed to obviate the need for synchronization between the inspection system and the conveying system.

Package inspection system

The apparatus of the invention comprises a lighting device for illuminating a component to be inspected to form a halo of light around a periphery of the component and a system for comparing the shape of the halo of light to a known acceptable shape. A camera may be used to detect the halo and a programmed computer may be used to perform image analysis of the shape of the halo to determine if it conforms to an acceptable shape.

Component inspection apparatus and method

A method and apparatus is disclosed that detects the specular reflections from the surface of a travelling web to determine if a material is coated on the web. The web is illuminated with diffuse light and the reflected light is received by a detector which determines the presence and width of the coated material based on the specular reflections from the coated surface of the travelling web.

Method and apparatus for detecting the deposition of an adhesive on a

A briefcase contains components capable of sampling air for analysis. For example, air can be introduced into the briefcase through inlet ports and that air can be monitored for components of environmental tobacco smoke. A chemical collection device such as a sorbent tube can collect nicotine, a filter can collect respirable suspended particulate matter, and a chemical detector can monitor carbon monoxide levels. The environmental temperature and barometric pressure of the environment can be monitored also. Data is stored on a microcomputer within the briefcase, and can be transferred to a computer at a later time for data analysis.

Air sampling device

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Bain C McConnell