Mars, Incorporated

Philip Morris Inc.

Bruce W Keen

Alex A Hanna

Ira Greene

Neil A Willcocks

Marc D Belcastro

James M Suttle

Janet L Thompson

Richard D Ornelaz, Jr

Keith A Chisholm

Andrew D Struckhoff

Thomas G Abene

Lee C Cramer

Matthew D Perry

Gilbert D Glass

Richard J Barrett

Apparatus and methods for producing multiple extruded products having different characteristics from the extruded stream of a single main extruder are provided. A satellite extruder assembly is removably attached to a main extruder allowing for the production of a plurality of different extrusion products from a single stream from one main extruder that is divided into multiple streams channeled to a plurality of satellite extruders. Each of the extruders may be operated at different temperature, pressure, moisture and shear conditions. Additional components may be selectively added to one or more of the material streams.

Extruder system and method

A dried confectionery meringue formed from a meringue mixture having a pre-drying moisture level of between about 18% and about 30%, said mixture including a protein foaming agent, sucrose and at least one monosaccharide.

Confectionery meringue

Confectionary image design system including a graphical user interface through which a user defines a pattern of confectionary pieces to be arranged on a substrate. A computer processor controls the graphical user interface through which the user defines the pattern, and provides instructions for arranging the confectionary pieces in the defined pattern. A container retains the confectionary pieces used to form the defined pattern. A robot receives from the computer processor the instructions for arranging the confectionary pieces, retrieves the confectionary pieces stored in the container, and arranges the pieces on the substrate in the pattern defined by the user.

System and method for designing and producing confectionary arrangement

A method and apparatus are provided for sealing packaging material using ultrasonic technology. The method includes the steps of supplying the packaging material to a sealing station that includes an anvil and horn, and sealing the packaging material. The apparatus is a cam-shaped, rotatable anvil where the rate of rotation of the anvil can be changed based upon the speed of an AC Servo driving the anvil and the desired spacing between the seals.

Method and apparatus for performing continuous motion intermittent ultrasonic sealing

A piece count and collation system includes a cut-and-seal apparatus including a pair of rotatable members positioned immediately adjacent each other for receiving a tube wrapping containing a plurality of sequentially spaced objects. The rotatable members rotate in opposite directions to one another and each includes a first cutting edge having a first bonding surface positioned immediately adjacent thereto and a second cutting edge spaced apart from the first cutting edge and having a second bonding surface positioned immediately adjacent thereto. At least one of the rotatable members includes a vacuum grasping member positioned between the first and the second cutting edges for grasping one of said plurality of sequentially spaced objects in the tube wrapping received by the cut-and-seal apparatus while the tube-wrapping is cut and bonded on both ends to form a fully wrapped object. The piece count and collation system also includes a conveyor and a hopper for collecting a plurality of fully wrapped objects.

Vacuum assisted cut-and-seal apparatus with transfer wheel

A modular apparatus is provided for the purpose of packaging an article in a special wrap (such as a single or double twist wrap, an envelope wrap, a bunch wrap, or other special wrap). The modular apparatus has a receiving portion, arranged to receive a partially-wrapped article (such as a tube-wrapped article) into a predetermined location, from another machine, and a special-wrap assembly that forms the desired special wrap. For a double twist-wrap, the special-wrap assembly has rotatable twist grippers that grip the ends of the tube-wrapped article, and twist the ends to form a twist-wrapped article, and includes a twist-wrap drum and Geneva wheels that drive the twist grippers. The modular apparatus is used with a flow-wrap packaging line for wrapping a series of individual articles, which has a first section, in which a film is formed into a tubular wrap about the articles, and a cut-and-seal section, in which the tubular wrap is cut between each two successive articles. The modular apparatus may be detachable from the flow-wrap line but in any A event is capable of being deactivated to permit use of the flow-wrap packaging line without the special wrap.

Modular wrapping apparatus

A cigarette filter rod system comprises a plug combiner machine having a knife located downstream from a sensor. The knife generates a trigger signal which prompts an Inspection Unit to locate a previously stored frame of sensor data corresponding the rod which was cut by the knife. The Inspection Unit applies thresholds to the frame of sensor data to determine the location of filter segment boundaries, and then determines whether air rings are present in the data. The Inspection Unit then compares measurements made on the frame of sensor data with a pre-stored recipe indicating expected values for the frame. Statistical data is sent to a Human-Machine Interface Unit for analysis and display. The system performs filter rod rejection and cut registration based on the analysis performed by the Inspection Unit and the Human-Machine Interface.

Growing community of inventors

Chatanooga, TN, United States of America

Bruce W Keen