Philip Morris Inc.

Alliedsignal Inc.

Larry E Stevens

Martin T Garthaffner

Grier S Fleischhauer

Billy J Keen, Jr

Charles Gary Atwell

Joseph F Budjinski, Ii

Paul S Harris

This invention relates to a method for delivering free-flowing material into discrete receiving spaces separating filter plugs in partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The method entails rapidly feeding a free flowing material such as charcoal into partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The free flowing material is dispensed to a first conveyance means and is subsequently transferred to a second conveyance means that is positioned parallel and above the first conveyance means. Vacuum is used to hold the free flowing particulate material onto the first conveyance means and is used to transfer the free flowing material to the second conveyance means and to hold it there. The free flowing material is next transferred into receiving spaces formed between articles such as cigarette filter plugs that are disposed on a third conveyance means. The transfer of the free flowing material to the receiving spaces may also be accomplished by use of vacuum or gravity.

High speed vacuum assisted free flowing material inserter in filter rod

This invention relates to a device for delivering free-flowing material into discrete receiving spaces separating filter plugs in partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The device has a metering drum for dispensing free-flowing material onto an air permeable transport tape. A vacuum source beneath the transport tape retains the free-flowing material on the transport tape which conveys the free-flowing material beneath a set of pockets mounted on or within a moving belt. Each pocket is divided by a screen permeable to air but not to the free-flowing material. As the transport tape moves beneath the pockets, vacuum applied beneath the tape ceases, and vacuum applied to the pockets draws the free-flowing material up into the pockets, and retains the free-flowing material in the pockets. When the belt transfers the pockets out from under the vacuum hood, and the vacuum is no longer applied, the free-flowing material is released from the pockets. At this point, the belt has carried the pockets over an air-permeable garniture tape containing filter plugs separated by discrete receiving spaces. The free-flowing material then moves into the receiving spaces and this movement may be assisted by a vacuum applied beneath the garniture tape.

In yarn traversing apparatus comprising at least two pairs of coaxially disposed rotary blades each mounted on separate coaxially disposed rotatable shafts, the improvement comprising each rotary blade having associated therewith means to provide a smooth contoured outline serving to reduce substantially protrusions and crevices associated with said rotary blades and said rotatable shafts, and means to direct air across said blades, in an amount sufficient to remove fly waste yarn.

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Chesterfield, VA, United States of America

Larry E Stevens