R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Marvin G Woempner

Hoyt Sturdivant Beard

Donald R Wilkinson

Max N Baker

Julian R Martin

Daniel G Williard

Watson Minyard Dufour

John D Welch

A system, apparatus and method is proposed according to which a tobacco mass is proportioned for primary processing. The system and method provide for a controlled selection handling and proportioning of the tobacco mass, and for conditioning of the tobacco mass before further primary processing. The apparatus provides for conditioning an entire tobacco mass or for selected proportioning of the tobacco mass into smaller predetermined portions prior to conditioning. The system and method allow for blending different types of tobacco masses while utilizing the proportioning apparatus on selected tobacco masses.

System, apparatus, and method for preparing a quantity of tobacco for

Dry, compacted masses of tobacco are conditioned by inserting an array of parallel perforated probes into the mass and passing high pressure steam through the probes and probe perforations into the tobacco mass as the probes are inserted and withdrawn. The conditioning apparatus includes a frame supporting a probe array and a ram for moving the array toward and away from a tobacco mass supported by a conveyor. The probes are flexibly mounted to prevent bending, and extend through a stripper plate which is supported from the array by way of a latching mechanism. The stripper plate holds the tobacco mass in place to prevent lifting of the mass upon withdrawal of the probes.

Apparatus for moisture and heat conditioning compacted tobacco mass

Meter box padlock

An improved machine for automatically applying transfers such as tax stamps to multiple packages contained in a carton is disclosed. The machine comprises a conveyor for advancing a carton through an opening station, where it is opened to expose the packages therein, through a stamping station, where tax stamps in the form of heat or water transfers or ink printing are applied to each of the packages by a movable platen, and through a closing station where the carton is closed and resealed. The machine is adjustable to accommodate a variety of carton and package sizes and to apply the transfers to a selected part of each package in the carton accurately, while using stock transfer sheets on which the transfers are mounted with a predetermined spacing that does not necessarily correspond to the spacing of packages within the carton. The various sizes are accommodated by means of an adjustable stop mechanism which interrupts the motion of each carton as it passes through the stamping station to thereby stop the carton at a selected location with respect to the transfer sheet and the stamp transfer platen. After the transfer has been applied, the stop mechanism is activated to allow the carton to continue its motion through the stamping station. The adjustable stop and the platen are shiftable laterally with respect to the stamping station to apply selected transfers from the transfer sheet to the packages in the carton, and the stop is adjustable with respect to the platen to apply the transfers to selected locations on the package.

Transfer applying machine

Growing community of inventors

Thomasville, NC, United States of America

Marvin G Woempner