R.j. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Philip Andrew Deal

Balager Ademe

Bain C McConnell

John Larkin Nelson

Robert J Fix, Sr

Timothy A Hobbs

Vernon Brent Barnes

Barry Smith Fagg

Clifford R Marritt

James W Davis

Lloyd Harmon Hancock

Sydney Keith Seymour

James W Pryor

Calvin Wayne Henderson

Travis Eugene Howard

Robert Leslie Oglesby

Gregory Alan Holmes

Gerard E Leonard

Wallace R Lassiter

William R Jarvis

Ford Mitchell Shore

Larry S Jordan

John Fitzgerald

Travis B Howard

Harold L Steelman

David Wayne Tatum

Wayne M Furin

John W Thompson

James T Atkins

Russell Dean Barnes

Carl Carlton Greene

Cigarette filter rods having individual objects positioned at predetermined intervals therein are prepared by transferring the individual objects from a rotating horizontal pan to a rotating vertical wheel and then depositing the object into a web of filter tow. Each object is positioned within the moving web of tow. The web filter material and the objects positioned within the web are introduced into a rod-forming unit wherein the rod is formed. The rate of feed of the filter tow, the rate of rotation of the horizontal pan and the vertical wheel are controlled relative to one another such that objects are positioned at predetermined intervals along the rod. Cigarette filter elements having well controlled amounts of flavorant contained therein can be made from the rods.

Method and apparatus for incorporating objects into cigarette filters

Cigarettes are manufactured having smokable rods with paper wrapping materials having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials can be applied to a continuous, moving paper web on a cigarette making apparatus using application apparatus possessing four rollers. One roller has a series of pockets to receive additive formulation and to define the pattern of the formulation on the paper. The additive material can be applied to a transfer roller in roll interaction with a pick-up roller. Roll interaction of the transfer roller with an application roller causes transfer of the additive material from the transfer roller to the application roller. Additive material from the application roller can be transferred to the paper web that passes between the application roller and a back-up roller. A radiant dryer can be used to dry the additive material applied to the paper web.

Equipment and methods for manufacturing cigarettes

An apparatus for receiving and transporting cigarette rejects in a cigarette manufacturing process comprises a receptacle having a receiving opening and an insertion opening for receiving rejects, a conduit having a first end and a second end and communicating with the insertion opening, and means for providing a fluid flow in the conduit for transporting the rejects. A method of collecting and transporting cigarette rejects in a cigarette manufacturing process comprises directing the rejects into a fluid stream whereby such rejects may be transported transporting the rejects in the fluid stream to a predetermined location in the cigarette manufacturing process, and separating the rejects from the fluid stream.

Method and apparatus for collecting and transporting cigarettes and cigarette rejects

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

Rods for use in the manufacture of smoking products are provided using a rod-making apparatus. The apparatus includes (a) an unwind unit for continuously supplying a material having a continuous integrity; (b) a rod-forming unit for forming a rod-like composite of the supplied material; (c) a constriction member for constricting the rod-like composite, the constriction member including (i) a material-contacting surface and (ii) a reservoir for supplying an amount of liquid to at least a portion of the material-contacting surface; and (d) a rod-making unit for receiving the rod-like composite and for circumscribing the rod-like composite with wrapping material thereby forming a continuous rod.

Rod making apparatus for use in the manufacture of smoking articles

Cigarette rods are manufactured at high rates of speed using a cigarette making machine having a tongue which is equipped such that water is continuously fed therethrough in order to exit the surface of the tongue which contacts a tobacco filler stream passing through the garniture region of the cigarette making machine. The process of introducing water through the tongue during a cigarette making operation allows the manufacture to produce a continuous cigarette rod of controlled integrity. For example, cigarettes of controlled density and firmness, and having very low amounts of hard spots, soft spots and loose ends, can be manufactured. The process provides for the manufacture of cigarettes at high speeds, and for the manufacture of cigarettes having high filling capacity tobacco blends. For example, cigarettes having blends comprising relatively high levels of volume expanded tobacco can be manufactured efficiently and effectively.

Process for manufacturing cigarette rods

Cigarette rods are manufactured at high rates of speed using a cigarette making machine having a tongue which is equipped such that water is continuously fed therethrough in order to exit the surface of the tongue which contacts a tobacco filter stream passing through the garniture region of the cigarette making machine. The process of introducing water through the tongue during a cigarette making operation allows the manufacturer to produce a continuous cigarette rod of controlled integrity. For example, cigarettes of controlled density and firmness, and having very low amounts of hard spots, soft spots and loose ends, can be manufactured. The process provides for the manufacture of cigarettes at high speeds, and for the manufacture of cigarettes having high filling capacity tobacco blends. For example, cigarettes having blends comprising relatively high levels of volume expanded tobacco can be manufactured efficiently and effectively.

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

Philip Andrew Deal