Philip Morris Inc.

Robertshaw Controls Company

Richard B Reich

Billy J Keen, Jr

G Robert Scott

George Robert Scott

Edwin L Cutright

Howard W Vogt, Jr

George W Feild

This invention relates to the treatment of substrates with fluidized material in repetitive patterns during application cycles. The treatment patterns made with this invention can be altered by changing machine operating parameters. The patterns of fluidized material are applied to substrates using intermittent charges of compressed air. The intermittent charges of compressed air pass through a venturi slot which creates a region of low pressure in the charges adjacent to a region where the fluidized material accumulates between application cycles. This region of low pressure helps to entrain the fluidized material in the charge of compressed air. After the fluidized material is entrained in the charge of compressed air, the charge deposits the fluidized material on the substrate.

Application of fluidized material to a substrate using intermittent

Methods and apparatus are provided for sorting and transporting cylindrical articles from a jumbled mass into a continuous stream of uniformly spaced articles aligned end-to-end. The methods include the steps of sorting, spacing and incorporating the spaced apart articles into component assemblies. The invention apparatus comprises a bowl feeder, a series of frictional, suction and lugged belt conveyors and a plurality of vacuum transfer and assembly drums. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, a control system and transmission systems for regulating the sorting and transfer of the articles, for synchronizing transfer of the articles between apparatus subsystems, and for incorporating the articles into component assemblies.

Methods and apparatus for feeding and assembling cylindrical articles

A valve construction and method of making the same are provided, the valve construction comprising a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a valve seat adapted to be interconnected to the inlet and the outlet, a movable valve member carried by the housing and being operatively associated with the valve seat to control fluid flow therethrough from the inlet to the outlet, and a stepper motor carried by the housing and being operatively interconnected to the movable valve member to move the movable valve member relative to the valve seat to control the fluid flow through the valve seat, the movable valve member comprising a flexible part for sealing closed the valve seat when the stepper motor moves the flexible part against the valve seat and a throttlling part extending beyond the flexible part and into the valve seat to throttle the fluid flow therebetween when the stepper motor has moved the flexible part away from the valve seat and the throttling part has a portion thereof disposed in the valve seat.

Valve construction and method of making the same

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Midlothian, VA, United States of America

Richard B Reich