The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 04, 2018
Filed:
Sep. 23, 2011
Andries D. Sebastian, Clemmons, NC (US);
Huamin Gan, Clemmons, NC (US);
Kenneth C. Deloach, Pfafftown, NC (US);
Richard L. Sizemore, Clemmons, NC (US);
Dean M. Vick, Clemmons, NC (US);
Andries D. Sebastian, Clemmons, NC (US);
Huamin Gan, Clemmons, NC (US);
Kenneth C. Deloach, Pfafftown, NC (US);
Richard L. Sizemore, Clemmons, NC (US);
Dean M. Vick, Clemmons, NC (US);
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
A system configured to produce smokable products including filter elements formed from multiple fibers is provided. The system includes a texturing apparatus configured to combine the fibers such that the fibers are at least partially entangled with each other and form a mixed fiber product. The entangled fibers may be sufficiently separated from one another such that plasticizer may be applied to the mixed fiber product without necessarily performing tow opening, crimp removal, or blooming operations. The fibers combined to form the mixed fiber product may define characteristics that differ or which are the same. Accordingly, filter elements may be produced that include different fibers that have respective desirable properties associated therewith. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.