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:
May. 30, 2023
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2022
Altria Client Services Llc, Richmond, VA (US);
Jarrod W. Chalkley, Mechanicsville, VA (US);
Robert Powell, Midlothian, VA (US);
Christopher R. Newcomb, Powhatan, VA (US);
Jeremy Straight, Midlothian, VA (US);
Isaac J. McGill, Richmond, VA (US);
James David Evans, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Patrick McElhinney, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
A doser assembly includes a hopper assembly configured to receive filler material, a vibration transmission assembly coupled to the hopper assembly, and a paddle in a hopper opening that extends through the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly includes a shaft that is configured to rotate around a central rotation axis, an eccentric that is fixed to the shaft and has a center that is radially offset from the central rotation axis, a connecting rod that is pivotably connected to the center of the eccentric, and a bracket that is pivotably connected to the connecting rod. A first end of the paddle is pivotably coupled to the hopper assembly at a paddle pivot joint. The paddle is fixed to the bracket of the vibration transmission assembly separately from the hopper assembly. The vibration transmission assembly is configured to cause the paddle to reciprocatingly pivot around the paddle pivot joint.