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:
Jan. 24, 1978
Filed:
Apr. 12, 1976
Applicant:
Inventors:
Charles Gary Atwell, Mechanicsville, VA (US);
Steven F Spiers, Richmond, VA (US);
William H Smick, III, Richmond, VA (US);
Assignee:
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B65G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
214302 ; 198533 ; 214307 ; 214314 ;
Abstract
Apparatus for maintaining suitable profiles of rod-shaped articles contained in a hopper includes an agitator translatable in the hopper in the direction of movement of conveyors fed by the hopper. A detector unit is provided for sensing the level of articles in the hopper and arrangement is made for rendering the detector unit inoperative during preselected times attending the placement of article storage trays atop the hopper.