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:
Apr. 14, 1987
Filed:
Feb. 25, 1985
Peter Martin, Richmond, VA (US);
Avis N Wyatt, Jr, Chester, VA (US);
Hector Alonso, Richmond, VA (US);
Norman R Rowe, Chester, VA (US);
Robert S Southard, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Stephen G Zimmermann, Richmond, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for detecting and removing foreign material which may be found in a stream of particulate matter, such as tobacco. The tobacco is allowed to fall in a cascade past an optical detector. The turbulence of the falling motion brings a large proportion of the particles in the cascade into the field of view of the detector. When foreign material is detected, a signal is generated to activate a fluid blast directed at the portion of the cascade in which the foreign material is located.