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:
Jul. 18, 1989
Filed:
Mar. 02, 1987
Desmond W Molins, High Wycombe, GB;
Molins PLC, Lindon, GB;
Abstract
Filter tipped cigarettes are turned end for end by a narrow flexible belt (10) which is twisted in a figure of eight about pulleys (13, 14). The belt (10) has flutes (8) which engage only the tipped ends (T). A tensioned thin flexible strip (22) covers the open sides of the flutes (8) to retain the cigarettes while being turned, and endwise movement of the cigarettes is prevented by a fixed guide (26). In a modification, a belt (34) has flutes (32) formed in opposite sides and extends between pulleys (36,38), with a single 180 degree twist in the upper run. After being tip-turned, the cigarettes are removed from the inner side of the belt by suction in flutes 50 and moved endwise by a cam (60) away from belt (34) for transfer to a drum 62. Belt (34) may have flutes in only one side, in which case a second 180 degree twist is formed in the lower run.