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:
Dec. 11, 1990
Filed:
Dec. 22, 1989
Bain C McConnell, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
William R Jarvis, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
C Fred Demey, III, Belews Creek, NC (US);
James G Maddrey, Jr, Walkertown, NC (US);
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
The system includes a linear array of mutually spaced weighing devices. Each weighing device has a weighing platform having an article-receiving seat and a sloping cam surface for directing articles onto such seat. During each weighing operation, a group of articles to be weighed are moved in unison with each other to successive different locations longitudinally of the array of weighing devices. In each of the locations a plurality but less than all of the articles are weighed substantially simultaneously by associated underlying ones of the weighing devices. Articles weighed at each location are separated from each other by other articles that are not weighed at such location. An article support member supports the articles for movement longitudinally of the array of weighing devices, and also for limited vertical movement relative to the support member. Relative vertical movement between the support member and an article supported thereby occurs as the article's longitudinal movement brings it into and out of engagement with the sloping cam surface of the weighing platform of one of the weighing devices. Upward movement of the article raises it to the elevation of the article-receiving seat of the weighing platform. The weighing devices are enclosed within a substantially draft-free housing. A control mechanism controls longitudinal movement of the articles relative to the weighing devices, and automatically records the weights of the articles. The articles weighed may be Cambridge units used in ascertaining the 'FTC tar' content of cigarettes.