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. 07, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1991
Billy J Keen, Jr, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Richard B Reich, Midlothian, VA (US);
George R Scott, Midlothian, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for sorting and transporting cylindrical articles from a jumbled mass into a continuous stream of uniformly spaced articles aligned end-to-end. The methods include the steps of sorting, spacing and incorporating the spaced apart articles into component assemblies. The invention apparatus comprises a bowl feeder, a series of frictional, suction and lugged belt conveyors and a plurality of vacuum transfer and assembly drums. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors, a control system and transmission systems for regulating the sorting and transfer of the articles, for synchronizing transfer of the articles between apparatus subsystems, and for incorporating the articles into component assemblies.