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:
Jun. 01, 1993
Filed:
Feb. 10, 1992
Kenneth M Milliner, Macon, GA (US);
Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for manufacturing dual cigarette packs having a spacer therebetween. The apparatus of one preferred embodiment includes: an assembly station to receive sequentially in stacked relationship a first pack of cigarettes, a spacer, and a second pack of cigarettes, the assembly station including means to transport said cigarette packs through the assembly station; means to feed cigarette packs at first and third positions along the assembly station; means to place a spacer on the cigarette packs at a second position of the assembly station, the second position being located between the first and third positions of the assembly station; and, means to place cigarette packs onto the spacer at the third position of the assembly station, thereby creating a dual cigarette pack having a spacer therebetween. One method for forming a dual cigarette pack having spacer therebetween includes the steps of: delivering a first cigarette pack to a first position of an assembly station; transporting the first cigarette pack from the first position to a second position of the assembly station; applying a spacer upon the first cigarette pack at the second position; delivering a second cigarette pack to a third position of the assembly station; and, transporting the first cigarette pack having a spacer thereupon to the third position, the cigarette pack having a spacer applied thereupon being transported beneath the second cigarette pack already delivered to the third position, thereby creating a dual cigarette pack having a spacer therebetween.