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. 22, 1993
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1992
Joseph F Budjinski, II, Quinton, VA (US);
Charles G Atwell, Mechanicsville, VA (US);
Larry E Stevens, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Martin T Garthaffner, Midlothian, VA (US);
Billy J Keen, Jr, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Grier S Fleischhauer, Midlothian, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporation, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
This invention relates to a device for delivering free-flowing material into discrete receiving spaces separating filter plugs in partially constructed cigarette filter assemblies. The device has a metering drum for dispensing free-flowing material onto an air permeable transport tape. A vacuum source beneath the transport tape retains the free-flowing material on the transport tape which conveys the free-flowing material beneath a set of pockets mounted on or within a moving belt. Each pocket is divided by a screen permeable to air but not to the free-flowing material. As the transport tape moves beneath the pockets, vacuum applied beneath the tape ceases, and vacuum applied to the pockets draws the free-flowing material up into the pockets, and retains the free-flowing material in the pockets. When the belt transfers the pockets out from under the vacuum hood, and the vacuum is no longer applied, the free-flowing material is released from the pockets. At this point, the belt has carried the pockets over an air-permeable garniture tape containing filter plugs separated by discrete receiving spaces. The free-flowing material then moves into the receiving spaces and this movement may be assisted by a vacuum applied beneath the garniture tape.