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:
Sep. 27, 1994
Filed:
Dec. 02, 1993
Ricky N Cooper, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Renee R Cooper, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Charles P Pendleton, Madison Heights, VA (US);
Steven R Rinehart, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Louis R Turano, Colonial Heights, VA (US);
Richard N Webb, Richmond, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for agitating cylindrical articles in a bulk flow and removing non-aligned articles from the flow includes a plurality of parallel, spaced rotating pins having helical threads on an outer surface. The flow of articles is directed through the pins and non-aligned articles are conveyed out of the flow direction by the threads while aligned articles pass across the pins. Eccentric rotation of the pins agitates the articles to assist maintaining free flow of the articles.