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:
Aug. 08, 1995
Filed:
May. 20, 1994
Kerry Hierons, High Wycombe, GB;
Molins PLC, Milton Keynes, GB;
Abstract
The state of fill of a reversible cigarette reservoir is monitored by use of an encoder (40) which responds to movement of the reservoir conveyor (2). Signals from the encoder are processed by a microprocessor (44) which also receives signals from cigarette detectors (46,50) which indicate when the reservoir is full or empty. These signals are used to reset the encoder-based value of the state of fill and so help to avoid cumulative errors. The use of encoder-based signals allows users to set the value of fill at which related events occur (e.g. when the speed of an associated maker or packer is changed) using software. Also disclosed is a conveyor speed optimization system in which the average deviation of a level sensor (74) from a target value is monitored and if necessary a correction applied to the nominal conveyor speed so as to reduce the average deviation to zero.