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:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 07, 1998
Richard E Bowman, Jr, Quinton, VA (US);
Steven M Campbell, Richmond, VA (US);
Ricky N Cooper, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Robert C Kucera, Jr, Aylett, VA (US);
Steven R Rinehart, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Richard N Webb, Richmond, VA (US);
Stephen D Brown, Johnson City, TN (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A cigarette cartoner apparatus comprising a folding station configured to wrap a carton blank about a pre-arranged bundle of cigarette packets; means for repetitively dispensing carton blanks along a pathway; a signal generator adjacent a print location along the aforementioned pathway; at least one fluid jet print head adjacent the print location; a controller configured to operate the print head responsively to the signal generator; and a guide arrangement within the cartoner defining a contact-free path portion as the packaging material is progressed from said print location.