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:
Jul. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 27, 1999
Bruce W. Keen, Chattanooga, TN (US);
Janet L. Thompson, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Marc Belcastro, Glen Allen, VA (US);
Andrew Struckhoff, Alexandria, VA (US);
Lee Cramer, Springfield, VA (US);
Gilbert D. Glass, Alexandria, VA (US);
Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, NY (US);
Abstract
A cigarette filter rod system comprises a plug combiner machine having a knife located downstream from a sensor. The knife generates a trigger signal which prompts an Inspection Unit to locate a previously stored frame of sensor data corresponding the rod which was cut by the knife. The Inspection Unit applies thresholds to the frame of sensor data to determine the location of filter segment boundaries, and then determines whether air rings are present in the data. The Inspection Unit then compares measurements made on the frame of sensor data with a pre-stored recipe indicating expected values for the frame. Statistical data is sent to a Human-Machine Interface Unit for analysis and display. The system performs filter rod rejection and cut registration based on the analysis performed by the Inspection Unit and the Human-Machine Interface.