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:
Oct. 17, 2006
Filed:
Jun. 16, 2004
Hiroshi Okamoto, Tokyo, JP;
Syozo Horikawa, Tokyo, JP;
Hiroshi Okamoto, Tokyo, JP;
Syozo Horikawa, Tokyo, JP;
Japan Tobacco Inc., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A receiving apparatus for a filter cigarette making machine comprises a rotatable catcher drum (). The drum () has receiving grooves () in its outer circumferential surface, for each receiving a cigarette rod (CR). A rod (CR) received in the groove () moves forward into a braking area therein. In the braking area, the rod (CR) receives braking force due to suction and is stopped. A pair of limit sensors () are arranged outside the drum (). The sensors () optically detect a rear end of the rod (CR), and on the basis of the result of this detection, whether a stop position at which the rod is stopped is within a tolerance area or not is determined. On the basis of the result of this determination, a controller () regulates the braking force exerted on rods (CR) to thereby control the stop position of the rods (CR). Then, a pusher () pushes the rod (CR) from its stop position back to a normal position, in each of the grooves ().