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:
Jan. 05, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2004
Fiorenzo Draghetti, Medicina, IT;
Salvatore Rizzoli, Bologna, IT;
Fiorenzo Draghetti, Medicina, IT;
Salvatore Rizzoli, Bologna, IT;
G.D S.p.A., , IT;
Abstract
Cigarette filters are supplied to the infeed portion () of a filter tip attachment machine by a unit () comprising rollers () which divert the filters () into an upstream hopper (), and a channel () carrying the filters () from the upstream hopper () to a downstream hopper () where they are released to the infeed portion () of the machine. Located between the infeed rollers () and the feed channel () is a variable volume storage buffer () with a movable wall () attached to the top branch () of a conveyor belt (); the Belt is driven by a motor () interlocked to sensors () which monitor and control the level of the mass of filters () occupying the upstream hopper (), so that the size and capacity of the buffer () can be adjusted to accommodate fluctuations in the flow of filters through the hopper ().