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:
Nov. 01, 2011
Filed:
May. 24, 2007
Steven F. Spiers, Richmond, VA (US);
G. Robert Scott, Midlothian, VA (US);
Travis Garthaffner, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Steven F. Spiers, Richmond, VA (US);
G. Robert Scott, Midlothian, VA (US);
Travis Garthaffner, Chesterfield, VA (US);
Philip Morris USA Inc., Richmond, VA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming two filters in a two-up configuration. The apparatus includes a feed wheel, an assembly wheel, a take-off wheel, and a flipping wheel. According to the method of the invention, tubesare loaded from the feed wheelto the assembly wheelwhere one hollow end of the tubes is filled. The half-filled tubes' are then transferred to take-off wheeland then to a flipping wheelwhere the tubes are flipped. The half-filled and flipped tubes″ are returned to vacant positions on the feed wheel and transferred back to the assembly wheel so that the remaining hollow ends can be filled. The filled tube′″ is transferred to a take-off wheel, where it is then removed from the take off wheelusing a stripper and/or additional wheels for further processing.