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:
May. 29, 2012
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2008
Balager Ademe, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Vernon Brent Barnes, Advance, NC (US);
Travis Eugene Howard, Clemmons, NC (US);
Robert William Benford, Kernersville, NC (US);
Franklin Forrest Brantley, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Brent Walker Carter, High Point, NC (US);
William Robert Collett, Lexington, NC (US);
Darrell Thomas Dixon, Clemmons, NC (US);
Larry Dean Mccann, King, NC (US);
John Larkin Nelson, Lewisville, NC (US);
Gregory J. Roberts, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Timothy Frederick Thomas, High Point, NC (US);
Calvin Wayne Henderson, Clemmons, NC (US);
Balager Ademe, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Vernon Brent Barnes, Advance, NC (US);
Travis Eugene Howard, Clemmons, NC (US);
Robert William Benford, Kernersville, NC (US);
Franklin Forrest Brantley, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Brent Walker Carter, High Point, NC (US);
William Robert Collett, Lexington, NC (US);
Darrell Thomas Dixon, Clemmons, NC (US);
Larry Dean McCann, King, NC (US);
John Larkin Nelson, Lewisville, NC (US);
Gregory J. Roberts, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Timothy Frederick Thomas, High Point, NC (US);
Calvin Wayne Henderson, Clemmons, NC (US);
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US);
Abstract
A system and associated method for analyzing a filter element of at least one of a filter rod and a smoking article is provided. At least one sensor element is adapted to interact with the filter element so as to determine an object insertion status with respect thereto and to generate an output signal in response. The object insertion status includes at least one of an object presence within the filter element, an object absence from the filter element, a proper insertion of an object into the filter element, a defective insertion of an object into the filter element, a proper object within the filter element, and a defective object within the filter element. An analysis unit is in communication with the at least one sensor element and responsive to the output signal therefrom to generate an indicia corresponding to the object insertion status.