US3570557A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing composite filter plugs for cigarettes
Assignee: Molins Machine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1968-09-10
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1988-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A device for feeding measured quantities of powdered material comprises a feed wheel having peripheral pockets open at both ends which receive and discharge material through their outer ends, and in which the quantities to be discharged can be augmented from within, either from an auxiliary supply within the wheel or from within the inner ends of pockets long enough to accommodate more than the required quantity; in either case a stationary metering plate prevents excessive discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Desmond Walter Molins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:33
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/02; A24D3/0204; A24D3/0212; A24D3/0225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for dispensing particulate material in measured quantities of predetermined volume comprising an annular wheel having a plurality of generally circumferentially positioned regularly spaced slots around the periphery thereof, said slots extending between the exterior and interior surfaces thereof, means coacting with said slots during loading for defining a compartment of predetermined volume, said compartment extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface of said wheel, means for continuously rotating said wheel in a given direction whereby said slots successively follow a circular path through a loading station and an unloading station, means for successively feeding particulate material into said slots through their peripheral ends at said loading station to at least partially fill said compartments, and further feed means between said loading station and said unloading station for subsequently feeding particulate material into each of said compartments of predetermined volume whereby each of said compartments is completely and uniformly filled beforE said compartments are successively emptied at said unloading station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
Apparatus for dispensing particulate material in measured quantities of predetermined volume comprising an annular wheel having a plurality of generally circumferentially positioned regularly spaced slots around the periphery thereof, said slots extending between the exterior and interior surfaces thereof, means coacting with said slots during loading for defining a compartment of predetermined volume, said compartment extending between the exterior surface and the interior surface of said wheel, means for continuously rotating said wheel in a given direction whereby said slots successively follow a circular path through a loading station and an unloading station, means for successively feeding particulate material into said slots through their peripheral ends at said loading station to at least partially fill said compartments, and further feed means between said loading station and said unloading station for subsequently feeding particulate material into each of said compartments of predetermined volume whereby each of said compartments is completely and uniformly filled beforE said compartments are successively emptied at said unloading station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compartments of predetermined volume fully occupy said slots and extend between the exterior and interior surfaces of said annular wheel, and wherein said further feed means for subsequently feeding particulate material into each of said compartments comprises a stationary cylindrical drum located within said wheel with the periphery of said drum contiguous with the interior surface of said wheel, a chamber within said drum and an arcuate opening in the periphery thereof at a position along said path between said loading and unloading stations exposing the interior surface of said wheel to said chamber whereby particulate material retained in said chamber will be fed through said arcuate openings into the interior ends of said slots.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said means coacting with said slots including stationary cover means contiguous with the interior surface of said wheel at said loading station to close the interior ends of said slots and retain particulate material in said slots.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said means coacting with said slots including stationary metering means contiguous with the interior surface of said wheel at said unloading station to close the interior ends of said slots and prevent particulate material flowing into said slots during discharge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said stationary metering means comprises an arcuate member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
111 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wheel contains an annular axially extending groove passing through said slots, the compartments of predetermined volume in said slots extends between the exterior surface of said wheel and said annular groove, and said further means for subsequently feeding particulate material into said compartments comprising the remainder of said slots extending from said annular groove to the interior surface of said wheel, said apparatus further comprising a stationary plate axially extending into said groove at said unloading station to close one end of each of said compartments and allow only said predetermined volume of particulate material to be discharged from each of said compartments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for retaining said particulate material in said slots, said retaining means extending about the periphery of said wheel from said loading station to said unloading station whereby particulate material fed into said s/ots i retained therein until reaching said unloading station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for successively feeding particulate material into said slots at said loading station comprises a hopper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a continuous conveyor passing through said unloading station and means to drive said conveyor synchronously with said wheel whereby said individual predetermined volumes of particulate material are sequentially discharged from said slots in said wheel onto said conveyor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 for dispensing powdered cigarette filter material, said continuous conveyor being capable of carrying a continuous wrapper having filter plugs equally spaced thereon, said conveyor drive means being capable of synchronously driving said conveyor such that said predetermined volumes of said filler material are sequentially discharged into the spaces between said filter plugs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US712164A
Cited
US3341079A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |