US3715957A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies
Assignee: Liggett Group LLC
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract The plates contain pressure pads about the peripheries and each is mounted in angular relationship to the cigarette transfer drum and is rotatable along with the transfer drum. The pressure pads are arranged in opposed pairs to converge towards each other as the plates rotate so as to compact charges of granular material within a multi-section filter tip assembly located at the point of conveyance.
Inventors
- 👤 F Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:38
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24D; A24D3/00; A24D3/02; A24D3/025; A24D3/0262
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a rotatable shaft; a pair of plate means mounted on said shaft on a common axis of said shaft, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; means for rotating each said plate means with said shaft; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a rotatable shaft; a pair of plate means mounted on said shaft on a common axis of said shaft, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; means for rotating each said plate means with said shaft; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a rotatable shaft; a pair of plate means mounted on said shaft on a common axis of said shaft, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; means for rotating each said plate means with said shaft; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a rotatable shaft; a pair of plate means mounted on said shaft on a common axis of said shaft, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; means for rotating each said plate means with said shaft; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each plate means is of annular shape and includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure pad means thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes a cam abutting each plate means to dispose each plate means in said angular relation to said axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means further includes a bushing coaxially mounted relative to each said plate means having an annular flange thereon and a plurality of springs secured at the ends thereof between said plate means and said flange to permit resilient movement of said plate means relative to said flange, said flange being in opposed relation to said plate means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 which further comprises a plurality of guide pins secured to each flange and passing through an adjacent plate means to rotate said plate means and flange in unison.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means further includes a shaft and a pair of bearings fixedly mounted on said shaft, each bearing having an outer race secured to a respective plate means, an inner race mounting said outer race thereon in universal relation, and means for securing said outer race relative to said inner race for rotation therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
In combination with a rotatable shaft and a filter drum mounted on a longitudinal axis of said shaft and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral grooves for receiving filter tip assemblies therein; an apparatus for compacting a filter tip assembly in at least one of said grooves comprising a pair of plates mounted on said shaft coaxially of said drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure pads on each plate facing and in alignment with said grooves in said drum, means for rotating said plates with said drum, and cam means for disposing said plates in angular relation to said drum during rotation to bring a pair of opposed pressure pads towards an aligned groove therebetween to exert a compacting force on a filter tip assembly in said groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
In combination with a rotatable shaft and a filter drum mounted on a longitudinal axis of said shaft and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced peripheral grooves for receiving filter tip assemblies therein; an apparatus for compacting a filter tip assembly in at least one of said grooves comprising a pair of plates mounted on said shaft coaxially of said drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure pads on each plate facing and in alignment with said grooves in said drum, means for rotating said plates with said drum, and cam means for disposing said plates in angular relation to said drum during rotation to bring a pair of opposed pressure pads towards an aligned groove therebetween to exert a compacting force on a filter tip assembly in said groove.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means includes a pair of cams disposed on opposite sides of said drum, each cam being in abutment with a respective one of said plates to angularly dispose said plate about said axis of said drum to position said pair of opposed pressure pads against a filter tip assembly in said groove therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cams are each rotatable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cams are each rotatable about an axis perpendicular to said axis of said drum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 which further includes a pair of bushings fixed to said shaft on opposite sides of said drum, each bushing having a flange extending therefrom and a plurality of pins fixed to said flange and passing through a respective one of said plates to fixedly mount said plate for rotation with said shaft.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11 which further includes a pair of bearings of opposite sides of said drum, each bearing having an inner race fixed to a respective bushing and an outer race universally mounted on said inner race, each said plate being fixedly mounted on a respective outer race of said bearings for pivoting relative to said flange longitudinally of said pins passing therethrough.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as set forth in claim 11 which further includes a plurality of springs on each side of said drum, each spring being secured at the ends to a respective plate and a respective flange to permit resilient pivoting of each plate relative to said drum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
The combination as set forth in claim 7 which further includes a pair of bearings of opposite sides of said drum, each bearing having an inner race fixed to said shaft and an outer race universally mounted on said inner race, each said plate being fixedly mounted on a respective outer race of said bearings; and a pair of pins, each pin passing between a respective inner race and an outEr race thereon to fixedly secure said outer race to said inner race for rotation therewith.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a pair of plate means rotatably mounted about a common axis, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly, said means including a cam abutting each plate means to dispose each plate means in said angular relation to said axis, a bushing coaxially mounted relative to each said plate means having an annular flange thereon, and a plurality of springs secured at the ends thereof between each said plate means and each said flange to permit resilient movement of each said plate means relative to each said flange, each said flange being in opposed relation to each respective plate means.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
193 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a pair of plate means rotatably mounted about a common axis, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly, said means including a cam abutting each plate means to dispose each plate means in said angular relation to said axis, a bushing coaxially mounted relative to each said plate means having an annular flange thereon, and a plurality of springs secured at the ends thereof between each said plate means and each said flange to permit resilient movement of each said plate means relative to each said flange, each said flange being in opposed relation to each respective plate means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 which further comprises a plurality of guide pins secured to each flange and passing through an adjacent plate means to rotate said plate means and flange in unison.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a pair of plate means rotatably mounted about a common axis, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly, said means including a cam abutting each plate means to dispose each plate means in said angular relation to said axis, a shaft, a pair of bearings fixedly mounted on said shaft, each bearing having an outer race secured to a respective plate means, an inner race mounting said outer race thereon in universal relation, and means for securing said outer race relative to said inner race for rotation therewith.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
182 words
An apparatus for compacting filter tip assemblies comprising a pair of plate means rotatably mounted about a common axis, each plate means having at least one pressure pad means thereon in aligned facing relation to a pressure pad means on the other of said plate means for receiving a filter tip assembly therebetween; and means for disposing each said plate means in angular relation to said common axis to bring each pressure pad means towards the other aligned pressure pad means at a predetermined position when a filter tip assembly is brought into alignment between said pressure pad means in said position to exert a compacting force on the filter tip assembly, said means including a cam abutting each plate means to dispose each plate means in said angular relation to said axis, a shaft, a pair of bearings fixedly mounted on said shaft, each bearing having an outer race secured to a respective plate means, an inner race mounting said outer race thereon in universal relation, and means for securing said outer race relative to said inner race for rotation therewith.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
167 words
In combination with a rotatable shaft, and a filter drum mounted on a longitudinal axis of said shaft and having a plurality of circumferential spaced peripheral grooves for receiving filter tip assemblies therein; an apparatus for compacting a filter tip assembly in at least one of said grooves comprising a pair of plates coaxially of said drum and fixedly mounted relative to said shaft to rotate simultaneously with said drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure pads on each plate facing and in alignment with said grooves in said drum, means for disposing said plates in angular relation to said drum to bring a pair of opposed pressure pads towards an aligned groove therebetween to exert a compacting force on a filter tip assembly in said groove, a pair of bushings on said shaft having a flange extending therefrom, and a plurality of pins fixed to said flange and passing through a respective one of said plates to fixedly mount said plate for rotation with said shaft.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
167 words
In combination with a rotatable shaft, and a filter drum mounted on a longitudinal axis of said shaft and having a plurality of circumferential spaced peripheral grooves for receiving filter tip assemblies therein; an apparatus for compacting a filter tip assembly in at least one of said grooves comprising a pair of plates coaxially of said drum and fixedly mounted relative to said shaft to rotate simultaneously with said drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure pads on each plate facing and in alignment with said grooves in said drum, means for disposing said plates in angular relation to said drum to bring a pair of opposed pressure pads towards an aligned groove therebetween to exert a compacting force on a filter tip assembly in said groove, a pair of bushings on said shaft having a flange extending therefrom, and a plurality of pins fixed to said flange and passing through a respective one of said plates to fixedly mount said plate for rotation with said shaft.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 which further includes a pair of bearings on opposite sides of said drum, each bearing having an inner race fixed to a respective bushing and an outer race universally mounted on said inner race, each said plate being fixedly mounted on a respective outer race of said bearings for pivoting relative to said flange longitudinally of said pins passing therethrough.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 which further includes a plurality of springs on each side of said drum, each spring being secured at the ends to a respective plate and a respective flange to permit resilient pivoting of each plate relative to said drum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |