US3769832A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for testing cigarettes or the like
Assignee: Körber AG
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Filing: 1972-09-27
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1992-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic cigarette testing apparatus wherein the drum which moves cigarettes sideways past a testing station carries one or two annuli of sealing devices having holders which are movable toward and away from the adjacent ends of cigarettes. Each holder supports an elastic annular sealing element whose internal diameter is normally less than the diameter of a cigarette wrapper but can be enlarged in response to axial movement of a deforming plunger in the respective holder. The sealing elements are expanded upstream of the testing station and the respective holders are thereupon moved axially so that the expanded sealing elements surround with some clearance the adjacent ends of aligned cigarette wrappers. The plungers allow the sealing elements to contract and to sealingly engage the ends of wrappers during travel past the testing station.
Inventors
- 👤 A Baier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 15:47
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/32; A24C5/34; A24C5/3418
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
In an apparatus for pneumatically testing cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles including open-ended tubular wrappers having a predetermined diameter, a conveyor having a plurality of receiving means for rod-shaped articles And arranged to move said receiving means seriatim past a testing station; a plurality of sealing devices each associated with one of said receiving means and each comprising a holder mounted on said conveyor for movement lengthwise of the respective receiving means, a sealing element mounted in said holder and having an elastic wrapper-engaging annular portion with an internal diameter which is normally less than said predetermined diameter, and deforming means movable relative to said holder to and from an operative position in which said deforming means subjects said sealing element to axial stresses resulting in an increase of said internal diameter beyond said predetermined diameter; first displacing means for moving the deforming means of successive sealing devices to said operative positions upstream of said testing station so that the internal diameters of said annular portions increase beyond said predetermined diameter; and second diplacing means for moving said holders toward the respective receiving means in operative positions of the respective deforming means to thus effect the entry of adjacent wrapper ends of articles in the respective receiving means into the deformed annular portions not later than when the respective sealing devices reach said testing station, said deforming means being arranged to allow for contraction of the respective annular portions during travel past said testing station so that said annular portions contract and sealingly engage the adjacent wrapper ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
258 words
In an apparatus for pneumatically testing cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles including open-ended tubular wrappers having a predetermined diameter, a conveyor having a plurality of receiving means for rod-shaped articles And arranged to move said receiving means seriatim past a testing station; a plurality of sealing devices each associated with one of said receiving means and each comprising a holder mounted on said conveyor for movement lengthwise of the respective receiving means, a sealing element mounted in said holder and having an elastic wrapper-engaging annular portion with an internal diameter which is normally less than said predetermined diameter, and deforming means movable relative to said holder to and from an operative position in which said deforming means subjects said sealing element to axial stresses resulting in an increase of said internal diameter beyond said predetermined diameter; first displacing means for moving the deforming means of successive sealing devices to said operative positions upstream of said testing station so that the internal diameters of said annular portions increase beyond said predetermined diameter; and second diplacing means for moving said holders toward the respective receiving means in operative positions of the respective deforming means to thus effect the entry of adjacent wrapper ends of articles in the respective receiving means into the deformed annular portions not later than when the respective sealing devices reach said testing station, said deforming means being arranged to allow for contraction of the respective annular portions during travel past said testing station so that said annular portions contract and sealingly engage the adjacent wrapper ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first displacing means is arranged to move successive deforming means to said operative positions downstream of said testing station to thus disengage the respective annular portions from the adjacent wrapper ends, said second displacing means being arranged to move successive holders away from the respective receiving means downstream of said testing station while the respective deforming means assume said operative positions so that said annular portions are separated from the adjacent wrapper ends.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said sealing elements has a passage for testing fluid, said passage communicating with the wrapper end which is sealingly engaged by the respective annular portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said deforming means comprises a plunger and said first displacing means comprises means for moving said plungers axially.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein each of said plungers comprises follower means and said means for moving said plungers comprises stationary cam means adjacent to the path of movement of said sealing devices and being tracked by said follower means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said holders comprises follower means and said second displacing means comprises stationary cam means adjacent to the path of movement of said sealing devices and being tracked by said follower means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said annular portions is contractible into and expandible from sealing engagement with wrapper ends, each of said sealing elements further comprising a ring-shaped section having an end face located in the path oF movement of the respective deforming means to expand said annular portion in response to movement of the respective deforming means to said operative position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said annular section is a hollow conical frustum and said end face is located at the smaller-diameter end of said frustum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deforming means and the respective sealing elements are provided with communicating passages for a gaseous testing fluid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor is a rotary drum and said receiving means are axially parallel flutes provided at the periphery of said drum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
In an apparatus as dEfined in claim 10, wherein said sealing devices form a single annulus adjacent to one axial end of each flute.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said sealing devices form two annuli and said flutes are located between said annuli.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3386281A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |