Patent US3829164A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3829164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pneumatic feeder for plural maker systems
Assignee: Brown and Williamson Holdings Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-13
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1992-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A tobacco feeder is coupled to two multiple cigarette maker systems through two tubes, one for each system. The feeder is driven by a two-speed motor. When only one system requires tobacco, the feeder is driven at low speed, whereas it will be switched to the higher speed when both systems require tobacco simultaneously.
Inventors
- 👤 J Schoeb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:54
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/39; A24C5/391
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
406 words
A system for feeding tobacco from a supply source to at least two cigarette making machines, said system comprising: a. a frame, b. a transition chute operatively associated with said frame and having tobacco receiving and discharge end portions, c. at least one conveyor belt assembly, operatively mounted to said frame and associated with said chute, said assembly comprising a conveyor belt having an input end and a discharge end, said discharge end being positioned above said chute to drop tobacco in the receiving end portion of the transition chute, said assembly further comprising means for operatively supporting said belt and means operatively connected to the belt for driving said belt, said driving means including a multi-speed motor having at least two speeds for driving the conveyor belt at least at a first speed and second greater speed to vary the feed rate to the transition chute, the conveyor assembly further including a braking means operatively connected to said motor for instantly braking the driving action of said motor during shifts from the second greater speed to the first speed when a shift occurs from feeding through two pipes to feeding through one pipe and to instantly stop said driving action when the demand ceases to limit further accumulation of tobacco in said chute to that already delivered from the conveyor and falling into the chute, d. at least two feed pipes operatively connecting the discharge end portion of said transition chute to respective cigarette making machines, said pipes being in communication with the interior of said chute to draw tobacco from said chute as the tobacco is deposited thereby the conveyor belt assembly and upon demand by the cigarette making machines, e. means operatively connected to said feed pipes for creating desired air pressure therein to draw the tobacco from the transition chute through said pipes to the cigarette making machines, f. valve means operatively mounted in each of said feed pipes to selectively open and close said pipes in response to demand levels at the cigarette making machines, and g. means connected to said feed pipes for actuating said motor at said first speed when only one of the pipes is supplying tobacco, at said second speed when both of said pipes are supplying tobacco and to cease operation when neither pipe is supplying tobacco, said speed transitions and cessation being instantaneous to prevent starving of tobacCo or choking of tobacco in the chute.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
406 words
A system for feeding tobacco from a supply source to at least two cigarette making machines, said system comprising: a. a frame, b. a transition chute operatively associated with said frame and having tobacco receiving and discharge end portions, c. at least one conveyor belt assembly, operatively mounted to said frame and associated with said chute, said assembly comprising a conveyor belt having an input end and a discharge end, said discharge end being positioned above said chute to drop tobacco in the receiving end portion of the transition chute, said assembly further comprising means for operatively supporting said belt and means operatively connected to the belt for driving said belt, said driving means including a multi-speed motor having at least two speeds for driving the conveyor belt at least at a first speed and second greater speed to vary the feed rate to the transition chute, the conveyor assembly further including a braking means operatively connected to said motor for instantly braking the driving action of said motor during shifts from the second greater speed to the first speed when a shift occurs from feeding through two pipes to feeding through one pipe and to instantly stop said driving action when the demand ceases to limit further accumulation of tobacco in said chute to that already delivered from the conveyor and falling into the chute, d. at least two feed pipes operatively connecting the discharge end portion of said transition chute to respective cigarette making machines, said pipes being in communication with the interior of said chute to draw tobacco from said chute as the tobacco is deposited thereby the conveyor belt assembly and upon demand by the cigarette making machines, e. means operatively connected to said feed pipes for creating desired air pressure therein to draw the tobacco from the transition chute through said pipes to the cigarette making machines, f. valve means operatively mounted in each of said feed pipes to selectively open and close said pipes in response to demand levels at the cigarette making machines, and g. means connected to said feed pipes for actuating said motor at said first speed when only one of the pipes is supplying tobacco, at said second speed when both of said pipes are supplying tobacco and to cease operation when neither pipe is supplying tobacco, said speed transitions and cessation being instantaneous to prevent starving of tobacCo or choking of tobacco in the chute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for actuating said motor include a relay circuit coupled with the motor for actuating the motor at the multi-speeds and at least two air pressure sensitive means coupled with the relay circuit for sensing the air pressure in the respective pipes and each adapted to be actuated when there is a demand for tobacco in the associated pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein the transition chute has a single enlarged entrance end for receiving tobacco and a pair of outlet pipes for transferring the tobacco to the main feed pipes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention in accordance with claim 3 wherein the conveyor belt assembly, includes a belt conveyor having a hopper end and a discharge end for transferring tobacco to a metering station, and a metering conveyor at the metering station driven by the multi-speed motor means for receiving the tobacco discharged by the belt conveyor and transferring it to the chute.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein level sensing means are provided for sensing the level of the tobacco on the metering conveyor and when the level exceeds a predetermined limit the operation of the belt conveyor is stopped.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein a doffer is driven in synchronization with the metering conveyor.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |