US3841337A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for a cigarette making machine or the like
Assignee: Industrial Nucleonics Corp
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Filing: 1961-01-27
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1981-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A control system for a cigarette making machine or the like having a device for feeding shredded tobacco in excess of that required on to a relatively narrow belt to form a filler stream thereon. The belt conveys the filler stream to and through a compression chamber having a valve controlled compressed-air inlet and an air exhaust port, the air compressing the stream within the chamber. A pair of rotary trimming knives removes the excess tobacco from the stream in the chamber and the rod stream formed thereby is advanced to rod former and to other apparatus adapted to form finished cigarettes. A detector is placed adjacent to the rod and provides a signal which is used to control the valve in the compressed-air inlet thereby controlling the degree of pressure in the chamber so that the rod stream produced thereby has a uniform density.
Inventors
- 👤 D Varner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:44
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D5/00; G05D5/02; G05D5/03; A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/32; A24C5/34; A24C5/3412; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/16; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P80/00; Y02P80/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S131/00; Y10S131/905; Y10S131/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In an industrial processing system using compressible material to form a product and including a conveyor for said material, and means for feeding an amount of said material to said conveyor in excess of that required to form the product, the material on said conveyor having a free surface, a control system for controlling the quantity of said material used in forming said product, said control system comprising separating means for separating said material into a first portion of predetermined cross section and a second portion containing the excess, adjustable means comprising an air jet of adjustable magnitude for pressing the free surface of said material with a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure toward said conveyor ahead of said separating means thereby controlling the density of said material as conveyed to said separating means, means for feeding said separated first portion to form said product, detecting means for detecting the quantity of said material in said product, and means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said adjustable means in accordance with the quantity of said material detected to maintain said quantity constant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
In an industrial processing system using compressible material to form a product and including a conveyor for said material, and means for feeding an amount of said material to said conveyor in excess of that required to form the product, the material on said conveyor having a free surface, a control system for controlling the quantity of said material used in forming said product, said control system comprising separating means for separating said material into a first portion of predetermined cross section and a second portion containing the excess, adjustable means comprising an air jet of adjustable magnitude for pressing the free surface of said material with a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure toward said conveyor ahead of said separating means thereby controlling the density of said material as conveyed to said separating means, means for feeding said separated first portion to form said product, detecting means for detecting the quantity of said material in said product, and means responsive to said detecting means for controlling said adjustable means in accordance with the quantity of said material detected to maintain said quantity constant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
218 words
In an industrial processing system using compressible material to form a product and including a conveyor for said material, a station for the material on said conveyor, and means for feeding an amount of said material to said conveyor in excess of that required for said product, a control system for controlling the rate at which said material is used in forming said product, said control system comprising adjustable air pressure means for varying the density of the material conveyed to said station, said adjustable air pressure means having a substantially air-tight housing adapted to contain said station and have said material enter said housing on said conveyor and exit to said process, a chamber within said housing and separated from said material by an air permeable wall, means for applying adjustable air pressure in said housing, and means for venting said chamber to a pressure lower than that in said housing; means at said station for separating said material into a first portion of predetermined cross-section and a second excess portion; means for feeding said separated first portion to form said product; means for detecting the quantity of said material in said first portion; and means for controlling said adjustable air pressure means in accordance with the quantity of said material detected to maintain said quantity constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
218 words
In an industrial processing system using compressible material to form a product and including a conveyor for said material, a station for the material on said conveyor, and means for feeding an amount of said material to said conveyor in excess of that required for said product, a control system for controlling the rate at which said material is used in forming said product, said control system comprising adjustable air pressure means for varying the density of the material conveyed to said station, said adjustable air pressure means having a substantially air-tight housing adapted to contain said station and have said material enter said housing on said conveyor and exit to said process, a chamber within said housing and separated from said material by an air permeable wall, means for applying adjustable air pressure in said housing, and means for venting said chamber to a pressure lower than that in said housing; means at said station for separating said material into a first portion of predetermined cross-section and a second excess portion; means for feeding said separated first portion to form said product; means for detecting the quantity of said material in said first portion; and means for controlling said adjustable air pressure means in accordance with the quantity of said material detected to maintain said quantity constant.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |