US3850177A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cigarette making machines
Assignee: Mpac Group PLC
•
Filing: 1971-10-19
•
Granted: 1974-11-26
•
Expires: 1991-10-19
Abstract
Abstract A cigarette making machine with a suction conveyor includes a cover which extends along the conveyor to define a cover space along and adjacent to the outer surface of the filler stream, and includes openings, such as ports or slots, for permitting air to flow under the influence of the suction through the cover space to entrain particles of tobacco which become separated from the filler stream.
Inventors
- 👤 F Labbe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:27
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/14; A24C5/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A cigarette making machine comprising an elongated airpervious conveyor, a channel extending towards the conveyor for directing tobacco towards the conveyor to form a cigarette filler stream on the conveyor, and suction means substantially coextensive with the operative length of the conveyor for compressing the filler stream thereon and for drawing air through the channel and towards the conveyor, characterized in that the machine includes a cover which extends along the conveyor to define a cover space extending from the channel and along and adjacent to the surface of the filler stream opposite to the conveyor, which space is under suction as a result of the transmission of suction through the conveyor from the said suction means, and including means for producing an air flow from the channel and into and through the cover space, moving substantially parallel to and in the same direction as the conveyor, which air flow entrains any particles of tobacco which become separated from the filler stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A cigarette making machine comprising an elongated airpervious conveyor, a channel extending towards the conveyor for directing tobacco towards the conveyor to form a cigarette filler stream on the conveyor, and suction means substantially coextensive with the operative length of the conveyor for compressing the filler stream thereon and for drawing air through the channel and towards the conveyor, characterized in that the machine includes a cover which extends along the conveyor to define a cover space extending from the channel and along and adjacent to the surface of the filler stream opposite to the conveyor, which space is under suction as a result of the transmission of suction through the conveyor from the said suction means, and including means for producing an air flow from the channel and into and through the cover space, moving substantially parallel to and in the same direction as the conveyor, which air flow entrains any particles of tobacco which become separated from the filler stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, including a trimmer for trimming away part of the filler stream, and in which the air flow through the cover space carries the separated particles of tobacco towards the trimmer, where the particles are removed together with discard tobacco trimmed off by the trimmer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 2, and including a discard pipe through which the separated particles of tobacco and the discard tobacco are discharged, means for connecting said discard pipe to a source of suction, the air flow through the cover space being at least partly the result of the suction applied through the discard pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
98 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, including rails extending along opposite sides of the conveyor and having mutually opposed parallel surfaces normal to the surface of the conveyor defining a relatively narrow trough deep enough to contain substantially all the tobacco which is normally directed onto the conveyor, the rails having also recessed parts forming in cross-section a wider extension to the trough to receive any momentary excess of tobacco, and at least part of any such excess being carried forward, at a speed greater than the conveyor, by the air flow in the cover space.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 4 including at least in the region of the downstream end of the channel where the last tobacco is directed on to the conveyor, means defining air inlets through which air streams enter with a component of motion in the direction of movement of the conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 5 in which the air inlet means are arranged to give the air streams a component of motion also towards the conveyor to assist the movement of tobacco into the trough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, in which the conveyor is an air-pervious band which carries the filler stream by means of suction round a pulley, said pulley including means for effecting communication between said suction means and the portion of the band passing round said pulley with the filler stream lying on the outer surface of the band as it passes round the pulley, any tobacco thrown off by centrifugal force in the region of the pulley being carried forward by the air flow in the cover space, which cover space extends round the pulley.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, in which the cross-sectional area of the cover space along a section adjacent to the channel is smaller than the cross-sectional area of those sections thereof that are located downstream from said section adjacent to the channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, wherein said channel is defined by walls, means providing a port through one wall thereof, and suction means connected with the port means whereby at least a part of the air stream through the channel is produced thereby.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 9 in which the port means is elongated and has opposite ends the end of the port means adjacent to the cover space being shaped so as to promote the flow of air into the cover space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, in which the channel is inclined to the band in the sense such that the direction of movement of the air and tobacco through the channel has a component in the direction of movement of the band.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, including a suction conveyor located at the discharge end of the band for receiving the filler stream thereon, means for feeding and conveying a continuous wrapper web adjacent the discharge end of the suction conveyor, said web being adapted to receive the filler stream from the suction conveyor, and means for wrapping the web around the filler stream to form a continuous cigarette rod, the suction conveyor serving also to seal the adjacent end of the cover space.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cigarette making machine according to claim 1, including means defining apertures for letting air into the cover space at various positions along the cover space.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1879016A
Cited
US2759482A
Cited
US3030965A
Cited
US3030966A
Cited
US3091244A
Cited
US3059650A
Cited
US3094127A
Cited
US3125099A
Cited
GB1009664A
Cited
US3348551A
Cited
US3495599A
Cited
US3244184A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |