Patent US2948864A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3976085A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3976085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic cigarette feed machine
Assignee: Liggett Group LLC
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Filing: 1974-09-26
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Granted: 1976-08-24
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Expires: 1994-09-26
Abstract
Abstract The first conveyor is inclined to move the cigarettes from the cigarette making machine upwardly in single line fashion to the second conveyor which conveys the cigarettes horizontally in stacked fashion into the hopper of the cigarette packaging machine. The packaging machine is linked in a one-to-one relationship with the cigarette making machine and is capable of high speed production of at least 3600 cigarettes per minute.
Inventors
- 👤 Floyd Vameda Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1343; G02F1/134309; A; A24; A24C; A24C5/00; A24C5/35
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
In combination in a one-to-one relationship, a cigarette making machine for producing cigarettes at a high rate of speed, wherein said making machine includes a means for dispensing cigarettes individually in a spaced relationship, a cigarette packaging machine for packaging cigarettes at approximately said high speed rate, and a cigarette feed machine connected between said making machine and said packaging machine to convey the cigarettes made in said making machine directly to said cigarette packaging machine at a rate equal to said high speed rate, said cigarette feed machine including a first conveyor inclined with respect to a horizontal plane for receiving and conveying the cigarettes in said spaced relationship from said making machine individually to an elevated portion in a sequential series, a second horizontal conveyor extending from under said first conveyor to receive the series of cigarettes therefrom and to convey the received cigarettes in stacked fashion to said packaging machine, and means for driving said second conveyor at a speed less than the speed of said first conveyor to permit the received cigarettes on said second conveyor to accumulate thereon into said stacked fashion during conveyance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
In combination in a one-to-one relationship, a cigarette making machine for producing cigarettes at a high rate of speed, wherein said making machine includes a means for dispensing cigarettes individually in a spaced relationship, a cigarette packaging machine for packaging cigarettes at approximately said high speed rate, and a cigarette feed machine connected between said making machine and said packaging machine to convey the cigarettes made in said making machine directly to said cigarette packaging machine at a rate equal to said high speed rate, said cigarette feed machine including a first conveyor inclined with respect to a horizontal plane for receiving and conveying the cigarettes in said spaced relationship from said making machine individually to an elevated portion in a sequential series, a second horizontal conveyor extending from under said first conveyor to receive the series of cigarettes therefrom and to convey the received cigarettes in stacked fashion to said packaging machine, and means for driving said second conveyor at a speed less than the speed of said first conveyor to permit the received cigarettes on said second conveyor to accumulate thereon into said stacked fashion during conveyance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first conveyor includes a pair of runs spaced apart at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes to convey the series of cigarettes therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said dispensing means of said making machine includes a dispensing roller for dispensing cigarettes therefrom, and said first conveyor includes a pair of endless belts disposed about said dispensing roller to form a first run.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first conveyor includes a second endless run spaced from said first run at approximately the diameter of the conveyed cigarettes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dispensing means of said making machine includes a peripherally toothed roller for discharging the cigarettes individually in spaced relation and said first conveyor includes at least one endless belt adjacent said roller to receive the discharged cigarettes thereon and at least another endless belt spaced from said one endless belt to convey the discharged cigarettes therebetween, said belts forming runs spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of a conveyed cigarette.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said packing machine includes a hopper to receive the cigarettes from said feed machine, a plurality of rollers in said hopper to segregate the cigarettes therein into rows, a plurality of means defining confined tortuous passageways extending below and between said rollers to sift the cigarettes and an agitator for moving the cigarettes below said means to prevent jamming in said hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said packing machine includes a hopper to receive the cigarettes from the feed machine, and which further comprises a detection means for adjusting said predetermined rate of said packaging machine in response to predetermined levels of cigarettes in said hopper.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination, in a one-to-one relationship, a cigarette making machine for producing cigarettes at a high rate of speed wherein said making machine includes a means for dispensing cigarettes individually in a spaced relationship, a cigarette packaging machine for packaging cigarettes at approximatley said high speed rate, and a cigarette feed machine connected between said making machine and said packaging machine to convey the cigarettes from said making machine to said packaging machine, said feed machine including a first conveyor connected to said making machine for receiving and conveying the cigarettes in said spaced relationship therefrom individually in a sequential series, a second conveyor downstream of said first conveyor for receiving and conveying the cigarettes from said first coveyor in stacked fashion to said packaging machine, and means for driving said second conveyor at a speed less than said first conveyor to permit the received cigarettes on said second conveyor to accumulate thereon into said stacked fashion during conveyance.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination, in a one-to-one relationship, a cigarette making machine for producing cigarettes at a high rate of speed wherein said making machine includes a means for dispensing cigarettes individually in a spaced relationship, a cigarette packaging machine for packaging cigarettes at approximatley said high speed rate, and a cigarette feed machine connected between said making machine and said packaging machine to convey the cigarettes from said making machine to said packaging machine, said feed machine including a first conveyor connected to said making machine for receiving and conveying the cigarettes in said spaced relationship therefrom individually in a sequential series, a second conveyor downstream of said first conveyor for receiving and conveying the cigarettes from said first coveyor in stacked fashion to said packaging machine, and means for driving said second conveyor at a speed less than said first conveyor to permit the received cigarettes on said second conveyor to accumulate thereon into said stacked fashion during conveyance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first conveyor conveys the cigarettes to an elevated position and said second conveyor is mounted below said elevated position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means for driving drives said second conveyor at a speed ratio of 1 to 4 relative to said first conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second conveyor is horizontally disposed and said packaging machine includes a hopper at a delivery end of said horizontal second conveyor to receive the conveyed cigarettes.
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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) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |