Patent US4170251A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4170251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining the weight and moisture content of materials
Assignee: Proctor and Schwartz Ltd
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Filing: 1976-11-03
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Granted: 1979-10-09
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Expires: 1996-11-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a novel and improved apparatus for controlling or obtaining the actual weight of materials which are charged to a receptacle or other receiving means such as a shipping container. The present invention also resides in a novel apparatus for simultaneously determining the weight and moisture content of such materials.
Inventors
- 👤 II Edwin W. Hine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:37
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G11/00; G01G11/04; G01G11/043; G01G11/046; A; A24; A24B; A24B1/00; A24B1/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A tobacco processing and packing apparatus comprising: a drying and remoistening chamber; a packing tower remote from said drying and remoistening chamber including loading means for loading tobacco into shipping containers; conveyor means for transporting tobacco from said drying and remoistening chamber to said packing tower; said conveyor means including (a) a weigh conveyor for controlling the weight of tobacco fed to a shipping container including means for producing a signal proportionate to the weight of the tobacco thereon, said weigh conveyor being positioned adjacent said packing tower loading means whereby tobacco flowing from the weigh conveyor is transmitted to the shipping containers with minimum delay time; and (b) moisture reading means adapted to determine the moisture content of the tobacco on said weigh conveyor simultaneously with determination of the tobacco weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A tobacco processing and packing apparatus comprising: a drying and remoistening chamber; a packing tower remote from said drying and remoistening chamber including loading means for loading tobacco into shipping containers; conveyor means for transporting tobacco from said drying and remoistening chamber to said packing tower; said conveyor means including (a) a weigh conveyor for controlling the weight of tobacco fed to a shipping container including means for producing a signal proportionate to the weight of the tobacco thereon, said weigh conveyor being positioned adjacent said packing tower loading means whereby tobacco flowing from the weigh conveyor is transmitted to the shipping containers with minimum delay time; and (b) moisture reading means adapted to determine the moisture content of the tobacco on said weigh conveyor simultaneously with determination of the tobacco weight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said moisture reading means comprises a probe which extends across the full width of the tobacco layer on the weigh conveyor and is in contact with said tobacco layer, said probe providing an electrical field which extends into the tobacco layer flowing beneath the probe; the energy transmitted by said electrical field being proportional to the moisture content of said tobacco layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said weigh conveyor comprises a balanced beam; a pneumatic weigh cell responsive to said balanced beam producing a pneumatic signal proportional to the weight on said weigh conveyor; converter means for converting said pneumatic signal to an electrical signal; pulser means for converting said electrical signal into a series of pulses; and counter means for counting the number of pulses, said number of pulses being proportional to the weight of the material on said weigh conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a method for processing tobacco wherein the tobacco is submitted continuously to the successive steps of drying and remoistening at one station, and then packing in a suitable shipping container at a station remote from the drying and remoistening station, the improvement for controlling the weight of tobacco fed to a shipping container comprising continuously producing a signal proportionate to the weight of the tobacco and simultaneously therewith its moisture content immediately prior to introducing the same into said shipping container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
82 words
In a method for processing tobacco wherein the tobacco is submitted continuously to the successive steps of drying and remoistening at one station, and then packing in a suitable shipping container at a station remote from the drying and remoistening station, the improvement for controlling the weight of tobacco fed to a shipping container comprising continuously producing a signal proportionate to the weight of the tobacco and simultaneously therewith its moisture content immediately prior to introducing the same into said shipping container.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said determination is used to control the flow of tobacco into a shipping container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-10-08 | 1983-04-09 | 1983-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-10-08 | 1987-04-09 | 1987-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-10-08 | 1991-04-09 | 1991-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |