US4817639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tobacco leaf cleaning device
Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-14
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2007-07-14
Abstract
Abstract A tobacco leaf cleaning device for removing foreign particles, such as lint and string, from tobacco leaves as the tobacco moves from one point to another on a conveyor in a processing plant, is in the form of a flexible canvas sheet suspended from a rod parallel to the conveyor and extending downwardly into engagement with the leaves on the conveyor. The lower end of the sheet is slit into a plurality of fingers and the surface which engages the moving leaves has male Velcro fastener material attached to it for engaging and removing the lint and string as the leaves pass beneath the canvas sheet.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles R. Caudill
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:34
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24B; A24B1/00; A24B1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A tobacco leaf cleaning device for removing foreign particles such as lint and string from tobacco leaves as the tobacco moves from one point to another on said cleaning device including in combination: means for moving tobacco leaves; support means located a predetermined distance above said means for moving tobacco leaves; a flat flexible sheet member having a predetermined length greater than said predetermined distance, said sheet member having upper and lower ends; means for attaching the upper end of said sheet member to said support means; and cleaning means on the lower end of said sheet member for contacting tobacco leaves as the leaves pass under said sheet member for removing lint and foreign particles from the leaves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tobacco leaf cleaning device for removing foreign particles such as lint and string from tobacco leaves as the tobacco moves from one point to another on said cleaning device including in combination: means for moving tobacco leaves; support means located a predetermined distance above said means for moving tobacco leaves; a flat flexible sheet member having a predetermined length greater than said predetermined distance, said sheet member having upper and lower ends; means for attaching the upper end of said sheet member to said support means; and cleaning means on the lower end of said sheet member for contacting tobacco leaves as the leaves pass under said sheet member for removing lint and foreign particles from the leaves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said flat flexible sheet member has front and rear faces, the front face thereof located to contact the tobacco leaves as the leaves pass under said sheet member, with said cleaning means located on said front face on at least the portion of said front face which contacts the tobacco leaves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein sheet member comprises a sheet of canvas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination accordig to claim 3 wherein said cleaning means comprises a plurality of densely packed resilent hook members.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said resilent members are made of the male portion of a Velcro fastener.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said means for moving leaves comprises a conveyor, and wherein said support means extends transversely across the width of said conveyor on which the tobacco leaves are moved; and said flexible sheet member has a width which is at least as wide as the portion of said conveyor on which tobacco leaves are moved.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein a plurality of slits extend perpendicularly from the lower end of said sheet member to a position intermediate the upper end and lower ends thereof to form a plurality of leaf engaging fingers on said sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said cleaning means is attached to said fingers on at least the side which engages the leaves on the conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said attaching means removably attaches the upper end of said sheet member to said support means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein said attaching means comprises transverse parallel matching Velcro fastening strip members spaced apart from one another adjacent the upper end of said flexible sheet on the same side thereof; said support means comprises a rod mounted substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor; and said sheet is attached to said rod by wrapping said sheet over said rod and engaging the mating velcro fastening strip members to one another beneath said rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for moving leaves comprises a conveyor; and wherein said support means extends transversely across the width of said conveyor on which the tobacco leaves are moved; and said flexible sheet member has a width which is at least as wide as the portion of said conveyor on which tobacco leaves are moved.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein a plurality of slits extend perpendicularly from the lower end of said sheet member to a position intermediate the upper end and lower ends thereof to form a plurality of leaf engaging fingers on said sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said cleaning means is attached to said fingers on at least the side which engages the leaves on the conveyor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said attaching means removably attaches the upper end of said sheet member to said support means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said attaching means comprises transverse parallel matching Velcro fastening strip members spaced apart from one another adjacent the upper end of said flexible sheet on the same side thereof; said support means comprises a rod mounted substantially parallel to a surface on which the leaves move; and said sheet is attached to said rod by wrapping said sheet over said rod and engaging the mating velcro fastening strip members to one another beneath said rod.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein sheet member comprises a sheet of canvas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination accordig to claim 1 wherein said cleaning means comprises a plurality of densely packed resilent hook members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 17 wherein said resilent members are made of the male portion of a Velcro fastener.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of slits extend perpendicularly from the lower end of said sheet member to a position intermediate the upper end and lower ends thereof to form a plurality of leaf engaging fingers on said sheet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein sheet member comprises a sheet of canvas.
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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) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |