Feed unit

US10011436B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited · GB

Inventors

• Gary Fallon · London, GB
• Kie Seon Park · London, GB
• Martin Fuller · Kenilworth, GB
• Geoffrey Vernon · Kenilworth, GB
• Andrew Cleall · Coventry, GB
• James Stembridge · Kenilworth, GB
• Thomas Grunfeld · Kenilworth, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 18, 2015
• Grant date: Jul 3, 2018
• Expiry date: Mar 18, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A feed unit, for example for feeding components to smoking article assembly apparatus. The feed unit has a rotary device having a supply region (4) and one or more channels (7) adapted to receive components from the supply region (4) such that the components are stacked one on top of another within each channel (7). Each channel (7) has an inlet (5) and an outlet through which components pass for output from the feed unit. One of the inlet (5) and the supply region (4) is configured to reciprocate relative to the other to agitate the components in the supply region (4) so that components pass into the channel (7).