Patent · US Expired

Method of and apparatus for assembling accumulations of particulate materials

US5687747A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
2References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 14, 1995
Grant dateNov 18, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 14, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA24C5/06
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Particles of comminuted smokable material are loosened in a downwardly converging compartment defined by a funnel-shaped array of intermittently driven endless flexible belts. The outlet at the lower end of the compartment delivers flows of loosened material into a receptacle wherein the level of the material is monitored and a motor for the belts is started to admit additional material into the receptacle when the level of material descends below a predetermined minimum level. The bottom portion of the reservoir can be expanded and contracted to convert the lowermost part of material in the receptacle into a succession of properly compacted batches each of which can constitute a rod-like filler, and such batches are thereupon evacuated longitudinally of the bottom portion of the receptacle into successive empty tubular envelopes which can be made of cigarette paper or other wrapping material for rod-shaped smokers' products.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.