Patent · US Expired

Method of an apparatus for inverting filter cigarettes and the like

US6471036B1 · kind B1 · utility

16Cited by
8References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 5, 2000
Grant dateOct 29, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 5, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA24C5/336
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A drum-shaped conveyor rotates about a fixed axis and its core carries a set of angularly distributed sections indexible about axes extending radially of the fixed axis when the core is set in rotary motion. Each section has several parallel flutes for sets of discrete filter cigarettes which are turned end-for-end, as well as moved circumferentially and axially of the core, in response to each revolution of the core. Rotation of successive sections about the respective radial axes takes place at timely spaced intervals and in opposite directions. The conveyor can receive filter cigarettes from a maker and inverts the sets of cigarettes prior to admission of such articles into a packing machine.

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