Material transfer method and apparatus
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsJames M. Washington, Emil A. Marx
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Material is collected in radially extending slots opening into the outer periphery of a first wheel intermittently rotated about a first axis to successively dispose material-containing slots at a registration location. A second wheel is rotated synchronously with the first wheel about an axis perpendicular to the first axis to successively dispose slots extending axially therein at the registration location. Material is forcibly discharged from the first wheel slots to the second wheel slots as they are maintained in stationary facing relation at the registration location.
Claims10
Apparatus for use in making cigarette filters containing granular material comprising:
- a. hopper means for containing said material;
- b. a material collector wheel supported for rotation about a first axis and having a slot with a first end open at the circumference of said collector wheel and an opposite end, said collector wheel supporting an air permeable member in said slot thereof;
- c. a receptor wheel supported for rotation about a second axis perpendicular to said first axis and having a slot with an end open at a side surface of said receptor wheel, said receptor wheel supporting in said slot thereof a filter assembly defining a cavity having an opening facing said side surface;
- d. drive means for rotating said collector wheel about said first axis to move said collector wheel slot first end interiorly of said hopper means and then exteriorly thereof to a registration position and for rotating said receptor wheel about said second axis to move said receptor wheel slot end into facing relation with said collector wheel slot first end at said registration position;
- and
- e. air pressurization means for negatively pressurizing said collector wheel slot opposite end selectively upon disposition of said collector wheel slot first end interiorly of said hopper means, whereby material is transferred into the extent of said collector wheel slot extending outwardly of said air permeable member thereof, and for providing selective differential pressurization axially of said collector wheel and receptor wheel slots at said registration position, thereby discharging said material from said collector wheel slot into said filter assembly cavity
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.