Spray cylinder with retractable pins
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorJohn Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Retractable, self-cleaning pins are mounted on a rotating spray cylinder. Each pin is caused to extend into the cylinder during the upward motion of the pin in order to help convey material within the cylinder. Retraction of each pin occurs during its downward motion in order to remove material adhered to the pin. Extension and retraction of the pins may be controlled by such means as a cam. If desired, the interior surface of the cylinder may be scraped (e.g., by a stationary scraper) where the pins are retracted.
Claims10
A rotating spray cylinder usable for such purposes as blending, steam-conditioning, drying, and applying flavorants to tobacco placed within it comprising:
- a plurality of retractable pins mounted on the wall of the cylinder;
- and
- means for alternately extending and retracting each pin into and out of the interior of the cylinder as the cylinder rotates in order to help convey the material within the cylinder while the pin is extended.
The method of conveying and mixing tobacco in a hollow spray cylinder having (1) a substantially horizontal central longitudinal axis and (2) a plurality of longitudinal pins mounted on said cylinder so that the longitudinal axis of each pin is substantially radial of said cylinder, said pins being spaced from one another about the circumference of said cylinder, said method comprising the steps of:
- rotating said cylinder about its central longitudinal axis;
- extending a longitudinal portion of each pin parallel to its longitudinal axis into the interior of said cylinder during at least a portion of the time that the portion of the cylinder on which said pin is mounted is moving upward due to the rotation of said cylinder;
- and
- withdrawing said longitudinal portion of each pin parallel to its longitudinal axis from the interior of said cylinder after performing said extending step with respect to said pin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.