Filter plug tray
AssigneePhilip Morris Incorporated
InventorsFrederick Porter, Larry W. Shepherd, Joseph J. Sprouse, Jr., Michael J. Steeves
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filter plug tray includes a housing having a loading port which cooperates with external loading and unloading stations, a feed conveyor for conveying filter plugs across the loading port, and expandable filter plug constraining means positioned in the housing to contain the filter plugs in a desired orientation and alignment. The constraining means includes a flexible band wound under tension on a reel rotatably mounted the housing. The flexible band unwinds as plugs are loaded into the tray and winds onto the reel to urge plugs to the loading port as plugs are unloaded.
Claims29
A method for loading and unloading a filter plug tray, comprising the steps of:
- feeding filter plugs into a tray housing from a loading station;
- receiving the filter plugs in the housing in an opening defined by an expandable constraining means;
- adjusting the expandable constraining means non-lineararly to match the volume of filter plugs;
- applying pressure around the plugs to maintain the plugs in a predetermined orientation;
- transporting the tray housing from the loading station to an unloading station:
- and
- unloading the plugs in the predetermined orientation via the opening of the expandable constraining means from the expandable constraining means to the unloading station.
A tray for filter plugs, comprising:
- a housing, wherein the housing includes a port adapted for selective connection with a loading station and an unloading station;
- plug feeding means for feeding filter plugs into and out of the housing via the port;
- expandable constraining means for receiving filter plugs within the housing via a defined opening;
- the expandable constraining means non-lineararly adjusting an interior space of the housing to accommodate the filter plugs;
- the expandable constraining means applying pressure to the filter plugs to constrain the filter plugs in a predetermined orientation;
- and
- the expandable constraining means contracting to urge the filter plugs out of the defined opening.
A tray for filter plugs, comprising:
- a housing having a port for loading and unloading filter plugs therethrough, wherein the port is adapted for selective connection with a loading station and unloading station;
- and
- expandable plug constrainer which non-lineararly adjusts an internal space in the housing comprising:
- a flexible band having a first end fixed in the housing;
- a reel rotatably mounted the housing on which a second end of the flexible band is wound, the band defining a receptacle for filter plugs;
- and
- the reel and the first end forming an opening open to the port, the reel unwinding and winding the band to respectively expand and contract the defined receptacle to respectively load and unload filter plugs via the opening, wherein the reel has a winding tension to urge the band to wind on the reel, wherein containment pressure is applied to plugs within the receptacle defined by the band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.