Patents by Inventor Andrew John Cleall
Andrew John Cleall has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6855100Abstract: An apparatus for processing packaging blanks includes an applying device, a first conveyor, and a second conveyor. The first conveyor conveys the blanks at a first velocity arranged to permit the application of an adhesive to the blanks by means of the device. The second conveyor is arranged to receive the blanks from the first conveyor and convey them at a second velocity which is greater than the first velocity resulting in a change in the pitch of the stream of blanks conveyed by the conveyors. Alternatively the applying means may apply an adhering element such as a coupon or hologram such that it adheres to the blank. The adhering element may adhere to the blank by virtue of an adhesive carried on a rear surface of the element or by means of an adhesive carried by the blank.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2000Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Thomas William Bailey, Andrew John Cleall, Brian Hill
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Patent number: 6612094Abstract: Article wrapping apparatus for wrapping or folding a wrapper blank around an article which may comprise or contain a group of rod-like articles such as cigarettes, includes a wrapper blank former which simultaneously folds sides and ends of a blank (60) by plunging the former (64) around an article holder (58) and subsequently plunging the article from the holder into the former. The apparatus also includes a housing (24) for supporting a partially-wrapped article which is pivoted relative to an abutment (32) so that a flap is swept into a closed position; and pivoted holders (24, 54) which are used to transfer articles between axially-spaced process positions on a process drum (6). Folding operations may be performed during transfer to or from a pivotable holder (24, 54), particularly in a radial direction of the drum (6).Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1999Date of Patent: September 2, 2003Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Thomas William Bailey, John David Chandler, Andrew John Cleall, Brian Hill, Robert Howard Taylor
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Publication number: 20020088203Abstract: A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly (2) which is adapted to receive articles (4) travelling along a path which is adjacent one region of the periphery of the assembly, and means (26) for receiving foil (14) or other wrapping material, at a different peripheral region, the foil then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for reorienting the foil into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane (20) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means (40, 32).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2002Publication date: July 11, 2002Inventors: Thomas William Bailey, Andrew John Cleall, Graham Richard James, Robert Howard Taylor
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Patent number: 6381920Abstract: A packing machine comprising a rotary assembly (2) which is adapted to receive articles (4) travelling along a path which is adjacent one region of the periphery of the assembly, and means (26) for receiving foil (14) or other wrapping material, at a different peripheral region, the foil then being oriented in a tangential plane; the assembly further comprising means for reorienting the foil into a plane which is perpendicular to said tangential plane (20) at a subsequent rotary position, where it is suitably aligned with a cooperating article wrapping means (40, 32).Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1999Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Thomas William Bailey, Andrew John Cleall, Graham Richard James, Robert Howard Taylor
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Patent number: 6370795Abstract: Holders (20) for articles such as newly-formed packets or groups of cigarettes are used to constrain and protect the articles while being conveyed by handling apparatus (22), e.g. in a packing machine (10). Holders (20) of similar external shape, adapted to interface with the handling apparatus, may be provided with differing internal features (28), adapted for receiving different articles, so that the articles may be readily conveyed by the same apparatus. The apparatus may be employed at the exit end of a cigarette packing machine to maintain the shape of newly-formed packets in a packet stabilising region. This region may comprise a reservoir including a series of compartmented drums (24,26) in which each compartment receives a line of abutting holders which is indexed in an axial direction during rotation of the drums.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 1999Date of Patent: April 16, 2002Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Thomas William Bailey, Andrew John Cleall, Brian Hill
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Patent number: 6325201Abstract: Blank feeding apparatus, particularly in a hinged-lid cigarette packing machine, includes rotary blank pick-up means (36-42), and support means (44-50), rotatable with the pick-up means, for engaging and supporting the base of a blank stack in a magazine (2) between each pick-up operation. The pick-up means (36-42) may each comprise a pivotable arm (20-24), movable as it rotates by means of a pivoted follower member (60,62) engaging a fixed cam track (54). The blanks may be retained in the stack in the magazine (2) by pivotally-mounted support fingers (4,6) which are successively retracted to release a blank as the pick-up means (36-42) passes.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1999Date of Patent: December 4, 2001Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Thomas William Bailey, Andrew John Cleall, Brian Hill
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Patent number: 5934043Abstract: Transverse cuts are made in a web using a cutter/anvil combination which is subjected to high frequency vibration, preferable ultrasound. In one arrangement, particularly for cutting tea bag webs, a rotary cutter drum (4) cooperates with an ultrasonically-vibrated anvil 12. The web may be simultaneously sealed and cut by means of a modified drum (202) having sealer/cutter elements (208, 210). In other arrangements, particularly for cutting cork paper on a machine for assembling filter cigarettes, the paper is severed on a drum (106, 122, 192, 350) cooperating with an ultrasonically-vibrated anvil (110, 194, 312) or directly on an ultrasonically-vibrated drum (144, 160, 170, 180).Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1995Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Alan Michael Aindow, Andrew John Cleall, Philip Gordon Haddow, David Robert Seaward, Geoffrey William Vernon, Peter Ernest Willett, Stephen William Bird
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Patent number: 5806392Abstract: Shaped articles are cut from a web by correspondingly shaped cutters on a drum cooperating with an anvil drum. The web is engaged by conveyor bands which pass around the cutter and anvil drums and form a continuing conveying path for the web away from the drums. The conveyor bands are clear of the article shapes cut in the web which can thus be positively separated from the web by pusher means to be drawn away from the web by their own conveying means.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton, Co., Division of Conopco, Inc.Inventors: Andrew John Cleall, James Goodwin, Geoffrey William Vernon, Peter Ernest Willett