Patents by Inventor Robert C. Lanier
Robert C. Lanier 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: 8579776Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2010Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Lanier, Jr., Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah
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Patent number: 8215315Abstract: The present invention is directed at various apparatus, systems and methods for forming a sealed concentric or sealed concentric hollow core tobacco rod. The methods of the invention at least comprise passing a trimmed column of metered tobacco and paper between a tongue and garniture to form a concentric shaped tobacco rod or tobacco rod with an inner hollow core; maintaining the concentric shape; and outputting a sealed concentric tobacco rod or a concentric hollow tobacco rod.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2008Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Charles G. Atwell, Robert C. Lanier, Jr., Martin T. Garthaffner
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Publication number: 20100152008Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Robert C. Lanier, JR., Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah
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Patent number: 7691043Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Lanier, Jr., Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah
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Publication number: 20090272389Abstract: The present invention is directed at various apparatus, systems and methods for forming a sealed concentric or sealed concentric hollow core tobacco rod. The methods of the invention at least comprise passing a trimmed column of metered tobacco and paper between a tongue and garniture to form a concentric shaped tobacco rod or tobacco rod with an inner hollow core; maintaining the concentric shape; and outputting a sealed concentric tobacco rod or a concentric hollow tobacco rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 24, 2008Publication date: November 5, 2009Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Charles G. Atwell, Robert C. Lanier, JR., Martin T. Garthaffner
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Patent number: 7448991Abstract: A system and process for monitoring a continuous element being incorporated within a cigarette filter includes a light source and a photoresponsive device facing each other and on opposite sides of a measuring gap, and passing the continuous element through the measuring gap and detecting movement of the continuous element by the effect of the movement on at least one light beam present between the light source and the photoresponsive device. Individual lengths of the continuous cigarette filter rod being produced can be selectively rejected based on a determination of whether the continuous element has a break or a knot along its length.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2002Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Lanier, Jr., Tejinder Gill, Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah
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Patent number: 7074170Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2003Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Lanier, Jr., Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah
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Patent number: 6903555Abstract: A flavor monitoring system comprises a photo-ionization detector based sensor for measuring the amount of flavor in flavored cigarette filters The sensor has an intake port and an exit port open to the atmosphere. An enclosure with a removable cover is connected to the intake port of the sensor, and the enclosure is constructed and arranged to receive a flavored cigarette filter to be analyzed. The photo-ionization detector based sensor draws a gaseous sample from the flavored filter within the enclosure, ionizes the flavor sample and displays a reading representative of the amount of flavor in the filter. Subsequently the reading may be converted to a flavor amount in milligrams by multiplying the reading by a correlation factor.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Philip Moris USA Inc.Inventors: Tejinder K. Gill, Robert C. Lanier, Jr., John Dawson
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Publication number: 20040094169Abstract: A system and process for monitoring a continuous element being incorporated within a cigarette filter includes a light source and a photoresponsive device facing each other and on opposite sides of a measuring gap, and passing the continuous element through the measuring gap and detecting movement of the continuous element by the effect of the movement on at least one light beam present between the light source and the photoresponsive device. Individual lengths of the continuous cigarette filter rod being produced can be selectively rejected based on a determination of whether the continuous element has a break or a knot along its length.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2002Publication date: May 20, 2004Inventors: Robert C. Lanier,, Tejinder Gill, Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah
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Publication number: 20040090235Abstract: A flavor monitoring system comprises a photo-ionization detector based sensor for measuring the amount of flavor in flavored cigarette filters The sensor has an intake port and an exit port open to the atmosphere. An enclosure with a removable cover is connected to the intake port of the sensor, and the enclosure is constructed and arranged to receive a flavored cigarette filter to be analyzed. The photo-ionization detector based sensor draws a gaseous sample from the flavored filter within the enclosure, ionizes the flavor sample and displays a reading representative of the amount of flavor in the filter. Subsequently the reading may be converted to a flavor amount in milligrams by multiplying the reading by a correlation factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2002Publication date: May 13, 2004Inventors: Tejinder K. Gill, Robert C. Lanier, John Dawson
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Publication number: 20030224918Abstract: A filter making apparatus includes a positioning device having a passageway therethrough, with the passageway guiding a continuous flavor element such as a continuous strand of textile material from an inlet of the passageway to an outlet of the passageway. A liquid flavorant is introduced into the passageway at a desired flow rate and the strand of material carries the supplied liquid flavorant out of the positioning device at a rate substantially equal to the desired flow rate. A portion of the passageway can form a bath of the liquid flavorant supplied to the passageway through a separate inlet at approximately atmospheric pressure. A portion of the positioning device guides the continuous strand of material through the bath, or guides the strand to pass along the bottom of the passageway, and the saturated or partially saturated strand of material then exits from an outlet of the passageway to a point in the path of filter tow material that is being converged to form a filter rod.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2003Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Philip Morris USA Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Lanier, Steven M. Campbell, Stephen J. Bellamah