Patents Assigned to Molins, PLC
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Patent number: 4915547Abstract: A transport system particularly for flat articles, e.g. cards, includes guides which allow alternate articles to be conveyed in different orientations through the same duct (122) so that the risk of jamming or shingling during conveyance is eliminated. In a preferred arrangement the system includes a crossed-axes pneumatic duct (122) and driven rollers (144) for introducing cards (12) into the duct in different orientations. The system also includes intermediate air supply stations (138), a card inspection unit (134), and a receiving station (139) including a device (145) for turning cards so that they are all received in the same orientation.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1988Date of Patent: April 10, 1990Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Michael J. Cahill, Kenvin R. Fincham
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Patent number: 4913329Abstract: A web handling device through which a web is arranged to pass along a tortuous path extending around a number of rollers includes means for threading the web pneumatically comprising, in association with at least one of the rollers, a guide member having a guide surface which extends around part of the periphery of the roller in a spaced relationship so as to define a passage for the web, means for directing the web approximately tangentially towards the guide surface, and an air mover mounted on or adjacent to the upstream end of the guide surface, and arranged to pass a moving film of air along the guide surface while the web is being threaded through the apparatus, so as to entrain the web and convey it around the roller.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1988Date of Patent: April 3, 1990Assignee: Molins plcInventors: Michael J. Cahill, Kevin R. Fincham
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Patent number: 4903713Abstract: A cigarette conveying system for connecting several makers, packers and reservoirs is arranged with cross linking conveyors (22) which allow sub-division of the system into sub-systems which can be operated independently and can therefore handle different brands. Sub-systems may be defined by activating or de-activating selected conveyors and/or closing and opening gates provided at junctions between conveyors. In a preferred arrangement the system comprises a main loop and the cross linking conveyors sub-divide the main loop into sub-loops.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1989Date of Patent: February 27, 1990Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: Peter A. Clarke
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Patent number: 4898187Abstract: Loss of tobacco from the ends of cigarettes is reduced or prevented by applying foamed adhesive thereto. The foam may in general be blown onto the cigarette ends [(FIGS. 1, 2 and 4)] or may be "printed" onto the cigarette ends [(FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 and 6)]. The expansion ratio of the foam in preferably at least 10:1, so that very little liquid adhesive is needed to contact a significant area of tobacco. Thus the liquid content of the adhesive may be readily absorbed into the tobacco so as not to create a drying problem. In a preferred example [(FIG. 1)] foam is supplied by a pipe [24] to fill apertures on a disc [20] from which measured quantities of foam are blown by an air jet from a pipe [28.] Suction is applied to the filter ends [108]of the cigarettes via a manifold [18] and flexible seals [12C] to help in drawing the foam into the cigarettes.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 1988Date of Patent: February 6, 1990Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Dennis Hinchcliffe, Francis A. M. Labbe, Desmond W. Molins, Paul R. Wiese
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Patent number: 4872543Abstract: A conveyor system for a multi-layer stream of cigarettes or the like includes a buffer reservoir (32) and a variable length elevator (12) for transferring cigarettes between a main conveyor (10) and the reservoir. The elevator (12) has a movable lower end (22,24) carrying a transfer conveyor (30) which rises and falls with the state of fill of the reservoir (32). The reservoir (32) comprises a rotatable drum (34) carrying an helical track (36). Drive devices (40,46) for the drum (34) and for the movable end (22,24) of the elevator (12) are synchronized and the conveying speed of the elevator is adjusted to compensate for movement of its lower end (22,24).Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1987Date of Patent: October 10, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: Dennis Hinchcliffe
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Patent number: 4865179Abstract: Cigarettes in multi-layer stack formation are delivered from a maker (10) to a packer (12) on a path having a first junction (24) connected to a tray filling unit (30) and a second junction connected to a tray unloading unit (38). Control circuitry (54-72) is provided to control transfer of cigarettes at the first junction (24) according to the relative speeds of the maker and packer and/or the capacity of a reservoir (46) associated with the path. The control circuitry (54-72) prevents too frequent operation of a gate (32) associated with the first junction (24) and allows operation of the tray filling unit (30) at an optimum speed.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 1988Date of Patent: September 12, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: David C. M. Carter, Kerry Hierons
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Patent number: 4856536Abstract: Apparatus for applying measured quantities of foamed adhesive to the ends of cigarettes comprises a drum 10 arranged to having apertures 14A aligned with the respective cigarettes 12 and arranged to recieve foam from a source 18 adjacent to the plate, characterized by means 24,26 for pneumatically transferring foam progressively from each aperture to the end of the corresponding cigarette, i.e. during a significant arc of rotation of the drum.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1987Date of Patent: August 15, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Michael J. Cahill, Michael D. Simcoe, John D. Stanton, Brian H. Warner
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Patent number: 4852589Abstract: A cigarette making machine includes a channel (10; 100; 204) through which tobacco is pneumatically conveyed to form a cigarette filler stream (15; 209) on a conveyor (12; 130; 220) at the outlet of the channel, a first louvre (20; 110; 214) through which some of the air entering the channel through its inlet end is drawn from the channel while tobacco continues towards the conveyor, and a second louvre (22; 120; 216), closer than the first louvre to the outlet end of the channel, through which an additional amount of the air entering the channel is drawn while the tobacco continues towards the conveyor. The channel (202) may be arranged to extend around a cylinder with an inclined axis (208) so that upward movement of the tobacco is converted into approximately horizontal movement with a substantial component in the direction of movement of the conveyor (200) on which the tobacco collects to form a cigarette filler stream (209).Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1988Date of Patent: August 1, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: Francis A. M. Labbe
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Patent number: 4848561Abstract: A continuous line of laterally moving cigarettes is provided by extracting a row of cigarettes from an 80-column hopper 10, supporting the row by suction on the underside of a fluted beam 18 mounted on a pair of cranks 20, and cyclically rotating the cranks to bring the speed of the beam up to that of a fluted conveyor 32, where the row is deposited at the end of a previously transferred row. From the continuous line of cigarettes shorter rows are subsequently removed by known suction drums to form a succession of groups ready for packing on a continuous packer.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 1987Date of Patent: July 18, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Dennis Hinchcliffe, Desmond W. Molins
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Patent number: 4848372Abstract: Filter tipped cigarettes are turned end for end by a narrow flexible belt (10) which is twisted in a figure of eight about pulleys (13, 14). The belt (10) has flutes (8) which engage only the tipped ends (T). A tensioned thin flexible strip (22) covers the open sides of the flutes (8) to retain the cigarettes while being turned, and endwise movement of the cigarettes is prevented by a fixed guide (26).In a modification, a belt (34) has flutes (32) formed in opposite sides and extends between pulleys (36,38), with a single 180 degree twist in the upper run. After being tip-turned, the cigarettes are removed from the inner side of the belt by suction in flutes 50 and moved endwise by a cam (60) away from belt (34) for transfer to a drum 62. Belt (34) may have flutes in only one side, in which case a second 180 degree twist is formed in the lower run.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1987Date of Patent: July 18, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: Desmond W. Molins
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Patent number: 4834116Abstract: Groups of cigarettes are formed by axially extracting cigarettes from the bases of two hoppers (10, 12), each having vertical columns (14, 20) spaced apart by a cigarette diameter. The columns of the hoppers are staggered so that a cigarette extracted from the rear hopper (12) enters the gap between adjacent cigarettes of the front hopper (10, FIG. 3). The base plate (22) of the front hopper is initially higher than the base plate (18) of the rear hopper to allow clearance during intercalation of the cigarettes.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1986Date of Patent: May 30, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Michael J. Cahill, David C. M. Carter, Michael D. Simcoe
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Patent number: 4832058Abstract: A method of and apparatus for feeding tobacco pneumatically from a common supply station and substantially continuously to a number of cigarette making machines, in which tobacco is drawn from a common tobacco-spreading feed table at the supply station by a number of pipes leading to the respective cigarette making machines at an average controlled rate for each pipe which corresponds to the rate at which tobacco is used by the corresponding cigarette making machine.In one preferred form of apparatus, each feed pipe includes a buffer which receives all the tobacco drawn intermittently into the pipe and from which tobacco is fed continuously at a variable rate into a downstream portion of the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 1982Date of Patent: May 23, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: Francis A. M. Labbe
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Patent number: 4813527Abstract: A variable capacity reservoir (88) for rod-like articles in stack formation comprises a variable length elevator (26) having an upper outlet (66) which rises and falls with the level of articles in the reservoir. The elevator (26) includes an endless band (24) which may be projected upwards from the floor of the reservoir (88), an extending membrane (44) shielding articles in the reservoir from engagement with a return run of the band. The reservoir (88) may receive filter rods and be located at or closely adjacent to a filter cigarette assembling machine.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1985Date of Patent: March 21, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: David C. M. Carter
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Patent number: 4802497Abstract: A system for feeding tobacco pneumatically and continuously to a cigarette making machine includes a fan (34,116; 148) which draws air through the machine via a suction band (48) and via one or more screens (96,98) and also serves to draw air through a duct by which tobacco is conveyed to the hopper (10) of the cigarette making machine from a tobacco sending device (12). The interior of the hopper is at subatmospheric pressure. This system avoids the need for an air lock in the hopper.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 1987Date of Patent: February 7, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventor: Karel Hrboticky
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Patent number: 4795020Abstract: A stream of rod-like articles such as cigarettes in multi-layer stack formation is separated by a movable gate having a leading end capable of limited reversible movement in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the gate is advanced, so as to facilitate advancement of the gate between articles of the stream. The gate may cooperate with a resilient closing strip in its closed position. Another form of gate comprises a pivoted plate biased into its closing position by a progressively increasing force.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 1985Date of Patent: January 3, 1989Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: David C. M. Carter, Ian Dunckley, Leonard G. Lait
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Patent number: 4793364Abstract: A cigarette making machine has an arrangement for showering tobacco A (a high-taste tobacco) on to a first conveyor carrying outward projections defining the ends of portions of tobacco A which are then transferred at spaced intervals to a second conveyor arranged thereafter to receive a layer of tobacco B (a low-tar tobacco or substitute) filling the spaces between the portions of tobacco A and extending over those portions. The machine includes a trimming device for removing excess tobacco B to form a cigarette filler stream ready for enclosing in a paper wrapper to form a continuous rod. This allows the manufacture of "light" cigarettes of which the first few puffs have an enhanced taste as a result of the tobacco A at the lit end.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1986Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Francis A. M. Labbe, John R. Nowers, Paul R. Wiese, Ivan Y. Hirsh, Godfrey A. Wood
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Patent number: 4790422Abstract: A conveyor system links two or more cigarette making machines and associated reservoirs with two or more packing machines and includes a first junction to which articles are delivered from at least two makers, a second junction from which articles pass to at least two receiving machines, and a transfer conveyor linking the junctions. The system allows each maker/reservoir to supply either packer but prevents articles passing from one reservoir to the other.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 1986Date of Patent: December 13, 1988Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Peter A. Clarke, David C. M. Carter
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Patent number: 4787497Abstract: In a conveyor system for filter cigarettes in stack formation a boundary wall member for the stack is movable in a direction to compensate for tip build-up. In a preferred arrangement in the hopper of tray filler the member includes a flexible membrane (20) partially supported at one side, corresponding to the tobacco ends of the cigarettes, by a rigid backing member (28).Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1986Date of Patent: November 29, 1988Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Paul G. King, Anthony R. Brown
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Patent number: 4785831Abstract: Loss of tobacco from the ends of cigarettes is reduced or prevented by applying foamed adhesive thereto. The foam may in general be blown onto the cigarette ends or may be "printed" onto the cigarette ends. The expansion ratio of the foam in preferably at least 10:1, so that very little liquid adhesive is needed to contact a significant area of tobacco. Thus the liquid content of the adhesive may be readily absorbed into the tobacco so as not to create a drying problem. In a preferred example foam is supplied by a pipe to fill apertures on a disc from which measured quantities of foam are blown by an air jet from a pipe. Suction is applied to the filter ends of the cigarettes via a manifold and flexible seals to help in drawing the foam into the cigarettes.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 1986Date of Patent: November 22, 1988Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Dennis Hinchcliffe, Francis A. M. Labbe, Desmond W. Molins, Paul R. Wiese
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Patent number: 4785928Abstract: A mass flow of cigarettes is reduced in width as it passes downwardly through chutes into a passage in which the cigarettes are formed as a stream two rows deep. The cigarettes are fed onto a fluted drum and accelerated to form gaps between them, the cigarettes in one row being held by suction in the flutes and those in the other row resting on top of them and being kept in place by suction. From the fluted drum the cigarettes are transferred to a further fluted drum as a single row, by being fed between a stripper and a fixed plate which are positioned so that only one cigarette, from each row alternately, can pass into a flute on the further drum. The cigarettes may then be collated into groups ready for packing.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 1986Date of Patent: November 22, 1988Assignee: Molins PLCInventors: Dennis Hinchcliffe, Desmond W. Molins, Stanley V. Starkey