Patents by Inventor Robert V. Powell
Robert V. Powell 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).
-
Publication number: 20250223064Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2025Publication date: July 10, 2025Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Christopher Ryan NEWCOMB, James D. EVANS, Thien NGUYEN, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert V. POWELL
-
Patent number: 12263981Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2024Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory L. Nelson, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, James D. Evans, Thien Nguyen, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert V. Powell
-
Publication number: 20240140633Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2024Publication date: May 2, 2024Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Christopher Ryan NEWCOMB, James D. EVANS, Thien NGUYEN, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert V. POWELL
-
Patent number: 11945620Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLCInventors: Gregory L. Nelson, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, James D. Evans, Thien Nguyen, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert V. Powell
-
Publication number: 20230264377Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: Altria Client services LLCInventors: Dwight David WILLIAMS, James David EVANS, Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY, Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Robert V. POWELL
-
Patent number: 11691309Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2021Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dwight David Williams, James David Evans, Patrick Sean McElhinney, Jarrod Wayne Chalkley, Christopher R. Newcomb, Robert V. Powell
-
Publication number: 20220324596Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Christohper Ryan NEWCOMB, James D. EVANS, Thien NGUYEN, Jarrod W. CHALKLEY, Robert V. POWELL
-
Patent number: 11407534Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory L. Nelson, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, James D. Evans, Thien Nguyen, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert V. Powell
-
Publication number: 20220088816Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2021Publication date: March 24, 2022Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dwight David WILLIAMS, James David EVANS, Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY, Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Robert V. POWELL
-
Patent number: 11213967Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dwight David Williams, James David Evans, Patrick Sean McElhinney, Jarrod Wayne Chalkley, Christopher R. Newcomb, Robert V. Powell
-
Publication number: 20200324924Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2019Publication date: October 15, 2020Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, James D. Evans, Thien Nguyen, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert V. Powell
-
Publication number: 20190344464Abstract: An apparatus includes channel assemblies in a rotatable section, a cutting assembly, a discharge assembly, and a cleanout assembly. The channel assembly holds a bulk instance of compressible material extending through upper and lower channels of a continuous channel. The cutting assembly moves in relation to the channel assembly to isolate the upper and lower channels, severing upper and lower material portions of the bulk instance. The discharge assembly directs gas into the lower channel of a channel assembly to discharge the lower material portion from the lower channel, based on radial alignment of a conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the discharge assembly. The cleanout assembly supplies a fluid through the conduit assembly of the channel assembly, based on radially alignment of the conduit assembly of the channel assembly with a conduit assembly of the cleanout assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2019Publication date: November 14, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: Dwight David WILLIAMS, James David EVANS, Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY, Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Robert V. POWELL
-
Publication number: 20190193876Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: Altria Client Services LLCInventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley