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).

  • Patent number: 10981682
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell Jr., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Publication number: 20200324924
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Gregory L. NELSON, Christopher Ryan Newcomb, James D. Evans, Thien Nguyen, Jarrod W. Chalkley, Robert V. Powell
  • Publication number: 20200307836
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. EVANS, Herbert Cary LONGEST, Tamika S. MURRELL, Robert V. POWELL JR., Jeremy STRAIGHT, Jarrod CHALKLEY
  • Patent number: 10654597
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jr., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Publication number: 20190344464
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Dwight David WILLIAMS, James David EVANS, Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY, Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY, Christopher R. NEWCOMB, Robert V. POWELL
  • Publication number: 20190193876
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Patent number: 10220969
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jr., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Publication number: 20180037345
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, JR., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Patent number: 9845170
    Abstract: An apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending and/or cracking during tamping. The apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, Jr., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Publication number: 20140048170
    Abstract: An apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending and/or cracking during tamping. The apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, JR., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley
  • Publication number: 20140047804
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES INC.
    Inventors: James D. Evans, Herbert Cary Longest, Tamika S. Murrell, Robert V. Powell, JR., Jeremy Straight, Jarrod Chalkley