Patents by Inventor Steven Frederick Spiers

Steven Frederick Spiers 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).

  • Compaction system for particles in particle filled cavities of an article
    Patent number: 6656412
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compacting particles or granules in discrete cavities spaced along an article or articles such as a cigarette filter rod moved underneath the compacting system. The compacting system can be provided with spaced lugs or other protrusions that selectively compact particles within cavities, or a smooth outer periphery that results in progressive compaction of the entire article being moved underneath the compaction system. The article having cavities with particles that need to be compacted can be supported on a support rail with side support rails that maintain the shape of the article during the compaction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Martin T. Garthaffner, Janet L. Thompson, Steven Frederick Spiers
  • VACUUM CLEANING WHEEL AND VACUUM APPLICATOR
    Publication number: 20030033685
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaning wheel and vacuum applicator having a stationary vacuum chamber, a ported wheel that rotates around the stationary vacuum chamber, and a stationary shoe that acts as the vacuum applicator and is positioned between the ported wheel and an article such as a cigarette filter rod to be cleaned. An article or articles having cavities filled with granular particles is passed underneath the stationary shoe and rotating ported wheel, with the movement of the article being synchronized with the rotation of the ported wheel. The stationary shoe provided between the rotating ported wheel and the article having particle filled cavities ensures that vacuum is only applied to remove loose particles in between the particle filled cavities, with vacuum being cut off abruptly to ports that are passing over the particle filled cavities and with the particles that have been cleaned being removed completely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Steven Frederick Spiers, Jeremy J. Straight
  • Compaction system for particles in particle filled cavities of an article
    Publication number: 20030034590
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compacting particles or granules in discrete cavities spaced along an article or articles such as a cigarette filter rod moved underneath the compacting system. The compacting system can be provided with spaced lugs or other protrusions that selectively compact particles within cavities, or a smooth outer periphery that results in progressive compaction of the entire article being moved underneath the compaction system. The article having cavities with particles that need to be compacted can be supported on a support rail with side support rails that maintain the shape of the article during the compaction process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Martin T. Garthaffner, Janet L. Thompson, Steven Frederick Spiers
  • Vacuum cleaning wheel and vacuum applicator
    Patent number: 6511549
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaning wheel and vacuum applicator having a stationary vacuum chamber, a ported wheel that rotates around the stationary vacuum chamber, and a stationary shoe that acts as the vacuum applicator and is positioned between the ported wheel and an article such as a cigarette filter rod to be cleaned. An article or articles having cavities filled with granular particles is passed underneath the stationary shoe and rotating ported wheel, with the movement of the article being synchronized with the rotation of the ported wheel. The stationary shoe provided between the rotating ported wheel and the article having particle filled cavities ensures that vacuum is only applied to remove loose particles in between the particle filled cavities, with vacuum being cut off abruptly to ports that are passing over the particle filled cavities and with the particles that have been cleaned being removed completely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Philp Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Ahmet Ercelebi, Steven Frederick Spiers, Jeremy J. Straight