Patents by Inventor Syozo Horikawa

Syozo Horikawa 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: 7204401
    Abstract: A web material feeding apparatus has a suction plate 24 provided near an outlet of a reservoir box 2. The suction plate 24 can be shifted in the direction across a feeding path for tip paper C, by operation of a motor 76. The feeding apparatus also has a sensor unit 96 provided at the upstream side of a receiving drum 12. The sensor unit 96 supplies a detection signal to a controller 120. When the controller 120 detects meandering of the tip paper C on the basis of the detection signal supplied from the sensor unit 96, the controller 120 actuates the motor 76 to shift the suction plate 24 to thereby correct the meandering of the tip paper C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hisao Suzuki, Syozo Horikawa, Hiroshi Okamoto, Takayuki Irikura, Hiroyuki Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 7123987
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus for a filter cigarette making machine comprises a rotatable catcher drum (2). The drum (2) has receiving grooves (6) in its outer circumferential surface, for each receiving a cigarette rod (CR). A rod (CR) received in the groove (6) moves forward into a braking area therein. In the braking area, the rod (CR) receives braking force due to suction and is stopped. A pair of limit sensors (40, 42) are arranged outside the drum (2). The sensors (40,42) optically detect a rear end of the rod (CR), and on the basis of the result of this detection, whether a stop position at which the rod is stopped is within a tolerance area or not is determined. On the basis of the result of this determination, a controller (38) regulates the braking force exerted on rods (CR) to thereby control the stop position of the rods (CR). Then, a pusher (26) pushes the rod (CR) from its stop position back to a normal position, in each of the grooves (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okamoto, Syozo Horikawa
  • Patent number: 7101439
    Abstract: A fluid application device stores seam paste in a reservoir tank 18 and feeds the seam paste to a pressure tank 20 through a feed pump 22. Inside of the pressure tank 20 is maintained under a given air pressure by a pneumatic unit 26, and the seam paste is supplied from the pressure tank 20 to an application nozzle 16 through a supply pipe 24. A level sensor 28 detects fluid level of stored seam paste in the pressure tank 20, and a detection signal is input to a controller 30. The controller 30 controls operation of the feed pump 22 based on the detection signal that is transmitted from the level sensor 28 and also controls a supply amount of the seam paste to the pressure tank 20 to maintain the fluid level in the pressure tank 20 at a fixed level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Kushihashi, Syozo Horikawa, Junji Ueno
  • Patent number: 6941994
    Abstract: A double-faced splicing tape of the present invention splices a first web used for forming a tobacco rod and a second web in a stand-by state to and has a plurality of perforations extending in a longitudinal direction of the webs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feeding device for making the double-faced splicing tape hang toward a feeding position located in between a main delivery path of the first web and a sub-delivery path of the second web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc.
    Inventors: Shigenobu Kushihashi, Junichi Nagai, Hisao Suzuki, Fumio Kubo, Syozo Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20040221859
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus for a filter cigarette making machine comprises a rotatable catcher drum (2). The drum (2) has receiving grooves (6) in its outer circumferential surface, for each receiving a cigarette rod (CR). A rod (CR) received in the groove (6) moves forward into a braking area therein. In the braking area, the rod (CR) receives braking force due to suction and is stopped. A pair of limit sensors (40, 42) are arranged outside the drum (2). The sensors (40,42) optically detect a rear end of the rod (CR), and on the basis of the result of this detection, whether a stop position at which the rod is stopped is within a tolerance area or not is determined. On the basis of the result of this determination, a controller (38) regulates the braking force exerted on rods (CR) to thereby control the stop position of the rods (CR). Then, a pusher (26) pushes the rod (CR) from its stop position back to a normal position, in each of the grooves (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Hiroshi Okamoto, Syozo Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20040188029
    Abstract: A double-faced splicing tape of the present invention splices a first web used for forming a tobacco rod and a second web in a stand-by state to and has a plurality of perforations extending in a longitudinal direction of the webs. Furthermore, the present invention provides a feeding device for making the double-faced splicing tape hang toward a feeding position located in between a main delivery path of the first web and a sub-delivery path of the second web.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Shigenobu Kushihashi, Junichi Nagai, Hisao Suzuki, Fumio Kubo, Syozo Horikawa
  • Publication number: 20040124285
    Abstract: A fluid application device stores seam paste in a reservoir tank 18 and feeds the seam paste to a pressure tank 20 through a feed pump 22. Inside of the pressure tank 20 is maintained under a given air pressure by a pneumatic unit 26, and the seam paste is supplied from the pressure tank 20 to an application nozzle 16 through a supply pipe 24. A level sensor 28 detects fluid level of stored seam paste in the pressure tank 20, and a detection signal is input to a controller 30. The controller 30 controls operation of the feed pump 22 based on the detection signal that is transmitted from the level sensor 28 and also controls a supply amount of the seam paste to the pressure tank 20 to maintain the fluid level in the pressure tank 20 at a fixed level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Shigenobu Kushihashi, Syozo Horikawa, Junji Ueno
  • Publication number: 20040108351
    Abstract: A web material feeding apparatus has a suction plate 24 provided near an outlet of a reservoir box 2. The suction plate 24 can be shifted in the direction across a feeding path for tip paper C, by operation of a motor 76. The feeding apparatus also has a sensor unit 96 provided at the upstream side of a receiving drum 12. The sensor unit 96 supplies a detection signal to a controller 120. When the controller 120 detects meandering of the tip paper C on the basis of the detection signal supplied from the sensor unit 96, the controller 120 actuates the motor 76 to shift the suction plate 24 to thereby correct the meandering of the tip paper C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Hisao Suzuki, Syozo Horikawa, Hiroshi Okamoto, Takayuki Irikura, Hiroyuki Yoshinari