公开(公告)号：US20250042678A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-06

申请号：US18792191

申请日：2024-08-01

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  Dremere Kevon WOODS

IPC: B65G65/46 ,  B65G47/19

Abstract: A dosing apparatus includes a doser mechanism that discharges an index amount of a granular material based on drawing the granular material from an intake hopper. A drop-down device is coupled between the intake hopper and a supply hopper and enables enable a flow of the granular material from the supply hopper to the intake hopper through a conduit. The drop-down device restricts a flow rate of the flow of granular material through the conduit based on directing the flow around a slat extending into the conduit. The slat has an upper slat surface that is angled downwards at an inclination angle that may correspond to an angle of repose of the granular material.

公开(公告)号：US20240407426A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-12

申请号：US18813614

申请日：2024-08-23

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  Rosana C. ALTOVEROS

IPC: A24C3/00 ,  A24C1/02 ,  A24C1/18 ,  A24C1/30 ,  A24C1/34 ,  A24C1/36 ,  A24C1/38 ,  A24C5/18

Abstract: A method of forming a wrapped article, comprising the steps of: forming a continuous stream of material such as an agricultural product; moving the continuous stream of material along an elongated path; compressing the continuous stream of material to reduce the cross-sectional area thereof until a predetermined cross-sectional dimension is achieved; drawing the compressed continuous stream of material through a rod-forming arrangement, the rod-forming arrangement having a non-contact displacement transducer associated therewith; folding at least one web longitudinally around the compressed continuous stream of material to form a continuous rod of material; and detecting variations in rod density within the rod-forming arrangement from a signal obtained from the non-contact displacement transducer.

公开(公告)号：US20240308747A1

公开(公告)日：2024-09-19

申请号：US18185766

申请日：2023-03-17

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Danielle CRAWFORD ,  Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  Gregory H. RAY

IPC: B65D77/02 ,  B65D33/00 ,  B65D33/14 ,  B65D77/12

CPC classification number: B65D77/02 ,  B65D33/008 ,  B65D33/14 ,  B65D77/12 ,  B65D81/264

Abstract: The package includes an inner package including a first panel defining a first compartment, the first panel including a first end that is at least partially heat sealed, the first end defining a first tear-point, a second panel defining a second compartment, a first interfacing edge of the first panel being connected to a second interfacing edge of the second panel, the second panel including a second end that is at least partially heat sealed, the second end defining a second tear-point, the first re-closeable seal and the second re-closeable seal being on a third end of the first compartment and a fourth end of the at least one second compartment, respectively.

公开(公告)号：US20230399133A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-14

申请号：US17836127

申请日：2022-06-09

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS

IPC: B65B1/36 ,  G01F11/24 ,  B65B1/12

CPC classification number: B65B1/366 ,  B65B1/12 ,  G01F11/24

Abstract: At least one example embodiment relates to an apparatus. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus includes a shaft and a housing. The shaft is configured to rotate. The shaft defines a pocket. The housing includes a sidewall. The sidewall at least partially defines an interior region. At least a portion of the shaft is in the interior region. The sidewall defines a first opening to the interior region.

公开(公告)号：US20230264377A1

公开(公告)日：2023-08-24

申请号：US18309414

申请日：2023-04-28

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  James David EVANS ,  Patrick Sean MCELHINNEY ,  Jarrod Wayne CHALKLEY ,  Christopher R. NEWCOMB ,  Robert V. POWELL

IPC: B26D7/08 ,  B26D7/18

CPC classification number: B26D7/08 ,  B26D7/1854 ,  B26D5/00

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.

公开(公告)号：US20250098734A1

公开(公告)日：2025-03-27

申请号：US18975172

申请日：2024-12-10

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  Charles David HOWE

IPC: A24D3/02 ,  A24D3/06 ,  B65G29/00 ,  B65G47/91

Abstract: A bead delivery disk, system and method of delivering flavor beads to a tobacco rod or tow including a bead source, a bead delivery disk in communication with the bead source, including a central disk portion having front and back sides and a first central thickness, an inner annular rim around the central disk portion, the inner annular rim having a second thickness less than said first thickness, a series of pockets spaced around the inner annular rim and multiple vacuum transmission apertures located on one side of the disk, each aperture communicating with at least one of the pockets.

公开(公告)号：US20230415932A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-28

申请号：US18463644

申请日：2023-09-08

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS

IPC: B65B3/30 ,  B65B3/08 ,  G01F13/00

CPC classification number: B65B3/305 ,  B65B3/08 ,  G01F13/005

Abstract: A doser mechanism includes a cylindrical shell, an auger conveyor, and a check valve. The cylindrical shell includes a hollow cylinder and an end plate. The hollow cylinder at least partially defines an internal enclosure extending between first and second ends of the hollow cylinder, a first opening at the first end, and a second opening through a thickness of the hollow cylinder. The end plate covers the second end. The auger conveyor includes an auger at least partially extending through the internal enclosure through the first end. The check valve has a valve member configured to selectively cover the second opening. The check valve may cause the valve member to move between a rest position and an open position to cover or expose the second opening in response to a magnitude of a force applied to the valve member from the internal enclosure through the second opening.

公开(公告)号：US20230071560A1

公开(公告)日：2023-03-09

申请号：US17466460

申请日：2021-09-03

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS

IPC: B65B3/30 ,  G01F13/00 ,  B65B3/08

Abstract: A doser mechanism includes a cylindrical shell, an auger conveyor, and a check valve. The cylindrical shell includes a hollow cylinder and an end plate. The hollow cylinder at least partially defines an internal enclosure extending between first and second ends of the hollow cylinder, a first opening at the first end, and a second opening through a thickness of the hollow cylinder. The end plate covers the second end. The auger conveyor includes an auger at least partially extending through the internal enclosure through the first end. The check valve has a valve member configured to selectively cover the second opening. The check valve may cause the valve member move between a rest position and an open position to cover or expose the second opening in response to a magnitude of a force applied to the valve member from the internal enclosure through the second opening.

公开(公告)号：US20220313601A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-06

申请号：US17223415

申请日：2021-04-06

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS ,  David PHILLIPS ,  Feng GAO ,  Anthony KIEU

IPC: A61K9/68 ,  A61K31/465 ,  A23G4/04 ,  A23P30/10 ,  A23G4/12 ,  B30B9/28

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a nicotine gum may include a first pair of drums configured to receive and press a nicotine gum mixture to a first thickness so as to form a first pressed sheet and a second pair of drums configured to receive and score the first pressed sheet so as to form a scored sheet including a plurality of gum pieces. The second pair of drums may include a first drum having a first die with a first pattern and a second drum having a second die with a second pattern. The second pattern may be a mirror image of the first pattern. The first drum and the second drum may be spaced such that as the first pressed sheet passes between the first drum and the second drum, the first die and the second die at least score the first pressed sheet.

公开(公告)号：US20200221756A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-16

申请号：US16245673

申请日：2019-01-11

Applicant: Altria Client Services LLC

Inventor： Dwight David WILLIAMS

IPC: A24C5/18 ,  A24C5/39 ,  B65G47/19

Abstract: An orbital plant material feed assembly includes a drum structure and hopper assembly. An external surface of the drum structure has a curved shape and includes a peripheral groove. A width of the peripheral groove varies along the external surface of the drum structure. The hopper assembly may define a compression space between the drum structure and a portion of the hopper assembly that covers a portion of the peripheral groove.