US 11,702,232 B2
High speed poucher
Martin T. Garthaffner, Richmond, VA (US); Dwight D. Williams, Powhatan, VA (US); Jeremy J. Straight, Midlothian, VA (US); David J. Webb, Richmond, VA (US); and Carl G. Miller, Richmond, VA (US)
Assigned to Philip Morris USA Inc., Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Philip Morris USA Inc., Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/847,683.
Application 17/847,683 is a continuation of application No. 17/103,173, filed on Nov. 24, 2020, granted, now 11,383,861.
Application 17/103,173 is a continuation of application No. 16/022,412, filed on Jun. 28, 2018, granted, now 10,870,503, issued on Dec. 22, 2020.
Application 16/022,412 is a continuation of application No. 15/457,762, filed on Mar. 13, 2017, granted, now 10,138,006, issued on Nov. 27, 2018.
Application 15/457,762 is a continuation of application No. 13/072,681, filed on Mar. 26, 2011, granted, now 9,623,988, issued on Apr. 18, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/317,926, filed on Mar. 26, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2022/0315254 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 1/00 (2006.01); B65B 1/02 (2006.01); B65B 1/48 (2006.01); B65B 29/00 (2006.01); B65B 43/50 (2006.01); B65B 43/60 (2006.01); B65B 61/06 (2006.01); B65B 51/26 (2006.01); B65B 57/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 1/02 (2013.01) [B65B 1/48 (2013.01); B65B 29/00 (2013.01); B65B 43/50 (2013.01); B65B 43/60 (2013.01); B65B 51/26 (2013.01); B65B 57/14 (2013.01); B65B 61/06 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a series of transfer drums configured to receive each of a plurality of tubes, each of the plurality of tubes having a first length, the series of transfer drums including,
a severing drum configured to separate each of the tubes into a plurality of tube portions, each of the plurality of tube portions having a second length less than the first length, and
a beveled transfer drum configured to change an orientation of each of the plurality of tube portions;
a fluted wheel configured to receive each of the plurality of tube portions from the series of transfer drums;
a first closure mechanism configured to close a first end of each of the plurality of tube portions while on the fluted wheel so as to form a respective plurality of open-ended pouches;
a filling section configured to deposit a desired amount of a material in each of the plurality of open-ended pouches while on the fluted wheel so as to form a respective plurality of filled, open-ended pouches; and
a second closure mechanism configured to close a second end of each of the plurality of filled, open-ended pouches while on the fluted wheel to form a respective plurality of filled pouches.