US 11,753,190 B2
Gas-based material compression and portioning
Dwight David Williams, Powhatan, VA (US); James David Evans, Chesterfield, VA (US); Patrick Sean McElhinney, Chesterfield, VA (US); and Jarrod Wayne Chalkley, Mechanicsville, VA (US)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/533,735.
Application 17/533,735 is a continuation of application No. 15/975,087, filed on May 9, 2018, granted, now 11,192,668.
Prior Publication US 2022/0081134 A1, Mar. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. B65B 1/24 (2006.01); B65B 1/32 (2006.01); B65B 37/20 (2006.01); B65B 29/00 (2006.01); B65B 1/38 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 1/24 (2013.01) [B65B 1/32 (2013.01); B65B 1/38 (2013.01); B65B 29/00 (2013.01); B65B 37/20 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a channel assembly, the channel assembly including
an inner surface defining a channel configured to receive a portioned instance of a compressible material, the channel including a top opening and a bottom opening, and
a conduit assembly extending from an inlet in an outer surface of the channel assembly and at least partially through an interior of the channel assembly to an outlet opening into the channel at a location that is proximate to the top opening of the channel, such that the outlet opening is in fluid communication with a top portion of the channel that is proximate to the top opening of the channel,
wherein the channel assembly is configured to hold the portioned instance of the compressible material within the channel based on
an instance of the compressible material being received into the channel through the top opening of the channel from a separate channel assembly, and
the instance of the compressible material being portioned based on relative movement between the channel assembly and a cutting assembly such that the top opening is covered by the cutting assembly to isolate the channel from the separate channel assembly; and
wherein the conduit assembly is configured to direct a gas through the interior of the channel assembly and through the outlet opening into the top portion of the channel that is proximate to the top opening of the channel, such that the gas impinges on a lower surface of the cutting assembly covering the top opening of the channel to cause the portioned instance of the compressible material to be discharged from the channel through the bottom opening of the channel.