US 12,269,627 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 Aug. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/446,020.
Application 18/446,020 is a continuation of application No. 17/533,735, filed on Nov. 23, 2021, granted, now 11,753,190.
Application 17/533,735 is a continuation of application No. 15/975,087, filed on May 9, 2018, granted, now 11,192,668, issued on Dec. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382571 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B65B 1/24 (2006.01); B65B 1/32 (2006.01); B65B 1/38 (2006.01); B65B 29/00 (2006.01); B65B 37/20 (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)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a rotatable section configured to rotate around a central longitudinal axis, the rotatable section including a plurality of channel assemblies spaced about a circumference of the rotatable section, the plurality of channel assemblies including an upper channel configured to receive a compressible material; and
a disc defining a plurality of conduit assemblies configured to be aligned with each of the plurality of channel assemblies and rotate about the central longitudinal axis at a same rate as the rotatable section, the plurality of conduit assemblies defining a lower channel of each of the plurality of channel assemblies, each of the plurality of conduit assemblies including,
an annular conduit surrounding the lower channel,
one or more bridging conduits between the annular conduit and the lower channel,
an inlet defined by an outer surface of the disc, and
a conduit extending between the inlet and the annular conduit, the conduit configured to receive a gas from the inlet and direct the gas through the annular conduit and the one or more bridging conduits to cause a portioned instance of the compressible material to be discharged from the lower channel.