US 12,419,343 B2
Apparatus for recovering tobacco material and related method
Balager Ademe, Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Assigned to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed on Aug. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/455,246.
Application 18/455,246 is a continuation of application No. 17/307,925, filed on May 4, 2021, granted, now 11,771,130.
Application 17/307,925 is a continuation of application No. 16/052,312, filed on Aug. 1, 2018, granted, now 11,033,049, issued on Jun. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0397652 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A24C 5/345 (2006.01); A24C 5/32 (2006.01); A24C 5/36 (2006.01)
CPC A24C 5/36 (2013.01) [A24C 5/322 (2013.01); A24C 5/345 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for recovering material contained within products, the apparatus comprising:
a centrifugal object-orienting device being rotatable about a rotation axis such that the rotating centrifugal object-orienting device imparts centrifugal force to the products to orient the products along a circumferential portion of the centrifugal object-orienting device, wherein the centrifugal object-orienting device comprises a wall defining a cylindrical container arranged to receive the products and defining a central axis therein, the circumferential portion including a rim arranged adjacent to and extending at least partially about an upper end of the wall, and a perforated disc disposed at an incline within the cylindrical container and so as to interact with the rim;
a first conveyor device disposed adjacent to and configured to interact with the rim so as to receive and convey in a conveyor direction the products from the rim;
a slitting device operably engaged with the first conveyor device and configured to slit a covering containing the material of each of the products conveyed by the first conveyor device;
at least one diverter device arranged to divert the products from the circumferential portion of the centrifugal object-orienting device so as to recover material therefrom; and
a recovery system disposed below the perforated disc, the recovery system being configured to recover the material dislodged by the centrifugal force imparted to the product within the cylindrical container and directed through the perforated disc.