Thomas Anthony Fletcher

US Patent:

8337664, Dec 25, 2012

Filed:

Dec 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/346447

Inventors:

John F. Cunningham - Richmond VA, US
Marc W. Rose - Mechanicsville VA, US
Thomas A. Fletcher - Chesterfield VA, US

Assignee:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

D21H 19/66
D21H 19/68

US Classification:

162139, 162135, 131365, 118323, 118324, 118325, 118315

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first slurry supply which forms a sheet of base web and moves the sheet along a first path; a second slurry supply; and a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web. The moving orifice applicator includes a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, an endless belt having orifice groups, the endless belt received through the chamber box, and a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifices along an endless-path and repetitively through the chamber box. The orifices communicate with the reservoir to discharge the second slurry as bands of add-on material to the base web. Orifices within the orifice groups can be spaced relative to one another to define bands of add-on material having a relative minimum in thickness or to define spaced apart bands.

US Patent:

20130180537, Jul 18, 2013

Filed:

Dec 21, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/725096

Inventors:

Philip Morris USA Inc. - Richmond VA, US
Marc W. Rose - Mechanicsville VA, US
Thomas A. Fletcher - Chesterfield VA, US

Assignee:

PHILIP MORRIS USA INC. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

D21G 9/00

US Classification:

131365, 162289

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first slurry supply which forms a sheet of base web and moves the sheet along a first path; a second slurry supply; and a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web. The moving orifice applicator includes a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, an endless belt having orifice groups, the endless belt received through the chamber box, and a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifices along an endless-path and repetitively through the chamber box.

US Patent:

59662182, Oct 12, 1999

Filed:

Jul 11, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/893500

Inventors:

Gordon H. Bokelman - Chesterfield VA
Thomas A. Fletcher - Chesterfield VA
Harold T. Hinson - Farnham VA
Steven F. Spiers - Richmond VA
Yeu-Hwa Shyy - Fairfax VA
Timothy F. Gacek - McLean VA

Assignee:

Philip Morris Incorporated - New York NY

International Classification:

G01N 2184

US Classification:

356429

Abstract:

A rewinder machine optically inspects banded paper unwound from a first bobbin by directing an elongated beam of light laterally across the paper. The elongated beam impinges the surface of the paper and forms reflections. A line scan camera containing a linear CCD array receives the reflections and generates output signals. A line scan processor processes the output signals to generate data indicative of the spacing between bands, the width of the bands, and the contrast of the bands. These calculations may be periodically transferred to a separate computer workstation over a network. The workstation generates statistical reports on the basis of the calculations, such as the band width, band spacing and band contrast as a function of lane number, and as a function of time. After being inspected by the camera, the paper is rewound on a rewind bobbin. Various mechanical features of the rewind machine allow rapid mounting and removal of bobbins of paper, and provide for high speed operation.

US Patent:

61985376, Mar 6, 2001

Filed:

Jul 11, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/893538

Inventors:

Gordon H. Bokelman - Chesterfield VA
Thomas A. Fletcher - Chesterfield VA
D. Anh Phan - Richmond VA
Yeu-Hwa Shyy - Fairfax VA
Ernest S. Houck - Alexandria VA

Assignee:

Philip Morris Incorporated - New York NY

International Classification:

G01N 2184

US Classification:

356429

Abstract:

A station optically inspects banded cigarette paper by directing an elongated beam of white light laterally across a web of the cigarette paper. The elongated beam impinges on the surface of the cigarette paper and forms reflections. A plurality of line scan camera containing linear CCD arrays receive the reflections and generate output signals. One or more processing units process the output signals to generate data indicative of the spacing between bands, the width of the bands, and the contrast of the bands. These calculations can be periodically transferred to a separate computer workstation over a network. The workstation generates statistical reports on the basis of the calculations, such as the band width, band spacing and band contrast as a function of lane number, and as a function of time. The statistical reports provide a convenient way of quickly detecting irregularities in application of the bands. According to exemplary embodiments, the inspection station is designed for installation in a cigarette paper manufacturing system.

US Patent:

53418247, Aug 30, 1994

Filed:

Dec 29, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/998034

Inventors:

Thomas A. Fletcher - Chesterfield VA
H. Cary Longest - Midlothian VA

Assignee:

Philip Morris Incorporated - New York NY

International Classification:

A24C 534
A24C 500

US Classification:

131281

Abstract:

The perforation of tipping paper on a high-speed perforation line is monitored and controlled by an electro-optic detection and data processing system which produces a signal related in value to an expected pressure drop through the paper based on calculations relating the inverse square of average perforation area to pressure drop. In one embodiment, a strobe light and camera are arranged on opposite sides of the tipping paper strip and provide an image signal to a vision processor. In another embodiment, a CCD line sensor located across the width of the strip is scanned to provide a signal related to a profile of light transmitted through the tipping paper.

US Patent:

20170188625, Jul 6, 2017

Filed:

Mar 24, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/468950

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Marc W. Rose - Mechanicsville VA, US
Thomas A. Fletcher - Chesterfield VA, US

International Classification:

A24D 1/02
D21H 19/68
D21H 27/02

Abstract:

A method and apparatus of manufacturing a web which is striped with add-on material, comprising: a first slurry supply which forms a sheet of base web and moves the sheet along a first path; a second slurry supply; and a moving orifice applicator operative so as to repetitively discharge the second slurry upon the moving sheet of base web. The moving orifice applicator includes a chamber box arranged to establish a reservoir of the second slurry across the first path, an endless belt having orifice groups, the endless belt received through the chamber box, and a drive arrangement operative upon the endless belt to continuously move the orifices along an endless-path and repetitively through the chamber box. The orifices communicate with the reservoir to discharge the second slurry as bands of add-on material to the base web. Orifices within the orifice groups can be spaced relative to one another to define bands of add-on material having a relative minimum in thickness or to define spaced apart bands. Orifices may also cooperate with a stationary or moving template to define segmented bands having gaps with complex edges. The web resulting from the method or the apparatus may be used for a smoking article. A smoking article may be constructed from wrapper made with the apparatus or the method.