Jarrod W Chalkley

US Patent:

20140048170, Feb 20, 2014

Filed:

Aug 14, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/967187

Inventors:

Herbert Cary Longest - Midlothian VA, US
Tamika S. Murrell - Richmond VA, US
Jeremy Straight - Midlothian VA, US
Jarrod Chalkley - Mechanicsville VA, US

Assignee:

ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES INC. - RICHMOND VA

International Classification:

B65B 1/24

US Classification:

141 12, 141 80, 53527, 53436

Abstract:

An apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending and/or cracking during tamping. The apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

US Patent:

20140047804, Feb 20, 2014

Filed:

Aug 14, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/967181

Inventors:

Herbert Cary Longest - Midlothian VA, US
Tamika S. Murrell - Richmond VA, US
Jeremy Straight - Midlothian VA, US
Jarrod Chalkley - Mechanicsville VA, US

Assignee:

ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES INC. - RICHMOND VA

International Classification:

B65B 5/10

US Classification:

53473, 53 77

Abstract:

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

US Patent:

20220324596, Oct 13, 2022

Filed:

Jun 28, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/851222

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Christohper Ryan NEWCOMB - Powhatan VA, US
James D. EVANS - Chesterfield VA, US
Thien NGUYEN - Richmond VA, US
Jarrod W. CHALKLEY - Mechanicsville VA, US
Robert V. POWELL - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Altria Client Services LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B65B 9/04
A24F 23/02
B65B 1/10
B65B 29/00
B65B 41/16
B65B 43/04
B65B 61/10
B65B 61/28

Abstract:

In an example embodiment, an apparatus for making pouch products includes a conveyor system. The conveyor system includes a first receiving location along a path of the conveyor system, and a dosing location along the path of the conveyor system. The apparatus also includes a first material dispensing station configured to transfer a first material to the first receiving location. The first material includes a first elastic layer and a first support layer. The first material dispensing station includes a dispenser roller configured to hold a roll of the first material, a plurality of rollers configured to convey the first material from the dispenser roller to the first receiving location, and a stripper plate configured remove at least a portion of the first support layer from a portion of the first elastic layer.

US Patent:

20230115614, Apr 13, 2023

Filed:

Dec 14, 2022

Appl. No.:

18/065778

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Herbert Cary Longest - Midlothian VA, US
Tamika S. Murrell - Richmond VA, US
Jeremy Straight - Midlothian VA, US
Jarrod Chalkley - Mechanicsville VA, US

Assignee:

Altria Client Services LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B65B 5/10
B65B 1/24
B65B 1/46
B65B 5/06
B65B 5/08
B65B 29/00
B65B 35/30
B65B 39/00
B65B 43/54
B65B 65/00

Abstract:

Systems and methods for manufacturing and inserting a pre-determined number of material-filled pouches into containers are disclosed. A system includes a pouch providing system comprising a plurality of lanes, wherein each one of the plurality of lanes includes a pouch making machine and a hold-back structure. The system also includes a conveyor system structured and arranged to move a plurality of containers into alignment with the plurality of lanes. The system further includes a controller structured and arranged to control the hold-back structure in each one of the plurality of lanes such that the pre-determined pouches are inserted into the plurality of containers when the plurality of containers are aligned with the plurality of lanes.

US Patent:

20230002087, Jan 5, 2023

Filed:

Sep 8, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/940551

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Jarrod W. CHALKLEY - Mechanicsville VA, US
Tamika S. MURRELL - Richmond VA, US
Leah A. MEYERS - Midlothian VA, US
Jeremy J. STRAIGHT - Midlothian VA, US
Travis M. GARTHAFFNER - Midlothian VA, US

Assignee:

Altria Client Services LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B65B 1/16
B65B 1/36
B65B 1/46
B65B 29/00
B65B 57/14

Abstract:

Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.

US Patent:

20210402724, Dec 30, 2021

Filed:

Jun 25, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/911838

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Sean SUNDBERG - Richmond VA, US
Jeremy STRAIGHT - Midlothian VA, US
Jarrod W. CHALKLEY - Mechanicsville VA, US
James D. EVANS - Chesterfield VA, US
Christopher R. NEWCOMB - Richmond VA, US
Gregory L. NELSON - Chester VA, US

Assignee:

Altria Client Services LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B30B 12/00
B30B 15/00
B30B 15/02
B30B 15/30
B65B 1/24
B65B 1/04

Abstract:

An apparatus includes a fixed assembly and a reciprocating assembly. The fixed assembly includes a hopper, a first gas manifold, and a dispensing chamber, and the reciprocating assembly includes a channel assembly defining a channel conduit, a shield plate vertically aligned therewith, and a second gas manifold. The reciprocating assembly may move, in relation to the fixed assembly, to a first position to enable the channel conduit to be filled with bulk compressible material from the hopper, a second position to enable compressible material to be pushed from the channel conduit to the dispensing conduit and to be compressed in the dispensing chamber according to a first gas directed through the channel conduit by the first gas manifold, and a third position to enable the compressed material to be pushed out of the dispensing conduit according to a second gas directed through the dispensing conduit by the second gas manifold.

US Patent:

20210276741, Sep 9, 2021

Filed:

May 26, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/330726

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Herbert Cary LONGEST - Midlothian VA, US
Tamika S. MURRELL - Richmond VA, US
Jeremy STRAIGHT - Midlothian VA, US
Jarrod CHALKLEY - Mechanicsville VA, US

Assignee:

Altria Client Services LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

B65B 5/10
B65B 29/00
B65B 35/30
B65B 39/00
B65B 43/54
B65B 65/00
B65B 1/46
B65B 5/06
B65B 5/08
B65B 1/24

Abstract:

Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

US Patent:

20210112846, Apr 22, 2021

Filed:

Dec 29, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/136398

Inventors:

- Richmond VA, US
Jarrod W. CHALKLEY - Mechanicsville VA, US
Tamika S. MURRELL - Richmond VA, US
Jeremy J. STRAIGHT - Midlothian VA, US
Travis M. GARTHAFFNER - Midlothian VA, US
Leah A. MEYERS - Midlothian VA, US
James D. EVANS - Chesterfield VA, US

Assignee:

Altria Client Services LLC - Richmond VA

International Classification:

A24B 3/06
A24F 23/02
B65B 1/16
B65B 1/36
B65B 1/46
B65B 57/10
G01F 11/40
B65B 29/00

Abstract:

Systems and methods for measuring tobacco for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to continuously communicate a vacuum to the measuring cavity. The measuring system is configured to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is configured to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas that overcomes the vacuum when the tube is in the second position.