U.S. patent number 3,664,891 [Application Number 05/018,555] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for apparatus for assembling rows of rod-shaped articles.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hauni-Werke Korber & Co., KG.. Invention is credited to Herbert Berlin, Alfred Schubert, Bernhard Schubert.
United States Patent |
3,664,891 |
Schubert , et al. |
May 23, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING ROWS OF ROD-SHAPED ARTICLES
Abstract
Apparatus for converting a single file of cigarette rod sections
or like articles into two rows of parallel articles which move
sideways comprises a pair of accelerating cams which engage
alternate articles of the file and propel them, together with the
preceding articles, into successive flutes of a continuously moving
row forming drum. The latter is provided with pneumatic braking
means which arrests the pairs of articles in their flutes and with
one or two pneumatic displacing units which move the front articles
lengthwise away from the rear articles and/or vice versa so that
the articles form two rows whose articles are transferred into
successive flutes of a receiving drum.
Inventors: |
Schubert; Bernhard (Hamburg,
DT), Schubert; Alfred (Neuboernsen, DT),
Berlin; Herbert (Hamburg, DT) |
Assignee: |
Hauni-Werke Korber & Co.,
KG. (Hamburg, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5727932 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/018,555 |
Filed: |
March 11, 1970 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 13, 1971 [DT] |
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P 19 12 652.4 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
198/428;
198/419.2; 198/438 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24C
5/326 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A24C
5/32 (20060101); B65g 046/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/2C,25,31AA
;131/94 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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942,303 |
|
Nov 1963 |
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GB |
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178,807 |
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Jun 1923 |
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GB |
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502,085 |
|
May 1954 |
|
CA |
|
972,658 |
|
Oct 1964 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Aegerter; Richard E.
Assistant Examiner: Watts; Douglas D.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended
1. Apparatus for assembling plural rows of cigarettes or analogous
rod-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor having a plurality of at
least substantially parallel holding means arranged to travel along
a predetermined path past a first station and at least one second
station; feeding means for supplying groups of axially aligned
articles lengthwise into successive holding means at said first
station; braking means including an elongated braking zone provided
in each of said holding means, each of said braking zones including
at least one suction port arranged to draw air from the respective
holding means and to thereby progressively increase friction
between the respective holding means and at least one article of
the group of articles in such holding means while the one article
moves in a direction to overlie an increasingly larger part of the
braking zone whereby said friction causes each group to assume with
reference to the respective holding means a first position and to
move therewith sideways toward said second station, the suction in
each of said ports and the length of each of said braking zones
being such that each of said groups is brought to a stop in said
first position while said one article of such group overlies at
least the major part of the respective braking zone; pneumatic
displacing means arranged to move at least one selected article of
each group lengthwise relative to the respective holding means to a
second position during sidewise travel toward said second station;
and receiving means for accepting articles from successive holding
means at said second station whereby said selected articles form a
first row of parallel articles and the remainders of said groups
form at least one second row of parallel articles.
2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding means are
arranged to travel sideways in an endless path and said braking
means further comprises suction generating means and stationary
valve means for connecting said ports with said suction generating
means during travel of said holding means in predetermined portions
of said endless path.
3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said groups
comprises two coaxial articles so that said remainders of said
groups form a single second row.
4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises
a rotary drum and said holding means comprise axially parallel
flutes provided in the periphery of said drum.
5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said braking means
comprises retaining means for maintaining said remainders of said
groups in said first positions during sidewise movement of said
groups to said second station.
6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means
is arranged to move a single article of each of said groups to said
second position.
7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising retaining
means for maintaining said remainders of said groups in said first
positions during sidewise movement of said groups to said second
station.
8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means
includes a first displacing unit for moving said selected articles
to second positions and a second displacing unit for moving a
second article of each group to a second position during sidewise
movement of said groups toward said second station.
9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means
comprises at least one displacing element for each of said holding
means.
10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means
comprises at least one pneumatic displacing unit.
11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising means for
at least substantially sealing said holding means from the
surrounding atmosphere during travel between said first and second
stations.
12. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said feeding means
comprises a pair of synchronized accelerating members and means for
supplying a single file of rod-shaped articles into the range of
said accelerating members.
13. Apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said accelerating
members are rotary cams having lobes arranged to simultaneously
engage and propel alternate articles of said file so that each of
said groups comprises a leading article which is pushed forwardly
by the respective alternate article.
14. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said articles are
tobacco-containing rods and wherein said displacing means is
arranged to establish between the articles of said first and second
rows a gap whose width at least equals the length of a filter plug
of double unit length.
15. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said braking means
further comprises suction generating means and valve means for
connecting said suction generating means with said ports in
predetermined positions of said holding means with reference to
said stations.
16. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said groups
comprises a front article and at least one further article located
behind such front article as considered in the direction of
lengthwise movement of said groups into the respective holding
means, said braking means being arranged to arrest the front
article of each of said groups.
17. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said displacing means
comprises at least one pneumatic displacing unit including
stationary air flow regulating valve means.
18. In a conveyor as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said zones
includes an elongated recess in the respective holding means and
wherein said ports communicate with those portions of said recesses
which are remotest from the article-admitting inlet ends of said
holding means.
19. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said zones
consists of at least one elongated row of suction ports.
20. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for
evacuating air from said ports in those portions of said braking
zones which are remotest from the article-admitting inlet ends of
the respective holding means.
21. Apparatus for assembling plural rows of cigarettes or analogous
rod-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor having a plurality of at
least substantially parallel holding means arranged to travel along
a predetermined path past a first station and at least one second
station; feeding means for supplying groups of axially aligned
articles lengthwise into successive holding means at said first
station so that each group assumes with reference to the respective
holding means a first position and moves therewith sideways toward
said second station; displacing means comprising at least one
pneumatic displacing unit arranged to move at least one selected
article of each group lengthwise relative to the respective holding
means to a second position during sidewise travel toward said
second station, said displacing unit comprising at least one
suction port provided in each of said holding means, suction
generating means, and valve means for connecting said ports with
said suction generating means in predetermined positions of said
holding means with reference to said stations; and receiving means
for accepting articles from successive holding means at said second
station whereby said selected articles form a first row of parallel
articles and the remainders of said groups form at least one second
row of parallel articles.
22. Apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein each of said holding
means comprises an elongated flute having a bottom portion and
wherein said ports are provided in the bottom portions of the
respective flutes.
23. Apparatus for assembling plural rows of cigarettes or analogous
rod-shaped articles, comprising a conveyor having a plurality of at
least substantially parallel holding means arranged to travel along
a predetermined path past a first station and at least one second
station; feeding means for supplying groups of axially aligned
articles lengthwise into successive holding means at said first
station, each of said groups comprising a front article and at
least one further article located behind such front article as
considered in the direction of lengthwise movement of said groups
into the respective holding means; braking means including an
elongated braking zone provided in each of said holding means, each
of said braking zones including at least one suction port arranged
to draw air from the respective holding means and to thereby
progressively increase friction between the respective holding
means and at least one article of the group of articles in such
holding means while the one article moves in a direction to overlie
an increasingly larger part of the braking zone whereby said
friction causes each group to assume with reference to the
respective holding means a first position and to move therewith
sideways toward said second station, the suction in each of said
ports and the length of each of said braking zones being such that
each of said groups is brought to a full stop in said first
position while said one article overlies at least the major part of
the respective braking zone; pneumatic displacing means arranged to
move at least one selected article of each group lengthwise
relative to the respective holding means to a second position
during sidewise travel toward said second station; and receiving
means for accepting articles from successive holding means at said
second station whereby said selected articles form a first row of
parallel articles and the remainders of said groups form at least
one second row of parallel articles.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The apparatus of the present invention constitutes an improvement
over and a further development of apparatus disclosed in the
copending applications Ser. Nos. 744,995 filed July 15, 1968 by
Rudszinat et al., 802,463 filed Feb. 26, 1969 by Schubert and
887,665 filed Dec. 23, 1969 by Rudszinat et al. now U.S. Pat. No.
3,535,003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for assembling rows of
plain or filter cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, filter rod sections
or analogous rod-shaped articles. More particularly, the invention
relates to improvements in apparatus for assembling plural rows of
parallel rod-shaped articles in such a way that each article of one
row is coaxial with an article of each other row. Such formations
are desirable, for example, in the production of filter
cigarettes.
Cigarettes issuing from a cigarette rod making machine are normally
discharged in the form of a single file wherein the articles travel
lengthwise. Such single file must be converted into one or more
rows wherein the articles travel sideways. The rows are necessary
in many types of filter cigarette machines wherein filter plugs of
double unit length are introduced between pairs of coaxial
cigarette rod sections prior to wrapping of adhesive coated uniting
bands around the plugs and around the adjacent ends of cigarette
rod sections to form filter cigarettes of double unit length.
Problems arise when the cigarettes which move lengthwise beyond the
cutoff of a modern high-speed cigarette making machine must change
the direction of their movement to travel sideways and to form one
or more rows. As a rule, the cigarettes moving beyond the cutoff
are disposed end-to-end so that they actually touch each other;
therefore, it is necessary to use so-called kickers or analogous
accelerating devices which propel successive cigarettes forwardly
to establish clearances which are needed to insure unimpeded
changes in direction of movement (from lengthwise to sidewise) of
successive cigarettes. The accelerating device normally propels
cigarettes into successive flutes of a revolving drum wherein the
cigarettes must be arrested in predetermined axial positions to
form a single row or two rows. A drawback of presently known
methods is that each flute of the drum receives a single cigarette;
therefore, it is necessary to provide auxiliary equipment which
moves the cigarettes of one row into axial alignment with the
cigarettes of the other row. Such auxiliary equipment often
includes several drums which travel at different speeds or
transport the respective rows along paths of different length.
Additional problems arise in connection with stoppage of cigarettes
in the respective flutes. If the cigarettes are permitted to strike
against mechanical stops, they are likely to be deformed or damaged
U.S. Pat. No 3,036,581 discloses a different method of forming two
rows of parallel cigarettes. The cigarettes which form a single
file are brought to a full stop, and a kicker plate moves the two
foremost cigarettes sideways into the adjacent flutes of an
assembly drum. Such procedure is rather slow because, instead of
being accelerated, the foremost cigarettes must be arrested prior
to admission into the flutes of the assembly drum. Also, the
simultaneous transfer of several cigarettes sideways into
successive flutes of a revolving drum is likely to result in
deformation of wrappers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which can
convert a single file of cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped
articles into several rows of articles which move sideways without
any damage to or deformation of such articles and at the rate at
which the articles issue from a high-speed producing machine.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which
can form plural rows of rod-shaped articles in such a way that each
article of one row is coaxial with and located at an optimum
distance from an article of each other row.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus
wherein the articles which form a single file need not be arrested
prior to transfer into flutes or analogous holding means of a
continuously moving drum or like conveyor.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel feeding
device which can supply rod-shaped articles into the flutes of a
continuously moving row forming drum or like conveyor.
Still another object of the invention is to provide novel and
improved braking means for articles which move lengthwise in the
flutes of a revolving drum and to provide novel and improved
displacing means for shifting articles in the flutes to optimum
positions for the formation of plural rows.
An ancillary object of the invention is to provide a novel conveyor
for use in the above-outlined apparatus and to provide novel air
flow regulating valve means for use with such conveyor.
The apparatus of our invention is used to assemble plural rows of
cigarettes or analogous rod-shaped articles and comprises a
conveyor having a plurality of at least substantially parallel
elongated flutes or similar holding means arranged to travel along
a predetermined path past a first station and at least one second
station, feeding means for supplying groups of at least two coaxial
rod-shaped articles lengthwise into successive holding means at the
first station so that each group assumes with reference to the
respective holding means a first position and moves therewith
sideways toward the second station, displacing means preferably
including at least one pneumatic displacing unit arranged to move
at least one selected article of each group lengthwise to a second
position relative to the respective holding means during sidewise
travel toward the second station, and receiving means for accepting
articles from successive holding means at the second station. The
articles are caused to move sideways whereby the selected articles
which move with the receiving means form a first row of parallel
articles and the remainder of each group forms at least one second
row of parallel articles.
At the present time, we prefer to manipulate groups consisting of
two coaxial articles each so that the remainder of each group forms
on the receiving means a single second row of parallel articles
which travel sideways and each of which is in axial alignment with
an article of the fist row.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the apparatus
further comprises braking means arranged to oppose lengthwise
movement of groups in the respective holding means prior to
movement of selected articles of such groups to second positions
and to thereby arrest the groups in their first positions. If the
displacing means is arranged to move only one article of each group
axially, the first positions of articles which form the second row
or rows are their final positions in which the respective articles
remain during the remaining stage of travel toward the second
station and preferably also on the receiving means.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The
improved apparatus itself, however, both as to its construction and
its mode of operation, together with additional features and
advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the
following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary partly side elevational and partly
sectional view of an apparatus which embodies one form of the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from
the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a smaller-scale developed plan view of a portion of the
apparatus;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary partly side elevational and partly
sectional view of a second apparatus;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from
the line V--V of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a smaller-scale developed plane view of a portion of the
second apparatus;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partly elevational and partly sectional
view of a third apparatus;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows from
the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is a smaller-scale developed plan view of a portion of the
third apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown an apparatus which
converts a single file of alternating cigarettes 3a, 3b into two
rows 44,45 which respectively contain the cigarettes 3a and 3b. The
apparatus comprises a row forming conveyor 1 here shown as a drum
which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and has equidistant
axially parallel peripheral holding means or flutes 14. The inlet
ends 17 of successive flutes 14 receive groups Z1 of cigarettes 3a,
3b from the cutoff 2 of a cigarette making machine (e.g., a machine
known as GARANT and produced by Hauni-Werke, Korber & Co. K.G.,
Hamburg-Bergedorf, Western Germany) which discharges a continuous
cigarette rod 4. The knife 2a of the cutoff 2 severs the rod 4 at
regular intervals to form a single file of alternating cigarettes
3a, 3b which move lengthwise in a guide or trough 6 toward the gap
between two synchronized accelerating cams 8,9 mounted for rotation
about the axes of parallel vertical shafts 11, 12 and forming part
of a feeding device 7 which supplies groups Z1 into successive
flutes 14. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, each of the
accelerating cams 8,9 has a single lobe and these cams are driven
in synchronism with the cutoff 2 at such a speed that their lobes
simultaneously engage alternate cigarettes (3b) of the single file
of cigarettes in the trough 6. The speed of the cams 8, 9 is such
that the engaged cigarette 3b is segregated from the next-following
cigarette 3a and is propelled intothe registering flute 14 to push
the front cigarette (3a) in a direction toward a barrier 15 at the
opposite end of the respective flute. The axes of the shafts 11, 12
for the accelerating cams 8, 9 are located at the same distance
from the center of the trough 6 and the two cams are mirror
symmetrical with reference to a vertical plane which includes the
axes of cigarettes 3a, 3b in the trough 6. Each group Z1 includes a
front cigarette (3a) and a rear cigarette (3b). A transmission 13
is provided to drive the conveyor 1 in synchronism with the cutoff
2 and accelerating cams 8, 9.
The flutes 14 of the conveyor 1 are separated from each other by
axially parallel ribs or lands 16 and their inlet ends 17 flare
toward the feeding device 7 to facilitate entry of front cigarettes
3a at a first transfer station A where the discharge end of the
trough 6 registers with the inlet ends 17 of successive flutes 14.
The aforementioned barrier 15 is located opposite the transfer
station A and its purpose is to substantially seal the
corresponding ends of flutes 14 from the atmosphere. A receiving
conveyor 2 accepts the groups 44,45 from successive flutes 14 at a
second transfer station B which is located substantially
diametrically opposite the station A (see FIG. 3). A shroud 18 is
provided to overlie those flutes 14 which travel sideways from the
station A toward the station B (this is the region C shown in FIGS.
2 and 3). The main function of the shroud 18 is to at least
substantially seal the flutes 14 from the atmosphere during
transport of groups Z1 from the station A to the station B. The
shroud 18 has been omitted in FIG. 3 in order to illustrate the
manner in which the groups Z1 are converted into rows 44,45 during
travel in the region C.
The apparatus further comprises pneumatic braking means which
opposes lengthwise movement of groups Z1 in the respective flutes
14 and which is arranged to bring such groups to a full stop in a
predetermined first position, namely, in the final positions of the
rear cigarettes 3b (row 45). The two lowermost groups Z1 shown in
FIG. 3 occupy such first positions. The pneumatic braking means
comprises a braking element 19 for each of the flutes 14, and each
such braking element includes an elongated recess 21 which is
machined into the bottom surface of the flute 14 and a radially
extending suction port 22 which communicates with the foremost
portion 23 of the recess 21, namely, with that portion which is
remotest from the inlet end 17 of the respective flute. Thus, when
a group Z1 enters a flute 14, the front cigarette 3a advances
toward the port 22 and thereby progressively overlies the
respective recess 21 so that the braking action of suction in the
recess 21 increases and causes growing friction between the wrapper
of the cigarette 3a and the surface of the flute 14. The cigarette
3a comes to a full stop when it overlies the entire recess 21, i.
e., also the foremost portion 23 (see the cigarettes 3a in the two
lowermost groups Z1 in FIG. 3). The rear cigarette 3b is not
subjected to a positive braking action, i. e., it is braked in
response to braking of the corresponding front cigarette 3a and
comes to a full stop in an optimum (first) position to form with
the other cigarettes 3b a row 45 of accurately aligned
cigarettes.
Each radial port 22 communicates with an axially parallel blind
bore or channel 24 which is machined into the body of the conveyor
1 and terminates its right-hand end face (as viewed in FIG. 1 or
3). A stationary disk-shaped valve plate 27 is biased against the
right-hand end face of the conveyor 1 and is provided with a set of
arcuate grooves (best shown in FIG. 2) including a relatively short
groove 26 adapted to communicate with channels 24 associated with
those flutes 14 which move away from the first transfer station
A.
The apparatus further comprises pneumatic displacing or shifting
means which serves to move the front cigarettes 3a lengthwise and
away from the rear cigarettes 3b and to assemble the cigarettes 3a
in the row 44. The displacing means of the apparatus shown in FIGS.
1 to 3 comprises a single pneumatic displacing unit because the
rear cigarettes 3b are not moved once the leading cigarettes 3a are
brought to a full stop under the action of suction in corresponding
recesses 21. The single displacing unit comprises radial ports 28
each of which is machined into the bottom surface of a flute 14 and
is located forwardly of the respective recess 21. Each port 28
communicates with an axially parallel blind bore or channel 29
which is machined into the right-hand end face of the conveyor 1
and can communicate with a second arcuate groove 31 of the valve
plate 27. The groove 29 begins where the groove 26 ends and
preferably extends all the way to the transfer station B.
The conveyor 1 is further provided with retaining means for holding
the rear cigarettes 3b in their first positions and for holding the
front cigarettes 3a in their second or final positions. Such
retaining means includes radial ports 32,33 and 37 machined into
the bottom surfaces of the flutes 14, and axially parallel blind
bores or channels 34, 38 which respectively communicate with the
ports 32-33 and 37. The channels 34 can communicate with a third
arcuate groove 36, and the channels 38 can communicate with a forth
arcuate groove 39 of the valve plate 27. The latter is further
provided with a suction chamber 40 which is in communication with
the four grooves 26,31, 36 and 39 as well as with a valved pipe 42
which connects it to the intake end of a suction generating device
41, e. g., a fan or the like.
FIG. 2 illustrates that the groove 26 extends along a relatively
small acute angle alpha, that the groove 39 extends along a
relatively large acute angle gamma, and that each of the grooves
31, 36 extends along a relatively large obtuse angle beta plus
gamma. The sum of the three angles shown in FIG. 2 equals the
angular distance between the transfer stations A and B
(approximately 180.degree.).
The aforementioned receiving conveyor 42 is a rotary drum having
axially parallel peripheral flutes 43 each of which receives a pair
of axially spaced cigarettes 3a, 3b. The width of the gap 46
between such cigarettes preferably at least equals the length of a
filter plug of a double unit length if the receiving drum 42 is to
deliver the two rows 44,45 of cigarettes 3a, 3b to a filter
cigarette making machine, e. g., a machine known as MAX and
produced by Hauni-Werke, Korber & Co. K. G., of
Hamburg-Bergedorf, Western Germany. This filter cigarette machine
delivers into each gap 46 a filter plug of double unit length and
thereupon applies an adhesive-coated uniting band across the filter
plug and around the adjacent inner ends of cigarettes 3a, 3b to
form a filter cigarette of double unit length which is thereupon
severed midway across the convoluted uniting band to yield two
filter cigarettes of unit length.
The operation:
The cigarette making machine produces a continuous cigarette rod 4
which moves lengthwise and is severed by the knife 2a of the cutoff
to form a single file of immediately adjacent cigarettes advancing
in the trough 6 between the revolving accelerating cams 8,9 whose
lobes simultaneously engage each second cigarette 3b and propel it
into the inlet end 17 of the adjacent flute 14. As explained above,
the transmission 13 synchronizes the rotational speed of the
conveyor 1 with that of the cams 8,9 and of the knife 2a so that
the cams 8,9 form successive groups Z1 each of which includes a
front cigarette 3a and a rear cigarette 3b. Thus, the cams 8, 9 not
only propel the groups Z1 into successive flutes 14 but also
separate the groups from each other to establish between the groups
gaps of requisite length in order to insure that each front
cigarette 3a enters a separate inlet 17. The entry of groups Z1
into the flutes 14 is assisted by suction which is produced in the
flutes 14 at the transfer station A by air flowing into the
recesses 21, ports 22, channels 24, groove 26, chamber 40, pipe 42
and suction generating device 41. The barrier 15 insures that the
right-hand end of each flute 14 which travels past the transfer
station A is substantially sealed from the atmosphere. FIG. 2 shows
that the shroud 18 begins a little ahead of the transfer station A,
i. e., each flute 14 which is in the process of receiving a group
Z1 has its outer side substantially sealed by the internal surface
of the shroud. The front cigarette 3a is subjected to a
progressively increasing braking action as soon as its wrapper
moves into the space adjacent to the respective recess 21 and moves
toward the front portion 23, namely, toward the intake end of the
corresponding suction port 22. Such braking action takes place
while the flute 14 travels away from the transfer station A (angle
alpha in FIG. 2). The front cigarette 3a comes to a full stop (and
thus arrests and the adjacent rear cigarette 3b) when it overlies
the entire recess 21 in the flute 14. This is shown in the lower
part of FIG. 3. The braking action upon the wrapper of the front
cigarette 3a is intensified abruptly as soon as the wrapper
overlies the entire recess 21 so that the cigarette 3a moves only
slightly beyond the corresponding suction port 22. FIG. 3 shows
that the length of each recess 21 at least equals half the length
of the front cigarette 3a A group Z1 whose front cigarette 3a is
arrested by suction in the recess 21 thus assumes a predetermined
(first) position which is the final position of the rear cigarette
3b. Such stoppage of groups Z1 is preferably completed before the
corresponding suction ports 28 begin to communicate with the groove
31 of the valve plate 27. The suction ports 22 in successive flutes
14 are automatically sealed from the groove 26 when the groups Z1
complete a movement through the angle alpha and when the ports 28
begin to communicate with the suction generating device 41 by way
of the associated channels 29, groove 31, chamber 40 and pipe 42.
Since the front cigarettes 3a are not attracted to the respective
slots 21, suction in the ports 28 causes them to move lengthwise
and away from the adjacent rear cigarettes 3b. Such lengthwise
movement takes place while the respective flute 14 moves sideways
(angles beta and gamma in FIG. 2) and is completed when the
respective wrapper overlies the intake end of the port 28 (see the
upper part of FIG. 3). Suction in the port 28 (while the latter
communicates with the groove 31) is strong enough to accelerate the
front cigarette 3a in a direction to the right, as viewed in FIG.
3, so that the cigarette 3a assumes its second or final position
not later than (but preferably before) the corresponding flute 14
reaches the transfer station B.
In order to prevent uncontrolled axial displacement of rear
cigarettes 3b, the retaining ports 32,33 in the flutes 14 are
connected with the groove 36 of the valve plate 27 as soon as the
flutes move beyond the groove 26. Suction in the ports 32,33 then
insures that the cigarettes 3b remain in their (first) positions
while the flutes travel toward the transfer station B. In the
apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 3, the front cigarettes 3a reach their
second or final positions after the corresponding flutes 14 cover a
distance alpha plus beta (FIG. 2). The retaining ports 37 of
successive flutes 14 then communicate with the groove 39 and
attract the front cigarettes 3a to retain them in second positions
while the flutes continue to move toward the transfer station B
(angle gamma in FIG. 2). The ports 37 then assist the ports 28 in
holding the cigarettes 3a against lengthwise movement. The ports
32, 33 and 37, 28 are sealed from the suction generating device 41
shortly before the respective flutes 14 reach the transfer station
B, and the shroud 18 also terminates slightly ahead of this
transfer station so that the cigarettes 3a and 3b can leave their
flutes by gravity and under the action of centrifugal force to
enter the adjacent flutes 43 of the receiving conveyor 42. It is
clear that the latter can be provided with suction ports which
attract the cigarettes 3a, 3b in the flutes 43 to insure more rapid
and more predictable transfer of the two rows 44,45. The gaps 46
between the rows 44,45 receive filter plugs of double unit length
(not shown) while the cigarettes 3a, 3b move with the conveyor 42
or subsequent to transfer onto another conveyor (called assembly
conveyor). From then on, the production of filter cigarettes
proceeds in the customary manner not forming part of the present
invention.
The apparatus of FIGS. 4-6 differs from the first apparatus mainly
in that it comprises a different pneumatic braking means and that
the rear cigarettes are moved away from the front cigarettes. All
such parts of this apparatus which are clearly analogous to the
parts of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by similar
reference characters plus 100. The groups Z101 are propelled into
the inlet ends 117 of successive flutes 114 by a feeding means
which preferably includes the accelerating cams 8,9 and a guide or
trough 106 (shown in FIG. 6). However, the pneumatic braking means
of the second apparatus serves to arrest the groups Z101 and the
front cigarettes 103a in their first positions whereupon the
suction in displacing ports 128 causes the rear cigarettes 103b to
move rearwardly and to assume their second or final positions
before the respective flutes 114 reach the transfer station B.
The slots 21 in the flutes 14 of the conveyor 1 are replaced by
rows of aligned suction ports 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156 which
communicate with the blind bores or channels 124 of the conveyor
101 and with the groove 126 of the stationary valve plate 127
substantially all the way during travel of flutes 114 from the
transfer station A to the transfer station B (see FIG. 5). The
ports 128 communicate with axially parallel channels 129 which
communicate with the groove 131 of the valve plate 127 after the
respective flutes 114 cover an angle delta (FIG. 5). The angle
epsilon indicates the length of that portion of the groove 131
which communicates with the channels 129 while the respective rear
cigarettes 103b move rearwardly and assume their second or final
positions in which their wrappers overlie the respective suction
ports 128. This is shown in FIG. 6. The retaining ports 132 of
successive flutes 114 and the associated channels 134 begin to
communicate with the groove 136 of the valve plate 127 after the
respective rear cigarettes 103b reach their final positions. The
angle zeta indicates the length of the groove 136.
The operation:
The accelerating cams propel successive groups Z101 into the inlet
ends 117 of flutes 114 travelling past the transfer station A.
During travel through the angle delta, the braking ports 151-156
effect deceleration and stoppage of groups Z101 whereby the
wrappers of the front cigarettes 103a overlie the intake ends of
the respective ports 151-156 in a manner as shown in the lower part
of FIG. 6. The braking action upon the groups Z101 increases at the
rate at which the front cigarettes travel toward the barrier 115
and such braking action overcomes the inertia of groups Z101 by
bringing them to a full stop in first positions corresponding to
final positions of the front cigarettes 103a. Friction between the
front cigarettes 103a and the surfaces of respective flutes 114
increases abruptly when the wrappers of such cigarettes seal the
foremost braking ports 156 so that the leading ends of the
cigarettes 103a advance only slightly beyond the ports 156. Such
stoppage of groups Z101 is terminated no later than when the
displacing ports 128 of successive flutes 114 begin to communicate
with the groove 131. This causes the rear cigarettes 103b to move
away from the front cigarettes 103a (which are held by suction in
the ports 151-156) whereby the cigarettes 103b move at an
increasing speed and come to a full stop when their wrappers
overlie the intake ends of the respective ports 128. Such movements
of cigarettes 103b to second or final positions are terminated
while the respective flutes 114 cover the angle epsilon. In order
to insure that the rear cigarettes 103b remain in such second
positions during the remaining stage of sidewise movement toward
the transfer station B (angle zeta), the retaining ports 132 begin
to communicate with the groove 136 by way of the channels 134 and
attract the cigarettes 103b to the surfaces of the respective
flutes 114 substantially all the way to the transfer station B
where the shroud 118 ends and the respective channels 124, 129, 134
are sealed from the suction generating device 141 and can be
readily accepted by the flutes 143 of the receiving drum 142. The
cigarettes 103a form the row 144 and the cigarettes 103b form the
row 145 which is separated from the row 144 by a gap 146 wide
enough to accommodate a row of filter plugs of double unit length.
The manner in which the ports 151-156 brake and arrest the groups
Z101 in first positions and the manner in which the rear cigarettes
103b thereupon move toward and dwell in their second positions is
best shown in FIG. 6. The retaining ports 132 can be omitted
because the suction in displacing ports 128, coupled with the
restraining action of the shroud 118, normally suffices to hold the
rear cigarettes 103b against movement from their second or final
positions.
In the apparatus of FIGS. 4-6, the pneumatic braking elements 119
also serve as retaining means for holding the front cigarettes 103
a in first positions during sidewise travel toward the transfer
station B.
Those parts of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7-9 which are clearly
analogous to the parts shown in FIGS. 1-3 are denoted by similar
reference characters plus 200. The main difference between the
apparatus of FIGS. 7-9 and that of FIGS. 1-3 or 4-6 is that each of
the cigarettes 203a, 203b forming the groups Z201 is moved
lengthwise subsequent to at leas partial stoppage of the respective
group Z201 in the corresponding flute 214 of the conveyor 201. The
elongated braking recesses 261 of the pneumatic braking elements
219 in the flutes 214 decelerate and stop the groups Z201 in
positions shown in the lower part of FIG. 9. This takes place while
the flutes 214 travel away from the transfer station A (angle eta
in FIG. 8). The front cigarettes 203 a thereupon move forwardly and
away from the rear cigarettes 203b and the rear cigarettes
simultaneously move rearwardly and away from the front cigarettes
(angle theta in FIG. 8). During the remaining stage of sidewise
movement of flutes 214 toward the transfer station B (angle iota in
FIG. 8), the cigarettes 203a, 203b are attracted to the surfaces of
flutes 214 in their second positions so that they cannot move
lengthwise and are ready to form the rows 244, 245 as soon as they
enter the flutes 243 of the receiving drum 242.
The pneumatic displacing means of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 7 to
9 comprises suction ports 228a, 228b in each flute 214, channels
229a, 229b which communicate with the ports 228a, 228b and extend
to the right-hand end face of the conveyor 201 (as viewed in FIG.
7), and arcuate grooves 231a, 231b in the stationary valve plate
227. That groove of the valve plate 227 which can communicate with
the ports 222 comprises two angularly spaced sections 226a, 226b.
The section 226a communicates with the ports 222 while the
respective flutes 214 move away from the transfer station A
(immediately after introduction of groups Z201), and the section
226b communicates with the ports 222 subsequent to completion of
lengthwise movement of front cigarettes 203a to their second or
final positions.
The operation:
The trough 206 guides successive groups Z201 into the inlet ends
217 of flutes 214 which travel past the transfer station A whereby
the front cigarettes 203a move toward and begin to overlie the
respective recesses 261 to be subjected to a gradually increasing
braking action which rises abruptly as soon as the recess 261 is
fully sealed from the flute 214. This braking action suffices to
arrest the front cigarettes 203a (and hence the adjacent rear
cigarettes 203b) in first positions shown in the lower part of FIG.
9. The braking action is terminated and the groups Z201 are brought
to a full stop while the respective flutes 214 cover the angle eta.
The ports 222 and channels 224 are thereupon sealed from the groove
section 226a and the displacing ports 228a, 228b are free to
communicate with the grooves 231a, 231b to respectively move the
cigarettes 203a, 203b forwardly and rearwardly as shown in the
median part of FIG. 9. Such displacement of cigarettes 203a, 203b
is terminated not later than after the respective flutes 214 cover
the angle theta. The braking action of air which is drawn into the
recesses 261 need not be reproducible with utmost accuracy because
the first positions of cigarettes 203a, 203b (shown in the lower
part of FIG. 9) are not their final positions, i. e., not only the
front cigarette 203a but also the rear cigarette 203b is thereupon
displaced lengthwise to assume that position which is best suited
to form two rows 244,245 of accurately aligned cigarettes 203a,
203b with a gap 246 whose width should not be less than the length
of a filter plug of double unit length. During the last stage of
sidewise travel of flutes 214 toward the transfer station B (angle
iota in FIG. 8), the ports 222 communicate with the groove
section226b and the retaining ports 232 communicate with the groove
236 by way of channels 234 to retain the cigarettes 203a, 203b in
their final positions. It was found that lengthwise movements of
cigarettes 203a, 203b to their final positions are terminated
abruptly as soon as their wrappers overlie the respective ports
228b, 228a so that the final positions of such cigarettes can be
determined with a high degree of accuracy. The manner in which the
cigarettes 203a, 203b are delivered into the flutes 243 of the
receiving drum 242 at the transfer station B is the same as
described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3.
The suction ports 228a, 228b form part of two displacing units one
of which moves the front cigarettes 203a and the other of which
moves the rear cigarettes 203b from first to second axial
positions.
It is clear that the improved apparatus is susceptible of many
additional modifications without departing from the spirit of our
invention. For example, the pneumatic braking means can be replaced
by mechanical braking means utilizing revolving cylindrical
brushes, elastic cylinders consisting of sponge rubber, suitably
configurated springs, or the like. Moreover, the pneumatic
displacing means which moves the front and/or rear cigarettes of
each group to their final positions can be replaced by mechanical
displacing means, such as obliquely mounted rubber rollers or the
like. Mechanical displacing means can be used in combination with
mechanical braking means, or a mechanical braking or displacing
means can be used in combination with a pneumatic displacing or
braking means.
It is equally within the purview of our invention to break up
groups each of which comprises more than two rod-shaped articles.
For example, the accelerating cams 8, 9 of FIGS. 1 to 3 can be used
to propel groups consisting of three cigarettes each, and the ports
128 then cause forward displacement of the front cigarettes in each
group. The remainder of each group then forms a row which includes
two discrete closely adjacent rows of cigarettes. Furthermore, if
the apparatus of FIGS. 7-9 is used for processing of groups of
three cigarettes each each, the front cigarettes are moved
forwardly to form the row 244, the rearmost cigarettes are moved
rearwardly to form the row 245, and the median cigarettes of each
group remain in their first positions to form a third row between
the rows 244, 245. If the median cigarettes are of double unit
length, the apparatus of FIGS. 7-9 is then capable of assembling
formations which can be converted into filter cigarettes of four
times unit length.
An important advantage of our apparatus is that the angular spacing
between successive flutes of the row forming conveyor 1, 101 or 201
can be increased because each such flute receives several coaxial
cigarettes. Therefore, the taper of the inlet end 17, 117 or 217
can be increased to facilitate entry of groups into the respective
flutes, i.e., the groups can enter while the row forming conveyor
continues to move and without any danger of shearing or other
damage to the articles.
Another advantage of our apparatus is that the receiving conveyor
accepts plural rows wherein each article of one row is in axial
alignment with an article of each other row. Thus, we can dispense
with the aforementioned auxiliary equipment which is used in
conventional apparatus wherein each flute of the revolving row
forming drum receives a single rod-shaped article. The pneumatic
braking and displacing means of our apparatus insure gentle
treatment of cigarettes or like deformable rod-shaped articles as
well as rapid and accurate positioning during sidewise movement
toward the receiving conveyor.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the
gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current
knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without
omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics
of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art
and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be
comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the
claims.
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