U.S. patent number 3,608,697 [Application Number 04/800,959] was granted by the patent office on 1971-09-28 for apparatus for transporting cigarette packs in packing machines.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. KG.. Invention is credited to Anton Baier, Heinz-Christen Lorenzen, Gunter Wahle.
United States Patent |
3,608,697 |
Wahle , et al. |
September 28, 1971 |
APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING CIGARETTE PACKS IN PACKING MACHINES
Abstract
Apparatus for transporting cigarette packs to or from the cells
of a rotary turret in a packing machine comprises a foraminous belt
whose upper stretch transports the packs, a chamber adjacent to the
underside of the upper stretch and having an open upper side which
is overlapped by the belt, and a blower which circulates air
through the chamber and the perforations of the belt, either in a
direction to evacuate air from the chamber whereby the packs which
travel with the upper stretch are drawn against the belt during
travel along the open side of the chamber, or in a direction to
expel air from the chamber and through the perforations of the belt
so that such air forms a cushion which reduces friction between the
upper stretch and the packs.
Inventors: |
Wahle; Gunter (Reinbek,
DT), Lorenzen; Heinz-Christen (Hamburg,
DT), Baier; Anton (Hamburg, DT) |
Assignee: |
Hauni-Werke Korber & Co.
KG. (Hamburg, DT)
|
Family
ID: |
7163139 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/800,959 |
Filed: |
February 20, 1969 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Feb 22, 1968 [DT] |
|
|
H 65396 VIIb/81a |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/460.1;
198/611; 198/689.1; 198/493 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B
35/28 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65B
35/28 (20060101); B65B 35/00 (20060101); B65g
047/26 () |
Field of
Search: |
;198/184,34,39,40,68,212,25,102 ;271/74 ;302/29,35 ;137/487,500,557
;73/37.6,37.5,38 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blunk; Evon C.
Assistant Examiner: Lane; H. S.
Claims
What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
1. In a machine for applying wrappers around cigarette packs or
analogous articles, a combination comprising a wrapping conveyor
having a plurality of receptacles wherein the articles are
accommodated during application of wrappers thereto; a first
transporting conveyor for supplying articles to said receptacles; a
second transporting conveyor for receiving wrapped articles from
said receptacles, at least one of said transporting conveyors
comprising a foraminous portion movable along a predetermined path
and having an article-supporting first side and a second side; a
variable-pressure chamber having at least one opening adjacent to
said second side of said portion so that pressure changes in said
chamber influence the friction between said one side and the
articles, and means for varying the pressure in said chamber in
dependency on the position of said wrapping conveyor.
2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said chamber is a
suction chamber.
3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for
varying the pressure in said chamber comprises a suction generating
part, an air-compressing part and regulating means for connecting
said chamber with one of said parts at a time so that said chamber
is a suction chamber when connected to said suction generating part
and a plenum chamber when connected to said air-compressing
part.
4. A combination as defined in claim 1, further comprising means
for programming the operation of said means for varying the
pressure in said chamber.
5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said one
transporting conveyor has an intermediate portion and a discharge
end and said chamber is adjacent to said discharge end, and further
comprising monitoring means for detecting changes in the spacing
between successive articles which are conveyed toward said
chamber.
6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said monitoring
means comprises a device for conveying streams of air through said
intermediate portion of said one conveyor upstream of said chamber
and between successive articles at said first side of said
intermediate portion so that the characteristics of said air
streams are influenced by the relative positions of articles at
said first side, and detector means for determining the
characteristics of said air streams.
7. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said device
comprises an air pump.
8. A combination as defined in claim 6, wherein said monitoring
means further comprises a housing adjacent to said second side and
having an opening adjacent to said intermediate portion, said
device being arranged to convey streams of air through said
housing, through said opening, through that part of said one
conveyor which overlaps said opening, and through gaps between
articles which are transported along said first side.
9. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein the width of said
opening is a fraction of the width of said intermediate
portion.
10. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said opening is an
elongated slot extending lengthwise of said intermediate
portion.
11. A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said detector
means comprises a deformable container provided in said housing to
undergo deformation whose extent is a function of the pressure in
said housing and signal generating means operative to produce
signals in response to that predetermined deformation of said
container which is indicative of a predetermined distance between
articles travelling along the opening of said housing.
12. A combination as defined in claim 11, wherein said signal
generating means comprises electric switch means whose position
changes in response to said predetermined deformation of said
container.
13. Apparatus for monitoring changes in relative positions of a
series of articles, particularly for scanning rows of cigarette
packs during transport to the wrapping conveyor of a packing
machine, comprising a foraminous conveyor arranged to move along a
predetermined path and having an article supporting first side and
a second side; a chamber having at least one opening adjacent to
said path at the second side of said foraminous conveyor; a device
for conveying air streams between the atmosphere and the interior
of said chamber whereby said air streams pass through said
foraminous conveyor and between the articles of the series at said
first side so that the characteristics of said air streams are
influenced by the relative positions of articles in said series;
and detector means for determining the characteristics of said air
streams.
14. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said device comprises
a pump.
15. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the width of said
conveyor exceeds the width of said opening.
16. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said opening is a
slot extending lengthwise of said conveyor.
17. Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said detector means
comprises a deformable container arranged to undergo deformation
whose extent is a function of the pressure in said chamber and
signal generating means operative to produce signals in response to
that predetermined deformation of said container which is
indicative of a predetermined spacing between articles travelling
along the opening of said housing.
18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said container is
provided in said chamber and said signal generating means comprises
electric switch means whose position changes in response to said
predetermined deformation of the container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in apparatus for
transporting cigarette packs or analogous block-shaped articles,
particularly for transporting packs containing smoking products to
and from packing machines wherein the packs are provided with
envelopes of transparent, translucent or opaque sheet material.
It is already known to wrap packs containing cigarettes or other
smoking products into sheets of transparent synthetic plastic
material while the packs occupy cells in an intermittently or
continuously revolving turret. The packing machine which embodies
the turret is further provided with a feeding unit which delivers
unwrapped packs to, and with a takeoff unit which receives wrapped
packs from, the turret. The feeding and/or the takeoff device
normally comprises an endless belt whose surface is roughened to
reduce the likelihood of slippage of packs with reference to the
belt during transport into or from the cells of the turret. Such
solution is not entirely satisfactory because the roughened part of
the belt can damage or deface the packs; furthermore, a roughened
surface cannot prevent slippage of packs which must be transported
at a very high speed to or from the turret of a modern packing
machine.
It is also known to provide the feeding device or the takeoff
device with a belt which cooperates with spring-biased presser
rolls. These rolls serve to press the packs against the belt so
that the packs cannot slide with reference to the belt or vice
versa. A drawback of this proposal is that the presser rolls are
likely to deform or to otherwise affect the appearance and/or
condition of relatively soft packs, especially if the packs are to
be transported at a very high speed and must be pressed against the
belt with a considerable force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of our invention is to provide an apparatus for
transporting packs containing smoking products to and/or from a
packing machine in such a way that the packs can be transported at
a very high speed, without appreciable deformation and at desired
intervals.
Another object of the invention is to provide a transporting
apparatus which can be utilized as a substitute for the feeding or
takeoff device of a conventional packing machine wherein packs
containing cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or other smoking products
are provided with transparent, translucent and/or opaque
envelopes.
A further object of the invention is to provide a transporting
apparatus whose operation can be readily synchronized with
operation of the machine which supplies thereto unwrapped packs or
analogous articles or which receives such articles from the
transporting apparatus.
An additional object of the invention is to provide the
transporting apparatus with a novel monitoring device which can
detect flaws in the rate of transport of articles and can initiate
remedial action to correct the flaw or to insure stoppage of parts
which cause or can be affected by improper transport of
articles.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a transporting
apparatus which comprises a small number of simple parts, which
requires little or no attention when in use, and which can be
adjusted to transport lighter, heavier, smaller, bulkier and/or
differently configurated packs or analogous articles.
Our invention resides in the provision of an apparatus for
transporting packs of cigarettes or other smoking products,
particularly for delivering packs into or for removing packs from
movable cells or analogous receptacles of a packing machine. The
apparatus comprises a travelling foraminous conveyor, preferably an
endless perforated belt having a receiving end, a discharge end,
and an intermediate portion extending between the two ends and
having an article supporting side and a second side, a chamber
adjacent to the second side of the intermediate portion in the
region of one of the ends and having an open portion which is
overlapped by a part of the intermediate portion of the conveyor,
and air circulating means operative to convey currents of air
through the chamber and through the overlapping part of the
intermediate conveyor portion to thereby influence friction between
the conveyor and the packs. If the chamber is a suction chamber,
i.e., if it is connected with a suction generating part of the air
circulating means, suction created in the chamber causes the packs
to adhere to the first side of the intermediate conveyor portion so
that such packs are less likely to move with reference to the
conveyor or vice versa. If the chamber is a plenum chamber, i.e.,
if it is connected to an air-compressing part of the air
circulating means, currents of air issuing from the open side of
the plenum chamber and passing through the perforations of the
conveyor can form along the first side of the intermediate conveyor
portion an air cushion which reduces or eliminates friction between
the conveyor and the packs so that the conveyor can remain in
motion while the packs are held against movement with the
intermediate portion.
If the air circulating means comprises a suction generating part
and an air compressing part, the apparatus can further comprise
regulating means for connecting the chamber with one of the parts
at a time so that the chamber is a suction chamber and causes an
increase in friction between the packs and the intermediate
conveyor part when it is connected with the suction generating part
and that the chamber is a plenum chamber when it is connected to
the air-compressing part to thereby reduce friction between the
packs and the intermediate conveyor part.
The operation of the air circulating means can be programmed as a
function of operation of the machine which receives packs from or
delivers them to the conveyor of the transporting apparatus. If the
chamber is adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor and
normally serves as a suction chamber, the apparatus can further
comprise means for controlling the operation of the air circulating
means as a function of the condition of the machine which receives
packs from the discharge end. For example, the controlling means
may include a valve which connects the chamber to the atmosphere or
with an air-compressing part of the air circulating apparatus when
the machine which receives packs from the conveyor is arrested so
that friction between the conveyor and the packs then decreases to
insure that the packs are not damaged if they are held against
movement off the intermediate part while the conveyor remains in
motion.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the
invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The
improved transporting 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 partly elevational and partly central longitudinal
vertical sectional view of a packing machine which comprises two
transporting apparatus each of which is constructed and assembled
in accordance with a first embodiment of our invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a part of the structure shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view of a
packing machine which comprises a modified transporting apparatus;
and
FIG. 4 is a partly sectional perspective view of a monitoring
device for one of the transporting apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a portion of a
packing machine which is designed to provide cigarette packs 5 with
envelopes of preferably transparent or translucent sheetlike
synthetic plastic wrapping material. The packing machine comprises
a rotary conveyor here shown as a turret 30 and two novel
transporting conveyors one of which feeds cigarette packs 5 into
successive receptacles or cells 47 of the rotary part of the turret
30 and the other of which receives wrapped packs 5a from such
cells. The turret 30 comprises a stationary base plate or platform
31 which is mounted on a frame 32 and a rotor or wheel 33 which is
provided with radially extending entraining members or blades 34.
The wheel 33 is secured to a vertical drive shaft 35 and rotates on
a thrust bearing 36 surrounding the shaft 35 in the region directly
above the platform 31. The shaft 35 rotates in a radial
antifriction bearing 37 which is mounted in the frame 32 and the
lower end portion of this shaft is rigid with two coaxial gears 45,
46. The indexing means for intermittently rotating the main shaft
35 comprises an electric motor 38 which drives the input member of
a variable-speed transmission 39. The output member 41 of the
transmission 39 carries a gear 42 which is coplanar with and drives
the gear 45 by way of an endless chain 43. The gears 45, 46 form
integral parts of a gear cluster 44.
That transporting conveyor which delivers unwrapped cigarette packs
5 to the cells 47 of the wheel 33 comprises an endless foraminous
belt 3 which is provided with a smooth external surface. That
transporting conveyor which receives wrapped cigarette packs 5a
from the cells 47 comprises a second endless foraminous belt 48.
The perforations or openings of the belts 3 and 48 are respectively
shown at 4 and 49. The left-hand end or receiving end of the belt
48 extends into a recess 31a of the platform 31. The discharge end
of the belt 3 is trained over a roller 51 which is adjacent to the
periphery of the platform 31 and the receiving end of this belt is
trained over a second roller, not shown. The receiving end of the
belt 48 is trained over a roller 52 which is adjacent to the
innermost portion of the recess 31a. The discharge end of the belt
48 is trained over a second roller, not shown. The platform 31 is
provided with an extension 53 which is immediately adjacent to the
discharge end of the belt 3 and is provided with a lateral stop or
rail 54 for cigarette packs 5.
The first transfer conveyor further comprises a suction chamber 55
installed below the underside of the upper stretch of the belt 3
and having an open upper portion so that it can draw currents of
air across the openings 4 to thereby cause cigarette packs 5 to
adhere to the exposed upper side of the belt 3 during transport
toward the rotor 33. The upper stretch constitutes an intermediate
portion which extends between the receiving and discharge ends of
the belt 3 and a part of which overlaps the open top portion of the
chamber 55. The chamber 55 is connected with a suction conduit 56
which is connected with a second suction conduit 58 by way of a
regulating valve 57. The conduit 58 is connected with a vacuum tank
59 which is connected to the suction side of an air circulating
device (e.g., a blower) 62 by a further suction conduit 61. A
second suction chamber 63 is installed below the upper stretch of
the belt 48 and has an open top portion which attracts wrapped
cigarette packs 5a to the upper side of this belt during transport
of packs 5a away from the wheel 33. The suction chamber 63 is
connected with the vacuum tank 59 by way of suction conduits 64, 66
which contain a second regulating valve 65. The valve members of
valves 57, 65 are biased by springs and can be actuated by the
lobes 68 of a rotary programming cam 67 which is driven by the gear
46 of the cluster 44 by way of an endless chain 72 and a gear 71
mounted on the camshaft 69.
The platform 31 and its extension 53 are provided with ports or
orifices 73 located above the open upper side of a pressure chamber
or plenum chamber 74 connected with the pressure side of the blower
62 by way of conduits 75, 78 which contain a flow restrictor or
throttle 76 and a pressure tank 77. A further flow restrictor or
throttle 81 is installed in a discharge conduit 79 which
communicates with the conduit 78. The conduit 79 discharges surplus
air into the surrounding atmosphere. The ports 73 are provided in
those portions of the platform 31 and extension 53 which are
located below the path of movement of cigarette packs 5 into the
cells 47 of the wheel 33. The means for driving the blower 62
comprises a separate electric motor (not shown) which is started
and arrested with the motor 38, or the transmission 39 comprises a
second output member which can drive the rotary part or parts of
the blower 62. The wheel 33 is indexed intermittently and the
drives (not shown) which move the belts 3 and 48 continuously are
designed in such a way that the belts 3, 48 advance by a distance
which at least equals the length of a pack 5 or 5a, as considered
in the longitudinal direction of the upper stretches of these
belts, during each interval between successive indexing movements
of the wheel 33. The transmission ratio between the main shaft 35
and camshaft 69 is such that the regulating valves 57, 65 are
opened by lobes 68 of the programming cam 67 during a predetermined
portion of each interval between indexing movements of the wheel
33. Thus, the regulating valves 57, 65 insure that the suction
chamber 55 communicates with the vacuum tank 59 by way of the
suction conduits 56, 58 when the suction chamber 63 communicates
with the vacuum tank 59 by way of the conduits 64, 66.
The operation
The transmission 39 drives the wheel 33 intermittently in such a
way that the length of intervals between successive indexing
movements is very short. When the wheel 33 comes to a halt upon
completion of a step in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2,
the wheel 33 assumes a position corresponding to that shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Two lobes 68 of the programming cam 67 then maintain
the regulating valves 57, 65 in open positions so that the suction
chambers 55, 63 are connected with the vacuum tank 59. These
suction chambers draw air through the adjoining openings 4 and 49
and thus insure that the packs 5, 5a are attracted to the upper
stretches of the respective belts 3, 48 so that each such pack is
moved lengthwise at the exact speed of the corresponding belt.
Thus, the wrapped pack 5a in that cell 47 which enters the transfer
station 60 in the region above the recess 31a of the platform 31 is
automatically and rapidly evacuated from its cell by the receiving
end of the upper stretch of the belt 48. At the same time, the
packs 5 which adhere to the upper stretch of the belt 3 due to
suction in the chamber 55 form a pusher or ram which pushes the
preceding pack 5 onto the extension 53 of the platform 31 and into
the registering cell 47 of the wheel 33. The transfer station which
accommodates the extension 53 is denoted by the numeral 50. The
foremost pack 5 comes to a halt when its front end face abuts
against the bottom surface or inner surface 33a in the registering
cell 47. The purpose of the plenum chamber 74 is to discharge
through orifices 73 a certain amount of air which forms a cushion
at a level directly above the extension 53 and thus insures that
the foremost pack 5 can enter the registering cell 47 with minimal
friction. The rate at which the chamber 74 discharges compressed
air through the orifices 73 can be regulated by appropriate
adjustment of the throttle 76 in the pressure conduit 75.
The programming cam 67 permits the aforementioned springs to close
the regulating valves 57, 65 at the exact moment when a fresh pack
5 reaches the bottom surface 33a in the registering cell 47. The
suction chambers 55, 63 are then disconnected from the vacuum tank
59 and communicate with the atmosphere by way of regulating valves
57, 65. Thus, vacuum in the chambers 55, 63 is destroyed abruptly
so that the upper stretch of the belt 3 can slide with reference to
the packs 5 which rest thereon. At the same time, the transmission
39 indexes the wheel 33 by a step whereby the blade 34 which is
adjacent to the transfer station 50 entrains the pack 5 in that
cell 47 which received the pack from the extension 53, and such
pack moves with the wheel 33 through an angle of predetermined
magnitude to place a fresh (empty) cell 47 into registry with the
transfer station 50. At the same time, the wheel 33 moves a freshly
wrapped pack 5a into the transfer station 60 so that such pack 5a
can be withdrawn as soon as the regulating valve 65 again
establishes a connection between the suction chamber 63 and vacuum
tank 59. This completes one stage of the cycle and the next stage
begins as soon as the programming cam 67 causes two of its lobes 68
to open the regulating valves 57, 65.
The means for feeding prefabricated sheetlike blanks of transparent
or translucent plastic material into the path of movement of packs
5 into the cells 47 and the means which thereupon converts such
blanks into envelopes is known in the art and forms no part of the
present invention. As a rule, each blank is automatically draped
over the front, top and bottom sides of a pack 5 while the latter
enters its cell 47, and the wheel 33 then advances the partially
wrapped pack past a series of stationary and/or movable tucking,
folding, heat-sealing and like devices which complete the
conversion of blanks into envelopes.
FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a second packing machine wherein
all such parts which are clearly identical with or analogous to the
corresponding parts of the packing machine of FIGS. 1 and 2 are
denoted by similar reference numerals plus 100. This illustration
shows only the first transporting conveyor, namely, that conveyor
which includes the foraminous belt 103. In this packing machine,
the wheel or rotor 133 of the turret 130 is driven continuously and
the second transfer conveyor of FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced by a
customary mechanical ejector, e.g., a pusher or plunger (not shown)
which expels wrapped packs from the cells of the wheel 133 in a
manner well known from the art of conventional packing machines.
Furthermore, the suction chamber 55 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a
chamber 190 which also replaces the plenum chamber 74. A conduit
189 connects the chamber 190 with a regulating valve 182 which is
connected with the vacuum tank 159 by a suction conduit 184 and
with the pressure tank 177 by a conduit 183. The latter contains a
flow restrictor or throttle 176. A further conduit 178 connects the
pressure tank 177 with the pressure side of the blower 162; the
suction side of this blower is connected with the vacuum tank 159
by a further suction conduit 161. The regulating valve 182 is
operated by an electromagnet 185 which is connected with a source
of electrical energy by conductors 186, 187. A master switch 188 is
installed in these conductors and is closed by hand when the
packing machine is started, or automatically in response to
starting of the drive for the wheel 133. In the latter instance,
the switch 185 preferably opens automatically when the wheel 133
comes to a halt.
The operation of the structure shown in FIG. 3 is as follows:
In normal operation of the packing machine, the chamber 190 is a
suction chamber, i.e., energization of electromagnet 185 causes the
valve 182 to seal the conduit 189 from the pressure tank 177 and to
connect this conduit with the vacuum tank 159 so that the packs 105
are attracted to the smooth upper side of the upper stretch of the
belt 103 to thus insure that this belt supplies packs into
successive cells of the continuously rotating wheel 133. That pack
105 which enters a cell is immediately entrained by the
corresponding blade 134 of the wheel 133 and is transported along
the aforementioned tucking, folding, heat-sealing and like devices
which convert the respective blank into an envelope before the pack
reaches the mechanical ejector which expels the pack from the cell
and causes it to move onto a conventional takeoff conveyor, not
shown. The chamber 190 insures that the packs 105 cannot slide with
reference to the upper stretch of the belt 103 and the latter is
driven at such a speed that it invariably delivers a fresh pack 105
into an empty cell of the wheel 133 before the adjoining blade 134
reaches the transfer station 150. The electromagnet 185 is
energized because the master switch 188 is closed as long as the
wheel 133 rotates. When the wheel 133 comes to a halt, for example,
because a pack jams at a point between the transfer station 150 and
the other transfer station, the master switch 188 opens
automatically to deenergize the electromagnet 185 whereby the
latter permits a spring 182a to change the position of the valve
member in the regulating valve 182 in such a way that the conduit
189 is sealed from the vacuum tank 159 but is connected with the
pressure tank 177. The chamber 190 is then converted into a plenum
chamber and discharges air through the openings 104 at such a rate
(determined by setting of the adjustable throttle 176) that the air
forms a cushion above the upper stretch of the belt 103. Thus, the
drive for the belt 103 need not be arrested when the wheel 133
comes to a halt because the packs 105 then "float" on a cushion of
air above the upper stretch of the belt 103 and do not exert a
strong pressure against the bottom surface 133a of the wheel 133.
The regulating valve 182 is reset automatically when the wheel 133
starts to rotate and the valve then connects the conduit 189 with
the suction conduit 184 while simultaneously connecting the conduit
183 with the atmosphere.
The cushion of air which develops above the upper stretch of the
belt 103 when the electromagnet 185 is deenergized insures that the
upper stretch of the belt 103 cannot scratch or otherwise deface or
damage the packs 105 while the foremost pack bears against the
bottom surface 133a of the arrested wheel 133.
The transporting apparatus of our invention has been used with very
satisfactory results in connection with high-speed machines wherein
cigarette packs are provided with envelopes of transparent or
translucent synthetic plastic material. It was found that the
apparatus can transport packs to or from the turret of the packing
machine at desired rates of speed without any deformation and/or
other damage to the packs, even if the packs are transported at
very high speeds. In presently known packing machines, the delivery
of packs into and withdrawal of wrapped packs from the turret often
presents serious problems which cannot be overcome by resorting to
aforementioned conventional transporting apparatus. Suction in the
chambers which are adjacent to the receiving or discharging end of
the foraminous conveyor can be readily selected in such a way that
the packs adhere to the upper stretch of the belt without any
slippage so that the packs can be transported at an optimum speed,
not only into but also away from the cells of the intermittently or
continuously rotating turret.
An important requisite for satisfactory operation of packing
machines for cigarette packs or the like is to insure that any
flaws in the feed of fresh packs to the intermittently or
continuously rotating wheel of the turret are detected without
appreciable delay so that the operator or an automatic control
system of the machine can undertake certain steps in order to avoid
damage to the machine and/or to cigarette packs. Since the packing
machine normally operates at a very high speed, even short delays
in detection of unsatisfactory feed of packs to the cells of the
wheel 33 or 133 could result in substantial losses in output. For
example, interruptions or disturbances in the feed of cigarette
packs 5 or 105 should immediately initiate stoppage in delivery of
wrapping material, stoppage of delivery of paste which is often
employed to seal the overlapping portions of envelopes, stoppage of
the feed which delivers tax stamps, and or other functions. As a
rule, the takeoff conveyor (namely, the conveyor which includes the
belt 48 of FIGS. 1 and 2 or a conveyor which receives wrapped packs
from the mechanical ejecting device mentioned in connection with
FIG. 3) has a relatively small capacity so that it cannot receive a
very large number of wrapped packs. If there is a disturbance in
the operation of mechanism which receives or removes wrapped packs
from the takeoff conveyor, the belt 3 or 103 accumulates an
excessive number of unwrapped packs. This is another reason for
supervising the transport of packs on the belt 3 or 103. As a rule,
wrapped packs are removed from the packing machine at predetermined
intervals whose length depends on the setting and speed of the
packing machine.
One device for monitoring the feed of cigarette packs on the belt 3
is illustrated in FIG. 4. This device includes means for monitoring
the width of gaps between successive packs. If the width of such
gaps decreases to a predetermined value, for example, to zero, this
indicates that the packs are piling up downstream of the monitoring
station and that remedial steps (e.g., stoppage of the belt 3) must
be undertaken in order to avoid defacing or damaging of packs.
Instead of serving to stop the belt 3, signals produced in response
to a reduction of the width of gaps between successive packs can be
used to stop the machine which supplies packs to the belt 3 or to
stop the supplying machine and the packing machine.
Referring to FIG. 4, in detail, that portion of the endless
foraminous belt 3 which is illustrated in this Figure is located
ahead of the suction chamber 55 shown in FIG. 1. The belt 3 travels
above two longitudinally spaced rollers 1, 2 which are respectively
mounted ahead of and behind a housing 7. This housing is connected
to a suction conduit 9 containing a regulating valve 11 and
connected to the suction side of a suction pump 12. The top wall of
the housing 7 is located directly below the upper stretch of the
belt 3 and is provided with a longitudinally extending slot or
opening 8 which draws air when the pump 12 is driven. Such air
passes through the openings 4 of the belt 3 and through the gaps 6
between successive unwrapped cigarette packs 5. The detector means
of the monitoring device comprises a container or bellows 13 which
is fixed to the bottom wall of the housing 7 and is also connected
with one arm of a two-armed lever 14 which is fulcrumed in the
housing 7, as at 14a. The other arm of the lever 14 carries a
platelike actuating member 18 which can depress the movable contact
17 of a microswitch 16. Conductors 19, 21 connect the microswitch
16 in circuit with an energy source and with one or more signal
generating or like devices, not shown. The microswitch 16 is
mounted in the interior and on the bottom wall of the housing 7.
The interior of the bellows 13 is completely sealed from the
interior of the housing 7. Instead of being connected in circuit
with a signal generating device (e.g., with a lamp or a bell), the
microswitch 16 can be connected with the drive of the packing
machine which receives packs 5 from the belt 3 or with the drive of
the machine which supplies packs to the belt.
The operation
As long as the width of gaps 6 between successive packs 5 on the
upper stretch of the belt 3 exceeds a predetermined minimum value
(e.g., zero), the pump 12 can draw air through the gaps 6, openings
4 of the belt 3, slot 8 of the housing 7, the interior of the
housing 7, conduit 9 and regulating valve 11 (which is assumed to
be open). Pressure in the interior of the housing 7 then exceeds a
minimum pressure which must be established before the bellows 13
can expand sufficiently to pivot the lever 14 in a clockwise
direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, and to thereby close the
microswitch 16 by way of the plate 18. If the packs 5 begin to pile
up downstream of the roller 2, they form a column whose length
increases toward and beyond the roller 2 whereby the width of the
gaps 6 between the packs above the slot 8 decreases to zero so that
the pump 12 merely draws air from the housing 7 and reduces the
pressure therein below the aforementioned value at which the
bellows 13 expands sufficiently to close the microswitch 16. As
stated before, such closing of the microswitch 16 can result in
generation of an optical signal, an audible signal or in stoppage
of the belt 3 and/or machine which supplies packs to the belt. The
signal produced on closing of the microswitch 16 can also serve to
stop the packing machine which receives packs 5 from the belt
3.
The width of the slot 8 is a fraction of the width of the belt
3.
If the pump 12 is connected with the conduit 9 in such a way that
it blows compressed air into the housing 7, the bellows 13 is
replaced by a bellows 13a which is mounted between the fulcrum 14a
and the plate 18. The expanding force of the bellows 13a is
selected in such a way that it can maintain the lever 14 in the
illustrated position (microswitch 16 open) when the width of gaps 6
suffices to permit escape of air which is blown by the pump 12 or
another air compressing device. Air supplied by the conduit 9 then
flows through the interior of the housing 7, slot 8, openings 4 and
gaps 6 into the atmosphere. If the width of gaps 6 is reduced to a
predetermined extent (for example, to zero), pressure in the
housing 7 rises and the bellows 13a is compressed so that the lever
14 closes the microswitch 16 whereby the latter can initiate one or
more of the aforementioned operations. The just described modified
testing device is particularly suited for use in machines which
manipulate relatively heavy packs or analogous articles or when the
articles are fed by pneumatic means. In the latter instance, air
issuing from the slot 8 into the gaps 6 can be used to assist
transport of the packs 5 toward the turret of the packing machine,
or such air can be used to form a cushion along the walls of the
tube in which the packs are fed by pneumatic means. The valve 11 is
preferably adjustable so that it enables the operator to regulate
the pressure in the housing 7, regardless of whether the housing 7
constitutes a suction chamber or a plenum chamber. The valve 11
should be sufficiently sensitive to permit accurate adjustments of
pressure in the housing 7 so as to insure that the microswitch 16
closes when the width of gaps 6 decreases to a predetermined
value.
An important advantage of the monitoring device shown in FIG. 4 is
that it is rugged and can stand long periods of use without any or
with minimal maintenance and adjustment. However, if is equally
within the purview of our invention to employ other types of
devices which can monitor the feed of articles on the belt 3 or
103.
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.
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