AU578564B2 - Apparatus for packing oval cigarettes - Google Patents

Description

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA The Patents Act 1952 DECLARATION INSUPPORT of the (Convention) Application mad1e by., VH MOK" I'IiDM1TL) 00N~

(horeinafter termed1 "the applicant" for a patent for an invention ontitloo AITAMW, FOR -IPACKIUN). OAl. CIUARMUI.111

of 3(MO Coii.o,3b h1uV~~~ 32.34,td 1!1't a solemnly and sincerely declere as follows;

a~~ae-h~ppiant -or- m- roauthorised by the applicant to make this deolaration, on its~llieiFrtbehalf~

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in~h baioainrfrenoi hsprgahi/r tefrtapiainmd naCneto onr

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Rimod Richond by, 2325.V.ina .326

t1he apicationr asflowsred n apliantgap is/ theassge Ths aplon the e inn onvnion frontr PHILIP~ MORRI M INORTDo iin tunwr heasges fteiveto rA nenos

Dihona, PaichkmOnde

the sid Atuesidventos

(12) PATENT ABRIDGIVlENT (11) Document No. AU-B-76161/87 (19) AUSTRALIAN PAT ENT OFFICE (10) Acceptance No. 578564 i (54) Title APPARATUS FOR PACK!NG OVAL CIGARETTES

(51) 4 International Patent Classification(s) B658 019/08 B65B 019/12 B6FB 005/08 065B 035/56 (21) Application No, 76161/87 (22) Appllcatl on Date 27.07.87 Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 496352 19.05.83 US UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (43) Publication Date 29.10.87 (44) Publication Date of Accepted Application 27.10.88 Related by Division(s) (71) Applicant(s) PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS INC. (72) Inventor(s) JACK CARROLL WHELESS; RICHIE HORACE DICKERSON (74) Attorney or Agent CALLINANS (56) Prior Art Documents US 4306648 GB 736889 (57) Claim

1. Apparatus for packing rod shaped articles of oval cross-section comprising means for separating the articles into a plurality of separate streams in respective paths, a receiving bed for receiving the articles from the separating means in a f'rst aigular orientation about their longitudinal axis, the receiving bed comprising a plurality of troughs for receiving articles in the first orientation, the troughs being equal in number to the streams; means for moving the troughs closer together to achieve a Spredetermined packing orientation; and means for pushing the articles from the receiving bed,'ak the packing orientation, into a container located at a packing position.

PATENTS, ACT 1952Fom1

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINAL) FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl:

Application Number:, Lodged:

"'Complete SPecificaton-Lodged: tz Accepted: rLapsed: Q1t)Q P'ublished: Priority:

4Related Art:

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: M=MG19----I

SAUdress of Applicant:,~O kvatzeN~ ~0 7U+e ttes

Actual Inverl'or: JACK CARROLL WHELESS and RICME HORACE DICKE~.SON

Address for Service: CALLINAN AND ASSOCIATES, Patent Attorneys,. of 48-50 Bridge Road, Richmond, State of Victoria, Australia.

'<'Complete Specification for the invention entitled:'APRTSFR ACNGOLCIREE"

The following statement is a full. description of this invention, including, the best method of performing it known, to. Note: The~descrlption Is to be typed In doublei spacing, pica, type face, in an area not exceeding \Width, on tough white paper, of good quality and It is to be. inserted 250 mm in dopth and 160 mm in inside this form,

APPARATUS FOR PACKING OVAL CIGARETTES

The present Invention pertains generally to packing cigarettes and other rod-shaped smoking articles, and pertains more especially to packing cigarettes and other smoking articles of oval cross- section. The Invention will be described throughout with reference to oval cigarettes only, but It Is to be understood that the scope of the Inveri' on Includes apparatus of the type claimed for packing any rod-shc~ped smokitng articles. Conventional cigarette packs are designed to receive a specified number of cigarettes (typically twenty) of circular cross- section, and can receive that number of cigarettes only In certain configurations. To pack such cigarettes, it is only necessary to position the correct number of cigarettes In the correct position relative to each other and to move them longitudinally (axially) Into the pack. ot Oval cigarettes, however, present an additional problem. The volume that will be occupied by a given number of such cigarettes depends not only upon their relative position but also upon the angular position of each cigarette about Its longitudinal axis (hereinafter, Its "angular orientation"). If all the oval cigarettes that are to be put in one row have the sam. angular i orientation, the row will occupy far less volume than otherwise. It would therefore be desirable to provide an apparatus capable or orienting oval cigarettes In a particular manner and placing them in a pack or box of a chosen size and shape. It Is the object of the Invention to provide such an apparatus. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided 9. apparatus for packing rod shaped articles of oval cross-section k comprising means for separating the articles into a plurality of separate streams in respective paths, a receiving bed for receiving the articles from the separating means in a first angular orientation about their longitudinal axis, the receiving bed comprising a plurality of troughs for receivinj articles In the first orientation, the troughs being equal in number to the streams;

means for moving the troughs closer together to achieve a

2; predetermined packing orientation, and means for pushing the articles from the receiving bad)\ t the packing orientation, Into a container located at a packing position,

articles Into the troughs and to hold them there. In apref erred emoitthe bed r ecebyiues vaheacton oelp prllnteu

spacd aart or ackngand corrects the spacing by -moving fr to the troughs of the bed together. It Is to be understood that "oval", as used herein, Is not limited to elliptical articles, but Includes any non-circular shape, even ona with one or more flat portions or edges, Similarly, the use of the terms "major axis" and "minor axis" are not to be understood as limiting the Invention to packing articles with elliptical cross-sections. The Invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings. The present Invention is concerned with packing apparatus comprising the receiving bed of claim 1, a preferred embodiment of which Is described with reference to Figures 25, 26 and 27 of the drawings. The particular embodiments described with reference to Figures 3 to 24 and 28 to 35 do not form part of the present application. They are the subject of Australian Patent Application No. 28387/84, from which this application Is divided. However, elements of the embodiments described with reference to Figs. 3 to 24 and 28 to 35 may be employed with receiving beds of the type defined in claim 1 to make packing apparatus, and such apparatus Is within the scope of the present invention. Figure I Is a perspective view of a soft pack containing twenty cigarettes of oval cross-section packed In one preferred 4d configuration; Figure 2 Is a view similar to that of Figure 1 showing a flip- top box containing twenty oval vigarettes arranged In a second preferred configuration; Figure 3 Is a schematic view in perspective of a portion of packing apparatus not according to the invention; Figure 4 is a frontal view, partly in section, of the apparatus AN, L of Figure 3;

LUU

Figure 5 As a side view of the apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 6 Is a partial side view of the agitator rods and vanes of the apparatus of Figurv 3; Figure 7 Is a frontal view of one vane of the apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 8 Is a side view of one vane of the apparatua of Figure 3; Figure 9 Is a view from below of one vane of the aipparatus of Figure 3; Figure 10 Is a view Illustrating the rnparation of the rods and vanes; Figure 11 Is a top view of a tray-like receiving member employed In the apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 12 Is a frontal view of the receiving member of Figure 11; Figure 13 Is a frontal view of the cover of the receiving member of Figure 11; Figure 14 Is a bottom view of the cover of Figure 13; Figure 15 Is a frontal view of the receiving member and cover In their operating position,, Figure 16 Is a side view, taken from line 16-16 In Figure Figure 17 Is a top view of the pusher assembly of the apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 18 is a back view, taken from line 18-18 of Figure 17; Figure 19 is a side view of the pusher assembly of Figure 17; Figure 20 Is an end view, taken from line 20-20 of Figure 19; Figure 21 Is an end view of the cigarette-pack shaped pocket, Into which the cigarettes are loaded in the correct configuration, of the apparatus of Figure 3; Figure 22 Is a cross-sectional view, taken from line 22-22 of Figure 21; Figure 23 Is a top view of the rieceiving member of a second packing apparatus not according to the invention; Figure 24 Is a cross-sectional view, taken from line 24-24 of Figure 23; Figure 25 is a top view of the receiving member of a preferred embodiment of the Invention;

L

Figure 26 Is a front view of the element of Figure Figure 27 Is a detail of Figure 26, taken from line 27-27 of Figure 26; Figure 28 Is a perspective vipw of a portion of another packing apparatus not according to the invention; Figure 29 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus of Figure 28, showing tile cigarette-metering fingers; Figure 30 Is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 28, showing thle relation of thle receiving bed and of thle pusher element; Figure 31 Is an end viet- of the pusher element of the apparatus of Figure 28; Figure 32 Is a top view of the pusher assembly bar cam of the apparatus of Figure 28; Figure 33 shows a detail of the pusher assembly of the apparatus of Figure 28; Figure 33A is a schematic sectional view of the pusher assembly of Figure 28, illustrating thle arrangement and manner of operation of the vacuum system thereof; and Figures 34 and 35 illustrate another embodiment of the vane structure preferably used to practice the invention, Figure 35 being a view taker from section line 35-35 in Figure 34. Figure 1 shows a soft pack containing twenty cigarettes 12 of oval cross-section. The cigarettes 12 are arranged In three rows In the pack. The front and back rows have seven cigarettes each, and the intermediate row has six cigarettes. The cigarettes In the front and back rows are all angularly oriented so that the major axes of the oval cross-sections of the cigarettes are parallel. The six cigarettes In the intervening row are arranged with a different 4 c~ angular orientation, so that the major axes of their cross-sections, while parallel to each -ther, are inclined, at an oblique angle to those of the other rows of cigarettes. The arrangement Illustrated In Figure I Is particularly preferred because of Its aesthetic appeal. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a similar arrangement in a flip-top box 20, in which the front and middle rows each have fourteen cigarettes 22, the back row having only six. Again, the cigarettes of the front and back rows are oriented parallel to each other, while thle seven cigarettes of thle middle row are oriented at a different angle. This arrangement In also preferred for its aesthetic appeal. Flip-top boxes can also be packed with the seven- six-seven arrangement shown In Figure 1, provided that adequate clearance Is left so as not to cause the box lid to bind. Many other arrangements besides the two Illustrated are possible. These two arrangements, however, will suffice to Indicate the nature of the problem solved by the present invention, viz., to pack oval smoking cigarettes with a predetermined angular orientation of the oval cross-section. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative pac'king apparatus Illustrating the lay-out of the packing machine As shown, oval cigarettes 32 are supplied to the machine of the invention In a vertical hopper or tray 34 (indicated in phantom) or other container such that the cigarettes have their longitudinal tt axes aligned with each other but are otherwise oriented at random. The cigarettes fall from thle tray 34 along several, generally vertical paths 36 defined by vanes 38 which are part of a hopper located between front and back plates 42, 44. (For clarity, only five vanes 38 are shown in Figure 3, but a larger number would be provided in practice). In the apparatus shown, the vanes 38 are secured to the back plate 44. For a twenty cigarette pack, it is most convenient to provide vanes 38 defining twenty paths and receiving beds with a combined capacity of twenty cigarettes. Thle twenty paths are divided Into three groups, two of seven paths and one of six paths, corresponding to the three rows to be provided in the pack. Each group comprises a separate hopper defined by vanes 38. The vanes are V-shaped as seen from the front, and those of hopper converge sufficiently that the pathways defined thereby &a.e a of uniform width. The volume containing the three hoppers 40 Is bounded on each end by a side plate 46 (only one of which Is shown). In the embodiment shown, the side plates are continuous and integral with the back plate 44 and have upper flanges 48 on which the tray 34 rests.* Rotatable knurled agitator rods 50 supported from behind the ('back plate 44 extend through holes In the back plate 44 and liefj immediately above respective vanes 38, The agitator rods 50 are rotated, all In the same direction, by conventiona8l drive means (not shown) and help guide the cigarettes 32 Into the pathways 36 defined by the vanes 38, as described below. Behind and below the back plate 44 Is a horizontal endless belt mounted on two drums 72 (only one of which Is shown) and driven by conventional means (not shown). The belt 70 bears a plurality of boxes or pockets 74 made of polyethylene or the like, having approximately the shape of a cigarette pack. The pockets 74 tare loaded with cigarettes one row at a time, and the complete group of properly positioned and oriented cigarettes Is subsequently transferred In known manner to a pack or box. The cigarettes 32, after falling along the paths 36 defined by the vanes 38, are received on a tray-like receiving bed 76 in a predetermined orientation which, In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, is the orientation the cigarettes are to have when packed. A pusher device 78 (not shown An Figure 3; see Figures 17-20) Is provided below the front plate 42 and pushes the properly oriented cigarettes 32 from the receiving bed 76 directly back into a pocket 74. To pack three rows of cigarettes in each pocket 74, as would be necessary to obtain the arrangements shown in Figures 1 and 2, the pocket 74 will stop at three locations behind the back plate 44. Three receiving beds are provided beneath the vanes 38, one for each row of cigarettes. The first bed, for packing the bottom row, is lower than the second by the height of one row of cigarettes (in the packing orientation), and the second bed is lower than the third by the same amount. Each pocket 74 stops briefly behind each of the three beds and is loaded with one row of 'tigarettes at each. As can be seen In Figures 4 and 11-16, the receiving bed 76 of the apparatus Is a tray-like element whose upper surface is provided with troughs 80 equal in number to the cigarettes to be packed in the row in question (seven in these Figures). The troughs 80 are shaped so that an oval cigarette will fit snugly therein only In the correct oi:1entation for packing. For example, the troughs 80 may be shaped to accommodate one end of the major axis of the cigarette cross-section fairly snugly. In the version shown, the packing orientation Is with the major axis of the oval cross-section about twenty degrees from the horizontal. The pusher mechanism 78 (see Figures 17-20) Includes a plurality of pusher rods 82, one for each trough 80, secured to a block 84. Movement of the pusher element 78 slides cigarettes on the receiving bed 76 back along the troughs 80 and Into a pocket 74 positioned to receive the cigarettes. A cover 86 Is located on the back of the receiving bed 76. The lower surface of the cover 86 has troughs 88 which, together with those of the bed 76, defln,. tubes 90 of approximately the same size and shape as the cigarette cross-section. The tubes 90 serve as guides to ensure the smooth movement of the cigarettes from the bed 76 Into the pocket 74. The design of the vanes 38 Is shown In detail In Figures 7-9. t Each vane 38 as seen from the front (Figure 7) is essentially a "V' ohape, with a concave upper surface 92. The lateral surfaces 94, 96 of the vane 38 are provided with vertical ribs 98, 100, 102, two on one side (Figure and one on the other disposed approximately half-way between those on the first side. The ribs space the cigarettes from the vane surface, reducing friction. A block 104 equal In height to about one-half the height of the vane 38 extends back from the top of the rear of the vane 38, 44 and is received in a slot or recess (not shown) provided for It in 44 the back plate 44. (If desired, the vanes 38 can be secured to the 4 ~front plate 42 instead, of or In addition to the back plate 44. In that case, the block extends from the front of the vane 38.) Two bores 106, 108 are provided In the block 104 to receive screws or bolts to secure the vane to the front or back plate, as the case may be. 4~ As can be seen from Figures 6 and 10, each of the agitator rollers 50 has a spindle 110 extending from each end. The back spindles extend through the holes 52 provided In the back plate 44 for them and are rotated by suitable drive means. The main body of the roller 50 has knurls 114 extending parallel to Its axis. As Indicated In Figure 10, a cigarette entering the space between two of the rollers 50 with an oblique orientation engages one or both rollers 50, which direct the cigarette into the path between the vanes 38 with the greatest dimension of the cigarette cross-section substantially vertical (hereinafter, the "vertical orientation"), i Figures 11-16 show the receiving bed 76 and the cover 86 of the apparatus of Figure 3. As stated, the receiving bed 76 Is a plate or tray-like element whose upper surface Is formed with troughs shaped as described above. In the version shown, the plate has seven such troughs 80. The other two receiving beds used to form packs of cigarettes according to this embodiment would have six and seven troughs, respectively. Preferably, vacuum suction is applied to cigarettes in the troughs 80 to help pull the cigarettes into the proper orientation. The suction Is provided via a horizontal bore 116 in the plate 76, from which horizontal side bores 118 extend below and parallel to the troughs 80. An elongate well 120 in the bottom of each trough 80 communicates with the underlying horizontal side bore 118. Two additional holes 122, 124 are provided to receive bolts for securing the bed 76 in place. The tray cover 86, as can be seen from Figures 13-16, has troughs 88 formed in its undersurface, equal in number to the troughs 80 of the receiving bed 76. The cover 86 rests on the back portion of the receiving bed 76, the troughs 88 cooperating with t, troughs 80 to define tubes 90. The width W1 of the cover 86, measured parallel to the troughs 88, is less than the corresponding dimension of the bed 76 by at least the approximate length of a cigarette (see Figure 16). The front edge 126 of each trough 88 of the cover 86 is beveled slightly to facilitate the entry of a i cigarette from the uncovered part of the receiving bed trough into the tube f The pusher element 78 of the apparatus 30 of Figure 3, shown in Figures 17-20, includes a block or plate 84 having in ,t one edge several apertures 128 equal in number to the troughs 80 of the receiving bed 76. A pusher rod 82 is secured in each aperture 128 by means of a screw 130 received in a bore 132 provided for that purpose in the upper surface of the pusher plate 84 and communicating with the corresponding horizontal aperture 128. When the pusher element 78 is in place in the machine 30, each of the pusher rods 82 lies in or just over a corresponding trough 80, as fL. indicated in Figure 15. The pusher element plate 84 has two holes 0 I134, 136 to receive bolts to secure it to the machine. .t i la..

As will be apparent from Figure 4, the lower portion of each vane 38 Is disposed slightly above the ridge separating two adjacent troughs 80 of the receiving bed 76. As the cigarettes fall from the paths defined by the vanes 38, the first cigarette In each path will come to rest In the underlying trough 80, and the following cigarettes will fall upon the first, forming a column. In order to prevent the weight of thle upper cigarettes from interfering with the easy movement of the bottom cigarette from the receiving bed 76 into the pocket 74, each of the pusher rods 82 is provided with a lifting element 138 on Its upper surface, as indicated In Figure 20. The lifting element 1138 Is a ridge having an asymmetrically curved upper surface 140 which extends from a low point 142 on one side to a peak 144 on the other side. As can be seen from Figure 19, the free end of each pusher rod 82 Is circular in cross-section, the lifting element 138 beginning a short distance away from the point of the rod 82. The end of each lifting element 138 Is oblique, to prevent damage to the cigarettes it lifts. As an alternative to the lifting ele~ments 138, a second plate (not shown) could be secured to the t ktr pusher element plate 84 to serve the same function for all the 64 o pusher rods 82. Figures 21 and 22 show the preferred embodiment of the pocket 74 to be used In the present invention. As can be seen, the pocket 74, which is preferably of polyethylene or a similar material, is oblong and defines an approximately oblong internal volume. The lower surface of the pocket 74 has front and back depending flanges o 146, 148 each of which has a horizontal rim 150, 152 on it. The flanges 146, 148 grip the belt 70 between them, to aid in correctly positioning the pocket 74 thereon. Two through-holes 154, 414156 in the bottom of the pocket 74 receive screws (not shown) to t4 t 4~ secure the pocket 74 to the belt 70. This arrangement facilitates Insertion of a pusher rod into the pocket 74 to move cigarettes from the pocket 74 into a receptor cavity disposed on a loading conveyer wheel. The upper surface of the pocket 74 has a front-to-back slit 158 (see Figure 21). The forward edges 160 of the slit and the forward edge 162 of the top surface of the pocket 74 are beveled to prevent any damage to cigarettes that may collide therewith while entering the pocket 74.

10

A slot 172 is provided, toward the back of the pocket to receive the hold-down bar 174 borne on an armi 176 (see Figure 5) for vertical motion for a purpose and In a manner that are well known to those skilled in the art. The pocket 74 shown Is to be use~d to pack cigarettes in the seven-six-seven configurat~ion illustrated in Figure 1. Accordingly, since the mniddle layer will have only six cigarettes (compared to the seven of the front and hack rows), the front portion of the pocket 74 has left and right lateral Internal projections 164, 166 extending along the full length of the pocket 74 and occupying space that in the actual pack of cigarettes will be empty. (To pack cigarettes in the formation of Figure 2, the projections 164, 166 would be located against the upper internal wall of the pocket 174.) Projections 164, 166 are each divided in two separate 44444t sections by slot 172 (see Figure 22). The forward edges of both the t forward and the rear sections of projections 164, 166 are beveled as I

shown. To aid in the loading of the oval cigarettes into the pocket 74, the lower internal corners 168, 170 at both sides of the pocket .4 4' 74 are beveled as shown. The operation of the apparatus of Figures 3-20 will now be described. A tray 34 containing finished oval cigarettes 32 is .4 1 placed on top of the packer 30, resting on the horizontal flanges 48 4 of the side walls 46. The cigarettes 32 fall from the bottom of the tray 34 and strike the rotatable agitator rods 50. As already 'I 1 described, the agitator rods 50 guide the cigarettes 32 into the pathways 36 defined between each two adjacent vanes 38, and in doing so cause the cigarettes to assume a substantially vertical I U 444 orientation,. The cigarettes 32 ideally fall freely down each 44 4 44 a 44 pathway 36, being held away from the vane surface by the ribs 98, 100, 102 on the vanes. The suction applied to the receiving bed troughs 80 pulls the cigarettes firmly Into the troughs 80, the shape of which forces the cigarettes 32 to assume the desired packing orientation. The cigarettes 32 are held in this orientation by the vacuum suction.

2~ When the packing machine has, in the known manner, stopped a pocket 74 behind the packing bed 76 as shown, the pusher element 78

:1 ii is moved toward the back of the machine 30, engaging the cigarettes 32 In the troughs 80 and pushing them through the tubes 90 defined by the receiving bed 76 and the cover 86, and Into the pocket 74. As already described, the lifting element 138 on top of each of the pusher rods 82 engages and raises the cigarette lying upon that In the trough 80, ensuring smooth loading of the bottom layer without damaging the overlying cigarettes. 1After retraction of the pusher element 78 to Its starting position, allowing the next layer of cigarettes to fall onto the receiving bed 76, the machine 30 moves the pocket 74 to the next packing station, where the receiving bed Is one cigarette layer thickness higher than that of the first station. At the second station, the second layer of cigarettes Is packed Into the pock~et 74 In the same manner, after which the third and final layer Is packed In the same manner at a third station. Figures 23 and 24 show the receiving bed 200 of another alternative packing apparatus. In this second apparatus, a two-part receiving bed Is used, of which the lower part 202 is substantially 4 identical to the receiving bed 76 of the apparatus of Figures 3-22, as Indicated by the reference numerals denoting the features of element 202. The upper receiving bed 204 is a plate or tray having troughs 206, 208 in both Its upper and its lower surfaces. The 4F troughs 206 in the upper surface are equal In number to those of the a lower tray 202 and have substantially the same shape as the latter, but are spaced farther apart (the difference In spacing Is not clearly shown in Figure 24). The upper tray 204 also has on Its lower surface a set of ridges 210 which lie above and protrude Into the troughs 80 of the lower tray 202. The ridges 210 separate troughs 208 which lie above ttC the ridges dividing between the troughs 80 of the lower tray 202. As shown in Figure 24, the upper tray 204 is supported above and parallel to the lower tray 202, with the ridges 210 on the underside of the upper tray 204 extending partway Into the troughs of the lower tray 202. The upper tray 204 is connected to a suitable drive mechanism (not shown) in such a manner as to be reciprocable parallel to the trough axes. In operation, the second apparatus directs the cigarettes into the pathwa~ys between the vanes In the same manner as the embodime~nt of Figure 3. The cigarettes fall Into the troughs 206 In the tipper surface of the upper tray 202. Periodically, the tipper tray 204 Is moved away from the back plate 44, allowing the cigarettes to drop Into the troughs 80 of the bottom tray 202. As stated above, the troughs 206 of the tipper tray are spaced farther apart than those of the lower tray 202. The difference In spacing Is small enough that each cigarette drops neatly from the uipper tray 204 to the corresponding trough 80 In the lower tray 202, where it Is retained by the shape of the troughs 80 and ith the aid of vacuum suction, with the proper orientation and spacing for packing. Figures 25-27 show the preferred embodiment 220 of a receiving bed according to the invention. As shown in Figure 26, the pathways defined by the vanes are of such a width at the top, and are so shaped, as to direct each cigarette directly to a trough 222 In the 4 receiving bed 224 with the major axis of the cigarette cross-section 44 44 substantially horizontal. The troughs 222 in the uipper surface of the receiving bed 224 are adapted to receiv~e the cigarettes In a 4 4 approximately the horizontal orientation. When the cigarettes are at 0~ a dropped onto the receiving tray 224, the troughs 222 are relatively far apart (as shown in Figure 25), being directly beneath the outlets of the path-ways 226. The troughs 222 are adapted to be 9* a moved closer together to move the cigarettes to the correct spacing B and angular orientation for packing.

at As can be seen, the receiving bed 224 comprises a number of 01 o bar-like members 228, 230, 232, 234 equal in number to the pathways 226. Each has a trough 222 defined in its upper surface. The

04 outermost elements 228 each have a horizontal plate 236 secured Ma *11 thereto or integral therewith, with a front-to-back groove 238 on *4 4 4 a $1 the undersurface to locate the bed 224 properly on the packing machine. Each of the elements 228, 230, 232, 234 has a number of apertures in its side surfaces. Three through-apertures 240 In each receive respective cylindrical shafts 242, which are parallel and stationary and serve as a rack on which the trough elements 228, 230, 232, 234 are free to slide. Each of the end trough elements 228 has two additional bores, each of which receives the shaft end of a bolt 249. Earli of the other trough elemen~s except the middle one 234 has four ape~rtures for receiving bolts, as described below. The elements 230 each have two bores receiving the heals of bolts 249 with countersunk bores receiving the bolt shaft. The bolts 249 received therein have their shaft ends secured in the apertures In the end pieces 228. The trough elements 230 are free to slide along the bolts 249, which thus act as guide elements and stops. The elements 232 each have four such wide bores with countersunk narrow bores,, receiving bolts 246 connected to elements 230 and bolts 248 connected to the central e.emcn.: 234. The structure described permits the seven trough elements to be moved between two positions: and extended position, shown In Figures and 26, in which each trough element Is spaced as far from Its neighbours as permitted by the bolts, and a packing position (not shown), In which each trough element abuts Its neighbours. A t detaining member (not shown) can be used to engage the second-from- bottom layer of cigarettes and to hold them up to prevent their I weight from hindering the bed. movement and the packing. 9 I I. In operation, the cigarettes which drop between the vanes fall I. on the bed 224 wh'en the latter is in the extended position. I

Periodically, suitable control means, within the ability of those skilled In the art to construct, moves the outermost trough elemcnts I, 228 together to bring the receiving bed 224 into the packing 4 configuration. This movement, besides bringing the cigarettes to the proper spacing for packing, will also correct any error In their angular orientation. The pusher element is activated in the same manner as In the prdceding embodiments to load the cigarettes into the pocket, after which the receiving bed 224 is returned to the t extended configuration. I To prevent the cigarettes above the receiving bed 224 from dropping onto the bed 2.'4 while the latter Is in the packing position, a retaining device such as that described below may be used. Figures 28-33 show yet another alternative packing apparatus. In this third apparatus, of Figures 28-33, cigarettes are separated into several generally parallel paths by a hopper (indicated in phantom in Figures 28 at 302), resembling that shown in part In

The followinrstatement Is p foill docription of this Inventon, inchiIlng th best method of performing it kno'wn to neo:-.P Nte:Tho, csption Is to O typed In doubfq spacing, pip type fcOe, in on ao not owvoding 250 mm In opltil pn IO mm In width, on tough whio papea of good quailty and it Isto Oo Insortod Inside this form, 1'

II -1

YA

14

Idle Figure 26. The cigarettes fall through the hopper 302 In the Low. horizontal orientatIon, as defined above, onto a flat receiving bed opposite aideE 304. The 249 in front of the hopper 302 is a metering finger assembly toward i An (indicated in phantom at 306 in Figure 28 and shown in full in The bar cam 31 ilong Figure 29), which includes a set of fingers 308 equal in number to portions conn( the cigarette paths of the hopper 302. Each finger 308 Is mounted which extend I to be pivotable about a horizontal axis 310. Springs 312 mounted machine, and between the upper part 314 of each finger 308 and a horizontal bar them. When tI 316 thereabove resiliently urge the lower part 318 of each finger bar cam 340, 1 :o be 308 toward the hopper 302. Each finger 308 is located in front of a about their 1( ;ures respective pathway of the hopper 302, and is positioned so that the Vacuur s lower end 318 of the finger 308 will engage one end of a cigarette C free (back) ei It pusher assemb' located in the pathway and a certain distance above the receiving bed 304. A horizontal bar 320 is located beneath the lower ends 318 Figure 33A) ii zt 011V of the fingers 308, for a purpose described below. side of which In front of and below the finger assembly 306 is a pusher *r cut-away port- assembly 32%. The pusher assembly 322 includes stationary lower through aperti block 324 slidably supporting an upper block 326, on the back sliding panel surface of which are mounted horizontal hollow pusher rods 328 equal Ir and moves fori in number to the fingers 308 (seven in the version shown) and pusher assemb ra suction is apI e::tending back toward the receiving bed 304. Each pusher rod 32fk Is *ii

mounted on the back surface of block 326 so as to be rotatable about the pusher ro4 its own longitudinal axis. The pusher rods 328 are hollow and have with the intei heir the same cross sectional size and shape as the cigarettes with which at 354 of the sl: I, I

the machine is to be used. The second pusher rod 328 from each side pusher assemb eo to of the pusher assembly 322 is slightly shorter than those at the tI portion 354 ni *1 i: outside, and the third pusher rod 328 in from each side is still vacuum suctiol I ci shorter. These differences in length are very small, 1/32 I A lifi IX. C inch for each increment. block 326 abo, The end of each pusher rod 328 adjacent block 326, is provided cam 360 is moi

with a downward extending leg 330 for a purpose described below. vertical post

The lower end of each leg 330 is pivotably connected to a horizontal back edge pori

iI bar 332 from the lower portion of which depend two additional legs cam 360 coope 334. A cylindrical cam follower 336 rotatable about a vertical extending elei

shaft 338 is disposed on the bottom surface of each of the two legs assembly 306.

334 of the horizontal bar S32. The two cam followers 336 ride on

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j opposite sides of a bar cam 340, described below, 'The pusher assembly 322 is movable forward and backward, toward and away from the finger assembly 306 and the hopper 302. The bar cam 340 (see Figures 28, 31 and 32) consists of three straight portions connected by smooth bonds: two parallel portions 342, 344 which extend from the pusher assembly 322 toward the back of the machine, and a horizontal, oblique intermediate section 346 conne.ting them. When the pusher assembly 322 moves toward the hopper 302, the bar cain 340, via the cam followers 336, rotates the pusher rods 328 about their longitudinal axes, for a purpose described below. Vacuum suction is applied to a cigarette in contact with the free (back) end of the hollow pusher rods 328 via a chamber 348 in the pusher assembly block 326. The vacuum is applied to a chamber 350 (see **Ott$ Figure 33A) in the interior of stationary lower support block 324, one side of which chamber 350 is defined by a slidable panel 352 having a cut-away portion 354 on the after part of its inner surface and a through aperture 356 communicating with the cut-away portion 354. The sliding panel 352 is mechanically connected to the pusher assembly 322 and moves forward and backward in tandem with the letter. When the pusher assembly 322 is moved toward the back of the machine, vacuum suctiona is applied to any object in contact with the back (free) end of the pusher rods 328 as long as the aperture 356 is in communication with the interior of the vacuum chamber 350 via the cut-away portion 354 of the sliding panel 352. Once the sliding panel 352 and the pusher assembly 322 have moved back sufficiently so that the cut-away portion 354 no longer communicates with the lower vacuum chamber 350, vacuum suction to the cigarette is cut off. itc A lifting element or pre-load plate 358 is mounted on the upper block 326 above and parallel to the pusher rods 328. A meter release cam 360 is mounted on top of the pusher assembly block 326 on a vertical post 362. The meter releas~e cam 360 is a horizontal plate the back edge portion 364 of which is inclined downward. The meter release cam 360 cooperates in a manner described below with a downwardly extending element 366 at the front of each finger 308 of the finger assembly 306.

L i -7 16

Two pairs of tuckers 368, 370 are provided adjacent thle receiving bed 304 for laterally compressing a row of cigarettes being loaded Into a pocket (not shown, but the same as In the other apparatus describ-d). The front tuAckers 368 are spring biased toward each other, and are adapted to be moved apart as described below by horizontally extending cam projections 372 on the sides of the preload plate 358. The rear tuckers 370 are mounted behind the first for movement toward and away from each other tinder control of a suitable mechanism which moves them with thle timing described below. The front edge of thle receiving bed 304 has a raised lip 374 In which are seven oval-arcuate depressions 376, each aligned with a respective pusher rod 328. In operation, cigarettes are loaded Into the hopper 302 from a t .44~4~ C tray and fall toward the receiving bed 304. The metering fingers I~ .4 308 engage the third layer of cigarettes fro, the bottom, pressing them axially against the back wall of the hopper 302 and retaining 4 them in position. 44 To pack the bottom layer of cigarettes Into the pocket, the 4 pusher assembly 322 is moved backward, with vacuum suction applied through the pusher rods 328. The pusher rods 328 encounter the ends 4, of the bottom row of cigarettog, lying in the horizontal orientation S on the receiving bed 304. Thle vacuum suction holds the cigarettes against the ends of the pusher rods 328. The cooperation of thle cam .4 I followers 336 with the bar cam 340 as the pusher assembly 322 moves backward rotates the pusher rods 328 via the legs 330. This moves the cigarettes into the correct angular orientation for packing. 04 44 Continued backward motion of the pusher assembly 322 causes the vU~ 64 4 meter release cam 360 to engage the depending front portions 366 of 4 the metering fingers 308, pushing the latter out of engagement with the stack of cigarettes. At this point, the pre-load plate 1'as been Inserted beneath the second layer of cigarettes* supporting them and preventing their weight from Interfering with the rearward movement of the cigarettes being packed. The cigarettes, released by the fingers 308, drop onto the layer resting on the pre-load plate 358. The continued motion of the pusher assembly 322 also causes the horizontal cam projections 372 on the preload plate 358 to push the front tuckers 368 toward each other, forcing the cigarettes being stacked closer -together. The tucker springs then move thle tuckers 368 apart and out of the way of thle pusher assembly 322, The length of thle cut-away portion 354 on the Interior of thle sliding panel 352 on the lower vacuum chamber 350 Is such that the vacuum suction applied to the cigarettes is terminated when the cigarettes have been attained the proper orientation and spacing. As the cigarettes continue to be pushed back toward the pocket, the rear tuckers 370 move together, ensuring that the cigarettes remain sufficiently close together to enter the pocket. The horizontal bar 320 over thle back end of the receiving bed 304 keeps the cigarettes In a single layer as they are pushed together by thle tuckers 368, 370. After the cigarettes have been placed In the pocket, the pusher assembly 322 is retracted toward the front of the machine. Since the fingers 308 are held away from the hopper 302 by the meter release cam 360, the cigarettes In the hopper 302 all drop by one layer as the pre-load plate 358 moves out of the way. Wh en th e meter release cam 360 no longer engages thle finger assembly 306, the spring biasing of the latter causes the lower ends 318 of the fingers 308 to engage the stack of cigarettes, completing the cycle. Figures 34 and 35 show another preferred embodiment of the hopper 400 used in the invention. As in the apparatus described above, the hopper 400 (only one end of which is shown in Figure 34) is defined between front and back planes. The back plane is defined by a plate 402. In the embodiment shown, the front plane is defined by horizonta3 bars 404 that provide the necessary structural support for the hopper 400, and by a plate 405 (omitted from Figure 34 for clarity) supported by bars 404. As shown most clearly in Figure 35, the hopper 400 comprises j vanes 406 made of sheets of spring steel. V-shaped vane mounting elements 408 are provided at the front and back of the space between the front and back planes and are provided with grooves 410 receiving the edges of the spring steel sheets 406. To minimize friction, the side surfaces of the vane mounting elements 408 are recessed (at 412). The cigarettes fall between the vanes 406, contacting only the raised surfaces 414 of the vane mounting ii

I$ elements 408. At the top of each vane 406 Is a top piece 416 whose uipper surface 418 Is concave and above which Is disposed a rotating guide roller (not shown) like those of the embodiment of Figure 3. A hole 420 Is provided In the hack plate 402 for mounting the guide roller for rotations The top piece 416 has a middle portion 422 extending along approximately half of the length of thle top piece 416 and extending down Into the space between the front and back vane mounting elements 408. The ends of the top pieces 416 are supported on the tops of the vane mounting elements 408 at thle front and back of the hopper 400. A screw 424 secures one end of the top piece 416 to thle back plate 402 of the hopper 400. The central part 422 of the top piece 416 is hollow, and 4 #4 44 4 communicates both with the hopper interior and with a longitudinal I bore 426 provided just beneath the upper surface 418 of the top 44, piece 416. The horizontal bar 404 mounted 2t the top of the front I of the 'hopper 400 has a longitudinal bore 428. Bore 428 I'

'4 communicates with the bores 426 of the top pieces 416 and is used to 4 e supply air which Is blown down along both sides of each sheet 406 of spring steel into the hopper Interior. The blowing air facilitates *4 4 the quick movement of the cigarettes through the hopper 400, and 4

I reduces the likelihood of jamming. o The bottom of the hopper 400 is defined by a receiving bed 430, .4 1 which as In the embodiment of Figure 3 is a tray-like element having a plurality of troughs 432 defined in its upper surface, one trough 432 for each cigarette path in the hopper 400. In the embodiment *0 .4 shown, the central part of the bottom of each sheet of spring steel 4 III

*0 406 is received in a groove 434 at one side of a respective trough 4 4 4. 432. One side 436 of each trough 432 is Inclined so that a cigarette received therein will lie at an angle. The inclined surface 436 of the troughs 432 are defined by ridges abutting the adjacent sheets of spring steel 406, so that the sheet 406 defines one side of the next trough 432. As In the embodiment of Figure 3, vacuum suction can be applied to an article in the trough 432 via an aperture (not shown) at the bottom of the trough 432. At the back of the receiving bed 430 is a cover 438 like that of the embodiment of Figure 3, having troughs 440 formed In its 4 undersurface. The troughs 440 of the cover 436 overlie respective troughs 432 of the receiving bed 430 and define therewith tubes to aid In guiding the cigarettes Into a pocket located behind the hopper 400. The troughs 440 in the cover 438 are preferably formed with a bevel 442 at one side like those of the receiving bed troughs 432. The bevels 442 In the cover troughs 440, however, are located at the opposite side of the troughs 440 from the lower bevels 436 and prefei:ably occupy a larger fraction of the width of the cover troughs 440 than do the lower trough bevels 436. In tie embodiment of Figures 31 and 32, cigarettes are guided into the hopiper 400 by the guide rollers In the same manner as in the embodiment of Figure 3. The cigarettes, aided by the blown air, fall In the vertical orientation and land on the receiving bed 430. p The shape of the troughs 432 orients the cigarettes for packing. t~ f Beyond this, the operation of this embodiment is like that of the 4 embodiment of Figure 3 and therefore will not be described further. 44* 9

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Claims (5)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:-

1. Apparatus for packing rod shaped articles of oval cross-section comprising means for separating the articles into a plurality of separate streams in respective paths, a receiving bed for receiving the articles from the separating means in a first angular orientation about their longitudinal axis, thle receiving bed comprising a plurality of troughs for receiving articles in the first orientation, the troughs being equal in number to the streams; means for moving the troughs closer together to achieve a predetermined packing orientation; and means for pushing the articles from the receiving bed, the packing orientation, into a container located at a packing position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the receiving bed comprises bars having uppei surfaces each having a trough formed therein, the bars being mounted for movement toward and away from each other.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the separating means comprises a plurality of vanes for separating the articles into the said streams.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, each vane having first and second ribs disposed at first and second lateral positions on one side of the vane, and a third rib disposed on the other side of the vane at a third lateral position intermediate the first and second lateral positions, the ribs being oriented in the direction of motion of the articles between the vanes, and serving to guide articles between vanes.

Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 4, in which the troughs are shaped to receive the articles with the major axis of their oval cross-section oblique to the horizontal.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising suction means for applying suction to the troughs to help

A 0 pull articles thereinto,

7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6 further comprising agitating means above the vanes to aid in guiding the articles between the vanes.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which the agitating means includes a knurled rod above each vane.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 8, further comprising means for blowing air along the vanes.

SkIt~ 10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the C I V pushing means comprises pushers equal in number to the streams of articles.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the pushing means includes a lifting means for lifting articles lying on the articles to be pushod.

12. Appara us according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a pocket for receiving articles at the packing position.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a tray for supplying the articles to the separating means.

~L I w V C 14.

DA Apparatus substantially as described with reference to any of the drawings.

T ED this 27th day of July, 1987. Mpx Mli1cs f'RoJx-m S4-'.

By its Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN AND ASSOCIATES. Ser- 4'

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