DE2057982A1 - Device for handling cigarettes or other stick-shaped objects - Google Patents

Description

109822/1394

BATH ORIGINAL

The invention relates to a device for handling cigarettes or other rod-shaped objects, in particular for unloading cigarettes from trays, e.g. to feed cigarettes to cigarette packaging machines.

A method and apparatus for unloading cigarettes from trays are disclosed in British Patent 1,191,342 described. With this device, the tray to be unloaded is received in an upright position and then with the top ™ turned downwards to enable the cigarettes in the tray to exit through the of fane top / .te of the slope. An almost horizontal platform supports each group of cigarettes out of their cradle during their downward curve and also holds the surface of the previous group just. According to the patent mentioned, the cigarettes are fed almost continuously from the storage container.

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In the German laid-open specification 1 95.0 515, a device is described which is a modified embodiment of that described in British patent specification 1,191,342 Device represents. According to this modified embodiment, the cigarettes from the storage container are one Reservoir supplied. A continuous stream of cigarettes is withdrawn from this reservoir, but the cigarette supply is turned off interrupted from the storage container to the reservoir for the period during which a new tray charge Preparing cigarettes for dispensing through the storage container.

The present invention relates to a modified arrangement for handling the trays and for unloading the Cigarettes from the trays and for feeding them to a packaging machine.

According to a feature of the invention has a device for feeding cigarettes or other rod-shaped objects Means to reverse successive trays filled with cigarettes over a conveyor system, further means for driving the conveyor system so that it conveys cigarettes away from successive trays, and a control plate, which can move down through each tray in turn to approximate the surface of the cigarettes in the tray just to hold.

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The device preferably has means for stopping the conveyor system in each case when an empty tray is replaced by a full tray, and the conveyor system carries the cigarettes from the trays to one Reservoir having an outlet through which cigarettes are dispensed from the reservoir. That is useful Reservoir arranged above a cigarette packing machine and the outlet of the reservoir leads down into the Storage container of the packaging machine.

The control plate preferably has a switch at each of its ends which is actuated when the corresponding one The end of the plate moves upward relative to a support member that carries the plate down through the cradle, the switches being in a circuit controlling a drive by means of which the member carrying the plate is moved downward through the tray, except when both switches are operated.

Preferably the control plate is flexible and supported by horizontal arms which extend across the length of the plate and are individually rotatably mounted on the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at the respective end the plate is actuated by the corresponding arm when the arm goes up about its pivot point in a predetermined one Position swivels,

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The support member carrying the plate itself is expedient supported by an upright support along which the support member can move and which is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis in order to move the control plate into and out of a tray enable.

According to a further feature of the invention, a device for unloading cigarettes or other rod-shaped Objects from trays on a tray carrier which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and successive Can go through cycles, in each of which he picks up an upright full tray from a loading position, rotates in one direction around the horizontal axis, around the full tray in reverse position over a dispensing zone after which, when the tray is empty, it moves in the opposite direction around the horizontal axis turns around the empty tray in an upright position To bring the unloading position, and then pick up the next full tray from the loading position to repeat the cycle, where the loading and unloading positions are one behind the other Loading position.

The device preferably has a receiving means for full trays, in which several full trays one behind the other can be stored, furthermore lifting equipment to full

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To move trays one after the other from the receiving means into the loading position for the tray carrier, further removal means for empty trays below the receiving means as well as means for moving empty trays from the unloading position down to the acceptance means,

An embodiment of a device according to the invention is described with reference to the drawings, namely show:

Figure 1 various, shown in outline, successive Lies in the way of a tray in a tray unloader according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a side view, partly in section, of part of such a tray unloader,

FIG. 3 shows a section along the line III-III in FIG. 2, some features being shown in more detail and others being omitted,

FIG. 4 shows a more detailed plan view of the part indicated in FIG. 2 by the arrow IV,

FIG. 5 shows a front view of part of a somewhat modified embodiment of the tray unloading device,

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Figure 6 is a side view showing details of the control plate associated support and Switch devices are shown,

FIG. 7 shows a side view, partly in section, of the device for moving the trays into the unloading position,

FIG. 8 shows a view, in the direction of arrow VIII in FIG. 7, of a gripper, which is part of the tray unloader according to Figure 2, and the

Figures 9 and 10 partial side views on a larger scale of part of the device according to FIG. 5, viewed in the direction of arrow A.

Figure 1 shows in outline eight successive layers a to h in the path of a tray 1 in the tray unloader. The arrows generally indicate the paths that the trays with their centers follow. A full cup will be upright in a receiving position a and received in worn a receiving layer b. From position b, the tray is lifted as a whole into a loading position c, from which e.c rotated clockwise (see arrow 3) around an axis 2 i '? icd in an inverted position d above a delivery zone, where the cigarettes are emptied down from the tray. To prevent the cigarettes from getting out of the

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Tray falling out while it is being reversed, a plate 4 covers the top of the tray until it has reached position d. Two positions of the plate 4, namely 4a and 4b, are shown in FIG. In position 4a, the plate covers the upper side of the tray, which is in position c, i.e. just at the beginning of its reversal movement, while the plate is in its rest position in position 4b after it has been withdrawn from tray M and the Cigarettes can exit through the open top of the inverted collar in position d. When the tray is empty in position d, it is rotated around the axis into an upright unloading position e, as indicated by the dashed arrow 5, which is located immediately behind position c for a full tray, but is inclined backwards in relation to this .

From this position the empty tray can be pushed backwards into the ^

Tilt position f (shown in dashed lines for the sake of clarity). The slope is lowered from the lac; e f by a layer g to a decrease lace h.

As can be seen from Figure 2, full trays 1 are received at a on the tray unloader and carried by a conveyor belt 10 to receiving position b. A tray is lifted from position b by means of hooks 11 on a chain conveyor 12 to position c, which is shown in phantom in FIG. At c the slope is gripped by claws 13A

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on a slant support 13 which is rotatably mounted on a spindle 50 with an axis 2, so that the Slope in the inverted position d (see also Figure 7) can be worn. If the one shown in position d Tray is empty, it is rotated by the tray support 13 about the axis 2 back into position e, which is shown in FIG Figure 7 is shown in dot-dash lines. The tray tilts from position e to position f (Figure 2), pins 17 carried by hinged plates 18 serving as pivot points. In this position the rests Trays on hooks 14, which are attached to a chain conveyor 15, which the tray from f in the in Figure Layer h shown in phantom, from which the empty trays are carried away by means of a belt conveyor 16 will.

The device for carrying out the movements of the trays outlined above will now be described in detail.

As can be seen first from FIG. 2, the machine has a horizontal base 20 on which a main support frame 21 is mounted. A platform 22 projects from the frame 21 and carries the conveyor 10 on which the full trays fed to the machine. The platform 22 is inclined approximately 7 1/2 ° from the horizontal to ensure that that the cigarettes are not out of the cradle

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fall out. The conveyor 10 runs around rollers 25 and 26, which are mounted on shafts carried by the platform 22. The roller 25 is an idle roller and the roller is continuously driven clockwise (when looking at Figure 2). A claw 30 (see also Figure 4) separates the tray in the receiving position b from the others Slopes on the conveyor 10. The conveyor IO slips

under the shelves while they stand still. m

Two claws 30 are provided so that one can attack each side of a tray. Each claw is 30 rotatably mounted about a shaft 31 (FIG. 4) on which the claw is held between two collars 33 and 34 (FIG. 3) will. The pawl is moved towards the closed position (i.e. that shown in solid lines in Figure 4 Position) biased by a compression spring 32 which is carried in the claw 30 and against a projection on the collar 33 j works. The collar 34 is an adjustable stop. The collar 33 has a console 35 protruding from it, which carries a pin on which a cam 36 is rotatably mounted. The cam 36 acts against a cam gripper 37, the is rotatably mounted in the body of the claw 30, as can be seen from the figure. The claw works like this! When a Has been carried sloping on the hook 11 (Figure 2) to position c and taken up by the claws 13, the chain conveyor runs 12 back down again to the lowest position, where it is ready to close another tray in position b

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receive. During its downward movement, the hook 11 contacts the cam 36 and thus causes the Claw 30 is moved into an open position, shown in phantom in FIG. A slant in a position as shown in Figures 2 and 4 as position a, can therefore of the bands 10 between the ends of the open claws 30 are worn. When the hooks 11 have moved past the cam 36, the claws pushed back by the compression spring 32 in the direction of their closed position. However, the ends of the claws can only extend up to the width of the one between them Schragens close and thus gently lay against the sides of that Schragens. As soon as the slope between the claws 30, they move completely into their closed position and thus hold the next tray in position a. The relative speeds of the belts 10 and the chain 12 are chosen so that the hooks 11 are in their lower position, in solid lines in Figure 2 shown, are located without hindering the trays entering position b.

Each chain 12 (to which a hook 11 is attached) runs un \ an idle wheel 40 and around one of a chain drive driven drive wheel 41. The chain 12 can run so that it has the hook 11 between the lower, in extended Lines in Figure 2 and the upper, gtric-h-dotted position shown moved.

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The frame 21 carries the shaft 50 on which the inclined support 13 is rotatably mounted (see also Figures 7 and 8). The carrier 13 is arranged so that it between the three positions shown is rotatable, namely the loading position shown in Figure 2, the one in solid lines 7 and the unloading position outlined in dash-dotted lines in FIG. The wave 50 and thus the carrier 13 are driven by means of a pinion 51 (shown in outline in Figure 2) which on the shaft is mounted and is attacked by a rack, not shown, which is also supported by a working cylinder, not shown, is moved back and forth.

The plate 4 is carried by carriages 52 in the carrier 13 (Figure 7), the carriages being arranged so that they between the two positions shown schematically in FIG 4a and 4b can slide. The carriage 52 has an impact end 54 for cooperation with an impact member 55. In FIG. 7, the plate corresponds to position 4b, based on the tray in position d, and to position 4a, based on the cradle in the position e. As the carrier 13 approaches the release position, the carriage 52 is disengaged from the impact member 55 pushed in the direction of arrow 56, wherein he moves the plate 4 in the position 4a and the gripper 13A can accommodate the next tray from position c. The carriage 52 is in this, the position 4a corresponding

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Position held by a pawl. This pawl is provided with a notched plate 57, the one Can attack pin 58. When the wearer feels his reverse position approaches, the plate 57 is pushed upward by an adjustable pin 59, releasing the pawl and the carriage 52 moves under the action of a spring 60 into the position corresponding to position 4b can move.

The grippers 13A are each provided with fingers 61 and 62 which are mounted on an arm 63 (Figures 7 and 8) and which Can attack the front or back of a tray. The fingers 61 and 62 are as separate, offset from one another Links shown, however, could also be shown as two aligned links or as one complete Be formed unit. The tray is prevented from moving vertically relative to the grippers in that the Arm 63 is profiled so that it can engage in the projections 64 on the sides of the trays. The arm 63 can e.g. have tapered portions for engaging below the upper projection 64 and above another of the projections.

When the carrier 13 pivots downward with an empty tray to the unloading position, a lever 66 strikes a stop pin 67, causing the arm 63 to pivot outward and release the empty tray. The movement

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of lever 66 also causes pin 68 to move to the right as viewed in Figure 8 to the position as shown in this figure and in FIG. 7 in relation to the carrier in the lower position. This makes possible, that members 69 and 70 move under the action of a spring 71 into the position shown in dashed lines in FIG move with the pin 68 held in place and

so the arm 63 in its outwardly pivoted position m

blocked.

When a full tray is in the correct position between the arms 63 (FIG. 2), a console 72 contacts on the chain conveyor 12 the link 70. This releases the pin 68 · and allows the arms 63 to move under the action a spring 73 to move inwards and so to grasp the full slope. These relative positions of the

Pin 68 and links 69 and 70 are in connection -

shown with the view of the gripper 13, which is shown in Figure 7 in solid lines.

The dispensing of cigarettes from an inverted tray will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, 9 and 10 will.

The tray 1 with cigarettes 100 located therein is reversed over a delivery zone 101 into which the cigarettes through the open top of the inverted collar

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can emerge. From the zone 101, the cigarettes become a reservoir 102 to the left when viewing FIG with a variable volume, which is arranged directly above a storage container 103, which is designed so that he can deliver several streams of cigarettes to a packaging machine, not shown. The reservoir 102 corresponds essentially that described in the aforementioned laid-open specification 1 950 515 and mainly consists made up of two articulated sets of intersecting fingers 104 and 105 that are located on the top of the cigarettes in the reservoir can move up and down, creating a larger or smaller supply of cigarettes. The cigarettes are fed to the reservoir from zone 101 by means of a conveyor system which is also essentially corresponds to the system described and claimed in the aforementioned laid-open specification. Two bands 106 and 107 convey the cigarettes out of zone 101; belt 106 runs slower than belt 107 to ensure proper removal to support the cigarettes. A corner plate is also provided, but this can be omitted. Another one, Moving belt 109 attacks the top of the zxgarette stream carried by belt 107 to reservoir 102. A belt 110 runs continuously to assist in removing the cigarettes from the reservoir 102.

A switch 111 is actuated by the fingers 104 when the reservoir is full and stops the straps 106, 107 and 110.

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Another switch 112 is operated when the fingers 104 · · reach the lowest possible level and this holds the packaging machine at.

Belts 106, 107 and 110 also stop when an empty tray is removed and a full tray is above the dispensing zone is arranged.

While the cigarettes are being fed from the respective tray, a control plate 113 rests on the surface of the Cigarettes in the cradle to keep this surface roughly level. Figure 10 shows the plate 113 while it is on the Group of cigarettes 100 resting? FIG. 9 shows the plate in the position it assumes during an empty tray removed and replaced with a full one. Figure 6 shows a preferred type of storage of the plate and the associated Counter.

The plate 113 is light and flexible and is carried on a support member, the horizontally extending arms having. Each arm is carried on a shaft 115 and is biased by a spring 116 so that it tends to to press the control plate 113 lightly on the cigarettes. «A pin 117 on each arm operates a microswitch 118, when the arm swings up enough about its shaft. . In the position shown in Figure 6, the switch is "ready" and when the plate 113 moves as a result of the reaction

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moving cigarettes upwards, it is "interrupted". Since the plate 113 can rotate, the two switches 118 can be operated individually.

A limit switch, not shown, is actuated when the control plate has a corresponding to the empty state of the tray Position reached and this initiates the replacement of the trays.

FIG. 5 shows that carried by two adjusting screws 150 cooperating with nuts 151 in the support member (FIG. 10) Support member. However, the support member can also consist of a sliding member on each side and a single screw in to be worn in the middle. The support member is driven downwards by means of the screws 150 so that the plate 113 follows the surface of the cigarette while the tray is emptied. The screws are driven by a motor (Figure 2) driven. The support member is driven downward until one or both of the switches 113 are "prepared"? however, it is not driven if both switches are "broken". That is, if one of the ends of the plate 113 is not sufficiently supported by cigarettes, the plate is driven downwards, to keep the surface of the cigarette almost flat; at the moment, however, when both ends of the plate 113 are raised from the cigarettes so that both switches 118 are "interrupted", the downward drive is the

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Disk stopped. As soon as the level of the cigarettes has lowered enough to one of the ends of the plate 113 To take the support, the associated switch 118 is "made ready" again and the plate 113 is after driven down to follow the cigarettes and a slight pressure by the spring 116 on the side of the Exercise cigarette surface, which is high.

A frame 120 which carries the supports for the support member and the disk downwardly driving motor 152 is pivotable about a shaft 121 on which it is journalled. FIG. 2 shows a slightly different arrangement which operates in a manner which corresponds to that of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. The frame 120 is approximately upright while a tray is being emptied so that the plate 113 is in the tray and can rest on the cigarettes. While the trays are being changed, the frame moves slightly outward in the position shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, so that the plate 113 is no longer in the tray. While the trays are being changed, the support member is moved from its lower position, corresponding to an empty tray, to its upper position, so that the plate 113 above the cigarettes can be inserted into the full tray. To facilitate the insertion of the plate 113, the mechanism is timed so that the level of the cigarettes drops two or three rows before the

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Plate is inserted; the timing of the mechanism is controlled by a movement of the conveyor 106, 107, 110 determined, which is indicated by the rotation of one of the support rollers and the removal of the desired Corresponds to number of cigarettes.

1 0 9 8 2 2/1 3 9

Claims (12)

ERNSTRtEBENSAHM RECHTSANWALT TB KARLSRUHE 1 POSTBOX 55 · ** -1163- claims 1. Apparatus for conveying cigarettes or other rod-shaped objects, characterized by means to reverse the successive filled with cigarette trays on a conveyor system, means which drive the conveyor system, so that it carries away cigarettes from successive% trays, and a control plate, which can be moved downwards through each tray in turn, while keeping the surface of the cigarettes in the tray approximately level. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that means are provided which each stop the conveyor system, when an empty tray is replaced by a full tray and that the conveyor system removes the cigarettes from Jj carries the tray to a reservoir with an outlet for dispensing cigarettes from the reservoir. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the reservoir is above a cigarette packaging machine is arranged and the outlet leads downward from the reservoir into the storage container of the packaging machine. 109822 / 139A 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the reservoir has a scanning device by means of which the conveyor system is stopped when the cigarette volume reaches a predetermined maximum limit in the reservoir, and by means of which the packaging machine is stopped, when the volume of cigarettes in the reservoir reaches a predetermined minimum limit. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that da / 3 the control plate has a switch at each end which is actuated when the corresponding The end of the plate moves upward relative to a support member that carries the plate down through the cradle, wherein the switches are in a circuit that controls a drive by means of which that supporting the plate Link is movable downward through the tray, except when both switches are operated. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the support member by means of one or more with screw thread provided members is movable downward through the tray. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the control plate is flexible and is carried by horizontal arms which extend transversely to the length of the plate 1 09822/1 3 9 Λ £ 057982 and individually rotatably mounted on the support member about horizontal axes, the switch at each end of the plate operated by the corresponding arm when the arm rises about its pivot point to a predetermined position pivots. 8. Device according spoke 7, characterized in that a spring for the upward movement of each arm around its rotation opposed point resistance. 9. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that that the support member carrying the plate is itself carried by an upright support which it can move and which is rotatably mounted about a horizontal axis to move in the control plate to allow a tray in and out of this. 10. Device for unloading cigarettes or other rod-shaped objects from trays, characterized by a tray carrier which is rotatable about a horizontal axis and can go through successive cycles, in each of which it picks up an upright full tray from a loading position, moving in one direction rotates about the horizontal axis in order to bring the full tray in an inverted position over a dispensing zone, after which, when the tray is empty, it rotates in the opposite direction about the horizontal axis, upright around the empty tray 10 9 8 22/1394 to bring standing into an unloading position, and then picks up the next full tray from the loading position to repeat the cycle with the loading position behind the unloading position. 11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the unloading position is immediately behind the loading position is located. 12. The apparatus of claim 11> characterized by a Receiving means for full trays, in which several full trays can be stored one behind the other Lifting means that move full trays one after the other from the receiving means to the loading position for the tray carrier, by removal means for trays below the receiving means and by means for transferring empty ones Slope from the unloading position downwards to the removal devices, 109822/1394