GB1276492A - Article-handling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1276492 Conveying cigarettes MOLINS MACHINE CO Ltd 9 May 1969 [10 May 1968] No 22413/68 Heading B8A Cigarettes in channels A and B are conveyed by respective endless belts 6 and 7, so as to merge into a zone defined by pulleys 11 and 25, and from which they are conveyed through channels C and D to packing machines (not shown). The channels A and B may lead from respective variable-volume reservoirs of the kind described in Specification 995,663. The conveyers 6 and 7, may be controlled by respective sensors 13 and 14, bearing on the cigarettes. The proportion of cigarettes fed to the channels C and D may be controlled by a flap 5. The setting of the latter may be controlled by signals transmitted from detectors (3), (3), (Fig. 1, not shown) each of which is responsive (via a cable (4) connected to a movable backwall (1) of the respective reservoir) to the volume of the latter. The flap 5 may be replaced by a baffle which causes the channel A to feed permanently into channel C, and channel B into channel D. The flap 5 may be replaced by a composite flap arrangement (Figs. 5 and 6) in which a centrally positioned flap 38 is in differential gear connection with flaps 37 and 39. The latter are rotated by the action of respective transmission springs 57, 58, and the rotation of gear wheels 61, 61<SP>1</SP>.The latter are driven by gears 63, 63 (one only shown), which are actuated in response to the positions of the reservoir end walls (1). Near the extreme position or each flap 37 or 39, the attachment points of the associated spring 57 or 58 pass over a dead-centre position so that the spring pulls the flap against a stop (61) (Fig. 7, not shown) thus limiting any further movement. In a modification (Fig. 3), the channels C and A are at the same level, as are the channels B and D. The sensors 13 and 14 are replaced by sensors 120, 121, which rest on a feeler arm 126, Thus both sensors 120, 121, have to be raised before the sensor can move upwardly under the force of a spring 129 to cause a speed decrease of the belts 101, 102, in the channels A, B. The respective speeds of the belts 101, 102, may be arranged to be in a fixed ratio, or may be proportioned to the volume of cigarettes in the associated reservoirs. The merging of the cigarettes between the input and output channels is assisted by the action of a belt 111 driven by a belt 115 from sprag clutches on drive pulleys 104, 105, of the belts 101, 102. Thus the drive to belt 111 is from whichever of the belts 101, 102, is running at the faster speed. The action of the belt 111 tends to fluidize the flow of cigarettes in the merger zone. Similarly pulleys 11, 25, tend to fluidize the flow in the construction shown in Fig. 2.