GB1584711A

GB1584711A - Conveying apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB1584711A
Application number: GB2332477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hauni Werke Koerber and Co KG
Current assignee: Koerber AG
Priority date: 1976-11-17
Filing date: 1977-06-02
Publication date: 1981-02-18
Also published as: FR2371157A2; JPS5362900A; DE2652363A1

Description

(54) CONVEYING APPARATUS (71) We, HAUNI-WERKE KORBER & BR< Co. KG., a German Company of Kampchaussee 12-22, 2050 Hamburg 80, Germany (Fed. Rep.), do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to apparatus for transporting streams of cigarettes, filter rod sections or analogous rod-shaped articles from at least one producing machine to at least one consuming machine.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for transporting streams of cigarettes, filter rod sections or analogous rod-shaped articles from at least one producing machine to at least one consuming machine, comprising storing means including a plurality of variable-capacity reservoirs, said reservoirs including a first surge bin and a second surge bin disposed below said first surge bin, each of said surge bins having an opening which constitutes an inlet during admission of articles into and an outlet during evacuation of articles from its interior, a first transporting unit including means for feeding articles into said surge bins when the output of said producing machine exceeds the requirements of said consuming machine; a second transporting unit having means for conveying articles from said surge bins to said consuming machine when the requirements of the consuming machine exceed the output of said producing machine; and control means for effecting the admission of articles into said first surge bin ahead of said second surge bin and the evacuation of articles from said second surge bin ahead of said first surge bin.

Preferably, said control means comprises a first sensor adjacent to the path of articles supplied by said feeding means and operative to produce first signals in response to changing pressure of articles in said path, first and second prime mover means operable to respectively change the volume of said first and second surge bins, means for operating said first and thereupon said second prime mover means to increase the volume of the respective surge bins in response to said first signals while the pressure of articles against said first sensor increases and for operating said first prime mover means to reduce the volume of said first surge bin while the pressure of articles against said first sensor decreases, a second sensor adjacent to the path of articles from said second surge bin to said second transporting unit and operative to produce second signals in response to decreasing pressure of articles in said second surge bin, and means for operating said second prime mover means to reduce the volume of said second surge bin while the pressure of articles against said second sensor decreases.

The second transporting unit preferably comprises duct means arranged to transport articles from a first level to a lower second level and communicating with the openings of said surge bins. Said duct means preferably has a first portion of larger crosssectional area below the opening of said second surge bin and a second portion of smaller cross-sectional area between the openings of said first and second surge bins.

In addition there is preferably provided a gate and means for moving said gate across said duct means intermediate the openings of said first and second surge bins.

Said surge bins preferably define elongated straight compartments for temporary storage of articles, said compartments hav ing identical lengths.

The feeding means preferably comprises conveyor means arranged to supply a multilayer stream of articles to a level above said openings and said conveying means of said second transporting unit comprise a device which is arranged to transport a multi-layer stream downwardly from a location below said openings. Said openings are preferably disposed intermediate said level and said device, and the respective surge bins extend laterally of said second transporting unit.

Said device is preferably a duct having an upper end below the opening of said second surge bin.

The apparatus may further comprise an article feeding unit which receives articles from said producing machine, a junction having inlet means receiving articles from said feeding unit and outlet means communicating with said first transporting unit, and a third transporting unit having means for delivering articles from said outlet means directly to said consuming machine, and means for actuating said first transporting unit when an excess of articles is delivered to said inlet means as compared to articles delivered to said consuming machine and for actuating said third transporting unit when no such excess is present.

The transporting units preferably include prime movers and at least one of said prime movers is a rotary electromagnet.

The surge bins are preferably located above said machines and further comprise a common frame for said surge bins.

Preferably at least one of said transporting units defines a path wherein the articles move substantially horizontally and substantially vertically.

The invention is described in detail hereafter with reference to the drawing illustrating one embodiment.

The reference numerals 1 and 2 designate the outlets of rod machines which discharge either cigarettes or filter rods (articles 5) axially and transfer them to the conveyor belts 3, 4, by which they are conveyed at right-angles to their axes in the direction of the arrows 6 and 7 to a combining area 8.

The rod machines may be Garant machines of the Applicant's (cigarette rod machines) or so-called KDF-machines of the Applicant's (filter rod machines) already known in the art.

A feeler T5 is located above the combin inR area 8. A chute defined by walls 10 and 15, in which the stack of articles drops, is located below the feeler. When a predetermined pressure of articles in the combining area 8 is exceeded, the feeler T5 sends a signal by way of a switch 9 and an amplifier 11 to a drive motor 12. By way of driven rollers 13 and 14, the drive motor controls a pair of conveyor belts B51, B52. The control takes place such that the conveyor belts are driven by the drive motor 12 in the direction of the arrows 16, 17, if a predetermined pressure of articles has built up below the feeler T5. If the pressure of articles once more drops as a result of movement of the belts B51, B52, then the drive motor 12 and with it the conveyor belts B51,B52 are stopped.

In addition to the roller 14, the conveyor belt B52 is also guided over the rollers 18, 19, 21 and 22. Apart from the roller 13, the conveyor belt B51 is also guided over the rollers 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32 and 33.

Intermediate members 30 serve for bridging adjacent sections of belt.

Located above the conveying channel 34 formed by the belts B51, B52 is a fork 36 which is constructed as a mass flow deflector. The exact method of operation of this fork is described hereafter. A conveyor belt B3' is located on one side of the fork 36, which belt is guided over two rollers 37, 38 and can be driven by a drive motor 39 in the direction of arrow 41. The roller 38 is adjacent the inlet 42 of a magazine 43 of a packing machine 44 shown diagrammatically. A conveyor belt B3 is located on the opposite side of the inlet 42, which belt is guided over rollers 46, 47 and can be driven by way of a drive motor 48 in the direction of arrow 49.

Provided above the conveyor belts B3 and B3' is a cover 51 which together with the conveyor belt B3 forms a conveying channel 52 and with the conveyor belt B3 ' a conveying channel 53 to the magazine inlet 42.

A conveying channel 54 formed by a pair of conveyor belts B41, B42 is provided on the side of the mass flow deflector 36 opposite the conveying channel 53. The conveyor belt B41iseuided over rollers 56, 57, 58, 59,61,62,63,64,66,67,68,69,7i and 72.

Intermediate parts 70 serve to bridge adjacent sections of the conveyor belt B4 1.

The pair of conveyor belts B42 is guided over the rollers 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79 and 81.

The rollers 73 and 56 can be driven by way of a drive motor 82 such that the conveyor belts are moved in the direction of arrows 83, 84.

Located above the mass flow deflector 36 is a feeler T4, which is pushed upwards with increasing pressure of the articles in the deflector or which drops with decreasing pressure. When it has been pushed upwards, the feeler T4 sends a signal by way of a switch 86 to AND-gates 87, 88 and 89. In its lower position, the feeler T4 sends a signal to an AND-gate 92 by way of the switch 91.

A feeler T3 is located above the inlet 42 of the magazine 43, which feeler initiates output signals depending on the pressure of articles in the inlet region of the magazine.

An output signal is emitted by a switch 93 when the feeler T3 is located in its upper limit position. This signal passes to the AND-gate 87. When the feeler T4 is located in its lower limit position, a signal is sent by way of a switch 94, which is supplied to the AND-gate 88 and 92. If the feeler T3 is located in a central position between its upper and lower limit values, then the switch 96 sends a signal to the AND-gate 89.

The outputs of the AND-gates 88 and 92 are followed by an amplifier 99, which can be constructed in the manner of a switching amplifier (contactor) or electronic control amplifier depending on the construction of the electric drive motor 48. The same is true for an amplifier 98 for the electric drive motor 39, which follows the output of the AND-gate 89. The output of the AND-gate 87 is followed by an amplifier 97 (switching amplifier or electronic control amplifier) for controlling the electric drive motor 82.

Adjoining the outlet of the conveying channel 54 is a substantially vertical chute 101 for the articles which have been conveyed upwards, by which stacks of articles can reach the conveyor belt B3 from above.

Located opposite the opening of the conveying channel 54 is a so-called buffer store 102, which consists essentially of a conveyor belt B1, to which a boundary wall R1 is attached. The conveyor belt B1 is guided over rollers 103, 104. It can be moved to and fro in the direction of the double arrow 107 by an electric drive motor 106 to increase or reduce the storage capacity.

Located below the buffer store 102 is a further buffer store 108, which likewise consists essentiallv of a conveyor belt B2, to which a boundary wall R2 is attached. The conveyor belt B2 is guided over rollers 109, 111 and can be moved to and fro by an electric drive motor 112 in the direction of the double arrow 113 for increasing or reducing the storage capacity.

The cross section of the chute 101 below the buffer store 108 can be greater than the cross section of the chute below the buffer store 102 and above the buffer store 108, in order that the danger of articles falling out of the part of the chute 101 above the buffer store fO8 and whilst the latter is being emptied, is eliminated or at least reduced. A shut-off wall 110 may serve for this, which wall is brought slowly into the shut-off position between the articles by a drive motor 115, at the time of emptying the buffer store 108.

A feeler T1 is located above the outlet of the conveying channel 54, which feeler is moved up and down depending on the pressure of articles below the latter. In its upper limit position, it sends a control signal by way of a switch 114 to the AND-gates 116 and 117, whereas in its lower limit position, it sends a control signal by way of the switch 118 to the input l of an amplifier 119. The amplifier is once more constructed as a switching amplifier (for example contactor) or as an electronic control amplifier, depending on the construction of the electric drive motor 106. The input I controls the amplifier such that the drive motor 106 moves the conveyor belt B1 in the direction of the chute 101, i.e. empties the store 102.

Located at the end of the buffer store 102 is a limit switch 121, which is actuated by the boundary wall R1 when the store is full and sends a signal to the AND-gate 116 and by way of a negation member 122 to the AND-gate 117. The output of the ANDgate 117 is connected to the input f of the amplifier 119. When a control signal appears at the inputf, the amplifier 119 controls the drive motor 106 such that the boundary wall R1 is moved away from the end of the conveying channel 54, thereby increasing the storage capacity.

Located opposite the inlet to the buffer store 108, in a cut out in the boundary wall 123 of the chute 101 is a feeler T2, which moves to and fro according to the pressure of articles bearing on the latter. If the pressure of the articles is reduced and the feeler T2 moves towards the left, the latter sends a control signal by way of a switch 124 to an AND-gate 126, whose other input receives a signal from the output of the AND-gate 92.

A limit switch 127 is located at the inlet of the buffer store 108, which switch emits a signal when the boundary wall R2 is located in its extreme position shown in dot-dash line (empty position) in which the buffer store 108 has been emptied. The limit switch 127 sends a control signal by way of a negation member 128 to an AND-gate 129, whose other input receives signals from the output of the AND-gate 126.

The output of the AND-gate 129 is connected to the input I of an amplifier (switching amplifier or electronic control amplifier) 131, which then controls the drive motor in a direction of rotation in which the boundary wall R2 is moved in the direction of the feeler T2, i.e. the storage capacity of 108 is reduced. A second input f of the amplifier 131 receives signals from the output of the AND-gate 116 such that the drive motor 112 is started up in the opposite direction, i.e. in order to increase the storage capacity.

A limit switch 132 for stopping the removal of cigarettes from the magazine 43 is located at the inlet of the upper buffer store 102. A limit switch 133 for stopping the supply of articles from the rod machines is located at the end of the lower buffer store 108.

So-called rotary field magnets, which are a specific construction of three-phase asynchronous motors, have proved particularly suitable as electric drive motors, since the latter are thermally insensitive to frequent starting and stopping.

The afore-described arrangement operates in the following manner: The articles (cigarettes or filter rods) supplied by the outlets of the rod machines 1 and 2 travel on the conveyor belts 3,4 to the combining area 8, in which they drop downwards between stationary walls 10 and 15. If the pressure of articles below T5 becomes excessive, then the latter emits a signal and controls the drive motor 12 in order to move the conveyor belts B51, B52 in the direction of arrows 16, 17. The arti cles then travel through the upwardly directed part of the conveying channel 34 to the fork 36.

If the conveyor arrangement is in a condition in which T4 is in its upper limit position, whereas T3 is located in the central area, then a control signal passes from the ANDgate 89 by way of the amplifier 98 to the drive motor 39, which conveys the stack of articles supplied through the conveying channel 53 to the inlet 42 of the magazine.

The control of the conveyance depending on the pressure of articles in the deflector 36 is taken charge of by the feeler T4, which starts and stops the conveyor belt B3'. If no more articles are removed from the magazine 43, then the feeler T3 passes into its upper limit position, so that a signal passes from the associated switch 9 to the AND-gate 87. If the pressure of the articles pushes the feeler T4 upwards, then a further signal passes to the AND-gate 87 from the switch 86, so that its output controls the electric drive motor 82 of the conveyor belts B41, B42, by way of the amplifier 97.The conveyor belts begin to move and convey the stack of articles supplied from the conveying channel 34 into and through the conveying channel 54 firstly in a horizontal direction, then obliquely upwards and lastly once more in a horizontal direction, until it leaves the region of the conveying channel 54 and enters the region of the chute 101.

Since, in the afore-described operating condition, no articles are removed from 43, the feeler T1 is pushed upwards and causes its switch 114 to emit a control signal. If the boundary wall is not located in its left-hand limit position, in which the limit switch 121 emits a signal, an output signal passes from the AND-gate 117 to the inputfof the amplifier 119, which controls the drive motor 106 with a direction of rotation in which the conveyor belt B1 is moved so as to provide an increasing storage capacity, i.e. is moved away from the outlet of the conveying channel 54.

If the boundary wall R1 reaches the limit switch 121, when the storage capacity is full, then the latter sends a signal to the negation member 122, at whose output the previously existing signal disappears, whereupon a control signal no longer passes to the input f of the amplifier 119. The drive motor 106 is thus stopped. At the same time, a signal passes from the limit switch 121 to the AND-gate 116, which receives a signal from the feeler T1, if the latter is in its upper position, which means that articles leave the conveying channel 54. The output signal from the AND-gate 116, whose two inputs are thus receiving control signals, passes to the input f of the amplifier 31, which controls the drive motor 112 such that it is moved away from the feeler T2, i.e. the storage content is increased.

If no more articles are supplied by the conveyor belts B51, B52, which is the case for example when there is a breakdown in the rod machines, then the pressure below the feeler T4 drops, whereupon the latter sends a signal to the AND-gate 92 by way of the switch 91. If there is a further removal of articles from the magazine 43, the feeler T3 likewise drops and in its lower limit position emits a signal by way of the switch 94, the AND-gate 92 likewise receives a signal at its other input, whereupon it sends an output signal to the amplifier 99, which starts up the drive motor 48 for the conveyor belt B3.

The latter conveys the articles resting thereon through the conveying channel 5 to the inlet 42. Articles drop accordingly through the chute 101, whereupon the pressure of articles at the feeler T2 is reduced.

The feeler T2 then emits a signal by way of its switch 124, which is supplied by way of the AND-gates 126 and 129 to the input I of the amplifier 131. The latter controls the drive motor 112 in a direction of rotation by which the boundary wall R2 is moved in the direction of the feeler T2. In this way, further articles pass into the chute 101 and can then be conveyed by the conveyor belt B3 to the inlet 42.

When the boundary wall R2 reaches the limit switch 127, the signal at one input of the AND-gate 129 disappears, whereupon the signal at the input l of 131 likewise disappears, so that the drive motor 112 is stopped.

Furthermore, if articles are conveyed by the conveyor belt B3 to the inlet 42, then the pressure of articles below the feeler T1 drops, so that the latter sends a control signal by way of the switch 118 to the input 1 of the amplifier 119. The latter controls the drive motor 106 in a direction of rotation with which the boundary wall R1 of the buffer store 102 is moved in the direction of the chute 101, so that articles now pass from the upper buffer store 102 into the chute and the latter remains full.

In this way, the buffer stores 108 and 102 are emptied in succession, until the breakdown in the rod machines is removed and the conveyor belts B51, B52 can once more supply articles, whereupon normal operation is resumed by way of the feelers T3 and T4 in the manner afore-described.

Operating conditions may occur in which the conveyor belts B51, B52 convey only part of their normal capacity. This is the case when one of the rod machines breaks down, but the other continues to operate.

Then, if the full number of articles per unit time is removed from the magazine 43, the pressure below the feeler T3 drops to such an extent that the latter reaches its lower limit position. In this operating condition, a signal from T3 then passes by way of its switch 94, both to the AND-gate 88 as well as to the AND-gate 92. If, as a result of a discharge of articles through the conveying channel 53, the pressure below T4 becomes too low, the feeler T4 sends a signal by way of its switch 91, which is supplied to the AND-gate 92. Since the AND-gate 92 also receives a signal from the switch 94, the latter acts on the amplifier 99, which controls the drive motor 48 so that the conveyor belt B3 supplies cigarettes from the chute 101 to the inlet 42 through the conveying channel 52.If the pressure of articles below T3 once more increases, so that the latter assumes its central position, then the AND-gate 89 receives signals at both inputs, whereupon it sends an output signal to the amplifier 98, which starts up the drive motor 39 and thus the supply of articles through the conveying channel 53.

With the afore-described operating condition, there is thus a supply of articles to the inlet 42 both through the conveying channel 52 as well as through the conveying channel 53. In contrast to the above-described normal operation, to the pure storage operation and to the pure emptying operation of the stores 102 and 108, this is a so-called mixed operation, in which the articles are supplied both by the production machines and the buffer stores 102 or 108.

The afore-described storage arrangement has the advantage that under normal operating conditions, the articles are guided to the consuming machines from the production machine by the shortest route and only pass into the stores 102 or 108 and return from the latter in the case of a breakdown. Since breakdowns of this type occur relatively infrequently, the major part of the articles are conveyed in a careful manner in view of the fact that they are guided over the shortest route, which is important particularly for cigarettes, with which there is a danger of tobacco falling out of the heads when the latter are guided many times. The storage arrangement divided into two superimposed partial stores each with an individually controllable storage volume facilitates the storage of large quantities of articles without space-consuming installations.

Attention is directed to our co-pending Applications Nos. 23326/77 (Serial No.

1 584 712), 23327/77 (Serial No.

1 584 713), and 23328/77 (Serial No.

1 584 714) which relate to similar subject matter.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Apparatus for transporting streams of cigarettes, filter rod sections or analogous rod-shaped articles from at least one producing machine to at least one consuming machine, comprising storing means including a plurality of variable-capacity reservoirs, said reservoirs including a first surge bin and a second surge bin disposed below said first surge bin, each of said surge bins having an opening which constitutes an inlet during admission of articles into and an outlet during evacuation of articles from its interior, a first transporting unit including means for feeding articles into said surge bins when the output of said producing machine exceeds the requirements of said consuming machine; a second transporting unit having means for conveying articles from said surge bins to said consuming machine when the requirements of the consuming machine exceed the output of said producing machine; and control means for effecting the admission of articles into said first surge bin ahead of said second surge bin and the evacuation of articles from said second surge bin ahead of said first surge bin.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a first sensor adjacent to the path of articles supplied by said feeding means and operative to produce first signals in response to changing pressure of articles in said path, first and second prime mover means operable to respectively change the volume of said first and second surge bins, means for operating said first and thereupon said second prime mover means to increase the volume of the respective surge bins in response to said first signals while the pressure of articles against said first sensor increases and for operating said first prime mover means to reduce the volume of said first surge bin while the pressure of articles against said first sensor decreases, a second sensor adjacent to the path of articles from said second surge bin to said second transporting unit and operative to produce second signals in response to decreasing pressure of articles in said second surge bin, and means for operating said second prime mover means to reduce the volume of said second surge bin while the pressure of articles against said second sensor decreases.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second transporting unit comprises duct means arranged to transport articles from a first level to a lower second level and communicating with the openings of said surge bins.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said duct means has a first portion of larger cross-sectional area below the opening of said second surge bin and a second portion of smaller cross-sectional area between the openings of said first and second surge bins.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising a gate and means for moving said gate across said duct means intermediate the openings of said first and second surge bins.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. signal from T3 then passes by way of its switch 94, both to the AND-gate 88 as well as to the AND-gate 92. If, as a result of a discharge of articles through the conveying channel 53, the pressure below T4 becomes too low, the feeler T4 sends a signal by way of its switch 91, which is supplied to the AND-gate 92. Since the AND-gate 92 also receives a signal from the switch 94, the latter acts on the amplifier 99, which controls the drive motor 48 so that the conveyor belt B3 supplies cigarettes from the chute 101 to the inlet 42 through the conveying channel 52.If the pressure of articles below T3 once more increases, so that the latter assumes its central position, then the AND-gate 89 receives signals at both inputs, whereupon it sends an output signal to the amplifier 98, which starts up the drive motor 39 and thus the supply of articles through the conveying channel 53. With the afore-described operating condition, there is thus a supply of articles to the inlet 42 both through the conveying channel 52 as well as through the conveying channel 53. In contrast to the above-described normal operation, to the pure storage operation and to the pure emptying operation of the stores 102 and 108, this is a so-called mixed operation, in which the articles are supplied both by the production machines and the buffer stores 102 or 108. The afore-described storage arrangement has the advantage that under normal operating conditions, the articles are guided to the consuming machines from the production machine by the shortest route and only pass into the stores 102 or 108 and return from the latter in the case of a breakdown. Since breakdowns of this type occur relatively infrequently, the major part of the articles are conveyed in a careful manner in view of the fact that they are guided over the shortest route, which is important particularly for cigarettes, with which there is a danger of tobacco falling out of the heads when the latter are guided many times. The storage arrangement divided into two superimposed partial stores each with an individually controllable storage volume facilitates the storage of large quantities of articles without space-consuming installations. Attention is directed to our co-pending Applications Nos. 23326/77 (Serial No. 1 584 712), 23327/77 (Serial No. 1 584 713), and 23328/77 (Serial No.

1 584 714) which relate to similar subject matter.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein said surge bins define elongated straight compartments for temporary storage of articles, said compartments having identical lengths.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said feeding means comprises conveyor means arranged to supply a multilayer stream of articles to a level above said openings and said conveying means of said second transporting unit comprise a device which is arranged to transport a multi-layer stream downwardly from a location below said openings.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said openings are disposed intermediate said level and said device, and the respective surge bins extend laterally of said second transporting unit.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said device is a duct having an upper end below the opening of said second surge bin.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an article feeding unit which receives articles from said producing machine, a junction having inlet means receiving articles from said feeding unit and outlet means communicating with said first transporting unit, and a third transporting unit having means for delivering articles from said outlet means directly to said consuming machine, and means for actuating said first transporting unit when an excess of articles is delivered to said inlet means as compared to articles delivered to said consuming machine and for actuating said third transporting unit when no such excess is present.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transporting units include prime movers and at least one of said prime movers is a rotary electromagnet.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said surge bins are located above said machines and further comprising a common frame for said surge bins.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said transporting units defines a path wherein the articles move substantially horizontally and substantially vertically.

14. Apparatus for transporting streams of cigarettes, filter rod sections or analogous rod-shaped articles from at least one producing machine to at least one consuming machine, substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.